I walked Sofia to her home that night, learning more and more about her as we walked slowly towards her home. She told me about her time in New York, about her trips to Europe and how she loved everything about this new country.
I rarely interrupted, only doing so to ask questions that would allow me to know more details about her.
She asked me questions as well but I didn't give her much detail, for obvious reasons. She asked about where I grew up, and if I had siblings.
'Yes,' I told her, 'Several.' I didn't offer much more than that, and she didn't pry. Some moments were silent, but they weren't uncomfortable. I felt a sense of peace around her, a peace I hadn't felt since the beginning of time.
She didn't let me walk her to her front door, mostly because her family had no idea she had left in the first place.
"They like to keep me hidden away from savages, like yourself." She teased, and I smiled. If only she knew. I stayed several yards away, watching as she effortlessly climbed to the second story of her home and through the window of her room.
I was going to turn away but Sofia quickly turned around and smiled at me.
"Thank you for the kind gesture, savage." She whisper shouted at me, slowly closing her window.
I ran up to the house and looked up, and she stopped closing the window halfway.
"May I see you tomorrow?" I asked, hoping with all my might that she gave me that privilege.
"I leave for New York in 2 months time. It isn't wise to spend so much time with someone who is leaving." She whispered, looking sad.
"A lot can happen in two months." I said.
"True… but nothing that would stop me from leaving."
"I shall leave with you!" She smiled.
"Quite the romantic, aren't you, savage?"
"It's Luc… It's Lucas." Her smiled widened.
"Goodnight, Lucas." And with that, her window was shut and my heart… open.
"Senor Cola, it is a pleasure." I bowed my head, cursing myself for stooping to this. Bowing to an ape. If there was any doubt that I felt connected to Sofia, this put those doubts to rest and to the grave.
"Mr. Jones, the pleasure is all mine." Said the heavily accented man.
A brute looking man, with broad shoulders and a prominent gut, his eyes were emerald green like Sofia but her looks were obviously from her mother.
Her mother, Maria, was an older version of Sofia. Every bit as beautiful, but lacking in the fire that Sofia held in her heart. Their souls weren't as bright as their daughters, hers outshining theirs tenfold.
"Sofia didn't offer us much information about you, sir, but I recognize your name. You own several businesses." Her father stated, and I groaned internally. They're selling her, looking for the highest bidder. Like cattle. Apes.
"Yes, sir. I own several businesses here in Austin, up north in New York and some across the waters in Europe." I smiled through my teeth, and my eyes darted to Sofia. She looked bored, and angry. While she looked like a perfect lady outside, her dress made of fine fabrics, I could tell she was not enjoying this exchange at all.
"That's lovely, isn't it dear? A very successful young man, he is." Maria Cola said, looking at her daughter and smiled animatedly. Sofia smiled mockingly, nodding along with her mother.
"Yes mother, it's really very impressive." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I almost laughed.
"The reason for my visit, Senor and Senora Cola, I was wondering if you would give me your blessing in courting your daughter. She is… very beautiful and I would love to get to know her better." I said, noticing Sofia's vibrant smile from my peripheral vision. I couldn't help but crack a smile as well.
"Oh! What a marvelous gesture, sir! So kind! Yes, I shall give my blessing for the courtship."
"I wanted to thank you." Sofia said to me after we left her home. We had walked in silence for several minutes. I had begun to worry if she was angry at me, as she still radiated a hint of anger.
"Thank me?" I asked, looking down at her. She was beautiful in her blue dress and coat, the contrast with her pale skin making her look like an angel.
"Yes, thank you."
"For what?"
"It was awfully kind, to offer courtship."
I could tell this was something her mother had told her to say, the gratitude not quite shining through.
I stopped suddenly and turned towards her.
"I did it, so as to protect your reputation." She rolled her eyes.
There she is.
"My reputation. How archaic." She crossed her arms and huffed, looking adorable.
"I understand it bothers you, I can practically taste the disdain rolling off you." She looked up at me and bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
"Take me to the boulder, Lucas." I nodded, not voicing an answer. Instead, I grabbed her hand and placed it on the inside of my elbow.
We walked in silence, the anger slowly dissipating.
As we neared the boulder, I could hear her heartbeat grow erratic. I looked down at her and she looked steady as the massive rock, but I knew otherwise.
"What are you thinking?" I asked her, watching as she formulated a response.
"You make me nervous, Lucas. Very nervous."
Fuck.
"Nervous? Why?"
"I'm not sure. I think it's because I know so little about you, and you know so much about me. We've known each other for less than an entire day and you've already asked for a courtship? This is similar to a romance novel. Novels are fantasies." I nodded slowly, understanding the panic in her voice.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything." She looked up at me, the whisper of the word lingering on her lips. She was so… innocent. So willing to know everything about me.
But I couldn't tell her. For the first time since the Fall, I didn't feel evil. I didn't feel like the Devil.
"Everything isn't very specific."
