Alice's Insurrection (Alice Clark Series) (4 page)

COLE

“What is with the giant
ass grin?” Jake asked, punching Cole in the shoulder.

“Nothing, man.” He stared at Jake’s confused face, deciding to let him in on it. “Alice. She’s happy. I can feel it in my bones; she’s hopeful.”

Jake smiled genuinely, “Now that is great news. Let’s go see her.” The guys pushed each other, playing around as they walked up to the front door. “She might be able to kick my ass but I won’t take it easy on you,” he said, grabbing the back of Cole’s head in an attempt to put him into a headlock.

You wish you were taking it easy on me
, Alice thought toward them both before they burst through the front door. “Hey guys,” she shouted into the kitchen from the living room where she lay, still quite tingly. Cole became increasingly aware that she was, in a sense, frozen in that position. “I’m fine, Cole. Truly.” He felt the tension roll off of his shoulders as if a blaze were melting ice.

“Feeling any better today?” Jake asked
, as he plopped onto a nearby chair.

“Yeah
, I do, actually. Still really sore, but Briathos was just helping me with that.” She felt the shift in the room; no one was a hundred percent comfortable with the angel’s presence, except Alice, of course. Some even thought it was a trap, that he could be a spy. Alice knew Rogziel had cast him down with malice. She had seen what lay beneath him and a part of Cole could feel that, too. Though he didn’t want to be, Briathos was on their side.

“Relax
, you two; he helped me with the angel cream.”

“The what?” Jake asked
, laughing.

“That’s just what I call it. Sure
, make fun of me while I’m stuck on this couch.” She tried to stifle the laugh but was unsuccessful, which only sent them all into a large burst of laughter. It seemed that something dark was always waiting in the wings for them, but there were also times like this one, where they could just relax and enjoy life, and they all needed the change of pace if only for a short while. The sound of Alice’s laugh warmed Cole’s heart and as he, too, was laughing, all he could do was love her even more.

“As long as you are doing better
, that’s all that matters,” Cole said with a warm smile.

“I’m sore
, but I think I could take Jake,” she retorted with a challenging snicker.

“You wish,” Jake said. They both felt it; she meant it. “You’re kidding right? Yesterday I had to carry you back in the house and today you think you can just throw me around?” Jake looked to Cole who was just as baffled by it.

“Well, maybe not for as long as I normally can, but yeah, I think I could. You’re not going to break me and at least not any worse than I have been.” Cole could feel the faintness of the tingling diminish and felt her sincerity.

“Absolutely not
,” Jake spat.

Alice lifted herself from the couch and crouched down in front of Jake
, slightly off balance, which did nothing for her case. “I’ll even let you take it easy on me,” she joked. Briathos emerged from hiding, and they all looked up at him, surprised.

“If she says she’s ready, she is. I’ve healed many before her
. Jake, I would think you of all, would know that,” Briathos offered, in aide of her quest.

“I remember
, but they weren’t half human. Human bodies are fragile, in case you haven’t noticed the extensive healing she has needed this time,” Jake answered.

“Can this not be a pissing contest
? I just want to see how much better I am.” Alice stood up and walked outside, and Cole knew she knew what she was doing. They would always follow her, here now, to hell, to heaven. Anywhere she went they would always follow her. Reluctantly, Cole headed toward the kitchen and out the open front door, Briathos following closely behind. They stood outside for twenty minutes in silence, as Alice stretched her green and yellow body.

“You shouldn’t be asking him to do this. He’s gone through a lot during this entire ordeal
, too, you know,” Cole said, finding himself standing up for Jake.

“That is exactly why I asked him to.
I refuse to fail because of this and I refuse to let any of you do the same. He’ll come out when he’s ready,” she said as she sat down on the ground.

“I may not understand what you two have
, but I see it and I feel it as much as I don’t want to. Just be careful, you have a hold on the good in us all, don’t abuse that.” It’s not exactly what Cole wanted to say but it got the point across without saying, don’t break him and don’t break me to do it. She understood what he meant and she felt the pain the situation caused him, even if he did block it from her. That’s what years of empathy can do to a person. Your intuition is extensive and almost always correct.

Brother? She will not let this go
, you know that.
Cole spoke to Jake.

I know. She is incredibly frustrating.

Don’t I know it. Come out here and let her heal you both.
Cole sighed while watching Alice play with a blade of grass.

I fear the worst
, brother,
Jake said with a heaviness in his broken, Fallen heart.

