Worse, seated nearby were Gabriel's friend Raphiel, and the two little demons Vignette and Satania who had likewise come to Earth. All three wore suggestive blushes, watching Gabriel's ordeal without blinking.
"Ga Gabriel?!"
Zelel's voice caught in her throat. She could scarcely believe her eyes. The wellbehaved top student of Heavenher innocent sisterwas now
Her fingers clenched, grinding the crystal railing to powder. Holy light rioted around her, whipping up a miniature storm; surrounding clouds swirled in a howling vortex. Her wings spread fully, every feather bristling with fury.
On Gabriel's face she saw expressions she had never known: dazed, intoxicated, wanton No longer a pure little angelworse than a fallen one!
At that moment the blackhaired man suddenly turned. Iridescent pupils met Zelel's clairvoyant gaze, a meaningful smile curling on his lips.
A chill shot up her spine.
He can see me?!
Impossible! Clairvoyance was oneway and undetectable. Yet a heartbeat later, the mist shiftedher view was sealed again. No effort could pierce it.
"How can this be?!"
Zelel stood trembling with rage, shards of nearby crystal bursting under the violent halo of light.
"The human world"
Her voice was ice.
"I'm comingnow."
With a snap of her wings she became a streak of light, racing toward Heaven's gate to Earth. She had to learn for herself what had driven her sister to such degradation.
Earth
Inside a room of the villa
"Rei Aokun ththat's enough, right?"
Gabriel's voice was sweet enough to drip honey, utterly unlike her usual languor. Her golden hair fanned across the sheets; her halo flickered wildly with emotion.
"Heh, enough of what?" Rei Ao chuckled, showing no sign of relenting.
"Of course I mean" Gabriel cried softly, bewildered that Rei Ao only grew more energetic.
Unbeknownst to her, he had sensed Zelel's spying long ago and deliberately dropped the villa's ward so she could witness everything. Without that, Zelel would never have found themand he could all but picture the serious angel sister's priceless reaction.
"Rei Aokun, why are you suddenly being so 'enthusiastic' with Gabriel?" Raphiel asked, chin propped on her hand, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Did something good happen that we don't know about?"
Satania's devil tail wagged unconsciously, betraying her excitement. Vignette, blushing, looked down, fingers twisting her skirt.
"Um mmaybe we should step outside?"
Though she had just experienced something similar, she was the most modest of the four and still shy.
"No way!" Satania pounced onto the bed like a spoiled puppy. "Master, it's my turn next, right? I'm way better than Gabriel!" She puffed out her chest, utterly unaware of how bold her words were.
Rei Ao laughed heartily, finally sparing Gabriel for the moment.
"Very welllet's see which of you is the best."
His gaze swept over the four girls, iridescent eyes full of indulgence.
~~~
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Chapter 786: Zelel had descended! Gabriel's Fear!
As the last trace of sunset slipped beneath the horizon, the four little ones were already asleep.
Rei Ao tucked each of them in, kissed every forehead lightly, and went alone to the villa's rooftop garden.
A gentle night breeze stirred.
He poured himself a glass of red wine
and waited leisurely for the visitor he had foreseen.
Exactly as expected
Around midnight, the sky suddenly blazed as bright as day.
A shaft of holy light cut through the darkness.
With halo aglow above her head, Zelel descended, wings fully unfurled and luminous sword in hand.
Her golden hair streamed in the radiance, her eyes burning with fury.
She looked like a blade drawn from its scabbardsharp, brilliant, lethal.
"So you're the one who defiled my sister and lured her into depravity?!"
Her voice rang like a trumpet of judgment; the sword tip halted an inch from Rei Ao's throat.
The holy light's heat made the air itself sear.
Yet Rei Ao only took an unhurried sip of wine.
"Defiled? That's not the right word.
"Gabriel is my girlfriend; we merely did what lovers do."
He paused deliberately.
"As for youspying on others while they're intimate isn't a very polite habit."
Zelel's face flushed crimson.
How could he speak so matteroffactly?
"I wasn't spying! I used clairvoyance to find my sister!"
Her hand on the hilt trembledpartly from rage, partly from the meaning behind his words.
"Who exactly are you? Why are you Gabriel'slover?"
The last two words came out stiff.
Did he truly say they were lovers?
"Rei Ao," he answered, standing.
Iridescent eyes reflected the moonlight with perfect composure.
"As for our relationship you can ask Gabriel yourself."
