The Space Between

There was something about being an angel that Astrid hated with all her heart- perhaps it was the very fact that she could never physically hate anything. And while it was seen as a blessing to everyone in New Jerusalem, it was nothing more than a burden to her- the eldest cherubim under her family's name. And quite a name it was, or so her neighbors said.

Yes, another one of Astrid's sins; she was notorious for listening through walls. But it wasn't her fault- they were just too thin to resist.

"Astrid, darling, are you ready? The gates are about to welcome another saint home, perhaps someone suitable for your hand this time," a divine voice mocked, her tone neutral and steady under the brisk chill of the forbidden tower. A place now unanimously known as Astrid's Tower. All the way across town from her mother's apartment, the young angel felt it was a place to relieve her stress in attempting to find a suitor. Repulsive-

Men.

Astrid simply couldn't express how much she hated them- not at all because of their cowardly ways or ignorance, but because through it all, they were utterly irresistible. But each of her attempts at making a mate ended in humiliation and heartbreak. So now Astrid's Tower was known as Heartbreak Tower. 

"I told you, I'd rather surrender to the darkness than court a male. You should know; you and dad aren't exactly in paradise at this point," the headstrong woman snapped, the words falling from her mouth before she could stop herself. And only then did she know she had crossed the line. That was the one topic no one in New Jerusalem dared bring to light.

"You better be there, or so help me, I will surrender you to the devil himself," was all her mother said, not even attempting to look her daughter in the face. And for the first time in a long time, Astrid felt guilty. 

-

The walk from her tower all the way to the golden gate was at least several miles long, excluding congestion and traffic- Astrid was surprised by how many winged angels and creatures from the depths of Heaven decided to walk instead of fly. At least for Astrid, her excuse was she didn't know how to, which wasn't exactly a lie. Though, in her lack of modesty, she would never willingly admit it to the judgmental beasts surrounding her. 

"Lucky you, darling," Anita mouthed upon seeing her daughter in the crowd of cheerful, arrogant angels- her white, flowering hair flowing in the wind. "He's perfect."

Whatever the reason was that her mother was always playing matchmaker, Astrid never knew. And neither did Sophie, her half-sister, who was younger than her by just a year. 

"If you won't take him, I will. I don't even need to know his name. Just look at him!"

Astrid laughed, not at all wanting to even peer up at the man's face as he appeared through the clouds into her bustling city- another empty, useless face in the crowd, she thought. But as the sea of holiness drowning her quieted, Astrid couldn't help but look up, only to see a pair of piercing blue eyes seeping into the depths of her soul.

"And why is it that you refuse me," the figure asked, though he appeared to be lesser than a man in his stature- a boy in death, perhaps. "Has your vanity clouded your judgment?"

"If it had, I wouldn't be here, now would I?"

Sophie stepped in, grabbing Astrid's hand from its place at her side, "What sort of business is it that you have with us?"

"Her," he continued, his head pointing towards the galaxy above their heads, illuminated by none other than the hanging lights of Heaven. "Not you, just her." 

"I have no interest in you or your status- whatever it may be," Astrid replied, her voice piercing through his heavy gaze. "Don't expect anything special just because you think you're someone of importance. So I wouldn't hold my breath."

And just as suddenly as he appeared, the boy disappeared, only to masquerade through the ever-growing parade of faceless, incompetent blesseds. 

"Why is he talking to mother," Astrid heard her sister ask, her soft, delicate hand violently rejecting the grip of her other half's comforting hand. "You don't think that-"

"I'm being sold off," Astrid interrupted, her blood boiling beneath her tan skin. Twice as beautiful (and troublesome) as her mother, she indeed was a spectacle- so surely, it wasn't entirely the newcomer's fault that he wanted her enough that he would beg her mother for her hand.

And with that, she was off, her wings heavy and weak, but still, just strong enough to carry her weight. Twilight in New Jerusalem never looked more glorious yet haunting at the same time, and Astrid could have sworn that she saw God himself in the outline of the city known as the Paragon of the Universe. 

She weaved in and out of buildings, heavy tears forming in her eyes like raindrops from the sky. They were almost too heavy for her to bear, yet too painful to release. Anguished and mourning for the love she once knew from a family who once understood who she was, Astrid still had no idea where she was going- but figured she would fly until New Jerusalem was nothing but an urban legend. Until her godforsaken mother was nothing more than a faded word in a dusty old book long tucked away. 

It was the first time in a while, a long while, that Astrid actually felt herself smile. But at that very moment- that exact moment in time- something struck her down. And the world went dark again- back to the forbidden heights of her tower.

-

"Can I help you," a voice asked from the darkness- its resonance, cold and ominous in itself, a sound Astrid had never heard before. It was as if someone were reciting a spell- enchanting her into a most dangerous trap. "That was quite a fall you took."

Astrid's eyes were heavy, drooping with exhaustion and ache as she forced herself upwards towards the source of the tantalizing music. Barely able to form words on her tongue, Astrid groaned in pain, "I- I- help- Sof-."

