Fallen

Chapter 34 of Love from Above The Final Chapter

Jeremy’s feet are soon dangling off the platform as he is wheeled out over the middle of the pool. I fall to my knees sobbing as Jeremy, my one true love, is lowered to his death. His eyes stay locked on mine as he slowly descends. Once he is about half way to the pool, his eyes begin to droop and his breathing deepens. The heat rising from the magma is causing him to pass out. He struggles to keep his gaze fixed on me, but soon goes limp as he is dragged into unconsciousness. I send one final prayer up to the sky.

 

Please, I know I broke the rules and I have fallen from your good graces. But please protect Jeremy, he doesn’t deserve this. I love him.

 

Suddenly, a flash of white illuminates the cavern. Archangels, our sort of police force, swoop in from all directions. Demons leap up to begin brawls with them, refusing to let their entertainment be contaminated.

 

Janie breathes a sigh of relief and my head snaps to look at her. “Did you call them?” I ask, realizing that must be what she was concentrating so hard on.

 

She nods solemnly. “They were our only hope.”

 

One angel who avoided the fight pries the restraints off Janie, Libby, and I. The moment I’m free, my wings carry me like a bolt of lightning to Jeremy. Just before the toe of his sneaker touches the molten rock, I scoop him into my arms. Janie flits over, dodging being pulled down by angry demons, and unhooks his chain as well. Satan lets out a roar full of fury at his plan being foiled. The angels who had avoided fighting till now, fall on him.

 

Janie, Libby and I drop to the floor of the cavern near the entrance and I shift Jeremy so his limp form is piggybacking me, still shacked arms looped around my neck as I grip his thighs at my waist. Limp, but still breathing I realize and relief washes over me. Before we have a chance to rejoice at being alive, demons start dropping from the stands and making a bee line for us, we turn tail and dart out into the winding caverns.

 

Twigs and rocks crunch under our feet as we run, trying desperately to get away from our followers. The demons are gaining on us as we bolt through the caves. I gasp for air, trying to keep Jeremy securely on my back, trying not to think of the similarities between this situation and the dream I had the night before I met Jeremy. I could see a way out ahead and the demons barreling through the dust not far behind. We sprint for the shred of light coming from the opening. Chest heaving for air, we reach the passage to freedom. Just when I think we might be in the clear, a blinding ball of light encases the four of us. When my sight clears, I find us sitting in front of a tall, half circle desk; or, three of us anyway. I notice Jeremy is no longer with us. Janie and Libby are off to the side, while I am front and center. I look up to the people sitting at the desk.

 

The High Council.

 

***

 

 “Where is Jeremy?” I ask standing up.

 

“Your friend is back on Earth, safe in his bed. Though, from what we’ve heard, he’s a little more than a friend to you, isn’t he Kelsey?” one of the council members asks in a grilling tone.

 

I hesitate for only a moment, still coming off the adrenaline high of being chased through Hell by demons. “Yes, it’s true. I have fallen in love with him.” I respond, hanging my head. Since I have nothing to lose at this point, I ask a question that I have been mulling over since meeting Jeremy. “But council members, I don’t really understand your rule against it. You almost set us up to fall. With the heightened senses and emotions we feel, and the training step requiring us to bond with humans, how can you expect us to not fall in love with a human?”

 

A few council members exchange contemplative glances, telling me that what I’m saying holds much logic.

 

“We have never had an angel openly address this matter, and it does seem logical. It is a matter that will need to be discussed at length, however at least at this time, the rule stands. And you have broken it. It pains us to do this, but you have given us no other choice.” The member says gravely. She motions to a group of Archangels standing near one wall. 

 

As they converge on me, I back swiftly away, terror speeding the pace of my heart once again. Out of the corner of my eye I see Janie and Libby being held back by another archangel, struggling to get to me, tears streaming down both of their faces and a string of curses flying out of Libby’s mouth. Strong hands clamp around the tops of my arms from behind. Without me willing them to, my wings materialize on my back. I begin kicking and begging as two more hands grip my wings. All thought, all sense of self leaves me as a searing pain, more painful than I could have ever imagined, rips through my body and soul. My wings are dropped to the floor in front of me, withered and dying. My brain hardly registers the foreign sight of them.

 

The moment the Archangels release me, I crumple to the ground, back bleeding and head throbbing. Janie and Libby are still screaming my name, screaming at the high council, but I barely hear them over the agonized screaming coming from deep within myself. The cloudy floor beneath me dissolves and I plummet back to Earth.

 

Once my home; now my prison.

Author's Note

Be sure to check out the sequel to this book;
Banished for Love