Grace Academy

Part Sixteen

She was walking through a forest, this one bright green with the sound of birdsong as her constant companion.

Mel smiled to herself, feeling a warm sense of safety rolling down her back.

"You have done well, child," a voice said behind her. She turned and saw a small tree burning, yet not blackening and fading.

She stepped out of her sandals and sat in front of it. "I did what I had to do."

The bush chuckled. "Nontheless I am proud. But you must be tired?"

As if on cue, Mel felt a yawn rising in her throat. "But what about Jess?" she asked. "And Luce? I can't leave them."

"Never fear, My child," the voice assured her. "You shall see them when you wake."

She opened her eyes to a familiar roof.

Sitting up, she found two pares of eyes staring at her from the shadows. She frowned and mumbled groggily to herself.

"Good morning, Greyscale," Luce said softly. "You gave us a scare."

Jess snorted next to him. "You can say that again." He looked at Mel with worry-filled eyes. "You could have died."

She smiled. "I did."

Luce nodded, pain engraved in his pupils. "I felt that, alright." He stood and made for the door. "I'll get Grace."

"No," Jess interrupted him. "You two need to talk. I'll get her." He gave Mel a comforting smile and left the room.

Luce seemed hesitant.

"I never thanked you for the other night," Mel whispered. "So thank you."

He rolled his eyes and sat next to her, gently taking her one hand in his. "I never thanked you for scaring the crap out of me. So thank you."

Mel laughed, but it ended in a wince.

She looked down at her stomach and laughed. "That'll scar. Good thing I like them."

She met Luce's gaze and shook her head. "Who would have thought, eh? An Angel falling in live with a Demon."

"Hey!" he objected. "I'm also an Angel, remeber? Just fell a few hundred feet into eternal damnation."

Mel smiled and cupped a hand to his face. "I always thought Satan would be a hideous creature with horns and a tail. Now I realize that you are the most beautiful Angel of all; you were His favourite, afterall."

Luce winced but leaned into her touch.

"What did I do to deserve someone like you?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know," Mel pondered. "Maybe you finally apologized?"

He laughed and pulled himself closer to her, kissing her softly on the lips. "Or maybe I saw the light, Greyscale."