Page 53 of Widow

We flew for what felt like forever. Down below, there was nothing but a black expanse of trees and the occasional village. Eventually, we flew over a mountain range. The terrain looked very similar to Earth's.

The villages I spotted, when I was brave enough to look over the edge, looked like something from a different century. But at the same time, there were lights on in the windows. Also, it didn't escape my notice that Lucifer had been using his cell phone. Did all hellions have cell phones? I hadn't seen anyone else use a cell phone.

Without thought, I pulled out my own cell phone and tapped the screen. Nothing happened. It was black and wouldn't turn on.

"Lucifer's cell phone works here. I'm not really sure how that works, but yesterday he was on the phone with Danica, and Kai and I tried ours. We had them off because we assumed they wouldn't work and they don't. Not that I really know how to use my cell phone that much anyway. Here we communicate by visiting people or through letters. Sometimes through magic. Kind of like how people communicate through the fire in Harry Potter. Man, I sure do wonder where she got her ideas from."

Ric had been rambling on and off throughout the ride. I could tell his wolf was uncomfortable being in the sky. I was feeling much more comfortable since I hadn't fallen to my death.

We landed in a clearing near the edge of a mountain range. I wondered if this was as far as they could take us. They had been discussing it before we took off.

"This is where our journey ends. When you're ready to get a ride back, send a raven with a message, and I'll come back and getcha."

We got off Miles and grabbed our backpacks. I was quite unsure of this whole adventure we were on. On the one hand, I knew it was necessary if I wanted the spiders out of me. The time was ticking down to when they would need to be fed again.

Once my feet were solidly on the ground, I finally relaxed my shoulders and rubbed my neck. I was tense from the hour-long ride.

The hell serpent took off and left us on the side of the mountain range. It seemed to go on for miles and miles.

"Sammy said that the council's spies last tracked the shaman in these mountains." Ric shook himself out like he was shaking his fur.

"We need to be careful. It's likely that he set traps, knowing he was being hunted."

I was only half-listening to what they discussed. My mind was trying to play catch up with everything it was seeing. When this was all over, I needed lots and lots of wine.

"Is it day or night time?" asked Kai.

I was in the same boat as him. I had no idea what time it was. It always appeared to be night here.

"It's almost night. We should find somewhere to camp, and I'll go find us some food. We should save what we have in our packs for emergencies." Ric started off along the mountainside.

We were headed for a path. I hoped there wouldn’t be lots of climbing involved on this journey. I wasn't in the best shape in the world, and I definitely wasn't in good enough shape to be climbing mountains. Few people were.

We walked for a while and then came to a cave. Ric just walked right into it, not even bothering to worry about what was inside. I could hear Picard squeaking from my pack. He had been quiet on our journey so far.

We waited outside while Ric was inside, checking it out. He came back out and shrugged.

"It doesn't appear anything lives in there. I didn't pick up on any scents at all. It should be safe to spend the night. We can use Picard for light until we get a fire built." He held out his hand, and Picard scrambled up my arm and jumped from my shoulder into his hand.

Ric turned and walked back into the cave, and with the squeak, Picard began to glow. And I don't just mean faintly glow like a glow stick. He lit up like a ball of fire. The light he gave off was so strong that I could have read a book. Maybe even performed a surgery.

The cave was about the size of a standard studio apartment and had a few large boulders lying about. We set our packs down, and Lucifer and Ric left to find wood to start a fire.

"I'm sorry our first date together had to be a trip to Hell." Kai chuckled and kicked some rocks out of the way before rolling out his sleeping bag. He took mine off my pack and put it next to his. "I never thought in a million years I'd be back on an angel mission again."

"An angel mission?" I sat down on the sleeping bag and knew the night would be long. The ground was hard, and I wasn't as young as I used to be. Things hurt in the morning if I slept wrong.

"When Lucifer talked to the other archangels about this situation you're in, they told him to bring you here. So here we are, on an angel mission. If he fails… I guess you and I could make a run for it."

He sat down next to me and rubbed the side of his face. He was an interesting man. Sometimes he seemed so serious, and then at other times, like these, when he was supposed to be serious, he acted silly.

"What's your deal?"

"What do you mean?" His brown eyes stared back at me. There was a darkness there, but there was also a sparkle of joy.

"You just… I don't know. You own mermaid restaurants, and you're a fallen angel. It's an odd combination. I don't get it."

He shrugged his shoulders and looked towards the entrance of the cave. "I don't get it either. When I fell, it took me several years to get back on my feet. When you fall, it's like your entire world smacks you upside the head, and you're left with absolutely nothing. Your previous loved ones are gone already, and the family you did gain while being an angel carries on without you."

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