“They will be back soon. You don’t need to worry,” Channing said kindly.
Millie didn’t reply. She wanted to get her mind around what had just happened, and the TV wasn’t helping. She looked around the room, but nothing caught her attention. She turned to Channing and asked the first thing that came into her mind.
“Are you a Guardian Angel or a Protector?”
“I am a Protector,” Channing said. “I am watching over an elderly woman here in Seattle. She has no family. She prayed to the Lord that someone would protect her from all the evils in the world.”
“Like what?” Millie asked.
“She is a very vulnerable woman because she is elderly. She could get robbed or hurt at any time. I am here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“That’s sweet,” Millie said. “How old are you?”
“I am 515 years old,” he said with a smile.
“What age is your body?” Millie asked. She bit her lip, realising how strange that sounded.
“My body age is twenty-five.”
“You must have seen a lot of things in your lifetime,” Millie commented.
“Yes, I have. I’ve seen many wars, many deaths, but I have seen many good things as well.”
“Like what?” Millie asked.
“There are too many to name. Just to name one would be so hard.”
“Just say anything,” Millie said.
“I was a background extra in the original Star Wars movies,” he said with a laugh.
“What?” Millie asked, surprised.
“It’s true,” he said, grinning.
“Wow, an Angel in a Star Wars movie. Who would have ever guessed?” Millie said with a smile. Her mind had forgotten all about what had happened until the door opened suddenly.
Mace stormed in the apartment. His footsteps echoed. Millie and Channing both stood up. Millie saw that his face was angry, his muscles were tense, his teeth were clenched, and his veins popped out of his whole body. Teal followed him with an angered look as well. Mace stormed around the kitchen whilst Teal leant against a wall, clenching his head in his hand. Lilly and Lexi walked into the living room and stared at Millie with worried faces.
Millie didn’t know what to do. Mace seemed to be furious. Teal seemed to be angry. Lilly’s and Lexi’s faces frightened Millie. Something bad had happened, and she wanted to know what. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Channing turned to Millie and saw her frightened face.
“What happened?” he asked fearlessly.
Lilly and Lexi stared at each other. Mace and Teal didn’t even look like they heard the question.
“We were told something about Millie,” Lilly said.
“What about Millie?” Channing asked as if he were speaking for Millie.
“About why Heaven has let Mace and Millie’s relationship last this long,” Lilly said in a motherly tone.
Millie’s mouth dropped. She looked at Mace. He was now frozen like a statue. He returned Millie’s stare. He still looked furious, but he also looked upset. Lilly and Lexi made their way to the couch whilst Mace and Teal stayed in their places. Channing moved over so Lexi could sit next to Millie. Lilly sat close by.
“This is going to be really hard to say,” Lilly said, taking a deep breath.
“Just tell me,” Millie said worriedly.
Lexi placed her warm arm around Millie’s back. Millie knew some terrifying information was about to come her way.
“Normally, when an Angel and a human form a relationship like yours, Heaven forbids it and warns the Angel.”
“Yes, I know this,” Millie said, becoming frustrated. She just wanted to know what was going on.
“Mace was warned in the beginning when he disobeyed his orders, but for some strange reason, he wasn’t warned again,” Lilly continued, gripping her hands together. “He continued having a special relationship with you, and it was allowed.”
“Just tell me, Lilly,” Millie pleaded.
Lilly looked around the room and sighed. “The only reason you and Mace were allowed to be together is because you are a perfect reason for a battle against good and evil,” Lilly said.
“What do you mean?” Millie asked.
“When Mace started to protect you, the Fallen were already after you, but when you guys formed a special relationship and his grace transported into your body, the Fallen wanted you more.”
“I still don’t get it,” Millie said, frustrated.
“Heaven allowed your relationship to progress so there will be a battle of good against evil. Heaven wants to end this war against Hell. You are the reason why Heaven and Hell will have a battle--a battle to end everything.”
“Heaven used me?” Millie said, shocked. She could feel a rush of emotion go through her body.
“They needed a reason to have a battle. You were that reason,” Lilly said with a sad face.
“So they set me up with Mace?” Millie asked. Her body started to shake. Lexi rubbed her hand up and down Millie’s back, which calmed her down.
“No. They didn’t plan for you two to fall in love. That was real, Millie. Remember that,” Lilly said passionately.
“So what will happen?” Millie asked.
“We will take you back to Phoenix. The Fallen will come there and a battle between Heaven and Hell will take place.”
“What will happen to me? What will happen between Mace and me?” Millie asked loudly.
“We have to basically put you in the middle of the battle so the Fallen will be drawn to your location. Then an Angel will take you away from the battle and keep you safe,” Lilly said.
“What about me and Mace?” Millie pleaded.
“If you both survive the battle, you will be ordered to break off the relationship immediately and you two will never see each other again,” Lilly said sorrowfully.
Millie stared in silence at Lilly. She was shocked. She was being used to start a battle. Mace could die. She could die.
“How can they just do that?” Millie asked straightforwardly.
“It’s Heaven. They do whatever they think is for the greater good,” Lilly said.
