Aphelion

When I see the angel working in the archives today, I smile. Finally, something is going right. It's Lilah. She's had a crush on me since we were little. It'll be easy enough to charm her, get the information I need, and get out. I feel a little guilty at the thought of using her affections for my gain, but this is for My Princess, and I'll do anything for her.

"Hey Lilah," I smirk as I sleek out of the corner and walk over to her desk.

"Aphelion," She smiles, her wings tinging red and flapping behind her, "I didn't know you'd be dropping by."

"Well, ya know." I shrug, pushing my hand through my hair, "I come and go as I please."

I'm leaning on the desk now, my head propped on my arm while my bicep is flexed. I can tell Lilah is interested in what she sees. There's a fire in her eyes, and her face is flushed. It should excite me that she finds me this delectable, but I feel like I'm going to vomit. I don't know how people do this. How is it that people do this daily? How can someone look at their reflection in the mirror knowing they're playing with someone's feelings for their own gain and be okay with what they see? I already feel like I need to soak in a vat full of holy water and confess my sins to a preacher.

"I hear your engagement is off," Lilah states trying yet failing to act casually as she twirls her hair.

"Yup." I know I should say something else, but I can't force anything else out of my mouth. I'm not that type of guy. I can't use someone else. I've seen it done time and time again growing up in the kingdom, and I promised myself I'd never be that person, but look at me, here I am now. Being exactly who I said I wouldn't be.

"Figured you'd be happy about that." Lilah snorts, typing something on her computer before she looks up at me again. "Heard you found your fated."

My face lifts into a smile that I'm unable to prevent. Anything having to deal with that little blond-haired vixen makes me happy.

"What are you doing, Aphelion?" Lilah asks, rolling her eyes and huffing with exasperation as she looks back at her computer and resumes her typing.

"Talking to an old friend," I reply, swallowing down my guilt.

"You and I both know we've never been friends. You've always been the untouchable heir to the throne, and I've always been the little girl with an unrequited crush."

"Th..."

Lilah lifts her hand, stopping whatever excuse I was about to sprout, "Don't. Just Don't, Aphelion. I knew even back then that nothing could happen between us, and I accepted it. But then today, you come in here full of confidence and swagger, smirking and flirting, even though you're in love with your fated. And don't you dare try to deny that you aren't. Just bringing up that you found her has you grinning ear to ear. So either you're a cheating asshole who deserves to have his balls set on fire, which I highly doubt you are, or you need something. So let me try to rephrase my original question, What do you want, Aphelion?"

Shit. Am I really that obvious? Or can Lilah just see through me that easily after years of watching me? She's a pretty girl, but she's right; even if I hadn't been betrothed to Hilda, she and I, we never could've happened. Angels are seen as beneath us. They're our employees, and there are rules against fraternization. Fuck. Why has it taken me this long to realize how shitty it is to live in the Sky Kingdom if you don't have the blood of a God running through your veins?

"Hello, is anyone home in there?" Lilah calls waving her hand in front of my face.

"Fuck," I drag my hand down my face, "You're right, Lilah. I am the world's biggest jackass. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." Lilah chides, rolling her eyes, "I've heard that once or twice."

Has she always been this sassy? The Lilah I knew was quiet, shy, a timid little mouse. The woman standing in front of me, yeah, she's the exact opposite. She's powerful and knows exactly what she wants, and won't put up with anyone's shit. I bet if she ever met Katrina, they'd be best friends.

"Well, if you're just going to stand there, could you do it somewhere else? I'm kinda busy and I'd rather not have to stare at your mug all day."

"Okay," I grimace, "Totally deserved that. I really am sorry Lilah." I look up and down the hallway making sure there's no one around before I encroach on her personal space.

Lilah raises her hand like she's going to hit me, but I quickly grab it, raising it above her head. Anyone walking by will think we're making out and hopefully won't notice me from behind.

"Aphelion, let me go right now, or I'll scream," Lilah hisses as she tries to wriggle free from my grasp.

I lick my lips nervously, my heart hammering in my chest. Can I really trust Lilah? If I share with her what I'm looking for, I'm sure she'd be able to find it, but if she tells anyone what I'm looking into, it might put Katrina at risk.

"Lilah," I whisper, loosening my grip on her wrist when I see her trembling, "Your right; I do need something. I need to locate a report, but I can't have anyone find out what I'm looking for."

"You are being strangely cryptic, Aphelion." She hisses, "Are you in trouble? Is someone forcing you to do this? Do you need help? I can get my father."

"Please don't. I'm not in any trouble. I just need to find out some information about...about someone."

Lilah rolls her eyes in annoyance, "Well, feel free to look around." She states, gesturing to the door behind her, "I doubt you'll be able to find anything in there. It's very forgotten crypt-like. I don't know how long it's been since someone actually looked through the reports. They've all been scanned in electronically now."

"Can I trust you, Lilah?" I ask, looking into the little angel's eyes, knowing that without her help, I've wasted my time coming here today.

"Have I ever given you a reason not to?" She fires back, narrowing her eyes.

"No, you haven't. This file I'm looking for..." I pause and sigh heavily, "This file I'm looking for has to do with my mate."

"I would never put our future Queen at risk." Lilah hisses, "She is destined to unite our world. She.." Lilah pauses, her voice thick with emotion as she tries to hold back the tears threatening to spill, "She will make this world a better place for all."

"Okay," I sigh, "I vow that things will change when I'm King. I feel foolish for not realizing how horrible of a place this Kingdom was until recently."

"Not foolish, just ignorant." Lilah smiles, pushing away from me and grabbing her laptop. "Alright, enough mushy gushy shit, let's get that folder you came here to find."

I follow her into the archives, and I say a silent prayer to the stars that Lilah's agreed to help me. She wasn't joking when she said I'd never find anything in here. There are folders stacked to the roof, papers scattered everywhere, and the bookshelves look like they've been ransacked. There's also a foul musty stench and a thick layer of dust on top of everything. When we reach a secluded area of the archives, Lilah plops down between a stack of folders, her eyes widening as she opens her laptop.

"What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Uh...yeah, I guess I kinda did." She responds, turning her laptop toward me.

There's an angel alert that's popped up on her computer, which isn't surprising. There are alerts sent out constantly; what's shocking about this alert is its subject.

**THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN ASWAN**

"How often has Michael been "spotted"?" I ask, making air quotes.

"Only one other time, he was spotted with Lilith, then there was the explosion, and they both just vanished. Everyone assumed they'd killed each other." Lilah replies, her brows furrowed. "Sorry, I don't mean to deter from the original mission; it's just Michael was... well, I guess is my Uncle. Mom always said that when he disappeared, my father changed. I wonder how he's dealing with the news of Michael's sudden reappearance."

"I'm sure he'll be a part of the party searching for him," I reply as I try to figure out what the hell Michael is doing in Egypt.

"Probably," Lilah responds, letting out a long sigh before smiling, "Alright, give everything you got. Let's get that report and send you on your way."

It doesn't take long for Lilah to find the report I'm looking for. She quickly skims the report before printing it off and giving it to me. "You should be able to find all that you're looking for in this report. It looks like my dad was the one on the scene, and he's very particular about filling everything out in full."