The next day, Celine was out with her friend Violeta, but her mind was elsewhere. She kept dozing off, unable to stop thinking about the night before.
Was he stalking her? What had he meant by that warning? Was she in danger? Was her kingdom? What was this unknown threat?
"Celine, are you okay? You seem... off today," Violeta asked, raising a brow.
They sat on a billowing cloud, lazily shaping the mist into different objects.
"Yeah. Just a bad nightmare last night," Celine lied, scratching her head.
"Oh really? What was it about?" Violeta asked as she sculpted a small unicorn into the cloud. With a flick of her hand, the creature began to move, galloping in circles around them.
Celine managed a faint smile.
"Well... there was this demon," she began.
Violeta gasped. The cloud-unicorn instantly dissolved into mist.
"Oh my goddess. That must've been terrifying," she said, wide-eyed with a hand over her mouth.
"It was. Definitely," Celine replied, but her tone was far away and her eyes fixed on the horizon, lost in thought.
"I bet he looked horrible. Like, fur everywhere and a twisted, beastly face," Violeta said with a shiver, scrunching her nose in disgust.
But Celine had been captivated by him.
Despite the fangs, the horns, and the sharpness in his gaze, he wasn't ugly. He was striking—powerful, yes, but there was a quiet elegance to him that unsettled her more than any monster would have.
Growing up, she'd been taught that demons were hideous, monstrous things—barely even human. That they ripped angels apart the moment they laid eyes on them.
But he hadn't done that. He hadn't even tried. If anything, he'd looked... confused. Like he didn't understand why she was so afraid.
His words had chilled her, yes, but there had been no malice behind them. Just mystery.
"Did he kill you in the dream?" Violeta asked, leaning closer.
Celine paused, then said softly, "No. He... wanted me."
"Probably to torture," Violeta replied, scrunching her nose.
Maybe that.
Maybe to explore her. Her mind. Her soul. She wasn't sure. She couldn't read him—his gaze was too layered. There had been hunger in his eyes, yes, but also wonder. Like he was seeing something he didn't understand... something he craved.
It left her feeling strangely restless—uneasy, yet... thrilled. A part of her didn't know whether to run from him or toward him.
Celine smiled faintly at Violeta, but her thoughts were still tangled around the night before.
⸻
Later that day, Celine made her way into the Grand Library of Lumara. She visited often—books were her favorite escape. Her sanctuary.
She drifted down the endless marble aisles, scanning the shelves. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but her fingers seemed to search on their own.
Eventually, she found herself in the history wing. Her eyes landed on thick volumes lined with golden thread—stories of the ancient wars between angels and demons.
She remembered reading these in school: how, centuries ago, the angels defeated the demons and banished them to the underworld. A place of fire, despair, endless screaming—a prison of shadows.
She thought of Solem.
Was that really where he lived?
She couldn't imagine it. Couldn't picture someone like him trapped in a world like that. It made her chest ache.
As she floated forward, deep in thought, she accidentally bumped into someone.
A book dropped. His glasses slipped off.
"Oh my—I'm so sorry!" Celine said quickly.
"No worries," the boy replied with a polite smile as he bent to pick them up.
As he stood, she caught a glimpse of the book in his hand, and her heart skipped.
She recognized it instantly.
Night of the Shattered Wing.
"I love that book," Celine said with a smile.
The boy chuckled. "Oh, me too. I've read it once before—it's my favorite."
"Mine too." She extended her hand with a gentle nod. "Celine."
"I know who you are," he replied, smiling. "You're the princess."
She laughed nervously.
In the kingdom of Lumara, royalty was highly respected, but not placed on a pedestal. Celine lived like any other angel. No grand parades, no constant attention. She preferred it that way.
"I have to ask—who are you rooting for in the book? Let me guess... Ezren?"
"Oh please," she laughed. "I'm not that cliché. Definitely Arin."
"Really? Arin?" he grinned. "Didn't expect that."
"I think he's misunderstood," she said with a shrug. "And you?"
"Lucian. No question."
She laughed again. "Oh, the nerdy guy."
"He's like me."
