Saving Tally (last Book 6) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 16

Tally

I promised myself I wouldn’t cry over him, yet here I am. Wasting my tears on someone who couldn’t care less. I really thought he changed, but he’s done nothing but manipulate me and anyone else he wants something from. He’s still a devil, just not thee devil.
No one noticed I was gone, but Amanda must have knocked on my door and figured I was sleeping because she left a plate. 
I just want to be left alone. I laugh out loud at the irony. I’m back here feeling the same way I did before I left. Except now I’m not morning a death, I’m morning loss. Loss of myself, my mind, and my innocence. Come tomorrow, I’m going to have to explain to a certain degree what happened. It’s obvious I was backing him. How embarrassing, I’ll be made a fool of in front of everyone. Serves me right for going against my better judgment. 
It may not matter soon. According to Cole we're all going to die. I can’t believe that. If I did, I might as well give up. 
The prophecy!
With everything going on, I forgot the whole reason I got into this mess. Was it wrong? 
I didn’t cause Cole’s death. Unless it was metaphorical? The death of Lucifer because he’s Cole again. It’s possible, I’ve heard of prophecies stretched further than that. What does it matter? He’s dead to me. 
I hear yelling downstairs. I thought everyone was asleep? I can’t handle any more drama. Part of me wants to forget I even heard anything, but it’s yet another lesson I’ve learned.  When you ignore something, it doesn’t make it any less real.
Quietly opening the door, I peek over the stairs. Grayson, Elliot, and Celeste are standing over someone who’s stretched across the kitchen table. Making my way down, my stomach twists into knots. 
“What happened?” I ask, coming up to the crowd. The guy sits u,  and I stop abruptly, jarring myself.  It’s Cole!
“I found him outside on one of my perimeter checks. His legs are bad, but it’s the concussion I’m worried about.” Austin says with a glum expression. 
I approach him slowly, afraid of what I’ll see. His head has significant bruising,  and there’s a large gash across his forehead that’s stopped bleeding only recently. From the kneecaps down, his legs are flattened, like pancakes. Austin is about to cut off his slacks. I turn away, unable to stomach the sight. The black slacks appear wet, and I know they’re drenched in blood.
This is all my fault.  I should have stayed and had it out with him. 
“Tallisa.”
He says my name. I clutch my chest and turn to him, steering my vision away from his legs. This has me twisted. I push aside my anger for now and place my hand in his open palm. He relaxes instantly, falling into unconsciousness. I keep my back to Austin and Celeste, who are working on his legs and ask;
“How bad is it?”
“for someone like me or Elliot? We’d be bedridden for a few days. I’m cutting away his pants so they don’t heal inside his legs. He’s kind of road kill from the knees down. But he’s a phoenix, which means he’ll be fine in a fraction of that time. He’s already healing.”
The sound of ripping cloth makes me jump. I keep talking to distract myself. 
“What happened?”
There’s more tearing, and then Austin whistles at something, and I squeeze my eyes tight, trying not to look.
“Wrong place, wrong time is my guess. I don’t know what he was doing out there, but the building collapsed. He’s lucky I found him before dark. Or he would be food right now and wouldn’t have the slightest idea.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen.”
My eyes pop open at the sound of Cole’s voice.  His gaze locks with mine as he tries to communicate with me through them. We stay like that a long moment before his flutter, and he falls back out.
He came back! Why? I think I know, but I don’t want to assume.  Eventide I’ve done it, I’ve been wrong.  What else would he return for? He said it himself. He believes we’re doomed. I can’t go there. If I’m wrong… he’s hurt me enough. 
I sit on the chair next to him long after Austin and Elliot leave. Celeste did some kind of soothing spell, and Cole has been restful since. I wonder when my life got so complicated.  I suppose it hasn’t been pie since I can remember, but it’s been steady, at least. I’m sure if I could see the last few months on a monotonic graph, the line would go off the charts multiple times…
“I’m sorry.”
I snap awake and look down at a puddle of drool staining Cole’s crisp white shirt. The memories of yesterday came crashing back.
“I’m sorry, Tallisa.”
It’s Cole.  He’s okay and fully conscious. I look at his legs for the first time. His skin is red and purple. Some parts are kind of sunken, but they're shaped normally more or less.
“I came back for you.”
My pulse quickens as hope flares in my heart. His hand cups the back of my head, tangling in my knotted hair.
“Look at me, pet.”
I do as tears build in my eyes. 
“I need to tell you something and the others… I know I don’t deserve it, but I need you to believe me. What I’m about to say had nothing to do with my decision.  It wasn’t even a full twenty minutes before I realized my mistake in bringing you there and asking that of you. I thought I knew what was best, but it doesn’t matter anymore. If I only get a day, week, month. As long as you're with me, it’s worth it.”
It’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear. I reach forward to place a kiss on his lips, but he stops me. Rushing out his word.
“The gods are alive! That’s where Jacobs been. He’s on his way here with them this very moment.”
What? This is big news!
“All of them?” I ask.
“No. But Poseidon, Apollo, Hermes; I think, and Goddesses too. Demeter, Artemis, and Athena.”
Oh my gods, I laugh.
“Were going to win!” I say, as shocked by my words as I am about the realization. My joy must be contagious because Cole cracks the first real smile I’ve seen in a while.
“I’d be flabbergasted if we didn’t.” He adds.
I have to tell the others. This changes everything! My smile slips when I make the connection. 
“Is that why you came back?” I hiss accusingly, already convinced. Cole sighs, dropping his head.
“Would you even believe me if I said no?”
He lifts his head. I look into his eyes. His beautiful stormy eyes that hide a monster beneath. I want to believe. Try to find the good, but I’ve been fooled too many times. How many times have I done the same thing I’m doing right now? 
Too many.
“No.”
I get up abruptly, turning away from him and his irresistible lure. I seem so susceptible, too.
“I’ll go get the others.” I tell him over my shoulder.
“Tallisa? Wait. Please.”
Squeezing my eyes tight at his plea, I hold my head high and don’t look back…
The mood is cheerful.  Everyone begins to celebrate in their own way. Even Jolene has begun to soften towards her father. I’m not happy. I want someone I shouldn’t. I return to my room, preferring solitude over celebration. We’ll live, but I wonder if, for me, is it a life worth living?

