"This is ridiculous," I mutter, pacing in frustration, my boots scraping against the uneven pavement. The cold night air presses against my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the ice in my chest.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN76DMwa9sD
I’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing. And yet, here I am—cast down, thrown from the heavens like a discarded relic.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHAeVTR2UK
I pause, clenching my fists. I am not like the Devil or his wretched demons—those parasites that slither through human lives, feeding on misery. I despise them. Especially him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxZQMVDxNQ
He thinks he owns this world, manipulating everything to his liking. Twisting fate, corrupting souls, playing king.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIHen4ERE8
I know he’s coming. It’s inevitable. He can’t resist moments like this. It’s his favorite kind of entertainment. I’ve seen the way his face lights up when he hears of the misery of others, that insufferable grin like he’s won some grand victory.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0QTneh8Q4
I exhale sharply, trying to still my thoughts. None of that matters right now. What matters is that I have nowhere to go.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtmOfeXdQm
I start walking, my steps aimless, the city’s glow stretching endlessly before me. Towering glass buildings reflect the neon lights, people drift between streets, lost in their own little worlds. The scent of rain lingers in the air, mixing with the aromas of food stalls and coffee shops.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXDgJVGsuz
At least God hasn’t stripped me of my powers.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgKfuSZjjE
I can still do anything I want.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M6MqPo8I1
A flick of my fingers, and I disappear from sight, my presence cloaked in invisibility. The humans remain oblivious, laughing, drinking, living. Free will. The one gift I never truly had.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDkxgFseMA
I stop outside a café, its warm light spilling onto the wet pavement. Inside, people chat over steaming mugs, lost in their trivial, fleeting joys.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKl3RyOmw0
I watch them for a long moment, feeling something foreign settle in my chest. Jealousy? Resentment? Regret?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja9UrEQxdX
"Not anymore," I whisper to myself, my voice barely audible over the hum of the city. I’m not bound by God’s will anymore.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhhc3nlckm
A soft chuckle breaks the stillness behind me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUHRZkuIoK
"Not anymore," a voice echoes.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdn0DBqlH8
I go rigid.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2fpdQpiwS
I don’t need to turn around to know who it is. His presence is unmistakable—smooth, unwavering, steeped in sin like the finest of wines.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPT1LWdzIF
Slowly, I turn, my expression already set in stone. And there he is.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN0sYa0AOj
Lucifer.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRmzAwrBBG
Dressed in dark, tailored perfection, standing with an ease that borders on arrogance. That damn smirk playing on his lips, those eyes gleaming with mischief.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgixWuAJR8
"Oh, it’s you," I say, my voice dripping with disdain.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oGaOdmy8X
He shrugs, unfazed. "Told you I’d be here."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k3tGzAGhl
I roll my eyes, pushing past him. I don’t want to deal with him. Not now.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRZcyLH3eo
But, of course, he follows.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntzII4UDz7
"Why the hostility?" he asks lightly, like this is all some joke to him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx61OldIgsL
"Because you’re ignorant. Arrogant," I snap, turning to glare at him. "And you think you’re better than everyone else."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt305CQdOf
His grin widens. "God did say I was His most misunderstood creation."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNQWmCEaDC
I scoff. "Misunderstood? That’s rich."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpTrw8PoOb
Lucifer chuckles, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Well, everyone has their reputation, don’t they?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dVrdfw31s
I don’t respond. I keep walking, determined to put distance between us, but he doesn’t take the hint.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3K7Uz114e
"At least tell me your name," he presses, matching my pace effortlessly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2IEykbaQp
I keep my lips sealed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcQoyU4I8i
"Alright, let’s start with introductions, then," he says, overly dramatic. "I’m the Devil. And you are?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlqqxrFHH7
I stop. Damn him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHu5JvjmJX
Curiosity gnaws at me despite myself. I turn to face him, expecting mockery, but instead, I see something else in his expression—a strange sincerity. An odd politeness. Like he’s trying too hard.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfGamyXwsX
He extends his hand.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zYCsrKpSF
I hesitate.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LvfRzGZSE
What does he want? Why is he being so nice?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEILbAYsfZ4
