~~Young~~

Chapter Twenty

   “I love her,” he said to himself, “I love Sera.”

   Josephine threw herself at him in a hug as he kept repeating the impossible to himself. That he could love. But he was a demon, one of the damned. He knew his heart to be black by the blood that spilled when he was wounded. He should be cold, indifferent to any such emotions like his brethren residing in hell. But he knew it. All along he had known it from that very first time he found himself reaching for his chest on the train. Somehow she had managed to warm that part of him just by…by existing in his world.

   No, no that was wrong, she wasn’t in his world, she was his world. Now and forever after she was what mattered most to him. Before her he lived true, but it was an empty existence wasn’t it?

   He returned Josephine’s embrace carefully, knowing his strength could render even the strongest of mortal men broken. Like Fate, Gage was in this being’s debt for the choice she had made. Without her sacrifice for the mortal she loved he would have never known Sera. She would have died in that sweatshop alone, without anyone who truly loved her. She had changed Gage’s life, Gage’s immortal life, irrevocably too. And for that he was eternally grateful.

   “There’s…there’s no way for you to tell me who you are is there?” he whispered in her ear.

   She shook her head against him to say there wasn’t. And he already knew that, but he wanted to do something for her, but without her name he wouldn’t know her from any other angel in heaven. Not that he particularly wanted to visit, but for her he was willing to bear that infernal heat if just to offer his thanks again. She wouldn’t know why of course, probably take a swing at him even if he could manage to pick her out. No, God would certainly take those memories from her when she finished with her life here. Wouldn’t want her to remember how she figured out a way to screw him over now would he?

   Maybe…maybe that was it.

   “It’s okay now,” he firmed his grip on her ever so much, “I’ve got it from here, you can go.”

   Because if she couldn’t remember defying God that she wouldn’t remember how she suffered either. That’s how he could repay her. By assuring her she didn’t need to be here in this sickened body anymore and that there would still be someone to watch over Sera in her absence. That there would be someone to protect Sera from God’s will.

   She pulled away from him with a look of utter gratitude on her face. Yes she loved Sera but this life was taking its toll on her. She knew she wouldn’t be able to fight much longer and the only reason she had fought this long was for her.

   Who needed words anyway?

   “Alright, enough is enough” Mary Rose came bustling back in the room and Gage and Josephine were quick to separate, “it’s time for the poor girl to rest. You’ve been more excitement for her then we usually allow.”

   Because she still thought he was sent from God perhaps?

   “It’s okay,” he stood from the bed and exchanged a knowing glance with Josephine, “I think we’re both good now.”

   He quickly cleared off the bed and ushered for Josephine to lie down. She gave him a smile and took the offer, placing her hand over his as he tucked her under the sheets. He felt her comfort, knew that’s what she had been trying to offer Sera all these years. She thought that alone would save Sera. But it was never enough, still Sera continued to teeter on the edge of her darkness. But now Sera had Gage and his love, and she knew that was what she needed in her life to thrive.

   He ran a hand over her head and sat beside her on the bed, taking one of her hands in his, “so do we have a deal?”  He smiled as he tucked Sera’s necklace into her palm.