The Unknown // Colby Brock

~~ Chapter Five ~~

I ducked beneath the long stick being flung at me only to send my own large stick into the devil's side. He let out sort of a grunt as he moved to the side but he didn't let it affect him much as he tripped me and held the end of the stick against my chest.

I was breathing heavily since we'd been training for way too long, but I had gotten some hints over the last couple of days about why I was suddenly allowed out of my room to train: there was a lot of tension between heaven and hell for some reason, and the devil didn't want to be caught off guard in a fight if one happened to come about.

"You're a quick learner, but you're still not quite quick enough with your strikes. You want to think every move over whilst moving as fast as possible. Your mind will adapt eventually, but you have to know that I'm still going easy on you," he explained as he dropped the stick to the side and held out his hand.

I was hesitant at first - for obvious reasons - but then I accepted the help, allowing him to pull me to my feet. We became face to face. Bad.

I wasn't sure why we hadn't moved back from one another straight away because now we were stuck staring directly into each other's eyes with tension so strong that I partially wanted to jump on him. There was an attraction between us, which had become clear the very first day I'd arrived in hell, but it hadn't gotten so strong since that same day, and it was driving me mad being so close without touching or acting on those feelings inside.

The worst part was that I couldn't tell how he was feeling... not until he touched his hand to the side of my face.

"Colby," he said quietly. "My name's actually Colby."

My eyebrows rose in shock. Every single person in the mansion had been hiding from me the real name of the devil because apparently it wasn't supposed to be public information, but after just a few moments of having a genuine moment, he had spilt the beans.

I felt the need to give him something in return. "You can call me Ari." My voice was light and kind of squeaky, but that didn't affect him when he got a better hold on my face.

I wanted him to bring me closer and I thought he felt the same way but before he could do anything, the door began to open. He quickly pulled back and we both turned in opposite directions.

"We have visitors... " Elton said slowly, "from heaven."

That made even my head snap toward the doorway where Elton was nervously stood. Colby looked a little worried already, but they were exchanging some look I didn't understand that gave me the feeling this wasn't just any visitor from heaven.

"Jake," Colby said firmly. After just a moment, a red flash revealed Jake, so he turned back to Elton. "Let them come up to the house, but have Corey, Kevin, and Mike escort them with you. I'll send the mindless to guard the gate during your absence. Go now," Colby ordered with an edge in his voice.

Elton disappeared in a flash.

"Jake, I need you to gather everyone in the throne room except Xepher and Tara - I want you to get them on the balcony." He turned to me. "You're staying with them."

I didn't get a chance to reply as both of the guys disappeared. Wonderful. I rushed out of the gym to the hallway where I could see Xepher exiting a room and Tara appearing at the top of the stairs. We all met on the balcony of the upstairs of the house, which looked down on the throne room. I was in the middle with both girls holding my hand protectively.

We waited for a short while - during that time, everybody else had gathered in a line formation either side of the throne room. I wouldn't want to walk into a room like that, not when their eyes were all dull and fists were clenched.