They grinned at each other—clicking instantly, like stars finding the right orbit. They kept talking, bouncing from one story to the next, diving into books they loved, characters they hated, worlds they wished were real.
"If you ever want to come over and read sometime," he offered, "you always could."
Celine hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Yeah... we definitely could. I've got some duties on Earth today, but I should be free around nightfall. Where do you live?"
"Last house on Cloudsdale Avenue."
"Perfect. I'll be there then." She smiled as she turned. "See you, Noen."
"See you," he called back, watching as she flew away into the soft, glowing mist.
—
After a long day of comforting lost souls—Celine returned to her personal cloud. She sank into it, letting herself relax, letting the day dissolve.
Her thoughts wandered to Noen. Soon, she'd be heading to his place to read. The idea of curling up with a good story, with someone who shared her love for books, brought a calm, happy feeling.
But then, her mirror shimmered.
She sat up, puzzled.
"I'm off duty," she muttered. "There shouldn't be anything coming through."
Still, she walked toward it cautiously. The surface of the mirror rippled like a still pond disturbed by a stone.
Curiosity won. Always did.
She reached out and stepped through the mirror's shimmering surface—emerging from the reflection and stepping out of water
The cool lake lapped quietly at her feet, but she was dry.
She looked down, surprised for a moment, then slowly scanned the quiet, fog-filled forest. Not a soul in sight.
"A trap," she said under her breath, annoyed.
Then she heard it: a child crying.
Her eyes caught a flicker of firelight in the distance. A campfire.
She moved closer and tucked herself behind a tree, listening.
Two adults were shouting—angry and sharp.
"How the fuck do you forget the food?" the man barked, getting in the woman's face.
"I—I didn't! You said it was in the cooler!" she yelled back, voice shaking.
Celine's heart clenched. A small child sat nearby, watching them argue, hugging their knees tightly. It was awful. That poor child, caught in the middle of something that shouldn't have touched them.
She looked down at the lake's surface, still calm and clear.
Closing her eyes, she pictured two fishing rods.
Slowly, she reached into the water's reflection and pulled the rods out—dry, solid, and real.
She waited until the adults went inside their tent, then quietly approached the edge of their camp.
The child looked up and saw her. She gave a small wink and smile.
The child smiled back.
Celine gently set the fishing rods near the tent, tucking them beneath some leaves and dirt. Then she turned and disappeared into the woods.
She crossed the lake and sat at its farthest edge, dipping her toes into the water. A moment of peace. Just a few more minutes and she'd return to Lumara—to Noen.
But then... clapping.
Slow. Mocking. Familiar.
"Good job, pretty girl," came a voice behind her.
Celine froze, then turned—and there he was again.
Solem.
He looked as he did when they first met. In all black, fangs, horns, and his wings.
He sat beside her like he belonged there.
She jumped to her feet. "How do you keep finding me?"
"I'm not staying long," she added quickly. "I was just about to leave."
He pouted. "After all the work I did just to see you again?"
He leaned back against a mossy rock. "I literally ate their food supply."
Her mouth dropped. "That was you?"
"You eat human food?" she added.
"Wow, rude." He laughed. "What do you think I eat? Humans?"
She stared at him with a blank stare.
"Gross. No." He shook his head, still grinning. "Who told you that?"
Her history books, of course.
"I don't have time for this today," she said flatly. "Or any day. I've asked you to leave me alone—multiple times. You never listen."
"I do listen." He smirked. "I just don't care."
She turned toward the lake's surface, raising her hand as the reflection began to ripple, forming a glowing portal.
But before she could step through, he grabbed her wrist.
"Why so rushed?"
"For your information," she snapped, "I'm off to read with a friend."
He raised a brow. "Oh? What kind of friend?"
She groaned. "He's just a regular angel. What is your problem?"
He gasped dramatically. "No wonder you're acting so snotty with me lately... you've got a boyfriend."
"I do not," she said, rolling her eyes.
He nudged her shoulder playfully. "Yeah, okay, Celine."
She narrowed her eyes. "Even if I did, why would you care?"
"Trust me, I don't care," he said with a sly smile. "I'm fine with that."
Why did he say it like that? What did he truly mean by that?
