Chapter 12
Twelve
Kai
We slept together a week ago. It’s a good thing that angels don’t have to sleep every night because I haven’t slept a wink since. It’s been ages since I shared a bed—or couch, for that matter—with anyone.
The other day while removing countless books from the shelves and placing them into sections based on chronological order, I cracked a joke about our night together. Cleo didn’t laugh like I’d hoped she would.
Honestly, she’s hardly acknowledged me at all recently. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known. She comes across as unbothered, but something about her set jaw and perfectly polished appearance tells me there’s more to her than meets the eye. She’s been quieter since our evening together, too.
She’s one tough cookie.
As satisfying as our evening was for me, something about it didn’t sit right with me. I tuck the cloth I’ve been using to dust the shelves into my back pocket and slide down the ladder to set it on the amethyst table for now, replaying our evening together.
If she happened to fall asleep in her office, why did her pillow appear so battered?
My brows knit together as I sort through the books lying on the table, alphabetizing them for now.
It couldn’t have been the first time she’s fallen asleep there, and based on her comfort alone, she seemed well adjusted to sleeping in her office.
Look, I know some people are workaholics—Iris is a prime example. I get it, I really do, but sleeping in your office is a whole new level.
I glance down at the old, crusty book in my hand and shake my head, regaining focus on the task at hand. We’ve spent days organizing all the archives’ books and knick-knacks into separate piles. This morning, we started deep cleaning the shelves we’d emptied.
Riveting, I know.
She insisted we clean every nook and cranny as if Zeus himself would be paying the chamber a visit. After what was an even more grueling process than I anticipated, we’re finally placing books and items on the shelves.
I’m handling the upper half, while she takes on the lower.
Despite taking on the lower half of the shelves, she often flies to reach some of the taller shelves, clearly double-checking my work.
Her wings tread the air as she thoroughly dusts each book before placing it on the shelf.
The way her midnight-blue wings glisten subtly in this dimly lit chamber takes my breath away.
I’ve seen all sorts of wings in the Middle Realm now, but I’d be lying if I said hers weren’t my favorite.
While gazing from afar, I get lost in her. Wearing a short, flutter-sleeved black dress that tightens around her waist and flares at the ends and combat boots today, she reminds me of a dark, ethereal fairy.
“Daydreaming again?” Her voice cuts through my thoughts.
Oh, wow. That's the first time she spoke to me today. Pinch me. I must be dreaming.
She continues sliding tomes on the shelf, mid-air, not even sparing me a passing glance.
“Cleo, were you watching me?” I accuse her, cocking an eyebrow and smirking. “I’m flattered.”
She halts and abruptly spins to face me, her pretty wings still hovering behind her. “Oh, the sooner you finish your section, the sooner we can leave. That’s all.”
“Sure, we can pretend that’s the reason you were watching me,” I say, my lips curling into a smile.
Her brows furrow, and she scowls a little bit, her cheeks slightly reddening under my gaze—one of my favorite looks of hers.
I nod my chin at the shelf behind her. “Here, why don’t you leave early? I can finish up that row you’re working on.”
She raises a brow skeptically, allowing her wings to lower her to the ground slowly, still holding a book. She looks up at me and asks, “Why?”
This girl.
“Do you always question people’s motives like this?” I sigh in exasperation. “It’s just a nice gesture. Nothing too crazy. I promise.”
She narrows her eyes. “Fine. I guess I’ll leave, and you can do the rest of that top shelf. Just make sure to dust off the books before placing them.”
I bite back a smile at her demands. I love it when she bosses me around like this.
“With all due respect, angel, this isn’t my first rodeo.
I’ve done several shelves, and as surprising as it may be, I’ve actually dusted off every single book already.
Twice.” I smile and grab the book she’s holding.
Then, I grasp her shoulder gently and turn her to face the archives’ exit, carefully avoiding her wings.
“Go. Enjoy some free time and read a book or something. You deserve the break.”
As I breathe out the last words of that sentence, her shoulders tense. Sensing resistance, I hook my free arm around her neck and walk her to the exit myself.
“Kai, it’s fine. I don’t really de—”
“Nope, not today,” I grumble, turning and covering her mouth mid-sentence. Her eyes widen as my hand remains clamped over her mouth, and a chuckle slips out of my mouth before I can stop it. Once we reach the exit, I shove her out playfully and close the doors behind her, waving as they shut.
I catch a look of surprise in her almond-shaped brown eyes and bask in it.
I love throwing her off-kilter. It never lasts longer than a couple of seconds, and it tends to take more effort than anticipated, but those mere seconds are worth it.
I walk back to the ladder and the stack of books Cleo left behind for me, then get to work. The sooner I complete this shelf, the sooner I can get to my secret project.
Between random parties and working in the library, I don’t have much to look forward to these days, so this project has been a game changer. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, I've been channeling my energy into something meaningful like this instead.
