Slowly, the cocoon cracked open. Celestia opened her eyes and broke the cocoon. Once she made a hole big enough for her head to poke out, she stretched her body shattering it into tiny pieces.
The pieces came flying in Mael's direction. Her wings stretched to its maximum limit and glowed ever so brightly along with her hair that flowed like water in the air. Her glowing body gave nothing as magic flowed around her.
She peered at Mael with her bright eyes and smiled. "You waited, that's too nice of you." She turned her attention to Neylar who nodded silenty.
She sat criss-crossed in front of Mael with a grim look on her face. She didn't know how he would react since he barely gave away his emotions.
"As you can see now I have barely four hours before I turn normal. Before that, we Gods and Goddesses rebirth though its unlimited." She said focusing her attention on the grass.
"My case is different. I don't know the reason why but I have two more rebirths to go before I...fade." She said staring hard at the grass. If her stare could kill she was sure she would have destroyed this place.
"What do you mean by fade?" He asked calmly too calmly. She shifted uncomfortably scratching the back of the neck. "It means she dies period." Neylar chimed.
He stated at her pleadingly. He wanted it to be a joke. "It's unfortunate, but that's how things are. I have to accept it." She raised her hand in surrender when he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Is there a way to prevent the inevitable from happening?"He turned his attention to the pacing Neylar. She turned and sighed at the two." Am sorry but the answer is clear. "
" Why didn't you tell me anything? "He asked her with a tone of accusation.
" Are we doing this now. If we should accuse anyone it's you." She pointed her index finger at him. He looked taken aback by her sudden outburst.
" You're always wearing a mask and yiu never tell me anything about you. "She huffed.
Neylar broke their staring contest by standing in between the two increasing her size. '
Knock it off. Now is not the time to be clawing at each other.' She growled each word. They looked like kids fighting over a toy. She blinked her eyes and pushed them apart. Mael was a gentleman and bowed and apologized though he was still shocked by the news.
"That's how it is Mael, I've given up already." She sighed. He shook his head in disagreement. "No it's not and I think there's a way to solve this problem." She chuckled at his persistence. But what's the point of trying when she knew what would happen.
'He's right, we are not going to abandon you. We'll help you.' Neylar assured her. She smiled." I guess I can't stop you."She laughed at her own joke.
She felt guilty she had seen something worse than her fading They where flashes but she still saw them but afraid to say anything.
Her stomach churned at the thought of it.
" I think I'd spend time flying. Mael join me." She motioned to his white feathery wings. He bowed and leapt in the air gliding through the expanse with her laughing.
*****
"We have reports of demons attacking from Stephen, so far there were no casualties."Mikasa said to Azriel. "What about the barrier has it been repaired?" Miaksa hummed then looked behind."Have you gotten any leads to Celestia's case?"
Azriel looked at Mikasa and shook his head. "No, and I've become weary at that anonymous sender." he said.
"I'm more concerned about the attacks. It has doubled since Celestia arrived." Mikasa stated.
"Are you inusuating at something?" He glared at her expressionless face. "Am just stating facts." She shrugged nonchalantly. Looking back at him she whispered very lowly.
"It won't be long before she figures your identity, I advice you tread cautiously." He nodded his head and sighed.
"I have to go and attend to Hermes now." Mikasa nodded and walked away.
He continued to his secret library.
Celestia paced again."Seriously am getting bored here let's explore this place." She pulled Neylar before she had the time to reply.
The two bumped into people and Celestia muttered apologies on her way. She halted when she realized she was lost. The walls looked the same" We're lost. "She complained trying to retrace her steps.
" How about that door? "Neylar pointed to the peculiar one not far from them. It looked plain,made of wood and oddly different from the golden doors. It looked like it hadn't been used in a long time.
" I have to break it to you, it looks suspicious. It doesn't even have a door knob." Celestia stood in front of looking for a knob.
"What's this?" She stepped on a button underneath the doormat. The person who made this room did a job of hiding here.
The door creaked open and she walked in with Neylar. The lights flicked on illuminating a narrow path. The air was denser and she noticed another door at the far end. She walked carefully to the end.
