"What did I do?!" Panic crashed over Uriel; she clutched her face so hard she gouged it with her nails.
She couldn't stop. Images poured through her. Uriel had been directly linked to every angel circling the world, and she'd seen everything through their eyes.
She saw how millions died in answer to her own words. She realized she had caused all those deaths—had exploited their blind faith and directly midwifed the monster Frey Starlight was now fighting.
Uriel had always been the type to bear pain alone, to hide it deep and show the world nothing but her gentle smile.
But this time she couldn't hide it. The pain was immense. The guilt, greater.
Uriel shattered, sobbing as the faces of those who'd sacrificed themselves in obedience to her words surged up to meet her.
"No ... NO!!!" she screamed, bursting into tears as her nails raked bloody furrows across her beautiful face.
