Devil's Toy

Chapter 6

"What happened, Gabs?" He spoke softly into my hair.

The soft rocking of his body, mixed with the heaviness of my tears, was pulling me towards sleep.

"You were fine all morning. I know why you needed to leave me, but why the tears, love?"

"Stop calling me that, Michael. You know it's forbidden." I managed through sobs.

He placed a hand under my chin to lift my eyes to meet his, "I don't care when it's you. I'd risk my existence for you." He smiled softly, but his words pierced through my heart.

Flashback

I giggled as we ran through the fields of the tallest lavender plants you could imagine. God was in the midst of deciding how he wanted the green life to look.

"Oh, Samael! Don't these smell divine? I think these are my favorite." I danced in circles letting the deep amethyst plants kiss my skin. The lavender plants released a sweet aroma that filled the entire field. I closed my eyes and inhaled, letting it coat my senses.

I glanced over at Samael, a smile spread wide across his chiseled face.

"I could watch you forever, Gabrielle."

Sam had stopped his own trotting to sit amongst a patch of marigolds. He sat with his legs stretched out, leaning back on his elbows.

"Quit it, Sam." I blushed, twirling over to him. I plopped down next to him, reaching down to sniff a marigold. It was different from the lavender. Similarly sweet, but more like honey.

The bright yellow petals brought a smile to my heart. This was my favorite phase of God's. The weather was my least favorite as of yet. I shivered at the thought of hale pounding across the green, turning it into a valley of dull mud.

I could feel Sam's gaze still on me, so I met it with a smile. Being with Sam was as easy as a breathing.

"What's with all this happiness, Sam? It's such a rare sight." I teased him gently.

He smiled a bit deeper, his head dropping away for a moment.

"I enjoy being around you, Gaby. I've witnessed many Angels, but never one like you."

I blushed, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear.

"I like being around you too, Sam." I couldn't help the quickened beating of my heart. I swallowed hard, mentally reminding myself of my purpose in this world.

"I asked you to come out here for a reason, Gaby." His tone had dropped, and I knew it was time to be serious.

I nodded sitting up, "Yes, of course. What is it?"

Sam sighed and looked up into the sky, "I'm going to miss this."

My head quirked like a dog hearing a strange noise, "Miss what, Sam? This is our realm. We can visit these rooms whenever we'd like!"

He looked deep into my eyes, a heaviness clouding his beautiful green iris'.

"You're worrying me," I whispered.

His hand reached up to caress my face. I closed my eyes and let my head sink into his palm, relishing the feeling. Guilt immediately followed it. These feelings weren't allowed.

"I am leaving Heaven." He let the words out.

"That's impossible!" I couldn’t help the panic that swallowed my words whole.

He shook his head, "I can't live like this, Gaby. I can't keep pretending that what he is doing is right. I can't keep pretending I don't feel love for anyone except him and those wretched humans he keeps trying to create."

"Samael!" I yelled, recoiling at his words. His eyebrows knit together, his eyes scanning my face with hints of disdain. I wasn’t sure if it was towards me or what he was saying.

"Why does he need to create a separate life form to control? Why are we not enough? Why can't we spread our love to each other? Why must it only be for him, Gaby?" He inched closer to me, his mouth breaths away from mine.

"I want you to come with me." His eyes dropped down to my lips.

I shook my head hard, "I can't. I won't." I backed away from him quickly.

"You can't do this, Sam. Not for some stupid reason like loving an Angel."

"It's not stupid, Gabrielle. I wish you'd open your mind to leaving with me." He got up.

I grabbed his hand instinctively, not wanting him to go.

"Please, Sam."

"I'd risk my existence for you, Gabrielle."

And that was the last time I ever saw him.

End Flashback

"I appreciate the sentiment, Michael. But it is foolish of you to say such dangerous words. You of all people know we wouldn't survive in Hell. We'd burst right into flames. Lucifer would never even welcome us." Goosebumps covered my skin as his name rolled off my tongue.

I lifted myself off Michael, roughly wiping away my tears.

"Thank you for coming to check on me, I appreciate it. But I am fine, and you can go now."

I gestured towards the door, unable to look at him.

"Okay” He nodded, “I'll go then." The hurt in his words was evident, and it only made it harder for me to ask him to leave.

I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to hold it together.

"See you tomorrow?" He turned back to look at me.

I nodded. Hearing the door shut, I pulled the letter back out of the drawer, letting my fingers feel the ridges of the words caused by the ink pen. Samael was still an old-school man. The letter was handwritten with a quill, I was sure of it.

I stared at the golden sheet, my mind battling itself on whether or not to respond. It had been centuries since his departure. Responding would put me in more danger than it was worth. Lucifer was probably just trying to get a rise out of me. He was no longer the Samael I once knew. He was an evil creature that harmed humans for pleasure. He created demons and monsters. He created murderers.

A teardrop fell onto the letter, leaving a dark spot in its place. My heart had ached for more lifetimes than I could count. How my heart still worked was beyond me.

Damien would either truly be a demon wished to reform, or a pawn in Lucifers plan.