The Fall (13 page)

“What happened?” she asked, wrapping her arms around Kitty’s shoulders, helping her into a seated position. Kitty leaned into her and the sheet that had been covering her fell down, exposing her bare breasts.

“Oops,” she muttered unabashedly before tucking it in around her. Archer had politely turned away while Lazarus had stared, his face incredulous. Addison was pretty sure that had been the strongest emotion he had shown since he arrived.
Trust boobs to do the trick
, she thought.

“Anyway, I was deep-frying some brussel sprouts when someone knocked. I looked through the peeper and a ridiculously gorgeous guy was standing there, so I opened the door with my best ‘come hither’ look,” she explained with a wink, as if that was the rational thing to do. “He asked where you were, and I said you took a little vacay, and that I didn’t know where. He pushed me against the wall, holding my throat, and told me to tell him. I told him to go … well, never mind. Needless to say, he got a little peeved and began beating me around. Bet you’re happy I took those ‘stupid’ karate lessons now, huh?” she said to Addison, before continuing. “Anyway, then another two guys came and the douchebag with the fists told them I didn’t know anything. They decided to double-check and threw me around a bit. I knocked out after a while, and came to with you trying to rape me, Addy.”

Addison broke the sudden silence by grudgingly saying, “I didn’t try to rape you.”

“Yeah, yeah. So, Addy. Are you a drug dealer? Or do you have beer-flavoured nipples, or something?” she asked, her expression curious. “Why the heck are all these people after you?”

“No!” Addison cried indignantly. “Don’t ask me why all these creeps are after me. I seem to have a damned target sign on my forehead.”

“We have to get you out of here in case they come back, Kitty,” Archer told her, his voice kind. “You are welcome to stay at my place.”

“I have a spare apartment,” Lazarus suddenly said. He seemed to catch himself, his eyebrows drawn together, as though he was surprised by his own offer.

“Sweet, that sounds good, Mr. Super Doc,” Kitty told Lazarus before adding to Archer, “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer, Archery, but I’d rather not listen to you guys do it. Jake told me you were rather loud.”

“When did you speak to Jake?” Archer asked, eyebrows drawn.

“Oh, all the time. We’re Facebook friends,” she told him earnestly. “Jake and I go way back, but that’s another story.” Archer smiled and shook his head. Addison went to gather some of Kitty’s things, trying to find anything salvageable. She helped Kitty dress until Kitty snapped that she had been beaten by super-hunks and healed by an even hunkier doctor, and wasn’t an invalid.

***

“Anything happens to her, Lazarus, and I will personally destroy you,” Archer promised.

Lazarus merely looked at him blandly, as if Archer didn’t deserve his full attention.

“I have a place not far from yours that has better security than Fort Knox. She will be fine.”

“And where will you be staying?” Archer demanded.

“Not with her,” was all Lazarus said.

Addison came out of the bedroom, Kitty in tow. Kitty had showered and changed into running shorts and a tight t-shirt. If Archer didn’t know better, he’d say Lazarus’s eyes had widened at the sight of her. Archer had eyes only for Addison, who looked lovely despite her red-rimmed eyes. The only thing that overpowered his desire for her was his concern.

Addison embraced Kitty.

“Call me every day, honey. Tell me if you need absolutely anything. By the looks of things, we could both use a shopping trip,” she said, her gaze flitting over the messy room. Objects were strewn about the place, most of them broken or torn. The couches were turned upside down while all the drawers were removed and cupboards wide open. Archer would see that the place was fixed up.

Addison released Kitty and Lazarus took a small step backward, as if afraid she would try mauling him again.

“Thanks again, Lazarus. Take care of my girl,” she said with a grateful smile. Lazarus nodded once, and left.

Kitty followed behind him, pointedly staring at his butt. She turned to them with a grin.

“I’ll see you guys later.”

Addison turned to Archer and hugged him. “You have to tell me what is going on, Archer,” she demanded, her voice weary.

Archer let out a deep breath and nodded. “I know. I ask only that you keep an open mind and listen to the whole story.”

Addison’s face slackened; her brow furrowed, and her eyes grew solemn. Archer picked up one of the couches far too easily and set it down the right way.

