My Fallen Angel

"Kenna? Kenna, wake up," someone was whispering, and I cracked my eyes open slowly. I'd fallen asleep on the bus couch, and I sat up with a yawn, stretching my stiff limbs.
"Andy?" I looked at him blearily. "What is it?"
"I want you to come somewhere with me."
"Where?"
"It's a surprise."
I hated surprises.
I hesitated, glancing up at where all the guys were sleeping except for Ashlandil, who hadn't come back yet. And wasn't the reason I'd been waiting up on the couch until I'd fallen asleep worrying.
I knew I'd been harsh on him earlier, and I didn't want him to think I didn't care about him at all. He had a good heart on the inside, and I wasn't sure why he tried to pretend he was so evil or do such heinous things.
He always felt so guilty after it anyway.
I glanced at the clock on the wall, seeing it was after midnight, and really Andy should be sleeping since they had such an early morning tomorrow.
"Andy ---."
"Just come, please?" he was keeping his voice low, and his eyes pleaded with mine until I gave in, accepting his hand and letting him pull me off the bus.
I was really glad now I hadn't changed into my pajamas earlier. Andy had changed out of his concert clothes into plain jeans and a ripped t shirt under his leather jacket, no doubt keeping him warm in the cold, damp air.
I was starting to wish I'd worn something thicker then my thin sweater now.
"Where are we going?" I asked after we'd been walking for a little while.
"I told you, it's a surprise."
"But ---."
"Just trust me, ok?" he squeezed my hand and I sighed, relenting. We eventually came to a park, the iron gates closed and chained shut, but Andy stopped by the fence, turning toward me and offering his hand.
"Up."
"What? What are we doing?"
"Breaking and entering, now up," he ordered again, and I sent him a dubious look before complying, putting my foot in his hand and letting him lift me over the fence.
I landed easily on the other side, Andy following, and then he was threading his hand through mine again and dragging me across the thick grass to a rather large fountain, water bubbling softly.
"Andy ---."
"Make a wish," he said, dropping a quarter into my hand, and I hesitated.
"A wish?"
"Yeah. Think of something you want, wish for it, and toss the quarter in," he instructed, and I looked at the glowing water, the lights throwing shadows over our faces.
I wish for Ashlandil to feel better.
I tossed the quarter in, watching as it splashed and then slowly sink to the bottom, Andys own quarter nestling close by.
"What did you wish for?" I asked, raising my eyes to his face.
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because then it won't come true. Don't you know how wishes work?"
"No. Should I?"
Andy rolled his eyes at me and tugged on my hand, pulling me after him down one of the paths, trees hanging low over our heads in the darkness.
"How much longer, Andy?" I asked, repressing a shiver.
"We're Almost there," he assured me, and we came around a row of bushes.
I glanced over the small stage that seemed to grow out of the grass itself, vines crawling up its pillars and giving it a very earthy look. A patched red curtain was held back on either side, faded gold ropes twined around it.
Andy pulled me onto the stage and let go of my hand, looking down at his phone as he flicked through it a few times, eventually finding what he was looking for.
Music began playing over the speakers as he gingerly set it on the stage. The music was just instruments, no words or harsh drums and guitars. The melody wafted over us, soothing, and I raised my eyes to his questioningly.
"Dance with me," he murmured, offering his hand.
"Dance with you?" I blinked at him.
Was he serious?
I hesitated, then took his hand. He pulled me against his chest, one hand resting on my hips while the other curled around mine, and then started moving, sweeping us gracefully across the stage in pace with the music perfectly.
I just looked at him, kind of stunned.
"What? I can actually dance," he chuckled, twirling me away from him and then back.
"I --- I never doubted you could," I managed, my throat tightening. We used to dance like this all the time, it one of my favorite things to do.
I was a dancer, and I missed it.
The fact he'd brought me out here, amd we were dancing to music that didn't involve screams, meant the world to me.
I pressed my face against his chest as the music slowed, wrapping my arms around his neck.
This meant so much.
"I figured you missed dancing," he murmured after a few moments, "so I wanted to bring you somewhere where you could and not have to worry about anyone else."
"Thank you," I murmured, my voice wavery as I wanted to cry. "This means so much, you have no idea."
He pressed his lips into my hair, then pulled away from me, twirling me around quickly before I could get too emotional.
I laughed as he lifted me into his arms, spinning us around until we were dizzy, the wind blowing through our hair.
I liked this closeness, this fun. There was nothing sexual or stressful about it, it wasn't to get something out of me --- he was just being kind.
And I loved him all the more for it.
Andy laughed, and we collapsed onto the stage floor, trying to catch our breath.
"Look at the stars," I murmured. "They look so close, like you could almost touch them."
I reached up a hand, wishing I could pluck one out of the sky and give it to him.
I glanced over, seeing him giving me a strange look.
"What?" I asked, blushing, but he just shook his head, and rolled onto his elbows over me, blocking out the sky.
He let his lips brush mine slowly, as if making sure it was okay, and I raised my lips to meet his, my fingers tangling in his hair.
He kissed me gently, exploring the depths of my mouth and taking his time, cupping one side of my face, the gentle music still playing in the background; he must have downloaded an entire play list.
How I loved kissing him.
I tugged lightly on his lip with my teeth, and he kissed me a little harder, his body pressing more against mine. I squirmed slightly, my knee rising up to his hip, welcoming his touch.
"Kenna," he pulled away from me with a gasp. "Wait, I --- I didn't come out here to sleep with you."
"I know," I murmured, caressing his handsome cheek. He'd really had the best intentions when he'd come out here, and my heart was close to bursting.
