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Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXI
Between the 4th and 5th dimensions (The Dream Plane) Haneul tried not to laugh as he found Tina dozing off as she leaned against a tree. He still couldn't believe she was the same little kid that used to follow him around before. Wait. He had already thought that before, didn't he? Haneul sighed. Why was he so stuck in past these days? They had more things to worry about in the future. Haneul adjusted Linthra on his back, pondering what to do next. Just then, the environment around them changed again. "Tina!" Haneul quickly got to her aid as her eyes shot open and she lost her balance. He caught her easily, and when they fell he rolled so she was on top of him. An awkward moment as their eyes met. She smelled like roses just when they first bloomed, and something else. Something that came from her alone. Haneul closed his eyes as he reveled in her nearness. But Tina scrambled away from him. She slipped, sliding back on top of him, but she quickly regained her balance and stood up.
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXII
When the Creator awoke from hibernation, He split from the Macroverse and birthed the Angelic Spheres and Paradise, and the celestials that will live in them. In want of motion and change, He then created time. In want of substance, He extended Paradise and created the third dimension, bridging Aether and Aer. In want of a companion that reflected His Own, He created Man and Woman--Adam and Lilith--to live as manifestations of His will on the physical universe. But soon enough, the Creator realized from molding the animals that a balance of chaos and order--yin and yang, light and dark-- is necessary for creation to be possible. Therefore, He let Adam keep the light, and Lilith, who bravely harbored chaos within her, was given the ability to nurture life in her womb. It was His hope that they treat each other as equals, tending to the rest of creation, and have many children of their own. But Lilith and Adam became jealous of each other; Adam envied Lilith's ability to bear a chil
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXIII
Between the 4th and 5th dimensions (Just Beyond Time) Fed up from all the lessons, Tina had issued an ultimatum. Find Theodora or she gave up training altogether. Veronica smirked at that. She didn't know the neophyte Mirror had it in her. "Are we sure she'll be safe all alone in the cottage?" Alice asked, her foot playing with the sand underneath her. They were in the dream plane, on their quest to look for the witch. "Maybe one of us should've stayed." "We never know what we might encounter. Three is a good number. Tina will be fine." LJ replied, "Someone else will be there to watch her." "Haneul?" Alice asked. LJ shook his head, "He's still in Andong. Minho will be there." Alice paused at that. "He's not going to tell on us, right?" "I asked Haneul the same thing. But he seemed to trust him." LJ shrugged. Veronica twirled Tina's phone in her fingers and restarted the game she was playing. She had snatched it from Tina earlier to make sure she wouldn't contact anyone w
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXIV
Between the 4th and 5th dimensions (Just Beyond Time) Veronica blasted Monique a few steps back. "Come on, girl. You still have a long way to go before you can beat me. Don't you think it's time to give up?" "Never!" Monique screamed. She stood back up, a little wobbly, then released tentacles of blazing smoke towards Veronica. LJ appeared in front of Veronica and deflected the attack. Alice was following behind. "Hey! I had that covered. What are you doing here?" Veronica asked in irritation, "Do I look like I'm struggling? I can handle her. Go look for Theodora." "She's not here," LJ said. He turned towards Monique, "You found her before us, didn't you? Where did you bring her?" Monique smirked at the sight before her, equal parts amusement and disbelief. Veronica couldn't blame her. Right now, she must have looked like she was hiding behind LJ. Granted, she didn't ask to be in that position, but the universe would have laughed at the sight of an angel protecting a demon, too.
