Rayline. I cast a sidelong glance at Cole who was slowly looking up at his father, whose eyes were deep in thought. "I asked her, 'Why do you want to help me?' But she only replied, 'Because you're hurt." He could not help the faint smile on his face. "I watched her as she took care of me, and when she was done, I asked her why she was on Earth. Then she said that she wanted to go away for some time, that she needed a diversion, which made me start to wonder what was really going on that would make an angel so depressed. And for some reason, for the first time in my life, I just wanted to get to know someone. I wanted to know why she was unhappy, why she had to leave, and everything about her." "Then what happened afterward?" "The night was getting late, but I told her that I did not want to go home, and neither did she. So in the end, I asked if we could meet again, and she made me promise to meet her at the same place in three days. But before she left, I asked her, 'Why do you wa
Rayline. Once we were at Taylor's house, the two boys were engrossed in their own chitchat, while Chase was watching television and I was busy with my own thoughts, however, Cole was probably still at the cemetery, alone. Since he might still need some time to himself and I was perfectly fine with that. "I have never seen him like that. He was always so stoic and composed," Jesse revealed while still lying on the couch that I could hear clearly, and I rested my chin on my elbow while sitting on one of the lounge chairs. "I tried to listen to what they were talking about, but I could only hear a little bit of it," Taylor said from below the floor while focusing on his video game. "Do you think he might be his least favorite person?" teased Taylor, and Jesse rolled his eyes, lazily. "Cole can have that title all he wants. To be honest, I don't give a shit." Jesse said bluntly. "What are you listening to, Ray? You are the one who is closest to them." Chase said while fiddling with th
Rayline."When I first met your mother, she asked me to tell her if your eyes ever turned into magenta." I started to tell him the story as I could feel his body tighten against mine. "I forgot she ever asked me to do that, so before she died, I told her that your eyes had done it even very often. And she smiled, and the last thing she told me was that it meant you loved me." Then I paused and gazed into his eyes. "Is that true?" His eyes suddenly became soft. "Of course it's true." He put his hand on my cheek. "Of course, I love you Ray, very much." He let out a mirthful laugh and looked down again. "Ray, I love you so much that I don't know what to do with myself." There was a long pause. I should have felt happy, jumping up and smiling. But somehow, the way he spoke sounded painful like he was not telling the truth about it, and I could not help myself anymore and asked him. "Cole, I feel that somehow you are not telling me something." His eyes flutter closed, and he takes a deep
Rayline. Getting lost in the dark of the streets. I have no idea what time it is. I had not looked at my cell phone since I started walking, but the city was completely deserted once I got there. I did not even bother trying to call everyone who was there. I did not think that I would be able to talk even if I did. Instead, I just kept walking all the way to get back home, and I did not care how long it took. I held my sides as I took each forced step. I was sure that I must look like a mess, but that was the last thing on my mind at the moment. As I walked down the street, a car pulled up beside me. I did not have to bother turning around, I just kept walking, but they kept following beside me, and I heard the sound of the windshield coming down. "Rayline?" the voice asked. It was a voice I recognized, and I halted my steps before slowly lifting my head to look at him in the window. "What happened?" I simply said nothing as I looked down. "Were you attacked?" I shook my head, and
Rayline. As each day turned into a week, the week turned into a month, and there was still no news of him at all. No one had heard or seen any signs of him. It was like he had completely vanished off the face of the earth without a trace. As the year started to change, the air started to get colder, and I looked out my bedroom window as the first snowflakes started to fall. It was still too early for snow. The snow would probably melt if any of it survived until tomorrow. But it was a sign that time was moving on. Things are changing. There were things that were dying. I looked down to check my cell phone and saw his name, and I hesitated before pressing the button. "Sorry, the number you called is no longer active or can no longer be reached—" I frustratingly threw my phone on the bed. It was always like that, never different, and I knew what would happen every time I clicked it, but still, I could not stop myself even when I saw the name. It was like a field— his secret hiding p
Rayline. A vast view of the forest stretched to the horizon as my feet dangled off the edge of the viewing hill. The field was quiet, apart from the peaceful sounds of birds chirping in the distance. I sighed as I leaned back, my eyes closed as my body plopped down onto the grass. It was sunny now, but the air was still cold. As I was lying there, my ears suddenly heard a strong gust of wind from the distance and instantly jerked awake. I turned around and looked around the forest while trying to find the origin of the sound. "Rayline?" I looked over and my heart was filled with great hope as a man stepped into the clearing. It was Nicolas. I let out a disappointed sigh and turned back towards the cliff while pressing my knees against my chest, while he walked to my side. "Waiting for someone else?" he asked, and I shook my head. "Not really." My eyes remained fixed on the view. "What are you doing here?" "I could ask you the same thing." I lifted my head and stared at him. "I
