Chapter Twenty-Two: Humans Are So Pessimistic

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“Sam?” I call out and he hums in response. “Am I cursed?”

His golden brows shoot up so high, they almost get lost in his mop of hair which flops over his forehead. He pauses, seeming to reflect and weigh his words, probably thinking of a way to simplify to my human understanding as I have come to see his thinks humans to be dim-witted beings.

He readjusts himself so he is seated opposite me on the bed, rather than beside me. He clamps his palms together before he answers my question.

“No, Anabelle. You are most certainly not cursed,” is his response, but I am not convinced.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m not asking you to,” he shoots, his words cold and devoid of emotions. “I’m an Angel and we lack the ability to tell lies. I couldn’t lie to you even if I wanted to.”

“Why then do bad things keep happening around me?” I enquire.

He seems to find my question amusing because he lets a brief laughter escape as he shakes his head and rolls his violet eyes at me and I know that once again, he is questioning my intelligence. My lips curl downwards in a frown as I find myself lacking the tolerance to condone his condescending attitude.

He doesn’t seem fazed by my glare, but he chooses to sober up nonetheless.

“Yes, bad things do happen around you, but have you ever stopped to consider why bad things don’t happen to you? Humans are so pessimistic, focusing on what was and what’s around them, they don’t seem to realize all the good that has been sent their way. Look at you! Despite all odds, you’re in perfectly working condition.”

“Bad things happen to me.” I indignantly reply, appalled by his audacity.

My life has been a series of pain after pain and he has the rights to tell me that I don’t ever get hurt.

“I know you’re the Devil, but show at least a little bit of empathy, will you? Bad things keep happening, and I’m starting to think it’s my fault. Perhaps Mrs. Lina’s death was God punishing me for striking a deal with you – the Devil!” I snap at him.

He stares at me in silence for a while, his brows furrowed as though he is trying to determine the gentility of my words and for a brief moment, I think that maybe, just maybe I have finally gotten to him, but he surprises me by going into a round of genuine laughter.

Despite my anger, I find that the sound is somewhat pleasing. His golden hair bobs around his face as he laughs and faint smile lines appear beside his lips. The sound suddenly dies when someone knocks on my door.

I stare at him, waiting for him to hide or something, but he just stares at me with blank eyes.

“Aren’t you planning on leaving?”

“Not necessarily.” He shakes his head, looking dead serious.

With a deep breath, I get off the bed and towards the door which I crack open a little bit so I can see the person on the other side. I am surprised to find Mrs. Alex staring at me with brows furrowed in curiosity and concern.

“Good evening, Mrs. Swift,” I manage a greeting. “I’m sorry for earlier. I just –”

She opens the door further and steps into the room. Her hands are on her waist as she looks around. Mrs. Alex is a tall woman with caramel skin and she looks a little intimidating with her side-shave and her somewhat muscled frame.

“I could swear I heard voices. Did you sneak someone in here?”

I furrow my brows at her question. I turn to the bed where Sam is sitting, staring right at her, but she doesn’t seem to see him. I’m surprised because he’s impossible to miss in his glaring white attire.

“Uhm… I-”

“Listen.” Her voice softens as she turns to face me with those intense brown eyes. “I’m not against you or Cherry bringing anyone here. What I don’t like is people sneaking around. No one with good intentions see the need to sneak around.”

“Now, this is what humans consider good parenting. You should listen to her, Bells,” Sam calls out from behind her, but she doesn’t seem to hear him.

“I wasn’t talking with anyone… Well, I was. I was talking on my phone. I must have been too loud. I’m sorry.” I fiddle with my fingers and she sighs deeply as she steps closer to me.

I find that I don’t enjoy lying to her. She has after all been so nice to me, and she doesn’t even know me. But how can I tell her that my companion is the Devil and I have no control whatsoever over his movements? He simply pops in and out as he pleases, not caring about rules and common curtesy.

She places a palm on my shoulder and I notice her expression is quite torn apart, like she wants to console me, but she doesn’t quite have the words.

While I appreciate the gesture, I find it weird. For the longest time, I have dealt with all my emotions by myself that having people around who supposedly care about me is a very new experience.

