“I hate what I have done. I don’t even know why I did it. It was stupid. It was a mistake,” Millie said.
“Do you love him?” Mace spoke finally. He asked so softly Millie could barely make it out.
“I am in love with you, Mace.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“I was about to push Zeke away from me to stop him from kissing me. Please believe me.” Millie insisted. “My heart belongs to you, Mace. No one else.”
Mace closed his eyes and leant onto one of her hands.
“It’s true that I care about Zeke. After all, he has saved my life countless times,” Millie said, trying to explain herself for letting Zeke get so close to her.
“I believe that,” Mace said, opening his eyes again.
“I wouldn’t have made love to you if I wasn’t in love with you. My heart belongs to you. That’s why I gave my virginity to you.”
“I still love you, Millie. I am deeply in love with you. Just seeing you two nearly kiss angered me.”
“The same way it angered you when you saw David kissing me?” Millie asked.
“Yes,” Mace said, cringing. “But in some ways worse because he’s a Fallen.”
“I am so sorry, Mace. If you need time, I get it,” Millie said as tears came to her eyes. The thought of losing Mace broke her heart.
“I can’t spend even a minute away from you, Millie, without my heart hurting. I don’t want to spend any time away from you,” Mace said. He placed his hands on her cheeks. His touch felt beautiful to Millie. “I forgive you, Millie. I’m glad that you were about to push him away. I just can’t stay mad at you. I love you too much.”
“I love you, Mace, so much,” Millie said.
Mace grabbed her hips and pushed her against the wall. His lips touched Millie’s hastily. His kiss was forceful but full of love. Millie wrapped her hands around him and kissed back, enjoying his warm body against hers. It felt like home. It was where she belonged, together with Mace. His body pushed her body against the brick wall. The wall dug into Millie’s back but she didn’t care. She wanted to feel the full force of his love. Millie and Mace heard whistles coming from across the street. They looked around--they had forgotten they were in a public place. They leant their foreheads together and smiled.
* * * * *
They caught the elevator up to the floor the apartment was on. Hand in hand, they smiled at each other. They were happy again. Everything in the past stayed in the past, but she couldn’t get something out of her mind. Zeke had kissed her before, but she didn’t want to tell Mace. She didn’t want him to become enraged again, but he needed to know. They walked out of the elevator and continued down the hall. Mace knocked on a door and proceeded to open it.
They both walked in and continued through a short hallway. The walls were painted white, and decorative potted plants were evenly spaced along the corridor. They walked into a large room with a breathtaking view. The kitchen, living room, and dining room were combined into one large room. The kitchen and living room had a cream theme to them, but the dining table was a deep brown. There were potted plants with colourful flowers spread throughout.
“Well, hello to the perfect couple,” Lexi said, sitting up from the couch. Millie jumped, as she had not seen Lexi lying there.
“Hey, Lexi,” Millie replied back.
Before Lexi could jump up and take Millie away to find out all the details, a man walked out of one of the bedroom and into the living room.
“Hello. You must be Mace and Millie,” the man said, walking over to them and shaking their hands.
He was shorter then Mace but taller than Millie. His skin was dark and his head was shaven. His smile was friendly and lit up the whole room. He was wearing loose, dark, denim blue jeans with a red, V-neck T-shirt.
“My name is Channing,” he said, smiling.
“Nice to meet you,” Mace said in return.
“You guys will be staying in the first bedroom on the right. It has its own bathroom and loads of clothes to choose from. Feel free to make yourselves at home,” he said kindly.
“Thank you,” Millie said.
“Lilly and I are staying in the bedroom on the left whilst Teal shall be sleeping on the couch,” Lexi said, sneakily making her way to Millie.
“Good to know,” Mace said, eyeing her. He knew she wanted to take Millie away.
“Let me show you where I am staying, Millie,” Lexi suggested.
She grabbed Millie’s elbow, and Millie’s hand slowly slipped from Mace’s grasp. He didn’t want to let her go, he wanted to talk to her more, but nothing could stop Lexi from getting what she wanted. Millie looked back at Mace. He smiled gently.
“So what happened?” Lexi said, sitting down on her bed. She crossed her legs and tapped the empty space beside her. Millie walked over and sat down next to her.
“I thought Angels knew everything,” Millie said sarcastically.
“I only knew about Zeke trying to kiss you because I found Lilly and Mace before I met up with you guys.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Millie asked in surprise.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Fine. We made up, but I still need to talk to him,” Millie confided.
“That’s so great that you guys are okay now,” Lexi said happily.
“But I haven’t told Mace the whole truth yet,” Millie said, dropping her shoulders.
“What do you mean?” Lexi said, sounding more anxious to know than she should have been.
“I need to tell him first, Lexi.”
“Please tell me,” Lexi said, pleading like an actual teenager.
“Lexi,” Millie said in a serious tone.
“Oh, you’re a party pooper,” Lexi said, huffing.
“I’m sorry, but I think the whole situation should just stay between me and Mace,” Millie said.
“I suppose,” Lexi said, pouting.
Millie hopped up from the bed and looked out the window. The view was beautiful. So many different types of buildings were placed all over the city. The people walking around looked like ants.
