Chapter 15: I'm Always Here, Even If I'm Gone

In the vast room, all eyes were fixed on the half-angel standing in the middle, his magnificent black wings outstretched.

Among the onlookers were the devil himself, accompanied by his loyal right hand, Asmodeus, and a hybrid whose fate was intertwined with Asmodeus. Behind them stood over fifty demons, their numbers growing as word of the unfolding event spread like wildfire.

Jonathan's voice barely audible, he murmured to himself, "He's not here..."

Xavier, tormented by the sight of his soulmate's vacant eyes, asked in a trembling whisper, "Luka, baby, what's happening?"

"Luka's soul is absent," William replied, meeting Xavier's gaze. The devil's vulnerability and helplessness were palpable. "Angels can sense souls, and Luka's soul is... not here."

"But how can his soul leave his body?" Xavier demanded answers that no one seemed to possess. "It's impossible!" His eyes blazed with fire as he ordered the other demons to leave, and they quickly fled, leaving only the three of them in the room. Xavier turned to William, demanding an explanation. "Is it dangerous?"

William hesitated, recalling what he had read in the ancient family book, The Carbuncle. "It's a rare occurrence, only mentioned twice in the book. My theory is based on that," he explained. "Luka's subconscious has given him a mission, but since he's not a full angel, he can't receive direct missions. We need to carry out the mission on his behalf."

Xavier's gaze remained fixed on his soulmate's soulless body, covered in blood that had previously flowed as tears. Luka's appearance, with black wings, silver hair and eyes, and a white dress, remained hauntingly beautiful.

"My beautiful soulmate..." Xavier's voice trembled with sorrow. "How am I supposed to know what his mission is?" Gently, he laid Luka down on the bed, the vacant eyes still staring directly at him. Xavier stroked Luka's hair, silently urging William to provide answers.

"He might have spoken about it," William said nervously. Seeing his friend in such a lifeless state was heartbreaking for the hybrid. "I'm so powerless to help him. It's pathetic, I know..."

Jonathan reached out and took William's hand, trying to offer some comfort. "You mentioned something about Kaiden earlier," he said, and Xavier nodded, listening attentively. "Did Luka say something about it?"

"He said, 'He's coming. Tell Kaiden that he's coming,'" Xavier replied, holding Luka's hand firmly, looking outside the room at the worried couple.

"William?" Xavier called out to the hybrid, whose face had turned pale. "Explain to us what's going on."

"I have to go..." William mumbled quietly, but then panic overtook him, intensifying his words. "We have to go! How can he receive such a mission?"

"Explain!" Xavier's eyes blazed with fiery intensity. Jonathan instinctively stepped forward, guarding Xavier, while demanding answers alongside his soulmate.

"I can't!" William said helplessly, his fear deepening Xavier's anger.

"I said explain!" Xavier's voice shook the room, his eyes threatening to engulf them in flames.

"We can't discuss this!" William's voice trembled, on the verge of tears, though none escaped his eyes. "It's an angel vow. We can't breathe a word of it to anyone, or it will cost me my life, and Luka's life too, as he would be the cause of breaking the vow."

"What exactly is an angel vow?" Jonathan whispered, his words reaching Lucifer's sharp ears.

"An angel vow is a lifelong agreement among all angels to keep a secret," William explained to his soulmate. "If someone breaks the vow, both the cause and the person will perish."

"But how can we help if we don't know what we're supposed to do?" Jonathan asked, seeking answers.

"We need Luka, or at least his spirit, to guide us on this journey," William replied calmly. "We have to make a deal with the devil." By "the devil," he didn't mean Xavier, but someone far more dangerous. He referred to Alexander, the devil's older brother, a powerful ancient imprisoned in the depths of hell.

"Leave," Xavier murmured to the others in the room, and they obeyed, leaving Xavier alone with the partially lifeless form of Luka.

Gently, Xavier whispered to Luka, "Look at what you've done to the devil, Luka. In less than a month, you've already made such an impact on me. I'm crying, can you hear me? You made the devil shed tears!"

Tears silently streamed down Xavier's face, dampening Luka's still features. Tenderly, he took Luka's left hand and cradled it in his own. Xavier pressed his lips against Luka's soft hand, tears continuing to flow.

Technically, Luka was lifeless, but for Xavier, it couldn't end like this. His soulmate wouldn't die like this. "I will save you, my dear soulmate. I don't care about the cost, even if it means releasing Alexander from his prison. I don't care. I will save you."

I know you will, Luka's spirit responded with a smile on his ethereal face. But Xavier couldn't hear his words, not until they struck the deal. Yet, the truth remained—Luka would never leave Xavier, even as nothing more than light and air.

"I love you, Luka," Xavier uttered, tears streaming down his once impassive face.

I love you too, Xavier, Luka's spirit responded, though Xavier couldn't hear it.

"I love you so damn much," Xavier's eyes reddened, and his voice broke in a way no one had ever heard, except his soulmate. "It hurts, it hurts so much!"

The feeling is mutual, Luka's soul teemed with unshed tears, but being of Heaven, his pure essence couldn't express sadness outwardly, despite feeling it deeply. Though not entirely deceased, he experienced such emotions, yet the tears could not fall.

"I don't know how to exist without you by my side," Xavier whispered to Luka's physical body.

Stay strong, Luka's spirit urged him.

"I've grown accustomed to your constant presence, and I can't even recall what my life was like before you." The devil's emotions overwhelmed him once more, but he cared little for appearances. "How am I supposed to save you in this pitiful state?"

Stay strong, Luka wrapped his incorporeal arms around Xavier, and even though Xavier couldn't see him, he suddenly felt a glimmer of solace. They were soulmates, and they would forever remain connected.