Part 10 (1/2)
Lucifer looks confused by my easy acceptance of his next visit but phases before giving anything else away.
”I don't know how you can stand talking to him,” Mason tells me.
I hear his disapproval of my relations.h.i.+p with Lucifer clearly in his voice.
I shrug. ”I've gotten used to him, I guess. Is that strange?”
”Honestly? Yes, it is. I won't lie about that. He is evil in its purist form, Jess.”
”I know that, but sometimes when we talk I get the feeling there's still a small sliver of good inside him wrapped up in his own darkness. Maybe all he needs is someone to have a little faith in him.”
”Faith?” Mason scoffs. ”I have faith that he'll rip you from limb to limb one day just because he can. You can't trust him, Jess. Not now, not ever!”
I feel my temper start to ignite and realize a part of me does consider Lucifer something of a friend. A good one? No. One I can trust? No. But one who has potential. There's a part of me, whether due to Michael or not I'm not sure, that yearns to bring Lucifer back from the dark. To make him see he doesn't have to be what he is.
”Even G.o.d said He still has hope Lucifer will come back to Him one day,” I remind Mason. ”Why should I think any differently? Or don't you trust G.o.d's judgment?”
”Of course I trust His judgment,” Mason sighs, his shoulders sagging slightly. ”But your safety is what has me worried here. Not only your physical safety but emotionally you're allowing yourself to care for a creature who lost his ability to care for someone else a long time ago. I know him, Jess. I fought against him in the war. If you had seen him do the things I have, you wouldn't trust him either.”
c.r.a.p. I completely forgot all about that. Of course Mason wouldn't understand my feelings for Lucifer. They had been mortal enemies at one time after all. Once an enemy, always an enemy seemed to be Mason's mind set. I can't blame him though. I suppose I would feel the same way if I had been through what he had. Add in the fact we just learned in the alternate world that Lucifer killed Mason during the war in Heaven there.
I close the lid on the box and set it on the rocking chair. I wrap my arms around Mason's waist and feel his arms go around me too.
”I'm sorry,” I say. ”I'm sorry you had to go through that.”
Mason sighs and I know he's reliving that period of his life in his mind. I want to wipe the visions of death and slaughter from his memory, but I know I can't do that. I can only hope to give him better things to think about.
I lift my head from his chest and he looks down at me with haunted eyes.
”I love you,” I tell him, leaning up to brush my lips against his, reminding him that there is beauty in the world. ”I will always love you.”
Mason buries his fingers in my hair as he deepens the kiss but it isn't demanding. Pa.s.sion is secondary in that moment because all either of us wants is for the other to feel how much we truly cherish one another. We end the kiss knowing how blessed we are to have found each other.
We go into my home hand in hand ready to face whatever happens next together.
Chapter 7.
Before we tell Chandler and JoJo what happened to us in the alternate reality, I ask, ”What did G.o.d need to speak with you about after Mason and I went through the Tear?”
Chandler shrugs. ”He didn't say that much except that there would come a time when we would need to remember that our archangels are permanently connected. If you know what the h.e.l.l that's supposed to mean, I'm all ears.”
I sigh. ”No, I don't know why that's important to know. I guess we'll figure it out when the time comes.”
”Mason,” JoJo says, her eyes squinting at him. ”You look different for some reason, mon ami.”
Chandler stares at Mason which makes everyone stare at him. Mason s.h.i.+fts uncomfortably in his chair.
”I'm not sure what you're talking about,” Mason replies.
”You're scar,” Chandler says, ”it's like, almost gone.”
I look closer at Mason and notice that Chandler is right. Why hadn't I noticed that before? I guess it was because I never really noticed Mason's scar that much in the first place.
Mason reaches up and touches the place where his scar is. Now it's simply a slim line where the skin meets. Mason looks at me and I smile. He grins and shakes his head in disbelief. I don't think he ever thought he would be able to forgive himself enough for it to shrink so much. I feel sure after we seal the Tear it will disappear completely.
We spend a good hour telling Chandler and JoJo what happened to us on the alternate Earth. JoJo becomes exceedingly excited to learn I can fly.
”Told ya you were wicked cool,” Chandler says, winking at me.
”Can you do it whenever you want?” Leah asks.
”I really don't know. I only did it the once. I still need some practice on my landings.”
”I don't know,” Mason says, a corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile. ”I thought you landed rather perfectly the last time.”
I roll my eyes at him not even going to acknowledge his statement with one of my own. But the word 'incorrigible' comes to mind.
”Anyway, to answer your question, I don't know. I guess I need to try to fly again soon.”
”But we will not get flight?” JoJo asks, looking completely crest fallen.
”Apparently it's a Michael only power,” I tell her. ”Sorry.”
”Well, JoJo and I have been trying to fine tune our powers,” Chandler tells me, pulling out the pipe we retrieved for him in the Cave of Treasures from his back pocket.
He puts it up to his lips and begins to play a sweet tune that makes me instantly feel happy. When he ends it, we're all smiling, even Mason.
”I told you,” Mason tells Chandler. ”It's not the instrument but the man who uses it that determines how it affects other people.”
Chandler smiles shyly. It's the closest he's come to getting praise from Mason.
”Oh, oh! I made something for you,” JoJo says to me, running into the living room and appearing quickly with her little black purse. From it, she pulls out a black chocker necklace made of braided silk with a silver star encrusted with sparkling crystals dangling from the middle.
”What does it do?” I ask, lifting my hair as she places it around my neck.
”It will stop you from becoming pleine,” she tells me rather proudly.
Mason almost chokes on the coffee he just sipped.
Chandler hits him on the back in an effort to help clear his airway.
”Dude, you ok?”
Mason clears his throat and nods.
”Yes, I'm fine. Anyone else need some fresh coffee?” He asks, quickly standing from the table and going into the kitchen.