Luka stared into his father's piercing blue eyes, catching a glimpse of Julia's spirit within them—fragile, yet resilient.
"How much do you remember, Luka?" Samuel inquired, his voice brimming with concern.
"He had wings. The one who ended my life every time I reached eighteen. He possessed angelic wings," Luka replied, his words carrying a sense of authenticity. Samuel's expression shifted, a flicker of apprehension crossing his face upon hearing Luka's account.
Samuel furrowed his brow, contemplating his son's mention of an angel with absolute sincerity. "Do you recall how things operated within the heavenly domain? Are you well enough to attend the meeting?"
Luka's voice quivered with anxiety as he responded, "I... uh... y-yes." The sudden influx of information and memories overwhelmed him, making it challenging to process everything amidst the current circumstances.
Observing the anxiety in his son's eyes, Samuel's gaze softened. "Luka, it's perfectly alright if you need time to adjust and assemble all the pieces together. We understand that this is an enormous burden for you to bear, and we can afford you as much time as you require."
"I..." Luka hesitated, wanting to decline his father's offer, but he knew that subjecting himself to the pressure of the meeting in his current state would likely cause him to collapse. "I suppose I need just a little more time to prepare myself for whatever—and whoever—is out there."
His father nodded understandingly. "I completely understand, son. Don't worry. I'm sure the angels are overflowing with excitement to see you, but they have waited for a long time. They can surely wait a little longer."
"Angels?" Luka exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice. "Angels are here on Earth?"
Samuel chuckled. "What made you think you were on Earth?"
"Oh my God! Am... am I dead?" The weight of his father's words hit Luka hard. Despite the hardships he had endured in his life, he was not prepared for death.
"Relax, son!" Samuel reassured him in a calm tone, aware that Luka's anxiety caused him to stutter. "The great angel called you to Heaven, and I am your guardian angel, so I have returned to the heavenly realm as well."
"Uncle Michael?" Luka mentioned the great angel who had appeared in his dreams before the curse, playing and teaching him various things. Now that Luka had regained his memories, he longed for his uncle's presence.
"You better not mention him by name in front of others, or you might meet an untimely demise," Samuel joked. While he cherished the time spent with his son after thousands of years apart, as an angel, he had responsibilities and a meeting to attend. "I will see you later, Luka. If you need anything, just call for William or Maria—they will hear you."
Although parting from his father pained him after all the time they had spent apart, Luka understood that Samuel had obligations. "See you soon, Dad."
"See you, son." With those words, Samuel departed the room.
As the door closed, Luka finally allowed his gaze to wander around the room. It resembled his room in New York, yet it was undeniably different.
He rose from the bed, his legs feeling as though they hadn't been used in years. The reflection in the mirror revealed a frail and sickly version of himself—an aftereffect of dying once again.
His complexion appeared paler than ever, and his blue eyes were swollen and red. Luka studied his delicate and fragile body, a stark contrast to his father's.
Meeting his own gaze in the mirror, he noticed the similarities between his eyes and his mother's—sea-green with a hint of blue. Thoughts of his mother overwhelmed him with sadness. He knew she remained in a coma, and Luka felt helpless, aware that her condition was somehow connected to him. The guilt burdened him, even though he understood it was not his fault that Julia suffered.
Then his thoughts turned to Lucifer, his father's former friend, who had taken Luka's life countless times. Images of Lucifer's face and mannerisms remained vivid in Luka's mind. He recalled his father's diary entries about Lucifer, referring to him by his birth name, Xavier. Luka struggled to comprehend why Lucifer had turned his back on Heaven and betrayed his father.
Lost in his contemplations, he was jolted back to reality by a knock on the door.
"It's William!" a joyful voice called out. Luka recognized it as the voice of his new acquaintance. He opened the door, and William stepped into view. "I assume you don't want to miss the grand entrance of the great angel."
"Uncle Michael?" Luka inquired, causing the color to drain from William's face. "Are you alright?"
"Y-you called the great angel by his n-name!" William appeared on the verge of a panic attack.
"Oh, don't worry. He's my uncle. We're quite close," Luka reassured him.
"Thank God! So, are you coming or not?" Relief flooded William's voice.
"I suppose so," Luka replied with a sheepish smile. He wasn't accustomed to others addressing him so casually. "Thank you, William."
"It's Will!" William corrected him with a smile, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Will!" Luka smiled, grateful that he wouldn't be alone in the mansion.