Christian got up, pulling on yesterday’s jeans before moving to join her, propping a hip against the counter. She could feel his eyes on her as she shoved her things into her bag, before he reached for her hands. Rose let him pull her to him.
“How do you feel?” he asked, sliding his hands around her waist and looking at her intently.
Rose feigned misunderstanding, grinning suggestively as she ran a hand down his chest.
“That’s not what I meant,” he clarified, amused.
Rose sighed, not really knowing how to explain the jumble of emotions she wasn’t looking forward to wading through. Mentally closing the lid on that box for the time being, she smiled. “I’m fine,” she shrugged. “A little overwhelmed maybe? I need some time to figure out what it means.”
Christian nodded, accepting, as he kissed her forehead. “We’ll talk more about it after class,” he said. “I promised I’d explain it to you so I will.” He sighed and Rose looked up. “Just… try not to dwell on it until then,” he added, cautiously.
Rose, knowing full well that she would do exactly that but not wanting to worry him, nodded against his shoulder. “I need to go and get dressed.”
He let her go, reaching down to pick up her stuff as she pulled on her boots and headed for the door. Walking with her, he handed over her bag. She reached up on her toes, hoping to kiss away the concern in his eyes as he opened the door, before stepping through it.
Heading off down the hallway, she blew him a kiss over her shoulder. “See you in class.”
Christian smiled, his eyes sparkling despite his worry, and pulled the door shut.
***
Ben felt Ana shift as she woke, her arm reaching out across his stomach to pull him close as he lay beside her.
“Hey you,” he greeted, as she opened her eyes. He pushed an errant lock of hair from her face, as Ana smiled sleepily.
“Hey,” she mumbled, turning her face into his shoulder, enjoying the cosy warmth of his skin as she snuggled in, before realising he seemed very awake.
“Are you okay?” she asked, lifting her head to look.
Ben smiled as he tucked one hand behind his head. “Couldn’t sleep,” he admitted with a small shrug.
Ana frowned. “Rose?” she asked.
Ben nodded, not needing to say anything further. Ana sat up, watching him as she stretched.
“I’m worried about her,” he admitted, eventually. “If I decide to jump on your crazy bandwagon and accept that this is actually happening to her, then it’s not fair,” he declared. “Why does she have to deal with this? I mean –”
“Hey, stop,” Ana reached out and grabbed his hands. “We don’t know what it is she has to deal with yet.” She smiled tentatively. “Maybe it’s nothing…”
“And maybe it’s not,” Ben couldn’t help retorting, pulling away from her. “All this good versus bad, Heaven versus Hell…” He sighed. “Hasn’t she been through enough? Is it too much to ask, for her to just live a normal, boring life after all that she’s dealt with?”
“God has a reason for allowing things to happen,” Ana said, carefully. “We may not understand his reason, we just have to trust it.”
Ben sighed, running a weary hand over his face. “Your faith in God,” he paused, looking over. “You make it sound so easy.”
Ana smiled sadly. “Having faith doesn’t make stuff easy,” she said. “It just makes it possible.”
Ben frowned, saying nothing, and Ana reached out to him again.
“Don’t over think it,” she smoothed his hair with a protective hand. “Rose will do what she feels is right for her.”
Ben took a deep breath, trying hard to relax under Ana’s soothing touch. “You’re right,” he said, stifling a yawn as he pulled himself upright. “I just wish…” He sighed. “She deserves to be happy, is all.”
Ana smiled, reaching for his hand. “I know.” She held his gaze for a moment and he squeezed her fingers gratefully, before getting up and ready for the day ahead.
***
Rose jumped as a voice spoke her name in the dim morning light. She spun, halfway through unlocking her door.
“Nate?” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Nate’s eyes travelled over her, and she blushed, knowing he’d notice that she was only wearing half of yesterday’s clothes.
“I’d thought I’d check that you were alright,” he said. “I was worried after you rushed out on me. Again,” he added, pointedly.
“Sorry,” she grimaced. “I just… couldn’t really deal.”
“I figured,” he said. “And, judging by your state of undress this morning, I can assume you and the Guardian had a little… talk?” He leered in amusement.
Rose rolled her eyes. “Can you give me a minute?” she asked.
He grinned, leaning against the wall and waving her away. Rose glared before pushing her door open, pulling it shut behind her. Dropping her bag, she grabbed some fresh clothes and changed hurriedly, yanking a brush through the tangles in her hair before opening the door.
Nate hadn’t moved from his slouch against the wall. He grinned, looking her up and down, before sauntering in and taking a seat in the chair.
“So did you actually do any talking after you left me?” he asked, smirking.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” she said, haughtily, as she sat on her bed. “But yes.”
“And what did the dear Guardian have to say?”
“He confirmed it,” she said, quietly.
His eyes softened briefly before the amusement was back. “All of it?”
“Most of it,” Rose amended. “Apparently he remembers a slightly different version of events.”
“Of course he does,” Nate smirked.
Rose shot him a look. “Did you lie to me?” she asked, sharply.
