Nathanials Pov

The cool, ethereal glow of Heaven's halls did little to calm the storm churning inside me. The familiar stillness of this place was nothing but a façade now, masking the chaos that had begun to seep through the cracks.

I could feel it—something was coming, and I couldn't shake the nagging sense that it had everything to do with Athena. The human girl who, against all odds, had become the center of everything I had been trained to fight against.

As I approached the meeting chamber, I found Angelica waiting for me. Her presence was commanding, as always—calm, calculating, and cold. A high-ranking enforcer in Heaven's law, she had the power to destroy anything she deemed a threat. She was someone you didn't cross, even if she wasn't the most approachable being in Heaven.

She studied me as I entered, her sharp eyes catching the unrest in my posture. "Nathanial," she said, her tone cool but with a hint of annoyance, "you've kept me waiting."

I didn't respond right away. Instead, I just stepped into the room and bowed slightly in respect. "Apologies, Angelica. I've been... distracted."

Her gaze sharpened, as though she could already see the weight of my thoughts. "Distracted by what?" she asked, folding her wings behind her. "The demons? Or perhaps by the girl?"

I stiffened at the mention of Athena, not expecting her to know about my involvement with her. "You know about her?"

"Of course," Angelica replied with a shrug, her eyes gleaming with the knowledge of someone who had been watching from the shadows. "We've been watching her for some time. It's hard to miss when a human's presence causes such an upheaval in both Heaven and Hell."

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure. "Athena is different. She's not just a human. There's something more to her."

Angelica raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Yes, I'm aware. She's special. But I'm more concerned with why you haven't yet done what you're supposed to do, Nathanial."

I looked at her, confusion clouding my thoughts. "What do you mean?"

"The demons," she said, her voice growing colder. "You're supposed to eliminate them. All of them. That includes the likes of Zarach and Marax. And this... girl. Athena. What is it about her that's causing you to hesitate? You've been giving her far too much attention, and I don't understand why."

I swallowed, my grip tightening around the hilt of the sword I carried. "She's caught in the middle of something. She doesn't understand the full extent of what's going on."

"You're not the first to make excuses for a human," Angelica said dismissively, though there was a hint of something else in her voice. "But you're wrong to protect her. If she decides to help the demons, if she sides with them in the upcoming war, she'll have to be destroyed."

My heart tightened at her words. "Destroyed?"

"Of course. If she chooses the demons," Angelica continued, her tone laced with cold finality, "she will be a liability. An unimaginable weapon. Satan is already growing stronger, and we don't know how far he's willing to go to use her. We don't even know why she's so powerful. But we do know that her power is tied to him in ways we still don't fully understand."

Her words felt like ice settling in my chest. My mind flashed back to my time with Athena—the way her presence made everything feel right, the way she held a power I couldn't explain. I had no idea how she was connected to Satan, but I knew that what Angelica was saying was true. Satan was getting stronger, and he had his sights set on her.

"If she chooses the demons," I repeated, voice low, "then I will have no choice but to kill her, won't I?"

Angelica's gaze softened, almost imperceptibly, but her words were unyielding. "You're not blind, Nathanial. You know what's at stake. You know what will happen if she's allowed to continue down this path. You know she's not just any human."

I took a step forward, trying to mask the emotions that threatened to surface. "But she's not one of them. She's not a demon. She doesn't understand any of this."

"You're wrong to think that," Angelica said, her voice sharpening once again. "You're making excuses. She's powerful, yes. But she's also dangerous. And if you continue to protect her, if you keep allowing yourself to be blinded by your... emotions, then you'll be responsible for the destruction she brings. And it will be on your head when Satan uses her to wage war against us all."

I felt a wave of anger rush over me, but I controlled it, refusing to show weakness. "I won't just kill her because it's easier. I need to know what's going on with her, why she's connected to all this. I need to understand why Satan wants her so badly."

Angelica's eyes darkened, and her wings fluttered as if to dismiss my words. "You may never understand. But you're running out of time. If she chooses the demons, there won't be any saving her. You'll have no choice but to destroy her."

A silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. I refused to look away from her gaze.

