Fallen from Grace

Chapter XIII

Eleanora spent the remainder of the night seated on her bedroom floor, keeping a watchful eye on Apollyon through out the time he slept. He remained relatively still, and gave a cute-almost soundless-little snore every now and then. She checked his temperature every few hours to find out if he has a fever or not. So far, so good.

Eleanora glanced down at her phone for the first time that night and was surprised to see the time displayed as 5:18 a.m.

Her legs were aching for a run, hell, her entire being was craving fresh air. Eleanora wasn't sure if she should leave him alone like this, but she needed to get out and clear her mind for half an hour, at least. Finally, she decided to get changed, realizing that she was still in the bloodied clothes from prior.

Having changed into her running attire, she left Apollyon a note in case he woke up before her return. Locking the door behind her, she made her way down the stairs and out the complex. Breathing in the crisp late October air, she allowed her lungs the luxury of inhaling cool fresh oxygen.

She slowly started her way down the sidewalk, picking up the pace to a comfortable jog. She pushed herself a little, going at a fast pace, and allowing her mind to become blank for the remainder of her run. After half an hour, her legs automatically took a u-turn, as they were accustomed to the run and when to turn back. She continued her jogging pace until she was a block away from the complex.

Slowing down to a walk, she tried to regain her breathing as the run did her good, it decluttered her mind and gave her thinking space. Exhaling heavily into the morning air, she made her way inside the complex and up the stairs.

She entered silently, and with light footsteps made way towards her bedroom. Apollyon was still asleep, good sign. Sighing lightly, she made her way into her washroom, and took a nice warm shower to relax her aching muscles. Changing into a pair of warm trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, she made her way outside to pick out a sweater from her wardrobe.

As she stood in front of the open closet, she unconsciously pushed her sleeves up to her elbows. Standing with her hands on her hips, she was just about to pick out a sweater when warm calloused fingers coiled around her wrist. Surprised, she turned around, finding Apollyon seated on the edge of the bed as he brought her arm to him. He silently looked down at the milky skin as he traced every pale scar littering her arm.

Eleanora sucked in a shocked breath as her body was trembling slightly, fear igniting her mind that he would find her weak and disgusting. Looking away, she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she could feel his warm fingers trace every line on her arm.

Why was he intrigued by her weakness?

Tugging her forward, he forced her to turn towards him as he grabbed hold of the other arm, tracing every scar on that one as well.

He sat silently as Eleanora's stomach clenched uncomfortably, she tried to pull her arm away, but he'd simply make a disgruntled sound, telling her to stop. Once he traced every single line with intense fascination, he put her arms together, looking at them with curiosity.

"Shooting stars." He spoke huskily. "Your scars aren't scars. They look like shooting stars. Going in all sorts of directions and bright against the night sky."

"I like them." He informed her with a genuine smile. "Now we have something in common: scars."

Eleanora pulled her hand away from him as she wiped away the stray tears that had leaked down her eyes.

"Apollyon." She sniffled while wiping them away. "What happened last night?"

His smile drooped as he looked down at their feet a few inches apart. He seemed slightly hesitant to say anything as he wouldn't meet her gaze.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Eleanora inquired softly, running her fingers through his messed up bed hair.

"And you can tell me anything, yet you don't." Apollyon murmured.

"You never seemed to genuinely care about me, that's why I never said anything." Eleanora informed, slightly bewildered.

"Genuinely care." He chuckled humorlessly. Suddenly he brought forth his arm, wrapping it around her waist as he pulled her forward, resting his head on her collarbone. Eleanora was surprised by the suddenness, but didn't protest. She stood still for a silent moment as she heard him breathing calmly before she relented and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and messaged the back of his scalp. "I genuinely care, that is why I am in this mess."

"What is this mess?" Eleanora inquired as he fell silent again, absentmindedly running his thumb over her side.

"Do you know what separates angels from humans?"

"You guys are celestial beings?"

