(September 12, 2017. One day before Ascension Day)

Mia

I sat down on the couch that was located on the balcony at our condo, contemplating my relationship with Justin. The thought of making the relationship official has been lingering in my head for a while like a weight pushing down on my head. Over the years, my crush on him grew and grew, and I didn't know what to do about it. I really like him and the feeling is mutual, but at times, I feel he does not want to express it to me. I do not want to see Justin go without me confessing to him with valor and courage. I could never muster the courage to go and tell him how I feel, however. I always felt shy and embarrassed, especially when he acts cold and distant sometimes. It made every situation awkward whenever I tried to tell him how I truly feel. I decided to try and show him how I feel by teasing him and dropping hints here and there. He's not dumb; he should have understood by now.

"Is he rejecting me?" I asked myself. But I knew that if he wanted to reject me, he would have done so a long time ago. There were times where he and I spent moments all alone and without any interruptions. The situations felt romantic and lacked the awkward air of embarrassment. I offered him to sleep on my lap when he returns from training and he gladly accepted, allowing me to ruffle his golden hair and kiss his ethereal white forehead. It felt quite heavenly that he did this out of the kindness of his heart and not out of pity or desperation. Justin could have always walked to his bedroom and slept in his warm bed instead of my lap. He has also stayed beside me when I became sick. He refused to let me treat myself and stayed beside my bed for consecutive nights, never frowning or feeling tired by my constant need for his loving care.

After a few minutes of me staring at the sky and thinking about what I want to say to Justin, the door to the balcony slid open, revealing Alex who wore a white shirt and a pair of shredded jeans, but no shoes. Instead, he waltzed around in his white socks, not caring about getting them dirty. The concern on his face was directed towards me and not the socks. His eyes did not try to hide his brotherly feelings towards me. He could instantly tell how I felt despite my efforts to hide it every time. It helps that he and I have known each other for over eight years and that we've watched each other grow and develop into what we are today.

"Oh hey, Alex. What's up?" I asked. I didn't even try to hide the fact that I am not in the best of moods this time around.

"I think I should be asking you that question." He replied, crossing his arms and leaning against the glass window.

"Yeah... I think so. It's just... Agh, I can't even explain it." I stated, resting my face on my hands after a sigh.

"It's about Justin, isn't it?" The second he said that I shot up the couch and stuttered as I tried to reply.

"W-W-What makes you s-say that? I mean..."

"It's anyone's guess." He replied, casually leaning on the door and nodding his head, maybe feeling sorry for the miserable demon girl that stood before him, nervous about a boy.

"Okay, fine! It is Justin, okay? I just... I mean, I wanna... Ugh! Why can't I even say it?!"

"It's okay. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." He replied with a chuckle.

"Oh, haha. Very funny."

"No, really, take your time. I don't judge." He did not laugh this time around. Instead, he showed me a reassuring smile that warmed my heart and put me at ease, as expected from my younger brother.

"Okay... Take a deep breath, Mia... Take a deeeep... Breaathhh..." I said to myself before slowly inhaling air and exhaling. I then steadied myself and prepared to spit out the truth.

"Alex, I have a crush on Justin," I said. To my surprise, his face didn't show any emotions at that revelation. His void expression said it all. It was pretty obvious to everybody, but this was the very first time I said it out loud. I expected the slightest of reactions, but I got nothing.

"Oh, so that was it?" He asked, seemingly disappointed by what I just said. "The sky is also blue. It's not like it wasn't obvious or anything. Like, our high school practically think that you two are dating!"

I swallowed my saliva in nervousness and took a gander around me to make sure Justin was not around to hear this. If someone was to tell him, it should be me and no one else! I sighed and relaxed my shoulders, knowing that I was safe and sat back at the couch. I did not know what to say and so I stared at my hands in silence, waiting for the boy to say something.

"So... From what I can see, this is not the problem, is it?" Alex asked.

"No, of course, it's not!" I replied. "It's just... I like him, but I don't know how to tell him how I truly feel. I've tried to drop hints here and there for over a year now, but I don't think he gets it!" I explained. "Well, he knows, but... I want to say it to him."

"Oh, I don't think he doesn't get it, per se," Alex stated.

"Oh yeah?"

