Page 95 of Death Deals

“I’m told you were able to call to your angel sword before Ascending?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Amazing.”

“But I lost my memories when Monnie pulled me from Heaven,” I made sure to mention. “And I wasn’t able to get them back.”

“Ah, yes, that is a drawback because knowing your past lives would grant you centuries of knowledge to help you on your journey.”

“Is there no way to get them back?” Eli asked.

Michael frowned. “I’m afraid not.”

Even though I had already figured that to be true, my heart sank a little hearing him say it. His words were the final confirmation.

“I wouldn’t fret, though,” he went on. “You’re already showing immense strength, power, and ability without your memories. And there is much to do. You’ve taken out Mammon, one of the most powerful demons in Hell—”

“I had a lot of help,” I cut in. “I can’t take all the credit.”

“But there are many more left in this fight. That’s why we need to be ready. Three other Archangels are nearing the end of their Trials and should soon Ascend. More are crossing over and will be starting theirs next. In the meantime, I think it’s best if you begin your training with Elijah. Learn just what your gifts have to offer and how to best work with them. Weaponry, flying… You know, all the fun stuff.”

I wouldn’t really put flying under the fun category, but that was me.

Glancing at Eli, I realized something. If we were to be working closely together again, it might be harder to separate our personal lives from professional ones, especially if we were supposed to live together in the Holdings. And I wasn’t sure if I could go back to that dynamic.

“Michael?”

He turned. “Yes, Jade?”

I drew in a deep breath and forced confidence in my tone. “If I’m going to do this, I need my own space.”

His brows lifted as if my words had taken him completely by surprise. He looked at Eli, whose gaze dropped to the floor, his expression grave.

“It seems even more changed than I thought,” Michael murmured. “But if you wish to have your own place in the Holdings, I’m sure we could—”

“No, not the Holdings.” I was really pushing my luck with this one, but I wasn’t going to stop now. “I want my old apartment back in the afterlife.”

“Jade—” Eli recoiled.

“I want part of my old life back. I deserve it,” I said.

Eli looked to his leader for help, but Michael didn’t say anything for a while. Only stared my way, his gaze going through me instead of seeing me.

After some time, he sighed. “If that is what you want, then I’ll allow it.”

“What!” Eli gasped.

“But there must be conditions,” Michael added quickly. “You will be expected here for your training and for your duties. Once summoned, I expect you to come.”

“Sure, yeah, I can do that.” I couldn’t keep the enthusiasm from my voice. I was going to get my dorm-sized, pizza-smelling apartment back. I could visit A.B.’s and see Wyatt, Lisa, and Marla again.

As if knowing where my thoughts were heading, he said, “We keep Heaven’s plans within our gates. No information can be shared with other souls. We can’t risk anything getting out to Hell. It will only hurt our chances.”

Arianna’s final words before boarding the plane suddenly popped into my head: “Heaven needs more kick-ass babes in their ranks. Having you has surely rattled their chains. Shaken stuff up. In my opinion, that’s what they need if they want to win this war.”

I’d thought it was comical then, but now that I really thought about it, I realized she may have something there.

I truly believed I only made it through Monnie’s deal with the help of my friends. It may hurt my pride a little to admit, but there was no way I would have survived if it hadn’t been for them. We had only been up against one original sin demon then. There were still six others, a bunch of other lower demons, and a slew of Halflings left in Hell, readying for a fight.

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