The Tempting

by V J J Dunn

  After a thousand years, Allie still appreciated having good food to eat. It was rare when she did in the Old Age, and oftentimes she’d gotten sick from eating garbage.

  “Some pomegranate juice would be good, if you have it.”

  Allie laughed. “I have no idea what I have. I haven’t even really looked at the apartment. I have no idea where the bedroom is.”

  Nick didn’t respond, but she found the juice and poured each of them a cup, then went back to the living area. He was no longer on the sofa, so she looked around in confusion.

  “In here,” he called just as Allie had assumed he’d left.

  Doors that had been previously closed were thrown open and she glanced into each room, before seeing Nick in the room in the far corner.

  He turned to look at her when she walked into the room. “You actually have three bedrooms,” he laughed. “Abba must have decided we were going to have guests or something. Well, I’m assuming my apartment has extra bedrooms too. I haven’t looked at mine much either.”

  Allie gazed around the room in amazement. There was a huge bed against one wall that was flat on the floor, just like her bed in The City. Abba knew she’d always had a fear of “things under the bed” in the Old Age, and even though she no longer had such childish fears — she was a warrior, for Pete’s sake — He still indulged her. She thought it was sort of a joke with Him.

  Like the sofa, the bed was covered in very, very light yellow linens, with the same orange stripes so pale you could barely make them out. Darker orange pillows were piled at the headboard, which was made from a light-colored wood.

  Allie smiled in appreciation; she loved very pale pastels and she wanted her surroundings to be light. Her smile widened when she saw that one entire wall was glass. Her favorite thing was to awaken with the sun on her face.

  Another thing Abba knew about her.

  There were tables on each side of the bed at the headboard, each with a gold lamp and a big bowl of beautiful flowers. She wondered if they were from the garden that had sprouted behind the mansion, which her wall of glass looked out upon. She walked over to the windows and looked down.

  The garden looked like a beautiful place, with thousands of flowering shrubs, tall thickly-leaved trees and even a little stream that she knew had to come from the Living Waters. It was lush and green, with vibrant colors dotting here and there along the verdant expanse.

  Touring the garden was on her to-do list for tomorrow, she decided as she turned from the gorgeous view.

  There was a sitting area with a round table and two big, comfortable looking chairs in the corner. Allie moved toward it and set their cups down as Nick followed and sat.

  She glanced at him as she stood next to the chair opposite him. He sipped from his cup with a question in his eyes. Allie cringed in embarrassment as she glanced down at herself.

  “I’m, uh, worried I’m going to get dirt and blood on the pretty upholstery,” she admitted, feeling her cheeks heat. Nick laughed.

  “Pretty sure the material is indestructible. Abba did create it, after all.” Allie laughed at herself and sat.

  “You’re right.” She sipped at her juice and smacked her lips at the tartness. It was a welcome change after the sweet wine at dinner.

  They were quiet for a long while, each caught up in their own thoughts. Allie was startled when Nick spoke.

  “Do you think Robin will be alright?” Despite Nick always being stoic and unemotional, his voice betrayed his sorrow. Ed and Nick had been good friends.

  Allie propped her elbows on the table while she rubbed her face wearily with both hands. She then dropped her arms to the table, crossed in front of her.

  “I hope so,” she said on a sigh. “Abba told me that He’d talk to her.”

  Nick nodded. “I can’t imagine—” his voice caught, and he cleared his throat. Allie picked up her juice and sipped at it, pretending she didn’t notice his emotion. She knew he’d be embarrassed by it.

  Charo surprised them then when she trotted into the room. Allie watched the cat as she jumped up on the bed like she’d already claimed it and started her extensive groom routine. She wondered how she had even gotten into the apartment, since the door had been closed.

  She motioned to the bed with her eyes. “Do bobcats have opposable thumbs?” she asked Nick.

  He chuckled. “Not that I know of, but that cat has proven… resourceful. She sure came in handy today.”

