Authors: Melissa Jolley
***
A few hours later, they had tried on many clothes, and bought few. The two friends sat in the Precipice Pub, at different tables, each nursing a vodka. The reason for her best friend being allowed to stay came down to the fact that she’d be worrying constantly Alec was some lunatic, and Melody would be old and gray before she heard the end of it.
One glance wouldn’t hurt, right? God, why did I even tell her about Alec? It’s not as if it’s a date.
Melody took a large gulp of her drink, and began chewing her lip as the clear liquid flowed down her throat. As she placed the glass back on the table, her hand shook at the idea of seeing Alec again. Although the subject matter had a lot to do with it, it wasn’t that which was making giant butterflies take flight in her stomach.
“Hmm, nice phone.”
The deep voice was making her as warm as the vodka was; it also made her jump. Alec moved around to face her, but didn’t sit down. Instead, he looked at the table with the debris of the mobile phone box spread across it.
“Oh, hi. Yeah, I broke my other one when I landed on it.” She grimaced.
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Um, yes please. Vodka, lemonade, and lime.” Watching him walk away was just as nice as the front view. The jeans fitted him very nicely, the seat curved perfectly over his rear, with room in the thigh, but not too much. An appreciative sigh escaped her lips before she could stop it.
Thank God for Mr. Levi Strauss
.
A movement out of the corner of her eye distracted her from the perfect view, and she turned to see Rose waving frantically at her, while also trying to be discreet by keeping her hand low. The discretion bit wasn’t working. Once she had captured her audience’s attention, she pointed toward Alec and Melody nodded in assent. In a way more befitting a regency romance heroine, Rose started to fan herself with her hand, and then broke the Jane Austen illusion as she mouthed the word ‘hot.’ Melody fell into silent giggles, putting her hand over her eyes, in an attempt to block out her friend.
“Is everything all right?”
Melody jumped, again.
I’ve really got to pay more attention.
When she uncovered her eyes, an amused smirk brightened Alec’s face.
“Yes, I um...was just resting my eyes for a sec.” She grimaced when she realized how ridiculous that sounded. “That was quick.” She looked down and noticed Alec’s hands were empty. “Didn’t you forget something?”
“Yeah, my wallet.” He leaned down, reaching into his jacket pocket, before heading back to the bar. When he returned he was carrying three glasses.
“Has it been that bad of a day at work?” she asked cheekily.
He smiled and Melody felt as if a wave of warmth had just crashed over her.
“No, work was fine, but I thought your friend might like to join us rather than sit over there.” As he spoke he turned to look directly at Rose who had been gawping at them.
She frantically tried to pretend she was reading again, but he pointed at her and motioned for her to join them. A scarlet blush illuminated Rose’s cheeks and she picked up her belongings and began walking over. Melody was trying very hard not to laugh.
“I like her style, very few girls can get away with looking like they just stepped out of a Marilyn Manson video,” he said. Rose reached them still blushing. “I’m Alec, and you must be the best friend, here to make sure I’m not a psycho?”
“Rose.” She shook the hand Alec had extended. “Psycho-spotting best friend.”
They smiled and both sat down, looking toward Melody.
“So,” Rose spoke, turning to Alec. “Tell me more about your first meeting, with our Mel.”
Melody just about spat out the mouthful of drink she had; fortunately, she managed to swallow before spraying her companions in vodka.
“Rosie, I told you what happened. I fell over and Alec kindly helped me up.”
Rose had turned to look at Melody, while Alec gave Melody a puzzled look.
“I know what you told me, Mel, but I wanted to hear it from the rescuer’s point of view. Go around rescuing damsels in distress often, Alec?”
“I try not to make a habit of it. Some damsels think they can cope on their own.” He raised an eyebrow at Melody, his signature smirk appearing.
Heat enflamed Melody’s cheeks.
He continued, “What can I say? She looked a bit unstable, so I thought I’d better help out.”
“Unstable, eh? That sounds like our Mel in so many ways.” Both Rose and Alec chuckled, while Melody poked her tongue out at them.
“That reminds me, Melody, you still owe me.”