To him, the blade at his throat was no more than a harmless twig.
"Rei Ao?" Zelel's pupils shrank.
She knew that nameintimately.
"The first Awakened of the human world?"
As a highranking angel, she had heard the title,
but never imagined meeting the man in such a setting.
Rei Ao inclined his head.
"So my reputation has reached Heaven, I see."
There was a teasing lilt in his voice; he seemed to relish her astonishment.
Zelel's expression turned complex.
The Seraphs had warned: Awakened ones transcend the usual lawsHeaven itself should not provoke them lightly.
But this manthis man who had "defiled" her sistercould he truly be that legendary unifier of the human realm?
"I don't care who you are."
She gritted her teeth, pushing the sword half an inch closer.
"I will not let you hurt my sister!"
Rules meant nothing next to her sibling.
Rei Ao spread his hands.
"As you can see, our feelings are mutual. As her elder sister, shouldn't you give us your blessing?"
"Blessing?" Zelel's voice leapt eight pitches.
"Bless her falling into sin?"
She drew a deep breath to steady herself.
"Hmph. Silvertongued. I won't argue. I'm taking Gabriel back to Heaven."
It was her dutyas sister and senior angel.
"Then wait until she wakes. Ask her yourself," Rei Ao suggested, pointing toward the villa.
"For now they're exhausted. Why not rest for the night too?"
The proposal sounded reasonable, though a glint in his eye hinted at deeper schemes.
Zelel meant to refuse, but recalling her sister's condition, she reluctantly nodded.
"At dawn I'll speak with Gabriel alone."
She sheathed the sword; her six wings folded, though vigilance never left her eyes.
Rei Ao gestured politely.
"The guest room is ready. Would you like a latenight snack?"
"No."
Zelel declined coldly and followed him inside.
She had to stay alertone slip near this dangerous man could bring unforeseen disaster.
The Next Morning
Gabriel tottered from the bedroom, rubbing bleary eyes.
Her whole body ached; every step echoed last night's frenzy.
Sunlight streamed through corridor windows, gilding her tousled hair.
"Rei Ao" she whined, drawing out the name.
"Carry me to the bath You were too rough yesterday"
Still halfasleep, her tone was fond and playfulclearly used to such pampering.
She opened her arms, awaiting his warm embrace.
Instead, a chill voice answered:
"Need your big sister to carry you?"
Gabriel froze.
That voice far too familiar.
Noimpossible!
Her eyes flew open. Zelel's stern face filled her view.
Color drained from Gabriel's cheeks; with a pop, her angel wings burst forth, several feathers drifting to the floor.
"SSister?!"
Her voice shot up at least three octaves.
"WWhy are you here?!"
Her heart hammered, mind racing with worstcase scenarios.
Arms crossed, Zelel's gaze was sharp as knives.
"Looks like I arrived just in timeto witness my precious little sister's fall firsthand."
She emphasized fall, each syllable hammering Gabriel's heart.
Gabriel glanced around, seeking rescue
but the villa was eerily quiet; Rei Ao and the others were nowhere in sight.
She swallowed; her throat felt sanddry.
"Come with me. We need a serious talk."
Zelel turned toward a guest roomallowing no refusal.
Like a startled rabbit, Gabriel followed nervously.
The door closed; she immediately knelt, head bowed, not daring to meet her sister's eyes.
It was an old habitwhenever she erred before this strict elder sister.
""
Silence weighed on the room.
Zelel stood at the window, back to Gabriel, sunlight outlining her in gold.
Outside, a glittering beach; inside, suffocating tension.
"Do you know why I'm here?" she asked at last, voice icy.
Gabriel shook her headthen quickly nodded.
"II can explain"
The words were barely a whisper; her fingers twisted the hem of her nightdress.
Her greatest fear had always beenher sister.
~~~
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Chapter 787: Zelel Teaching Gabriel a Lesson, Rei Ao Teaching Zelel a Lesson!
"Explain what?"
Gabriel still thinks she can explain herself?
Zelel turns around and starts ticking items off, one by one.
"Explain your gaming addiction?
Explain why you borrow money from humans?
Explain why you skip class, cut class, show up late?
Explain why you never do any cleaning?"
Her voice grows sharper with every point.
It is obvious Zelel can no longer tolerate Gabriel's "offenses."
"Or do you want to explain how you how you and a human have"
She can't get the most serious accusation out.
