Elliott Kay - Good Intentions

Chapter 19:

Redemption

“I’m gonna lose my fucking job.”

“Huh. You and me both,” Rachel agreed.

“You will not lose your job, Alex,” Lorelei said. “For all anyone at your office knows, you are still recovering from being shot last week. It’s entirely understandable.”

The three sat on a simple bench in the courtyard of St. Mark’s Cathedral with Rachel in the middle. Each of the others held one of the angel’s hands. Rachel was back to wearing her simple white dress.

Alex turned to look at Lorelei, who passively watched her surroundings through sleek sunglasses. She wore her stylish skirt suit once again. “I thought you didn’t want me to have a job anyway?” Alex asked in a joking tone. “Doesn’t it get in the way of my constantly getting laid?”

A quiet smile spread under Lorelei’s sunglasses. “I have seen your office in your desires, Alex. It’s like a law firm on a television show. So many lovely ladies. I would hate to take you away from such a playground before you’ve had a chance to truly enjoy it.”

“Okay, stop. We seriously need to dial this back. No more girlfriends, no more flings. I’ve got more than enough of that in my life with you two, and things are still kind of up in the air with Onyx. And Molly, apparently. And it’s not like Taylor’s…Ugh. I’m good, y’know?”

“Can I just point out one thing in all this?” Rachel asked. “One thing. Then I’ll let it all go.”

“Sure,” Alex said, glad to have an ally in his struggle for self-control. “Absolutely. Speak up. This totally involves you, too.”

Rachel turned to him and said, “You got into this whole mess because of your conscience,” she smirked. “Thinking with your cock hasn’t gotten you into trouble once yet.”

Alex’s jaw dropped. Lorelei allowed a sly grin. “Thank you, love,” she murmured.

Silence held between the three of them. Eventually, Alex realized that the two women were watching something, though he saw only an unoccupied church. Rachel’s expression slowly turned grave. Lorelei maintained her poker face. “What is it?” Alex asked. “Are they here?”

“They have been here for some time,” Lorelei answered. “We are only now being approached.”

“Alex,” said Rachel, “close your eyes for a second.”

“Huh?”

“Please. Just a second.”

He complied. When he opened them again, he saw a woman’s hand pull away from his face. She was tall and blonde, dressed much like Rachel but seemed a good twenty years older. Like Rachel, she was beautiful. Also like Rachel, the woman had large, white wings that grew from her back. Boundless kindness shone in her eyes.

“Hello, Alex,” the angel said with a soft smile.

He caught an odd note of familiarity in her voice. “Do you know me?”

She tilted her head to one side a bit. “I did once, a long time ago, though you did not know me. I am Hannah.” She paused. “I am sure you have been told how little we angels can explain to a mortal, but I will say that it is very nice to finally speak with you.”

Hannah’s gaze turned to Rachel. Alex recognized the sincere, obvious respect Rachel held for the other angel, but also saw her nervousness. “Is it time?” Rachel asked.

“We have been ready for a short while,” Hannah nodded. “We were uncertain whether or not you simply meant to speak with Alex and Lorelei here before coming inside. After awhile the waiting became a bit awkward.”

Rachel shrugged. “I’m ready.”

“May we accompany her?” Lorelei asked.

“We considered that this might be your intent,” Hannah explained. “It is highly unusual for an angel to show herself to a mortal this way, but Alex has seen so much already. Yet to bring him inside for such a congress might perhaps be too much. And as you have already no doubt sensed, the cathedral is not exactly welcoming to one such as yourself…though be assured that no angel here will do you harm, Lorelei. You have more than proven yourself to be an exception among your kind.”

Alex bristled at that, but Lorelei merely tilted her head in something of a bow. “I am honored,” the succubus said.

“Rachel shouldn’t have to face this alone,” said Alex.

“She will not be harmed, and the matter will be resolved swiftly,” Hannah assured him. “This is neither a trial nor an inquest. There is no need for a lengthy and dramatic debate. Those who sit in judgment are ready to announce their decisions as soon as Rachel enters.”

“She doesn’t even get to say anything in her own defense?” Alex blinked.

“They already know everything,” Rachel shrugged. “I did what I did.”

“Indeed,” Hannah agreed. “There is not much to discuss, merely for Rachel to face the judgment of her actions by her peers and superiors.”

“All the more reason for those who love her to stand beside her,” Lorelei said.

Hannah blinked. She did not lose her composure, but the statement clearly caught her attention. She looked from one face before her to the next. “You love her, Lorelei?”

“I do,” Lorelei replied. “Just as I love Alex.”

Again, Hannah looked to each of them thoughtfully. “For Alex, this would merely be inappropriate. For you, this could be acutely painful. Are you sure?”

“It is less than what Rachel and Alex both faced on my behalf last night.”

“Nor is her situation as grave as yours was. Again, I expect the cathedral will prove to be a place of great pain for you.”

“I will endure.”

“You don’t have to do this, Lorelei,” Rachel whispered.

“I do.”

The angel looked to Alex. “Tell her not to go in there. Please.”

“I can’t do that,” Alex shook his head.

“You can totally do that. She gets hot when you boss her around. She’ll obey you.”

He shook his head. “It’s not like that. We’re in this together.”

Rachel looked pleadingly at each of them again, then back up at Hannah with a helpless expression. The older angel nodded.

“Very well,” Hannah said. “Please come with me.”

“You can’t seriously think you won’t catch shit for this,” Rachel warned.

“I’ll attribute it to your terrible influence,” Hannah replied. She led the three to the cathedral. “Alex, what happens here will likely seem disjointed and confusing. You lack a great deal of context. Much of what you see will not stay in your memory long. This is natural. Don’t be alarmed when your recollection of this day becomes cloudy.”

Alex frowned a bit. “Awesome. I’m confused already.”

“That’s the spirit,” Rachel snorted. She squeezed his hand before letting go.

As they came close to the cathedral’s doors, Alex saw hazy shapes fade into his vision. The closer he got, the more they looked like people, until finally he realized he stood among angels. He saw every ethnicity and a range of ages, from young adults like Rachel to those who looked much older than Hannah. The only unifying factors were that they were all healthy, vibrant, dressed all in white, and seemed rather surprised as Alex, Lorelei and Rachel approached. Some even looked a bit awed.

Hannah faded right through the doorway. Rachel half-frowned and half-smirked as she opened the door for her companions.

As she came to the steps of the cathedral, Lorelei took in a sharp, audible breath. Alex took her hand. Rachel reached out to do so as well, but Lorelei waved it off. “I will be fine,” Lorelei said in a strained, quiet voice. “We are with you.”

The angel frowned. She didn’t like it, but she continued on a few steps ahead. As much as she wanted to reach out to Lorelei, neither woman wanted there to be any ambiguity as to who held whose hand for support in front of the other angels. Rachel glanced at Alex, who nodded and stuck close to Lorelei. Then she turned and moved into the cathedral.