Chapter One:

The spirit realm was an eerie, otherworldly expanse—filled with fog that swallowed up sound, shifting shadows that seemed to whisper secrets, and colors that shimmered like liquid moonlight. The air was thick with a strange hum, as if the entire place was alive, watching, waiting. It was a place where time stretched and curled back on itself, where the boundaries of existence blurred. It was easy to get lost. But Sage wasn't the type to be lost for long. She had a fiery temper and an even fiercer sense of direction. Or, at least, she used to.

That was until she found herself here, standing in front of someone she didn't expect. A tall, ethereal figure with shoulder-length, golden curls that glowed faintly in the dim light, piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her, and wings that shimmered like stardust—delicate, otherworldly, out of place in a realm like this. Sage squinted, feeling an odd tug in her chest.

"Uh, excuse me, do you have any idea where the hell we are?" Sage asked, her voice sharp with sarcasm, though something about this girl made her breath catch. Beneath the bite, there was curiosity. And something else she didn't want to name.

Harlow blinked, startled by the unexpected voice cutting through the endless fog. She took a second to process the demon girl in front of her—short, curvy, with a wild mane of black curls and dressed head to toe in leather and chains. She was striking, in a way that made Harlow's stomach flutter. Something about her was... captivating. Unapologetic. And Harlow wasn't sure if she should be intimidated or drawn in.

"I, uh, no," Harlow answered softly, taking a hesitant step forward. Her voice was shy, barely above a whisper, but her lips curled into a nervous, almost teasing smile. "I think I was supposed to be somewhere else. But… here I am."

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's just fantastic. So, we're both lost." She folded her arms across her chest, tapping her foot in impatience. "Guess we're royally screwed, then."

Harlow shifted, her wings fluttering slightly. "I don't think 'screwed' is the right word," she mused, glancing at Sage through her lashes. "Maybe we're just... misplaced. Like when you take the wrong exit on a highway."

Sage chuckled, shaking her head. "That's one way to look at it. Though, if I'm being honest, I'd rather be anywhere else right now."

And yet, the way Harlow looked at her—with something soft, searching—made Sage feel strangely rooted. It was unsettling. It was nice.

"So, you're an angel, right?" Sage asked, giving Harlow a slow once-over. Her gaze lingered on the glow of her skin, the way the otherworldly light caught in the strands of her golden hair. Something about her was mesmerizing, like staring into the eye of a storm just before it hit.

Harlow, looking almost flustered under the scrutiny, nodded. "Yeah. I'm Harlow." She smiled, shy but genuine, her blue eyes flickering with warmth. "And, um, you're Sage?"

Sage smirked. "That's me. Demon extraordinaire. Though I'm not exactly extraordinary in this situation."

Harlow laughed softly, the sound warm, like sunlight breaking through the mist. "I think you're pretty extraordinary."

Sage blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. Her heart thudded unexpectedly. She cleared her throat, trying to shake the odd warmth curling in her chest. "You're not so bad yourself, angel."

A charged silence stretched between them before Sage rolled her eyes and muttered, "Great. So, now we're stuck here. Together."

Harlow smiled, her blue eyes dancing. "There are worse things."

Sage caught herself smiling back before she could stop it.

"Stop it," she thought to herself. "You just met this girl."

And yet, there was something about Harlow—something soft, something safe—that made Sage want to stay close. Maybe it was the way she didn't flinch at Sage's sharp edges, or the way her awkwardness made her feel... real. Sage wasn't used to feeling like this. But, for now, she didn't mind.

They walked through the eerie woods, the trees towering and gnarled, casting long, warped shadows. The mist thickened around them, curling like phantom fingers, the hum of the spirit realm growing louder. Sage led the way, her sharp eyes scanning for anything that resembled a way out, while Harlow followed close behind, her wings twitching every few steps.

"So," Sage said, breaking the silence, "you never told me where you're from. In the human world, I mean." She glanced over her shoulder, the question slipping out more naturally than she expected. Something about walking through the fog with Harlow made her feel... vulnerable, like the words came easier here.

Harlow hesitated. "A small town near the coast. Oregon, actually." She studied Sage, the way the chains on her outfit jingled slightly with each movement, the confidence in her stride. "You?"

Sage smirked, pulling her jacket tighter. "Just outside Portland. Stuck there, honestly. You know how it is."

The way she said 'stuck' made Harlow pause. There was a weight behind the word, something unspoken. She bit her lip, feeling a sudden, unexpected urge to know more.

"That's crazy," Harlow said, voice softer. "I live, like, twenty minutes away. Maybe we've crossed paths before."

Sage blinked, surprised. "Huh. Small world."

Harlow looked at her hands, something thoughtful in her expression. "Maybe we should've met sooner."

Sage frowned. "What do you mean?"

Harlow sighed. "I still live with my mom. She... she doesn't really like who I am." Her voice was quiet, laced with something heavy. "And my dad... he died a year ago."

Sage's heart clenched. "That sucks."

"Yeah," Harlow whispered. "It does."

Sage exhaled. "I get it. My family's... not great either. I'm not the 'perfect' demon they wanted me to be."

Harlow took a step closer, their fingers almost brushing. "I'm sorry, Sage."

Sage looked at her, really looked at her. And for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel so alone.

The mist shifted, revealing a faint, glowing portal ahead.

Sage hesitated. Then, before Harlow could step through, she grabbed her hand. Harlow's breath hitched.

Sage pulled a pen from her jacket, scribbling her number onto Harlow's palm. "In case you want to talk. Or whatever."

Harlow stared at the numbers, her fingers tracing them lightly. "Do you think it'll stay?"

Sage smirked. "Maybe. But if not—meet me at the library at noon tomorrow."

Harlow smiled, something hopeful in her eyes. "I'll be there."

As she stepped into the swirling light, she whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow, Sage."

And for the first time in forever, Sage couldn't wait for tomorrow.