The Seventh Angel

Chapter 14

I'm enveloped in the white void once again, golden flickers and gentle, serene lights swirling around me as I stand amidst the open expanse. Memories unfold before me like a screen, drawing me in despite my hesitation.

"Az, are you okay?" My body fades, and I find myself within Kambiel's memory. He approaches the black-winged angel-both of them appear younger. They're in a vast garden, surrounded by flowers unlike any I've seen before, their colors vivid and enchanting. Everything shimmers with a radiant light. The black-winged male glances back at Kambiel, nodding, though sadness lingers in his eyes.

"What did he order you to do this time?" Kambiel sits beside him. They are equals in height and build, yet opposites in appearance-one with white hair and wings, the other with black. Yin and yang.

"He just reminded me that I will never hold a position like yours," Azrael shrugs, offering a smile that seems genuine, yet his dark eyes betray the pain within. "I can never be a leader of The Astralis because I am a Nephilim."

"Don't listen to him. When my time comes, I'll make sure you and I rule the Astralis Kingdom together, and there will be no more division between the Ascended and Nephilim." Kambiel's voice is firm, brimming with confidence and hope. The memory feels too intimate for me to remain, so I try to pull away. As the thought crosses my mind, the image shifts, and I'm thrust into another memory.

This time, I'm in a grand room, vast and resplendent, adorned with intricate gold and white patterns that flow along the walls, reflecting the light in mesmerizing ways. A man sits on a throne-like seat-well-built, with honey-colored hair, a beard, and sharp blue eyes that mirror Kambiel's. He looks upset, rising as the black-winged male approaches. Before a word can be exchanged, the man strikes him with such force that he crashes to the ground. Kambiel steps forward instinctively, but the king's piercing stare stops him in his tracks.

"How many times have I told you not to cross into Terra?" he bellows, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Do you wish to find yourself enchanted by a mortal, making the same mistake as I did?" His words are sharp as the black-winged angel lies on the floor. "I command you to stop visiting Terra and forsake becoming a Watcher. You've been noticed, and that is a danger we cannot afford."

"Father, let him be-" Kambiel starts, but his father silences him with a glare. "You must understand the fate awaiting you if you continue venturing into that treacherous place where mortal women can beguile and manipulate you! You will be outcast, just as Azrael has been!" The king's voice rings out, the sharpness lingering in the air, his fury filling the space.

Azrael rises slowly, eyes burning with resentment, but remains silent. Blood trickles from his lip.

"Your mother was a worthless human, and you have become just like her. You will never ascend to lead The Astralis Kingdom."

Azrael's gaze locks onto Kambiel's, a silent plea for intervention, but Kambiel remains quiet, the moment and place not right for action. The black-winged angel's expression hardens with disappointment.

"Now, out of my sight. Go to the warrior grounds where you can toughen up," the king commands, turning his back.

"Az-"

"Leave me be." Azrael mutters, brushing past Kambiel as he exits the room.

Suddenly, Kambiel from the memory locks eyes with me, his gaze piercing and emotionless. My heart races, realizing he's aware of my presence, but I quickly vanish, leaping into a more recent memory. I see myself-standing in the cave, light glinting off my hair and illuminating my eyes as I scan the surroundings. I look beautiful in his eyes but then, I'm in the river, staring up at the sky while he watches me. The surge of attraction overwhelms me again, tangled with frustration and irritation.