12. Lunch

Over the next few days Elise was in a state of unrest. She felt betrayed. ‘How could my family keep something like this from me? What did I ever do to be untrustworthy? I did nothing. What else have they lied about?” she kept replaying those questions over and over in her head.

For the first time ever, she called into work and used her sick days. She knew that Margret would be missing her, but she needed time to think. As she was sipping her tea, she heard a knock on the door. She got up to answer it. There stood Levi Athan.

He was wearing dark blue jeans and a Black Sabath t shirt. She was not in the mood for any witty banter. So, before he had a chance to say anything, she just turned around without saying a word and walked away. She left the door hanging open with Levi now standing awkwardly on the doorstep. She walked over and sat down in her fluffy white armchair and then she called. “Well, aren’t you going to come in?”

Levi smirked and walked through the door, closing it behind him. He came into her into her living room. It was a bright room filled with light. The white walls made the small house seem much bigger. And the green plants on the wall brought in a freshness. He sat down on a plush green and white couch, but he said nothing.

He just looked at Elise taking her in. Her piercing blue eyes were looking back at him. She had her long black hair up in a messy bun. And in her hands, she held a glass of tea. Neither of them said a word. They just looked at each other. They could both feel the social tension building between them until finally Elise broke the silence.

“Can I get you something to drink or eat? I was just about to make something for myself before you showed up.”

Her hospitably surprised him. He thought to himself ‘Why is she being so kind. Does she really not understand that I am a Prince of Hell, and she is an angel. Not just a common one ether but an archangel. Does she not understand that we are supposed to be enemies? We should be fighting, but here she is waiting on me.’

“Yeah, I would love something to eat and a drink. “She smiled and got up from her oversized chair. She made her way to the kitchen. It was a small kitchen. It had white marble counter tops. And subway tile up to the celling. There were floating shelves that held up every-day dishes. She had a cast iron sink with a window above it. In the center of the kitchen sat an antique wooden table.

“I was going to make some shrimp tacos. Does that sound good to you?”

“Sure.”

Elise started to pull stuff out of the fridge and really got into her groove in the kitchen. Levi loved watching her. She was so graceful as she moved throughout the kitchen. He liked the way her hips swayed and how she hardly seemed to notice when black curls tumbled out of her bun.

“Why are you being so accommodating to me?” He finally asked as she put the shrimp in the skillet.

“Why wouldn’t I be. Since I met you, you have not told me a single lie, and you have been kind and polite despite how I have acted toward you. I do not see any reason to be unkind or even rude towards you now.”

Levi didn’t respond, he thought to himself ‘wow, that didn’t take too long..’ He continued to watch and admire Elise while she worked in the kitchen. He liked how she cleaned up as she cooked. Finally, she set the food on the table. She brought out a pitcher of sweet tea and set it down.

Levi waited. Elise looked at him, then at her food and she began to eat. Levi followed suit. “Why didn’t you grace the food?” Levi asked before taking his first bight.

“Why would I? I am an angel and I have the power to grace my own food. Not to mention I don’t exactly want to talk to Gabriel right now.”

Sometimes Elise would say grace just to talk to her uncle. As the archangel of messages, he always listened. Usually, he would have lower angels handle prayers over food but when Elise prayed, he took it upon himself to either respond back or pass it on to Michael.

Being an angel, herself however meant that Elise could show grace without anyone's help. And seeing as she was not happy with her family at the moment, she would not be reaching out for anything. Not even a conversation. Levi smiled. He loved that she was finally beginning to see things his way.

They continued to eat their meal in a silence. They both enjoyed the company of the other. Elise liked that he was truthful and that he had shown concern for her. And Levi liked that she was thoughtful and a stark contrast of his other acquaintances.