"I just think that he wants you to be honest with him, as you said. He's not sure what to think of all this. He told me that himself!" Alex explained. "He likes to spend his time with you. He often thinks about what you will do with him once he returns home. He just doesn't know what to think of all this. I think he likes you, but he also sees you as a sister. The latter feelings are the dominant ones, I guess. It's understandable, knowing how you two lived your lives."

"But... I don't know..." I said, looking down at the ground with uncertainty. "Those two don't have to be mutually exclusive or anything. We're not biologically related, and we've been at it ever since we first met."

"Listen, Mia. Justin, like me, has never been in a relationship before. Plus, you being a demon succubus... whatever is pretty much overwhelming to him. He's not gonna do anything about this because he doesn't know anything about relationships, and you do!" Alex said, giving me a much-needed boost of confidence. I stared at his fearless face and was moved by his pep talk. Justin is not the kind of guy who gets awkward around girls. He knows how to talk to ladies but does not go out with any of them, making me feel unsure of his feelings toward me. That was until Alex revealed this information to me. The answer was there right in front of me, but I was too blinded by my love to see it. If he sees me as a sister, he'd never find it in his heart to love me as a girl.

"Yeah, you're right. I'm not gonna sit here and expect love to come knocking! I'll see to it myself!" I said, instinctively jumping off the couch while pumped with joyous enthusiasm. I felt my heart racing when I thought of what future Justin and I would have as an actual couple. This excitement drew a smile on the supportive face of Alex, who moved away from the door and walked to me before placing his hand firmly on my shoulder and pushing me forward.

"Yes! There we go!" Alex exclaimed, clapping his hands and grinning with excitement.

"But... Do you think now is the right time?" I asked.

Alex did not pause to think of the answer. "Well, it's his free time today, so yeah. And he's alone in his room, so that's a bonus. Plus, he's been sitting there monologuing everything that happened to us in these eight years. I think he's pretty bored. Go talk to him, and try to be brave and honest. Tell him how you truly feel and leave nothing out of it!" Alex slid the balcony doors open and walked through before me. I followed after him with anxiety building up as the words that I wanted to say kept lurking inside my mind. I walked towards Justin's door, my heart beating faster and harder with every step. The rush of fear overwhelmed me, and the anxiety was noticed by Alex, who was standing behind me. He gestured with his fingers towards the door and mouthed "Walk in there!"

"Psst. Just walk in there! He's still Justin, after all!" Alex whispered. I watched him tap his foot on the ground, getting tired of waiting for me to stop being afraid.

I swallowed up my courage and opened the door. Walking in, I saw Justin on his bed. His arms were laid to the sides, and his legs were off the bed. He stared at the ceiling with an expressionless gaze, his mouth muttering words out of boredom. He wore nothing but a red tank top that showed off his guns and made me swallow at the sight of the divine figure of the man I plan to pour my heart out to. His sweatpants were white as snow and fitted nicely with his tank top. He did not even notice I was there and did not react to the door opening. Either that or he was too bored to care. Either way, he did not stop staring at the ceiling.

"And so the king told young Justin that the dragon chose him from a land far far away, blah blah blah and that the world is-" Justin cut himself off as he sensed someone standing in the same room as him and his eyes shifted to his friend that has entered the room, jerking himself upward and confirming that he didn't see me enter at first.

I immediately noticed that Alex snuck behind me and shut the door, mouthing "Good luck!" before leaving me and the boy of my dreams in the same room, silent and staring into each other's eyes. For a second, I hesitated. The fact that I might start this relationship officially made me a little nervous. The only times I did not feel nervous were the times when I'd tease him and he'd get annoyed by it or when I'd take care of him after getting too tired. When it came time for everything to start being serious, I tended to tense up. This time was no different. The longer the awkward silence between us remained, the tenser I felt.

I gathered my thoughts and decided that a greeting would be a start. "Uh... Hi... Justin..." I stammered, trailing off while trying to conjure a cohesive phrase. I put my arms behind my back and swallowed. I have had enough with staying silent about the issue and started teasing him and trying to seduce him for weeks. I felt like myself when I did that because it was all fun and games. I knew that it wasn't going to get Justin to come around, but it was a start and I got used to it the more I did it.

"First of all, I'd like to... Apologize for the um... Weird behavior I displayed in these past few... weeks. And... Uhm..." I paused, not knowing what to say next. I bit my lower lip, anticipating his response. When he spoke, I felt my heart nearly burst out of my chest.