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Finally, Angelica spoke again, her voice quieter now, but still firm. "Just remember, Nathanial, you're not dealing with a human girl anymore. She's become something far more dangerous. And if she sides with the demons, she'll be your enemy. Do what you must."

I stood there, my heart pounding, knowing the decision ahead would not be an easy one.

"I'll find a way to stop this," I said firmly, my resolve hardening. "I won't let her be destroyed, not unless I have no other choice."

Angelica gave me one last look, her expression unreadable. "We'll see," she said, before turning to leave.

As I stood alone in the chamber, the weight of my duty pressing on my chest, I couldn't shake the thought of Athena—her strength, her innocence, and the dangerous path she was being forced onto. I didn't know what would happen next, but one thing was certain: I would protect her, no matter what it cost.

I stood there, still processing everything that had happened. I couldn't stop thinking about the mess I had created earlier with Athena's personal things. It wasn't like I meant to snoop. Something had just felt... off, and I had been trying to understand. But what I found? I didn't know how to handle it.

As I stood there, trying to shake the awkwardness off, I heard the familiar rustle of wings. Solar appeared, flying in with his usual carefree attitude. He always had this way of making everything feel lighter, and right now, I could use that.

"So, what's the deal with you and Athena?" Solar asked, his grin wide as he hovered next to me. "You've been around her a lot lately. Or should I say, you've been watching her?"

I stiffened at the question. I didn't know how to answer that. "What are you talking about?" I muttered, trying to brush him off. But, of course, he wasn't going to let it slide.

Solar smirked, clearly enjoying this. "Oh, come on. You've been hanging around her more than you care to admit. Is there something going on between you two? Something more than just... you know, your angel mission?"

I felt my stomach tighten at the question. "I'm just trying to figure her out," I said, trying to keep it casual. "She has these powers... and I'm trying to understand them."

Solar didn't buy it. "Uh-huh. Sure. And why exactly are you trying to understand her? Because I think you've got more than just her powers on your mind."

I didn't respond right away. Was I really fooling anyone? I couldn't deny that there was something about Athena that kept drawing me in. Something deeper than just her abilities. But that was the problem—I didn't know what it was. And I didn't know how to explain it.

He raised an eyebrow, noticing the hesitation. "So, what's going on? Come on, you can tell me. I mean, I'm your friend, right?"

I ran a hand through my hair, glancing away from him. "I don't know. Something happened the other day. I... I found something in her room. And when I saw it, she got really upset. I didn't understand why."

Solar's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Oh, you found something, huh? What was it?"

I felt a heat creep up my neck. "A toy," I muttered, embarrassed. "A buzzing thing. At first, I thought it was... some kind of weapon or artifact, but she looked so mortified when I saw it."

Solar's mouth dropped open. And then, in a burst of laughter, he almost doubled over, clutching his sides. "Wait, wait, you found a vibrator?" he asked, still shaking with laughter. "And you didn't know what it was?"

My face turned scarlet. "What?" I sputtered, not sure what was happening. "I didn't know! I thought it was some kind of magical object! She was so embarrassed, and I didn't get it. I thought I was doing something wrong."

Solar took a deep breath, still chuckling. "Oh man, Nathanial, you are so far out of the loop on human stuff." He grinned at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "That's not a magical weapon, dude. That's... well, it's for pleasure. It's a toy for when humans want to get off. You know, for self-pleasure?"

I just stared at him, my face still burning. "What?" I said, feeling like the ground should swallow me whole. "That's... for that?"

Solar laughed even harder. "Yeah! You really didn't know? Wow. No wonder she got embarrassed. You were probably all serious and snooping around in her stuff. Man, you've got a lot to learn about human life."

I couldn't believe this. I had just learned more than I ever needed to know about human relationships. And now I was more embarrassed than ever. "I didn't mean to," I muttered, looking anywhere but at Solar. "I was just... trying to help her. I don't know what's going on with her powers, and I was trying to find answers. I wasn't snooping."