“No,” he said, before sighing in frustration. “It’s like I said,” he continued. “Different side, different opinion.”
Rose frowned. “How do I know which is true?”
“I guess that’s the point,” Nate said. “You don’t. You have to make your own decision on what to believe.”
Rose considered this. “You don’t seem worried about that.”
Nate shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s out of my hands,” he said. “You’ll believe what you want. Me, the Guardian – or neither.” he smiled. “The choice is yours.”
Rose stared, confused, wondering why he wasn’t trying to convince her he was right.
“When did you become so understanding?” she asked suspiciously.
Nate chuckled. “Still convinced I’m the bad guy,” he muttered, rolling his eyes, before sitting forward. “Look,” he said earnestly. “I was sent here to get you on our side and I did the only thing I could to win you.” He grinned his lopsided smile, his eyes flashing cheekily. “It’s never failed me before.”
Rose rolled her eyes at his smug look.
“But,” he continued, “It would seem you like your men stuffy and boring,” he raised an eyebrow as she glared. “So I’m changing tack. I’ll be honest with you.” He shrugged. “You can ask me anything and I will tell you the truth – or what I know to be true at least,” he amended. He watched her expectantly, as she took in what he was saying.
“Why?” she asked finally. “Why do you need me on your side?”
Nate sat back in his chair. “That’s complicated,” he admitted. “Did the Guardian tell you anything more?”
Rose shook her head.
“Figures,” he snorted, amused. He pondered for another minute. “Heaven and Hell… have been fighting each other for thousands of years.” He leaned forward again. “Since the Fall, we’ve got stronger,” he said. “Lucifer’s influence has increased, and we are now equal to Heaven in power.” He frowned. “We’re at a bit of an impasse.”
Rose considered this. “So you think that the… Archon… will somehow tip the balance?” she asked, confused.
Nate smiled. “Exa
ctly,” he said.
Rose was quiet for a minute. “How?” she asked “I’m just a girl. A human.”
“Not for long.”
“What does that mean?” she asked in frustration.
“It means that you will begin to change,” he said, carefully. “Now that you know your birth right, you’ll begin to evolve into who you were always meant to become.” Nate seemed genuinely excited by this, but Rose’s blood had run cold.
“I’ll change?” she asked, her eyes searching his face.
“For the better,” he said sincerely, reaching out to take her hands.
Rose flinched away from his touch. What would she become that could possibly tip the balance between good and evil? That could turn her into a weapon? Her mind came up with lots of helpful suggestions – all of them terrifying.
Nate’s smile faltered. “Rose –”
“I need you to leave,” she cut in. “I need to think and I,” She stood up and headed to the door, pulling it open. Nate stared, concerned. “Please,” she asked quietly, not meeting his gaze.
Nate watched her intently before nodding. He stood up and slowly crossed the room. “I’m sorry,” he said, pausing at the door. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Rose said nothing and his eyes showed frustration as he walked through, turning to face her as he stood in the hallway.
“See you in class,” he said, his eyes narrowing in concern.
Rose caught his gaze for an instant, before shutting the door quickly and leaning back against it, her heart pounding. She slowly sunk to the floor, bringing her knees up, staring blindly ahead as she considered what she had unleashed on herself.
***
Nate left Rose’s room, more confused now than when he’d arrived. He kicked the hallway door open in frustration as he made his way back to his room, warring with the thoughts in his head.
“Get a grip,” he muttered angrily, as he slammed his door shut and threw himself onto his bed.
It was supposed to be pretend, he reminded himself, folding his arms behind his head. This whole empathy thing was an act. A way to get the Archon on their side. But it had become too easy, he realised. The pretence had somehow turned into reality, and the fact that he now found himself worrying about her was terrifying.
Realising that Rose hadn’t known who she was, that it wasn’t her awakening power that was drawing Nate to her, had thrown his mind into turmoil. He’d always done his best to ignore the annoyingly trivial human emotions he experienced whilst on the Mortal Plane, usually writing them off as insignificant and, for the most part, tedious. But his growing attraction to the girl was becoming apparent, and even he was having trouble ignoring how often she crossed his mind.
He scowled at the ceiling, disgusted with himself. He didn’t like hurting her, he realised. He’d sought to comfort her! He almost laughed at the irony of it all. He, who hadn’t felt empathy or affection for another person in thousands of years, who had gone out of his way to avoid anything that could make him weak, felt sorry for making a little girl cry. He sighed in frustration. If only Elle could see him now.
Thinking of Elle, his thoughts turned to her suggestion that Rose be killed, that they rid themselves of the curse of the Archon for good. Nate sat up, knowing full well he wouldn’t let that happen, stunned at his reaction to the thought of Rose lying dead in his arms.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the incessant barrage of emotion as he stood up, pacing his room before he grabbed his jacket and headed back out the door – in need of the peace he’d only find at the bottom of a bottle.
