Chapter 1
The icy wind swirled restlessly from side to side, slipping through the fabric of her clothes and making Violetta shiver.
"Where am I?" The thought flashed through her mind, but the question never left her lips. She glanced around, trying to understand where she had ended up.
— NOOO!!!
A piercing scream echoed over the cliff, drawing her attention. Violetta noticed a boy with jet-black hair standing right at the edge. But what unsettled her the most were his wings—dark and tattered.
A semicircle of immortals surrounded him—some with snow-white wings, others with black ones. Angels and demons? The thought flickered through her mind. What is happening here?..
— Calm down, we mean you no harm, — one of the immortals said, stepping forward.
Step by step, they moved closer, forcing the boy to retreat—closer and closer to the edge.
— No! — he shouted.
The air trembled at his cry, and a powerful wave of energy scattered the immortals like autumn leaves. Half of them never got up again.
— Stop this! We won't hurt you!
But they took another step forward.
— No! — the boy screamed once more, and his voice, sharp as a blade, stabbed through Violette’s consciousness.
She barely resisted the urge to cover her ears. The immortals around her froze—then, one by one, they began to fall. The terror etched on their faces was the last thing left of them in this world.
"He killed them... He killed them all..." The realization hit Violette like a thunderbolt.
The boy was breathing heavily, his shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs. But she didn't see a monster—only a terrified child, crushed by his own power.
Overcoming her fear, she took a step forward. Then another. Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
The boy lifted tear-filled eyes to her. There was no malice in them—only pain and fear.
Violetta knelt in front of him and cautiously brushed her fingers over his cheek, wiping away his tears.
— Don’t cry... It’s going to be okay, — she whispered, her voice trembling but warm.
She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. Her hand brushed against the base of his wings, feeling their texture. It was so real... too real for a dream. And yet, she remembered going to bed.
The boy clung to her in return, burying his face in her shoulder. His breath was shaky, but slowly, it steadied.
The world around them began to dissolve, like mist at dawn. Shapes blurred, sounds faded.
— Don’t go... — the boy reached out, trying to hold onto her, but his fingers grasped only air.
And in the next moment, he was gone. Or maybe... she was.
***
The shrill beeping of an alarm pulled Violetta out of her sleep. 5 a.m. With a groggy sigh, she reached for her nightstand and silenced it. Rubbing her eyes, she got out of bed and headed for her morning routine.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, noise from the kitchen reached her ears. Her roommate, Maddy, was already bustling around, wielding pans and pots like a pro. Seeing Violette, she flashed a bright smile.
— Go wake the others.
— On it! — Violette smirked and marched to the next room, where their two friends were still lost in dreams.
Without hesitation, she yanked the blankets off both of them.
— Viiiii, let me sleep… — the first one groaned, curling up around a pillow.
The second one only mumbled something incoherent, rising like a vampire from a coffin.
— Up and at ‘em! — Violetta commanded with a teasing sternness. — The manager’s coming soon. We need to finish everything and still squeeze in rehearsal.
With that, she spun around and strode back to the kitchen, where toast and coffee were already waiting. Soon, Nora and Dao—both professional late sleepers—joined her at the table.
— Erica’s wedding is today, right? — Maddy, the responsible eldest of their group, asked.
— Yeah, — Violetta nodded, taking a sip of coffee. — I just hope I can sort out my schedule in time.
After breakfast, the girls retreated to their rooms to change. Violetta picked out a short white dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves that accentuated her graceful figure. The mirror reflected her striking appearance: deep blue hair cascading down her shoulders, stormy gray eyes highlighted with subtle yet expressive makeup.
Her beauty was flawless. It was the reason Violetta graced the covers of so many fashion magazines and ad campaigns. Their group was more involved in photoshoots and runway shows than actual performances.
— I think this white beret will complete the look, — Maddy suggested, handing her the accessory.
— Thanks, — Violetta smiled, putting it on before heading out the door.
Outside, a car was already waiting. Sliding into the seat, she set off for the photoshoot location.
The session was in full swing. Violetta shifted poses fluidly, her gaze alternating between the camera and the distance, creating the perfect mood for each frame. By the end of the day, she sat with the photographer and the organizer, reviewing the shots.
— We’ll need to reshoot a few tomorrow, — she concluded calmly, bidding them goodbye.
By the time she got home, the apartment was empty. Silence greeted her, but there was no time to rest. She had a wedding to prepare for.
She let her hair down, curling it into soft waves. Her dress—an elegant ombre transitioning from deep blue to white—enhanced her refined presence.
To avoid unnecessary fan and paparazzi attention, Violetta opted for her own car. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she pressed the gas pedal, vanishing into the twilight.
***
Vicky found the groom near the gazebo. Julian sat on a bench, head bowed, while beside him stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman. The stranger stood out effortlessly against the surrounding scenery.
She placed a gentle hand on Julian’s shoulder and said,
— I called Erica, but she hung up.
Vicky watched as the woman struggled to find the right words to comfort the groom. Finally, she took a breath and spoke:
— Julian, don’t call off the wedding.
— Do you think I’m a fool? — his voice was bitter, weary.
— Does one mistake really mean you should throw everything away?
— Everything? — he scoffed. — She’s only with me for the money, and I… I was with her for her father’s connections.
— Erica acted that way because she didn’t believe your marriage could be real. But you can change that. Give yourselves a chance… a chance to truly love each other.
Something in the woman’s words seemed to resonate with Julian. A flicker of hope lit his eyes.
— You’re right… I’ll find her.
With newfound determination, he stood up and hurried off to find his bride.
As he disappeared from sight, Violette turned to Vicky.
