Velvet Redemption

About two months after Michael’s death, I was back to my usual self. Kareen had helped me find a spell to turn my wings red again, so I could keep Lilandra’s memory alive. In exchange, Death had to go back to being the head reaper. It wasn’t exactly a nine to five job, but I got to be with her essentially whenever I wanted.

Today, I was going to see an old friend.

Flying down out of the Denver sky, I landed in the alley beside the Deli Lama sandwich shop around noon. Putting on my green coat, I walked inside to see my best friend in line waiting for me.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Joshua said, walking over and giving me a hug.

“It’s good to see you, buddy,” I said, laughing.

“It’s a bit warm out for a coat like that,” Joshua said, pointing at my long green jacket and smirking.

“You want to see my wings that badly?”

“You listen here; I’m just giving you a hard time. So hush,” Joshua said.

“I gave your-”

“I swear, if the next word you say is ‘mom,’ I am going to kick your ass into next Tuesday,” Joshua said.

“Really? Joshua, I killed Lucifer and Michael. Do you honestly think you’d stand a chance against me?”

“You never know. I’ve become a black belt in kickboxing in the three years you’ve been gone. Maybe I can go with you on your next fight and take on Gabriel or something,” Joshua said.

“Gabriel?”

“You know, the other archangel besides Michael,” Joshua said.

“When did you become such a Bible scholar?”

Joshua held up his hand revealing a gold wedding ring.

“My old lady is a preacher’s daughter. I had to get right with God before I could have her,” Joshua said.

“Well look at you, all married and settled down! Where are you living now?”

“I’m on the north part of the city in a condo with the new wife. Someone destroyed my old house, remember?”

I rubbed the back of my head and said, “Yeah, and someone pulled your sorry ass out of that house before it was destroyed, remember?”

“You listen here. . . aw forget it. So, you’ve killed half the characters in the Bible, did ya? Let’s get some sandwiches. I want to hear all about it since you’ve gone nomad for the past three years, ignoring me entirely,” Joshua said.

“Those battles are old news. I want to hear about this wife. You got any kids on the way?”

“Twins in two months,” Joshua said, practically giddy with himself.

“Who would have thought. . . Joshua having twins,” I said, patting him on the back.

Joshua looked down at the black and white tile floor, then back up at me and said, “I decided that life is too short not to live it to the fullest, so I wanted children. I learned that I wanted to lay down at night listening to the sounds of a daughter and son giggling in their beds, refusing to go to sleep. Not all of us can be heroes like you and save the world.”

“Trust me. After all I’ve endured, you got the better deal, I assure you,” I said, looking at the cashier in front of us. She was ready to take order, and I looked at Joshua and asked, “Your treat?”

He reached into the pocket on his gray polo shirt and pulled out a deck of cards.

“I’ll play you for lunch. One quick hand of five card draw,” he said, smirking.

“You’ve got to be joking. I haven’t had a job in years. I’ve got no money!”

“Then you’d better win this hand,” Joshua said.

The two of us walked over to a table and played cards, but I knew that he was going to pay one way or another. He owed me for saving the world.