WHOOSH! The flapping of wings and a dazzling light like I had never seen in my life. I felt arms catch me and wrap around my waist and thighs. The motion stopped.

“You seem to have a penchant for dying, my dear bride.”

I recognized his voice immediately. Squinting past that blinding light, I saw Lord Ophiel’s face, nearly shimmering, surrounded by sunlight like a halo. Three pairs of glowing white wings that extended at least 20 feet to either side of him flapped slowly and kept us steady in the air. “What the fuck?”

“I don’t think that is how mortals customarily say, ‘Thank you.’” He floated past the fog—the clouds—and above the fence, gently landing on the soft and safe grass of Rannon Manor. “Do you think you can stand on your own?”

I nodded, but, as soon as he let me down, I felt my knees buckle under me. He caught me with one hand.

“I see that you cannot.”

“So, you--” I struggled to string together a single thought. “You really are an angel?”

“We’ll discuss that later,” he murmured, his voice falling low. “Now, let me carry you back.”

“Oh, fuck, wait, I think I’m gonna be sick.”

“Try breathing more deeply,” he began, “In through the nose, out through the mouth.”

I followed his lead, but, “Yeah, I still feel sick.”

“Then, just hold onto me and close your eyes.”

Being carried back felt like floating. A soft breeze whisked past my clothes, though my stomach still churned.  I could hear the wings flapping, but I kept my eyes squeezed shut, my face nuzzled into the crook of his neck. He smelled sweet, like French vanilla and fresh flowers. It was the only thing calming my nerves at that moment.

In every minute that passed after, my heartbeat began to slow like I could finally relax.

“Are you feeling any better?” He whispered, his breath grazing my ear. It was kinda annoying.

“Yeah, a bit.” I paused, catching my breath. “Thanks. For saving me and everything.” Well, that was what I said, but I was still thinking, What the fuck? Are we in the fucking sky? He has wings??  I figured I could ask later, considering I didn’t want to upset the person—no, angel or whatever—that was carrying me from certain death.

“You’re welcome.” His voice was calm, but it carried a hint of smugness that irked my nerves.

…

We arrived at the mansion not too long after. He took me to my room and told me to rest but also took a seat on the plush chair beside my bed. I could feel his eyes on me even as I tried to sleep—it was like he couldn’t bear to leave me alone.

Angeline came by. He whispered something to her, and she to him. I couldn’t quite tell what they were talking about, but I could be sure it was about me, seeing as they kept glancing at me. I pretended not to notice until she left.

“Is Morian going to get in trouble because of me?” The thought had crossed my mind before I tried to get over the fence, but now that everything was settled, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

His eyebrows raised. “Why does it matter to you?”

I sat up immediately. “What do you mean, ‘why does it matter?’ Of course, it matters. I’m the one who tricked her. She shouldn’t be punished for what I did. That’s all.”

“Hm?” He smiled. “So, you do know what consequences are?”

“Haha, very fucking funny. I wouldn’t have tried that if you told me we were in the fucking sky.”

“But, you would have tried leaving somehow else?”

“Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. You abducted me.”

His smile fell, but only for a moment. He crossed his legs in that elegant way he always does right before patronizing me. “Yes, you’re right. I was going to introduce you to the place—this world—slowly. Mortals can’t always handle how different the Etherium is from the earthly realm. It can be hard to comprehend, let alone exist in.”

“And,” he continued, “I didn’t abduct you. I saved you. Twice now.”

“Wait, just a second here, the ‘Etherium?’ What the hell is that?”

“Hm, what’s the best way to describe it?” He pressed a finger to his lips as he pondered. “The Etherium is…one with the Earth you know, but also it isn’t. They exist together, side-by-side, without colliding.”

“Right…can you say it in words I’ll understand?”

“Ok, think of it this way.” He leaned forward, meeting my gaze with intensity, like if he could just telepathically show me, he would. “Every time you look up at the sky from Earth’s surface, you are looking at the Etherium, but you cannot perceive the Etherium because it exists in a parallel dimension—another plane of existence. Likewise, when you look down in Etherium, past the clouds, and the lower realms, you are looking at Earth, but you cannot perceive it.”

“Haha, right, yeah, totally. Just a parallel plane of existence, sure. Of course, yeah, yeah, that makes sense.” What the fuck is he talking about?

“Put in another way, it’s like the planes are stacked on each other. They overlap.”

“I—I think I’m gonna need some time to process this.”

“Yes, of course. Just take your time and rest for now. You’ve been through enough for a day.”

“Wait, you never told me what would happen to Morian.”

“She’ll be fine. She was a little too young to begin attending the lady of the house, in any case. Most she’ll get is a stern talking-to from Angeline.”

I sighed. Well, at least she won’t get fired. Not like I was.

“I mean it now, just rest.”