The Unknown // Colby Brock

~~ Chapter Twenty-Two ~~

"Alright then. I'll meet you in the gym in-"

"No, I have a better idea. I only know how to train on flat ground with walls, and that won't always be an option."

"So... where are you planning on training?" He was looking at me as if I was mad. Something told me telling him my idea would only make that look much, much worse.

"The bridge."

His eyebrows rose in surprise as he shook his head, walking quickly around the desk to get me. "That is a terrible idea."

"Nope. Not if you catch me before I fall." I raised an eyebrow mischievously and gave him a wave. I could feel his eyes on my back every step I took out of the room.

Things had been tame in hell for a couple of days, which meant my entire body was craving some excitement. Training on the bridge would definitely give me an adrenaline boost, allow me to beat Colby up, and touch up on my fighting skills all at once. It was a win, win, win.

I ended up waiting for a short while sitting on the low wall of the bridge about halfway across before I noticed Colby's figure coming towards me. He held at least two daggers in one hand and the usual sticks we used in the other. He took his time walking to me but when he arrived, I noticed something was different about him. Maybe it'd just been a while since I'd seen his arms, but I was suddenly looking at more muscle... had he been working out?

"What do you wanna do first?" he asked casually, dropping the weapons on the ground between us. I looked between them and him for a moment then stood from the wall.

"Let's leave those for now. I haven't done much normal-combat training."

He nodded, lifting his fists into a defensive position. I couldn't help but grin at how genuinely excited I was to beat the shit out of him, which I definitely should not have been. After all that Fate had said a couple of days ago, I'd been more than confused after our little hug. Maybe I just didn't want to think about how one day I would fall in love with Colby and I would become queen - as long as God didn't destroy hell and everything in it first.

"Did they train you in heaven?" Colby questioned as he dodged my punch. He went to throw his own but I wrapped my fingers around his wrist and spun him, kicking him away. He spun back before I could even blink with a kick of his own, thankfully that I blocked.

"No, they didn't. I was basically just sitting there and looking pretty."

"Can't argue with that." He smirked at me, eyes flicking up and down my outfit. I quickly swung my leg at him and knocked the back of both of his knees then shoved his shoulder making him fall down. I dropped with him, placing a knee on his chest.

"You aren't allowed to say that anymore."

"Really? I can't say you're pretty?"

"Nope. Especially not when I just beat you."

He rolled his eyes and smiled as he pushed me back. I helped him get to his feet.

Just like in every romantic movie ever, the second he was up, we were much too close. Neither of us could help but look at each other. My heart started pounding as I felt my entire body beckoning me to go closer; to feel what I used to feel with him. But I couldn't. I wasn't over heaven, and I still needed time.

Just as I was about to tell Colby to back up, something shot through the air at him. I couldn't react before it stabbed him in the back making him flinch and lean forward. I just about caught him, searching the sky for what the hell had happened. I spotted an angel flying toward the house.

Hell no.

"Colby!" Jake exclaimed when he flashed next to us. I didn't have time to question it, passing Colby to him before grabbing one of the daggers and jumping onto the wall. I ran across the top as fast as I could, keeping pace with the angel. Just as I ran out of wall, he began to swoop down. I took a leap of faith.

It was like everything moved in slow motion when I was in the air; like I had all the time in the world. I used that to grab onto his ankle just by chance and drag him down with me. We both crashed to the ground, rolling a few times before we came to a stop. I recovered first, jumping up and slamming his wrists against the floor with one hand then holding a dagger up to his throat. He glared at me but I didn't care.

"Who are you?" Mike asked when he appeared just beside us. I kept the angel held down despite him being much more powerful than I was. I was angry. Every bone in my body was urging to beat the shit out of him just for entering hell. Guess I was really worked up.

"I'm... a rogue. You got us killed," the angel managed out, struggling against me. I pressed the blade closer to his skin, making him tense up and go completely still.

"We only turned you down, we didn't fight you," Jake snarled back. I glanced at him to see Colby standing with him, but he was clearly still in a bit of pain. I could see it in his face.

"Exactly! With your help, we could have won."

"If you're not going to win an attack then what's the point in attacking?" I snapped, pressing the dagger just a little bit harder. He went to lash his hands out at me but Colby's foot landed on his wrists before he could even come close. "Example," I mumbled.

Figuring he was safely being handled, I stood up and took a step back.

"We didn't plan on attacking when it happened but God gave out some orders we didn't particularly like so we had no choice."

"And what were those orders?" Jake challenged.

"To kill everybody in heaven's prison."

My mouth opened and closed again. Heaven seriously wasn't anything like it was cracked up to be. The people weren't always good and those who were lived moderately good lives. Everyone else got murdered, tortured, or thrown out. Those in hell deserved to be punished, but the ones in heaven hardly did. That's why they made it to heaven in the first place.

"That's no excuse to come after our king. Therefore you'll receive the same punishment that every angel does who harms the devil." The angel's eyes widened in fright as Xepher manifested a long, thick dagger and threw it to Jake, who advanced towards the guy. "Have a nice death... not." He wasted no more time in stabbing the blade right into his chest, killing him instantly.

Colby lifted his foot only to flash out of sight entirely. "I'll go and make sure his shoulder's alright," Aryia said as he was about to flash.

Before he could, I quickly grabbed his arm and went with him. We appeared in Colby's room where he had already taken off his shirt and threw it down somewhere. I couldn't help but cringe at the sight of the wound.

"Why did you-"

"I just wanted to come," I replied quietly, pushing Aryia forward. He frowned but nodded, walking to Colby, where he started his inspection. I simply watched him work his magic, sealing it up. But it wasn't as effective as I thought: a small scar sat where the arrow once had been.

"It might fade but I can't promise anything," Aryia told him, patting his good shoulder before taking a step back. Colby just nodded and glanced over at me, but I didn't move or speak. "Remember to call for me if you need any attention."

"Got it."

Aryia quickly flashed from the room, leaving us completely alone. My heart started beating a little faster once more. Being alone with him wasn't the best idea I had come up with, training or not.

"Why are you here?" he asked lightly, staring at me.

"I guess I just wanted to see you're okay."

"Does that mean you care?" He smirked, making me roll my eyes.

I took a brave step when I walked right up to him and placed a hand lightly on his shoulder. He glanced at it for a moment slightly confused until I dragged it up to his neck, then to his jaw. "Don't get your hopes up..." I whispered.

He carefully reached out and gently took my waist in his hands. I wasn't really sure what I wanted out of our interaction except that I wanted to be close to him. Really close. I ended up restraining myself just enough to pull him into an intimate hug instead with our bodies pressed in close and our faces hidden. It felt like Colby and I were getting into a position like this way too much, but I liked it. And that was my problem.

I was falling for the devil again.