Page 18 of The Redeemable 4

Chapter Five

I can’t be the only one who thinks it’s weird for an archangel to hang out at the track, right?

People milled around, talking loudly, drinks in their hands and hats a mile wide on their heads. The cacophony almost drowned out the sound of Arcadia in my head.

“It’s a den of mortal sin, really. Liars, fornicators, those who have eaten shellfish. Besides, Uriel is…”

“A dick?” Gus so helpfully supplied.

I nodded. That seemed right. Though I did like the excuse to wear my very favorite red silk sheath dress for the first time in two decades. It’s true what they say. Chanel never goes out of fashion. I looked like sex wrapped up in a pretty package in this dress, at least that’s what Luc whispered in my ear as he kissed me goodbye. By the way the human punters were ogling me, he was probably right. Or maybe it was Gusion, in his perfectly tailored grey morning suit, a matching blood red carnation. His long hair was braided into hundreds of tiny strands and then piled into a man bun on top of his head. He looked hot. Women literally stopped and stared as he walked past, some men too. Hell, if there’s been a conveniently shadowy nook, I would have fucked him in an instant. Between us we probably made a few humans question their sexual orientation.

We are on a bit of a time crunch, you know, so if you could stop making fuck me eyes at Gusion, that’d be great.

I realized she could see me in the reflection from the plate glass windows. I poked my tongue out at my reflection and she chuckled.

“Uriel will be in the VIP tent.” I knew it for a certainty. Always with the illusions of grandeur, that one.

We threaded our way through the Derby crowd which was in the thousands. Security didn’t even try to stop us as we walked into the roped off VIP tent of some corporation or another. Given the amber liquid being served by snappily dressed men in penguin suits, probably one of the whiskey companies. I spotted Uriel immediately. Not even trying to shield himself. He had flaming red hair, in a color that was not found in human hair naturally, but might come out of a bottle. His skin was alabaster pale, similar to Gus and my owns. Actually, we could all be part of a matching set. Similar, but different. His eyes went straight to mine, and his lip rose in a sneer.

Ugh.

I resisted the urge to turn around and go home. Arcadia needed me to exhaust all avenues, even if the avenue ended in a giant dildo factory like Uriel.

“Ah, if it isn’t the B Team. To what do I owe the displeasure of this visit?”

I rolled my eyes. “The Father sent us to see if we can’t remove the giant stick from your ass, but I’m pretty sure not even the big guy himself could do that.”

Fiery brows lowered. “This isn’t the way to garner my aid, Acerezeal. I’d definitely prefer you to beg, I think.” His face twisted in a smile. I wanted to punch it.

Screw this. I’ll stay with you for eternity before begging this jackass for anything. Let’s go, Ace.

I wanted to do as she said, but if I was honest, I would beg if it meant that she got back to where she belonged. But I had a feeling that Uriel was just fucking with us.

“Ah, Luc’s Redeemer. You are as disrespectful as Azriel described.”

I miss being able to flip the bird.

“Will you help us, Uriel? Without the posturing and grandstanding and the jostling for who has the bigger dick. Just give it to me straight. Will you help?”

Uriel pretended to ponder. “Let me think about it. Hmm. No. I wouldn’t lift a finger to help you traitors to the creator if you were on hellfire.”

Gus scoffed. “What he means is he can’t do it. He thinks we are the B Team, but he is Luc’s poor substitute. A booby prize. The runner up in the Miss America contest.”

Red tinged Uriel’s cheeks. “And what of you, Gusion? What were you? You were just some cheap angel who fell for a daughter of man but was too useless to save her when the time came. You couldn’t save her, or her tribe, from the invasion of modern diseases, and now her people are completely forgotten. You won’t be able to help this daughter of man either, Gusion. Because you are useless. You were useless as an angel, and now you are useless as a fallen. You are a waste of celestial power.”

Gusion’s face blanched. Oh, that was too far. No one, not even Michael himself, got to speak to my loved ones that way. I pulled back my fist and felt a painful satisfaction as my knuckles cracked into his face. Sure, it would heal almost instantly, but I’ll have made my point. Plus, he couldn't hit me back. It was against the rules, really. But luckily, I no longer played by the rules.

The Big Guy would be so disappointed in you right now, Uriel. I’ve only met him once, but even I know he wouldn’t condone your words.

True that!

I turned my back on Uriel, and on Arcadia’s last chance at getting her soul back where it belonged.

“I’m sorry,” Gusion murmured when we’d left the VIP areas, more subdued then I’d seen him in years.

Not your fault, Gus. It’ll be okay.

But I heard her voice break, I felt her pain. It wasn’t alright. She needed her guys right now, even if she couldn’t be with them. The babies would make Gus feel better too. And if I was honest, I needed them as well. I took their hands and we sifted to SoHo.

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