17
Rose sat, curled up on Christian’s sofa, staring into the unlit fireplace. Christian was still teaching the class she’d skipped, but it was the only place she’d thought of to go after Nate had left, unable to process the thoughts that whirled in her mind. She wished she hadn’t sent Nate away, wished she had more information, because she honestly had no idea what was in store for her. How she would change, what she would turn into – unable to stop coming up with worst-case scenarios as she wondered how she would become the Archon.
Keys turned in the door before it pushed open, and Christian stepped through.
“Rose?” He took one look at her face before crossing the room. “What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling her into his arms as he settled next to her on the sofa.
Rose held him tightly, unable to speak as she fought back tears of relief at his arrival. He tightened his grip around her, confused.
“You skipped class,” he said, pulling back and tilting her chin so he could search her eyes. “What happened?”
“Nate…” she whispered, trying to pull herself together.
Christian’s eyes went wide. “Did he hurt you?” he demanded, checking her over, looking for injury.
“No,” she said, shrugging out of his grasp.
He leaned back, watching as she ran a hand over her face, sweeping her fringe out of her eyes.
“We just talked,” she said.
Christian sighed, standing up in one fluid motion. And what did he tell you this time?”
“That I’m going to change,” Rose whispered, her voice catching.
Christian froze, irritation warring with his better judgement for the barest of moments, before he sat back down, pulling her back into his arms.
“What will I become?” she mumbled against his shoulder.
Christian pursed his lips in frustration –whether at her or Nate, Rose didn’t know.
“You won’t become anything,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “You’ll still look like you, think like you,” Rose pulled her head back. “You’ll still be the same person.”
“But?” she asked, in trepidation.
“But,” he sighed, “You’ll be able to do things you can’t right now.”
“Like what?” she asked, wiping her eyes.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, grudgingly.
“You don’t know?” she asked, surprised. “How can you not know?”
He considered her, his gaze turning from concern to doubt.
“I’ve spent so long protecting this secret,” he muttered, eventually, running a tired hand across his face. “Now it’s out I have no idea what to expect.” He sighed, a frustrated exhalation of breath, before he turned to her once more. “There is only one Archon,” he explained. “Your whole bloodline has carried this potential – but no one has ever even come close to discovering it.” he paused. “So, honestly, I have no idea what you will be capable of.”
Rose felt the hysteria rising in her chest again and fought to control it. Christian, feeling her reaction, rubbed soothing circles into her back as he held her.
“So how can you tell me I won’t change?” she finally asked, her head on his shoulder “If you don’t know?”
Christian pulled her closer to him. “Because I won’t let you,” he said, fiercely. “I won’t let this overcome you.” He pulled back to look her in the eye. “I will keep you safe from this,” he vowed.
Tears spilled from her eyes and she buried her head into his shoulder again, wrapping her arms around his neck.
She knew he hadn’t wanted this for her, knew how hard he’d tried to protect her from it. She’d done it anyway, and now here he was, keeping her safe all over again.
She sobbed, letting her fears drain out of her as she clung to him, before eventually crying herself out. Christian watched as she composed herself, waiting until she was calm.
“So what happens now?” Rose asked eventually, wiping away her tears. “Can you tell me what you know?”
“I only know what the Prophecy tells us,” he said.
“There’s a Prophecy?” She looked up with red rimmed eyes.
Christian sighed. “That’s a long story. I’ll need to start from the beginning,” he warned, “As in, ‘In the Beginning…’ Although it’s further back than that,” he admitted.
Rose nodded and settled back against him, taking co
mfort in his nearness.
Christian thought for a moment.
“Heaven and Hell were at war,” he began. “God, having lost a third of his heavenly body, decided to start a fresh, with a whole new world and populous.” He grinned. “Now, I don’t know how accurate his creating the Universe in seven days is – I wasn’t there. But it was created nonetheless.”
He reached out for her hand, twining their fingers together. “All was well in Paradise until Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge… ”
***
“… So he drove out the man, and he placed at the East Gate of the Garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
And at this time, the Cherub Haroeh came to God and spake to him.
And Haroeh said to Jehovah, Though thou hast cast Man from your Paradise it will come to pass that a child will be born of Love but also of Hate. The blood of this child and that which flows though her daughter’s daughters shall bear the potential to win the infinite war for Heaven or for Hell. She which realises this potential and casts aside her mortality will be known as Ruler of Earth, The Archon. And that for which she declares fealty shall be triumphant.
And God knew with this that the end the Archon could bring may not fall in his favour. And he knew that he could not forsake of her the gift of free will. And then God said to the Cherub Haroeh, I will create for this child a Guardian to protect her from hate. And we shall hide from her the knowledge of her potential to protect the child from itself.
And so it came to pass that God returned to Earth as the Man Jesus Christ. And He knew Lucifer as Mary Magdalene who conceived of him a daughter. Upon the birth of the Child Sarah, the Cherub declared to all of Heaven and Hell that the prophesised bloodline had come to be.
And Lucifer took hope from knowledge of the potential of her Daughter and contrived to hold influence over her.
The Guardian Elijah came and thwarted Lucifer her attempts. And he watched over the Child and her children through the Generations…”
Revelation: Trinity Part 1 Page 19