With a smile on her face, she stared at the person who stood not far from her, his back leaning against the wall of the building. George, with his arms crossed over his chest, was looking at the girl with obvious longing in his eyes.
She understood he had been in love with her for many years. Perhaps meeting her reincarnation had released a long-forgotten feeling in him, or he had been unable to banish Alison from his heart all this time.
She had always felt sorry for Georg because it was a one-sided feeling that she could not reciprocate. The only man she loved was Jack. She knew perfectly well how George must have felt because now she was in a similar situation. She loved someone who was unable to reciprocate her feelings, or more precisely, hated her....
With her hand, she combed her hair, which overlapped her face, then moved toward the brunet. Smiling subtly, she dodged passers-by — ignoring their stares. Probably when she was human she didn't draw as much attention to herself, but as an angel, she was more than a person of average beauty to them.
Crossing the road, she didn't pay attention to the color of the traffic lights. She went directly under the wheels of a car that honked a warning, and before she knew it, she raised her hand, stopping time. Everything came to a standstill, along with the speeding car and the throbbing that moments earlier could be clearly felt.
- Oops," she whispered, knowing full well what trouble she would make. She was an angel, so she couldn't be hurt. Only superhuman power was capable of hurting her. The power of someone stronger than her, which is why she was so afraid of Jack. As a fallen man, he was much stronger than her, so she was not given an easy task. She knew what she had agreed to because the Archangels would not restore her wings so easily. They believed in her only because they knew how strong the feeling between them was. They hoped it would help defeat Jack.
With a slow step, she approached Georg, who stood motionless, looking toward the roadway with clear concern in his eyes. He was probably scared, although he knew perfectly well that Alison could not be hurt.
She raised her hand, and life moved again. The driver braked with a squeal of tires and, confused, began to look around. He ran out of the car to see if he had accidentally hit the girl, but seeing that there was no one on the roadway, he was visibly relieved.
She looked at George, who stared at her with wide-open eyes. He probably still couldn't get used to the fact that she was an angel again.
- Alison," he whispered, watching her face carefully. He put his hand to the girl's cheek, which she immediately knocked away. She couldn't let him do more, lest he accidentally start imagining things.
- I'm excited to see you, too.
- Does Jack know that you are back, that you are an angel again? I haven't seen him for a long time because I have the feeling that he hates me since I took your side," he said all the time without taking his eyes off her. - But the disturbing thing is, why didn't he kill me in that case? Since he acted that way with Manuel....
- None of us know what's in his head. I can't figure him out either. He has changed beyond recognition, so I feel like I'm getting to know him all over again," she replied with sadness in her voice. George put his hand on her shoulder, and a sincere smile appeared on his face.
- I am pleased that you are an angel again. You are the most beautiful in this edition," he stated boldly, looking Alison in the eyes. He meant it. He clearly in the world began to pick her up.
- Do you know I don't like it when you say that? - She asked warning, to which he nodded his head in agreement. - Therefore, next time, bite your tongue before you say something.
- It's definitely the edition I like best. Alison with a claw is something I missed. I may have mentioned you before, but as a person, you sucked.
- George! - she admonished him, throwing him a warning glance. The boy bit his lip and made an innocent face, pretending as if nothing of the sort had come out of his mouth. She liked him, however, sometimes he exaggerated.
She grabbed his hand and then startled Henry, who appeared in front of her with a disgruntled look on his face. He shook his head, then shifted his gaze to George.
He probably didn't like the fact that, as an angel, she had decided to continue her acquaintance with someone who had sold his soul. George had served the fallen man from the beginning and helped him in many bad things, so he was not the ideal person to accompany her.
- Jack stopped contacting him after he tried to help me.
- That doesn't change the fact that I don't trust him anyway," Henry replied sharply, and she sighed helplessly. Angel was a tough nut to crack, and it was difficult to convince him of something.
- In that case, trust me, if you can't believe him. I have confidence that he will not betray me," she stated, glancing at George out of the corner of her eye. She wanted to make sure if what she said was really true. She tried to trust him because she had a feeling that he would never stab her in the back. Furthermore, she knew that under the influence of fear it was possible for him to turn against her, but she preferred to take the risk. She needed as many people as possible to take her side.
- I thought you were more considerate," he replied, clearly displeased. He walked away from Alison, and she turned to George, who was watching the angel moving away.
- I think that as long as you defend me, he will not help you in times of danger.
- He will help, he is only temporarily offended. It's not a big deal. He's an angel, so he can't stay angry for long," she stated, shrugging her shoulders. She sent the boy a slight smile, then moved ahead without a word. George kept pace with her; however, he remained silent the whole way. She turned into a deserted alley, which housed a photo shop.
- Why did we come here? - He asked, clearly surprised, and she stared at the glass, looking for Jack's presence on the other side. However, this time he was definitely not here.
