So, I was angling for us to see into the depth of Patch's love for Nora; I hope I did well! Enjoy!
Chapter Eighteen
"I don't know whether I should celebrate or mourn you being here." I told them honestly.
When I opened the door, we'd all just stared at one another for a few moments. I'd been asking for brotherhood, and they'd shown up. If only everything could be that easy. Finally, I'd grasped them both. At the moment, we were sitting in the living room, just like old times, catching up. Nehemiah was banished after blaspheming the entire Archangel council for showing a growing lack of concern for the quality of those in charge, and then told them off about my faulty trial. It'd been the only time he'd ever lost his temper. Too bad I hadn't been there to see it; he rarely didn't follow the rules. Ezra was banished because he'd refused to rip out the wings of his other best friend; the regret of tearing out mine was hard enough for him to bear.
"Might as well celebrate." Ezra answered. "So, you go by 'Patch' now?"
"Yeah, how did you hear that?" I questioned him.
"We weren't supposed to be watching you, but well…sometimes we did anyway. You've had one hell of an experience down here so far." He commented.
"Well, it's a nickname that stuck. From an old friend." I told him. Uncomfortable at the thought, I changed the topic. "Where are you both staying now? There are still plenty of places empty in the labyrinths; completely wiped clean a few years back. I'm sure there are some that are furnished."
Ezra nodded. "We found some before we came to visit you." He paused a moment. "Definitely interesting; what you caused."
"What Nora Grey caused," Nehemiah commented. I turned to see him holding a picture of Nora. He'd been walking around the room, observing things. "Killing three Nephilim and eradicating devilcraft. Impressive for one so young and inexperienced."
"Yes, she's gone through and accomplished many things that no one ever thought possible." I agreed proudly.
"She is very beautiful, and you've found yourself another troublemaker. You've gone through much for this Nephil woman." He teased. I held my hand out for the picture. She was smiling widely in a green bikini I'd bought for her, hair everywhere. It was one of my favorites.
"The most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and life's no fun without a little trouble." I said. Nehemiah smiled while Ezra snickered.
"Most beautiful, it could be debated. Though, it's definitely new; a fallen angel and a Nephil. Only you would do something so against the cosmos." Ezra said, laughing.
"You are a different man from the one who fell. She has changed you for the better." Nehemiah noted. He finally sat down on the couch.
"I sensed there was a conflict in here when I entered; is everything okay?" he asked, concerned. I shook my head.
"Nora's upset at me. Talking things out isn't a specialty of hers; she has a tendency to storm out when things don't go her way."
"She sounds impulsive." Nehemiah said. I laughed humorlessly.
"She's very impulsive."
"Why'd you fight?" asked Ezra. I explained to them how she'd been acting, and how things had been so far in the day.
"That's no good. You are still secretive. Maybe worse." Nehemiah said sternly.
"Probably."
"Why are you struggling to tell her?"
I exhaled heavily, placing my head between my hands. "I'm afraid, okay?" The pent up words began to spill out. "I've done some fucked up things in my life; things that I regret and wish that I could take back. Horrible things simply because I was feeling a whim, or because I reacted, or because I wanted my way. There are things I've done that have directly affected Nora's life, although I never knew they would. I'm not a good person, Nehemiah. I don't think I ever have been. I'm just better now than I was. What if what I've done overrides that? I'm terrified that she'll shy away from me; that she'll..." leave and… "I love her too much to risk her…"By the end of my words I was staring at my hands, and all I could see was red on them. I shook my head, getting rid of the image.
Nehemiah was thinking of how to respond, when surprisingly, Ezra spoke up, clearing his throat.
"You should probably tell her the truth anyway. I know that it's scary, but if you keep it away from her, she's only going to believe that you're still as bad as the man who did all of those terrible things. You should trust her. You've changed for the better, like you said. That has to count. We can even back you up, if you need it. You've been together long enough; if she's not oblivious, she's guessed that you've got quite a past. If she loves you as much as you love her, she'd at least make an effort to understand. From what we've seen, you've been through too much together to not give each other some sort of chance." When he was finished, he tugged at his collar, and smiled widely.
"Well, shit." I said, raising my eyebrows as his wise words sunk in. Nehemiah laughed.
"He's grown quite wise since you left. Patch, you've always been a good man at heart. Flawed, yes. Troubled, very much so. Have you made mistakes? Some terrible ones." Ezra chucked a pillow at him, which he deftly deflected. "But you aren't innately bad. If you were, you wouldn't have changed to become better. You wouldn't need to be worth it. If this Nora Grey can't see and at least respect that, then maybe she isn't as deserving of your truths as you think."