Partying in the afterlife hasn’t been as fulfilling as I’d hoped, either. I’ve met tons of new people. I’m an extrovert through and through, so I love a good crowd, but some of these angels are very forward, which I’m not as into.
After completing the top shelf, I slide down the ladder and roll it to the opposite end of the shelves, then climb to the top shelf again. I reach all the way into it, scooting ancient books aside to unveil my hidden project and supplies.
I gently pull out the battered book, loose pages, glue, cardboard, brushes, cardstock, needle and thread, scissors, book cloth, and headband.
I’ve gotten about halfway through this project thanks to Hadley’s enthusiastic help, and I’m determined to put all my free time into it until it’s done.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to work on it this week at all, though.
Carefully holding my stack of materials in one hand and keeping my other on the ladder, I step down and let out a long exhale. This would be significantly easier with wings.
Upon reaching the bottom, an angel pops into the room. Teleportation is so sick.
“I just saw her leave. Is it time for our next phase of this project?” Hadley grabs the glue and scissors from my hands, leaving me with just about everything else.
Today, she’s wearing a pink peplum dress—it matches her white wings nicely.
“Ah, I’ve been so darn excited to see this next phase; it’s all starting to come together so nicely. ”
“It was a good idea for us to rebind a different book for practice first,” I reply with a smile. “I appreciate your help.”
“The pleasure is mine! That girl deserves a pick-me-up. She fashions a scowl more frequently than a grumpy house cat.” She shakes her head, setting the scissors and glue atop the table alongside the book press from downstairs. “What would you like assistance with today?”
I scan the supplies, mentally planning how to execute today’s portion of the project.
Remembering the way Hadley talked my ear off the last time we worked on this, I scratch the back of my head.
I know I’m a yapper, but she is like a super yapper.
“You know, I think I’ve got it handled for today.
I want to see how far I can get on my own this time. ”
She beams, nodding quickly. “Of course—the more you own this project, the more it’ll mean.” She pats her dress, backing away from the round amethyst table. “Just let me know if you need any pointers. I’ll keep the angels out of the archives for the next couple of hours.”
She tosses me a wink on her way out.
Ah, yes. The regulars who can’t help but visit the archives every single time Cleo is absent. Despite the chamber obviously being in shambles, several angels tend to find different excuses to venture up to the archives.
“Kai, can you grab that book off the top shelf for me?”
Yes, it’s not like you can fly or anything. Of course.
They're all objectively pretty, but I only have space for one angel in my mind at the moment. And that angel has been extra somber recently. She’s not the only one around here who feels that way, though, that’s for sure.
The more time I waste away in this library, the more stir-crazy I get.
I wonder if others understand this struggle, too.
Or maybe, it really is just me. I might be completely alone.
Sighing, I place the text block into the book press, tightening the press’s screws to push both boards together.
Look at me, using the term “text block” casually. Grinning, I stop tightening the screws and place my secret project on the table. I didn’t even know a term for an unbound manuscript existed until this week.
I guess this project isn’t technically classified as a secret, seeing as several angels have drifted in and out of the archives over the past several days, catching me red-handed… Eh, I don’t particularly care. As long as Cleo doesn’t find out about it, that is.
I dab a paintbrush into the glue jar and fervently glaze the glue over the text block’s spine. The last time I worked on this, I finished adding the endpapers to the book. Today, I’m adding a silky ribbon bookmark to it.
While spreading the glue across the spine, my mind wanders back to the high school where I worked.
The art teacher is Iris’s best friend, so I occasionally helped her with crafts for her students.
As obnoxious as my students were sometimes, they often could make my day ten times brighter than it was.
I’ve missed my students and baseball team more than usual lately.
I may have only been a baseball coach for five years, but I played the sport for over a decade as a pitcher, constantly in the company of others.
I was lucky—I never had to experience true loneliness in my mortal life.
From spending time with friends, teammates, coaches, students, my sister, and my ex-girlfriend, I hardly ever spent time alone.
I found a sense of purpose in being a companion for others.
And this is why I never wanted to work in this old damn library.
The solitude, isolation, sensation of being perpetually stuck—it’s all messing with my head.
I knew it would. I’d bet a million dollars that the Archangels knew it would, too, hence why they sentenced me to work here instead of banishing me.
What I’d give to experience life on Earth again. I miss it so much.
If I weren’t already dead, I’d kindly ask you to put me out of my misery.
The only problem is, even if someone were to end this for me, I still wouldn’t end up back in the mortal land. I’d probably end up right back here, offered the ability to choose between being a Guardian or immediate ascension again. You know the drill.
I tried to escape the other night. I exerted all my might in a feeble attempt to teleport down to the land below.
Instead, all I received in return was a spine-tingling headache.
Despite the pain, I pushed even harder, determined to teleport.
It proved to be entirely pointless. My probation ring kept me rooted to the same exact spot.
I set the brush down and rub my temples, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
Just finish this project, Kai. Do it for her.
Well, it’s easier said than done, subconscious.