Chapter 188 : His Resurrection

Chapter 188 : His Resurrection
Rayline. 

He placed his hand on Cole's chest. There was light... a glowing white light that emanated from the archangel's fingertips, covering Cole's body. The light grew more and more, wrapping everything around him, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut because of the blinding light. I clutched Chase's hand as a wave of power pulsed through the room, shaking everything around me. 

I could feel my heart beating faster, my breath catching in my throat as the tension continued to rise in my chest. 

The light was retracted back into Cole's body, clinging to his skin. As I opened my eyes cautiously, I saw the light fading away as the archangel got to his feet and stepped back. Without holding myself back, I jumped forward, rushed to Cole's side, and with trembling hands, placed them on the side of his cold face. 

A few moments passed without anything happening, waiting. I gently brushed his hair aside. 

Then all of a sudden, his chest heaved, catching a deep breath that sounded so sharp, and his eyes slowly fluttered open. 

"Cole?" I whispered, hardly believing what I was seeing. 

His eyes lift up to meet mine, moving curiously, and they flash magenta, smiling. "Hey, kitten." 

Tears came to my eyes that I couldn't hold back. A chuckle escaped through me, an overwhelming mixture of happiness and relief, then without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his torso, clinging to him tightly, feeling the beat of his heart that had just returned. He laughed softly, the sound becoming melodious music to my ears, as he embraced me warmly in return, his arms wrapped around my body, soothing me. 

I could hear him. I can hear his heartbeat, and it makes me sob again. He slowly sits up while still holding me, then he looks at his brother, Chase. 

Chase rushed over right away, sliding into Cole's side, and without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around both of us. 

"Hey, big brother," Cole said. 

"Cole!" Taylor yelled with excitement before he too joined in the bear hug from behind. As Taylor's huge wings wrapped around all of us, hugging Cole tightly, I chuckled against Cole's chest. 

"Hey, Ty," Cole groaned with laughter. 

Taylor slowly pulled away, giving Cole room to sit up straighter, but it was not long before he struck again with a stronger hug. "This one's from Jesse," he said, making us all break into laughter. 

He is still laughing, but I can feel a small change in him as the laughter fades. He stares across the room, and I follow his gaze, looking at Jesse who is staring at him from across the crater. He saw the look of relief on his brother's face, and he gave a small smile. 

"Rayline?" He called, but I shook my head as my hands squeezed his shirt, my face hidden in his chest afraid of him leaving again. He raised his hand to gently pat my head. 

"I thought you were gone," I sobbed.. 

"I was," he said quietly. "But you brought me back." 

I managed to pull away a little, just enough to look into his face. His hand came up, cupping my face gently, and his thumb brushed my tear-soaked cheek. "I'm sorry for scaring you," he said. My tears fell again, and I pulled him into a hug before he kissed the side of my head. 

"You... were really gone," Chase said from the side, and Cole looked over at him. 

"Yeah... I was." 

I slowly pulled away, wiping away the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. 

"I saw her," He revealed as his eyes looked at Chase and then at his father. "She was waiting for me." He smiled faintly, but there was pain behind it. "But she told me that I needed to go back... that she would still wait if it was time." 

This time it was Chase who sniffled, and he took Cole's hand. "I know that she's so proud of you right now." 

Cole smiled, and a tear rolled down his cheek. 

"Cole?" The archangel standing before me called out as he stepped forward, and Cole's eyes widened, utterly taken aback. 

He quickly shifted to a kneeling position, lowering his head. "Your Grace." 

"Please," he lifted his hands, "I believe it is you we should be kneeling before." 

Cole's head slowly lifted, his mouth parting, but I saw the words that failed to make their way out. 

"I will say," the angel started, "our promise still stands." My head slowly lifted in attention. "If it is what you wish, you can return to the heavens with your brother and continue your role as a guardian." 

Cole's mouth dropped open, and a crisp laugh slipped out. He smiled and turned around, but as soon as his eyes locked with mine, his smile faded, and his eyes glowed blue. 

"But..." He then looked at Chase, then back at me. He shook his head as his hand grasped mine. "No, I can't leave you." 

My heart sinks at the look in his eyes. I look at the angel standing behind Cole and then back at him. 

"Cole..." My eyes flicker between his. 

"I don't care," he says fiercely. "I won't leave you... Not again." 

"Cole," I said again, and sadness showed in his eyes. "You have been trying for years to come back... to get things back to normal." I glanced up at Chase. "This is what you always wanted. I can't keep it from you." 

