It was then Helen got brave and stepped forward. “If you’re so worried about the rules, then why don’t we talk about the fact you’ve been breaking them. I saw you fornicating with a nanny in Heaven.”
Theodore’s jaw tightened. “Stop with the lies.”
“Lies?” she huffed. “I’m not the one who has a problem with the truth. I know you’re a sinner. I’ve seen your son here on Earth. I know that Heaven is the one who has been lying. Our Father is not our Father in Heaven. We are made on Earth. We are half human.”
At her words, the angels shifted, and Theodore’s face darkened. “Blasphemy.”
“It’s the truth. And you want me so you can silence me before I tell anyone,” she accused.
As Theodore’s companions shifted away from him, he snarled, “This isn’t over. I’ll be back.” A definite threat, and yet he and his squad left the apartment without arresting her, which she considered a victory.
Kourtney appeared somber. “He’ll return, and soon, with Heaven’s lawyer in tow. I recommend you be gone before then.”
“Why? I thought they couldn’t arrest me because we are married.” She glanced at Julio, who appeared just as confused.
Kourtney’s lips flattened. “Yes and no. The problem is there is a very hard rule about angels getting married to reapers. Actually, according to the quick search I did on angelic laws, your kind can’t get married to anyone. Add in the non-association-with-Hell rule and we could be arguing this case in the neutral courts for a long time.”
“I thought you said I was fallen?” An idea that didn’t frighten her like it once did. Not after all she’d seen.
“Not technically. Theodore is correct in that you have to stand trial and be formally cast down.”
“But I sinned.”
Kourtney shrugged. “I don’t make the laws, just argue for or against them.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Julio asked. “I won’t let them take her.” Did he even notice how his cloak had reached out to wrap around her, keeping her warm when inside she felt chilled?
“Theodore isn’t an angel who will accept defeat. Look at the lengths he’s already gone to cover his misdeeds.”
“What do you suggest then? If he won’t stop chasing me, then does that mean I should turn myself in?” Helen didn’t want to, and yet it seemed she didn’t have a choice.
“I wouldn’t.” Kourtney shrugged, a roiling cloud of blue that merged with the black cloak still looming at her back. “Seems to me that’d ensure a certain death. The best thing I can suggest is to go somewhere Theodore can’t reach you. Somewhere to give you breathing room while we try to clear your name.”
“Is there such a place on Earth?” Julio asked.
Kourtney shook her head, but Dwayne had a suggestion. “There’s only one place you can go where angels won’t follow.”
Hell.
16
Julio didn’t need to look at Helen to know she’d be against the idea.
“I am not going to Hell,” she muttered obstinately.
“Then I guess you’re going to Heaven,” he retorted. “And not the nice way.”
Kourtney and Dwayne wisely took their leave.
“I haven’t sinned.” At Julio’s arched brow, Helen amended her statement. “Much.”
“It would only be temporarily while we deal with your angel problem.”
“It wouldn’t be a problem if people realized Theodore was a liar!” she yelled, finally indulging in her human half’s emotions.
“And hopefully soon we’ll be able to reveal just how crooked he is, but in the meantime, unless you want to be arrested and officially cast down, you don’t have a choice.” He didn’t point out the fact that her becoming fallen was just a matter of time whether she appeared in Heaven to defend herself or not. She’d consorted with the devil, married a reaper, and made out with him on a kitchen chair. Plus, she’d eaten meat. When would she realize there was no going back?
A better question being, why would she want to?
Her shoulders slumped. “If I go to Hell, I’ll never be able to return even if I do prove my innocence.”
“Probably not, and be honest here, do you really want to?” he prodded.
She bit her lower lip before admitting, “Not really. I’d rather stay on Earth.”
“Maybe we can find a way to make it happen. After all, you are my wife, and I do work there.”
“I would like that I think, but at the same time, I want Theodore to be exposed. He shouldn’t be allowed to hurt people.”
“I’m sure he’ll eventually get what’s coming to him.” And Julio hoped it involved his fist hitting that smug face numerous times.
Her lips turned down. “Will he? My Father, who has been complicit in Heaven, is all knowing, all seeing. And letting it happen.”
“You said he’s been imprisoned. Maybe this kind of behavior is more recent?” He didn’t know why he tried to soften her disillusion.
“Maybe.” Her shoulders rolled, but her expression remained morose.
“Come on. We should get out of here before the angels decide to ignore Hell’s lawyer and take you by force.” He held out his hand.
“I really don’t want to go to Hell,” was her stubborn reply.
“You say that, and yet you’ve never even seen it.”
“I’ve seen images. It’s brimstone and fire, torture and pain.”
He snorted. “Brimstone, yeah, ashy also, but torture and pain? That’s for those who deserve punishment. I promise, no one will hurt you.” He meant it. He’d protect her from harm.
Hesitantly, she slid her fingers into his, and he drew her close, his cloak wrapping them in a black mist as he pulled on the magic that let him travel between the planes. With the angels gone, and their dampening spell with them, he could go wherever he liked. Including Hell.
He’d meant to go to the Guild; however, his path dumped them on the shore outside of the nine rings, the departure port for arriving souls. They milled around in snaking lines, lost souls dazed by their deaths, frightened by what their future held next.
“Fuck me, it’s making us go the long way,” he grumbled.
As a reaper, Julio refused to stand in any line. He took Helen to a pier where a boat bobbed, manned by a figure in a head-to-toe cloak. A skeleton hand gripped the long pole used to navigate and fight off the Styx monsters.
Helen breathed a name. “Charon.”
The ferryman turned a faceless hood in their direction before shoving it back, showing off a freckled face with wild red hair. “Actually, the name’s Clive. Charon’s on vacation.” He smiled, and Julio almost laughed at her expression.
“How can the Ferryman of Death take time off?” she asked, glancing back at all the waiting souls.
“Because his contract says he can. Last I heard, he was sailing on the SS Sushimaker Two Earth side with his son. Which is pretty brave. Adexios holds the record for sinking boats.”
“Charon has a son.” Stated with bemusement.