Pandoras POV

The fucking nerve on that guy... I mean... Was he for real? I swear the angel in the torture chamber was real, it had to be, how else was I able to find the goddamned blade and walk out of the room with it still in my hand? That was some next level bullshit he was trying to force down my throat.

But... wait a goddamn minute. Did I just refuse his order? Had I truly broken the bond between him and me? Ha! Must be my lucky day. Here I am strolling the streets of Huntington Beach with grimoire finally in my arms and I’m free from Gates bullshit. I think I deserve some pat on the back and some chocolate-chip ice-cream for that alone.

I pushed the heavy double doors of the church open.

„Knock- knock.” I announced my arrival as I happily jump-danced inside the big hall.

„Are you... on drugs?” Astaroth was standing in the middle of the spacious room with a very puzzled look etched on his features. „Have they invented some twenty first century methamphetamine-heroin mix which can hit even your senses into the neighboring universe?”

I frowned for a moment, „What? No,” I shook my head, before kneeling down on one knee and raising the grimoire above my head for him to admire. „Tadaaa!”

There was a brief moment of silence, which made me raise my head from underneath the book and look at him. He stared at me with a ‘what-do-you-want-from-me’ expression as his shoulders twitched.

„This is the grimoire,” I explained, since it seemed he was experiencing a sudden attack of Alzheimers. He did promise me thirty grand if I retrieved it, right? I am right... right? I couldn’t have imagined this. I mean, if I would’ve imagined it, I wouldn’t go for such a small number as thirty grand. I am not modest in any way, sense, shape or form.

„I know what it is.” His eyes fixed on me as I raised to my full height, pressing my knuckle in my side as I looked at him with a deep frown.

„Are you serious?” I questioned on which he simply rolled his eyes and turned his back on me, before heading deeper in the hall. „I went to fucking Hell for this! You know a simple ‘thanks’ goes a long way.” And so does those thirty grand.

„You took the angel with you.” He shot me a disapproving look over his shoulder.

„You have to be fucking kidding me...” I mused under my breath. „You told me to!” I held my hand out, pointing out to this small nuance. Had the priest finally gone mad? Was it Alzheimer's? Really? It must be fucking Alzheimer's, ‘cause he’s making absolutely no sense.

„I didn’t think you will actually do it.” He said as he sat down at the first row of the benches. He didn’t think... Well, that’s his fucking problem, wasn’t it? A goddamn priest tells me to take an angel with me down to Hell... well, okay... maybe, if you think about it for a moment it seems like a a fucking bad idea, but, hey, I had a momentum there and I was acting upon it. „Archangels are furious.”

„Whoa... wait...” I sat next to him, gluing my eyes on his handsome features. „Archangels? As in... They came down to Earth?”

His head snapped to glare at me. „Don’t be ridiculous,” A deep sigh rolled over his lips, „They sent a clear sign.” His eyes connected to his hands which he was holding in his lap.

„What... sign?” I whispered with a confused frown mirroring on my face.

He pointed his head towards something in the very front of this room. The crucifix with Jesus nailed on it had turned into a fucking coal. It seemed like a freaking lightning-bolt struck it, which seemed ridiculous if you ask me since nothing in a six foot perimeter had been damaged. No hole in the roof, no smashed window, no nothing. My best guess was – some drunk satanist bastard came in here and decided to put the poor Jesus on fire. Like the guy hadn’t gone through enough. „Oh come on, that” I held my hand out, pointing to the crucifix, „doesn’t mean anything. And even if it did – how do you know it was because of our little field trip?”

„What else could it be?” He cocked an eyebrow at me. So... he didn’t know. Of course, if anything goes wrong, just tag the blame-tail on good ol’ Pandora here.

„Oh I don’t know... Maybe Gates planning another war against the—„ I cut myself off, when I realized those sudden wide eyes of his and realized I had told too much. „Astaroth,” I pointed my index finger at him, „You didn’t hear it from me.”

He sighed as he shook his head. „What is he thinking...” His eyes suddenly fixed on me in that judgy way he did almost all too often. „You’re on his side?”

Seriously, padre? Seriously? „Have you forgotten the outcome of the last war I attended? I’m not fighting. On neither side.”

