'Til We Meet Again - Crowley x Reader

Chapter 42

5 Hours and 48 Minutes to the End of the World

I was walking down the pristine hallways of Heaven, the ethereal glow of the celestial realm enveloping me. My search for Raphael was taking me further into the heart of this divine sanctuary. I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease, wondering why he was so hard to find today. I rounded a corner and, at the end of the corridor, I spotted him.

Raphael stood there, in hurried conversation with Lucifer. They spoke in whispers as if sharing a forbidden secret. Something was definitely amiss, and my curiosity got the best of me.

I instinctively pressed my back against the wall, hiding in the shadowy alcove. I strained to hear their conversation. Lucifer, with his silver tongue and compelling presence, was making an offer to Raphael, one that sent shivers down my celestial spine. I strained to hear their words as Lucifer promised to reveal the answers Raphael sought, the mysteries that had been plaguing him for so long. All Raphael had to do was join Lucifer's side, to partake in whatever rebellious schemes were brewing among the rebellious angels.

Their agreement was sealed with a handshake, and the weight of the conversation seemed to hang heavily in the air. With a cryptic warning about an impending rebellion, Lucifer left Raphael behind, his mind surely swimming with newfound knowledge.

I couldn't believe what I had just overheard. My heart sank, and my mind struggled to process the implications of their deal. I wanted to believe that Raphael was steadfast in his goodness, unwavering in his commitment to Heaven's cause. Surely, he wouldn't entertain the notions of rebellion and disobedience. My love for him made it difficult to fathom.

My heart pounded as I turned the corner, coming face to face with Raphael, who seemed taken aback by our abrupt encounter. I offered a warm smile, pretending that I hadn't overheard a thing.

I decided to keep my newfound knowledge to myself, choosing to believe in his goodness. He was the angel I loved, after all, and angels like him were incorruptible.

"Hello, my love," I greeted him, wrapping my wings around me to conceal the turmoil that brewed within my heart.

Raphael, with his features carrying an unfamiliar weight, smiled at me. His wings, which had always shone with a brilliant, ethereal light, had taken on a darker hue, and it sent an unsettling chill down my spine.

We walked together towards my workshop, engaged in casual conversation about the forthcoming creation of Earth, but something had shifted between us. Raphael seemed nervous, and distracted. And as we reached the workshop's entrance, he leaned in and kissed me with an urgency I hadn't felt before, as if he were compelled by a secret, a heavy burden that he couldn't share.

He broke the kiss abruptly, leaving me stunned and with a multitude of unanswered questions. Raphael hurriedly left, disappearing down the hall, leaving me to grapple with the unsettling knowledge that he had somehow become entangled with Lucifer's schemes.

—

As I meticulously worked on my final creation, the most special of all, the human, there was a sudden disturbance that interrupted the otherwise tranquil atmosphere in my workshop. I could hear voices, raised in distress, and a commotion outside. It seemed like chaos was unfolding beyond the walls of my sanctuary, but I was too engrossed in my task to immediately grasp the gravity of the situation.

With trembling hands, I put the finishing touches on the delicate form of the human, sculpting its body, and breathing life into it. The air was filled with a sense of urgency, and the distant echoes of commotion grew louder with each passing second.