"But... I won't be able to see you often. I won't be able to stay here-" 

"Hey," I said hoarsely as I placed my hand on his cheek. "I will be fine." Tears started to fall, and my thumb brushed them away. "And you will be watching over me, protecting me." I let out a sad laugh. "My guardian angel." 

"But I'm not an angel." He shook his head. 

"No, you are not." I took a deep breath. "But I don't want anyone else watching over me." He did not move, so I brushed his hair to the side and whispered again, "I will be fine." 

He slowly drew his hands back and rose to his feet. He cast a look at Chase and then at the archangel before nodding. Chase reached out to take Cole's hand and smiled sadly. 

"We should go," Raphael said as he looked at Chase. 

"Yeah..." Cole whispered. 

Raphael turned his head towards the stairs, and a bright light started to glow, creating a doorway of light. Cole turned to Taylor, who smiled and wasted no time in wrapping his arms around his friend. A second passed before Cole pulled away, but Taylor forced him back. "This one's from Jesse," he murmured over Cole's shoulder, and I let out a small laugh at that. He walked away, and Chase started walking towards the door, while I was standing still. 

"Hey," I call softly, and Cole turns his head. "I love you." 

He flashed a smile, but it was filled with sadness, and he stepped forward to take my hand as his eyes glowed magenta. "I love you." 

Tears fell again, and he bent down to kiss me. He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed. 

"Don't cause too much trouble up there." 

"What else do you expect from me?" 

I laughed, and he stepped away. His eyes darted over to mine, searching, before he took a step back, his smile fading. Then he turned to face Raphael and Chase. 

I felt Taylor place his hand on my shoulder, and I leaned against him while bringing my hand to cover my mouth to keep from sobbing again. Just as they reached the doorway, they all stopped. Cole turned to Raphael, saying something, but they were too far away for me to hear. The angel just nodded his head before saying something in response, and Cole's eyes widened, followed by a nod. He then turned to Chase, who smiled brightly before Cole pulled him into a tight hug. 

Raphael said something else, and Cole made no move. 

Cole then knelt down, where I watched curiously as Raphael lifted his hand. There was a shimmering light, so bright that I could not see despite my efforts, and my hands were held up over my eyes. Raphael lowered his hand to Cole, touched his head gently, and the light blasted out. A bright light illuminated the room, sending energy out and shattering the stained glass windows. 

The room was deathly silent. No one moved as a cloud of dust obscured the view, but I could see the door was gone. There was no one standing there. The birds chirped again, filling the silence, and my knees almost buckled. When the dust finally settles, and I see him... Cole. He was lying on the ground. 

"Cole!" Both Taylor and I rushed toward him on the ground. Panic washed over my body. What if his resurrection did not last? What if trying to leave messed everything up? I went over to him and looked down, almost holding my breath. 

"Ouch," he groaned from the ground, and I fell by his side. "I had no idea it was going to be that painful." 

"Cole, what on earth is happening?" I leaned over him and brushed his hair aside. 

Taylor knelt down. "Where did they go?" 

"They went back to the heavens," Cole said, and I shook my head. 

"But, why did you—" 

"I told Raphael that I appreciated the promise of angels, but it was not something I desired anymore." His eyes locked with mine. "I told him I wanted to stay here, with you." 

My lips parted. "But... Chase—" 

"Understood," he says, and I let out a breath. "And Raphael asked if he could bless me with angel protection instead. I said it would be an honor." It must have been the blinding light I saw earlier. "I never thought it would have such a strong reaction," he said with a chuckle, and Taylor shook his head. 

"But Cole," I said, and he looked at me. "You... you have already sacrificed that much..." 

He cracks a smile, and his eyes sparkle magenta as he sits up and brushes my hair to the side, touching my face gently, and my heart flutters. 

"But I gained so much more." 

I smiled as tears slid down my face, and I held his hand against my cheek. His eyes curled up, which made me smile before cupping both sides of his face and pulling him into a passionate kiss. I pulled away for a moment, catching the yellow sparkle in his eyes before smiling again into another kiss, and he laughed softly as his arms wrapped around me. 

"Eck." Taylor cooed as he stood between the two of us. "And that's my queue to leave." 

We both stepped back for a moment as we laughed, with Cole looking over at his friend, who smiled before flying over to where everyone was waiting. 

"I was almost gone," Cole said softly, and I turned to look at him. "My soul might have been too far gone. But I heard your voice. I heard you telling me to come back. So I stayed a little longer." Tears started to well up in my eyes, yet I cracked a smile. "My mom made me promise not to hold back on being happy." His thumb runs over my cheek. "And that was a promise I wanted to keep."