She lifted her face and, squinting her eyes, looked at the red sky that heralded war. She deduced from Jack and Michael's last conversation that there was a fierce battle over a sword that could annihilate heavenly beings.
Both angels and fallen ones were trying to find the object, which had disappeared centuries ago. No one knew where it was hidden, and now that information about its existence has leaked out, the search has become even more rigorous.
The designated angels who initiated the search hundreds of years ago — their efforts still did not yield results, and since Jack found the heavenly traitor, it has become even more dangerous.
Whoever finds the sword first will win the war and annihilate the enemy.
- Aren't you afraid that when I find the sword, you will be the first being I destroy? - whispered in her ear, Jack.
She turned to face him and twisted her lips in an ironic smile.
- I am not an idiot. You still stand up for me, and I know that I am the only person closest to you," she replied boldly, looking into his eyes.
- Let's acknowledge that this is true, but.... - he stopped in mid-sentence and swept her face with a tender gaze. - But... there are times when I look at you and feel unimaginable anger. Do you understand what I'm talking about? You killed one of my best men. On the one hand, I think he deserved it because he slept with you, but on the other hand I feel regret because he has served me for so many years....
- So would you be able to kill me? Even if only now? - She asked, squinting her eyes.
- No," he replied mockingly and messaged his face with his hand. - But I like to tease you. It would be a pity to kill you just now, when you are dangerously charming in a dark way.
- I know that I am your weakness, and you would never dare to kill me," she announced in a bold voice, not taking her eyes off him.
- You may be right. I never got rid of my weakness towards you because if that were the case, I would have killed you as soon as you appeared in town. At that time, you were just a human being, so I wouldn't have had any problem with it. However, from the very beginning I did not intend to harm you in any particular way," he declared. - I didn't do it because I had plans for you. I did not intend to kill you at all, and you, idiot, committed suicide," he mocked.
- What plans did you have for me?
- It's irrelevant now. You returned as an angel, so I finished the job, and now you are on my side," he replied, touching her hair. - We are together again.
- So all this time you were mainly playing a show?
- You just got lost in my plans. It doesn't matter, Alison. It's too complicated. - Jack raised his face and carefully looked at the sky as the fallen Angeles did not take her eyes off him, wondering what thoughts were manifesting in his head.
- Why are you just telling me this? Just now?
- Because I got tired of pretending, and it was time to end this game. I'm not going to tease you any longer. The end of this torment is approaching, and since everything has gone according to plan, you must finally know the truth. The sorry spectacle of a betrayed lover is over, so when I reveal my secret to you, you'll have to trust me.
The fallen Angeles furrowed her eyebrows, completely lost in his proceedings. So, revenge on her was just a cover-up, while he was preparing for an entirely different tactic?
- Can you start being more precise in what you say?
- Alison, you are simply a beautiful addition to my plan," he proclaimed, stroking her hair. - From the beginning you were...
- So...
- So listen to me and don't turn your back on me because I have something in my possession that can destroy you. You wouldn't want to betray me.... Certainly not now, when you would finally be finished with me. I don't give a second chance to anyone, do you understand? To no one. Even you would be no exception. - Instantly his words sounded so ominous that Alison, despite the lack of a soul, was pierced by a slight shudder. - And I would not like to lose you again.
*
The fallen Angeles headed down the empty street, listening to the whispering of the fallen angels who, trapped in the forest, immediately wanted revenge.
She moved with a slow step, recalling all the events she had experienced during her brief stay when she ended up in this town. Jack gave her back her memories to carefully analyze the words he revealed to her.
She was devastated.
Only now did she realize that she had been a cover for his true intentions. He didn't really care about any revenge, he just needed her to leave the place. He required Alison to confuse everyone around her.
She felt like taking revenge on him, but she couldn't do it. She was unable to turn her back on him, especially not now that he had revealed the whole truth to her.
As she was to him, so he remained a weakness to her that she was unable to get rid of. She longed to abide by his side, even if he drove her crazy. She could not leave him. Furthermore, she was unable to.
He was her obsession...
And also the only man with whom she could leave this town and finally experience true freedom by his side.
Forever. For all eternity...
*
Alison entered a dark room filled with an unpleasant musty smell, and a mocking smile appeared on her face when she saw the heavenly traitor who matched Jack's cunning. The two of them formed an invincible duo, taunting the other beings, who so far suspected nothing.
They fooled everyone. Including Alison.
They deserved a medal.
- Bravo! - she shouted and started clapping her hands, drawing their attention. - Who would have thought that you would be such accomplices and friends at the same time. Your excellent plan deserves a reward.
Jack rolled his eyes, and the accompanying angel smiled sourly. He seemingly sinned, but all the work was done for him by a demon, so no one could accuse him of treason.
- I guessed that Jack could no longer stand the tedious game either, and would eventually reveal the truth to you. Welcome to our devious plan.
- I still can't get out of admiration of what an exceptional actor you are. I understand Jack because he is a nasty and devious fox, but you? - She communicated, shaking her head. - Wow. You would be the last celestial being I would suspect of betrayal. After all, the Archangels trust you implicitly. You are their pet, even the icing on the cake.... - she mocked, specifically making fun of him. - I must admit that you are good. So much time to be a traitor, on top of being worshiped by those at the top. Will you tell me the secret of your cunning?
- Stop it, Alison. I didn't reveal the truth to you to play some scenes, but to start cooperating with us," announced Jack, throwing the brunette a warning glance.
- Relax my sinner. As far as you are concerned, I will do anything you tell me.
Angel shook his head, unhappy with Alison's presence, but since Jack trusted her again, he had to accept it.
