Page 21 of By An Angel's Grace

“He was there. He didn’t really want to fight.”

“Sure as hell has a funny way of showing it.”

“He was trying to use you as bait, and collateral. It didn’t go very well for him.”

“So you did kick his ass?”

“We came to an agreement.”

“So, I don’t need to be looking over my shoulder constantly, at least?”

“Not for a while, anyway. Hopefully... probably, a long while. Neither you, nor a lot of other people.”

“And what did you have to give him in return?”

“Agreement that I wouldn’t use the key to the Gates of Hell anytime soon. He’s got a lot of stuff to sort out.”

“And a lot of dead bodies on his hands.”

“That too,” I agreed. “Though a lot of the major people who died were just waiting for a chance to betray him, too, whether to Haddad, or their own interests.”

“So, he figured out you did him some favors?”

“Not that he was going to admit it, and the power vacuum will take time to sort out, but yes. On the other hand, Iaoel is driving him insane.”

“Wait, the bitch who was in my head and almost killed me that he fought so hard for is driving him nuts now? Gee, go figure. She’s a batshit psycho lunatic. Plus, I guess karma is a thing!”

“So you’re saying they deserve each other?”

She paused, looking at me very strangely, then rolled onto her back, laughing hard. It was some time before she rolled back over, grinning manically. “First, you’re smiling, and now jokes. Who are you, and what did you do with my man?”

“This is me. Just me on vacation.”

“I can handle that. But now I want to know. I got to know her just a little bit while she was stuck in my head. I can think of a lot of things that might be driving him nuts, but anything specific? Call it morbid curiosity.”

“She’s still convinced that the vision she saw of Lucifer kneeling before God is the future. So she’s working to bring it about.”

“She’s a full-on, black-winged Fallen Angel, and she’s trying to redeem the Devil?”

“Exactly that. And apparently, she’s got a few hints of gray in her wings even so.”

“Never thought I’d say it but go, Iaoel. At least until he imprisons her or something.”

“I don’t think he’s going to.”

She propped herself up, tilting her head and looking at me curiously. “Why do you say that? It kind of seems like his M.O.”

I looked back at her, sobering a bit. “Usually. But while I think she’s misguided about a lot of things, after everything she did to get the piece of Hell back for him. After her betrayal of me and all of her allies for him. After everything he went through to get her back, I think he does love her.”

“Sympathy for the Devil, really?” The amusement was back in her voice.

“I know enough pop culture to know the song lyrics,” I said by way of informing her I got the joke and wasn’t completely behind. Just mostly. “And not really. Just acknowledging that I’m not sure all of his motives were about power.”

“Huh, who’d have thought? Maybe she has a chance in Hell after all.”

“You’re enjoying this.”

“Finally being free from a voice in my head that thinks I’m basically vermin, very little chance of having to go back into Hell, and being pretty sure I’m not going to be attacked by demons again? Oh yeah. Add to that, my boyfriend apparently can fuck all day long? Yep, I’m going to be enjoying this, you know, ‘til Hell freezes over.”

I laughed again and pulled her in for a kiss. This vacation had been a long time in coming.