"Well, you weren't hurting anyone so... I guess I don't mind?" Justin said. He seemed to be as nervous as I was, and that made me feel slightly more relaxed in an odd way.

"Basically, I um... I want to say that... Ugh gosh. I know I can't even say it. This is just a waste of time." I sighed and let my hands fall freely to my sides as the frustration got to me. Looking away from the attractive boy that sat in front of me on his bed, I gathered my thoughts and took a deep breath.

"I-It's okay, take your time." He said.

"Yeah, that's what they all say." The tone of my voice was of frustration and irritation at my lack of courage. I felt like punching myself at the moment.

"Is there anything wrong?" Justin asked. He spoke in a manner befitting an officer looking to help a civilian in need, and not a boyfriend rushing anxiously to the side of his girl, holding her in his arms and telling her that everything will be alright. His concern felt so alien to me.

"You know what? As a matter of fact, there is!" I exclaimed, with the anger at myself finally making me snap. "Do you know why I've tried to drop subtle hints here and there for quite a while now? Wanna know why? Because I'm shy and I can't be perfectly honest with you!"

"I might be a demon girl with vampire and succubus powers among other things, but when it comes to you I just suddenly... I don't even know what to say anymore! You're my weakness, Justin. And no, it's not because you're a god and I'm a demon, no. You're my weakness because I love you!"

Having finally said it, it felt like a massive weight was finally lifted off my shoulders. I spoke so fast and did not take a breath, forcing me to be breathless while watching Justin's reaction. Seeing Justin also be taken aback by what I just said was a bit overwhelming that I started to tear up. And since I finally said it, I didn't feel the need to keep anything confined in my heart anymore. Justin did not move. He gawked at me without uttering a word, but his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He was shocked by my statement, but he was not unhappy. He swallowed what was in his throat and remained silent.

"Remember when you found me the first time? When I saw you for the first time, I was overwhelmed with the feelings of warmth, joy, and safety. Not to mention you were kind to me and let me crash at your place for a few days. Those were some of the best days of my life. You didn't need to be kind to me or even need to spare me a moment of your time, and yet you did! Even when I told you who I was, you never turned your back on me or see me in a bad light!" I explained. "I always felt a connection to you. I never knew what it was or why it felt stronger the more I spent time with you but now... Now I know."

"I've never tried to confront you with this because deep down I had a feeling that you will reject me and so I decided that being... friends is the best course of action. But then day after day, I couldn't take it, and I needed to express my feelings somehow. That's when I started to... Tease you and... Tickle your nose with a tail of a catgirl while you slept and even stole my first kiss from you, but that's not the point!" Justin's face started to slowly curve into a smile as I continued talking. Seeing him grin gave me a boost of confidence that I felt I needed.

"I was also terrified that one girl might catch your eye and then it would be over. That was the main reason I decided to enroll with you guys. And I stuck through, despite all the boys trying to get my number and get in touch with me, or drive me home or whatever." I explained.

"Yeah, I never liked that either," Justin said, chuckling nervously to get the tension out of the room.

"I knew you didn't. And honestly, seeing you get jealous of the treatment I got from all those jerks is what kept me going sometimes." I stated, smiling at the jealous boy I fell in love with. He returned the smile graciously, easing the tension between us.

"And you thought that of all the girls that I would like, I'd settle for the catgirl?! Who do you think I am? Alex?" We both laughed at that question. I put my hands behind my back and took a few steps towards him.

"I didn't mind Selena, at all. She is a good friend, after all. I just didn't know why she was at our place... Is all." I stated.

"Well, it's a long and embarrassing story, but I'll explain it to you as fast as I can. Exiting the castle, I bump into this girl. I see cat ears and tail, I laugh. Some staff take me away and tell me that she is not wearing a costume and that I should apologize. Feeling like a bad person, I go out and apologize. Luckily, she was very understanding, and she told me about her species. We became friends, and I invited her over. End of story."

"I just thought Alex was fond of her..." Prompting us to laugh again. For some reason, Justin laughed harder, as if there is something else that he knew and did not tell me. Not that I cared anyway. For a moment, I forgot why I was there, looking at the boy I love.

"He might. He might."

