“You’ll never have to know that, I will be here with you always and forever, eternally.” He kissed her forehead gently, “You pick the movie and I’ll order us some food. I think it’s about time we got lost in ourselves.”
“Did Jake and Briathos leave?”
“Yeah, about an hour or so ago. I didn’t want to disturb you while you were working.”
“I sort of wish you had,” she frowned slightly.
“Don’t do that, you are an amazing artist and even if the image does come to pass, or tries to, we have a shot this way to change the future. Every choice we make counts, Alice. We both know that more than anyone.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” she laughed awkwardly, but heartfelt.
“We’re going to be okay.” She had heard that sentence so many times before and though Cole said it with all the love he possessed, she knew better. Nothing was ever okay. Something was always lurking about, waiting for her to get comfortable so it could strike terror in her life and in her heart.
COLE HAD ORDERED SUSHI, AS he knew it was one of her favorites. They laid on the couch, legs entwined, feeding each other sushi and laughing loudly. Alice put in a romantic comedy, mostly to torment Cole; she would have gladly watched an action or drama flick. In that moment they just existed together, enjoying each other’s company, fully in love, lost from the hatred in the world that wanted to condemn them.
“You are so incredibly beautiful. I don’t think I tell you that enough.”
“Oh, shut it.”
“No I won’t. You are talented, beautiful, intelligent, and the most amazing woman I have ever known. I am so proud and privileged that I’ll get to call you my wife someday.”
A fire lit inside of Alice as he stroked her ego. He ran his hand up her leg slowly, tenderly. She watched the sweetness in his eyes go ablaze as he stared into her. They rushed each other as if they were thirsty and the only way to quench their thirst was to taste the others’ lips. They touched each other with wild hands as clothing began to hit the floor. Gasping for air, they parted lips to breathe the others’ warm breath. Alice climbed on top of Cole as he lowered her slowly onto himself. They moaned in unison. Even this close never seemed quite close enough to them. Their souls reached out toward one another and slowly began to weave together. With each wrap, each thrust, the world they knew grew closer to exploding all around them, until it did.
They collapsed on each other, breathing heavily and rapidly. Smiles climbed across their faces as they kissed one another. “I could do that all the time,” Cole said.
“Me, too,” Alice said, laughing.
COLE
COLE STRETCHED HIS BODY ACROSS the bed to find Alice not there. She had left a note letting him know she went to school to work on a new piece. He hoped this one wasn’t a premonition as so many others had been. It was taking its toll on Alice, and there was nothing he could do to help. He knew she needed the release and often that was what her work was to her, a way to expel all that was wrong in her life. He sat up reluctantly and slipped on his plaid pajama pants. He didn’t want to have another awkward encounter with their Fallen guest. He chuckled at the memory of him and Briathos attempting to walk around each other but awkwardly bumping into each other, and how Briathos was instantly uncomfortable at Cole’s lack of clothing. Coffee or shower, such a tough decision. He opted for coffee as he planned to work on his car and was sure he’d need a shower afterwards. He filled the coffee filter with ground dark roast coffee beans and filled the water to the correct level. As the coffee smell wafted in the air, he knew it enticed Briathos to come out of his room.
“Coffee?” Cole offered.
“Absolutely.” Briathos reached out and took the mug from Cole’s hands. “One of the many things I’m learning to enjoy here.”
“Creamer?” Cole asked.
“No, I enjoy it in its true form.”
“One of the things?”
“Yes,” Briathos sighed. “I think I may be quite enamored by this woman at Alice’s school.”
“Oh, yeah, you had a date last night. How’d that go?”
“It was extremely awkward. I’m not really sure the etiquette for such a thing. Also, I don’t want to damn her soul and I’m not sure at what point that happens.” He looked distressed.
“I believe conception is when the soul becomes damned, at least that’s what it seems to be, anyway.”
“Well, I would never do that to her.”
“Sometimes the heart wants what it wants and you will do insane things to give it what it craves. Trust me on this one.” Briathos wanted to argue with him but a part of him knew what he said was the truth.
“What’s on deck for today?” Briathos asked between sips.
“Working on the car. You’re welcome to join me unless you have plans to see this teacher,” Cole flashed his classic wolf’s grin.
“No plans today. I’ll join you but I must inform you I know nothing about cars.”
“I had a feeling.” Cole took another sip of his coffee, trying to hide his grin. He felt happy for Briathos, finding something joyful in his existence. He had known how important that was ever since he met Alice. She may not have known it, but he had loved her from the second he saw her face. He had yearned to reach out and brush her hair from her face that day in class and so many times when he had sat alone drinking at the local watering hole where she worked.
“Has Alice spoken to you about the seven seals?” Briathos asked cautiously.
“Yes, she filled me in on what you told her. I also asked Jake about it. I know she’s hopeful that they won’t all come to pass, but I can’t help being the pessimistic one.”
“I fear it’s a matter of time before the fourth seal is broken.”
“Sounds like the beginning of World War III.”
“Sadly, I fear that is Rogziel’s plan all along.” Briathos eyes were glossy as he relived the betrayal Rogziel had committed against him, and he against himself.