— I’m Vi, — she introduced herself with a light smile, extending a hand.
Vicky hesitated for a second before shaking it.
— Vicky.
— You’re Julian’s friend? — the brunette asked, studying Vicky’s face.
For the briefest moment, Vicky felt the faintest pulse of energy from Vi. So weak, yet unmistakable. It was strange. She seemed completely human—no wings, no sign of immortality. Then why did she have that presence?
— I… I’m just an acquaintance, — Vicky lied, trying to keep her composure.
A strange unease settled over Violetta. Something was off. She dialed Erica’s number again—still off.
Vicky, without another word, turned and quickly walked away, searching for Julian.
***
Violetta’s thoughts kept returning to the cliffside, to the dream, to the boy with gray wings.
What did it all mean?
Even surrounded by flashing cameras and dazzling lights, the mystery remained, lingering at the edges of her mind.
***
The immortal had failed the exam. She lost to the son of Satan.
- You should have tried harder,- his cold voice carried a hint of mockery.
- Angel Fenzio set you up,- he continued. - Even Dino would barely stand a chance against me."
- Even?- she echoed, struggling to hide her anger.
- Dino is restrained, unlike me. He has a rational mind. And a cold mind combined with power is a dangerous thing.
- But I am a Seraph’s daughter. My mother would have surely handled you.
- I'm sure your mother was more cunning than strong.
- What are you implying?- Her voice trembled with irritation.
- Only what I said,- his gaze was piercing, his smile venomous.
***
They continued walking toward the gazebo. Nearby, Violetta stood frozen in astonishment. She had heard every word.
"Angel Fenzio? A Seraph? What kind of school is this?" Thoughts clashed in her head. And then she remembered the dream: angels and demons, a boy with gray wings, his desperate cry, and a terrifying wave of energy.
- What does all this mean? Could it really be connected?
The wedding was ruined. The guests were leaving, the evening air heavy with disappointment and unspoken words.
Violetta approached Julian. He stood by the fountain, gazing absentmindedly at the water.
- Julian, I'm so sorry,- she said softly.
He turned to her, a sad smile frozen on his face.
- Don't blame yourself, Vi. Some things just don’t work out… no matter how perfect they seem.
- A new chapter awaits you,- she said gently.
- I have a flight tonight. Maybe it's for the best.
They hugged—silently, without unnecessary words. In that embrace, there was farewell, gratitude, and just a hint of regret.
When Violetta returned home, her friends' suitcases were already packed. Paris Fashion Week awaited them—endless photoshoots, runway shows, new acquaintances, and dazzling experiences.
But even amid the glamour and flashing lights, her thoughts kept drifting back to the gazebo, that strange conversation, and the boy with gray wings.
- Maddie! Dao! Nora! Vi!
The girls' names were called in order of seniority. Maddie, being the oldest, walked at the end of the procession, followed by Nora and Vi, while Dao confidently led the group. The girls smiled, waved at their fans, and posed for the endless camera flashes. Security carefully cleared a path for them to enter the hotel, where each of them headed to their rooms. A busy, eventful day lay ahead.
The next morning, each of them plunged into their packed schedules—photoshoots, interviews, TV shows. The day flew by in the bright lights of spotlights and the constant whirlwind of activity.
In the evening, they attended a fashion show, seated in the front row. After the event, they spent some time with their fans. The crowd outside chanted their names, showered them with compliments, and begged for photos.
Violetta took one of the phones extended from the crowd, smiled widely, and snapped a selfie. The fans roared with delight as she returned the phone to its owner.
Outside, two cars with tinted windows were waiting. One was significantly larger than the other. To the surprise of her friends, Violetta headed toward the separate vehicle their manager had arranged for her.
- Where are you going?- Maddie asked with a hint of concern.
- I just need to clear my head,- Vi replied calmly, slipping behind the wheel.
The cars drove off in different directions.
The night road stretched endlessly, empty and quiet. In the car, Perfect Night by Le Sserafim played loudly, perfectly complementing the atmosphere. Violetta tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, her voice blending smoothly with the melody as she leaned back in her seat, completely at ease.
But the feeling of freedom and peace was suddenly interrupted by a shadow in the rearview mirror. A black car was following her, never falling behind.
At first, Vi paid no attention to it, but with every turn, her unease grew.
The brakes failed.
The car spun out of control. Everything happened in slow motion—the screeching tires, the jarring impact, the scream, and the piercing pain that spread through every fiber of her body.
For a brief moment, she saw a blurry figure before everything faded into silence...
A dim light, weakening breath. Her last gasp escaped her lips as infinite darkness surrounded her.
A harsh, blinding light struck her eyes, forcing her to squint. She lay on soft ground, cool and damp to the touch. Sitting up, she brushed off her clothes and looked around.
An endless horizon stretched before her, dotted with white clouds, while floating islands hovered in the distance. The gentle sound of water echoed, forming a soothing symphony.
Violetta took a few hesitant steps forward and peered into the abyss before her. Her heart clenched painfully, and her head spun from the dizzying height. She staggered back, breathing heavily. The fear of heights that had haunted her all her life hadn’t disappeared, not even here.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind—foreign yet resolute:
- Act!
A strange but undeniable force pulled her forward. Anxiety gripped her chest, her palms grew sweaty, and her breathing turned uneven. Violetta swallowed hard, flexed her numb fingers, and—before her mind could resist this madness—she leapt forward, into the embrace of emptiness.
The wind roared in her ears, and her heart pounded wildly, as if ready to burst from her chest.
She believed the fall would be her awakening.
She thought this was just a dream.
But what if it was something more?