Suddenly, I remembered why I was standing in front of him in the first place. With the realization that this is the moment of truth, I looked down at the ground and waited for his response. He stopped smiling almost instantly and looked down at his feet, unable to conjure up any word. Justin started tapping his hand on his knee, waiting for the words to form in his mind, presumably.

"Okay, Justin. Enough with the chit chat. It's up to you now... The mic is yours. Just... let me hear it."

A few seconds of silence pass.

"Honestly... I don't know what to say." He responded. His voice sounded void of emotions, nay, he sounded hesitant and somewhat distant. I felt the coldness in his tone and could not help but stare blankly at him for a few seconds. "I just... I don't... feel... no..."

No.

I felt my heart shatter. I clenched my fist, trying to prevent myself from breaking down. It stung. It stung hard. The feeling of coldness and melancholy around me was all too familiar. I felt alone again. I felt like I had no one, just like the day I arrived here in the mortal world. It was as if he turned his back on me and left. Tears started dropping from my eyes and I did not have the will to wipe them. I swallowed and stared at him once again to see him looking at the ground and biting the nail of his right thumb.

"I see... I'm sorry to have bothered you..." I said before turning around and walking to the door. But suddenly, as I reached for the door handle, Justin spun me around and pinned me to the wall that was to my left.

"Where are you going?" He asked, his voice sounding very concerned. However, it was unlike the first time. This time, I felt it come from his heart. I did not mind getting stopped, but he unknowingly made me feel alone again. It did not dawn on me that he would reject me, much less with so little words. I did not plan to show my weakness to him, but I did not realize that my lower lip was shaking. I didn't want to hurt him any further, either, hoping to keep this pain to myself.

"I-It's fine. It really is. I'm totally understanding of it, Justin." My voice cracked, making me want to punch myself in the gut for exposing my moment of vulnerability. "It's okay..."

"No, it's not. Can you calm down for a second, please?" He pleaded. He did not hold my hands against the wall, but he blocked my left and right with his jacked arms. I held my face down and wiped the tears that he managed to see. The silence was once again filling the room, making it even more unbearable. I felt conflicted whether I wanted to hear his comforting voice or drown myself in my tears without hearing Justin ever again. The only sounds that were there were the sounds of his breathing while he stayed silent.

I looked at him and gave him a genuine smile that hid the pain within me. "Justin, it really is okay. Really!" I said with my warm and welcoming tone, thinking that I could calm him, but I did not make him budge. He stood like an unyielding mountain, preventing me from moving away from his gaze. He stood so close to me, our faces inches apart. He looked at my eyes and I stared back at his breathtaking blue ones. "I'll... I will get used to it, I promise. And soon enough, I'll forget about it all. Don't feel bad about-"

He did it. He finally did it. He cut me off by pushing his lips against mine, kissing me with his own volition for the first time, marking this as our first-ever genuine kiss. I stared blankly at him for a second with tears flowing before holding his face in my hands and kissing him back. And so I let the tears flow and did not resist. I could not believe it, but he was a genuinely good kisser.

"I said I don't know what to say because I honestly don't know what to say. I know how to talk to girls that seem mildly interesting, but you? I feel shy and slightly awkward around you about it. I... I see you as a sister. A friend. And yes, as someone I love and admire. I couldn't bring myself to tell you because I thought that it might impact the way we are. It might change our friendship. I didn't want that, you see. I feared that if we became something else, we might lose what we are. I... I don't want that, okay? I'm bad with words, so let's just shut up and let my heart express to you how I truly feel."

I started to feel butterflies down my stomach. My mind was so overwhelmed with emotions that I could barely contain myself. Justin's embrace has never felt so warm and welcoming. His lips are even more ethereal than I ever could have imagined. I could not hold back the tears and finally broke down, hugging Justin as I cried on his shoulder. He hugged me back and kissed my cheek before lifting me off my feet and taking us to sit on his bed, still wrapping my arms around him. When he sat on the bed, I pushed him onto it and lied on his chest, holding his wonderful face in my hands. He caressed my cheeks and smiled at me once more, making my heart flutter. I bit my lower lip and rested my head on his chest, moving my index fingers on his fine muscles.

"Wow... Finally embracing you like this feels warm and... liberating. I don't wanna let go."

"I love you, Justin! I love you so much!"

"I love you even more!"

"Shut up! I'm the one who loves you more!"