“I think we should sit down for this.”

***

Chapter 15

Addison sat on the couch, dirty from the mess, whilst Archer remained standing.

“Have you ever heard of the Grigori?” he asked.

“No,” she said, her face a mask of confusion.

“Alright, bear with me, I’m starting from the beginning.” He sat down a safe distance from her, not wanting to suffocate her with his presence. Leaning back slightly, he began explaining. “The Grigori are also known as The Watchers. They were instructed by God to watch over humans when Adam and Eve were created.”

Addison interrupted him. “Archer, I don’t see how the Bible study class is relevant.” She leaned further back into the couch as she rubbed her eyes in exhaustion. She was tired of it all. 

“Just listen,” Archer said patiently. “I told you, I’m starting from the beginning. Just keep an open mind.” He waited for her to nod before continuing. “The Grigori watched over humanity diligently for many years. The leader, Samyaza, became very interested in them. Enthralled, even. He was jealous of their freedom and passion. He went against God’s word and interacted with them. At first it was innocent, but it soon became sinister. He copulated with human women and created spawn.”

“Nephilim,” Addison said confidently.

“You know of Nephilim?” Archer asked in surprise.

“Not really, I just know they are half human, half angel.”

“Well, after their birth, Samyaza feared God’s reaction. His solution was to encourage the other Grigori to fall with him. He was convinced that the punishment would lessen if they were all in the wrong. I’m not sure how he could have been so selfish and careless.” Archer paused, angry at his father for his stupidity.

“What happened after that?” Addison said, pressing Archer on after his prolonged silence.

“Samyaza and many of his brethren started enjoying human pleasures. Some focused on women, others on gambling and alcohol, and other so-called pleasures. Many Nephilim were created, and they were noticeable. You have to understand that people were physically different back then; they were shorter, and less resilient to disease. The Nephilim all cleared six foot and never got sick. They also had some of the powers of their fathers. It didn’t take long for God to find out. He was furious. He imprisoned the Grigori in Tartarus and flooded the earth to kill the Nephilim.”

“Like … Noah’s flood?” Addison asked with disbelief. Archer smiled at her.

“Yes, though lexicon got it a little wrong. Anyway, the Nephilim didn’t all die. Some survived and learned how to blend in as best they could.” He sat silently, allowing Addison to mull over all the information. After a few minutes, she looked up at him.

“Are you trying to tell me that Lazarus is an angel baby?” Addison asked disbelievingly, eyebrows raised.

“I am saying that Lazarus is a Nephilim. As am I.”

***

Addison thought she had misinterpreted what Archer had said, so she made him repeat it three times.

“Archer, if you don’t want to tell the truth then just say that,” she told him, anger colouring her voice. “We don’t have the time to mess around.”

Archer let out an exasperated growl. Addison couldn’t help her disbelief. She’d been caught up in the story, but when Archer dropped the punch line she just couldn’t buy it.

“Addison, I was born in the 2,347th year Before Christ. My mother was a peasant. She was beautiful, and when a stranger came into her village, she was smitten. He came to her many times, but she didn’t tell him she had carried his sons until the second was born. They had their dalliances away from the house. My father is Samyaza, the leader of the Grigori.”

Archer’s expression was perfectly serious, and completely closed off. Addison realised he wasn’t joking. That left two options: one, he was delusional, or two, he was telling the truth. The sceptic in her couldn’t accept the latter.

“Prove it,” she challenged.

Archer lifted his hands and curled his finger, gesturing her towards him. Without moving a muscle, Addison flew into his awaiting arms. She must have looked as shocked as she felt, because Archer let out a sigh, kissed her brow, and set her back on the floor. Thoughts were racing through her mind, so she started to get them out in rapid succession.

“Do you have wings?” she asked.

“No, it seems that only our fathers did. Though it has been rumoured that theirs were stripped off them before they were imprisoned,” he said, his eyes impassive.

“I thought that Nephilim were supposed to be thirteen feet tall?” Addison said suspiciously.

Archer let out a sigh. “Yeah, well, feet were measured literally by a foot-span back then. Tall human men at that time were about your height. Their feet were as tiny as yours.”