"...Evangeline," I finally say, taking his hand reluctantly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzuVILTawJ
His fingers are warm, steady. His smile widens just enough to make me regret saying anything at all.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3sgMaJJ7p
"Evangeline," he repeats, savoring the name like a secret. "A pretty name for a pretty lady."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OyOpaXsu0
I stiffen. "Lady?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KObCERN0Y
The Devil’s grin widens, his dark eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to amusement as he looks at me. Like I’m some kind of puzzle he’s enjoying putting together.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClRBljNRoh
"Is that so?" I say, folding my arms, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Because I’ve never been called a ‘lady’ before—especially by someone like you."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVI05WMDXG
He shrugs, completely unfazed, as if the entire conversation is nothing more than an idle amusement for him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmeYk1KKYd
"Well, I’m just speaking the truth, Evangeline. After all, it’s not every day that an angel gets sent down here. A bit of a change in scenery, huh?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakQbeIe7bM
I roll my eyes and keep walking, determined to ignore him, but it’s impossible to ignore the way his presence lingers, pressing against me like a shadow I can’t shake. My thoughts race. I’m not sure what’s worse—the fact that I’ve been banished or the fact that I’m stuck with him, walking through a world I don’t belong to.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC0VbBoLz7
"You really think you can just stroll around here like everything’s normal? Like you belong?" I scoff.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ydLc3BICA
"Oh, I know I belong," he replies smoothly, his voice too confident, too certain, like the weight of the world has never touched him. "Unlike you, who’s clearly still trying to figure out where you stand. It’s kind of cute."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5KsTqiLS8
I stop dead in my tracks, turning sharply to face him, my wings fluttering in agitation. Anger burns through me like wildfire.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFq9m5614q
"Cute?" I growl, my eyes flashing. "You think this is cute?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzIAd1oEcF
He smirks. That insufferable, knowing smirk. He’s enjoying this. Enjoying me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGghUe12Ic
"Well, you’re new to this whole ‘fallen’ thing, aren’t you?" he says, tilting his head slightly. "I figured you could use someone to show you the ropes. I mean, you’re going to need all the help you can get in a world like this."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC09G5vZf3
I grit my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides, but I say nothing. Because as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. I don’t know where to go, don’t know where I stand, don’t even know who I am anymore.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGztrVFFJ8
And he knows that.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2en8cvapR
He’s watching me carefully, studying me like he’s waiting for me to realize something. Waiting for me to admit something.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp69yAoLapQ
I take a step closer, lowering my voice. "You’re not what I expected." I hesitate, but curiosity gets the best of me. "Then again, I’ve only ever heard about you in whispers from other angels. Never met you face-to-face."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdfIp9EoM5
He lets out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Bet I’ve been painted as the villain, huh?" His tone is mocking, feigning offense. But beneath it, there’s something else. Something too subtle to name.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuUcENbM8D
"You were cast down for defying God," I remind him. "What else would you be?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYICisWm0o
His smirk lingers, but there’s something unreadable in his eyes now. "I’m just misunderstood, really."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnBThKLkJU
I scoff, but there’s something almost playful in the way I do it. "Misunderstood? Fine."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtyQcng6pL
He shrugs again, slipping his hands into his pockets, and it infuriates me how effortlessly casual he is. Like none of this matters to him. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJM7t3G2Zq
"What can I say?" he muses. "Everyone loves a good villain story. Besides, I think we might get along better than you think."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTuAdMnLn7
I narrow my eyes at him, refusing to let him get under my skin. Even though, deep down, I already know he has.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw7gdIDc65
"I doubt that," I mutter under my breath, looking away.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSJY2nAw5I
But he catches it. Of course, he does.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwixIf352X
His smile deepens, that knowing glint in his gaze growing even stronger. "You know, I’m not as bad as you’ve been told."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbAwvdojyw
I let out a dry laugh. "Prove it."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xZmaK37Se
His grin doesn’t falter. "Maybe I will."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrvWccQxg1
And just like that, we keep walking, the tension between us thick, shifting into something neither of us understands yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpMwFuD4Su
Neither of us knows if we’re enemies, allies… or something else entirely.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdTwYWnapr
Penana
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