Dark Wings, Burning Hearts {BXB}

II

                          Azriel

I stood in the dimly lit room of the nexus, the walls shifting ever so slightly, like a breath. This place was alive — more than a house, more than a structure. It was old, ancient, with secrets etched into every fiber of its being. I stood there thinking about Charlie, my God, I have never seen a creature so beautiful. It's as if my feet were glued to the floor, unable to take my eyes off of where he stood moments before. My question was, how was he able to enter?

Lysander appeared at my side, silent as always, but I knew he had come to remind me of the rules.

"You linger here too often, Azriel,"  Lysander's voice cut through the stillness. "You know it's not yours to keep."

I turned, meeting his eyes. He always had that unreadable expression — like he knew far more than I could ever learn.

"It's not mine, but it chose me once," I said, my voice steady. "It could again."

"The nexus doesn't choose out of fondness. It chooses out of necessity. It calls those it needs." He paused, his gaze flickering to me. "And it chose Charlie."

My chest tightened at the mention of his name. "Why him?"

"The nexus doesn't explain itself to us," Lysander murmured, brushing his hand against the wall, watching as the textures rippled under his touch. "But it sees something in him, something important."

"Important for what?" I pressed.

Lysander turned towards me, his voice softening but his tone resolute. "There are forces at play here, far older than you or I, Azriel. The nexus is a threshold —between our world and.. others. It guards those secrets, and calls those who can unlock them. Charlie's presence here wasn't a coincidence."

"Does he know?" I couldn't help but ask the question that was clawing inside me.

"Not yet, but he will" With that, Lysander disappeared into the darkness from which he came. Leaving me here, standing inside the nexus, wishing that I could have seen Charlie just for one more second.

He was absolutely beautiful. I couldn't describe it. I have never seen something so beautiful in the eons that I have existed. I needed to see him again, I wasn't sure how or why, but my attraction to him was undeniable. I was internally kicking myself for telling him to leave, but I was only trying to protect his best interest. This world is not safe for humans like him. I needed to keep him safe.

I wasn't sure what the nexus had planned for him, but I didn't want him wrapped up in all of this.

That's when I decided to follow him. Don't ask why, but I needed to find out where he lived. This was so I could ensure his safety around the clock. I could sense his aura traveling down the path. It was a mixture of both light and dark in a way that I have never experienced before. I followed him carefully, to ensure he knew he wasn't being followed. I watched him run into his home from behind a tree.

So this is where he lived, it was a quaint house, small and cottage like. Not far from the nexus, I hoped he wouldn't try to return, but at the same time, I yearned to see him again.

I waited outside his house, until I could be sure he was asleep before flying up to his bedroom window and letting myself in. It was completely dark and smelled strongly of him, like myrrh and cinnamon. This was dangerous territory that I was in. I didn't want him to fear me, but if he woke up, there's no way he wouldn't start screaming. I didn't care.

There he was, on the floor, knocked out completely. Why would he be sleeping on the cold, hard-wooden floor in the dark like this. Then I saw it, he had been crying. I felt my insides stir and warp at the sight of him this way. I couldn't stand it. Against my better judgement, I picked him up bridal style in my arms and held him for a moment. He was absolutely breathtaking. I felt electricity travel up my arms just from a simple touch. I didn't want to set him down, I felt like this is where he belonged, under my care.

Reluctantly, I laid him down in his bed and admired his meek form. He was so gorgeous, he was slender and quite tiny compared to me with gorgeous ginger curls and high cheekbones. I wanted to hold onto him so badly, but I knew that would be extremely creepy and alarming. So instead, I watched him sleep. I could do this forever. I was absolutely enthralled by him.

Throughout the night, he would stir and turn, almost like he could tell he was being watched. I knew this was probably unethical as we had just met a mere hours before, but I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't stay away from him. I don't know how I was able to pull myself away from him as the dawn crept up on us. I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had too.

With that, I gave one last glance at his sleeping form and escaped through the window in which I had entered. I hated this feeling, of leaving him all alone in his most vulnerable state. It was wrong. He belonged to me and now I was just leaving him this way.

I decided to walk back through the forest instead of fly, I needed the time to think. I couldn't get him out of my head. I needed him. I felt this strange push and pull feeling inside me that I haven't felt in centuries. Not since Elysia.

I felt a presence behind me as I made my way back to the nexus. I already knew who it was.

"It's not nice to sneak up on people, Lysander," I said annoyed at the fact that he had been following me.

"It's also not nice to watch strangers as they sleep, yet here you are," If he wasn't my watcher, I surely would have punched him in the face.

"Were you watching us?" I asked threateningly.

"No but you were most certainly watching him," He said with a sly grin and a chuckle. I couldn't believe him.

"You just met him and you're already care so deeply for him," He was stating the obvious.

"So what if I do?" I wanted to push his buttons.

"You know the rules, Azriel, I don't want you making a mistake. But-" He stopped mid-sentence.

"What, Lysander? Spit it out!" I was beyond upset at this point.

"I also don't want you to be alone, not since Elys-"

"Don't say her name," With that, I left him there and made my way back into the nexus. Here, I was able to hide from both the mortal and heavenly worlds, I didn't want to be found. I just wanted to live out the rest of my existence in solitude, until I met him.

My heart was full of sorrow and longing. How did I find myself in this place yet again? Pining after the affections of a mortal, I was so angry at myself. I wanted him so bad, but I knew he couldn't truly be mine. He belonged to the earthly realm, nothing could challenge that. At least, that's what I thought.