Alec’s lingering look at Melody’s mouth made her cheeks burn more intensely.
Rose looked between the two of them, then exclaimed, “Oh Jesus, look at the time. I forgot that I was meeting...someone.”
Her pause and lack of a watch were suspicious, to say the least.
“Nice meeting you, Alec.” She stood, grabbing her shopping.
“You too.” He stood too, in an oddly formal, old-fashioned kind of way. It was sweet.
“Walk me to the door, Mel.” She practically yanked her out of the seat.
“Be back in a sec.” She shrugged in what she hoped he realized was an apologetic manner.
Alec smiled and picked up Melody’s new phone. “Girl talk.” His wink was far too sexy to be playful, even if that was the intention.
“It needs charging, so you can’t make any phone calls to China.” She wrinkled her nose at him and saw his lips droop in a fake pout before she walked out the door.
The steel trap of two tiny arms ensnared her. “I love him. I don’t know what it is, I just get a sense you can trust him, and that he won’t screw you around.” Rose held her at arm’s length, all trace of their earlier silliness gone. “I realize it sounds ridiculous after five seconds with the guy, but you know I trust my first impressions.”
“I know. So, can I get back to him now then? And you can go off and meet ‘someone.’” She couldn’t help but do air quotes on the final word.
They laughed and said their goodbyes. When she turned to go back inside, she found Alec watching her intently, his expression unreadable. Rose’s first impressions had never been wrong, and she’d felt the same way about him—well, when she’d met him and didn’t think he was going to murder her. It also amazed her how relaxed she was around him; it was like being with someone she’d known for years, not someone she’d met hours ago.
Head in the game.
She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted. He was here to give her valuable information that, hopefully, would keep her alive. The bonus and the downfall was that the mouthpiece for that information was so damn hot it was starting to make her ache in places she’d forgotten she had.
As Melody reached the table, he smiled at her and handed her back her new mobile. The phone was warm. She looked down at the screen to see that it was on and fully charged. Melody gave Alec a perplexed look. He winked at her and clicked his thumb and middle finger. A little spark of electricity flashed between them has they separated.
Melody looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed, but there were few people in the bar and no one looking in their direction. She knew in an hour the pub would be heaving with short black skirts and loosened ties as the after-work crowd arrived for Friday night drinks. It was an unwelcome reminder that she had to work tonight; her face fell in disappointment as she sat down.
“What’s wrong? No one saw me, I’m very careful about these things.” She couldn’t help but notice the concern in his voice.
“Nothing, I’m fine, just don’t fancy work tonight.”
“Fair enough.” He shrugged. “I take it I got the best friend seal of approval? Seeing as Rose decided she can leave you alone with me.”
Melody was grateful for the subject change, and leapt on the opportunity. “Oh, Rose is convinced you’re God’s gift.”
Alec looked at Melody, seemingly startled by her choice of words, and then smiled the lopsided smile she was beginning to love.
“Hmm, pun
not
intended, I assure you. Anyway, she seems to have a sixth sense about these things. She likes you. I should have trusted her in the past when she’d had her doubts about people.”
Like Simon,
she finished the comment in her head.
“She seems very perceptive. She worries about you too.” The force of his gaze was making her skin tingle.
“I call her my Scottish Mum. She worries too much.” Her glass became very interesting as she avoided the penetration of his stare.
“No, I think she worries about you exactly enough.” He smiled a little, lessening his intensity.
Melody squinted at him, searching for the meaning in his words.
“You wouldn’t put up with her if she mollycoddled you too much, but she cares enough to remind you that there are people in the world that worry about you, especially when you’re unhappy.”
Didn’t you usually need to lie on a sofa and pay megabucks for these shrink sessions?
“Okay, Doctor Phil, what else have you got?” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to offend you.” The frown on his face conveyed the truth of his words.
Melody inhaled a deep calming breath. “You didn’t. That was rude and I’m sorry. I just don’t like being laid bare for the world to see.”
“I can’t help what I see, though I could remember to keep it to myself sometimes. I do have one question though.”
“I’ll at least think about answering it.” She gave him a tentative half-smile.