"I was always wise, you ass. I just messed around with losers like you all the time." Ezra retorted.
While they bantered, I began to think about my friends' words. Leaning back into the couch, I sighed.
"Have you always been honest with her?" Ezra asked.
"Yes. If there was anything that I felt she didn't need to know, I just never brought it up. But if she's asked, I've told the truth. This is the one thing that I don't want to bring up, or answer."
"Maybe it would be good for you to acknowledge your past. You can't outrun it, and you can't hide from it. If you can't accept yourself, then how can another? If you can face what you've done, then she has no excuse not to. You can do it together." Nehemiah said wisely. I thought about that quietly as I lifted Nora's picture back into my lap.
"You're right. I'll wait until she comes home, and I'll tell her the truth."
They smiled, and Ezra raised a thumb.
"You are too forgiving, my old friends. If only everyone were so open-minded."
Still, their words had given me some solace, and I felt ready to face Nora when she returned.
Chauncey's Diary
I found Katharine's body this morning. There was alarm coming from the town, and luckily the fire was put out before it spread to the other homes and fields. Despite the excessive damage, the body was only slightly charred; I could clearly see the blood on the wood planks, and the large amount of puncture wounds to her body. She was stabbed before this fire, and had apparently died in agony. I wondered if it had been the wounds, or the fire, that had killed her. Whatever it was, she was murdered as if she were no less than a pig meant for slaughter.
I knew it was the fallen angel. It had to be. It was a hateful, evil act, and I knew that it was meant only for me. He told me that she was a murderess, and only wanted me for my money. I was quite aware of that, but I would have never married the woman, regardless of her skill in bed. It still hurt me when I saw what he was capable of doing. The worst part is that no one knew of him. Not one person.
He said that he's coming back for me. I don't know how any of this works; all I know is that he can force me to do his bidding, and that it is humiliating. My services for an entire fortnight! What the hell does he need for two weeks!?
I will find this boy. I will find him, and he will suffer. The accusations he made to me were repulsive; suggesting that my mother slept with a demon. I have decided that I do not believe what he told me about my family; there must be some other explanation for all of this, and I will get to the bottom of it.
Nora's POV
I looked up from the diary, shivering. I couldn't believe what I'd been reading. Chauncey's life had obviously changed the moment that Patch walked into it. I was upset by the violence suggested. I knew that Patch was deadly, but reading proof of it was another thing together. Chauncey only wrote about things that were involved with the possessions. I knew that he was horrified by the things Patch had done with his body, and of what else he could do to him.
"I think…I think I need to read more of this on my own, Vee." I said, gathering the journals.
Vee shivered next to me. "Sure babe, yeah. Make sure you tell me more about what happens. It's too eerie reading this."
"Tell me about it." I'd reached the door when Vee stopped me.
"You sure about taking those home? Patch will be less than thrilled when he catches you reading his dirt." She said, worried. While she'd warmed up to my relationship with Patch, she still thought he was slightly psycho and could snap at any time.
"He won't catch me. I'm going to take them to my mother's and hide them there. Besides, Patch would never hurt me." Vee rose her eyebrows, indicating what we'd read so far. "He's a different man now. Besides, we don't know if he actually killed that woman; it's Chauncey's speculation."
Vee shook her head, but let me leave. My mother had remarried (a nice, normal man; this time I made sure) and was able to keep the farmhouse. As such, my room remained the same, and I climbed into the window to hide the journals in my drawer. As I drove home, (it was late, 3 am) I couldn't help but wonder if Patch's own story would corroborate. Assuming he finally decided to tell me. The problem that I was currently having was how I was going to face him when I knew everything. I made the decision to wait until I was finished reading the diaries to ask him again. That way, I'd be prepared. He'd told me more than once that he was a changed man, and I knew that I'd be able to love and accept him, regardless of what he'd done.
Right?
Right? Of course she'll understand... right? :O
I have to say, Chauncey's bit looks way cooler on my computer; I wish there were fonts on here. Oh well. How am I doing? Please continue reviewing; I appreciate the support I've been receiving, it's really awesome! (And Dallas, I don't think you saying how you like it so much is bad; stop downing yourself, okay?)
Feel free to leave me an idea or two for Jev's next adventure or something; it keeps me out of writer's block, and gets you guys more chapters more quickly!