“I guess that makes sense. What else can you do?” she asked him curiously.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, unsure.

“Yep, I think so.” There was doubt in her voice.

“We are all omni-lingual, and stronger and faster than mortals. We don’t actually need to eat or drink. That was supposed to be a curse, but really can be quite convenient.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard that many of the Grigori taught things to humans before they were punished. Each Nephilim gets powers that are unique to their father. It is somewhat unpredictable, and kind of grows with you, new abilities turning up now and then.” He paused and turned away from her before continuing. “Both Jake and I can coerce both mortals and immortals, and we are as strong and fast as our fathers were, faster than average Nephilim. We are the oldest and the strongest. I also have telekinesis, as I demonstrated. Jake has true dreams, and he can go invisible.” 

“Holy shit, ah, I mean … sorry,” she said, sheepishly. “Have you ever coerced me before?”

“No,” Archer said, looking up at her. “I wouldn’t want to influence you like that. It’s the power I’m most careful with.”

“I believe you,” she said, reaching out and touching his hand. “Now how does this fit in with Malachi?”

“He is Nephilim, too. He wishes to free the Grigori from Tartarus and believes it can be done because of a prophecy. On Samhain, he plans to conduct a ceremony that requires a sacrifice. The sacrifice must be a descendent of Enoch and a virgin. You,” he said, looking up at her once again when he said the last sentence. Addison blushed.

“Wait, a descendent of whom?” she asked, realising what he had said.

“Enoch. The great-grandfather of Noah. He was a prophet and influenced the Book of Enoch, which details the demise of the Grigori and their children,” Archer explained. “He was a little premature with some of it. When the Grigori pleaded to him, he told them he would petition their wishes to God. He lied, and pretty much testified against the Nephilim, too. Apparently he was pissed that his daughter got with a Watchman and gave birth to an abomination.”

“Great. So my thousand-times great-grandfather is a jackass, and he’s the reason angels want to smoke me,” Addison said. There was a sentence she never thought she’d say.

“Nephilim, not angels. But yes, that is pretty much it,” Archer supplied unhelpfully.

“Well, let’s look on the bright side,” Addison said. “At least it’s easy to fix.” Archer looked up at her, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “Wanna show off your telekinesis and take my top off?”

Archer opened to his mouth to speak before closing it again. He repeated the process twice. “Huh?” he spluttered.

“Well, Malachi needs a virgin, so let’s take care of that problem,” she said, ever practical.

“I will not take your virginity out of convenience, Addison. It’s not a ‘problem’; it’s a gift. One I’m not willing to take in such circumstances,” Archer said furiously, his hands fisted.

“Archer, don’t get me wrong, this would help our situation, and I know that. But that’s not why I want you to make love to me.” She paused, trying to gather the right words. “I could always ask someone else.” Archer growled menacingly. Okay, maybe she couldn’t. “I said I could, not that I would. Look, I’m saying this wrong. I want you to be my first, Archer. Not because of Malachi, not because I’m cannon fodder, but because I want you.”

Archer’s eyebrows drew together in confusion, his mouth opening and closing before he finally found his words.

“You would want me, even though you know what I am?” he asked, his voice so quiet Addison barely heard it.

“Of course I want you, you idiot.” Archer’s brow raised at her vehemence. “Not only are you the sexiest man I have ever seen, but you are kind, respectful, and you make me laugh.  You make me feel like I’m the most desirable woman in the world. Plus, you will be able to get the remote without me having to move. I don’t think I can stand watching infomercials though.”

Addison moved and sat next to him on the bed before turning and looking at him. “Most importantly, because I love you,” she told him. The moment she said it she knew it was true, and she was shocked by just how much she did. It was powerful, exhilarating, and frightening all at the same time. Archer’s expression changed into something that made her heart break. It was as if he didn’t dare believe it, for fear of having imagined it. 

***

Archer squeezed his eyes closed when he heard Addison say the one thing that he had never expected, especially after he’d confessed to being Nephilim. He had only hoped that she would not be appalled or feel betrayed, but this went above and beyond his expectations. Only Addison could surprise him.