Unkillable (Monsters Series #1) (Wattys2014)

Chapter 8: Backstories

“I need you to understand what this all means, Jess.” Angel said, “You have to know what you’re getting into.”

Angel and I were sitting by the fireplace that brisk November night. The creators of the tunnels obviously wanted the temperature settings to be as realistic and seasonally appropriate as possible, so if it’s cold out there, it’ll be cold in the tunnels.

“I know enough.” I replied confidently.

“No, you don’t.” Angel argued.

“That’s your opinion.” I argued back stubbornly.

“You should at least know a little more about me, Jess.”

I couldn’t argue with that. I wanted to know everything about this beautiful man that appeared just as my life was going downhill. Even though I couldn't tell Angel about my talent, I should know more about this man that saved me when I was thrown out because of it. It was rather ironic how my family just threw me out over the border, but they had no idea that it would result in what they were desperately trying to prevent.

They tried to prevent me from falling in love.

“Tell me everything.”

Angel took a deep breath as he prepared his story.

“I was born Jacque Angelus Delacroix on January 3rd, 1778, which makes me two months shy of 300 years old. I was raised on a farm just outside Paris as the youngest of four sons. It was a beautiful place back then. When I was eleven, the French Revolution started. My father, Cesar, died in battle, along with my brothers, Adolphe, Gaston, and Raoul. Adolphe and Gaston lived for my suffering; they would always be cruel to me and try to get me into trouble. Raoul was kindest to me though. Oh, if he would’ve known you!”

Tears slowly rolled down from Angel’s obsidian eyes to his cheek. I wiped them away with my thumb.

“At least you had one brother that cared about you!” I stated, “I only had one brother, and he couldn’t have cared less about me!”

“I doubt that.” Angel counteracted.

“Just continue your story!” I commanded, slapping his shoulder playfully.

“Alright, alright!” Angel replied, “My father and brothers died in the French Revolution, leaving my mom, Magdalene, to care for me. When I was eighteen, I was old enough to fight at the barricades. I won every single dual. I didn’t think I was any different from my comrades until I nearly lost. My mother had neglected to tell me that a woman wearing a long black velvet cloak came to her and bestowed the “gift” of immortality upon me. So, when I was shot in the heart, I woke up several hours later, completely healed, with my comrades all dead beside me, all in a long row a crossed the streets. That first time, I ran. I got in a boat and sailed to America to start fresh. I spent the entire journey trying to figure out what happened to me out on that battlefield, and by the time I docked in America, I had come up with one single explanation. I was cursed, Jesse; I was cursed to just wander the earth, never changing, never moving forward. Being cursed is not like in fairy tales, Jess. You can’t just be kissed by your true love and you’re cured. In the real world, once you’re cursed, you’re cursed forever. The closest thing to lifting a curse you can get is to find someone that will love you despite the curse, catching the curse themselves in the process, probably.”

He paused, and I burrowed my head into his chest.

“I’m that person, Angel.” I whispered to him passionately.

“I know.” Angel whispered back, holding both sides of my face with his hands.

We both leaned in and our lips met passionately. I snaked my arms tightly around his neck. Angel’s arms were wrapped around my waist. After several minutes, we reluctantly pulled apart for air.

“The Holy Men would tend to use our...relationship as an excuse to point fingers.” Angel whispered, “They may even try to...take you away from me...”

Angel suddenly burst into tears. I embraced him and let his tears stain my shirt.

“Hey, Listen to me.” I stated urgently, gently caressing his cheek, “I will never, ever leave you without a fight, Angel. Never!”

Our lips met passionately, beginning many blissful moments in our forever.