For the second time, we started making out. Finally having all of that out of my chest and having Justin be with me for the first time, it was something that I cannot put into words myself. "This is all mine..." I stated, pointing to his body. The pretty blonde boy smiled and winked at me before pulling me to him once more to share another kiss of passion and love. Being with a man for the first time made my entire body shiver with an overwhelming sensation of excitement and wild thirst. With one motion of my hand, I grabbed his tank top and pulled it off, making his celestial body visible to me with all its vigor and glory. His abs and pecks gleamed and screamed holy manliness and Justin's virility radiated with unimaginable intensity. I paused for a moment and stared at him while biting my lip with sheer excitement, my heart racing with euphoria. I pulled the hot stud towards me and moved my hand across his firm chest, moving it all the way to his face. "It's all mine..." I found myself lost in his eyes once more, the adrenaline pumping itself throughout my body and ready to take the entire force of his love. But to my dismay, Justin moved away with laughter and grabbed his tank top.

"Not to kill the mood or anything," He said before putting it on. "But your wingman is waiting outside."

When we exited the room, Alex was there waiting for us with bated breath with like a man trying to win the lottery. He tapped his foot on the ground and crossed his arms, breathing impatiently. When he saw us walk through the door, he strode to us in an instant and gazed at the two of us with widened eyes.

"So?!" He asked. I responded by kissing Justin on the lips without any prompts, much to the surprise of the two boys.

"YEEAAAHAAAA! WOOOO!" Alex exclaimed. "I thought that your 'he loves me, he loves me not' relationship was never gonna be resolved! Who would've thought! It's about time you two took it to the next level. I expected to finish a couple of romance series and you two wouldn't have hooked up."

"It's all thanks to you, Alex," I said before giving my other best friend a warm hug. My brother hugged me back, expressing his utter joy at this news. "Thank you so much!"

"Aww, I did nothing. It was all you, Mia! You just needed a little nudge. If you didn't believe in yourself, I'd say Justin over here would've stayed single for quite some time!" He laughed, patting his friend on the back.

"Hey!"

"Okay, boys, calm down. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow!" I pointed at the city, reminding them of Justin's nearing birthday. I pulled Justin onto the couch and relaxed in his embrace. He felt a little awkward about it, but I did not feel a thing. I rested my head on Justin's shoulder, making the boy feel a little nervous. He eventually relaxed and wrapped his arm around me, much to my delight and pleasure.

"To the festival, we go!" Alex exclaimed before walking to the kitchen and disappearing.

"To Justin's birthday, we go!" I exclaimed, kissing Justin's cheek.

"Ethan, I will beat you tomorrow!" Justin exclaimed.

We decided to go out and have fun at the festival for the rest of the day where I held Justin's hand without feeling any sort of shame or embarrassment, unlike the blond gentleman. No longer was the fear of being left alone lingering inside my chest. Throughout the entire thing, I wrapped my arms around Justin's arm and walked with him. Alex gave us the go-ahead to go and have fun on our own as he sought Ethan or Selena. Not even two hours in, Justin and I found an alleyway where I pulled him for ten minutes of exchanging kisses. He allowed me to put my hand through his shirt and trace his fine-tuned body. We soon left the alley to continue enjoying the festival, where we bought all sorts of junk food and ice cream, took pictures, and walked around. Selena happened to pass by us with Alex in tow, enjoying the festivities with her friend. When she saw us, she ran towards me and Justin. I held Justin's face in my hand and gave her a stare that told her that this boy was my property. Or more precisely, I was his property and he would not have anyone else... unless I asked him to. Justin told her that he and I are officially dating, making her jump with excitement and joy, hugging me and not even paying attention to the way I marked my territory. She seemed more happy than sad that Justin was mine. She grinned at me to tell me that I have bested her.

"Good game," She whispered in my ear. "I bet he'd destroy me if I were to be the one. So, did you do it yet?" I was taken aback by her question. I swallowed and looked at Justin who was in the distance with Alex before shaking my head. The cat grinned and shifted her eyes to lust over Justin before looking me in the eyes once again, but when she realized what I meant, she immediately pulled me closer to her.

"What?" Selena sounded shocked. "You still haven't... with him? Come on, Mia! Knowing you, you would have been sleeping with him right this instant."

