† 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 † Angels Love

Chapter 26

Christopher's POV

The classroom was buzzing with anticipation as students filed in, taking their seats. History class was usually a mix of boredom and half-hearted attention, but today was different. The news had spread quickly: Rou, the infamous devil who had once been in love with an angel, was coming to speak. The entire room was filled with a nervous energy, angels and devils alike whispering in hushed tones, exchanging glances.

I took my usual seat at the back of the room, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed, my expression carefully neutral. Inside, though, I was anything but calm. My mind raced with thoughts of what Rou might say, of what would happen when she spoke about Zade, about love, about the price of defying the Codex. 

And about me.

My eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face. Star sat in the front row, her back straight, hands folded neatly on her desk. She was the picture of composure, her expression a mask of indifference. But I knew her better than that. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers twitched slightly, as if she was holding herself back. She hadn't looked at me in weeks, hadn't spoken to me since that night in the rain. She was doing exactly what her father wanted, being the perfect daughter, the obedient angel.

I tore my gaze away from her, a pang of frustration flaring in my chest. Every time I saw her, I had to fight the urge to go to her, to make her listen, to break through the walls she'd built. But I couldn't. Not yet. Not while my own walls were still standing.

The door opened, and the room fell silent as Rou entered. She was tall and striking, with dark hair that fell in waves around her shoulders and eyes that seemed to pierce right through you. She moved with a grace that was almost ethereal, her wings tucked neatly behind her, the tips brushing the floor. Her presence commanded attention, and even those who had been whispering a moment ago fell silent, their eyes fixed on her.

She walked to the front of the room, her gaze sweeping over the students, her expression calm and composed. "Good morning," she said, her voice smooth and clear. "My name is Rou. I've been asked to speak to you today about my experiences, about the choices I made, and the consequences that followed."

My jaw tightened, and I felt my hands clench into fists at my sides. I knew what was coming. I knew she would talk about Zade, about their love, about how everything had gone wrong. My brother's name hung in the air like a ghost, a reminder of everything I'd lost, everything that had been taken from us.

"I loved an angel," Rou continued, her eyes meeting mine for a brief second before moving on. "His name was Zade." Her eyes met Star's. "Some of you may know him as the angel who broke the Codex, who defied the rules. But to me, he was just Zade. He was kind, brave, and he believed that love was stronger than fear, stronger than the laws that kept us apart."

A murmur went through the room, students shifting in their seats, some casting glances my way. I kept my face expressionless, refusing to react. I could feel the weight of their stares, the unspoken questions hanging in the air. 

No one had ever known the full story. 

No one had ever known that Rou was my sister.

"Our love was forbidden," Rou continued, her voice softening. "The Codex is clear about the boundaries between angels and devils. But Zade and I didn't care. We believed that love could transcend those boundaries, that it could bridge the divide between our worlds...

We were wrong."

The room was silent now, every eye fixed on Rou, every ear listening intently. "When our love was discovered, we faced the full weight of the Codex's punishment. Zade was taken from me, and I was imprisoned, condemned for my defiance. But the worst punishment wasn't."

Du:ChatGPT:

I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the stone floor, cutting through Rou's words like a blade. The entire class turned to look at me, startled by the sudden movement. Rou's eyes met mine, and in them, I saw a flicker of something—recognition, a silent plea. But I wasn't in the mood for silent pleas or recognition. Anger churned inside me, hot and relentless, driving me forward.

"You think you can just come in here and talk about Zade like that?" I said, my voice louder than I intended. "Like you were some kind of tragic hero, some star-crossed lover who did nothing wrong?"

The room was deathly quiet. Angels and devils alike watched us with wide eyes, the tension thick enough to cut. I saw Star turn in her seat, her eyes finding mine for the first time in weeks. There was confusion on her face, and something else—fear, maybe. But I couldn't focus on that. Not now.

Rou didn't flinch. She stood there, calm and composed, as if she'd expected this. "Christopher," she said softly, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the class. "This isn't the time-"

"This is exactly the time!" I snapped, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "You talk about Zade like he was a victim of the Codex, like it's just some tragic love story. But he was my friend! He was more than that- he was my brother!" My voice broke on the last word, the truth hanging heavy in the air.

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Whispers erupted as students exchanged shocked glances. I saw eyes widen, mouths drop open in disbelief. Star's eyes locked onto mine, her face paling as the realization hit her. The truth that had been hidden for so long was now out in the open, and there was no taking it back.

Rou took a deep breath, her composure slipping for a moment as pain flashed across her features. "I know what Zade meant to you," she said, her voice steady but laced with sadness. "He meant everything to me too. I loved him, Christopher. He was more than just a brother to you- he was my soulmate. The Codex couldn't change that."

"Your love got him killed!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "Our family, our friends- they all suffered because of you! Because you couldn't follow the rules, because you thought you were above them!"

Tears shone in Rou's eyes, but she stood her ground, her gaze never leaving mine. "Zade made his own choices," she said quietly. "He chose to love me, knowing the risks. We both did. And we paid the price. I've lived with that guilt every day since."

"Not enough," I growled, my voice a low hiss. "Not nearly enough. Do you know what it's like to watch the people you love die because of someone else's selfishness? Do you know what it's like to live with that every day?"

Rou's eyes softened, her voice breaking. "Yes, Christopher," she whispered. "I do. Because Zade's death wasn't just a punishment for me- it was a punishment for you, too. For loving him, for being his friend, for being part of our family. The Codex made sure of that."

I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving me breathless and hollow. The weight of her words hit me like a punch to the gut, the truth I'd been trying to ignore for so long finally laid bare. Zade's death hadn't just been about love- it had been about family, about the ties that bound us all together, how he treadted me like I was his blood-brother.

"Then why?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Why are you here, Rou? Why are you telling them about Zade now?"

Rou took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the room before returning to me. "Because they deserve to know the truth," she said. "About Zade, about us, about what happens when love is forced into hiding, when rules become chains. I came here to make sure no one else has to suffer like we did. Like you did."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with a mixture of pain and resolve. I stared at her, my anger slowly draining away, replaced by a cold, hard realization. Rou was right. The truth couldn't stay hidden forever. And as much as I hated it, as much as I wanted to keep everything locked away, I couldn't fight the past.