“Now we can only hope it is his own plan. I still can’t wrap my head around the Lamb, opening the seals and causing such mayhem onto the world.”
“The only way I can explain it,” Briathos began, “is that He and the Lamb see in black and white and humans reside in the gray matter in between.”
“That does sort of make sense. How is Alice to convince Him to save us all?”
“I do not know, but I do recall, back a long time ago, her ancestor Enoch tried and was denied. I hope that being a half-breed and his descendant will tilt the balance in our favor, as I, too, do not want to play out eternity in the abyss.”
“Wait, what? Does she know that she is his descendant?”
“With the secrets in your two families, I doubt it, but I remember that day all too well.”
“She’s going to be pissed.”
“You’re right about that. Now, you mentioned working on a car?”
Cole laughed quietly at the not-so-subtle change of subject. “Yes, I did. I’ll open the garage so we can enjoy this late-fall day.” They exited the house and entered the garage. Briathos took in the sight of all the oranges and reds thrown across the trees, dancing in the crisp breeze that glided across his face.
“You really can’t understand the beauty of this world until you’re standing in it.” Briathos’ smiled as he closed his eyes, allowing his other senses to assess the space around him.
“When you’re done being all “one with the universe,” we can start on the car.
ALICE
ALICE LOOKED OUTSIDE HER WINDOW to see the first snowfall. She had awaken from the same bad dream for weeks now. Feathers, both charcoal and cotton, scattered across a sea of snow littered with droplets of blood as far as the eye could see. Death. It taunted her. It left an echo of warning in her eardrum while she slept and no comfort could be found while it lingered. She hadn’t painted in over a month as she feared more prophetic works would come her way. Someone was going to die and she feared there was nothing she could
do about it. Maybe she was no savior at all but merely something that wasn’t supposed to exist. Some days she hated what she was, but she tried with all her might to be the positive force in all their lives.
Cole woke up and sat up, wrapping his arms around her. “Morning, love,” he whispered into her ear. She smiled for the first time all morning.
“Morning.”
“Are you alright?” Cole asked curiously.
“Just a lot on my mind, but I’m all right.” She kissed his lips, sealing the lie. How difficult it was to shield him from her torment, especially since they were connected with God’s gift, a remarkable bond that kept them tethered to each other for eternity, or until death.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“Huh?” She had been daydreaming again. “I think I’m just tired.” The snow was beautiful but the cold was unnerving. It reminded her too much of the wings of the angels that wished to claim her life and end the revolution that the Fallen had stood behind on their journey, attempting to claim their place in heaven one more time.
“Bad dreams again?” he asked as he brushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
“Always.” She was pouting and he couldn’t resist smiling at it. “What?”
“You’re adorable,” Cole said with honestly dripping from his lips. She laughed, breaking her bad mood.
“You’re amazing,” she returned.
“Oh, am I?” She pushed his shoulder playfully. “Yeah, I am pretty amazing, aren’t I?” She kissed his lips igniting the flame inside of them.
“You never play fair.”
She chuckled as she came up for air. She returned to taste his lips, shoving him back onto the bed. “As if you do?” she breathed between his lips.
“Touché.” Hungrily he flipped her onto her back, kissing her neck. No matter what happened to either of them they would always long for the other’s touch, the other’s kiss, for their souls to entwine and feel whole. How she could feel the world falling apart, taking her down with it like a weighted ball and chain, and suddenly feel incredible joy and love was beyond her. Maybe it was the empathy she had learned to tame, but more so, through all the dark disastrous moments in her life, Cole was the light in her life. Even if God hated them, the gift He may not have meant to give them was slowly proving there was hope for their love and hope for them all.
COLE
COLE WAS MOSTLY UNDERNEATH HIS car when he began cursing under his breath while he attempted to drop the oil pan. He at least had the smarts to pull the car into the garage before working on it. The weather was mild for Michigan, in the thirties, but Cole didn’t seem to notice in his beater and ripped up jeans in the garage, barely heated from his tiny space heater. Occasionally, he reached out demanding a tool from Briathos who was only now learning that working on a car was the opposite of a good time. Alice came home while they were busy with the car. Briathos offered a “help me” sort of look that made Alice chuckle. She went in the house and came out quickly in her winter coat carrying three mugs of hot coffee. “Cole, why don’t you take a break?”
“Almost done.” With one swift move, oil oozed everywhere. “Damn it!”
“I told you to take it to the oil change place,” Alice said, attempting to stifle a laugh. Cole slid out from under the car, covered in oil.
“At least it’s not hot,” Briathos offered.
With that, Alice burst out into laughter with Briathos joining in. Briathos had noticed that when Cole’s anxiety kicked in, he often worked on his car to distract himself. Briathos regretted agreeing to help him at this point. He thought that, due to the weather, he could avoid being Cole’s “tool guy.”
Cole stared at them in awe and utter shock until he saw his reflection in the car side mirror. He was covered in oil but where he had wiped it from his face, he looked like he had a handle bar mustache. He began laughing until all of them were almost in tears, holding their sides from the agony the laughter had created.