She huffed.
"I know your name is Lucas Jones. I know you have several siblings. You're a successful business owner, which means you're wealthy. But what else? What else is there? What about your parents?" She rambled, reaching the rock and leaning her back against it.
"I'm not very close to my Father. We have… disagreements." She smirked.
"Everyone has disagreements with their father."
"This goes beyond a disagreement. He… he doesn't let me go home." For once I wished I could tell her the entire truth.
"That's a bit brutish. Is he very hard headed?" She asked, laying a hand on my forearm. I nodded.
"To put it lightly."
"I'm sure you two will work out your problems. In due time." She smiled. I raised an eyebrow.
"Very confident, are we?" I teased, moving to lean against the rock as well. She nodded enthusiastically.
"If you think about it, it's true what they say. 'Time heals all wounds.' And I think it'll work out eventually between you and your father. Just have faith, Lucas. It does wonders." Her eyes twinkled at the word faith, and my eyes immediately caught a hint of gold I hadn't noticed before.
Around her neck was a thin, delicate, golden chain. At the end of it, there hung a cross. I cleared my throat.
"Are you… very religious?" I asked, staring intensely at the cross. That damned cross. I knew it was a stupid question. She came from a Spanish family, she was probably a devout Catholic. Of course she would be.
"I am, yes! A devout Catholic of course. I go to church every Sunday, I take communion, I go to confession every week…" She rambled on and on, about the wonders of the church and how she missed Spain because there were more Catholics there, but how New York was an acceptable replacement because of the Irish Catholics there.
In the back of my head I heard the angel chatter, the snickering of my brothers and sisters.
"Of course the first girl to capture the attention of the Devil himself would be a devout catholic…" "I wonder if he'll kill her now, or reveal himself"
"Lucas… are you alright?" Sofia asked me, snapping out of my head. Her hand softly on my forearm, I felt her body heat radiate off her and I was instantly clouded with sinister thoughts.
"Yes, I'm alright." She furrowed her brow and pursed her lips. Those plump… red… lips. I could feel a particular mortal sin trying to take control of me but I pushed it to the back of my mind.
"Liar." She accused, stepping away from the boulder and facing me. Her eyes flashed and seemed greener than before, her heartbeat quickening. I could almost hear the thoughts going through her head.
I sighed.
"What if your God… isn't as amazing as you think he is?" I asked, not meeting her gaze.
Silence.
I looked up to make sure she hadn't run away from me at the first sign of doubt, and found her to have the softest expression on her face.
"Lucas, it's alright to doubt your faith sometimes. I do, my parents do, everyone does. God is good, Lucas. If it weren't for him, none of this would be here. You wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be here. The most beautiful thing you can think of-"
You, I thought.
And before I knew it, I was kissing her.
It was unlike any other kiss I've ever given. Or received.
It was soft, and pure, and innocent.
She froze the second my lips touched hers, but she melted into me and I picked her up and put her against the boulder to help with supporting her weight.
She tasted of sunlight and the sweetest pastry from France.
It only lasted a few seconds but when I pulled away, her eyes were wide.
She let out a shaky breath and smiled at me, her nose crinkling a bit.
"You are breathtaking, Sofia." I whispered, touching my forehead to hers. I almost closed my eyes, overwhelmed by the feel of her, but I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to stop looking at her.
She was too much but I could not get enough.
"Liar." She whispered, and kissed me softly once more. I smiled against her lips and slowly put her down.
"How about we go back to town and I show you off?" She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"I'm not a plaything, Lucas. I'm not something to show off." She huffed. I laughed.
"Then what do you suppose we do instead, woman?"
At my question she smirked and started skipping towards town.
"Catch me if you can!" She yelled behind her, a teasing glint in her eye.
I sprinted after her, her laughter filling my ears and heart with joy.
While I knew I could catch up to her easily, I allowed her the faux satisfaction of thinking she could outrun me.
We made it to town quickly, the townspeople looking at us as if we were crazy.
"Ah, to be young and in love." Quipped an old couple standing in front of the market.
I looked at the couple, forgetting I was running and before I knew what was happening I ran straight into barrels full of whiskey and landed on my ass.
Screams and laughter filled the air and in a flash, Sofia's face was looming over mine.
"Lucas! Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She asked, quickly looking over the rest of me. She lifted my arms and under my coat, so as to make sure there weren't any serious wounds.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just a little embarrassed is all." I said sheepishly, standing up and turning to see the damage.
Three barrels of whiskey were shattered and splintered, and I was covered in most of the wasted whiskey.
"MY WHISKEY!" The town drunk cried, kneeling by the splintered wood and crying. Sofia rolled her eyes and hugged me. Then pulled away suddenly.
"You smell like a distillery." She said, holding me at arm's length. I laughed and leaned towards her anyway, kissing her forehead.
"I most certainly do. I must shower at once."
"For all our sakes, please do." She pretended to plus her nose, then threw her head back and laughed.