She was met with the most beautiful sight. Books everywhere displayed in glass shelfs. The shelves were tall and reached the celing making her realize how big the place was. The floor was covered with glass and beneath it were fishes swimming in the water.
Lights decorated the water. She noticed a few water sprites wave at her. Some of the shelves were molded into various animals with gold lining it.
The celing was the same as the floor with bigger fishes swimming around. She noticed a particular stingray swimming with smaller fishes underneath it.
She walked further between the shelves admiring the beauty. Neylar pulled her back by her snout. "What is it?" She asked quietly. She looked straight ahead.
Celestia followed her line of sight and her jaw dropped. On the table was Azriel with his head down. His eyes were closed and his hair covered half of his sleeping face. "What is he doing here?"She whispered.
" How would I know? Aren't you curious about the beauty? "Neylar said. She would have smirked but she puffed smoke from her snout." You're insane!" She whispered back. Neylar rolled her eyes and pushed her harshly to Azriel.
She stumbled and turned to give Neylar a piece of her mind but the sly animal had vanished. She moved to his sleeping form and sat beside him. She placed her head on the table to admire his features.
He had long lashes she noticed. She raised her hand and pushed his hair behind his ear careful any small movement might stir him awake. His mask covered his other features which made her frown. She also noticed his wings behind him.
"Curse them for having that stupid mask anyway." She mumbled tempted to peel it off. "It won't hurt to see right?" She asked looking at the mask.
She touched his hair looking for the thread linking to the mask. She searched again through his smooth hair. "What do you think you're doing Celestia?" He asked startling her.
He rose his head and pulled her closer. Her head rested on his shoulder.She was sure she was red as a tomato. "I was... er.. I was... reading.. Yes!" She squeaked when he felt his hands caress her back and move to her waist.
"Do you know what you did wrong?" He asked pinching her waist earning a gasp from her.She shook her head like a puppy.
"It's rude to stare: I can forgive that but, trying to remove my mask. It can count as treason." He smirked pinching her. She squirmed again.
"Last one is cursing us.We are divine creatures unless you don't value your head. " He pinched her. "You were not sleeping were you." She accused him earning another pinch.
"I was awake the whole time. I sensed your presence. I'm impressed you found this place no one has dared to come here." He smiled proud of her.
"So what brings you here." He asked still embracing her. She felt warm. His wings fluttered and embraced her.
"They smell like you." She said quietly in his shoulder. He rose his brow at her. "Your feathers, they smell like you." He laughed at her.
"You know you're adorable sometimes. I'm flattered you've imprinted my smell into your brain."He said shocking her.
"You smell enticing as well. How should i put it..like rainbows and flowers." He said hugging her tightly getting a whiff of her smell as well.
"That's a very vivid and peculiar combination." She laughed at him. "You have no idea what it does to me." She heard him say quietly.
"Well done Celestia. I leave for five minutes and you're cheating on Mael and Eros." Neylar said walking to her. Celestia gasped and pounced on her familiar.
"You're unbelievable! I'm not cheating on anyone. You're the one who pushed me and left." She pointed an accusing finger at her.
"Your face's flushed Celestia so am not believing you." She replied gazing at Azriel. 'What's he looking at?' Neylar thought feeling Celestia pull her ear.
'Oh I see.' She thought a plan already formulating in her head. " Alright alright, let's read. I found a book that you would love. "Neylar said giving her a familiar book.
" Oh thank you. "She took it and sat beside Azriel." Why don't you two read together?" She said and pulled them together.
" Purrrfect."She said admiring the two. Azriel had his hand wrapped around her waist while her head rested on his shoulder for support. His wings pulled her closer and rested on her side
" Enjoy your time, I will close and nk funny business. "She teased the flushed Celestia. She mouthed a threat to Neylar. 'You're dead.'
She puffed out smoke from her snout and hopped on a shelf and curled her form into a ball. 'Like i care now enjoy yourselves.' She midlinked Celestia.
Celestia ignores her pounding heart and the two read silently. Neylar glanced down to find them already sleeping.
"How cute."
She hopped down and exited the secret library.
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**********end of chapter **********
Hope you enjoyed this part!
I was thinking of a ship name for the two but am out of ideas 😀
Stay safe.
Love,
The author ❤️