"Yes and there is one more thing." Apollyon informed. "Like humans have souls, he have, what you'd call 'Angel Grace'."

"Alright, but what does that have to do with this?"

"Everything." He murmured softly. "Grace is "energy" integral to Angels. It is essentially the difference between an angel and a human. While in a human host, if an angel removes his grace, he is either rendered mortal within his vessel or, if he is not using a vessel, is reborn to human parents in his own body. Grace allows an angel to use its powers and abilities while in a vessel, and without it, they would be rendered powerless."

"I don't understand..." Eleanora informed in confusion as her hands became motionless in his hair.

"I have fallen, Eleanora." He muttered solemnly, the grief and depression tangible around him. "Michael took my Grace, Eleanora. I'm no longer an Angel. I'm human."

**

Apollyon and Eleanora were in the kitchen, both of them silent as the Devil sat at the table, Sebastian laying in his lap while Eleanora made them breakfast.

"Okay, help me understand here." Eleanora proclaimed as she turned towards him for a second and he groaned in exasperation since she had been doing this for a while now. "Now you are human? As in Homo sapiens? Neanderthals and all that?"

"Yes, Eleanora, yes." He yawned tiredly.

"Okay, so just like humans, you need to-"

"-Eat, sleep, drink, and all the other things that humans require. I don't have any extraordinary powers any longer and I am just as human as you." Apollyon grumbled as he straightened his posture. "I can feel pain, emotions, and everything that make humans as complicated as they are."

"That would explain last night." Eleanora muttered to herself as she flipped the egg in the pan. "Although, what was the cause of the two deep gashes on your back?"

"I fell." He stated as if though that was all the explanation required. She looked at him with a deadpanned look as he sighed. "I fell from the heavens, because that was where Michael and I were fighting. And as I fell, I caught on fire, and my wings burned off. The gashes on my back was the place my wings used to be."

Eleanora halted in her actions as she glanced at him from over her shoulder. He sat silently on the dinning chair, stroking Sebastian as a somber mood was surrounding him. Flipping the egg onto the plate beside her, she placed one in front of Apollyon and sat down across from him.

"Would you like a cup of coffee or tea with that?" Eleanora inquired.

"Coffee sounds nice." He nodded as he tucked into his food like a starved man. Smiling, Eleanora prepared a cup of coffee for the both of them as she gave him one and placed the sugar pot next to him so that he would put in the amount he liked.

He first put a little in it, and stirred while Eleanora took a sip of her drink, watching him from the top of her mug. Taking a sip, he scrunched up his nose at the bitter taste as he started to pour more sugar in it. Eleanora's fork froze in it's way to her mouth as she watched him empty more than half the sugar into his coffee before stirring with a grin on his face. Taking a sip of the coffee, he smiled in satisfaction before returning to his meal.

Chuckling to herself, she shook her head before finishing her meal. They sat silently for a moment as they both had finished their food. Eleanora was about to take hold of both the plates, when Apollyon stopped her by grabbing her hand.

"Let me." He insisted. "You have already done so much for me. At least let me wash the dishes."

"Alright." Eleanora relented after a moment of hesitation. "You can wash the dishes and I'll just clean the roo-"

"-I've done that already." He informed with a grin as he took hold of both the plates and headed over to the sink. "And I put all the clothes into laundry as well."

"Thank you." Eleanora spoke in surprise. "I guess."

"You're welcome." He smiled in response.

"We could go out after this." Eleanora suggested "If you'd like."

"Yeah, that sounds nice." He nodded as he rinsed the plates.

Eleanora went inside her own bedroom, and true to his word, he had cleaned it. The bed was made, the pillows set up and the curtains drawn open. He had even opened her French doors to allow in some fresh air and sunlight. Smiling ruefully, she made her way over to her wardrobe as she chose what to wear for the weather outside.

"It's chilly out." Apollyon informed from the doorway of the balcony. "Is it generally this cold?"