Rayline. I swallowed and nodded my head. I could not really hold on to him, so I could only hope that he held me tightly. Our two bodies shot up into the air as he was flying, and I nestled my head on his shoulder. I could hear the flapping of his wings through the wind. As he glided, I could see various memories starting to drift to the surface of my brain, and I had to force my mind to bury them. I was not sure where Nicolas would take me, but minute after minute passed as he continued to fly. After a while, I finally opened my eyes, and that's when I realized that he had started to land behind a large building. He landed on the ground with both his feet, and I watched as his wings vanished behind him before he opened the door. Instantly I looked around the inside of the room. The room was huge, and there were tables and work equipment arranged neatly while people were scattered in all corners. There was a room filled with boards and computers, while another room was filled with w
Rayline. It'd been a few weeks, and by now the ground was already covered in snow. Things were a little better for me now that Darren knows what happened. He always called me and made sure that I was okay. Also, my grades started to improve as I started to focus more. On top of that, Taylor also came and talked to me from time to time, and he always said that Jesse asked how I was doing when they were hanging out. It was late afternoon when I started walking back home, and the snow was falling lightly as I walked down the path. I was wearing a hoodie jacket over my head, and the breeze was blowing in my face, so it was a little hard to see. I walked a few more steps when I accidentally bumped into someone and dropped their stuff. "I'm sorry!" I quickly turned around and picked up the book that was on the floor, but when I stood back up, I realized that it was Nicolas. "Oh, hey," I said, smiling slightly, and he burst into laughter. "This looks a little familiar." He grinned, and I
Rayline. The meeting went exactly as I had expected it to go. Harvey briefly explained the entire situation and what he knew. Basically, all the causes of the riots and rebellion are related to years ago, and the roots have been resolved and dealt with. However, there would be unresolved loose ends and there were still ropes to be tied. Lilith most likely still has more allies and connections in places they have yet to discover, and they need to be sought out and dealt with. It may take a long time to clear things up, maybe even years, and the impact could be catastrophic. Harvey then asked everyone to share their stories and their connections. Cole spoke in front of us all, sharing everything. He talks about how he was first sent to Earth, and how Lilith gave his mother the disease out of spite and revenge. He spoke about the recent attacks, and how they were done as hatred towards him when they were actually related to the rebellion. He then spoke about me, how we met, how he bec
Rayline. As I lay nestled against his chest, I playfully drew small circles on his chest, the warmth of his skin keeping me wrapped in his arms, his wings spread out around me. The morning light sneaked in through the bedroom curtains while the two of us were still snuggled together on the bed, the sheets tattered messily. He ran his fingers through my hair, fiddling with the strands as I listened to his heartbeat, hearing every breath he took. "Did you fall asleep?" he asked softly, making me smile. "I should be the one asking you that." Spinning around to face him, my hand came to rest under my chin. "You were so busy as soon as we got back, and it doesn't seem like we got any sleep last night... or this morning." His lips curled up mischievously and his hand slid down my bare back, giving me goosebumps. "I'm doing okay. It was all definitely worth it." "Mmm...hmm." I tilted my head cheekily. Right now I was in his room at his father's house. As soon as the chaos died down, h
Rayline. He placed his hand on Cole's chest. There was light... a glowing white light that emanated from the archangel's fingertips, covering Cole's body. The light grew more and more, wrapping everything around him, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut because of the blinding light. I clutched Chase's hand as a wave of power pulsed through the room, shaking everything around me. I could feel my heart beating faster, my breath catching in my throat as the tension continued to rise in my chest. The light was retracted back into Cole's body, clinging to his skin. As I opened my eyes cautiously, I saw the light fading away as the archangel got to his feet and stepped back. Without holding myself back, I jumped forward, rushed to Cole's side, and with trembling hands, placed them on the side of his cold face. A few moments passed without anything happening, waiting. I gently brushed his hair aside. Then all of a sudden, his chest heaved, catching a deep breath that sounded so sharp, and