„That will be a bit hard to do. You still have some mighty legions dancing along your melody.” The priest spoke thoughtfully, getting to his feet, before he managed to squeeze past me and walk out of the bench row. „He will force you.”

„He can’t force me.” I stated carefully. „I broke the bond.”

Astaroth snapped around. „What? How?”

I shrugged. „Beats me. All I know – I did.” I pushed myself up as I walked towards him.

„You know... You could destroy him.” He was looking at something behind my back, his eye twitching and a menacing smirk forming on his lips. Whoa, hold on. Are we getting vengeful here? That’s not where this little angel-demon menage was supposed to head.

„Hold your horses, padre, remember why you are in fact a padre?”My hand rested on his shoulder, forcing him out of this trance like state. „Let’s not drop to their level, ‘kay?”

„Crap.” He rubbed his eyes, before taking a deep breath. „You’re right. Thank you, Pandora. Thank you for showing me the way.”

„Don’t mention it.” I patted his shoulder, before the heavy double doors flung open revealing an out of breath Tempest. „Teek? What are you doing here?”

„He...” She panted as she ran forward. „He...” Well... He who and he what? Speak, goddamit. What happened? „Hold on, let me... God, what’s happening to me...”

„You’re hyperventilating,” I explained, taking her by arm and helping her to the nearest seat, „Just try to calm down. Deep breaths... In and out, in and out.”

„He...” She took a breath, before exhaling heavily, locking her purple eyes on me. „He’s the devil.”

„Who? Padre here?” I pointed my thumb towards the priest who was standing behind my back with a confused smile pulling at my lips. „Hardly the case, love.”

„Ekhem,” Astaroth coughed, bringing my attention to him, „I think she’s talking about your former owner.”

My confused smile turned into a confused frown as my attention bounced from Teek to the Priest and back. „Wait a minute...” I stepped back from the panting angel. „You didn’t know?” This was my time to look like a confused chipmunk with my eyebrows up high and my mouth agape. „seriously?”

But then again, what could’ve given him away? How about the fact that he’s like walking heroin for all women, or maybe the fact that he has an elevator that brings straight to hell in his own mansion...? Or... the fact that his dragon is named after him – Lucifer? Or maybe the fact that he has an OFFICE down in Hell?!

I had to sit down, this... I don’t know how to even call this thing that was going on here... it just was... naiveness wrapped in a pretty little wrapper and put in Teek’s hands. That’s the only gift she seemingly received from God. Gates could’ve slit a throat of a fellow angel right in front of her eyes, claiming he’s not the devil and the angel was a threat to Teek and she would’ve believed it. Better yet- she would’ve crawled right in his arms and followed him in his lair. „Bloody Hell...” I mused taking a seat in the row across from Teek. „You... You actually surprised me angel. I... I have no words.”

„Pandora, we can all agree – trusting a person is hardly considered a sin.” Astaroth chimed in.

„Yeah, but fucking the devil, padre?” My mouth was still incapable of closing. I was in awe. Pure awe. „I bet there’s a chapter or two reserved for it in your ‘holy’,” I made an air quote, before continuing, „book. If not, try checking under bestiality.”

Suddenly the pocket of my leather jacket started mamboing. Who could it be? Note the sarcasm. I picked out the ringing phone and with a deep breath pushed the phone to my ear. „Why, isn’t this my second least favorite person? I see you’ve happily crawled out of Hell. How can I be of service?”

I saw Teek's questioning look as she pointed to the device I was holding pressed against my ear, before the priest sat beside her and what I assumed started to enlighten her on Earth’s wonders. Good for him, at least he found somebody who would listen to his poetic monologues.

His deep voice trembled as he laughed in the conversation, „I thought Vengeance was your second least favorite.”

„Yeah, I changed my mind, since you’re playing the trustworthy pup yet again.” Would there be any other reason for calling me? He’s probably checking if the angel’s with me. Out of pure luck – she is, but he didn’t need to know that.

„You know you love me, Dora.” He chuckled.

„In your dreams, Shads.” I rolled my eyes as I leaned in the seat, throwing my legs over the back of the bench in front of me. „What’s up?”