“Why didn’t you tell Rose you were attacked? You didn’t have to mention... specifics.” He lowered his tone on the last word, as a young couple sat nearby.
“I don’t know. If anyone could understand, I think it would be Rose, but I just couldn’t do it. This is something I need to figure out before I drag anyone else into the net with me.”
He nodded, a somber look on his face.
Suddenly Melody sat up straight, a determined look on her face. “Right, Mr. Connolly, I think I’ve done enough talking for the time being. It’s time you started to give me some information.”
“Drink up then. I think we should go for a walk.” Alec stood and swallowed the last of his drink.
Melody, caught short by this sudden change in plans, hastily started dragging the phone paraphernalia into a shopping bag. Finally she stood, quickly downing the half-full glass.
Alec held the door open as she asked him where they were going. “The Queen Street Gardens. I think it might be better for a private conversation.”
They spoke little on the short walk to the park. Dark clouds had gathered while they’d been in the pub, though there were still sporadic patches of sunshine. They found a bench near the path and sat down.
Melody had a million questions for Alec, but she decided the best place to start was where he’d left off at her place.
“Who are the fallen?”
Alec let out a long slow breath. “Straight to the big stuff. I figured as much.”
“Seems to make sense, to find out what I’m dealing with first.”
“True.” He turned his body toward her, and she mirrored him, a frown of concentration furrowing her brow.
“There are three planes of existence, Melody; higher, middle, and lower. You know them by different names—heaven, earth, and hell. The beings that exist in the higher and lower planes attempt to influence human choices.”
“Like the little angel and devil who pop up on cartoon characters’ shoulders?” she asked seriously.
Alec smiled but not in a mocking way. “Yeah, very much like that. The thing is, we can’t tell you what to do, we can just guide you. That’s where free will comes in. However, it’s not just humans who have free will. The beings from the other two planes have it as well.”
Melody sat nodding in comprehension. “So the angels and demons can choose to leave if they want?”
“Exactly. We are given that option, and just like with humans our choices have consequences.” A bitterness clouded Alec’s face, and Melody wanted to reach out and smooth the lines creasing his forehead, but she restrained herself.
“What kind of consequences?” Her voice was quiet and solemn, yet her gaze continued searching his face.
“Unnaturally long life, for one. There are many reasons why we choose to leave. Some forget which side they’re on, and others just want the chance to fall in love and live a normal life.”
Melody thought she could guess which choice Alec had made, but decided now was not the time to ask. She thought of something else instead. “Alec, how long have you been here?” Her voice was tentative, as she was unsure whether he’d permit this line of questioning.
He sat for a moment looking in deep thought. Melody was about to say he didn’t have to tell her, when he spoke. “Just over a hundred years. I’ve seen many fall in that time; some choose to stay amongst humans. They may be benevolent or malevolent. I’m sure you can guess which one Marco was.” Melody looked down at her hands clasped on her lap and nodded slowly. “Others decide to fall a bit further and join the lower plane in trying to corrupt.”
“Does anyone ever go up?” She thought it was probably a stupid question, but it left her lips before she really knew what she was saying. When she looked at Alec’s face, she was surprised to see the bitterness gone and him smiling at her.
“Actually yes. Very occasionally, someone who has fallen does enough that the universe allows them to re-enter the higher plane.”
“Is that what you’re trying to do?” She really did feel like she was pushing her luck with these questions, but as long as he was answering she was going to keep asking.
“I think I was, at first, but I’m used to being here now.”
“But after a hundred years alone—”
“Not always alone,” he interrupted her, speaking so quietly that she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly at first. He was staring at the ground, his expression blank.
She couldn’t help herself; she reached out to touch his hand and as her fingers made contact with his skin a tiny surge of electricity shot up her hand and arm. Despite this, she did not flinch, but clasped his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She wished she could do more to ease the pain she could sense within him.
He looked down at her hand. There was a boundary, and she was sure she’d just crossed it, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. Then his fingers closed over hers and this time the energy that pulsed through her came from her core: a tingling fiery sensation branching out, and covering her whole body in goose bumps.
Wow!