That is your nature. Be what she needs you to be. Try not to rub it in my face.
Cole said, feeling Jake’s smile emerge. He expected a smartass remark.

I won’t do that to you after all we’ve been through. Al
l right, I’m coming out.
Jake emerged from the doorway with panic in his eyes.

“Bought time
, Jake,” Alice said with a smile as she stood up and dusted herself off. Jake approached her with sadness in his eyes, and Cole felt that crush her.

ALICE

Jake, I’m okay, truly. We’re
just sparing like old times. We can do this.
She thought in a whisper. She smiled at him and saw a sliver of light beam in response.
Trust me as I trust you.
He nodded and she stepped back. They began to circle each other, waiting for the other to strike, while Briathos and Cole watched nearby. Alice’s wings still lay gently against her back as if they were searching for where they should recoil. Alice knew Jake was vulnerable and that terrified him, as she just had seen his innermost thoughts just a few days earlier and could tell he was still shaken from the exposure and reminder. She wasn’t sure who needed this more, but she hoped she could handle it as well as she thought. Jake registered that she was thinking, off in another world, and swung his leg underneath her, knocking her off her feet. Cole began to run towards them but the Angel held him back.

“Let them finish
,” Briathos spoke calmly.

Alice stood up with a wicked grin, “Is that the best you’ve got?”
she taunted. Jake threw a punch that she blocked and followed through with her own, clocking him in the jaw. “Come on, Jake!” she demanded as she swung, hitting him in the stomach, knocking him back a few feet. “Don’t make me push you.”

He swung weakly
, unable to fulfill her request, feeling her foot as it impacted into his gut, knocking him back several feet again. He stood up, breathing heavily and spiting what looked like blood. “You’re getting your ass kicked by an injured half breed,” Alice spat. Nothing was working; she needed him to let go and she needed to know she could take him if she needed to. She doubted that, when it all went wrong again, Rogziel would wait until she was at her best.

Jake
stared at her, throwing his hands up. “I know who you really are, Procel.” Cole clutched his side from the emotional pain Alice felt by pushing the one button that could break Jake. She stared into his eyes with apology and watched the light get snuffed out. She then pushed too hard, too fast.

“Jake
, easy!” Cole yelled.

Jake ran at Alice with a guttural scream escaping his lips and launched at her ribs
, knocking her to the ground. The air escaped her and she knew she was moments away from a terrible injury if she didn’t get that light back on inside of him. He punched and she blocked while pinned to the cold ground. She kicked the ground, fighting underneath him like a victim. The fear in her took hold, but she continued to wave Cole off. She knew one way to save him, but Cole would be horribly devastated seeing her kiss him. She needed the focus of his eyes and wasn’t sure how to do that. Jake wrapped his arm around her neck and lifted her off the ground so her small frame was pressed against his muscular torso. She used all the strength she had and attempted to tap into Jake’s light. She wrapped her legs around his waist using all her strength to flip them onto his back. She held him down and kept pressure on his sides to hold him to the ground. She pinned his arms, but he was fighting too hard. She punched him in the face, causing a temporary calm, so she could gain focus of his eyes.
Jake, you cannot hide from who you are. You must use that part of you for good, to help yourself and others. Procel is a version of you, not all that you are. You are loved by us all, by me.
With that, the rage left his eyes and the light blared blindingly. She smiled at the tear soaked face before her and said, “Now hit me like you mean it.”

He shoved her off of him and stood back up
, ready this time to spar. She swung and he blocked, he kicked and she ducked. He wrapped his arm around her neck and pinned her in a headlock. “Now, are we done?” he said, his voice thick with sarcasm. She reached up and placed her hand on the back of his head, pulled him over her head and straight onto his back and to the ground.

“Now we are done
,” she said, reaching out an arm to help him up, which he took.

“Can we not
try to save my soul on a daily basis?”

“I think we’re done now
,” she said with a smile. He put an arm around her and they walked over to their audience.

“You two really worry me sometimes
,” Cole said running his hands through his hair.

“We always worry you
, brother,” he said, passing Alice to him.

“Well done. Seems you both had something that needed to be dealt with. I’m glad to have helped
,” Briathos said with a nod before heading back inside to his room.

“Now what?” Cole asked
, staring into Alice’s smooth brown eyes.

“I’m starving
,” Alice said with a knowing smile.

“Me
, too,” Jake added, raising his hand like a child.

“Yeah
, yeah, alright. I’ll make you guys something. Let’s go in,” Cole shook his head, happy that was all over.