He did care, there was nothing anyone could say to dissuade me from that.
I kissed him again, drawing him down against me, feeling his knee slip between my thighs, his kisses becoming more passionate.
I just wished I knew the truth, about what had happened between him and Seraphine. I hadn't forgotten about it, but my anger and hurt had subsided slightly.
I wished Andiel could tell me.
"Kenna?" Andy pulled away from me hesitantly, feeling my sudden lack of response. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I told him quickly, gazing up into his eyes. "I just wish... That I knew the truth." I sighed.
"About what?" he asked, running his fingers through my almost straight hair.
"Nothing you could give the answer for," I gave him a sad smile. "Don't worry, Andy."
He frowned, but I pulled his lips back to mine, not wanting to worry over it anymore.
I felt his kiss change suddenly, become warmer and more loving, and my eyes fluttered open in surprise.
I pulled away with a gasp.
"Andiel?"
I gazed into the suddenly deep blue of his eyes, feeling like I was gazing into the universe.
"Ask me anything," he whispered, his face slightly pained. "Don't be sad. I don't have a lot of time, Kenali."
"Andiel!" I wrapped my arms tightly against him, holding him against me. "I miss you!"
"I'm always here;" he told me tightly, clutching me in his arms, rising up until we were in sitting positions. "But I'm not meant to waken, Kenali, not so many times. Whatever you want to ask, ask quickly."
"Seraphine!" her name burst from my lips as I pulled myself away from him, he stiffening. "What happened? Did she really Fall for you? Did you ---."
"That's s long story." he stopped me, placing his fingers gently over my lips. "And it's not pleasant."
"Please," my eyes met his. "I need to know, Andiel."
He sighed. "We were close friends, we hid nothing from each other and often talked of Falling, just to see what life was like as a human. She hungered for it, but I never wanted to truly Fall. To speak of it is one thing, but to disregard His rules so brazenly? No." he shook his head. ."It's not something I had in me. I loved her, but merely in friendship," he let his fingers tangle in my red locks. "She fell in love with me, but I did nothing to promote it, I swear to you. I never meant for any of this to happen."
"But... Why did she think you would Fall with her?" I asked, my voice hushed.
He looked away from me. "Because I... I said I would."
I stiffened. "What?"
"I said I would Fall. One day. I never said I would Fall to be with her, or when I would. I merely said when I Fell, it would be for an angel or human I cared for more then any of His rules.. She took it to mean her." he shook his head. "That's not what I had intended... I think she wanted to show me how much I would miss her when she was gone, that I would realize I cared deeply for her and would Fall, but... That's not what happened. I grieved her for centuries...."
"No wonder she hates you then." I murmured; I would be as bitter as she was, as pained. Especially if she loved him as much as I did.
He looked pained again.
"It's okay," I said quickly, hugging him again, both of us facing each other on our knees. "It's okay. That means it wasn't your fault, she just took it wrong!"
I could feel his guilt, his unhappiness over it, and yet... There was something else, something he wasn't telling me. It was like I could feel him hiding it from me, it was so strange.
Why would he hide something from me?
I grimaced in pain, feeling my veins suddenly cramp, and I pulled away from him, looking at my hand where the black veins pulsed.
"Kenali! What --- !?"
"It's the black veins," I sighed. "It's okay."
"But you've not been here long enough ---."
"Cronus gave it to me," I explained before he got ahead of himself.
"Cronus? How... Oh." his brow furrowed. "You've been with him."
"I was hungry, Ashlandil was gone and I needed to eat," I mumbled shamefully, seeing his gaze.
I hoped he didn't think differently of me.
He sighed, running his fingers through my hair. "It's not your fault that became your sin. I hate to imagine what mine would be."
"Maybe something minor," I suggested hopefully; he didn't deserve a harsh sin, not like mine or like Razas had been. It had to be the worst of them.
Andiel shrugged, lifting my hand in his to look at the pulsing veins, they slowly sinking back into my skin and turning a normal color.
"Iriel said it would go away eventually," I murmured, and a small smile flicked across his face.
"Iriel is a good angel, I'm glad he's here."
I wasn't; I thought he was kind of a prick, myself.
But I wasn't going to tell him that.
I let my fingers run down his chest, and he sighed.
"I have to go," he murmured, and I looked up, wanting to protest, but his lips pressed against mine fervently, silencing me.
Andy suddenly pulled away, looking confused. "What did I say?"
Every time.
I chuckled, wrapping my arms around him tightly. "Nothing."
"Hey! You kids!" I heard someone suddenly shout, and we both looked over in panic as a policeman stalked towards us with a flashlight swinging in the darkness.
"Shit!" Andy scrambled to his feet and grabbed his phone, and we both tumbled off the stage and towards the way we came, laughing as we heard the night watchman shouting at us as we took off across the greens.
We sprinted back to the fence and quickly climbed in, running back towards the city streets.
I giggled as we staggered to a stop.
That had been oddly exhilarating.
"That was close," Andy panted, leaning back against the cold brick wall, his breath blowing out in front of him.
I grinned. "But it was fun!"
He gave me an answering grin. "Have I created a troublemaker?"
"Maybe," I stepped closer to him, curling my fingers on his jacket and pulling him to me. His lips crashed against mine, adrenaline coursing through both of our veins still.
He turned, pinning me against the building wall, his lips traveling down to my jaw, his hands slipping under my sweater.
"Andy," I breathed, clenching my fingers tighter in his jacket.
We really needed to get somewhere.
"Kenna, if I get a hotel --- ?"
"Yes!"
He grinned, and kissed me harshly, his tongue dominating my mouth.
I could not wait to sleep with him.

Notes