  Allie nodded, remembering watching Charo sink her fangs into a demon’s jugular and then wrapped herself around the legs of another, knocking him off balance so that Sven could have a chance to shoot him.

  “Yeah, since she’s showing up at all the fights on her own, I figure I’ll just bring her with us from now on.”

  “Mee-rawrrr,” came from the bed and Allie laughed.

  “Quit eavesdropping, girlfriend,” she told the cat.

  “I think that was the feline version of ‘amen’,” Nick joked.

  They talked about nothing and everything until night fell and the lamps turned on. It had startled Allie; in her other apartment, she’d had to turn them on herself. Abba had definitely gone above and beyond to make sure they were comfortable and happy in the new mansion.

  “Well, I think that’s my cue to head to my place,” Nick said as he stood. Allie walked with him out of the bedroom and to the front door, where he turned and looked at her.

  “This was nice,” he whispered as he put his hand to her jaw, cupping her cheek with his long fingers.

  “Yeah,” Allie agreed, also on a whisper. “We’ll have to do it again.”

  Nick nodded, then got a funny look. “You know, if we got ma—” he shook his head.

  “Never mind. I’ll see you in the morning, beautiful,” he said quietly, shocking her. Nick was absolutely not the endearment type of guy.

  He might have shocked her with the endearment, but he completely floored her when he leaned forward and kissed her softly. It was brief, just a tender meeting of the lips, but Allie thought it was probably the best thing she had ever experienced.

  Her hands automatically went to his arms, as if she was going to hold him in place. She wanted to beg him for more, plead with him for another kiss, but she managed to hold her tongue.

  Allie blinked at her surprising thoughts. They weren’t particularly bad, because there was nothing wrong with kissing. But the other thoughts that started flitting through her brain were ideas she absolutely should not be having.

  She kept her face schooled as Nick said goodbye and walked across the hall, but when she closed the door, she put her hand to her mouth in horror as her mind raced.

  Was it possible Sherone — the demon of sexuality — had somehow invaded her mind?

  Chapter 8

  T HE NEXT DAY Allie took a long walk in the garden. She’d been up most of the night, worried over the possibility of a demon mind invasion. And when she had managed to finally fall asleep, she’d had nightmares about Ed being killed.

  She was exhausted.

  But the garden was peaceful and relaxing and helped to settle her mind. Charo had accompanied her and Allie laughed as she watched her bat playfully at the butterflies flittering around a bush with huge purple flowers.

  Abba had placed benches throughout the garden and Allie moved to one near a fountain. The Living Waters flowed into the base of the fountain, up to a “cherub” from the Old Age, the chubby flying child with a bow and arrow. The statue was attached to a pedestal in the middle of the water, which shot out of his mouth, like he was spitting back into the fountain’s base.

  Considering the actual cherubim were slightly terrifying with their four faces and all those eyes on their wings, not to mention their flaming swords, seeing the fat baby on a statue in a garden Abba created was pretty funny.

  Allie leaned back on the bench and listened to the water trickling as she closed her eyes, enjoying the sun’s warmth. It was one of her favorite things, feeling the sun as it war
med her face like a soft caress. She tried to imagine what it would be like in the next life, when there would no longer be a sun or moon, when just Abba’s presence would light the Heavens. It was hard to imagine, but she knew that His light would always be enough.

  As if she’d conjured Him, she felt His presence beside her and she cracked an eye to look at where He sat next to her.

  “Hey, Pops,” she said softly, then closed her eyes again. He chuckled and pulled her hand over to hold between His. Abba was very touchy-feely.

  “Good morning, daughter. How are you doing today?”

  His voice was like the song of a multitude of birds, the trickle from a dozen fountains like the cherub-decorated one they were sitting next to, and the giggles of a whole room full of happy babies.

  All the best sounds in the world.

  Allie smiled. “I’m better now. This garden is amazing.”

  She felt Him nod. “It’s a miniature version of the Garden of Eden,” He said, and she popped an eye open to look at Him.