Solar's laughter finally died down, but he was still smiling. "Look, dude, I know you're an angel and all, but sometimes you've gotta learn to chill with humans. They're not like us. You've gotta understand them, and that means respecting their privacy. Athena's been through a lot, and you can't just treat her like some mission."

I nodded slowly, trying to take it all in. He was right. I hadn't been treating her like a person. I'd been so focused on her powers, her potential, that I hadn't stopped to think about what she was feeling.

Solar's grin softened, becoming more understanding. "You've got a lot of work ahead of you, my friend. But don't worry. You'll figure it out. Just, uh, maybe stay out of her drawers for now, alright?"

I gave him a sheepish smile, feeling both embarrassed and relieved. "Yeah, I think I've learned my lesson there."

Solar slapped me on the back, still grinning. "Good. You've got a lot to learn, but you'll get there. Just take your time. Athena's a lot more complicated than you think."

As Solar flew off, I stood there, still processing everything he had said. Athena... I couldn't get her out of my head. And now, it wasn't just about her powers. I didn't know what was happening, but something was definitely changing. I needed to see her but all I could feel was guilt that I have been told to kill her if she chooses the wrong side. I can't let her know, or the demons.

Angelica's piercing gaze met mine right before me, the weight of her words sinking into me like a stone. "Nathanial," she began, her tone unwavering, "you cannot tell Athena anything about what you've learned. Not a word. Not a whisper."

I blinked, taken aback by the severity in her voice. "What do you mean? You're telling me to lie to her?" I asked, though I already suspected the answer.

Her expression hardened, her wings folding tightly against her back as if bracing for the weight of the conversation. "Not lying. But you need to let her make her choice on her own. She must choose the angels' side by herself, without any interference from you. She has to come to that conclusion on her own—whether she wants to help us or not."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Angelica's sharp gaze silenced me before I could speak.

"You don't understand the bigger picture, Nathanial," she continued, her voice softer now, but no less commanding. "Satan's army is becoming stronger. He is making moves we can't fully track. His power is growing, and we know he's focused on Athena. We don't know why, but he wants her. He's dangerous, and if she's not on our side when the war begins, it will be catastrophic. If she helps him... if she sides with him, the balance will shift, and we will lose everything."

Her words struck me with a sickening clarity. I had sensed it too—the unease in the air, the growing tension between Heaven and Hell. But hearing it from Angelica, hearing how serious it was, made the whole situation feel like it was spiraling out of control.

"But how can I just stand by and watch her make that choice?" I protested, my frustration rising. "She has no idea what's at stake. I can't let her—"

"You have to," Angelica interrupted, her tone hardening again. "You can't afford to be blinded by your feelings for her. You have a duty to Heaven, Nathanial. And that duty comes first. Athena needs to make this choice for herself. She will see the truth eventually. We just need to be patient. But you cannot influence her decision. The more you tell her, the more you risk pulling her further into Satan's orbit. Understand?"

I nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling like a heavy shroud. She was right. If I pushed too hard, if I said too much, I could push Athena toward the wrong side. But the thought of her making that choice without knowing the full truth—it felt wrong. But I couldn't argue with her. I knew she was right, and it burned.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, frustration and helplessness flooding through me. "So, what do I do now?"

Angelica's gaze softened, just a little, but the coldness never left. "You continue to watch over her. Keep your distance, but be there when she needs you. If she chooses our side, you'll know. If she chooses Satan's side, you'll know that too. And when the time comes..." Her eyes darkened. "You'll do what you have to do."

The finality in her voice struck a deep chord in me, and I couldn't push away the image of Athena—the way she'd looked at me, trusting me, even though I'd barely known her. I wasn't sure I could ever hurt her, even if the war between Heaven and Hell depended on it.

But I had no choice, did I?

I nodded stiffly, knowing the conversation was over, even though the questions, the doubts, and the guilt were just beginning. "I understand."

Angelica gave me one final, unreadable look before turning on her heel and walking away, her wings brushing the air with a soft, almost melancholic sound. Her presence was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving me alone with the storm brewing in my chest.

I couldn't protect Athena from this war. Not if she chose to stand with Satan.

But I couldn't help but wonder: What if she didn't?