“Some days I worry about our sanity,” Cole said.
“Oh, babe, what sanity?” she joked. With a twinkle in his eyes, the hair on the back of Alice’s neck stood up. “What are you up to?”
“What do you mean?” He smiled boldly.
“Why are you blocking me?” She backed away slowly, circling his car. Like prey and predator they danced in a circle around the car. Who was which hadn’t yet occurred to her. Briathos backed up to the door so as not to get caught in the middle of whatever was going on. Cole couldn’t help but smirk playfully just before he ran at Alice tackling her with his oil covered body. “No!” She screamed through her laughter. Briathos laughed from the corner of the garage at the young couple enjoying life no matter what the challenges, in this case, oil. They stood up, smiling at each other, but their eyes said so much more. Briathos should have been more aware, but he thought he was safe from the two lovebird’s game. Alice walked up to Briathos, smiling enormously.
“Having fun?” Briathos asked.
“Just a smidge,” she measured with her fingers showing him.
“I think you need a hug,” Alice said.
“You’re filthy. Pardon me, but no thank you.”
“Cole, don’t you think he needs a hug?”
“In fact, I do,” he said, walking closer toward Briathos.
“Is this part of your game?” Briathos asked nervously.
“What game?” Alice asked coyly.
Briathos began walking backwards toward the house with his hands up defensively. He knew he was in trouble, Cole sensed it but he also sensed he didn’t mind as much as he was letting on. Get him! Cole thought to Alice. Alice ran after Briathos, climbing onto his back, wiping oil all over him. Briathos flailed underneath her and ran straight into Cole, knocking them all to the snow-covered ground. Their laughs echoed across the property filling the once silent yard with sounds of joy. Her doom-filled morning had turned around fully and she was thankful for that.
ALICE
ALICE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO their family dinner that Friday evening. Though they were far from normal, she enjoyed the fact that they entertained the idea. Alice set the table with air guiding her steps. Cole finished up carving the roast he had slow-cooked all day, while Briathos began setting the side dishes on the table. The rest of her Fallen family was conversing in the living room, waiting to be called to dinner. Alice set wine glasses on the table and pulled a couple bottles of her dad’s favorite Adesso red wine from the pantry. It was all too perfect, her mind kept reminding her. Though all she could feel was the love filling up her home, an irritating notion reminded her of Rogziel’s threat and it hung heavy over her head. “Dinner’s ready!” Alice shouted.
They passed the side dishes around while enjoying each other’s stories and comical puns.
“Elizabeth used to say, ‘you may be a Fallen but no man or otherwise can beat me at billiards.’”
“Was it true?” Cole asked.
Paul patted Kokabiel’s shoulder, “It was true. She beat him with no mercy,” Cole laughed the loudest. “Your mother was one of a kind; believe it or not, she was even more sarcastic than your father. She always kept him on his toes.”
“She sure did; she was a remarkable woman,” Kokabiel said proudly but faltered at the memory of her demise.
“I’m so glad we do this. For whatever reason has brought us together, and however things turn out, I am grateful to have such a loving family. It was worth the wait,” Alice said.
“Aww,” the guys said in unison.
Alice raised her glass and the room quieted. “I just wanted you to all know how much I love you all. We may never know what’s coming or when, but as long as we have each other, we’ll get through it,” Alice said, teary eyed. Cole’s fingers entwined with hers as he smiled up at her proudly.
“Here, here!” they all yelled while clanging their glasses. Laughter and true joy filled the home as they broke off into separate conversations, enjoying each other’s company.
Alice and Jake yelled, “Jinx,” before clanging glasses together loudly, barely louder than their laughter. Cole listened closely to his father’s stories to feel even a hair closer to his mother through his memories. They all rejoiced in one another and for a change, truly relaxed in one another’s company. Even Briathos joined in on the festivities the family had arranged, feeling completely accepted in the family, which he was.
“There was a time when I was given guardianship which was the most fulfilling job,” Briathos said.
“Guardianship?”
“Picture an evil entity whispering in your ear, I was the good entity whispering encouraging thoughts and words of wisdom in time of need.”
“So like a guardian angel in the movies?” Alice looked dumbfounded.
“Something like that,” Jake added.
“It was beautiful to watch someone be lifted up by your words, to choose to live to exist, to be better because of your words. It always felt good to beat out the other side.” Briathos smiled at the Fallen who also knew what that was like.
“Who are they? The other side.”
The room quieted with heads hung low. “Lucifer and his following. The Fallen who chose evil, pain and cruelty, for example. They are the other side of the coin,” Kokabiel offered.
“Like the bounty hunters?” Cole asked.
“No, these Fallen choose to remain in the shadows, they don’t physically meddle usually,” Paul added.
The room was quiet and unsettling. Jake grabbed Alice’s unsteady hand and looked into her eyes, “Just as there are humans who commit unmentionable acts of cruelty, not all of our kind wants to be in God’s good graces.”
“I understand. I just didn’t realize, I guess,” Alice’s forehead wrinkled slightly as she processed the information.
Alice's Insurrection (Alice Clark Series) Page 7
