Seraphina sat in her father’s office, her heart pounding in her chest. The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow on the polished wood and leather furniture. Across from her, her father, a tall and imposing man with graying hair and a stern expression, was flipping through the proposal she had spent the last few weeks preparing.
The merger had been her idea—a bold move that would solidify their company’s dominance in the industry. It was a risky proposition, but she was confident in her plan. She had anticipated every possible challenge, prepared for every question he might have. This was her moment to prove that she was more than just his daughter, more than just a figurehead in the company.
Her father looked up from the document, his piercing gaze meeting hers. “This is an ambitious plan, Seraphina,” he said, his voice as measured as ever. “But it’s not without its risks. Are you sure this is the best course of action?”
Seraphina straightened her posture, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. “I’m confident it’s the right move, Father. The merger will give us access to new markets and technologies that will ensure our company’s growth for decades to come. I’ve analyzed the risks, and I’m prepared to mitigate them. This is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.”
He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a small smile crept onto his face—a rare display of approval. “You’ve done well, Seraphina. I’ll give my approval for the merger.”
Relief washed over her, but she kept her composure, only allowing herself a slight nod. “Thank you, Father. I won’t let you down.”
He nodded, his smile fading as he returned to his usual business-like demeanor. “See that you don’t. This is your project now. Make it work.”
Seraphina stood and gathered her papers, feeling a sense of accomplishment. She had done it—she had proven herself to him. As she left his office, she allowed herself a small smile. It was a victory, but it was also just the beginning.
Later that evening, Seraphina found herself sitting across from Michael in a quiet corner of a café. The city buzzed around them, but here, in the dim light and soft music, it felt like a different world. They had spent the day planning their next move, discussing the best approach to track down the glitch that had eluded them.
As they talked, Seraphina couldn’t help but notice the way Michael seemed detached, almost indifferent to everything around him. He spoke in a monotone, his expression unreadable as always. But there was something about him that intrigued her—something that made her want to know more.
“Michael,” she said, interrupting their discussion. “I’ve been wondering… Where do you live?”
Michael looked at her, his expression unchanging. “Why do you ask?”
She shrugged, trying to sound casual. “I’m just curious. You’ve been on Earth for a thousand years. I thought you might have some kind of… I don’t know, special place, or something.”
Michael hesitated, clearly reluctant to answer. “It’s nothing special,” he finally said. “Just a place to sleep.”
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. “Come on, it can’t be that bad. I’d like to see it.”
He glanced at her, his reluctance clear, but after a moment, he nodded. “Fine. But don’t expect much.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The sun was setting as they arrived at Michael’s place. Seraphina followed him through a series of narrow, winding streets until they reached a rundown apartment building. The paint was peeling, the windows were cracked, and the whole place had an air of neglect.
Michael led her up a rickety staircase to a small, dimly lit apartment. The door creaked as he opened it, revealing a sparsely furnished room with a single bed, a worn-out armchair, and a small table. There were no personal touches, no signs of life—just the bare essentials.
Seraphina stood in the doorway, shocked. She had expected something different—something grander, or at least more fitting for an angel who had lived for centuries. But this… this was depressing.
“You live here?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Michael shrugged, already moving to sit in the armchair. “It’s just a place to stay. I don’t need much.”
Seraphina stepped inside, taking in the small space. “But… you’ve been on Earth for so long. You could have anything you want. Why live like this?”
Michael looked at her, his gaze steady. “I don’t care about material things, Seraphina. I never have. This place serves its purpose. That’s all that matters.”
She frowned, still trying to wrap her head around it. “But it’s so… bleak. Don’t you ever want more? Something nicer? A place that feels like home?”
Michael’s expression softened slightly, but he shook his head. “I’ve never needed a home. Not in the way humans do. I’m here to do a job, nothing more.”
Seraphina stared at him, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. For someone who had been on Earth for so long, Michael seemed so detached, so disconnected from everything around him. It was like he was just… existing, without really living.
She didn’t say anything else, but as they left the apartment and headed back into the night, Seraphina couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Michael than he was letting on. And for the first time, she found herself wondering if she would ever truly understand him.
As Michael and Seraphina left the rundown apartment, the city lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the streets. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts and lingering questions. Seraphina couldn’t shake the image of Michael’s bleak living conditions from her mind, nor the way he seemed so unaffected by it all. She walked beside him, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and curiosity.
But miles away, in a different part of the city, someone else was finding success in his own twisted way.
In a hidden underground lab, Lucian stood over a steel table, his hands clad in black gloves as he carefully handled a series of vials filled with a shimmering, dark liquid. The room was cold and sterile, lit only by the harsh white light overhead. The sound of faint, labored breathing echoed from the corner, where Alex, the glitch who had escaped Michael’s grasp, was strapped to a metal chair, his head slumped forward.
Lucian smirked as he held up one of the vials, admiring the way the liquid seemed to pulse with energy. It had taken weeks of experimentation, but he had finally done it—he had extracted the raw power from Alex, distilling it into a form that could be used by anyone. With this, he could grant others the unnatural abilities that had once belonged solely to glitches.
He set the vial down carefully and turned to Alex, who groaned weakly, barely conscious. Lucian’s smirk widened as he approached, leaning in close to the captive man.
“You see, Alex,” Lucian said in a low, almost mocking tone, “you were never meant to survive. But your power… your power will live on. And it will make me a very wealthy man.”
Alex didn’t respond, his energy completely drained, but Lucian didn’t need him to. He turned away, already thinking ahead to his next move.
He had contacts in the black market who would pay a fortune for this new drug—one that could grant them power beyond their wildest dreams, if only for a short time. And once word got out, demand would skyrocket. This was only the beginning.
Lucian picked up the vial again, his eyes gleaming with ambition. He had succeeded where others had failed, and now, the future was his to shape. With a satisfied grin, he placed the vial in a secure case, locking it with a sense of finality.
“Let the games begin,” he murmured to himself, already imagining the chaos that would soon follow.
As the night deepened, Seraphina and Michael walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. But neither of them knew that elsewhere in the city, a new threat was brewing—one that would soon change everything.
And as Lucian prepared to unleash his new creation on the world, the stage was set for a battle that would test Michael and Seraphina in ways they could never have anticipated.
End of chapter 9