text: Her stomach was twisted into knots. This couldn't be happening. Her husband couldn't have succumbed in Hell and given himself over to the Demon Adriel. The silver dagger was clutched in her hand, the last resort given to her by Uriel before this had even started.
  
  I can't kill my husband!
  
  I swore an oath to Heaven!
  
  I love him!
  
  He's been corrupted by Adriel.
  
  Bill regained his feet and ran towards the church. Was he going to help Adriel or stop her? He had smuggled her in. Juanita had seen the Demon emerge from his chest and fly across the parking lot in a blur of gray feathers.
  
  Adriel was a Grigori. Skilled at deception. What if she tricked Bill? But how can I know?
  
  Juanita moved in front of Bill, stopping him just before he reached the church's entrance, holding the dagger before her, the sharp point aimed at his heart. Bill skidded to a halt, staring dumbfounded at her. There was such hurt in his eyes.
  
  "What are you doing?" he asked.
  
  "I'm sorry, Bill," she sobbed, tears burning down her cheeks. "But I... I have to... kill you..."
  
  "Why?"
  
  "You bitch!" Rochelle shouted.
  
  Bill raised his hand up. "Why, Juanita?"
  
  "I swore an oath to Heaven."
  
  "The white chain," Bill muttered, his eyes widening.
  
  Chain?
  
  "Why would Heaven want Bill dead?" Sophia asked, walking towards them.
  
  "B-because Adriel has t-tainted him." Sobs wracked her body, but she kept the dagger pointed at Bill. "I-I can't let h-him help her. T-the World is t-too important."
  
  "I'm going to stop Adriel," Bill promised. He sounded so sincere. Grigori are the most skilled liars in Creation. "You have to trust me, Juanita."
  
  "I-I want to." She desperately wanted to, but he had to be under Adriel's power somehow. Uriel wouldn't have ordered her to kill him if it wasn't necessary to save the World. Uriel was an Archangel. She had to trust him. Bill's power was too great to fall into Hell's hands.
  
  "I'm going to stop Adriel, Juanita," he told her again with such conviction. "But you're in the way."
  
  She swallowed, tensing for his attack, for the proof of her husband's fall into darkness. The moment he attacked her, she'd drive the dagger into her chest and end all her happiness.
  
  Instead he spread his arms open.
  
  "If you really believe I'm tainted by Adriel and need to die, then kill me." He looked into her eyes. They burned with such love. "Otherwise, help me save the world. I don't care what some Archangel told you to do. Don't listen to him. Listen to me. I love you, Juanita. Trust me!"
  
  "Have faith in Bill," Rochelle said. "Just like you told me."
  
  "Have faith in his love," Cynthia added. "You felt it inside you. How can he be a Demon's pawn with that much love to share?"
  
  "Have faith in your love." Hikaru moved up. "Have faith in your own heart."
  
  A sob wracked her body. Her hand lowered the dagger. "I'm sorry, Bill. The Archangel told me..."
  
  Are you disobeying me? Uriel demanded in her ear.
  
  "Yes," she whispered.
  
  Bill frowned at her.
  
  Are you breaking your oath?
  
  "Yes, I am!" she shouted up at the heavens, tossing the dagger to the gravel-covered ground. "I love Bill and I will not kill him!"
  
  Treachery! spat the Archangel. A shadow fell upon her.
  
  "Juanita!" Bill shouted, raising his sword.
  
  She turned. Uriel stood there, fully manifested, his sword howling with a fierce gale as it slashed down at her.