Confrontation

Jenny sat in her living room, cold and unwelcoming.

She drew in a shaky breath, her eyes fixed on the dagger resting on the coffee table, golden hilt gleaming, crimson blade dark… hungry.

A prize taken from a general of Hell.

It had claimed the lives of angels.

Her gaze didn’t waver.

Would there be room for one more?

“Why do you cling to such useless things?”

Jenny’s head snapped up.

An antlered woman stood beside the mantel.

“Who are you?”

The woman didn’t answer. She turned instead, trailing her fingers along the wood until they found a small crystal vial.

“Oh…” she murmured. “The tears of sorrow and heartbreak.” A faint smile touched her lips. “And you keep them.”

Her gaze flicked back to Jenny.

“Why?”

One finger lengthened, stretching into a golden talon.

She pressed it lightly against the glass.

Cracks spread in jagged lines.

Then, just a nudge.

The vial fell and shattered against the floor.

The woman didn’t look down.

Her eyes never left Jenny.

Jenny’s jaw tightened.

“Are you here to torture me… or kill me?”

“And who the fuck are you?”

The woman drifted to the chair across from her and sat.

With a flick of her hand, the blood dagger tore free from the table and slid into her grasp as if it had always belonged there.

“Asmodeus’s war blade,” she said, turning it slightly, studying the edge. “It has killed many of your kind.” Her eyes flicked up.“Quite the prize.”

Jenny swallowed, her gaze locked on the weapon.

“Then it’s death.” She lifted her eyes to meet the woman’s. “Before you kill me… I want your name.”

The woman raised the blade and drove it into the table to the hilt.

Wood cracked.

Then, without effort, she snapped it in half.

Jenny flinched. “Why?” she cried. “I just want to die. Just kill me, please!”

“No…” The woman’s voice softened, almost reverent. “I would rather sever my own arm than destroy a being such as you.”

A faint smile touched her lips. “Sable of the Wrath… or is it Aurora?”

Jenny went still.

The room seemed to fall away.

“How do you know those names?” she asked, her voice tight, anger threading through it.

The woman tilted her head slightly. “I know many, many things.”

She leaned in, her gaze sharpening.

“You met someone today; someone who showed you mercy. Someone who fights for something you have yet to understand. To you… she is an impossibility.”

Jenny’s jaw clenched. “Who is she?”

The woman leaned back, smiling. “She’s everything you think you are.”

Something snapped.

“I know what I am,” Jenny shot back. “I know who I am. That thing, that demon, is a liar. A manipulator. She twists the truth, makes it look like something righteous.” She stepped forward, voice rising. “So don’t you dare…don’t you dare say she’s better than me.”

“And yet… here you are,” the woman said, gesturing to the broken blade. “Playing with Asmodeus’s war blade.” Her eyes narrowed.“What were you planning? Why did you ask me to kill you, Aurora?”

“That is not my name,” Jenny said through gritted teeth.

The woman’s voice softened. “It was the name given to you at birth. The name of who you truly are.”

Jenny raised her right hand, then hesitated. She stared at it.Then lifted it again. Fear and confusion flickered in her eyes.

“If you’re trying to summon your master’s mace, it will not come.”The woman’s gaze hardened. “Now sit.”

Jenny trembled as she lowered herself into the chair, her eyes locked on the woman. “Who the fuck are you?”

The woman leaned forward, tracing a finger along the edge of the coffee table.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she looked up.

“The mother of all things.” Her eyes held Jenny’s. “I am Eden.”

“You’re more like the mother of rot and deception,” Jenny shot back. “You are no Eden.”

Eden’s expression didn’t change.

“How have I deceived you?”

“You call me by that name.” Jenny stepped forward, her jaw tightening. “I am Sable of the Wrath, the right hand of the righteous one.”

“And what does that mean?”

Jenny didn’t hesitate. “I destroy those who stand against the righteous.” Her voice hardened. “I destroy those who prey upon the weak. I know who I am.”

Eden tilted her head. “Do you?”

“Yes!”

“The righteous one…” Eden said. “The righteous one of what?” Her gaze sharpened. “So tell me, Aurora. if you are the right hand… why do you have Asmodeus’s blade tonight?”...”Why would a weapon of the righteous seek comfort in of weapon of Hell?”

Silence stretched between them..

“Stop calling me by that name!” Jenny snapped. “I know what I am,” she whispered.

“You know what you are,” Eden said. “Do you know who you are?”

“Stop! Just stop!” Jenny’s voice broke. She dragged a hand through her hair, shaking. “I don’t want to play your game anymore. Just fucking leave. Get the fuck out!”

“I understand.” Eden rose. “I’ll leave you to your misery.”

“You understand nothing!” Jenny’s breath hitched. “I…I know what I am… I know who I am!”

As Eden passed her, she let her hand brush lightly across Jenny’s shoulder.

Jenny flinched, recoiling. “Don’t fucking touch me!”

Eden paused.

“You know…” she said lightly, almost thoughtfully, “you two remind me of my daughters.” A faint smile touched her lips. “One knows exactly who she is.” Her eyes flicked toward Jenny. “The other is still searching.”

Jenny shot to her feet. “Two?” She stepped toward Eden. “What the fuck do you mean, two?!”

“He was never going to tell you,” Eden said with a small smile. “But you have a twin.”

Jenny staggered back, her expression twisting. “Liar!”

Eden stepped closer. “The only thing here that is a lie…” she said, her voice cutting, “ is you.”

“I will kill you when we meet again.”

“You may try, and fail.” Eden tilted her head. “Or you can listen. Then maybe you’ll understand.”

“Fuck you and your riddles!”

Eden studied her for a moment.

“One more thing before I leave.”

“I don’t want to hear it!”

“Your sister fights for what she loves, for those she holds dear, for those who cannot.” Eden’s gaze hardened. “And you?...Duty. Honor.” She let the words linger. “Empty… without something worth protecting.”

“Get the fuck out!”