Chapter 12: The Angel Behind The Gate

Luka and Xavier exchanged glances as their unexpected guest sat uncomfortably in the Narcissus Garden. It was an unexpected turn of events, something they had never anticipated.

"Um... Will?" Luka addressed the young angel, feeling a mix of emotions. He didn't know how to react in this situation.

He trusted William and didn't see him as a threat, but when Xavier asked why he hadn't mentioned it earlier, Luka was at a loss for words. He simply knew he could trust William, so he had asked Xavier to let him speak first.

"Hey..." William greeted them, sensing the tension in the room. He found himself in the mansion, knowing he had to explain how he had found it.

Xavier's guard was up, and he didn't fully trust the boy. "How did you find the mansion?" His demeanor shifted, embodying Lucifer, the ruler of Hell and the devil.

"Um... I'm sorry, Lucifer, but the only way I can reveal that is..." William took a deep breath before continuing, "is if you promise me protection."

Xavier was about to refuse his request, but Luka interrupted. "It's okay, William. Whom are you trying to protect?"

"My father," William replied. Seeing his newfound friend again brought him joy. It had been years since he had spoken to someone as a friend.

"And who is your father?" Xavier inquired. He couldn't fathom how an angel could know the location of the portal to Hell's mansion. Angels weren't even aware of the existence of another holy mansion!

"I'm a hybrid," William confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "My blood is a mixture of angel's blood and demon's blood. My mother is Esme, the soulmate of the demon Adrian."

"A demon and an angel?" Luka remarked, recalling his uncle's teachings on hybrids and the blending of weak demon and angel blood. "I know Esme. She's one of the minor angels, and her power is weak. Is Adrian a powerful demon or not?"

"No, he's also a minor demon," William answered, his eyes tinged with sadness. "You must be wondering about my age and lifespan, aren't you?"

"Yes." Xavier looked at Luka and sensed what he was about to say. "Hybrids are rare, and that's because..." Luka paused, unable to finish his sentence. It pained him too much to say it, but William understood the unspoken words.

"We are rare because we are destined to die," William said with a bittersweet smile. "We will perish at the age of twenty, twenty thousand. I have two thousand years left."

Luka observed his friend, his heart heavy with sorrow and fear. William was a handsome hybrid, with his tousled dirty blond hair and expressive blue eyes. He was taller than Luka but not particularly muscular. It was unjust for him to have such a limited life span. Twenty thousand years were short for a half-angel or half-demon.

"What about Maria?" Luka suddenly remembered William's twin sister. "She should also be a hybrid."

"She's not," William sighed. "We don't know why, but thankfully, she isn't a hybrid."

As Luka and William continued their conversation, Xavier found himself lost in his thoughts. William exuded a wave of power, similar to that of his soulmate. He possessed strength, although Xavier doubted that William himself was aware of it.

Moreover, William bore a striking resemblance to Luka in many ways. While their eye and hair colors differed, their features were eerily similar, and it bothered Xavier. He couldn't fathom why they looked alike. There was a

  bond between their souls, but it wasn't like any ordinary bond. It wasn't a soulmate bond or a familial one.

Certainly, there was a friendship bond between them, but it felt like something more.

Xavier observed the connection between the two of them, knowing deep down that there was something they had yet to uncover. However, he didn't want to burden his soulmate with more worries, so he chose to keep this observation to himself.

"Anyway, why are you here?" Luka's question piqued Xavier's curiosity. He too wanted to know the reason behind William's unexpected visit.

"I'm here to warn you," William replied, a tinge of sadness evident in his eyes and voice. "Samuel has discovered the existence of another world, and he won't rest until he finds you."

"Why are you helping me?" Xavier asked, genuine confusion coloring his tone.

"Because Samuel is deranged," William explained, his gaze shifting between Luka and Xavier. "He said he wanted to kill Lucifer, and he didn't care if Luka would die in the process. All he wants is revenge. I may not understand what it feels like to have a soulmate, but I know you're a good person. And if you're a good person, then the devil himself must be good too. Besides, no one with a good heart would ever utter such words about their own child."