“They can’t just allow us to be together and then command us to break up. They knew that our feelings would have developed stronger if we stayed together. They can’t do this,” Millie said as her eyes began to fill with tears. The thought of not being with Mace forever broke her heart. She wasn’t shocked anymore; she was heartbroken.
“You would have to let Mace go, Millie,” Lilly said sadly.
“Why should I?” Millie said as a tear ran down her cheek.
“If you two continued to be together after the battle, Mace would get in trouble, and if he continued to defy orders, he would be condemned,” Lilly said loudly.
Millie’s head fell into her hands as the tears flowed out of her eyes and down her cheeks. Even Lexi’s soothing hand rubbing her back didn’t calm Millie down. Her eyes started to hurt; they just couldn’t handle the amount of tears flowing out of them. She felt another hand upon her shoulder. It was Mace’s. It was warm and perfect. The warm jolts fluttered around her whole body.
“I want to take you somewhere,” Mace whispered in her ear.
Millie looked up at him and nodded. He took her hand to help her off the couch. The others said nothing and did nothing.
Mace held Millie close as they left the apartment. They walked up the stairs in silence with only their echoing footsteps making a sound. Mace opened a door and led Millie outside. They were on the roof. The breeze hit their faces. The view was stunning, but all they wanted to look at was each other.
Mace turned around and held Millie tight. His wings broke free from his shirt. Millie tightly held onto Mace. Their feet left the ground and they flew. Millie’s head lay on Mace’s chest. She wondered how many more times she was going to touch his perfectly warm body. They flew until Millie felt the wind slow down on her face; before she knew it, she was touching the ground again. She opened her eyes a
nd looked around. The wind rushed in her face, and the view was magnificent. She realised they were on top of the Space Needle.
“Could someone see us?” Millie asked, looking around again.
“We’re safe,” Mace said, wiping the remaining tears off her cheeks.
“I’m sorry that I’m crying,” Millie said.
“I understand. When I found out the truth, I was furious,” Mace said, holding onto her hands.
“How can they just command us to never see each other again?”
“They just can,” Mace said, squeezing her hands tighter.
“I don’t want to be apart from you.”
“I don’t want to leave you, Millie. I will find a way for us to be together.” Mace put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in towards his body.
“It’s already decided, Mace. You can’t change it.”
“I will try for us,” he whispered, leaning his chin on her head. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Millie replied, wishing the moment would never end.
Sixteen
Returning Home
Mace held Millie close to his body whilst they flew back to Phoenix. Lilly, Lexi, and Teal joined them shortly after. Millie looked at how they flew through the clouds. Their wings were beautiful. They all looked beautiful and at home flying in the sky. But even this couldn’t lift Millie’s spirit. She felt depressed; the thought of a life without Mace broke her heart. Her mind couldn’t even imagine it. Another thought lingered in her mind: death. The battle sounded like a battle that would end all battles. Mace could die. I could die.
They all landed in Millie’s backyard safely.
“Should we even be here? Someone must be watching the house,” Lexi said, breaking the silence.
“Well, aren’t we supposed to alert the Fallen that I am here?” Millie said bluntly. She didn’t want to let go of Mace’s hand, but she wanted to go inside and at least feel safe in her own home. She loved travelling with Mace, but she had missed everything she knew back in Phoenix. She slowly let go of Mace and walked to the back door. Her hand lifted up a potted plant next to the door. There was a key underneath it. She picked it up and unlocked the door.
“Aren’t you supposed to check the house for Demons?” Millie turned around and stared at them angrily.
“It’s safe, Millie,” Mace said to her.
Millie tried to smile at Mace but she couldn’t. She turned around and walked inside.
“Well, this sucks,” Lexi said.
“I’m going to check on Millie,” Mace said in a sad voice. His shoulders hung as he walked inside.
“Don’t blame me,” Lexi said as she realised Lilly and Teal were staring at her.
“We all knew there was a reason behind their relationship. Now we know what that reason is,” Lilly said.
“It was wrong what Heaven did, but they had their reasons,” Teal pointed out.
“It’s wrong,” Lexi said.
“Well, there’s no reason for us to debate about it. What’s done is done. Let’s just go inside and make ourselves comfortable whilst we can,” Lilly said.
“Fine,” Lexi said, sighing.
Mace walked into Millie’s bedroom and saw her lying on the bed. He walked over and lay next to her. He hugged her tightly.
“I hate this,” Millie said.
“I know,” Mace said, kissing her shoulder.
“I can’t imagine you not being in my life.”
“I can’t imagine never seeing you again,” Mace agreed.
“I don’t want to live my life without you in it.”
“I don’t want you to talk like that. I will find a way, Millie.”
“But how?”
“Let’s not talk about it until the time comes,” Mace said.
They lay in silence, letting their bodies touch each other. They never wanted to let go of each other. Millie felt so comfortable in his arms that her eyes grew weary and she fell asleep.
* * * * *
Millie opened her eyes and saw that the room was much darker. She turned around and noticed Mace looking at her.
“What are you doing?” Millie said, rubbing her eyes.
