Gabriel's Hope

"Pretty sure we both do," Deidre replied.

"Are you certain?"

Deidre clenched her fists, uncertain what game the deity played with her.

"Have a look," past-Death urged her.

Deidre turned to see the blonde woman standing in front of an open wardrobe. A mirror lined the inside of one door. Foreboding filled her at the expression on the deity's face, like she'd just won the lottery.

Deidre crossed the room, terrified she'd find Gabriel's name gone.

"We are destined to become the mates of deities. Deities, Ancients and Immortals all have a match," past-Death explained. "I'm Gabriel's preordained mate. I created you long before I ceased to exist by morphing a part of my soul with yours. You are mostly human, but you are also part of me. You were enough me to convince the laws governing Immortal mating that you were Gabriel's mate, until I reappeared a few hours ago and set things straight, including telling Fate to fuck off."

"You're the two percent of me that's not human?"

"Correct."

"I don't think I get it." Deidre shivered and paused a few feet from the deity. She had a mild headache, and the tension between her shoulders was aching from the stress of the discussion. Wired, emotional energy made it hard to concentrate as she listened.

"I don't expect a human to understand. What should matter to you is that you're going to be the mate of a deity. It's no small honor," past-Death said.

I want Gabriel, Deidre screamed silently. "I need to get out of here."

"You'll never leave Hell," past-Death continued, oblivious to Deidre's growing distress. "Darkyn was recently promoted to the Dark One. He won't let you go."

Somehow, Deidre wasn't surprised the creepy demon everyone bowed to was the Dark One. If Fate looked like a frat boy and past-Death like a sorority girl, the Dark One's youthful human form didn't seem out of place among the deities she met.

"He said I could earn my way out," Deidre said.

"Maybe in time. Or Gabriel or another deity can make a deal to get you out. There are possibilities. Only one issue you have to overcome."

Past-Death took Deidre's arm and spun her back to the mirror. Deidre was relieved to see the Immortal script, until she saw it wasn't Gabriel's name on her back.

Darkyn.

"One of us was intended for Gabriel. The other for Darkyn," past-Death said. "Luck of the draw, I guess. Darkyn will never let you go."

Deidre stared, horrified. "Gabriel won't let this happen."

"He will if he thinks I'm you."

"He won't. There's nothing you can do to fool him. He will know before you have a chance to kiss him," she said, her fury building. "We're too different!"