The celestial halls of heaven hummed with divine energy, but for Gabriel, it was a prison. For centuries, he had obeyed the rules, sacrificing his desires for the greater good. But now, his resolve wavered. Visions plagued him—images of a frozen figure, radiant and familiar, calling to him through the barriers of time and space.
He needed answers.
Standing beneath the eternal glow of the celestial council chamber, Gabriel turned to Uriel, his closest confidant.
"She's down there," Gabriel said, his voice heavy with conviction. "I can feel her presence."
Uriel frowned, his brows knitting together in concern. "You know the law, Gabriel. You're bound to this realm. The council will never allow it."
"I don't need their permission," Gabriel replied. "I need your help."
Uriel hesitated, his wings twitching. "If you're caught, you'll face eternal exile. Are you prepared for that?"
Gabriel's golden eyes burned with determination. "I've already lost one love to these laws. I won't lose another."
With a resigned sigh, Uriel plucked a feather from his wing. It shimmered with divine light, radiating power.
"This will open a portal to the mortal realm," Uriel explained. "But only for a short time. Use it wisely."
Gabriel nodded, taking the feather. "Thank you, Uriel. I owe you everything."
As the portal opened, a golden light enveloped Gabriel, and he descended into the mortal world, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Gabriel landed softly on the grounds of the school, his presence cloaked from mortal eyes. The air here was dense with magic, ancient and foreboding. He felt the pull immediately, guiding him toward a hidden barrier near the forest's edge.
Pushing through the magical shield, he entered a hidden glade, his breath catching at the sight before him.
There she was.
A woman, frozen in a crystalline prison, her hair cascading like a waterfall of rainbows. Her expression was peaceful, as though she were merely sleeping, but Gabriel could sense the power radiating from her even in her stasis.
"Seraphina?" he whispered, his voice breaking. But as he stepped closer, he realized this wasn't her. The features were similar, but not identical.
Still, the connection was undeniable.
Gabriel raised his hand, summoning his flaming sword. The blade glowed with holy fire, its warmth countering the icy aura surrounding the figure.
"This magic is old," he muttered, "but it won't stop me."
He struck the ice with his sword, the fiery blade melting through the enchanted barrier. The process was slow and arduous, but Gabriel didn't relent. With each strike, the ice cracked, revealing more of the woman within.
Finally, with a resounding crack, the ice shattered, and the woman collapsed into Gabriel's arms.
She was pale, her skin cold to the touch, but she was alive.
Gabriel didn't linger. He spread his wings, taking flight and carrying the woman toward the ocean. He knew exactly where to take her—a place untouched by time, hidden from mortal and immortal eyes alike.
The mermaid's cave.
It was where he and Seraphina had once met in secret, away from the prying eyes of heaven and the judgment of their worlds. The entrance was concealed behind a waterfall, protected by an enchantment only Gabriel could break.
When he entered, the cave was just as he remembered—its walls glowing with bioluminescent moss, the air filled with the gentle sound of trickling water.
He laid the woman on a soft bed of sea grass, covering her with a silken cloak he conjured.
"Who are you?" he murmured, brushing a strand of rainbow-colored hair from her face. "And why do you feel so familiar?"
As Gabriel watched over the woman, memories of Seraphina flooded his mind. He recalled the way her laughter had echoed in this very cave, the way her touch had soothed his soul.
"Are you her daughter?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "Her blood?"
The woman stirred slightly, her lips parting as though to speak, but no words came. Gabriel's heart ached as he watched her, so fragile yet so strong.
"I failed her," he said softly, "but I won't fail you."
Outside the cave, the winds howled, carrying with them a dark presence. Far across the mortal realm, Kael, the demon prince, stood on a jagged cliff, his fiery eyes narrowing as he sensed Gabriel's descent.
"So," Kael murmured, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "The angel thinks he can interfere."
His gaze shifted toward the horizon, where the faint glow of the mermaid's cave could be seen in the distance.
"This will be fun," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
Would you like the next chapter to explore Alice's mother awakening, Gabriel's confrontation with Kael, or the fallout at the school?