The Unknown // Colby Brock

~~ Chapter Nineteen ~~

"No. She chooses to live in heaven, therefore it is her problem."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, shaking my head as I turned towards the stairs. "Right, I forgot that you're incapable of caring about anyone," I mumbled just loud enough for him to hear, but I didn't stay for his reaction. I went to my room as quickly as I could and I was planning to slam my door behind myself out of anger but it turned out that I did it out of surprise when I found the devil standing right there in front of me. "What the fuck!" I exclaimed.

"You don't get to say that," he replied instantly, frowning at me. "You don't get to say that I'm incapable of caring for anyone. I cared for you. And I still do."

"That's bullshit. You're saying to me that you cared when you gave me up to fucking heaven," I growled back, walking forward a couple steps.

"Because I knew you wouldn't get killed. If Corey had stayed up there, God wouldn't have waited long before he slaughtered him. You saw the slashes on the angel's arm. Imagine what he would do to a demon."

"You still fucking gave me up! You can't escape that."

"I did. I know I did, and I regret it more than anything else I've done in centuries of being alive."

"And that's supposed to make it better? Am I supposed to jump into your arms?"

"No."

"Then what?"

He went silent. We stared at each other for what felt like forever. It wasn't friendly or romantic but anger from me and thought from him. Neither of us knew what else to say or do. Everything was just so confusing.

"You didn't want Corey getting hurt, fine. Maybe you are capable of caring but you don't act like it."

"That's because I've never cared for anyone in the way that I care about you before."

I frowned.

"I was born before heaven and hell even existed. It was just a group of powerful people. God, my father, my mother, a couple of others. God and my mother are the only ones who survived when he created the Earth. And then he realised that the people needed a place to go to when they died so he created our two worlds. I cared about him then.

"But he sent me down to hell. I went through what you went through but you weren't forced to rule over a kingdom and get called the bad guy. Sitting on a throne while people scream in pain all around you doesn't exactly attract women. Certainly none that are... well, good. I've never met anyone like you, Ari, and I've made you hate me. The feelings got real, so I made you hate me because I couldn't deal with that.

"You are the only person I have ever felt strongly for; the only person I've ever cared about so much that I'd literally do anything to fix the mistake I made giving you up to God."

I felt... frozen. More than that, I felt confused. He couldn't make a speech like that with the begging expression on his face unless he genuinely meant every single word. And I believed that he did, but what he'd done still poked at my mind. I couldn't forgive him so soon for sending me to heaven when he knew for a fact that it was the worst place I could ever go to. It was my nightmare.

I decided it was time for a speech of my own.

"Heaven is like my hell. No, I didn't get sent there to rule it, but I was the bad guy. I am the bad guy. Have you forgotten why Jake disobeyed you to add me to the group in the first place? It's because my soul is black. It's because I have the potential to be one of the most evil humans that have entered hell and I could be of use to you and the army you have here.

"I liked my life. I loved it, actually. And for a long moment, you were making me happy, too. I mean, for fuck's sake, Colby! I was falling for you. I don't know if I still am because ever since you walked away from me in heaven like you didn't give a shit, I've been confused. I want to forgive you, I want to kick you in the balls, I want to run off and hide all at the same time. But you don't make it that easy.

"Whether you care for me or not, I can't truly say. What I'm certain of is you're so different that I don't know if I can ever figure things out with you. I want to, in a way, because I've missed... I've missed us this entire time."

"I've missed us, too..." he whispered, eyes on the ground.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I stared at him processing everything I'd said. I hadn't realised my eyes had teared up until a single tear rolled down my cheek. Guess realising that we might never get back what we were for a short time had set me off.

After a little while, he raised his head to look at me again. "Can I hug you?"

I hesitantly nodded so he crossed the short distance between us and instantly wrapped me up in the tightest hug I'd ever had. His arms were around my waist, his face hidden deep into my neck while I had my arms wrapped around his neck. Our bodies were pressed together.

It felt like he was holding on for his life.

After a moment, I was too.