Unlike the Uzita, I wasn't left alone for long.

Greenery, flowers, and a sparkling pool of water surrounded me. White petals descended like slow-moving rain from no discernible point of origin. Bright light illuminated everything, but it was welcome, warm.

Somehow, I had no clothes on. In their place, a soft golden glow emanated from my body, forming a dress.

"Do you know where you are?" Rosalind asked, her dress identical to mine.

"It's from my dream, with you," I nodded at the water. "The pond threw me off for a second, though."

Rosalind smiled. "I thought you'd like it."

Faint laughter drew my attention. On the clear surface of the pond, a hazy scene filtered through. A yacht floated on the waves, the stars winking down on the dinner guests. A dark-haired woman laughed with the man next to her. They held hands, oblivious to the course of events outside their bubble of perfection.

"That's me," I said, a gossamer tear slipping down my cheek.

Rosalind nodded.

"Can I go there?"

"If you wish." Rosalind said.

I strolled around the garden, wiping my face until I realized, there was nothing to wipe. I'd manifested the tear, and it had disappeared. "How did I get here?"

"You know."

"Oh," I said faintly, "right." A chuckle built in my throat and spilled out, tinkling beautifully in a way that almost distracted me from asking, "Why is that funny?"

"Because you're content," Rosalind answered.

I took in a deep breath, relishing the emotions rioting within. Warmth, acceptance, wisdom, and strength. Yes, happiness wasn't the right word. Content was better. I was done, at peace, content.

"But you can't stay," Rosalind said, shattering my euphoria.

"What? Why not?" The thought of leaving before I joined Rafe on the boat was inconceivable.

"If you stay, terrible things will happen."

My gaze lingered on the water. "Like what? An earthquake? Tsunami? World hunger?"

Sigh. "Your sarcasm always held you back."

"Yeah, yeah. So what? Are you going to tell me that that demonoid couple is going to float pencils around to their hearts' content?"

I knew their plans had to be far more dangerous, but I cared not a lick.

"Don't be ridiculous. They're not telekinetic. Although, they can manipulate the atomic structure of most objects, which is a much more useful skill," Rosalind said.

"Yeah, and they can also possess pregnant women." I said, pissed at being booted. "Even if I did want to go back, how could I?"

"There are ways, and you wouldn't be the first called to dispatch of them."

Her manner of speaking was off. She had never been so articulate when we'd been alive. Her words took some getting used to.

"I know. De Soto killed them." I caught a falling petal, plucking at it absently.

My sister nodded. "De Soto was one such person, though he was not called, and he improvised a little."

"Called?" I asked. "Well, how did he know what they were then? And how to get rid of them?"

"All creatures have an instinctual sense for one another's intentions. Most chalk it up to a feeling of unexplainable dislike. De Soto, through the use of meditation and life experience, honed this sense to his advantage."

"Sounds like new-age bullshit," I grumbled. "Is God prepared to strike a deal with me? Two dead demons in exchange for eternal happiness?"

Death had yet to fully enlightened me. I clutched my old reservations, especially since paradise was spitting me right back out.

"There is no deal. And there is no God." My mouth fell open, but Rosalind held up a hand, going on to say, "Not in the way that you imagine. There's a sense of faith people carry within themselves. They call it God, Yahweh, Allah, or whatever. Really, there's right and wrong, and the people behind it. Self-sacrifice and salvation are a part of that, but they're not easily attained."

"You're saying there is no God?"

"Not in the way that you imagine, no," she repeated.

My head crowed in muted achievement.

"Then what is all of this?" Wide gestures from me indicated the setting. "And that?" I pointed to the sublime moment on the yacht shimmering in the distance.

"It is what you could have if you say no."

I scoffed, "Then why the hell would I say yes? And is this hell?"

Like always, Rosalind received my blurted query calmly. " No, this is not gell. If you want to say no to this mission, go ahead. Nothing's stopping you except for the feae of something greater than yourself."

The generalized hero-bit had me uncomfortable, and I voiced as much:
"I'm not the religious or heroic type. Find someone else."

"You don't have to be religious or heroic to change the world. You just have to care about people."

"Oh, c'mon. I do care! I did! You, Juliet, Rafe! You're all dead. Now we're all dead."

Up until then, birds had been chirping and singing. My despair had scared them into silence.

Rosalind assessed me with sympathy. "Rafe isn't lost. And you forgot Mom."

I wanted to cry, but my ill-will toward the situation was melting away as quickly as it had come. The initial contentment was now about a mile away, but I was getting back to it, thanks in part to the quality of the air, which had a persuasive effect.

I inhaled more of the drug-like air, calming down to present more questions. "All right, so what are these things capable of, and what other point in history did they show up?"

Rosalind held a hand steady over my face. "There'd be a lot less argument if I just showed you."

A tap on the forehead took me lightyears back, to the origins of Lillitu and Samael.

* * * * 

A/N: Stay tuned for Imogen's latest vision, courtesy of Rosalind.

I'm dedicating this chapter to my latest reader, voter, and follower, True-North. Read her story Alpha, a werewolf paranormal story with the hawtest damn cover I've ever seen!

https://www.wattpad.com/story/51342633-alpha-bwwm