Original Sin

Chapter 13

The beach was one of Hailey's favorite places. Of course, it couldn't be Miami or Key West like she wanted, not when Alex was around. Instead, they found a secluded, much rockier beach on one of the smaller Hawaiian Islands. The water was warm and the mountains thick with jungle. There were few people, so they would be interrupted. 

Hailey told him she wanted combat training. Alex's eyes popped at her request. "Why?" he asked.

"In case Michael tries to take the key by force," she said.

Alex fumed when Hailey told him of the unwanted closeness, how unnerving it was feeling his breath on her neck, the demonic look in his eyes. She didn't want to be helpless again.

He wasn't pleased with the idea, but knew better than to argue with her. "If you're going to fight an angel, you'll need one of these." Alex handed her a pointed piece of metal, smooth chrome finish. It reminded her of the lances knights from the Middle Ages used to joust with, but this dagger was about the length of her forearm. She'd never carried a weapon before. It was such a small thing, but Hailey felt more powerful holding it in her hands. 

Then Alex withdrew his own sword.

That was a different thing altogether. It was nearly invisible to the naked eye. She didn't see a scabbard at his belt; did he just pluck it out of thin air? She couldn't make out what material it was made with. Perhaps some sort of divine grace or angelic force made it? What was evident, to any human eyes, was the glow of orange and red flames that flickered and encased the sword. It outlined the length of the object, almost half Hailey's size. The hilt was entirely gold with few gems and embellishments; no one would think it anything of value, let alone other-worldly. So Hailey didn't see the sword per say. Rather, she saw the outline of the sword through fire and piercing light, a reflection against his T-shirt. If Alex wasn't wearing black, she might not see it at all. 

Alex lowered the blade in his hand. The weapon was meant to intimidate and strike fear into the opponent's heart. Hailey didn't like to admit feeling trepidation at the thought of facing an angle in battle.

"Michael has a similar blade. If it scares you now, imagine how he could use it against you." Alex's tone was low and menacing. Those eyes she fell in love with were so dark now. Perhaps this is what the most violent humans saw upon entering his care on their journey to Hell? Did they see the spark of fire deep within them? In this state, he really was the Devil. No one would dare to stand against him. Hailey hated to see this side of him. She kept her eyes trained on the sand at her feet.

"You okay?"

"I'm alright," she lied.

And he knew she was lying. With the sword in one hand, kept far away from Hailey, he stepped in front of her. His eyes changed from a Devilish state to concern. "Do I scare you?"

"I just remembered you're the Devil. People don't know you the way I do. I am sorry for that."

Alex shook his head. "But I am the Devil. Lucifer was made to be the Devil. Can't change that part of me."

Hailey dropped the dagger in the sand and put his face between both her hands. "Look at me, and don't think of yourself as the Devil again!" She practically screamed it in his face. Her breathing was heavy. 

This moment stilled in Hailey's mind. It was so surreal. Yet, they hadn't made any new discoveries. They weren't in dire peril. They merely existed in the present. Alex ran his hands up the length of her arms to her fingers, still attached to his face. It sent shivers up her spine. So many new feelings in such a short time! After ten thousand years of marriage, apparently she could still learn new things about this man.

"We should practice then," Alex said breaking Hailey from her trance.

She picked up her dagger again. Throughout the evening, Alex taught her the most basic defense in angel warfare: Avoid and evade at all costs. He lunged forward with his left foot. She took a step to the right. He swung his sword in a right angle, aiming for her head. She leaned back and to the left. Most of the movements were lessons she'd learned and practiced a long time ago, during the Medieval Era when she needed a sword to fend off corrupt men who snuck into her house late at night, priests who attempted to hang her as a witch, and knights on a quest to conquer another piece of land in the name of God. Hailey knew none of these foes were as evil or as powerful as Michael, but if this was what it took to defeat him, she could do it. At least, that was the theory.

Alex aimed for the heart, but instead of easily blocking it, Hailey tried to land a hit herself. She put the edge of her dagger against the sword and ran the length of it to his arm, the point aimed for his knuckles first, the sensitive tendon in his thumb second, and finally a major artery where the chest and collar connect. It would finish any human. It might at least throw an angel off balance.

Nope. 

Somehow Alex managed to deflect the dagger, grab her hand, and sweep her legs all in one maneuver. Hailey ended up on the ground with Alex on top of her. In one hand, her dagger was pinned; she couldn't seem to move her wrist. The other hand was held tightly in his grasp. His weight was bearing down on her legs, so kicking him off her was impossible. Ultimately, Hailey was unable to move. Alex wasn't even breaking a sweat. This seemed like second-nature to him. Her breath hitched in her throat as she thought how terrifying  he would be on the battlefield.

"Hailey, I'm not even using half the force I have in my body." Alex leaned down and whispered in her ear. Her breathing was starting to become erratic. A sinister feeling of heat emerged from the corners of his eyes. "Don't ever try anything like that again. Just avoid and evade."

Hailey nodded. Alex smiled like he'd won something, though Hailey wasn't sure what he won.

"You know, from this position I could do anything I want to," Alex said.

Hailey raised one eyebrow at his cockiness. She was never one to roll over and turn away from a challenge. She inched her face up to his. Their noses touched ever so lightly. "I have no idea what you mean by that. Care to enlighten me?" Hailey was already squirming under his hold.

Ever so slowly, he inched his lips closer. She was sure he could feel her heart practically beating out of her chest.

"Am I interrupting?"

She didn't need to look to know who interrupted their romantic moment. That shivering, icy voice was unmistakable. Hailey's eyes opened. Alex wasn't looking at her. He was staring at the irritating figure to her right. His grip tightened. Hailey could feel the protectiveness sweep over her like a thick blanket.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt, but we were in town and just happened to be walking along the beach when I saw the familiar outline of my old brother," Michael mused. The way words fell off his tongue reminded Hailey of a snake hissing at a predator. 

But who is this "we"? Hailey didn't know of anyone else involved with Michael's nefarious plan. 

She craned her head and risked a look in Michael's direction. Situated behind him was a young woman wearing a purple tracksuit with a mass of ebony hair piled on top of her head. Her smile was enormous, and she gave a little wave. "Hi! I'm Melanie!" Her high-pitched squeal was like nails on a chalkboard. 

Hailey groaned. First impressions: Melanie seemed like just the type of person whom Michael could use for whatever he needed. 

Alex pulled Hailey up from the sand, still gripping her hand tight enough to cut circulation.

"I thought we might grab a cup of coffee while we're in the same place, yes?" Michael's smile didn't reach his eyes. Melanie didn't notice. Alex's arm snuck around Hailey's waist, pulling her close.

This wasn't just about coffee.