“Where are Teal and Lilly?” Millie asked, realising she hadn’t seen them in the apartment.
“They went to buy dinner for us since Channing wasn’t planning to have a full house tonight.”
“Oh, okay,” Millie said. She touched the window glass. It was chilled. She wondered about all the lives of the people she could see. She thought about how simple they were. No one was after them. None of them had been to Hell. She looked around and wondered if the Fallen had already found her and were staring right at her this very instance.
Everyone sat around the dining table for dinner. Lilly started to pass around the hot potatoes and chicken around the table, whilst Lexi hogged the salad until Lilly pried it off her. Millie’s stomach grumbled as she placed food on her plate. She was about to dig in until she noticed no one else was eating. All of a sudden, everyone closed their eyes and placed their hands together in front of them.
“Dear Lord, may you bless this food we are about to eat. May you protect us and watch over us. May you fill us with wisdom and courage, and most important of all, may you protect Millie from the Fallen. In Jesus’ name, Amen,” Lilly said gracefully.
Millie looked around and saw how much love everyone had in their eyes when they opened them. Her family had never prayed before they ate dinner. She was shocked that her name was mentioned in the prayer.
They all started to eat dinner in silence. The forks hit the plates at a rapid pace--everyone was famished. Millie smiled and glanced at Mace. She was amazed that she was eating dinner with Angels. Mace looked elegant as he ate his dinner. He noticed Millie looking at him. He swallowed a mouthful of food, looked at her, and gently placed his hand on her knee. She felt so lucky that she had him. She placed her hand on top of his and squeezed it.
“You better eat something, beautiful,” he whispered into her ear.
The rumbling in her
stomach came back. She smiled at him and started to eat the food.
After dinner, Lilly and Teal cleaned up the dishes.
“Need any help?” Channing asked.
“No, your hospitality is enough. We’re sorry for intruding on you,” Lilly said, washing some plates.
“It’s fine, Lilly. It’s good to have the company.”
“Just sit down and relax,” Lilly said with a smile.
Channing didn’t argue and sat next to Lexi on the couch. They started to talk, but Millie was so indulged with Mace massaging her shoulders that she didn’t really listen. Millie and Mace sat on a separate two-seater couch. His firm warm hands massaged her shoulders, performing miracles on her muscles.
“Am I next?” Teal asked with a grin from the kitchen.
“You wish,” Mace said with a smile.
Teal laughed. “Maybe another time, then.”
“Just keep on dreaming,” Mace said.
Millie smiled at their short conversation.
“Do you want to go into the bedroom?” Mace whispered in her ear.
It sent tingles down her spine. She turned around and nodded. He placed a short, gentle kiss on her shoulder before he stood up.
“Okay, guys, we’re off to bed,” Mace said as he held his hand out for Millie. She took it and stood up.
“Okay. See you guys in the morning,” Lilly said with a smile.
“Night,” Teal said whilst he wiped some dishes.
“Have a good sleep,” Channing said.
“Night, honeys,” Lexi said with a huge smile.
“Good night,” Millie said, walking towards the bedroom.
As Mace opened the door, Lexi yelled, “Don’t forget to wear protection.”
“Lexi!” Lilly shouted at her.
As they closed the door, all they could hear was Teal laughing.
“Oh gosh,” Millie said with a giggle.
They lay on the double bed in silence. The room continued with the white-and-cream theme. The wall and cupboard were white and the sheets were cream. They lay flat on their backs, Mace’s hand tightly gripping Millie’s.
“I need to tell you something.” Millie hesitated.
She didn’t want to tell him that Zeke had already kissed her, but he needed to know the truth. She didn’t want to keep it from him anymore.
“What is it?” Mace asked, concerned.
Millie sat up and clenched his other hand. “You’re not going to like it,” she said, squeezing his hands tight.
Mace sat up and leant his back against the wall. “What do you want to tell me?” he asked, squeezing her hands back. He wondered what she wanted to say to him. He hoped it had nothing to do with Zeke.
“It has to do with Zeke,” Millie said shyly.
Mace’s face went blank. She waited for him to say something, but he didn’t. She decided to continue.
“Zeke has already kissed me before,” she said boldly.
Mace’s teeth clenched as his grip became tight on her hands. “What?” he said in a dull tone.
“Don’t worry--it’s not what you think,” Millie replied hastily. She didn’t want him to get angry again.
“Then what is it?” he said in a hateful voice.
“He had to kiss me so my soul could return to my body.”
Mace stared at her.
“When my soul was in Hell, Zeke told Drake that my soul needed to go back to my body. In order for my soul to return to my body, he had to kiss me. So you shouldn’t be angry at him; you should be thankful,” Millie said, hoping that Mace wouldn’t get furious.
“I can’t believe his lips touched yours,” Mace said, standing up. His fists were clenched as he paced the room. His face was creased with anger.
“A Fallen has kissed you, Millie. Evil has touched your precious lips,” he said loudly.
“It didn’t mean anything to me, Mace,” Millie said, trying to get him to calm down. Mace didn’t say anything.
“He needed to do that so I could come back to you.”
