Hallowed ground, the gate to the third heaven, was alive with chaos. Nine orders sat at their thrones awaiting judgment of the first and second heavens. Golden, silver and iridescent light swept over Dantalion in waves.
A familiar desire rushed through him, one he had almost forgotten. Her spirit… her voice… her touch. Her image flooded his memories, of lust, love and every mortal emotion known to man.
"I thought you were gone… out of my thoughts…" Dantalion's voice carried throughout the third heaven.
"I know what you are… archangel… immortal… like the moment we first met," Lilith's dark hair and pale skin made her presence hard to ignore.
"No… I know the origin of your creation…. A lie."
"My spirit now drifts for eternity unclaimed… separated from your girl's. I exist now between your realm and hers. We loved before her…don't ever forget. I hoped that embodying her soul would set you free, but the attempt failed. Now I cannot let you go," Lilith's image faded from Dantalion.
Gabriel wanted to cut Dantalion free from Lilith, but knew only he could do that.
"Your memory of Lilith… her spirit… will not let you go. Is that the way of it?"
"I thought it was in the past… I thought she and Laurel were of the same spirit… the same blood."
"I'm afraid not Dantalion. Lilith hath been separated from Laurel upon your ascension to heaven. Her spirit cannot let you go… she clings to her memory of you. She has not crossed over and will hold you to her for eternity. What will you do?"
"I loved her. And I love Laurel. I want to help set her free, but I am bound to Laurel."
"Archangel appointed as guardian is a difficult task. You cannot love the memory of one whilst loving the spirit of another. Thy must choose."
"The girl has been taken to the Southern Infernal Realm. They must pass the trials in order to be purified… only then can I reclaim her."
The warrior angels, overhearing Gabriel and Dantalion, came forward.
"This is your doing! The decision to become guardian to mankind! You who were saved from eternal damnation… the youngest immortal soul ever purified by God, now guardian at the throne of the third heaven! Now we must contend with the Four Kings of Hell," Chief Warrior angel Camael protested to his brother angels.