"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9REIq9H3F
I’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing. And yet, here I am—cast down, thrown from the heavens like a discarded relic.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNl674XrCV
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYH7XoJPkd
He thinks he owns this world, manipulating everything to his liking. Twisting fate, corrupting souls, playing king.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomtB8CM3Zq
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHwe4qtGl5
I exhale sharply, trying to still my thoughts. None of that matters right now. What matters is that I have nowhere to go.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iOjPPlVvq
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOijOTb7DQB
At least God hasn’t stripped me of my powers.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6f3JZdim6
I can still do anything I want.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHPfPa4Wog
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6vy13eSwh
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4926QuGUfB
I watch them for a long moment, feeling something foreign settle in my chest. Jealousy? Resentment? Regret?17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7Na3Oeef4
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAIIBcFqYH
A soft chuckle breaks the stillness behind me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQmF6lUaNE
"Not anymore," a voice echoes.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq4pmiuYPe
I go rigid.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJkM3FxfeS
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyHrbUaq1k
Slowly, I turn, my expression already set in stone. And there he is.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO3DdhvIdT
Lucifer.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d95OWWfyG
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZE0sd2bq5
"Oh, it’s you," I say, my voice dripping with disdain.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ6ww6iik0
He shrugs, unfazed. "Told you I’d be here."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K4HUdHe2X
I roll my eyes, pushing past him. I don’t want to deal with him. Not now.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7o64hWkFj
But, of course, he follows.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6yEoj2h2N
"Why the hostility?" he asks lightly, like this is all some joke to him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlWOaj2Nun
"Because you’re ignorant. Arrogant," I snap, turning to glare at him. "And you think you’re better than everyone else."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7phsCxWCP
His grin widens. "God did say I was His most misunderstood creation."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAjYSJzzhR
I scoff. "Misunderstood? That’s rich."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCuoZ1p9Xh
Lucifer chuckles, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Well, everyone has their reputation, don’t they?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3SJkAZfV1
I don’t respond. I keep walking, determined to put distance between us, but he doesn’t take the hint.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0Ut5Fktav
"At least tell me your name," he presses, matching my pace effortlessly.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnJd8RKQKh
I keep my lips sealed.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6ewivGE8X
"Alright, let’s start with introductions, then," he says, overly dramatic. "I’m the Devil. And you are?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ524fypIitz
I stop. Damn him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mYhvxEIuk
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhv9ZvPm9o
He extends his hand.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMwgSDrTOp
I hesitate.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnNSc1278p
What does he want? Why is he being so nice?17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlPRF2dJ8a
"...Evangeline," I finally say, taking his hand reluctantly.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFn7kuvV82
His fingers are warm, steady. His smile widens just enough to make me regret saying anything at all.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FoOKf5Mhx
"Evangeline," he repeats, savoring the name like a secret. "A pretty name for a pretty lady."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ69H2PXIk
I stiffen. "Lady?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutFtSqlSrZ
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKaPd5HOee
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48IRga30Eg
He shrugs, completely unfazed, as if the entire conversation is nothing more than an idle amusement for him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHCkRlYk6J
"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?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNc1zoYny5
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo42eOXTlI
"You really think you can just stroll around here like everything’s normal? Like you belong?" I scoff.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhiuHWsMTy
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfqAiwF9cb
I stop dead in my tracks, turning sharply to face him, my wings fluttering in agitation. Anger burns through me like wildfire.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jwpNzIerQ
"Cute?" I growl, my eyes flashing. "You think this is cute?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuJxjnOoqt
He smirks. That insufferable, knowing smirk. He’s enjoying this. Enjoying me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoYWCdhaYK
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeEo297y7O
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJuLzgtfFj
And he knows that.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT7kk6J1qV
He’s watching me carefully, studying me like he’s waiting for me to realize something. Waiting for me to admit something.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt8psIxfHu
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ROE3x7EU
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OTEXZXnWi
"You were cast down for defying God," I remind him. "What else would you be?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdiS8wNUUV
His smirk lingers, but there’s something unreadable in his eyes now. "I’m just misunderstood, really."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMRu0peQFz
I scoff, but there’s something almost playful in the way I do it. "Misunderstood? Fine."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLxDJMudh1
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. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtHw1cAQLQ
"What can I say?" he muses. "Everyone loves a good villain story. Besides, I think we might get along better than you think."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYupU72BSgC
I narrow my eyes at him, refusing to let him get under my skin. Even though, deep down, I already know he has.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0TWmJoDru
"I doubt that," I mutter under my breath, looking away.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk51NMQQGnR
But he catches it. Of course, he does.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSFYeYELlI
His smile deepens, that knowing glint in his gaze growing even stronger. "You know, I’m not as bad as you’ve been told."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyADANJimo
I let out a dry laugh. "Prove it."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGLwhIlWVK
His grin doesn’t falter. "Maybe I will."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZo5WxA7WX
And just like that, we keep walking, the tension between us thick, shifting into something neither of us understands yet.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVdtaOKBHR
Neither of us knows if we’re enemies, allies… or something else entirely.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr9kgOUjdC
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