  “I thought the Paradise Gardens is like Eden was,” she said in surprise. But as amazing as the Paradise Gardens was, it was nothing like the little bit of paradise He’d created behind the mansion.

  “It is,” He said, “but Eden was immense, much larger than the Paradise Gardens and this place. The Gardens represent just a portion of Eden, but this little garden is a replica of My favorite part of Eden. It was where I walked with Adam, and later, Eve.”

  Allie hmm’d. It was funny the things she didn’t know after a thousand years and countless conversations with Abba. Every day it seemed she learned something new.

  “Come, child,” He said as He stood and held out His hand, “walk with Me.” Despite her exhaustion, she gladly placed her hand in His and let Him pull her to a stand.

  Silently, they walked along the barely-there path that meandered through the greenery, each just enjoying the sights, smells and sounds… and each other’s company. It never failed to shock Allie that The Creator wanted to spend time with her.

  Suddenly, a song from the Old Age came to mind and she started to sing.

  “And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known…”

  Abba grinned at her and squeezed her hand. “Sorry,” she laughed. “I know my voice isn’t the best.”

  Abba made a rather rude noise at that, which made her laugh again. “Any time one of My children sings to Me, it’s the most beautiful sound in the Universe. A Father couldn’t ask for anything better.”

  Allie smiled at Him and kissed His cheek.

  They walked along again in silence and Allie was amazed that the garden was so much larger than she thought. But then she realized that it was possible Abba was creating — expanding it — as they walked. They came to another bench and He stopped, pulling her down to sit next to Him.

  He turned, touching her knees with His and pulled her hand to His once again. Allie ran her finger over the scar in His palm. Feeling it there always brought a lump to her throat, remembering all He’d allowed Himself to go through, all because of His great love for mankind.

  “I know you have many questions about your… exile,” He said, His eyes sparkling as they looked deeply into hers. Allie knew He could see her very soul. She hoped He liked what He saw.

  “And I’m sorry that I can’t tell you all, but while yes, I could heal all the Remnants from the disease you carry, I am not going to. I have My reasons and you have to trust Me.”

  Allie nodded. “I know. I’m sorry for doubting You.”

  Abba’s eyes crinkled at the corners and His lips twitched under His white beard. “You are human, daughter. I don’t expect you to act perfectly. That alone is My burden,” He grinned.

  “And I also know that you’re concerned that Sherone has somehow invaded your mind because of the thoughts you have of Nick.”

  Allie’s face flamed, and she knew at that moment that it was the most embarrassment she’d ever felt. She was mortified that Abba knew of her thoughts — of course He did — but that He was actually bringing it up. Ugh!

  He laughed at her red face. “Child, your lustful thoughts are nothing compared to some I’ve heard,” He smirked. “And they’re perfectly understandable, since Nick is to be your mate.”

  Huh?

  Allie blinked at Him a few times and His lips quirked up.

  “And there’s that deer in the headlights look that always makes Me laugh,” He said, laughing, of course.

  “Mate?” Allie squeaked.

  Abba shook His head at her, a grin still in place. “I know you’ve fought the attraction to the guy for, oh, a thousand years,” He drawled. “And that you’re torn because you were married to Jaden. But that relationship is no longer valid, daughter. You are different creations now, as you know. The marriage I allowed in the Old Age was for Jaden, because that boy couldn’t seem to keep his thoughts about you from going into areas they shouldn’t have been traveling into. But he no longer has those thoughts now that he’s a martyred judge. As I said, a different creation.

  “You, however, do have those thoughts. Nick does too. And it’s getting to the point that you both need to marry or else you’ll need to be punished.”

  Allie’s face was still very hot, but she couldn’t help but point out, “I thought we weren’t punishing sin now that The Releasing has happened.”

  Abba gave her a look. “We’re not punishing the others,” He said. “But you — and those in The City and the Gardens — will still face punishment. You have already made your choice to follow Me, so I cannot tolerate any sin from you. So, marry the boy. Soon.”

