Luka stood frozen in his room, surrounded by his father and uncle. They were attempting to teach him how to use his wings. He observed his father's focused expression, and within moments, magnificent wings unfurled from his back.
The soft touch of the white feathers intrigued Luka, as he longed to experience the same. With a quiet voice, he interrupted the two men, capturing their attention. "Dad, you mentioned it would hurt at first. If my wings start to emerge, will it be painful?"
His question sparked a glimmer of excitement in his uncle's eyes. "Oh, Luka! Do you feel it? Are they starting to manifest?"
Luka felt an intense pain coursing through him. It was excruciating. The sudden agony caused him to gasp, and his father and uncle called out to him with worry. It felt as if his back was being cut, and he screamed until the pain subsided. When he glanced up, he was taken aback by his reflection in the mirror.
His hair had transformed into a light shade of silver-grey, while his eyes morphed into a mesmerizing blend of silver, grey, and gold, emanating a radiant glow. And his wings... they were entirely black.
"Dad? Uncle? What's happening?" Luka stared at his transformed appearance, his voice trembling. His hands shook uncontrollably, and his eyes glowed more intensely with his mounting anxiety.
"Xavier..." It was the first time Luka heard his father address Lucifer by his birth name. "Son, please don't panic. I know this is overwhelming, but stay calm, alright?"
"Dad! You're scaring me by talking like this. Uncle, what's happening to me?"
"Luka, calm down," Michael implored, attempting to regain control of the situation. "Focus on retracting your wings, for now!"
"Why? They're beautiful," Luka responded, suddenly captivated by the uniqueness of his wings.
"Luka, son! Please, put them away!" Samuel pleaded desperately with his son to comply, but it was already too late.
The room trembled, and everyone except Luka fell to the ground. Standing at the center of the room, he stared into empty space, as if anticipating something or someone to appear before him.
"Luka put them away!" Samuel's voice grew forceful, a rarity in his long existence.
Luka was about to respond, but before he could utter a word, another figure materialized in the room and spoke on his behalf. "Don't you dare speak to my soulmate like that!"
"Lucifer!" Michael growled, bristling with anger. "How dare you enter Heaven's mansion! Don't you dare lay a hand on my nephew!"
Luka fixated his gaze on Lucifer, the punisher, also known as Xavier. At that moment, a realization struck him deep in his chest. "Who are you?" Luka's voice held an unusual calmness, one that the other man had never heard before.
"Luka, my son, stay away from him, please!" Samuel's concern for his son was palpable. "Look at me, son! You must resist this desire! Don't succumb to him! He's the angel who attempted to kill me! He's the one who cursed you! Please, son!"
Luka locked eyes with Xavier, and the devil's gaze softened upon witnessing his soulmate. Then, with a tinge of sadness in his silver-glowing eyes, Luka turned to his father. "I'm sorry, Father. He is my soulmate. I can't abandon him now that I've finally found him."
Xavier appeared content with Luka's response. "Apologizes, old friend. Neither I nor your son can fight this profound bond. The moment we connect, you will no longer be a part of our lives." He smirked, confident in the power of their bond.
"Luka, please! Don't do this to me! Don't do this to yourself! You're under the influence of meeting your soulmate! It will all end after a few hours. Deep down, you know you'll regret your choice." His father appeared so vulnerable in the presence of Lucifer, and the same was true for Michael.
"I'm sorry, Dad! I'm sorry, Uncle!" Luka averted his gaze from them, resisting the urge to pull them into a farewell hug. He knew that if he did, he wouldn't be able to leave them. But he needed to be with his soulmate.
Xavier grasped Luka's hand, and in an instant, they vanished. Samuel couldn't hold back his tears. He couldn't bear the thought of losing his son, not after searching for him for thousands of years.
Michael rushed to his brother's side, offering comfort even though he desperately needed it himself.
"Michael!" Samuel locked eyes with his brother, knowing that they were both in a state of shock. "It can't be true! The prophecy can't be about my child! He can't be the black angel, he shouldn't be!"
The whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed Samuel, while Michael struggled to piece together the fragments of this mysterious puzzle. Each thought of Luka and Xavier felt like a dagger to his heart.
"Luka is a half-angel," Samuel stated, staring directly into his brother's eyes. "He can form a bond with an angel. But why does that fucking angel have to be Xavier? Why does their bond have to be such a freaking strong soulmate connection?"
It was the first time Michael heard his brother speak so harshly, a testament to the immense pressure he was shouldering.
"Please, don't lie to me! Don't pretend I haven't known the truth all these years!" Michael seethed with anger over the events that had unfolded. However, he needed to remain strong for his nephew, even if it meant standing by his brother's side. "Stop the act in front of me, brother."
Samuel had lost his wife, and now his son was in the hands of the angel who caused her death and inflicted a curse upon their family. Seeing his son just hours ago after years of separation only added to his turmoil.
"We need to bring my son back!" Samuel declared, his tone suddenly serious. "I'm going to the underworld!"
Michael met his determined gaze and, after ensuring that he wasn't joking, furrowed his brow.
"Don't be foolish!" The challenges they would face would be immense. "Luka and Xavier share a strong bond, which means Xavier can't harm him directly, but he can harm you! We need a plan, and we'll devise a great one during the meeting!"
"Alright." Samuel struggled to maintain composure and work together, following his brother's lead. "But remember, I don't care if Xavier is Luka's soulmate. When I see him, I will kill him."
Samuel's words carried conviction. He didn't care if Luka would be left in sadness and sorrow when his soulmate perished. He sought revenge against Xavier, and he would exact it at any cost.
This time, Xavier won't be able to ruin his plans. Not again.