The Unknown // Colby Brock

~~ Chapter Six ~~

My distraction led to my demise as God grabbed my hair harshly and began to drag me from the throne room out onto the front steps. It was then that I saw the bodies of the angel guards lying almost lifeless around the front gate... and some of the devil's army in front of me - including the man himself.

"Want your newest pet back, Colby?" God snarled, tugging harder on my hair.

I flinched and tugged back but couldn't get out of his strong grip.

"Because it looks like she isn't interested in giving us any information. Unlike Katrina..." God looked over his shoulder at the blue-haired girl standing guiltily in the doorway.

She refused to make eye contact with Colby, whose eyes were glowing in anger.

"You're no better than us, God. You're not fit to run heaven. You aren't pure, and you aren't good," Jake said slowly, edging forwards. I noticed a small dagger in his hand, hidden by his baggy hoodie.

"I'd be careful of what you say, I still have her." He tugged on my hair to make his point.

Jake got a little closer with this look in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher... not until he gestured the dagger towards me. He didn't give me chance before he threw it like an expert. I waited for a second, then dodged it, sending the blade into God's side. He flinched and yelled out in pain, letting me go.

Jake flashed up next to me and pushed me down the steps, where Colby grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him, backing both of us up towards everyone else. Jake had flashed back behind the front line and taken Tara's hand.

Despite that, he used his other hand to grab mine and pull me next to him. "You alright, cat?" he whispered.

I just nodded as God pulled the dagger out.

"You've made a mistake, girl. You could have joined us up here in heaven."

"I don't want to 'join you in heaven'. You ever heard of the colour black? Geez." I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "Besides, I've never been a good person."

God narrowed his eyes on me for a long moment, annalysing my every feature. "Of course. You have a black soul. That doesn't surprise me... " He motioned to Sam, who took a defensive stance in front of him and spread his wings out as a threat. "Go back to the little hole you call hell, then, but never try to join us."

"Not gonna be an issue," I grumbled, taking a step back.

Every demon flashed away, Jake taking me with him, and next thing I knew, I was back in the throne room of hell with everybody who hadn't come waiting.

"Ari!" Xepher screamed when she saw me as she started a run straight into my arms. I practically caught her mid air, hugging her back only for a second. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine, it doesn't matter."

"It does matter!" Tara snorted. "She talked back to God. Like, right to his face. You're technically still human, Ari! I'm so proud of you."

My cheeks heated up at her words, making me visibly blush in front of everyone in the room.

"Tara has a point. You picked a good one, Jake," Colby said.

It seemed like everyone - including me - was surprised by his words, but only Jake dared to say anything about it. "Did you just compliment me?" he questioned, mouth open and eyebrows risen.

Colby raised a brow of his own as he looked at his assistant, then he looked at me and his face went back to normal. "No. Technically, I complimented her."

"Hmph." Jake pretended to pout, crossing his arms and turning his head the other way.

I rolled my eyes and smiled at the same time, shaking my head before slipping passed everyone to get to the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Xepher called after me.

"To my room."

"Without being told?"

I gave her a look and shook my head.

"Huh, she's being obedient and I don't like it."

"Obedient to who? No one's telling me to go." My eyes flicked to Colby for a moment, who was sitting on his throne looking at Jake's clipboard. Because of course he was already back to work. I left them all to whatever they had to do, jogging up the rest of the stairs and going to my bedroom, where I went to open the door. But it was locked just like I had left it. Dammit.

"Cassie!" I yelled.

After a moment, she flashed next to me. I pointed to the door.

"Oh, I can't open that. You need Colby. I'll go and get him."

I waited next to my door uselessly, staring at the handle hoping somehow that it'd open on its own. I could hear Cassie's voice fainlty before she called, "Done!"

I twisted the handle to find that it had actually been unlocked. Wow. What I'd do to get those powers. "Thank you!" I yelled to both of them.

I stepped into my room and shut the door, this time not locking it just in case. I laid down on my bed, exhausted from everything that had happened that day, then closed my eyes...

Jake's POV
(surprise ~ this won't happen often)
I watched Colby curiously as Ari walked away. He had been 'reading' my tasks for the day, but he'd only waited a moment before glancing up to watch Ari go. His eyes weren't exactly on her face, let's just say that. And when she went round the corner into the hallway, he snapped back to what he was supposed to be doing.

"I'll go back to- "

Tara was cut off by Ari yelling from upstairs.

"Cassie!"

Cassie flashed away, as had a couple of others by that point. Tara watched the top of the stairs intently, waiting for somebody to come out and interrupt her. Just as she opened her mouth to speak again, Cassie emerged from the hallway.

"Colby, Arianna's room is locked, can you-"

"Done it," he mumbled.

"Done!" Cassie yelled down the hallway.

There was a distant 'thank you' yelled back, which made Cassie's brows furrow. "I wonder if that's for me or you," she said in amusement, walking down the stairs.

Colby wasn't paying much attention, though, writing something else on my never-ending list of things to do.

"Who would thank the devil?" Tara mused, playfully rolling her eyes. "Anyway, I gotta get to work." She gave me a quick kiss, then flashed away.

Cassie had already met with Reggie in the living room and they were somewhat cuddling on the couch. I noticed that, rather than giving me something to do, Colby was watching them. There was something in his eye that I just couldn't read.

Finally, he chucked the clipboard over to me with a clear of his throat. "Take it slow. Those are for the next two days, not just today."

I nodded.