She felt disappointed. She didn't even answer the question George asked and left the place as quickly as possible. Furthermore, she stepped out into the street and turned briskly onto the sidewalk, inadvertently bumping into an elderly man. She immediately apologized to him, but he froze, as well as the woman who accompanied him. The old woman unexpectedly took Alison in her arms, and the girl blinked her eyelids, not understanding what was happening. Smiles appeared on their faces, they looked as if a stone had fallen from their hearts.
- We have been looking for you for so long. We were afraid that something bad had happened to you, but fortunately, you are here," the man spoke up, stroking the brunette's hair. Confused, she stared at them, then turned back to search for help from George. Maybe he knew something? - Why didn't you go home? Where were you all this time, what was happening to you?
With a movement of his lips, George announced to her that it was her grandparents with whom she had lived when she was human.
The woman shed a tear, staring at the girl's face, as if in disbelief that she was actually standing in front of her.
- We thought we had lost you, like your parents. We were so afraid," she whispered in a trembling voice, stroking her shoulder.
George unexpectedly walked up to Alison and grabbed her hand.
- Forgive me, but this is not the person you are looking for," he turned to the couple, then pulled the girl behind him. The grandparents ran after them and shouted for them to wait, but George was not going to let her go.
She finally got angry and used force to make him stop pulling her.
How could he treat these people so ugly? They were sure that Alison was their missing granddaughter. They had suffered for a long time, wondering where she had disappeared to, and now they were to go through this again?
- Why did you do this? Since you said they were my grandparents, I tried to pretend that everything was fine. You don't even know what happiness emanated from them whenever they met me. They really missed their granddaughter, and you treated them so ugly! - she shouted, heading back to that place. George grabbed her hand again and shook his head.
- Don't complicate it. It was fine when they thought you had died. They weren't even your real grandparents. You were found by them, and their daughter decided to adopt you since she couldn't have children. Did you think you were born normally like other people? Through childbirth? No. I know your story and I know everything about you.
- What do you mean? - She asked, surprised by George's words.
- I am not authorized to tell you about it. I'm trying to score some points with your angelic friend, so he should be the one to explain everything to you. Especially since Henry is the one who has the most to do with it," the boy stated, and she looked at him carefully. She didn't remember anything from her days as a human, only the last days, when Jack gave her back her memories of her time as an angel. In addition, there were some secrets behind her rebirth, which she completely did not understand. - It would be best if these people completely forgot about you. Now you're not human, so you can't get close to them.
- So, what do you want me to do?
- I think the best way would be if you take away the memories associated with you while they sleep. Let them think they never had a granddaughter, at least they won't suffer," George suggested, and Alison looked with sad eyes in the direction where the elderly people were. The girl felt sorry for them, but George was right. She was no longer human. No one could discover the truth that she was an angelic.
The best way to heal their suffering was to forget about Alison. Even if they loved her very much....
- My heart breaks at the thought of it, but I will do it," she whispered.
*
Being in George's house was associated with many memories of Jack. It was where he was most often jealous of Alison. She loved the feeling when he would throw sharp glances at George, even if the latter looked at her for too long. He would reproach her for being clearly pleased that she had another admirer. The girl missed such situations. She missed her beloved...
Suddenly, she understood something. What if the only way to check it was jealousy? If Jack cared about her, he should have gotten mad when he noticed how close she got to George. But wasn't that too risky? What if it turns out to be true, and he kills the boy as a result of his rage? In truth, he should have done so long ago, after George sided with her.
Maybe he got too attached to him and considered him his only friend, so he was unable to do it? Perhaps he was afraid of being left alone? Even though he sowed evil around him and tried to be cruel, still some part of him had feelings?
- I want to appear here any time I can't find a place for myself. As an angel, I am constantly on the move, so when I desire I will appear at your place," she spoke up unexpectedly, making George uneasy. She didn't know what he was so upset about because if he likes her, he should be happy about this proposal. - After all, you live alone, right? So what's the problem? Are you afraid of what will happen if Jack finds out? After all, you no longer have contact with him, so I don't understand what you're afraid of?
- That's not the issue, Alison said. - He nervously scratched the back of his neck and looked at her with frightened eyes. - I lied to you," he burnt out unexpectedly, and she raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding in what matter he had deceived her. - The point is that Jack has not broken contact with me. I serve him all the time. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, but you accepted the lie. I would rather not tell you the truth because I knew you wouldn't want to have anything to do with me if I was still on Jack's side. I'm sorry.
- I could have guessed because it would have been too good if he had forgiven you," she snorted under her breath, throwing him a sharp look. - Bravo. You lied to me, and I believed it because I wanted to trust you.