"Yeah." Eleanora laughed in response to his question while pulling on a sweater and grabbing her coat. "You should wear something warm."

"Warm." He mused. "Help me decide?"

"Sorry?"

"Help me decide what is appropriate for this weather?"

"Okay." She trailed since this...easy-going nature of his was something that she was absolutely not accustomed to. He was mostly just straight forward and very independent as long as he had his Grace, and now she wasn't sure if she liked this version more, or the other one.

They went to his apartment and Eleanora choose some adequate clothes for him as he got dressed. She sat in his bedroom, looking up at the ceiling as she enjoyed the view. She heard the bathroom door open, but didn't bother to look up as she heard him shuffle around.

However, her gaze shot up when she heard a groan escape him. Sitting up straight, Eleanora looked at him in concern as he seemed to be having trouble with bending to tie his shoes.

"Are you alright?" She inquired while getting up. "Is it your back?"

"It hurts." He groaned while rubbing his shoulder.

"Let me." She smiled at him comfortingly as she bend down in front of him and started to lace up his biker boots. He flushed lightly in embarrassment and squirmed in his seat.

"Can you help me decipher what I'm feeling?" Apollyon asked sheepishly.

"Alright, what are you feeling?" She inquired while standing up and both of them making their way out the apartment.

"It's...warm, and nice, but it makes my face feel warm." He stated, trying to find the right words to describe what he is feeling. "It made me sort of uncomfortable as well, and I...I don't know how to say it? It made me feel a little embarrassed, I guess?"

"The only feeling that comes to mind with all your description would be appreciation, and a little shyness." Eleanora informed. "Appreciation because I helped you with that small task, and shyness because you've never had someone help you with tying your laces before."

"Makes sense." He nodded with a shrug. "So, what are we doing?"

"I thought we'd go to a park and simply talk."

"About?"

"You know...stuff." Eleanora shrugged.

"Okay." He shrugged as they both walked silently down the sidewalk. They talked about mundane matters during their walk, as he asked her about her interview. Her hospital interview was tomorrow and she was going to be an assisting nurse or the receptionist for a while. They couldn't make her a proper intern because she was not yet qualified, but hopefully by this time next year she could become one.

Apollyon didn't know why, but he liked the way her eyes lit up as she talked about becoming a doctor. The way her eyes lit up with ambition and the way she smiled broadly, the excitement in her voice, it was all so enticing. He wondered why she was so passionate about it, he made a mental note to ask her about it.

They soon arrived at the park. It was filled with children and mothers or parents walking about with them. It was adorable to watch all those children hobble around and shriek with laughter. Apollyon couldn't help himself but smile at the scene before he realized that Eleanora was walking towards a vacant bench in the park.

Following after her, he sat down beside her as they both watched the children silently, soft smiles painting their lips.

"Can I ask you, why you are so ambitious about becoming a doctor?" Apollyon inquired as he leaned back on the bench.

"My family died in a car crash." Eleanora informed after a long pause. "My brother being so young had died on impact, and my parents were dying. I called the ambulance, and I tried to be a brave little girl, and I tried really hard for moomy and daddy. And the ambulance came and I went with them, but there were no doctors, it was late and a lot of them had gone home and no one was coming. My parents would have survived if only a doctor had been there to save them."

Eleanora paused momentarily as she looked up at the sky and tried to blink the tears away. A sudden aching spread in Apollyon's chest as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to him as he pulled her into his side, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"It's okay." He murmured softly. "You're brave enough to have withheld this for so long."

"That's why I want to be a doctor, so that I can save people. So that I can always be there to save people, so that no one, and I mean no one has to go through what I had to." Eleanora choked out. "I come here to imagine myself with Adrian again. We would go to the park on weekend and I loved him so, so much. He was only four, Apollyon. It wasn't fair."

Apollyon held her tightly as he comforted her. He had never done such a thing before, but he just went with his gut feeling, which told him to hug her tightly as just be there for her.

And he would always be there for her. Even if always wasn't forever.