The stairwell remained silent long after the Choir departed.
Neither of them moved.
Aiden could still feel the pressure lingering in the air, like the shape of a storm after it had passed. Broken glass covered the floor around them, reflecting fragments of the emergency lights overhead.
Seraphine remained against him.
For a moment, she allowed herself to stay there.
No duty.
No orders.
No Choir.
Just the steady rhythm of Aiden's heartbeat beneath her ear.
Then she pulled away.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she knew she should.
The movement felt wrong to both of them.
Aiden noticed.
Seraphine noticed that he noticed.
Neither spoke.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Aiden broke it.
You said I was marked.
Seraphine's expression immediately darkened.
"I was hoping you wouldn't ask yet."
"That bad?"
She looked away.
That was enough.
Aiden folded his arms.
"Seraphine."
The way he said her name made her close her eyes briefly.
You should be angry.
What?
"You should be angry with me."
He blinked.
Why?
"Because this happened because of me."
Aiden stared at her.
Then he laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Small.
Tired.
But it's real.
The sound caught her completely off guard.
What is funny?
"You."
Her eyes narrowed.
I am being serious.
"I know."
"Then why are you laughing?"
Aiden shook his head.
"Because you almost got erased protecting me and you're still trying to take responsibility for everything."
Seraphine opened her mouth.
Then I closed it again.
Because she didn't respond.
Aiden sighed and leaned against the wall.
"The mark."
He looked at her.
Tell me.
For several seconds she said nothing.
When she finally spoke, her voice was softer than before.
"When the Choir notices a human who shouldn't exist inside a divine event, they place a resonance mark."
"A what?"
"A thread."
Aiden frowned.
"A thread?"
Seraphine nodded.
"Something that allows them to find you."
His stomach churned.
Oh.
Yes.
Oh.
She almost smiled.
"You understand the problem now."
"Little bit."
The stairwell lights flickered.
Both of them looked up immediately.
Nothing happened.
But Seraphine's expression hardened.
They're still watching.
Aiden glanced around.
I don't see anyone.
You aren't supposed to.
That was somehow worse.
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck.
So what now?
Seraphine hesitated.
For the first time since he'd met her, she looked uncertain.
Truly uncertain.
I don't know.
The confession hung between them.
Aiden stared.
"You don't know?"
No.
"I thought angels knew everything."
We don't.
You hide it well.
A faint smile appeared despite herself.
Thank you.
That wasn't a compliment.
"I know."
The smile stayed anyway.
Then it vanished.
Because suddenly the air changed.
Again.
Both of them felt it.
A vibration.
Low.
Subtle.
Coming from somewhere beneath the city.
Aiden's chest tightened instantly.
The sensation was familiar.
Too familiar.
The mark.
His hand flew to his chest.
Pain shot through him.
Sharp.
Brief.
Enough to make him stumble.
"Aiden!"
Seraphine caught him before he hit the ground.
The moment her hand touched him, the pain stopped.
Immediately.
Both of them froze.
Aiden looked at her.
Seraphine looked at him.
Their hands were still touching.
Neither moved.
The silence that followed felt strangely fragile.
"What was that?" Aiden whispered.
Seraphine swallowed.
Her eyes widened slightly.
And for the first time since the Choir had appeared...
She looked afraid.
That's impossible.
What is it?
"The mark shouldn't react this quickly."
Aiden's pulse quickened.
What does that mean?
Seraphine's gaze slowly lifted toward the ceiling.
Towards the sky.
Toward something far beyond it.
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"It means they aren't waiting."
Aiden felt cold.
"They?"
The fear in her eyes deepened.
"The Choir."
A distant sound echoed across the city.
Not thunder.
Not wind.
A bell.
One single note.
Ancient.
Deep.
Wrong.
Every light in the stairwell flickered at once.
Then they went out.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And somewhere far above the clouds...
Something answered the bell.