"Look," Celine said, steadying herself, "if I'm going to talk to you about anything, it's about that thing you said... the thing you think I should know."
"Ah, yes!" Solem grinned, raising a finger like he'd just won a game. "I want to see you figure it out on your own."
He looked at her like they were playing charades—or some secret game only they understood.
She let out a small laugh, then quickly covered her face, embarrassed.
He stood up and gently grabbed her hand.
"Why cover your face?" he murmured, locking eyes with her. The intensity made her nervous.
A wave of emotions crashed over her—confusion, attraction, fear—all tangled together in a way she'd never felt before.
She took a step back, shaking her head as if trying to snap out of it.
"When did you meet this friend of yours?" he asked.
"Today," she answered quietly.
"And you're already hanging out with him? But you won't spend time with me?"
"You know we can't," she said. "We're... well, you know."
He rolled his eyes, as if this argument was tired and overdone. He already knew what she'd say: demons and angels, forbidden bonds. Yeah whatever, he didn't care. He was intrigued by her, by something beyond her beauty. Something electric.
"We're what, Celine?" he teased. "I'll show you what. We're both..."
Before she could answer, he swept her off her feet and tossed her into the water.
"Wet!" he laughed.
"Solem!" she shouted, sputtering as he wiped water from her face and pushed her dripping hair back.
She started splashing wildly, but then he caught her—lifting her bridal style in the water, her long white dress flowing around them like silk.
"Solem, why did you—" she began, but he silenced her with a gentle shush.
"You can't swim? You must not go swimming often," he said with a soft smile. "Just feel the water. Doesn't it feel nice?"
And it did. The water was cold, but his warmth held her steady.
She looked up at him. His glowing eyes seemed to pierce right through her, staring into her soul. Time felt frozen between them.
Suddenly self-conscious, she looked away.
What am I doing? What am I feeling?
She pushed off him, trying to swim away, but he supported her under her stomach, steadying her.
Back on the shore, she stood dripping, cold air biting at her skin.
"Great," she muttered sarcastically to herself.
Before she could do anything else, Solem walked right out of the lake and scooped her up again.
"Not this again! What are you doing?!" she shouted, flailing.
Without answering, he took off into the sky, her arms instinctively wrapping around him tight as the wind whipped around them.
"This'll help you dry off," he said with a smirk.
Celine could hardly process what was happening. Her thoughts were a blur—and somewhere in that blur, she'd completely forgotten about Noen.
Solem flew fast and high, until they reached the glowing sprawl of a city far below. He landed gently on the rooftop of a tall building and set her down with care, then sat beside her.
"Isn't the view beautiful?" he asked.
It was. The city glowed beneath them, scattered lights like stars turned upside down.
She nodded quietly, still catching her breath.
They sat there in silence, watching the world from above. The breeze was cool. The sky was beginning to darken. She felt... calm. Safer than she expected.
So much so that, without realizing it, she fell asleep—her head resting on his shoulder.
Solem looked down at her. A faint smile crossed his lips.
He wasn't the type for romance. He didn't even know what this was supposed to be. All he'd wanted was to figure her out. She was the one soul he couldn't read—and he could read everyone. She was mysterious. Beautiful in a way that went beyond her face. The total opposite of him.
And yet, instead of hating her, he couldn't stop watching her.
An angel was asleep on his shoulder.
He gently shifted her, resting her head in his lap, careful not to wake her. Then he lit a cigarette and stared out at the city, smoke curling into the sky.
Time passed. She slept soundly.
But then, from his pocket, he pulled out a small bag of coke. As he held it in his hand, Celine began to stir.
Her eyes fluttered open, and when she saw where she was, her heart dropped.
She was on a demon's lap.
Her wings twitched in panic. She sat up quickly, backing away from him, breathing fast.
"I—I need to go," she said, her voice cracking.
Then she saw it.
The bag in his hand.
She froze. Her face shifted from fear to deep disgust.
Without another word, she spread her wings— pure, brilliant white, and shot up into the sky like a flash of light.
Solem sat there, watching her disappear into the night sky.
He looked down at the bag in his hand... then back up at the sky where she vanished.
He missed her already.
Her presence filled something in him that no substance ever could.