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXV
Between the 4th and 5th dimensions (Just Beyond Time) Tina ducked a second too late and Veronica's fist caught her left cheek. She groaned at the impact, losing her head a bit before retaliating. But Veronica was fast. Really fast. None of Tina's hits connected. She suffered another punch to the gut from Veronica, but just like all the others, Tina barely processed it. LJ, Alice, and Veronica came back empty-handed from their search and she didn't get much explanation. "So she wasn't at all in that dream plane? In the Philippines..or in South Korea? Have you...have you tried going to...I don't know...hell?" Tina asked. Tina could barely see them standing at the side of the court, but she thought she saw LJ and Alice look pointedly at each other. They're hiding something. Tina was almost sure of it. Veronica sighed in annoyance, "Like I told you, no. And it would be no use going to Hell if we don't know for sure that she's there. I'm sure you are aware that all kinds of nasty thin
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXVI
Miami, Florida (June 2019)He wore the hospital's Chief Medical Technologist's uniform and underneath was a white floral polo shirt and brown khaki pants. His hair was silky black and long, pulled back in a neat ponytail. His features were sharp but he had a big, bright smile on his face. LJ tried not to laugh. Never in a million years would anyone expect the man standing before him now to be the Archangel Raphael. LJ had known him for centuries and even he still could not wrap his head around it. "Li Jie. Look at you. My, my. You've settled well into your vessel, huh?" Raphael greeted."A little too well, I'm afraid, Sir," LJ said with a sheepish smile, bowing before his superior. Raphael immediately waved for LJ to straighten up, the only Archangel to ever feel so familiar with the lower sphere angels. "Ah, yes. That." Raphael acknowledged. He studied LJ for a while."Thank you so much for agreeing to help me, and for not reporting my condition to Michael," LJ said, a bit uncomfo
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXVII
Between the 4th and 5th dimensions (Just Beyond Time) "She probably just traveled somewhere by accident. It'll be fine." Alice said, trying to calm Haneul down. She looked down at the angel's fists, which still did not loosen despite her words. "If that's the case, then this won't work. Her powers are too unpredictable." LJ replied, "Maybe we should...." Alice looked at her twin flame in frustration. Seriously. Did LJ think he was helping by saying that? "No, we are not going to Akira for help," Haneul said tightly, as expected. "She'll be thrown into prison." "Prison's not so bad." Veronica commented,"It might do her some good." Alice looked at her as if she were insane. Another insensitive one. Why were these two so clueless? Couldn't they both see that Haneul was suffering? "Oh, no, Ronnie. You don't get to talk right now. You were the one who was supposed to be watching her. You were the one who lost her." Alice said. "What? I told you. I was watching her." Veronica answ
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials XXVIII
The 5th dimension (The Demonworld) Tina awoke in pain. She felt like she had just been hit by a truck. It only took her a moment to realize that her hands were tied and hovering over her was a man she did not know. "Where am I? Wh--who are you?" Tina stammered, swallowing her panic. The man appeared deranged, so much like how she would imagine the Mad Hatter would look. His eyes were unfocused but his grin was unmistakably targeted at Tina. "You don't know who I am?" The man asked, looking a bit relieved "That's actually great. I thought I was going to have to deal with a lot of animosity from you." Tina frowned, "I don't know you." she answered, struggling against her binds, "Wh--why the hell am I tied up? You're not going to eat me, are you?" "You know I never understood that expression, 'What the hell? Why the hell?'. " The man uttered in a much higher voice, presumably to imitate Tina, "Sure, Hell is the most unfortunate place on Earth, but it's not like all human misfort
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Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXX
EPILOGUEManila, Philippines (November 2007) Haneul knew he shouldn't torture himself. But his mind and heart couldn't find rest since that day. Despite having just gone to trial, he didn't follow orders again, sneaking into the ranks of the newly minted Mirror Division in their quest to recover Tina. Only to have her torn into pieces in front of him. Descended against her will. Now, demoted back into being a guardian angel, Haneul could only spend his free time hunting pieces of Tina in every dimension. There she was in front of him, newly turned eleven, mourning the death of her parents. The ones whom Haneul made a promise to, and failed. "Tita, C--can--I have water, please?" little Tina said softly, trying not to garble the words as she sobbed. Haneul remembered how he felt seeing her for the first time. Helpless. Mediocre. Possibly vexing, as most human children were. Then, he remembered how he felt seeing her that one last time. The bravest being he had ever known. Breathtakin
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXIX
The 4th Dimension (The Dream Plane)What a birthday. Waking up next to the man she loves. Tina sank herself more into the softness of the sheets around her, burying her head in the crook of Haneul's neck, reveling in his warmth. She felt him smile and turn to her. "Good morning," he greeted, his eyes still closed. Not hearing a reply, he squinted at Tina. "Tina? What's wrong?" "Sorry, I just didn't want to say anything back in case my breath smells bad," Tina replied, covering her mouth with the blanket around her. Haneul chuckled, "You silly girl. You don't need to worry about things like that around me." he said, then his eyes turned serious. "Do you really need to go tomorrow?" "I'm sorry, but you know I have to. A.R. Corp's still new in Beijing. I need to oversee at least its first three months there." Tina explained apologetically. "I'm going to miss you," Haneul said. "You can come with me, you know," Tina told him. "Unfortunately, I've already used up my leave from the f
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXVIII
HongKong, China (July 1936) The Principalities' voices rose above one another, Haneul felt like their trial would last forever. In fact, they haven't addressed Haneul's squad at all, they were all busy quarreling over the state of the universe, which hang precariously out of balance. As of the moment, the angels only have two out of seven feathers in their possession, one of which is being held in Hell and well within Lilith's reach. The Third Angelic Sphere was infiltrated and several of their warriors were lost, including Minho. The American Mirror had descended right under their noses and Tina... The composure that Haneul had built since her disappearance was slowly cracking on the surface. He looked at LJ, the one who he usually could count on at a time like this, but he wasn't even looking at him. It wasn't like Haneul could blame his brother. Though he pretended not to notice, he wasn't entirely blind to what developed between LJ and Veronica. LJ had lost someone dear to him, t
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXVII
Beijing, China (July 2000)"So, let me get this straight. We lost five soldiers, including Minho, by a Mirror who was pretending to be Tina. And yet, we are being dispatched to find some feather and the trial is still going to push through." Javi said, perfectly summing up what transpired in the battle room following the commotion in the Third Angelic Sphere. "It makes sense. A major lead was found, and it was what you lot were supposed to be doing the entire time. And you lot ought to be grateful they pushed back your trial. Most criminals are not afforded the same courtesy." Kenneth Navarro, the new temporary addition to their team, commented. With Mika's spot obviously empty and with Minho's disappearance, him and another Filipino angel (whose name Amara could not honestly remember), were tasked to join their squad. "I think you should watch your mouth," Amara said as they continued to walk down the streets of Beijing, her anxiety about Minho's well-being gripping her stomach, ma
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXVI
The 4th Dimension (The Dream Plane) "Oh my God. You're totally cheating." Tina exclaimed, throwing the cards in front of her. "I wasn't. You're just very bad at the game." Haneul calmly replied, smiling at her and his eyes twinkling like they always did. "Hey, hey, are you guys fighting over cards?" Alice came into the room, a fresh bowl of cookies in her hand. LJ and Veronica followed behind her, their hands linked together. Tina met Haneul's eyes and they shared a pleased smile. The sexual tension between their two friends has been frustrating. It was good to know that they finally were on the same page. Speaking of sexual tension, Amara and Minho arrived, acting awkward but strangely close to each other. Amara gasped at the sight of the cards on the floor, "You started a game without us. Ugh. Typical couple crap." she said. Minho frowned at her, "Amara, be nice." "That would be hard to do. I don't think 'nice' is even in her dictionary." Javi came bustling into the room with
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXV
The 7th Dimension (The Third Angelic Sphere)"I still don't understand what you and Minho see in here. Do you see the way she treats all of us?" Amara said, sinking back into her seat in frustration. "Tina's been through so much, Amara." was all Haneul could say. In truth, he couldn't bring himself to defend Tina lately. She had always been straightforward due to her upbringing, but he couldn't help feeling a change in her since she was alone with Lilith back in Hell. Then there was that alarming conversation that he had with her before they ventured into Heaven. Maybe Amara was right, they could've fallen into a trap. "Why--" Javi was interrupted by the blares of the Sphere's alarm system. For a moment, Haneul didn't recognize the sound. The thing had been freshly installed. Heavily influenced by the human's concept of a public warning against disasters of some kind, angels had no need for it. They could communicate with each other psychically anyway. But at the time, he could see
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXIV
New York, USA (July 2019)His hand shook slightly as he knocked on his door, but as soon as he saw her face, the fear subsided. It always did, whenever he saw her safe and sound, smiling at him like that. "LJ had just woken up and Alice had arrived. Veronica....well, hers is a complicated situation that we need to discuss with the others. We are all leaving for the Third Sphere in a few minutes. I hope you got some rest." Haneul told Tina."Right..." Tina said in a hesitant tone. "Tina, is something wrong?" "N-nothing. I just..." she replied, "I have a bad feeling about the trial. What if they don't understand? What if we get banished or worse, killed for our sins?" Haneul frowned at her, confused, "Tina, where is this coming from? You're talking about Heaven. Yes, we have our trespasses, and we need to pay for it. But as Akira said, he is confident that we will be pardoned, and his instincts are never wrong." "Then why haven't you consulted him in the first place? You acted on y
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXIII
New York, USA (July 2019) A surge of power erupted from both Lucifer and Lilith upon Poseidon's arrival, and before Haneul could react, their entire squad had resurfaced. Without Tina. His heart dropped at the realization. And Minho, who had quickly realized it, too, was already at Lucifer's throat. "Where did she take her?! You better talk now, Lucifer, or I swear to the Macroverse---" Lucifer just blinked at him in response, unfazed, "I've always found that phrase funny, 'I swear to God.', as if he ever--" Minho pulled a fist back, ready to punch the Prince back to the Hell where he belonged, but Akira stepped in, wedging himself between the two men. "Control yourself and look around you, Minho. Tina is safely back with us." Haneul spun around. It was true. Tina was standing in their midst, in one piece, albeit a bit disoriented from what can be seen on her face. But once again, Minho was faster than him. He had already wrapped Tina in his arms. Haneul tried for his heart to not
Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials LXXII
New York (July 2019)His injury was more severe than it looked, so he was left behind. His squad has gone to Hell without him to rescue Tina while Alice took off somewhere LJ didn't know, muttering about a chance to reverse something. He figured it had something to do with Veronica, but he could not be certain. LJ couldn't even bring himself to think what it would mean to him if Alice could somehow find a way to stop Veronica from becoming human, or if she'd failed. As if stirred by his presence, Veronica awoke from her slumber, her lashes fluttering weakly as she opened her eyes, "Latte?" she whispered. She looked slack, so unlike the woman who almost sucked out his soul the first time they met, and every bit the girl who had clung to him when they were in Hell. "Your head...are you alright?" she tried weakly to touch his bandaged head with her right hand, but it didn't quite reach. LJ gave her a small smile, "I believe you already asked me that." he told her gently, catching her h