Upon her irrevocable plea, her sun-stained lashes fluttered open to reveal none other than the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Tall, dark, with hair the color of coal- he was a figure Astrid knew was forbidden for a reason as if the word heartbreaker were tattooed across his forehead. His perfectly chiseled body was no match for any other angel she had ever seen, crowned with red, violet eyes that seemed to sing of pain and grief. 

And just the way her eyes outlined him, Astrid noticed that he devoured every nook and corner of her skin, wings, hair, and everything in between.

"You know, angel, I've never seen one of your kind this close to us before," the man gloated as a set of horns poked through his scalp- the very sight of which made Astrid go numb. 

Your kind. He wasn't one of her- in fact, he was quite the opposite. But, of course, she may have already been dead, after all. "Do you have a name?"

"Yeah- we've quite traditional that way," Astrid mocked, her head finally settling back to its rightful place on her neck. "Do you have one?"

The demon smiled, his lips curling, "Why, aren't you quite the little tease, mademoiselle Astrid. But, don't worry, I promise I won't sell you into an unwanted marriage."

"How could you know that you prick," Astrid yelled, threatened by the devil's kinsman who already knew too much about her. "You couldn't possibly know that."

The heathen stuck out his hand, offering help to a wounded Astrid up off the ground- her white gown now tattered with mud and ash- something she knew wasn't an oddity here, in the darkest grips of creation. “The name is Malaki, milady. Son of-"

"Let me guess," Astrid interrupted, "Cain?"

"Don't flatter yourself- why would such a celebrity like him ever want to see a traitor like you. Not even I could get myself to help you when I first saw you."

"And how long ago was that exactly?"

The handsome stranger smirked, his skin growing pale beneath the dark wrinkles of his shirt- Astrid saw as one of his top buttons fell undone, though she figured he let it fall on purpose. Demons were known as quite the scandals. But of course, she had only ever heard that from other angels.

"I'd say a few hours- not enough time for me to eat your heart out if that's what you were hoping for, milady."

Astrid scanned him from head to toe once again, an expression of skepticism sprawling across her face, "That's very funny, you bitch."

Malaki chuckled- the opposite sort of reaction she hoped to arise out of him, "You better hope I'm joking. Otherwise, we could start some sort of eternal war. How do you think it would feel to be a universal enemy?"

Astrid dusted off her light gray leather boots, not at all wanting to make eye contact with the gorgeous male standing before her. "Why do I get the feeling you know all about that?"

"You'd better hope not, my love."

"Why do you call me that? I don't even know you."

Malaki grabbed her hand, pressing it gently to his lips as a burning sensation arose in Astrid's stomach- a feeling she never thought she would have to face. "But I know you, and I know that, in time, you'll learn to love me too."

"And if you're wrong?"

"You can marry the new guy."

Astrid couldn't help but smile; perhaps letting this enchanting devil wither her away into nothing more than a lovesick woman was all the rebellion she needed. Besides, what sort of saint would want an angel who had been in the company of a devil?

"You enjoy this, don't you," Malaki asked, his hair rippling with the harsh blow of the wind swirling between them. "Not that I blame you; I can't help but find this amusing as well."

Astrid sighed, her hands finding her way over to his chest, "Even if I did learn to love you, what would you ever expect me to do? I'm from New Jerusalem, and you're from-"

Malaki quivered at the sound of her hometown, "Whatever you might want to call this place- I suppose it has no formal name. Satan isn't exactly what you'd call organized."

"If you can't tell me, then show me- show me your world."

"Looks like the little lady is curious. Gladly," Malaki whispered, his hands petting the rim of her ear as he pulled a white plume of her hair back from her neck. "Consider it yours."

-

The fires of hell were nothing short of revolting. So much so that even Astrid knew it was wrong- but despite the evils surrounding her, she couldn't help but enjoy her cozy place in Malaki's arms- his every movement enlightening her that much more.

"I'm glad you're liking the ride," he mocked, his voice playful and light. The angel couldn't help but snuggle in closer to his chest. "For someone as impassive as you, you've taken quite the shining to me, I see."

Astrid grinned, the sharp features of her face blushing every shade of pink imaginable, "Alright, so maybe you love me. What will we ever do, considering-"

"I'm the son of the devil, and you're a daughter of God, draped in gold and silver? And here I am, scavenging for scraps to stay upright?"

Astrid instantly regretted her comment, her eyes staring indignantly back at the fiery violet of his. "Malaki, how could I ever love you, truly love you properly. Promise you every impossible thing if just meeting you is the greatest sin of them all?"

And as if that were all he needed to hear, his wings slowed- feet reclining to the ground, "I'll meet you in the shadows of twilight and the clouds of dawn- if you'll have me."

Astrid stood to her feet, her posture weak and limp, "I can't go back- I'll be-"

But it was over before it began- the sins, the broken laws, as he leaned in and kissed her- his lips on hers like nothing else in the world mattered. And at that moment, she knew she was doomed- doomed to be in love with a ghost for the rest of time.

"Now what," Astrid questioned, her hands wrapped tightly around Malaki's neck- another unexplored place for her to discover. "What do we do?"

He smiled, embracing her into the warmth of his own heart until their souls seemed to be one- sealed together for only the stars to see, "I guess I'll just wait for you in the space between."