The Falling (Book I)

Safety

Melanie

My head felt like it had split open, my memories fractured from what little I could see through our shared eyes. The last thing I remembered was watching Amnon fall.

Warm fingers massaged my scale. William's scent flooded my senses and as my vision returned, I saw we were in the bathroom of his house. He had me propped against him on the counter with him standing between my legs and my head resting on his shoulder.

"Mel?" he asked.

"It is me," I quietly affirmed and lifted my head.

He looked better now that he had had a chance to clean himself up and apply medicine. Bandages haphazardly wound around his torso. He had changed out of the clothes Hell gave him, wearing simple trousers. I noticed then I was no longer in armor and in one of his tunics, my legs bare. My face set aflame.

"It was bloodstained!" he defended, a touch of pink kissing his cheeks as well.

"I-I am not even going to ask...how did we escape? Rayi was determined to kill you." I inquired.

"She had me pinned and I was tired of fighting. She started crying and cursing you before she helped me up. Lucifer set Kopa and Irsya on us. A Human-Turned-Demon who said he was in your service aligned himself with us and helped me fight Kopa while Rayi went after Irsya. The Human-Turned-Demon took a blow meant for me. Rayi stabbed Irsya in the throat and got us out."

That confounded me. When she first took over, I felt her intent to kill him and keep me imprisoned in my own mind. I could not hear her, she was sleeping, and I doubted she would answer my question as to why she changed her mind even when Kopa entered the battle. "Irsya is dead?"

Losing my twin should have have been pivotal but all I felt was hollow. Still, my eyes burned with tears I would not shed when I thought of our life together. She was a snake but she was still my sister. I felt more grief at the loss of my bodyguard and allowed myself to weep for him. "Poor Amnon."

William grabbed my face and wiped my tears away. His shoulders slumped and he would not meet my eye. "Rayi warned me to keep my guard up. He sacrificed himself for me. He may have been a Human-Turned-Demon but he was noble. I am sorry."

"He took my wish to heart. I told him to help you escape if he could."

Sniffling, I rubbed my eyes and smiled halfheartedly at him. "We survived, at least. He will live on in us."

He smiled back and kissed me before withdrawing. "I need to return to Heaven for a bit. My absence has undoubtedly been noted and I will need to placate Luke before he tears the Human World apart searching for me. I will be back soon; I promise."

He kissed me once more before he disappeared out of the room and down the hall. I listened for the door to close before sliding off the counter. My body was severely taxed for reasons I could only imagine and sleeping was too tempting.

I limped into the bedroom and pulled the fresh sheets and comforter back. My weight sank into the feathered bed and I nuzzled the pillow that smelled like him. My eyelids dropped and I fell into a deep sleep.

William

My torso burned from the wounds and my wings trembled with exhaustion. I knew I looked terrible and any who saw me would notice but I had been gone too long without a word to anyone.

It was idiotic, the way I had been captured. Mel's sister had mimicked her voice, screaming for me as though she were in great pain. Even now, I felt my panic from the cry well up, fearing Luke or another angel had discovered her. I should have realized the pitch was wrong; even when she was distressed, Mel's voice never went so high.

I neared the portal, still in the air, and Lucifer dive bombed me. His wings blinded me when I strained to look behind me to see who would dare do such a thing and we crashed to the forest floor. The sister lassoed my wings and I blacked out. When I woke up again, my hair was cut and armored Human-Turned-Demons dragged me to see the king, Lucifer, and Mel.

I had never felt such terror before. Terror for what they would do to me and terror for what they would do to her. And to try to force me to fight her, to prove that I was the same angel before I met her? Rage replaced the fear.

When I saw her lose to her Adsecula and heard her cry out from the agony, my heart cracked. To see her face twisted so cruelly and to hear Rayi's mockery of her and me, my heart shattered. I could not make myself attack until she forced my hand and even then, when my fire burned her, I lost the will just as soon as I got it.

I did not expect Rayi to change her mind, though I never understood why she spared me in Heaven when she viewed me as a threat. It worked out and I saw no point in questioning her change of heart in the arena.

Each flap of my wings sent a shock of pain that left my brain tingling. I landed inelegantly in front of the gate, which swung upon with great haste.

"Send word to Lucas and His Grace; The Angel of Life has returned!" one of the guards commanded a Lesser Angel. The little slip of a thing saluted and flew off as quickly as her wings could carry her.

I waved off the guards as they inquired about my whereabouts and what happened to me, already dreading the line of questions my brother most likely had. I ran into the Angel of Femininity, Aspen, before I ran into Luke. She blinked up at me before giving a mournful cry of, "Oh, William, your hair!"

"I thought it time for a change," I grumbled, gently nudging her out of my way and continued down the hall.

Luke rounded the corner, his face severe. I braced myself as he swung at me. I dodged the blow and asked wryly, "Is that any way to greet your brother?!"

"You dolt; where were you? Why are you so banged up? What happened?" He fired off, his eyes blazing with fury and worry.

Before answering him, I embraced him, patting him roughly on the back. "It is good to see you, too, Mother. I thought I would take a vacation and it did not go as planned."

"You mean demons. William, you should know there have been some rumors regarding you and a demon." He said, disgust coloring his tone.

I swallowed thickly, wondering how the hell that had reached Heaven's ears. I smiled as easygoing as I could manage. "That is ridiculous. As if I would have anything to do with a demon."

Luke did not seem wholly convinced but the soft footsteps of Joel kept him from saying anything more about it for the moment. Joel's gentle face was wrinkled with worry when he caught sight of the bandage around my forearm. "William, what happened to you?"

I dropped to one knee before him and bowed my head. "I was just telling Luke here that I decided to go for a vacation but it was far from relaxing."

"Rise, William."

I obeyed and looked at Joel, then wished I had not. His cerulean eyes had that knowing gleam in them again. Apprehension washed over me and my mouth went dry. This time I understood what it was he seemed to know. I needed to leave.

Taking a step back, I jabbed a thumb over my shoulder. "Well, I came to report back that I am not dead or eloped with a human lover. The Angel of Life is reporting for duty once more. If there is not anything pressing you need me for I think I shall return to my home and work. Goodbye, Luke, Joel."

I hastily bowed and jogged away from the two, ignoring Luke's calls.

I wondered if Joel knew about the truth of the Adsecula.

When I returned home, dusk was dying and a quilt of stars blanketed the sky. I sensed Mel's aura upstairs in the bedroom and made my way to her. She was on my side of the bed, to my annoyance and amusement, her face buried in my pillow. Silently, I slipped under to covers with her and pulled her toward me. Her grip on the pillow slackened and her arms wound around my neck as she snuggled closer to me, still asleep. I pressed my lips to her forehead as her silky hair tickled my nose.