I should be happy though. Mrs. Lina is now in a better place, far away from all the cruelty of the world, but I find that the selfish part of me wants her close. I want her within reach so I can always go to her when I need the company of a grandmother figure or when I need to learn new recipes.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything,” I assure her with a forced smile. “Death is inevitable. She aged well and fine and while I wished she passed in a more graceful manner, it is what it is and no amount of tears will bring her back. I won’t lie to you and say I’m completely alright, but I’ll get there.”

“I know this, Ana- Bells. I do, but I also want you to know that you don’t have to get there on your own. You have friends now and people to talk to. I know you don’t know me nor trust me, but if you ever want an adult to talk to, you can always come to me… Or Blue. She’s super great at dealing with feelings.” She smiles at me, and I find it incredible how her smile makes her look a decade younger and friendlier.

“This would touch my heart… If I had one,” Sam comments, but I completely disregard him.

“Thanks.” I smile at her and she nods before she exits the room, leaving me with the witty Devil.

I let out a heavy sigh when the door shut and I hear her receding footsteps. Once the house is quiet again, I return to the bed as I still have a pending conversation with the Devil.

“I’m curious,” Sam started once I was comfortable on the bed and I raised my brows at him. “You Christian humans always preach about a loving and forgiving Father, yet when something doesn’t go too well, you say he’s trying to punish you for some sin.”

“I –”

“Don’t you find that really contradictory? Believe me, Father wouldn’t waste his time on such a tiny act. The old woman died because she was careless. She forgot to turn off the stove and when he later went to light the oven, well, we had an explosion. Poof!” He gestures widely with his arms, his lips quirked to the side like the fire is amusing.

“Now, because you’re an absolute moron, you don’t realize just how lucky you and Asher were. Asher was delayed by the girl in your school who thinks I would spare her a minute of my time, while you were delayed by the gay couple. You both may have been dead by now, you see.”

I pause to reflect his words and hum when I find he makes total sense. As usual. Speaking of Asher, I slap my palm across my face as it dawns on me that I am yet to return his numerous calls.

We were supposed to go on a date today.

“I just get so caught up in all the tragedies around me, it’s almost always as though I am a step away from doom.”

“You are, dear Bells. You have no idea. For example, you died with your mother, but you were brought back to life by my brother Raphael.” His expression is dead serious and from what he has repeatedly told me, Angels are unable to tell lies.

I gasp and my eyes widen in horror and surprise at the thought.

“Archangel Raphael? But why?”

“That’s what I want to know. You should just be a lowly, insignificant human wandering aimlessly on this earth for the amusement of Father. Yet, you were brought back. It’s really fascinating.”

I find myself not even being bothered by his offensive words. At this point, I would be a fool to be angered by the words of the Devil who although he has been around for eons, has still not mastered the art of empathy and friendliness.

For someone so smart, Sam sure is very slow… Perhaps he just never bothered to learn to be friendly towards human because he is totally narcissistic and believe to be above us.

“Can’t you just ask him why?” I raise a brow at me and he cast his violet eyes to me. They are narrowed as he stares at me as though he is once again wondering just how idiotic I can be.

I draw my lower lip between my teeth, my cheeks heating up as I find myself feeling incredibly foolish beneath Sam’s condescending gaze.

“I cannot just call – Girl, how dense are you? What part of banished from Heaven don’t you understand? It’s only when absolutely necessary that I go to Raphael. At least, he still bothers himself with talking to me. Hardly any of the other Angels want to.”

“Well, you did try to kill your Father. I don’t expect them to take you back with open arms. Just saying!” I raise my palms in surrender at his sudden glare.

He glares intently at me, and I can feel his fury seeping out of him. It’s suffocating and overwhelming. He blinks, and everything dies. His smirk is back and he looks as relaxed as always, not as though he seemed a step away from incinerating me a second ago.

His mood swings are rather psychopathic.

“Don’t feel cursed, Bells. You’re not. You’ve done nothing to merit a curse anyway.” He looks around the room for the first time since he got here. “I think I prefer the other house.” He grins at me and I shrug.

“I think it’ll be nice to stay here… With Cherry and her moms. They’re nice people.”

“Too nice.” Sam agrees. “You should call Asher up. If I can, I’ll see him tomorrow. He still has to prove that he’s not a murderer.”

I want to argue that Asher is incapable of murder, but before my lips can even part, Sam is gone, leaving in his wake a gush of wind.