Rayline. A wave of cool air filled the room as the flames died out, leaving a trail of empty craters. No one moved. No one dared to breathe until the demon himself, Harvey stepped back. All the Nephilim watched his movements in awe, and some of them even bowed their heads in his honor. I leaned over Cole's body, my hands shaking as I brushed his hair, which had fallen to the side. Tears fell again, rolling down my cheeks without stopping. The sound of footsteps coming closer, got louder until they finally stopped right behind me. "Rayline?" I blinked slowly, turned my head towards the source of the voice, and saw Cole's father standing there. His expression changed as his gaze fell on his son who lay motionless in my arms. He swallowed, his gaze filled with such deep pain. "...Is there any other way?" I asked hoarsely. "Is there anything you can do?" He knelt beside me, pain filling his eyes. "I'm sorry," he says hoarsely. I look back down at Cole, and the sobs I have been holdi
Rayline. Seconds. In a mere few seconds, my entire world comes crashing down, shattering into pieces as the heart-wrenching pain rips through my soul. My lungs burned as I let out a horrifying wail, holding onto Cole's chest with all my strength, begging, pleading for him to come back to me. My hands are still clasped tightly in his now cold hands, while my tears are flowing freely. I clutched at his shirt, crying helplessly as if I could bring him back with the despair welling up from within me. Out of the blue, I felt a gentle hand placed on top of mine, and I jumped, before I froze at the sight of Jesse looking up at me, his tattered wings dragging behind him. Tears streamed down his face from pain and sorrow, and his eyes lowered to the motionless Cole. He bites his lip as he looks down, squeezing his eyes shut as more tears fall. A sob that sounded like it was choking his throat before he sucked in a deep breath, and his head lifted. He reached out his trembling hand over to C
Rayline. Chris lifted the sword back up with a solemn look, ready to chop his bones off, and started to swing. But before Chris could swing the sword, Lilith suddenly stepped aside, stopping him in his motion. "Hmm..." Lilith stepped forward, and Chris suddenly stopped in midair. "I think I have seen this before." He said, moving between me and Cole. "You are ready to give up everything, while the ones around you squirm helplessly." She went on, talking about the night Cole would trade himself... to let them kill him so that all of us could leave. Cole's head snapped up to meet her eyes, with a glint of hatred. "But there was something missing, something that happened afterward. What is it now?" She tapped her fingers on her lips, as if in deep thought. "Oh! I remember now!" She let out a maniacal laugh. "You lost the person you loved the most..." Then she lifted a sacred sword, the reflection of its light glistening down on the steel, as her eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a pie
Rayline. To my horror, I watched as the skin of his wings was ripped away from the bones that reached out below, leaving only shredded pieces of flesh. His blood spilled onto the ground, soaking the tiles beneath him. She did not stop. With an expressionless face, Lilith continued to shred her own son's wings... the most precious thing to them. "STOP!" Cole's shout echoed out, filled with pain. Tears flooded his eyes. In a fit of rage, he let loose a blast of power that sent the men flying across the room, crashing to the hard ground. Cole reached out his hand towards Lilith, trying to stop her. Lilith froze in place, while Jesse's screams stopped, his body falling to the ground with a sound that struck my heart. I rushed towards him, my heart sank as I made my way to his side at the sight of the remains of his wings in a pool of blood, and a sick feeling came over me, making me bring my hand to my mouth, trying to hold back the gasps. How could she do this? To her own son. "...H
Rayline. Cole let out a slow breath, as if trying to calm himself down. I hold on to his side, trying to provide support. "But I'm not done with you yet," Lilith continues with a sinister smile. "Cole!" I exclaim as his body abruptly slips out of my arms, throws onto the stairs of the dais, and lands hard on his back. A groan escaped his lips. "To think a half-breed like you could beat me." Lilith walked haughtily towards Cole, her smile full of disdain. "What happened to all those threats, huh?" she asked, her eyes flashing with cruelty as she lifted her hand, making his eyes widen and I could see her power take hold of his throat. "What happened to ripping me apart, hm?" She took a step closer. Cole remained motionless, his blood-red eyes locked on Lilith, full of malice. "What's wrong? Nothing left to say, mutt?" But then, Cole smirked. His blood-stained lips curled up, making Lilith frown, puzzled. Slowly, his hands opened, causing the melted pieces of metal to fall to the gr
Rayline. Chaos broke out in a split second. Before I could even see his movements, Cole was already whizzing over to Lilith. The blazes lining the entire wall burst with the sudden increase in heat, forcing me to lift my arms to protect myself. Screaming and roaring could be heard clearly as Cole furiously swung his claws at her while she quickly dodged out of his reach. Lilith sent a wave of fire that blasted across the room, scorching the air around her, which made Cole lift his wings and throw them off to the side. I ducked down to avoid the lick of flame that shot out when I heard my name being called. As I turned my head, I caught sight of Taylor staring at me, tugging on the enchanted chains that held both him and Jesse, and without thinking, I jumped to my feet and slid towards them. In another corner of the room, Levi and the other demons were too distracted with helping their leader to focus on me, in addition to the battle that was going on inside the room. Once I reache