“Just looking at the most beautiful girl in the world,” he said with a smile.
“Would you stop that?”
“I can’t help it,” Mace said as his lips touched hers.
“Did I fall asleep?” Millie asked.
“Yeah,” Mace replied.
“How long?”
“It’s nearly dinnertime.”
“What?” Millie said, shocked.
“Mace, Millie, dinner is ready!” Lilly yelled up the stairs.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’s fine, beautiful,” Mace said, slowly rubbing his index finger against her cheek.
“But I wanted to spend as much time as I could with you before . . . you know . . .”
“I don’t want to hear any of that. I will find a way for us to be together,” Mace said, now cupping her cheek.
Millie leant her face towards him. Her lips touched his. Their lips stayed together for a moment until they heard Lilly yelling again.
Everyone ate in silence. No one was quite sure what to say. They all knew a battle to end all battles was coming. They all knew that after the battle, Mace and Millie would never see each other again. The thoughts flowing through their minds were doubtful. Some Angels of the Lord would lose their lives. They wondered if this was the last time ever that they would all be in the same room together.
“How long have you lived here, Millie?” Lilly asked, breaking the silence.
“I’ve always lived in this house,” Millie replied slowly, chewing on some pasta.
“It’s a very nice home.”
“Thanks,” Millie said. Then she thought of something. “Are my parents going to be safe?”
“They will be fine. They are safe where they are now,” Mace reassured her.
“That’s good,” Millie said.
The table fell silent whilst they finished off their dinners.
* * * * *
Millie turned on the shower. She gladly stripped off her clothes due to the heat. Her hands rubbed the shampoo into her scalp. Many thoughts rushed through her head. When and where was the battle going to take place? What would happen if Teal or Lexi or Lilly died because of me? What would happen if Mace died? These thoughts immediately left her mind when she felt soothing warm hands massaging her scalp. It was Mace. She would recognise those hands anywhere. Millie placed her hands beside her as she enjoyed the massage.
“That feels so good,” she finally said.
“I’m glad it does,” Mace said, kissing her shoulder. He rinsed the shampoo out of her hair and started applying conditioner.
“You don’t have to do that,” Millie said.
“I want to. I want to take care of you.”
Millie sighed.
He combed the conditioner through her hair.
“Thank you for doing this.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Mace said, massaging her scalp again.
“You would make a fantastic masseur.”
Mace laughed. He rinsed out the conditioner and turned Millie around to face him. “All done.”
“Why, thank you,” Millie said, giving Mace a short kiss on the lips. “I think we were always meant to be together,” she continued. She knew now that Mace was hers forever, not Zeke.
Mace placed his hands on her hips. “What do you mean?” he questioned.
“I remember when you saved me at Flagstaff. I remember you carrying me in your arms, when you were flying. I could feel the grace coming into me then, even though we hadn’t even started dating or anything. When the other Angels touch me, I don’t feel their grace going through my body,” Millie explained.
“I knew we had a special connection. The first moment I held you in my arms, I felt something that I have never felt before.” He pulled Millie close to his body. “I love yo
u,” he said, full of passion.
“I love you,” Millie said, stepping up on her toes to kiss him.
Their lips met as they held each other close in a passionate embrace. Millie’s hands pressed firmly into Mace’s back, and he held Millie’s cheeks in his hands. Their breathing became louder and they took deep breaths frequently. The warm water trickled down their skin. Mace gently pushed Millie against the tiled wall. They were cold on her back, but she didn't care. He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his hips.
Millie felt the water stop dripping on her skin. Mace held Millie close as he walked out of the shower, towards the bed. He softly placed her in the middle of the bed. The sheets become drenched with water as they continued kissing in a fervent embrace. They held onto each other’s bodies like it was the last time.
Drops of water fell onto Millie as they slid off Mace. The drops were perfectly warm, as was his body. Her hands entangled into his wet, dark brown hair as his body thrust against hers. Millie kissed his prominent cheekbones. Drops of water fell onto her face from his luscious hair. Her hands were tightly pressed against his back as he dug his face into her shoulder, their bodies perfectly entwined like they were made for each other. They held each other tightly as they made love.
Afterward, their fingers traced each other’s bare skin. They lay next to each other, staring straight into each other’s eyes.
“You’re very special to me, Millie,” Mace said.
“You are very special to me,” Millie said with a smile.
“Come here,” Mace said as he held his arms open.
Millie moved towards him and hugged him tightly.
“I’ll keep you safe forever,” Mace promised.
Millie didn’t know how to reply, so she stayed quiet. Their naked bodies touched. They both loved the feeling of being close to each other. They loved holding each other tightly.
Millie rolled around and tried to go to sleep, but she didn’t feel tired. She had had a good night’s rest the previous night and had slept all day. Mace insisted that she get more rest, but her eyes were wide awake. She huffed and sighed until Mace’s hand traced her back. It was soothing. His touch was relaxing. However, she still couldn’t go to sleep. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. Mace and Millie sat up in bed simultaneously. Millie looked at Mace in horror, but then she thought to herself, Why would a Demon ring a doorbell?
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