I sighed before answering her. "I... I'm not sure he wants to do that now. He just confessed to me. I asked him about it before leaving, but he refused. Not at the moment, at least."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"I think I'll try and sleep next to him tonight." Selena's eyes lit up. "Only sleep! Nothing beyond that. I just want to share a bed with him for the night."

Selena seemed disappointed with this answer that came out of a demon with succubus traits and powers. "I don't think I'm talking to Mia Cooper right now." Her look of disappointment faded in the blink of an eye when I pulled her towards the alley Justin and I hid and I grabbed her face. "Mia... what are you..."

"You wanna tease me, Selena? Hmm?" I asked, kissing her cheek. "Would you like me to be with you instead?" I did not hear a single response. Her breathing was soft and gentle, but it did not hide her enticement towards the idea. It was not the first time Selena and I behaved this way. It was not the first time I seduced her with foreplay. With a simple stare into my eyes, her composed demeanor began to vanish and she started to get hot and sweaty. I closed the distance between our faces and kissed the tip of her nose. She had already wrapped her hands around me at this point and I wanted to show her how good I was at doing my job. One time, she was getting too close to Justin for my liking and so I took her to a changing room at school where I engaged with light foreplay with her. In the end, she admitted to liking it. I told her to back away from Justin or I'd have no choice but to torture her with pleasure.

"You like being teased, huh?" I asked. She nodded while I held a hand over her mouth to muffle her joy and pleasure noises. One day, Selena admitted to having a little crush on me. I was taken aback by her revelation but did not turn her down. I informed her however that Justin is the one that I love. She expected such an answer and pleaded with me not to end our friendship because of what she felt or my boyfriend. I had no plans to do so whatsoever. She is a good friend and someone I can trust with my secrets. She knows what I really am and has even helped me with advice to try and talk to Justin about my love for him many times. I told her not to stray too close to Justin and everything will be fine. She accepted my terms and did not make any advances again. But as the thoughts of Justin finally becoming my boyfriend lingered in my mind and seeing the cat's stunning looks, I thought of a great idea that would satisfy all parties involved.

"Or... how about... we share?" I whispered into her ear, gently caressing her face with my hand.

"Share?"

"You and I would seduce Justin and the three of us will get what they want. Of course, you'd stay away from my boyfriend otherwise."

I put my fun to an abrupt stop when I happened to see Justin and Alex walk by, much to Selena's dismay. After the festival, the three of us returned home where we could relax and prepare for the next day. Justin was about to enter his room when I grabbed his hand. "Hm?" He said while looking at me. I looked at the ground and tried to muster the courage to speak.

"Can I... Can I sleep next to you tonight?" I asked. My voice sounded like a little girl asking to sleep in her mother's room after having a nightmare. The blonde boy chuckled before taking me off my feet and entering his vast room, closing the door behind him with his foot. He threw me on the bed and turned the lights off after tucking me in as if I was a little girl. He took his shirt off and lay on the bed, finally sleeping next to me as my boyfriend. "I'm gonna sleep in daddy's room!" I pulled him into a kiss and started battling with our tongues once more. The lights of the city glimmered next to us and the fireworks that bloomed in the sky lit the mood for us. He did not take my innocence that night, but he made me feel his love without any hesitation, which was what I wanted and needed from him the most.

"Oh... oh my god... I love you so much..."

"Oh, me then?" He joked. "So you're gonna have to pray to me twice a day, clean my room, and not yell at me when I buy way too many noodles." My heart started throbbing faster and faster and I started to feel warmer the closer I slept next to him. "Tomorrow's gonna be awesome, babe."

'Babe... I can get used to that word...'

Justin and I should have resolved this matter a lot sooner, but I don't mind since it's a day before his birthday. Having Justin be beside me feels very relaxing and safe. With him, all my worries seem to fade away, and I can enjoy life and love with the boy I hold dearest to my demonic heart. However, there is something quite weird about Justin. After returning home that day, whenever I get close to him to be welcomed in his embrace, I always start to feel some intense energy deep within him. It feels like it is more than just power. It feels like a presence. When I asked Justin about this, he stated that he never felt anything different or peculiar. He suggested that it might be his weapons that he can conjure. Maybe even the armor as well. However, what I felt was something far stronger. Something that knew I was there.

It didn't bother me much since I am not an expert in deity physiology. But there was this weird hunch telling me that this presence might play a significant role in Justin's ascension.