Yesterday's scene flashes through her mind again; the tips of her ears burn crimsonthis purehearted girl is terrified by even the thought of romance.
For a pure angel, those images clash violently with her moral bottom line.
Gabriel shrinks back, tugging in her neck.
"Uh there are reasons for all of that"
She scrapes the inside of her skull, trying to find a plausible excuse.
Nothing. Her mind is a perfect blank.
"Reasons?"
Zelel lets out a cold laugh.
"Fine. I'm all ears."
She drags over a chair and sits down, wings spreading slightly behind her, exerting silent pressure.
Gabriel opens her mouth, but no words come out.
What can she say?
That humanworld games are too much fun?
That school is unbearably boring?
That Rei Ao's arms and teasing feel so warm and comfortable?
In her sister's eyes those would be blatant evidence of corruption.
"Nothing to say?"
Zelel shakes her head in disappointment.
"I thought you were only briefly lost; I didn't expect you to have fallen this far."
She draws a deep breath and stands.
"Pack your things. You're coming back to Heaven with me for punishmentnow."
Gabriel absolutely may not stay in the human world.
Not only has she fallen, she has even been "eaten clean" by a human; Zelel hardly knows what to say anymore.
Gabriel jerks her head up, a flash of fear in her eyes.
"Back to Heaven? No! I can't!"
Terror makes her voice quiver.
Going back means confession and punishmentno more fun games, and no more seeingRei Ao.
"Can't?"
Zelel narrows her eyes.
"That's an order, not a request."
Her halo flares, proclaiming her authority as a senior angel.
Gabriel bites her lower lip, fists clenching involuntarily.
She doesn't want to go backHeaven's rules are too strict, life too dull.
Here, in the human world
She can lazily grind through games, mess around with friends, andmost of allnestle in Rei Ao's arms and feel that dizzying bliss.
Yet faced with Zelel's stern majesty, she dares not rebel outright.
Since childhood, her sister has always been the one she both looks up to and fears.
"Sister"
She pleads softly, tears welling up.
"Give me one more chance"
Zelel's expression softens for half a heartbeat but hardens again.
"Chances aren't for squandering.
As an angel you should understand the consequences of your actions."
Her verdict allows no argument.
Just then
Knock, knock.
The door is tapped gently.
Rei Ao's voice comes from outside.
"Sorry to intrude, but I thought you might like some refreshments."
Before Zelel can answer, the door opens.
Rei Ao walks in with a tray holding black tea and pastries, apparently oblivious to the room's heavy atmosphere. He sets the tray on the table.
"Rei Ao"
Gabriel casts him a pleading look, eyes glistening pitiably.
Zelel watches coldly.
"We are handling family affairs. Please leave."
Her voice is like a polar gale, enough to make most mortals flee.
But Rei Ao is no ordinary mortal, nor does he bow to others' authority. Unhurriedly he pours tea and offers Zelel a cup.
"No need to be so harsh.
Gabriel is happy here in the human worldsurely that's a good thing?"
"Happy?"
Zelel does not take the cup.
"Indulging desire equals happiness?"
Her eyes are as sharp as knives, as though to cut Rei Ao apart. She disagrees one hundred percent.
"Is suppressing one's nature automatically good?"
Rei Ao counters, rainbowhued eyes locking on hers.
"Angel or demon, everyone has the right to pursue happiness."
He could handle such a nave, pure angel with brute forcebut teasing her is far more interesting.
"I"
Zelel is momentarily speechless.
She glances at Gabriel; in her sister's eyes she sees a yearning for freedom unseen in Heavenboth unfamiliar and strangely familiar, reminding her of the rebellious thoughts she herself once had.
"But regardless"
She steels herself, forcing her gaze away.
"Heaven's rules are absolute. Gabriel must return and accept punishment."
It is her dutyno compromise. A fallen angel must be disciplined.
"Oh?"
Rei Ao sets down the teacup, loosening a fraction of his aura.
The air in the room congeals; even the dust motes hang motionless.
Zelel's wings flare to their full span, every feather bathed in blinding holy light. A golden nimbus of divine power forms around her; her halo hovers overhead, radiating aweinspiring majesty.
Rei Ao merely stands there at ease, black hair tousled, rainbow eyes calm as a still lake, lips curved in the faintest smile.
Space between them begins to warp; fine black cracks spider through the air, as though reality itself cannot bear this level of confrontation.
"And what if I say no?"
