The devil was once an angel

Chapter 1: Echoes Of Grace

The city never slept. The relentless hum of traffic and the bright glow of neon signs painted the streets in hues of restless energy. Evelyn Matthews stared out of her apartment window on the 17th floor, the sprawling metropolis below a maze of lights and shadows. At 28, her life had taken an unexpected turn from the celestial heights she once knew to the mundane routines of modern existence.

Her office job as an administrative assistant was a far cry from the divine purpose she had once fulfilled. The paperwork, endless meetings, and the dispassionate chatter of colleagues were a stark contrast to the clarity and grace of her previous life. She had made a deliberate choice to live among humans, to blend in, but every so often, she could still feel the echo of her former self.

Evelyn took a deep breath and adjusted her grip on the coffee mug in her hands. The steam swirled in the dim light of her small, cluttered kitchen. It was an ordinary evening in September, and she had just finished another day of monotonous tasks. She was used to the disquieting feeling that accompanied her evenings, the creeping unease that something was about to change, but tonight it felt stronger than ever.

A sudden knock on the door jolted her from her thoughts. Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat. It was unusual for anyone to visit her unannounced, and the knocking was persistent, almost urgent. She set her mug down and walked to the door, her steps measured and deliberate.

Peeking through the peephole, she saw nothing but the dimly lit hallway. Cautiously, she opened the door to find no one there. Instead, lying on the welcome mat was a small, unmarked envelope. Evelyn picked it up with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The envelope was plain, its only distinguishing feature a wax seal stamped with an intricate emblem—a symbol she vaguely recognized but couldn’t quite place.

With trembling hands, she opened the envelope and extracted a single sheet of paper. The message was typed in a serif font, the words stark against the white paper:

*"We need to talk. Tonight. The old ways are calling. Meet me at the park at midnight."*

Evelyn’s mind raced. The park was just a few blocks away, a quiet green space surrounded by the city’s concrete jungle. But the message's tone and the mention of "the old ways" struck a chord deep within her. It was a reminder of a life she had tried so hard to forget, a life she had left behind.

She glanced at the clock. It was already past eleven. The idea of going to the park in the middle of the night made her uneasy, but something about the message felt urgent and personal. Against her better judgment, she decided to go. There was a part of her that couldn’t ignore the pull of her past, a part that was still connected to the divine realm she had forsaken.

Evelyn quickly grabbed her coat and headed out. The city streets were quieter now, the night enveloping them in a blanket of muted sounds. She walked briskly, the cool air a sharp contrast to the warmth of her apartment. As she neared the park, the trees stood like silent sentinels in the dim light of streetlamps.

She reached the park entrance and hesitated. Her gaze scanned the empty pathways, searching for any sign of life. It was eerily quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves and the distant hum of traffic. Then, from the shadows emerged a figure—tall, with an air of authority and mystery. The figure wore a long coat that seemed to blend into the darkness.

“Evelyn Matthews?” the figure’s voice was smooth and resonant, carrying an undertone that sent shivers down her spine.

“Yes,” she replied, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.

The figure stepped into the light, revealing a man with striking features and piercing eyes. His gaze seemed to see straight through her, as if he was aware of the secrets she harbored.

“I’m Julian,” he said, extending a hand. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Evelyn shook his hand cautiously, feeling a strange energy emanating from him. There was something unsettling yet magnetic about Julian, something that made her feel both apprehensive and intrigued.

“Why did you want to meet?” Evelyn asked, trying to maintain her composure.

Julian’s eyes softened, though his expression remained enigmatic. “There’s much we need to discuss, Evelyn. About your past… and your future.”

The darkness of the park seemed to close in around them, as if the night itself were holding its breath, waiting for the revelations that were about to unfold.

Evelyn took a deep breath, bracing herself for the conversation that would inevitably pull her deeper into the shadows of her former life. The echoes of her grace, long buried beneath layers of everyday existence, were stirring once more.