text: The Lemures attacked the moment Cynthia's ingenious flying carpet carried them to the far bank of the River Phlegethon, boiling out of small holes and crevasses in the cracked landscape before the obsidian mountain. Cynthia wove light and the Sophia-Illusion burst into existence, sweeping her burning brand at the marauding Lemures that had charged straight for the blonde, young woman. She faced them fearlessly, seeming not to care that she was naked and vulnerable in Hell. The armor of Bill's love provided the woman with all the strength she needed.
  
  This is my chance.
  
  Sophia flitted to the illusion of herself, letting her essence merge into the puppet of Bill's love. That incredible warmth filled her, singing in her soul. Bill was such an outstanding human being to overflow with this much love. I have to make sure he lives. I can't allow whatever treachery Adriel is plotting to hatch.
  
  As before, Sophia discovered the white ribbon that connected the illusion back to its conjurer. She touched it, vibrating it, trying to let Cynthia know that she was here. She put all her will, all her love and concern for Bill and Cynthia, into her thoughts, pushing them down the ribbon to touch Cynthia's soul.
  
  The blonde woman shivered, looking around. "Sophia?"
  
  Yes! You can't trust —
  
  Her soul was ripped upwards, hurtling through the boundaries of Hell and into the Mortal world, drawn back to her vessel — the incarnation Cynthia had created the moment Daevia had forced her to kill the man she loved. Pain flared through her and then receded. The horrible, disgusting Lust that the Succuba had inflicted on her was leaching away, driven back by an incredible warmth. The love of not two mortals, but three, sharing it equal. So powerful and pure.
  
  Her eyes snapped open. She rested in a church, upon an altar, surrounded by stained glass windows depicting her fellow Angels. She lay on something hard and cold. She flexed her fingers, her wings quivering.
  
  "You're awake!" a woman exclaimed. She sat up and turned her head to see Rochelle's smiling face framed by strawberry-blonde hair. "You can save Master!"
  
  Grief trembled through Sophia. "There's nothing I can do for Bill and Cynthia now."