Cael

“Sorry to interrupt, sir, but you told me if there is a development in the city to alert you at once.”
This better be good. I sip sweet nectar as I lay my back against the jet. It has been a task, but my worries are over. I’ve obtained the snare of light. A God killer. The only one buried by Ares before his untimely death. I’ve done my research and its brains that will win this war. 
The legend says it will trap a god in the bowels of hell to forever. To live out his worst nightmare over and over again for eternity. If it can trap a god, then there’s no doubt in my mind it will do the same for a demigod. Once I learn how to use it. Nothing will stop me.
I await the so-called important news. When it doesn’t come, I realize he’s waiting for permission to continue, idiot.
“You may proceed. What is this... development?”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. It appears the gods and goddesses have arisen from the dead.”
I stand in the bath, my naked glory stunning the angels just outside the glass walls.
“What is this nonsense? What gods and goddesses do you speak of?”
He stands silent like an idiot.
“Give me their names, you imbecile!”
“right sir, Poseidon god of the sea. Apollo, god of the sun. Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Athena, goddess of wisdom. Demeter goddess of harvest and Hermes herald of the gods.”
He’s wrong. He has to be. A chill settles over my body. It’s the first shred of fear I’ve felt in weeks.
“Nothing rises from the dead thousands of years later. That’s preposterous! It’s more likely a group of humans claiming falsities to scare the dumber species away. Yes, that’s what it is.”
When he doesn’t respond, I send a charge through him. He jolts, remembering his role and his place.
“Of course, sir. You are very wise.”
That’s better. I’m not ready to dismiss him. The possibility is harrowing. Maybe it’s time I do check on earth.
“Get my clothes.”