Page 396 of Castings & Curses

"Sounds like me," I replied with a grin.

* * *

It wasevening before Aurelia returned, and I was halfway through eating a double cheeseburger in the bar. While it was quieter than a usual Thursday night, there were still half a dozen people mulling about, drinks in hand.

"Oh wow, that looks delicious," she said as she pulled up a seat beside me.

"I'd magic you up another, but apparently it makes me flare with energy. You could order one?" I suggested.

Aurelia obviously liked the idea, because she did just that.

"We don't have a lot of privacy here, so I'll keep my voice down," she said. "There has been a development. An angel was spotted in the vicinity of Misha's studio around the time he was killed. A few blocks away, but still… close. She has no memory of what happened, or even being there. It’s possible she might've been controlled by someone else… or she could've just carried out the attack herself. I’m reluctant to jump to conclusions as she could've been close by for another reason."

My eyebrows rose as Aurelia explained. "Would she have been powerful enough to do that? I've been talking with Riga. We believe a hybrid like a Nephilim might be responsible. That or a god, but a hybrid makes more sense. It’s my understanding that most angels wouldn’t have the ability to do this, with the exception of archangels, unless they’re more than they appear to be. Someone could have been working with her — or giving her greater power."

"I'll let you know when I find out more," Aurelia promised. "So long as I have a right to disclose the information. I just left heaven, but perhaps I should return and convey what we've discussed. Raphael should be able to check into whether she's a Nephilim… or a hybrid, or if there's one operating in the New York area without anyone noticing. The analysis on your pin came back just as you expected — there wasn't any additional magic cast."

I nodded at that. It didn't surprise me at all. I took Aurelia's hand and held it for a few moments.

It was nice, and despite the topic of discussion, it was romantic. A smile passed between us and a palpable sense of excitement that hadn't been there before. What was it about Aurelia that made everything better? Or maybe it was that the two of us were together. I meant together as in the same place at the same time. We weren't girlfriends yet, but maybe that was on the horizon. I sure hoped it could be. I wanted to spend all of the time with her that I could, because I wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring.

We paused our conversation as the server brought out Aurelia's burger and a side of fries. The whole world and the investigation was put on hold for a while as we spent some simple moments together, enjoying our dinners and each other's presence. Don't get me wrong, I'd have loved to whisk her away to the bedroom for some spontaneous shenanigans, but I knew the importance of our task.

It was nice just being with her like this. I hoped that after all of this was over, we'd get some more time together. I knew angels born of heaven were required to limit their relationships to others of their kind. The consequences could be great if they didn't, due to the nature of their offspring.

Aurelia was different though — she hadn't always been an angel. I was also known to the angelic hierarchy and had been one of them. In fact, I might still have been, as I hadn't technically quit yet. The angelic hierarchy ran by order, rules and regulations, so I didn't know for sure. It made sense to keep our relationship on the down-low for the time being.

I hoped the angelic hierarchy wouldn't have a sudden inclination to re-lock my powers, but they would need to be here in person to try it. Besides, I gave them permission last time.

"You look like you're a thousand miles away," Aurelia said before gathering up two french fries and eating them at the same time.

"From you? Never," I said with a warm smile for her. "I was just thinking about heavenly obligations, but I can do that later. Tell me more about yourself. There's so much I don't know."

"Well, I have excellent taste in women," Aurelia said with a grin for me. "I was a human woman and I died sooner than I should have, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I was working on a cruise ship, and I fell overboard. I remember hitting the water — and that was it. I'd already been reunited with my grandparents in heaven, and spent some time there, before the archangel Uriel came to find me. He offered me a choice to join them, and I accepted.

"I still don't know why they chose me, only that they did. It's my understanding that they're guided in such choices by a higher authority, but beyond that, I can't say."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," I said, squeezing Aurelia's hand.

I didn't like to think about the idea that she'd died. I was glad she'd found her way back to the living world and become an angel. I couldn't help wondering what this meant for her if she chose to no longer align herself with the angelic hierarchy. Would she become a spirit again? That thought disturbed me. Still, there was no reason she should cease to be an angel. I was just contemplating the possibilities, that was all.

I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye as a figure approached. She was a young girl with brown hair, around thirteen years old. Was she even allowed in the bar? Probably not. It dawned on me almost at once that she wasn't human, and probably wouldn't have been at Enchant if she was.

"Carriel," Aurelia said, glancing up from the table.

Aurelia released my hand, and I felt a pang of hurt at the gesture, but of course she was going to do that if Carriel was someone she knew. With a name like that, she had to be an angel… or a courier.

"Ah, Aurelia. There you are. And you must be the muse Melinda," she said, nodding to me.

I nodded back, though I thought of myself as the goddess Melinda again and no longer a muse. I was done being a muse for heaven. You could say I wasn’t amused by their recent actions.

"I come with news. I'm sorry to tell you that Melinda's residence was ransacked. We're not sure who was responsible, but I'm sure you might have suspicions about it, just as we do," she said.

"What?! How badly was it ransacked?" I asked.

After all, I'd collected a bag of possessions. It wasn't the tidiest house to begin with, once I got a hold of it, but that wasn't what she meant by the sound of things.

Carriel grimaced. "Many things in the house were broken and torn up, and the front door was sitting open. A cat and its kittens had moved in."

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