Page 277 of Castings & Curses

Ever.

I run over the scenario in my head, walking through the moment she arrived when I’d handed her the papers for HHD and gave her directions.

“Did you escort her to HHD?” Matthew breathed.

“No.” That wasn’t protocol. My job at the Annex was to fill out the paperwork, assign the numbers, and give the newly deceased their onboarding orientation packet. Never in all the time I’ve been here have I escorted anyone off the premises of the Annex to the HHD, so his question is alarming to me.

“I see. Well, there is no way to sugar coat this,” Matthew says before taking a deep breath.

I watch as he swallows before speaking, his blue eyes gazing into mine. The intimacy of his stare coupled with his close proximity makes me shiver.

Matthew reaches out, his fingers brushing my arm in the lightest of touches, trying to relax me. His touch on my skin feels odd, not like I’d imagined it would all those times I wandered off into daydreams fueled by reading too many second-chance romances.

“Valory, your error sent a lost soul to Hell.”

My eyes widen in surprise. No, that can’t be…

“But I specifically typed HHD…” I stammer as I try to remember everything exactly as it happened.

Matthew grabs my hand and squeezes. “Mercedes is being escorted by two demons from HAD. The director of the department, and the demon who processed her has been keeping her in custody. Like you, he realized Mercedes was not in the system and filed the proper paperwork. But her papers were certified by Heaven…”

“He had to contact you,” I say, my voice but a whisper.

Matthew nods. “Get dressed and meet me at headquarters as soon as you can.” He releases my hand.

My mind spins with all that this could mean.

Will I be punished?

Lose my job in the Annex?

What kind of repercussions will Matthew or his bosses have for me?

“Breathe, Valory. We will figure this out,” he assures me, and I realize I have been holding my breath.

“Yes, yes of course.” I force a smile as Matthew turns to leave, nodding as if nothing had even happened.

“Good day, Delilah,” he says as he waves at her on the way out.

When the door shuts behind him, she looks at me expectantly.

“A demon is coming to Heaven?” she asks, her eyes about to explode out of their sockets.

“How did you hear that?” I ask, my nerves getting the better of me as I slide down the wall, my hand in my hair.

“Because in another life I’m ninety-nine percent certain I was a bat with exceptional hearing.”

Her attempt at humor isn’t lost on me, and I can’t help but let out a chuckle.

“I messed up, Delilah, I—”

“Hey…” She gets up from her spot on the couch and joins me against the wall, wrapping her arm around me.

“You’re only human.”

I scoff at her words. “No, I’m not. Not anymore.”

“We are just humans with wings, Val. We’re just as capable of screwing shit up as anyone else. Doesn’t mean you are a bad person—a bad angel.”

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