Xavier studied the young hybrid standing before him, searching for any trace of deceit in his heart. However, William's sincerity was unmistakable. He genuinely wanted to help them.

Though Xavier would never admit it, he found solace in this fact. He was delighted because it seemed that William and Luka shared a special bond.

"But there is something I wanted to ask you..." William's voice trailed off, his troubled eyes meeting Xavier's gaze with a sheepish smile. "Can I live here with my father?"

Xavier's expression remained stoic as he considered William's request. He glanced at Luka, who held a hopeful look in his eyes. Though Xavier had reservations about agreeing to things, he understood Luka's need for companionship. Even with Xavier in the mansion, Luka desired a friend. And Lucifer knew it.

Xavier turned his attention back to William, a small grin forming on his face. "Of course, you can stay here, William! I would be more than happy to have you."

William's face lit up with gratitude, ready to ask another question, but Xavier preempted it, his expression remaining impassive. "Your father is in the Autumn Hall. At the garden gate, Rosalind will guide you there."

William nodded and rose from his seat. As he observed Luka and Xavier's endearing relationship, he couldn't help but wish for a soulmate of his own.

Hybrids, due to their short lifespans, were unable to feel their soulmates. Their soulmates could sense them, but they possessed the power to reject the hybrid, knowing that their time together would be fleeting. This was true for all hybrids, except for humans and animals on Earth.

He sighed, then turned his attention to the figure standing tall and muscular by the gate. Was this supposed to be Rosalind? What in the world was happening?

"You're Rosalind?!" William stared at the demon before him, his mouth agape. He couldn't fathom why anyone would name their son Rosalind. It seemed utterly ridiculous and, dare he say, cruel.

"Excuse me?" The demon raised an eyebrow, taken aback by William's reaction. "Rosalind?"

"Oh, I knew it! There's no way someone would ever name a boy Rosalind! It's just absurd and, frankly, quite mean!" William ranted, his frustration evident. "So, who are you? Lucifer said Rosalind would guide me to Autumn Hall."

"I'm Jonathan," the demon replied, his amusement evident as he observed the angel. He chose to ignore the boy's previous comment. "Don't you sense it?"

"What do you mean?" William asked, his confusion evident as he looked at Jonathan.

Jonathan was undeniably attractive, with his brown hair partially covering his right eye and deep blue eyes that contrasted with William's lighter blue ones.

Suddenly, everything fell into place. William took a step back, fear plastered across his face. "No! No! No! Please, no!"

Jonathan regarded the angel with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?" he inquired, noticing tears welling up in William's eyes. He didn't understand why the boy wasn't thrilled to meet his soulmate. "Why are you crying?"

"Please..." William choked out between sobs, tears streaming down his face. As a hybrid, his angelic side held more sway over him, making him a pure-hearted soul.

"Why do you want your soulmate to leave?" Jonathan questioned, furrowing his brow in concern. He couldn't comprehend why William was in such distress. "Why are you crying?"

"Please..." William continued to cry, his tears flowing freely. He didn't want to experience the pain that followed soulmate rejection.

Unable to bear seeing his soulmate in such agony, Jonathan stepped closer and enveloped William in a comforting embrace. William cried harder, burying his face in Jonathan's shoulder. If this was to be their last encounter, he wanted to fully immerse himself in the sensation of being in his soulmate's arms.

After some time, the tears subsided. William pulled back slightly, preparing himself to disclose his hybrid nature, hoping to expedite the inevitable rejection and spare himself the agony of waiting for his soulmate's damning words. "I'm a... I'm a hybrid..."

"So what?" Jonathan responded, his understanding dawning upon him. He now comprehended why William had been crying, but he was determined not to subject his soulmate to further pain.

"You can reject me now..." William sniffled, bracing himself for the rejection he anticipated, but no words of rejection came. He looked up, meeting Jonathan's gaze, only to find the demon smiling at him with kindness and... love?

"Who said I'm going to reject you?" Jonathan's voice held a note of tenderness as he leaned forward, capturing William's lips in a gentle kiss. It was an exquisite taste, the sweetest thing in the world—the meeting of two destined souls.