Mace stopped pacing the room. He turned to Millie and stared at her. Millie stood up and walked over to him slowly. His fists weren’t clenched anymore. His face seemed calmer. They stared at each other. All of a sudden, Mace pulled Millie in for a hug. They held each other firmly.
“You’re right,” Mace said, kissing her head.
“Thank you for understanding,” Millie said into his chest.
Mace stepped back and pulled her into the bathroom that was connected to their room. The walls were white and the small tiles on the floor were, surprisingly, navy. Mace turned on the shower. He took off Millie’s clothes and Millie took off his. They hopped into the warm shower together.
“You looked so beautiful today,” Mace said.
“Why, thank you,” Millie said as she kissed him.
The kisses were short but sweet. That was all they needed. They knew that they loved each other. They held each other tightly in the shower, their naked bodies pressing against each other.
* * * * *
Millie woke up in Mace’s arms. She smiled as she felt the warm volts go through her body.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, kissing her lips.
“Good morning, hot stuff,” she replied, giving him another kiss.
“Nice one,” he said, holding her closer to him. “Did you have a nice sleep?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you.”
“I’m glad,” Mace said. “Let’s get up, and I’ll make you breakfast.”
“That sounds awesome,” Millie said with a huge grin.
They hopped out of bed and got into the same clothes as the day before. They didn’t want to take more clothes from a safe house.
They walked into the living room and saw Channing watching TV.
“Morning,” Channing said.
“Morning,” Mace and Millie said together.
“Trust you two had a good sleep,” Channing said.
“Yes, we did. Thank you,” Mace said kindly.
Millie sat on the couch and started to watch TV with Channing as Mace went into the kitchen.
“You making breakfast?” Channing asked.
“Yes, I am. Would you like some?”
“If it isn’t a hassle.”
“No hassle.”
“Thanks, Mace,” Channing said.
“Isn’t Teal supposed to be on the couch?” Millie asked Channing.
“I had a full night’s rest before you guys came, so I didn’t need to sleep. I offered him my bed to rest on.”
“That was very nice of you,” Millie said. Channing smiled.
“Here’s the controller,” Channing said, tossing it gracefully to her. Millie caught it. “Nice catch.”
“Thanks,” Millie said.
“You can choose any channel you want. I’m not watching anything; I was just staring at it,” Channing said.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Is that bacon I smell?” Lexi asked, walking into the living room.
“Yes, it is,” Mace said, putting the kettle on to boil.
“Oh, you’re making me breakfast. How kind of you,” Lexi said, sitting on the couch.
Mace rolled his eyes.
Before Mace knew it, he was cooking breakfast for everyone. His sighs became louder each time another person walked into the living room. He set the table and everyone took what they wanted.
“Sorry, Mace,” Millie said, walking over to him.
“It’s fine. I offer to cook you breakfast and end up cooking for everyone,” he said with a smile.
She kissed him on the cheek as he handed her a hot chocolate. Everyone ate and drank, scattered around the apartment. Lexi and Millie sat in front of the TV as Mace, Teal, Lilly, and Channing ate at the dining table.
As she ate, Millie chilled in front of the TV. She was relaxed and happy. She wasn’t worried about anything at that point in time. Suddenly, everyone in the apartment froze. They stopped eating. They stopped blinking. It was like th
ey were stone. Millie’s peace was shattered. She didn’t know what to do. They were all sitting like statues.
Every beat of Millie’s heart became louder, until at once they all snapped out it. Millie sighed in relief, but her heart still raced. The looks they were giving each other were haunting. They all looked shocked. Millie’s heartbeat became louder when they all stared at her.
“What happened?” Millie asked, scared.
“Malachi wants to talk to us,” Mace said.
"Which is strange because Malachi normally only talks to Protectors," Lexi said.
“What does that mean?” Millie asked.
“We all have to get out of the interference of the city so we can communicate with him better. Malachi probably wants to talk to all of us because we have all had a helping hand in protecting you,” Mace said.
“What does Malachi want to talk about?” Millie asked.
“You,” Lexi said, sitting next to her.
“I’ll stay with her. All of you guys go,” Channing said, standing up.
“Thank you,” Mace said.
“We’ll be back,” Teal said as he walked towards the front door.
“Stay safe,” Lilly said as she followed.
Lexi placed her hand on Millie’s back and gave her a smile. Mace came over as Lexi left. Millie stood up.
“I have to go. I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Mace said, hugging Millie.
“What’s happening?” Millie asked, confused.
“You will find out soon,” Mace said.
His lips touched hers with such a force it nearly knocked her over. He held her cheeks with his hands.
“I love you,” Mace said.
“I love you,” she replied.
“I’ll be back.” Mace let go of Millie and walked towards the front door where he met the others.
Millie’s breathing was deep. She was scared.
“Everything will be okay,” Channing said, walking over to her.
Millie sat back down.
“You need to finish your breakfast. You need energy,” he said.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” Millie said, pushing it away. She was shocked. She wanted to know what was going on.
Millie and Channing sat in silence whilst they stared at the TV. Millie couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. It was so sudden; it scared her. She sat there, twitching and sweating.
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