Page 7 of Judas

Upon further reflection, Judas realized that this unwarranted distaste was the bitter roots of jealousy weaving their way through him. How could he feel jealousy over a man he’d never met and for a woman he barely knew? This was so foreign to him and he wasn’t sure what to do with it, but he couldn't stop its path through him as he watched his blonde-haired, sapphire-eyed lunch companion through the rest of the meal.

She watched him too and she knew she was right.

There was definitely a spark there.

***

Paul wasted no time putting Judas straight to work after their lunch.

“Listen, Jude,” Paul whispered conspiratorially as they walked toward the exit, “When we walk outside, I’m likely to have some fans waiting around to see me. I may need you to help us make it through the crowd, understand?”

Judas nodded in agreement with a blank expression, but inside his head was full of laughter. This man was clearly delusional if he thought that many people truly enjoyed him enough to gather just for a glimpse of him. He was, by no means, a prize to spend any time with, that was for certain. Sure enough, though, walking out into the sunshine revealed a small crowd of about fifteen to twenty people who seemed to be waiting for the hopeful senator.

Like a practiced actor, the old man’s shoulders lifted and he plastered on the politician's smile as he called out to the supporters, “Good to see you, folks!”

His leathery fingers, likely more used to wagging in people’s faces, were spread wide in a frantic, childlike wave as he oozedthe smarmy political charm, “Support from regular, working class people like you all's what’s going to help me win that senate seat and start changing this country back to the good old days.”

Judas took position in a protective stance behind Paul as they made their way through the crowd that was now gaining additional attention from strangers on the street, craning their necks to see who might be in the middle of this scene. Paul shook their hands, posed for selfies, and actually found a baby cradled in its mother’s arms to kiss on the forehead for the perfect photo opportunity. He actually did it. He was out here kissing babies. Judas could hardly believe this scene was real life. It all felt so cliche and so scripted.

Scanning their surroundings, Judas caught a glimpse of the blustering old man’s daughter and had to work hard to not react to the look on her face. She rolled her eyes so hard in her father’s direction that Judas had to wonder if the movement was painful.

Her eyes recovered and were now locked with Judas’. She shook her head shrugging her shoulders at his look of bewilderment. Yes, her father was insufferable. No, she didn't know how to explain how anyone might believe a single slimy word from his mouth.

As Paul completed his walk through his fans, he turned to face them all, “Remember folks. Come November, a vote for Paul Arthur is a vote for the Bible. Good to see you all and God bless.” He then ducked into the car waiting for Eliza to join him.

Judas gestured for Eliza to climb into the town car and as she passed him she laid a hand on his arm.

She spoke quietly, “Don’t let the fanfare fool you. That call he took at the beginning of lunch? Yeah, it was to set all this up. These faces are all paid actors so that intern over there could take some promotional videos.” She sighed with another shrug, “All of this is of his own making.”

Judas watched her climb into the car and shut the door behind her. He tapped the top of the car to let the driver know they were safe to depart. Walking slowly back to his own car now, Judas could think of only one thing.

Eliza Arthur.

She was clearly intelligent and composed. She didn’t seem to like anything about her father or working for him, yet she does. The way she interacts with others tells Judas she has a good and kind heart. Everything about her work with Paul felt like a complete contradiction to who she is. Why does she do it?

Judas wanted nothing more than to climb inside her mind and read her every thought. He needed to know who she was under all the layers of herself that she portrayed to the world. He wanted to hold her hand and tell her she didn’t have to work so hard to be someone she wasn’t. That being just her is enough.

He dragged a hand down his face as he climbed into the driver’s seat. He doesn’t even know her. Why does he think he can tell her anything about herself? Why does he want to know her so badly?

He sits behind the wheel for a long moment and stares up at the sky. He speaks aloud to someone he isn’t sure is even listening anymore, “Yesh, why? Why now? Why her? Why am I here? Is this part of the plan? Is there even a plan at all? I have been wandering this planet since you left and never once have I felt this kind of pull to a person. Why?”

There was no answer, but that’s what he expected. No answer had ever come before, why would it now? It’s just that all these centuries of living have always felt like a punishment. His entire existence, just a way of saying he deserved pain and suffering.

Eliza didn’t feel like that to him. She seemed to lift that burden instead. She felt like the gift of light at the end of a too long darkness. He had known her for two days and he already craved her presence. Every second he had spent learning who she wasfelt like breathing fresh air into dying lungs. She was a reminder of why life was worth living, but her glow could not outshine one glaring truth.

Even if he stuck around and got to have her as his, which had quickly become obvious to him as his only desire, he would lose her. One way or another, she would be gone and he would go on living. Living on eternally in a world without her light just watching as forever became his very own hell.

Chapter four

Judas was only employed by Paul Arthur for a week and yet he had managed to pull together an entire security team, vet a location for the first fundraiser gala, and fully orchestrate a safe event for the would-be senator. Tonight marked the official beginning of Judas proving his worth to his new employer and he knew he had done the job well. If Paul was disappointed in any facet of the evening, it would simply be because he was an impossible-to-please, racist old man. Of that, Judas was entirely sure. Still, he completed his every duty with professionalism. This was not the first in his very long lifetime that he had encountered someone like Paul.

Judas opened the car door and watched Paul stumble from the car in the most uncoordinated way possible. Judas rolled his eyes while Paul straightened his tie and brushed off his suit. This man was nothing more than bluster and Judas had figured him out entirely in just his first couple of days. How on earth was anyone else fooled by his make believe bravado? Still, Judasfollowed behind him dutifully as he walked into the law office lobby.

As they walked through the familiar doors, Judas was blown away. Eliza mentioned plans for transforming the business setting into a real life gala, but the result was beyond anything he’d expected. The walls draped with delicate satin curtains, the ceiling as well; the fabric had softened the lighting to intimate glow. Decadently dressed tables were arranged around the room creating private spaces for potential donors to sit while the middle of the room stood empty except for the lone, raised stage. No one would know that just hours ago this place had seemed outdated and truly nothing remarkable. The catalyst for this transformation started walking to the podium, welcoming the guests as they began to filter into the room.

Judas felt his heart thudding in his chest, his skin growing warm just looking at her. She was radiant. Her hair, always in a tightly wound bun, was looser with a few golden curls escaping as they trailed down her neck and framed her face. Her usual suit had been exchanged for loose, flowing wide leg pants and a snug, white lace top. She was absolutely stunning. She took his breath away.She’s was as close to heaven as Judas would ever get. All his doubts and fears aside, he fought an overwhelming urge to steal her away from the room and never let her go. He had no idea what to do with the feelings, but they were becoming harder and harder to ignore the longer he knew this woman.

As crowds gathered, Judas floated discretely between Paul and Eliza as his eyes continued to scan the room. He watched every face as they sipped drinks and ate appetizers being served by the wait staff. At eight o'clock sharp, Eliza took the stage as the room erupted in applause. She smiled as she announced the evening’s schedule and her father’s desire to raise funds to run for office as a long standing pillar in the community. No one else noticed her slight grimace as she gave this last bit of information, but Judasdid and it made him smile. She clearly loved her father, but he also mortified her in so many ways. Judas fully understood the feeling.

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