Avenging Cupids

Chapter 17: Alden's Tragedy

"There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it."

― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

"We are fucking related!?" Willow was not much of a potty mouth but this was too much. It wasn't enough for their love to be forbidden; the Cosmos just had to throw a few more doses of taboo into the goulash.

"No, we don't share any familial blood," he affirmed. "I told you it would start a new story."

Phew!

"You have my unwavering attention," Willow breathed.

"Do you think you can handle any more unspeakable tales?"

"Alden, I've just found out my roots. On top of that, I've just accepted that angels and Cupids and demons are real. There's nothing I can't handle."

Alden smiled at her dotingly. "That's my Willow. So strong and able."

"Wait a sec!" she shouted suddenly. "Can I see your hand?"

"Sure," he replied, his brows wrinkled in confusion. He placed his right hand on Willow's lap.

"Your left hand," she commanded.

Alden did as he was told, although reluctantly it seemed. Willow took his large hand into both of her own. His knuckles were rough and callused but his palms were oh so soft. She curled her fingers around his tungsten ring and tugged it down half a millimeter. She looked up at him. She thought he'd be annoyed at her nosiness but the expression on his face was indifference.

"Go on," he encouraged.

With one final tug, the ring was off. It rolled off his lap and clattered onto the ground. He stared at it but made no move to retrieve it. Willow gaped at the permanent initials.

Could it really be?

She traced the curlicues that were the letters and tapped the dots in. "What does C.K. stand for?" Willow didn't look at him for fear that her presumption was wrong.

Alden cupped her chin and pushed her head up until their eyes met. "Celine Kensington," he breathed.

Holy hell! The most gorgeous guy in the world has a tattoo of my name!

Willow's insides were yelping in glee. A billion twinkling stars and flashing hearts danced across her eyes. She carried on like that for a few minutes before she realized something vital. "Wait, why Celine and not Willow?"

"That's where my side of the story comes in," he smirked. Usually Alden's smile was lit with sunshine but this time, it seemed as if it couldn't find even a single particle of light.

"Well, I'm all ears." She flashed him a dazzling smile in attempt to lift his spirits and Alden began without any further ado.

"My story will stretch your practicality out as far as it can go. While I'm sure you won't believe anything I have to say, the madness I have for you forces me to break my silence anyhow. These secrets I carry are ones I carry alone-secrets that even the universe doesn't know. Elle mentioned that there was something different in our bond that sets us apart from all other soul mates and here's why.

In order for you to understand our bond, you must first know Telocvovim. God created heaven and then he created angels to live in it long before he created mankind. He divided them into choirs, or classes-all with different ranks. In order from highest rank to lowest: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, Angels. Each angelic choir has separate honors and duties but their duties are irrelevant to this story. Members of the angelic choir number in trillions upon trillions. Seraphim, on the other hand, consist of only four angels-actually, now there are only three of them as one has gone missing. They are the closest to God and their wings are covered in eyes as they watch over all of heaven. Very beastly, I say.