Michael grins and removes his hands from Alex’s shoulders. “Walk with me.” Michael places his hands behind his back, Alex following suit. Looking up at the trees, he says, “Leaves will be changing with the seasons soon.” He looks over at Alex and sees the patience in his friends face.
Smiling, Michael continues, “You sacrificed yourself for her. You saved her and yourself from an eternity of endless torture. You have done something no other angel…or demon…has.” Stopping, he turns to Alex. “I need you to really understand what I’m about to tell you.” Michael steps closer to him, crossing his arms over his chest. “Alex, you’ve become something of a hybrid. You are not angel, yet you are not demon. You possess equal parts of both.”
Alex stares at him as the words begin to sink in. He nods a few times, the words circling around inside his head. Looking down at the ground, he knows Michael is right. He feels the goodness inside of him, but he also feels the lure of lust and temptation, vanity and cruelty. His eyes meet Michael’s. “So I have the abilities of both angel and demon?”
Michael starts walking again, Alex following. “It’s something along those lines, yes. You still have the ability to look out for Lisa and watch over her, like you did before.” Turning his head, he looks at Alex as they continue to walk. “You also have the ability of the demon you became. It did not leave you.”
Alex recalls the tales of when Samuel was cast into Hell. The sex, temptation, seduction, everything the incubus is now pulses through Alex’s veins. Fighting against his dark side is the goodness, love, patience, and kindness of the angel. “I think this may cause me many a headache, Michael.”
Michael looks over at him and chuckles. “Some days I’m positive you’ll experience that.” Coming to the end of the sidewalk, they look out over the grass-covered hill that leads to the reservoir. “You need to be prepared for what might come your way.”
Alex nods, then looks at him. “I’ll figure out something.”
Michael nods, then crosses his arms over his chest. Glancing over at Alex, he says, “Go ahead and ask.”
He sighs in relief, then gathers his thoughts. “Is she okay? Did she make it out?”
Michael turns back towards the water. He watches a few people play, while the sounds of children's laughter fill his ears. “She will make it through, Alex. Lisa’s a lot stronger than she thinks.”
Alex feels relief wash through him. “Is there anything I need to know before seeing her again?”
Michael turns to Alex. “What do you mean?”
“Will she have memories of Hell? Will she remember what happened between her and Samuel? Will she remember me?”
Michael looks over at Alex, considering his words. “I’ll be honest with you.” Michael looks back out over the water, taking a long breath. “She will wake up having no memory of Hell. The time she spent with Samuel will only be a dream.” Michael looks at Alex. “None of it has come to pass now. You changed her fate by accepting her punishment.”
Panic slowly starts to build inside of Alex’s chest. Running a hand through his hair, he rubs the back of his neck. “She won’t remember me, will she?”
“Not exactly.” Michael turns to look at Alex. “She’ll remember you as the man she met in her mailroom that day and the dates you’ve had, but that is it.” Pausing Michael places a firm hand on Alex’s shoulder. “You can give her memories back to her, if that’s what you choose. Just be sure this is the path Lisa wishes to choose for herself. Being selfish can be sinful.”
Michael grins, then continues. “The only ones I cannot allow are the memories of Hell.”
Understanding, the panic subsides slightly in his chest. “Thank-you, Michael, for everything, for coming down to speak with me.”
“We’ve been friends far longer than I can recall.” Michael pulls his friend in and hugs him. “Selaphiel will be greatly missed in Heaven.”
Alex closes his eyes, feeling the angelic power that comes from Archangel Michael pour through him. His heart swells and tears stream down his cheeks. Alex lets him go. Looking at his lifelong friend, Michael turns and begins walking away. His figure fades and Alex is left standing alone.
Pain and emptiness take the place of Michael’s absence. Turning away, Alex hangs his head and pushes his hands into his pockets. Walking back through the park, his thoughts run over the conversation he just had.
He’s a hybrid. Lisa will only remember the human version of him. Everything with Samuel never took place. If he gave her memories back to her, that’s all it’ll be…a memory. He can never go back to Heaven, and Hell doesn’t want him.