- Do you have any guesses as to where this pretty girl might be hiding? - She asked, looking at her hands. She contorted her face into a grimace when she noticed the scratched nail polish. - Damn, they keep getting damaged. I have to visit the store and re-paint my nails with red polish.
- I'm not concerned about your nails, Alison. If you would rather not participate in this, then get lost," announced Jack in a sharp voice.
- Oh, don't be appalled. I won't tell you that anger harms beauty because you will never lose your magnificent beauty, but.... - She didn't finish her sentence because Jack waved his hand. Before she could react in any way, she realized that he had thrown her out of the building. She landed outside, right in front of the front door.
She pissed him off with her behavior, but what could she do about it, since they had been setting up a mockery of her the whole time? Furthermore, she would already rather Jack actually harbor a grudge against her and hate her than find out that she was simply a cover for his plans.
She crossed her arms over her chest and, nervously stomping her foot on the ground, waited for them to dismantle the protective wall through which she could not get inside.
Seeing that they were fierce and were not going to listen to her endearing statements, she sat down against the wall with resignation. Wrinkling her nose, she challenged them to be despicable pigs in the hope that they would hear her.
However, she had to admit that they were incredibly in tune and cunning. If this plan had been initiated by someone else, it would undoubtedly have been exposed, and they were still pulling the wool over everyone's eyes after so long.
The end was coming.
If everything goes according to plan, they will be able to leave this town. It's a boring place they couldn't digest anymore. A prison wasteland in which there was no real fun.
They wanted to experience a taste they had not been able to experience for hundreds of years. To explore the world and feel the true freedom, fun and carefree that they had been missing.
To retire to a place where they would spend the rest of eternity.
But for the plan to come to fruition they needed to find a certain girl. A child who displayed a unique strength, as well as power.
A being who was the daughter of Lucifer and his apprentice Martha.
She was the only one who was able to let them through the protective barrier that cut off the beings' contact with the rest of the world.
It was this girl who was their last hope because the sword they had all been looking for a long time was in the hands of Jack and his heavenly accomplice Michael.
The sword, which disappeared a century ago, had been stolen by Lucifer's apprentice. Martha was the only being to reach it. Like her brother — Michael, this angelic woman displayed cunning and incredible talent.
Lucifer was intrigued by her, and this earned her his trust. He trained her, and she used her unique ability of becoming invisible in the presence of heavenly beings.
No one could see her, even the Archangels had a problem with it.
Martha could not leave the town, so for hundreds of years she hid with her sword in a place that was a prison for fallen angels. Only Michael knew his sister's secret, so he made a deal with Jack the moment Alison turned him in. They used this way to get to Martha and hide her in a safe place. Michael wanted his sister close to him because he knew that if the Archangels found out about her deception, he would also suffer through her betrayal, since he was closest to her.
- Will you be so proud for a long time? - Alison shook off her thoughts and raised her eyes, looking at Jack with undisguised anger.
She rose from the ground and unexpectedly slapped his face. The fallen angel completely didn't expect it, and Alison was finally relieved.
- That's for all the times you arranged to mock me. You had a great time playing the role of a betrayed lover, huh? Your partner probably did too, since he recently trapped me in some damn cage, exposing me to ridicule! - she yelled, no longer controlling her anger. - You played out the scenes, and secretly winked at each other!
- Let's consider that you gave me away because indeed sometimes I got too carried away," he replied mildly enough that she raised an eyebrow in surprise. - I played the role of the betrayed too much," he added, and a slight smile appeared on his face.
- Got carried away? Did you play the role too much? This is the very moment when I feel like taking this fucking sword away from you and stabbing it straight into your heart!
- You'll get over it soon," he replied in a dismissive voice.
- I wish that, like Michael and Martha, I had delved into a brother-sister type relationship with you. It would have been much simpler and hassle-free.
- It wouldn't have been this fun, Alison. It was our destiny from the beginning to become lovers," he announced, stroking her face with his fingertip. The brunette squinted and felt like smacking him again, but this time he was prepared and caught her hand before it collided with his cheek.
He shook his head, letting her know that this was a bad idea.
- If you weren't so close to me, I would undoubtedly betray you again, only this time with the conviction that you deserve it, and not out of stupidity," she declared in a nervous voice. - The worst part is that I'm stuck with the idea that I made a mistake then. And I would regret it now, too, because I dream of nothing but finally running away with you to the other side of the world, where no one will find us. I want to finally experience the freedom I crave.
A triumphant smile appeared on his face.
- And there came a time when we finally came to an agreement because all along I was doing it with us in mind.
Alison wrinkled her nose and suddenly screamed in his face:
- Stop making fun of me because this is the first time your face irritates me terribly, and it's a bad sign. You should know about it!
She wanted to walk away from him, but Jack did not let her. He read her intentions.
- Now that you know the truth you won't take a step away from me, understood? Especially until your anger passes.
A mocking smile appeared on her face. If he played a nice show all the time, why couldn't she?
He hid the truth for so long, making her look like an idiot. Why couldn't she do the same? She had an ace up her sleeve, since Jack didn't know about the existence of their son. Was it time to take advantage of this?
- If this is the day when we confess shocking secrets to each other, why shouldn't I tell you something, too?
The fallen angel raised an eyebrow, wondering what she meant. Alison wasn't as crafty as he was, so what secret could she be hiding from him?
- You prepared this gift for yourself," she added with derision in her voice, grunting significantly.
It was time for her to make amends.
- What do you have in mind?
- Who knows? I suddenly changed my mind. I'll tell you when we can get out of here. I think that will be the best farewell gift to this place.