- I'm sorry, Alison," he replied with remorse in his voice. - You hate me now, don't you?
- I'm an angel, so I can't hate. You just let me down," she muttered, crossing her arms on her chest. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and suddenly got a great idea. - If you want me to forgive you, then you have to do something for me.
George looked at her with clear concern. He probably knew that it would be nothing simple.
- You will help me make Jack jealous. I want to know if he still cares about me.
George's eyes widened in horror, so he vigorously shook his head as a sign that he disagreed. He was afraid of him, especially since he still served him. However, since he had so perfidiously lied to Alison, he had to help her.
- I won't let him hurt you, so don't be afraid. I will live here, and if you don't want me to, I will leave, and you will never see me again," she blackmailed him, which was perfidious of her. She felt bad that she had to treat him this way, but she was capable of doing anything to get Jack back. Even if she had to use a boy who was in love with her to do it. She was an angel and felt how great a sin it was, but she could never be completely pure. She knew she would anger the Archangels, but she wouldn't let another one lose Jack. Furthermore, she will save him and no one will have to annihilate him. She will sacrifice herself at the expense of herself. Just as she did last time.
- You know perfectly well that angels have a measured weight of sins, and the exceeded amount makes them fallen? You saw what happened to Jack and Rafael. Do you want to collect enough and join them? Last time you got away with it because you turned them in and weren't so burdened, but now they won't forgive you. Come to your senses, Alison.
- No, George. I have already decided. I once made a mistake, losing Jack in the process. Now I will do everything to get him back. I won't make that mistake a second time. I think he is more important to me, more than wanting to be an angel. I'm not concerned about that anymore. Not if he is not with me.
- I knew how much you loved him, but I didn't think it was such a strong feeling," he whispered, and a slight smile appeared on her face.
- Currently, I may be cruel to say this just to you, but he is the whole world to me. I will do anything to get him back, even if it involves a cruel punishment. However, without him, I feel empty, I need him.
- Jack is a really lucky man that he is the man you chose. I would give anything to be in his place," he said quietly, then left the room where the girl was staying.
She realized that she had hurt him with these words, but she wanted him to know the truth. Alison felt sorry for the boy, but pity was no solution. Certainly, not now.
- What heart-catching words. You made me feel, for a moment, like I wanted to support you.
The sender of these ironic words was Rafael, who unexpectedly appeared in the apartment. She did not feel his presence at all, and the same was true of Jack. As an angel, she was always able to sense the presence of another angel, especially a demon.
Rafael grabbed her by the neck for a brief moment and pressed her against the wall. A perfidious smile appeared on his face, which did not bode well.
- You don't even know how long I waited for you to return as an angel. Now at least I can abuse you physically, which gives me more pleasure," he replied with hostility in his voice.
George returned to the room, who, upon seeing Rafael, cursed loudly.
- After all, I told you not to come back. Why do you keep showing up here?
- I thought I would wonder Jack, but I was met with a bigger surprise," he replied, brazenly smirking at Alison. Rafael was strong, so it was hard for the girl to push him away. - Are you trying to fight? You're adorable, angel.
He pushed Alison, but she managed to stop herself before she hit the table. With anger in her eyes, she looked at him as he sat down on the couch. He patted the seat next to him, letting her know to sit next to him. Without a word, she slipped past him, wanting to leave the room, but Rafael did not allow her to do so, using force.
- Where are you going? It's rude of you. Sit next to me when I tell you to.
- You will not order me around. I'm no longer human so that I can fear you," she replied dryly, piercing him with her eyes.
- Do it, as long as I'm nice. - He tried to intimidate her, but she was not going to give in to his threats. George looked at her with concerned eyes, fearing that Rafael might cause her harm. He knew how dangerous he could be when someone didn't listen to him. - I told you to sit down! - he roared so loudly that she froze for a moment. However, she didn't let it show. This man always got on her nerves. She never liked him, but she tolerated him only because he was an angel.
She didn't know what was happening to her, but she had stopped feeling the danger threatening her. Furthermore, she had no idea that Rafael, in a fit of fury, had focused his gaze on the heavy chandelier that hung above her. Only George's warning shout announced to her that something heavy was falling on her head. And before she had time to react, someone bailed her out. Time stood still, and Jack entered the room.
Rafael laughed bitterly, clearly displeased with what his former friend had done. The brunet approached the girl and tugged on her hand, pulling her aside. Moments later, the chandelier fell to the floor with a giant bang. The noise was so strong that it drowned out even the terrified George. He tentatively looked with one eye and, seeing that the brunette was all right, breathed a sigh of relief. However, he was alarmed by the presence of Jack, who was still holding Alison's hand tightly. She glared at him the whole time, not knowing how he was supposed to understand, since he had just helped her. What was going on in his head? She wanted so much to be able to read all his thoughts...