A Diabolical Separation ✔ (Sequel To An Angelic Devotion) (GirlxGirl) (Lesbian)

Chapter 5 Part 1

"ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ sᴏʀʀʏ ᴛᴏᴏ. ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴏ." 

 — ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ, ʜᴀʀʀʏ sᴛʏʟᴇs 

 ❖

When I swore into a seraph-guardian bond with Charlie moments ago, there was no glowing scriptures or fairytale vibes like there was for Jayden and me. And although it came as a surprise, I didn't reject the union like I felt I should've. I needed to get it done and over with, not only for my guild, but for my sanity.

Leopold, of course, is back to his normal self, zipping around as I snail out of his office and head back for my apartment. Charlie stays back to speak with him as Rita and Brittany wait to embrace me outside. I feel bad for them—or anyone—seeing me up close because I'm a big mess. I haven't showered or freshened up yet this morning, my hair all disheveled, my face red and swollen.

But as I part with the girls to get on with my Friday, Charlie calls my name. "Wait, a sec!" He jogs up to stop me, turns me around, and gushes, "I know you're hurt right now, and you're probably scared and—"

"What is it, Charlie?" I hold my chest to cover the hole it feels I have within me.

"I swear I will protect you with my life, Ophelia, I swear." He stresses as I force myself to smile, nod, and lastly, hug him. Brittany and Rita stand back, looking over at one another with pure disappointment. But they drop their expressions as my uncle joins us, wrapping around his flame as they watch Charlie and me. I wish I could say I was happy like Leopold, or even irritated like the two beside him, but I still feel nothing.

I thought a long shower would make me feel better. But as I catch myself standing before my bathroom mirror for God knows how long, I notice the scar Satan left on me a year ago has fully faded away. But also realizing Jayden's diamond still around my neck completely breaks me. I debate taking it off, along with our angelic anniversary ring. But I get lost in memories of ours that make me colder than ice.

Though as I glance up at my reflection, I'm startled by seeing someone else sharing it with me. Charlie, holding a schedule written in his scratchy handwriting, looks at me with raised brows. How and when did he get here? Thank goodness I'm wrapped in a towel! But even if my door was shut and locked, my privacy would still be at stake as he's always using his x-ray vision. "Charlie . . ." I clear my throat. "What's up?"

"I just came to check on you since you were taking a while." He shows me the sheet and current time on his phone to add, "We gotta get going real soon."

"Yes, of course—"

Charlie steps closer, peering down at me. "Ophy, I know you're not alright, but are you alright? What was that?"

"What?" I swallow.

"That blank moment thing you had then?"

"Oh, nothing . . ." I shrug and say about my jewelry, "I was just thinking about taking them off. But I don't know yet. What do you think? Could it be too early? Too late?"

"Whenever you feel it's time, Ophy." He nods.

I murmur, "I'll end up keeping them on forever then."

My guardian runs his hand through his hair, mumbling, "If it were me, I'd do it now since I don't enjoy holding onto the past too long, you know?"

"I do." I nod, keeping myself from rolling my eyes or cracking up. Because how can he consider my pain 'the past' but not our staged relationship?

Though as I go to add onto my thought, he pries, "You'll ditch them though, right? I need to know."