Page 23 of The Redeemable 4

“Of course, old friend. I always know when you leave your domain and come to earth.” A voice said from behind us.

I saw Luc tense, resisting the urge to whip around. Instead he turned with slow deliberateness, as if Michael was no threat to us. Well he wasn’t, not anymore, but the large scar on his chest said that he hadn’t always been this harmless.

Luc met his eyes.

“Michael.”

“Lucifer Morningstar. I have missed you.” Michael had no artifice on his face. He looked like the pleasant man Cady had met at the Lego store. “Acerezeal. You are a sight for sore eyes. Come,” he beckoned me closer. I went. You didn’t turn down Michael’s requests, no matter how congenial he seemed. He cupped both my cheeks, his face shining with genuine happiness. “Ah, Arcadia is here too,” he said, looking past me.

It is nice to see you again, sir.

“Psh. Michael, if you please.” He looked toward Lucifer. “Shall we sit?” He indicated a park bench under an old oak tree.

We followed behind the Archangel, and you could see the warrior in his stance. In the corded muscles of his back, in the way he held his wings poised. The way he accommodated for the Sword of Heaven at his side. He radiated power. We sat down on the bench, and I perched on the fence a few feet away.

“They all refused your request then?”

Lucifer nodded. “Despite her worthiness, none were willing to defy God’s word.”

Michael nodded sadly. “I did not think they would. Though I wondered if perhaps Raphael would. He is going through a period of doubt, as we all do from time to time, though he never voices this. It would break the Father's heart to have another of his Archangels fall. He still laments your loss, daily.”

Luc gave a non-committal grunt.

I went and knelt at Michael’s knee. A sign of respect that we afford all Archangels. I still knelt at Luc’s knee, but usually he wasn’t wearing pants and my mouth was busy.

Seriously? You are thinking about that now? Givin-

I interrupted her. Everyone can hear your thoughts. Zip it.

Both Luc and Michael looked amused. I can only imagine what they thought she was about to say. I looked at Michael, and then bowed my head in reverence.

“Archangel. Would you consider righting this wrong? She does not belong in the body of an angel, but she does not deserve for her life to be cut short either. Please,” I begged. I wasn’t above begging anymore.

Michael looked to Lucifer, although he put a finger beneath my chin to lift my face. “Stand, Acerezeal. Lucifer. Do you request this also?”

Luc nodded. “There is little I wouldn't do for Acerezeal, as you know.”

Michael’s lips twisted into a smile. “Indeed.”

Luc was unapologetic. “And I feel that Arcadia has been caught up in something she had no control over. Her fate was not preordained, it has no use in the wheel of fate. She needs to be returned to live out her life.”

Michael looked out into the distance. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining, and everything seemed to be teeming with life. I watched his face as he contemplated. Then he shrugged. “Okay.”

He punched a fist toward my chest. The pain was incredible as Arcadia’s soul was torn from my body.

ACE!

Then Arcadia was gone. I stood, looking around to see if her soul was ascending, but it was gone. She was just gone.

“What did you do!?”

Michael shook his head sadly. “What you asked. I put her soul back in her body. Her fate is once again up to human medicine. But if she dies, there is no last minute deals with the Devil this time. She dies, she goes straight to heaven. I will not be tested again.” His face turned from serene to scary.

Scary Michael was just as terrifying as Lucifer on a bad day. No one wanted that shit.

Still, Arcadia was back in her body. I threw myself in Michael’s arms. “Thank you. I know that this was a more difficult decision than you let on,” I whispered in his ear.

He squeezed me back. “I owed her one for returning you to the light, even if you chose to stay down in that cesspool of sin with Lucifer.” He was smiling, and there was no malice in his words. He was...teasing me? Today was a weird ass day all around.

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