  After the talk with Abba, Allie tried to avoid Nick. It was nearly impossible, of course, considering he was not only living just ten feet away from her, but they also had to train together. Eat meals together. Spend downtime with each other.

  But anytime he’d come near, Allie would find an excuse to head off in another direction.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be near him; in fact, it was pretty much all she could think about, so much so that it affected her training and she’d gotten an ugly cut on her thigh. The uniforms might be demon proof, but they definitely weren’t Remnant proof, as they’d so painfully discovered.

  Thankfully, Abba had added Serene, a Healer, to their staff. Unlike her name, Serene was intense and worked very fast, so in a short time Allie was able to get back to the arena.

  But Allie just couldn’t process Abba’s near order to marry Nick. She wondered how that was going to happen — like, was she supposed to ask the guy, or just order him to marry her? Or did she throw hints into the universe, hoping he’d pick up on one? She wished she’d thought to ask Abba to plant the seed in Nick’s mind.

  As she tried to ignore the way his eyes were boring into her from across the arena’s expanse, she wondered if Abba had planted that seed anyway. Nick wasn’t practicing or watching the practice — his eyes were completely focused on her.

  Zad suddenly appeared at her side then and she jumped a little, then scowled up at him.

  “Thought I told you not to do that,” she scolded as she poked him in the side. He just laughed.

  “Yeah, you did.” He shrugged, as if to say I don’t listen to you, mere mortal. Allie rolled her eyes and looked back to the group she’d been supervising.

  “Colette, you need to make sure you swing up when a strike comes at you like that. And Garnet, don’t assume your opponent is going to pause after striking. You’re wasting a chance at a follow-up strike.”

  After what happened in Kingston, Allie knew that they needed to get a lot faster when they fought. Plus, they needed some new moves for shooting the bolts. Demons seemed to quickly adapt to the Remnants’ fighting techniques, so it was likely they’d figure out a way to counteract the double teaming the Remnants had done in Kingston.

  “Okay, let’s stop for a moment. Take a break,” she ordered. She tur
ned to Zad as the others headed to the bleachers, which had the new addition of large trees behind them, offering welcome shade.

  “We need figure out how we’re going to fight the demons now that they have that crazy speed thing going on.”

  Her eyes widened when she remembered something she’d forgotten to mention. “Oh, and how many of them have invisibility? Cuz my team came across at least three that were invisible.”

  It was Zad’s turn to have wide eyes. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ll have to ask Abba.”

  “Yeah, it would be good to know what we might be facing,” Allie said. “I mean, Kingston was a surprise all around. The invisible demons, the speed demons, the diseased zombies. And the freaking Releasing has just started!”

  Zad sighed. For an angel to produce such a defeated sound, Allie figured things must be worse than she thought. It didn’t bode well for the Remnants.

  He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Nick transferred from across the arena. He appeared right next to Allie, so close that his arm brushed hers. She shivered from the contact.

  “What’s up?” he asked as he eyed Zad. Allie fought the eye roll threatening to come on at the look on Nick’s face, like a dog growling over a bone. She moved a step away from him, but he just shifted and moved even closer. Then the jerk had the nerve to put his arm around her.

  While a part of her was doing a girly “squee!” over the attention from him, the warrior part wanted to give him a hard kick to the back of the knees.

  The angel gave her a look and Allie widened her eyes at in response, giving him a “This guy is going to drive me insane” look. Zad laughed.

  Allie kicked him in the shin. He laughed harder.

  “I’ll be back after I talk to Abba,” Zad said through his laughter. And with that, he disappeared.

  Since the angels were immune to disease, like Abba, they could travel back and forth from the “quarantined” Remnants and The City. Allie was glad to have the go-between.

  She turned to Nick as she shrugged his arm off her. “What the heck?” she asked. “Why are you so into PDA now?”