„Just wanted to know how my favorite demon is doing.” He replied casually, making me pucker my eyebrows. Really? Well that’s a lame excuse and an even lamer conversation starter. „Besides you don’t really wanna know what’s up.” He added mischievously.

„You’re talking about your dick, right?” I cocked my eyebrow as I picked a couple of stray hairs off of my pants. „Don’t tell me you actually called me so you could jerk off to my voice. That’s pathetic.”

„That’s kinda hot, even you have to admit it.” I could hear him smirking. How? I just did. I knew the guy for a long time. Way too long actually.

„Fine...” I sighed with a roll of my eyes, „Finish jerking off and cut to the chase. Oh... and Teek’s not with me if you’re thinking of asking.” I shot Teek a pointed look saying she has to remain silent. Astaroth could babble all he wanted, but Teek had to be silent as a grave.

„I wasn’t. Maybe Gates was... Really not my business.”

„So you don’t... care. Is that it?” I can bet on Astaroth’s left arm that Gates and even Zacky were standing next to him and listening to this whole conversation. They were too predictable.

„No... I don’t. But how did you know she was missing?”

Oh... crap. And I thought this convo was going so smoothly and I had the upper-hand. Well, good luck figuring your way out of this Dora the explorer. „Would there be any other reason for you to call me if the angel hadn’t gone MIA?” Heck, that was a good one. I deserve a pat on the back for that. And maybe a cookie. And where is my goddamn chocolate-chip ice-cream?!

„As you said- jerking off to your voice.” He laughed. There was an odd echo to his voice, which reminded me of something familiar. A familiar place.

„Hey, where are you?” I questioned as I sat up straight.

„Right behind you.” He replied, his voice echoing in the conversation. I turned around in the seat in an instant to see him stopping in the middle of the isle, right beside me. He was alone. And in a church. Shads held up his hand as he looked at Teek, „Relax, Gates doesn’t know I’m here.” He turned his attention back to me, „Scoot over.”

I squinted my eyes as I looked at him sitting down right where I had sat just second ago. „Why are you here?” And what’s the big idea ordering me around?

„This is the only place Gates wouldn’t look for me.” He admitted, looking down on his hands.

„As in...?” I looked over his five o’clock shadow, before he lifted his head and his hazel eyes connected with mine. „You’re hiding from him?”

„Let’s just say I’m buying myself more time.” He had a crooked smile and a guilty glimpse in his eyes. What did he do?

„Care to elaborate?”

„You have to renounce the infernal legions, Pandora,” He said quietly, yet I didn’t hear it as a demand, more of a soft plea. But... That didn’t make me frown any less than if he would’ve demanded it. „Right now he’s obsessed with the thought of having the angel, but he will come for you eventually. You do understand that?”

„They’re his legions...” I mused confused. „I think I renounced them when he threw me in the slammer, don’t you agree?”

„...no.” He sighed, lowering his eyes once more. „They’re still yours to command.” Out of the blue, Shads took my hand in his. „and he wants you to command them.”

„What?” I jerked my hand out of his reach as I slowly stood up with a great frown gracing my face. Who the fuck even cares what he wants?! I’m not killing another angel, I swore myself that.

„Sit down,” He hissed, jerking me back down. „Don’t you think I’m telling you this because I care for you?” He looked deeply in my eyes. „The last thing I want is another war where you’re a single breath from dying.”

„Well then... I think me being the commander still is really the best thing in this scenario.”

„What do you mean?” A deep crease formed between his eyebrows.

„I mean... I have both the legions and the angel, who I bet, has a significant role in all this, otherwise she wouldn’t have those markings on her back,” I pointed to Teek who seemed to be happily chatting away with the priest. Finally someone who speaks the language of crazy. „And... by me having these both indispensable assets – I command the orchestra. And I say – there’s not going to be a war.”

„Are you sure about that?” A deep voice rang from behind us.

Ughh, what is this – asshole day? I looked at Teek who seemingly was trying to hide in the Priest from the devil himself. I turned around to look at him.

„This is private property, Gates. Be a dear and leave the premise.” I shot him a make-believe smile. His longing look stayed on Teek for a while, before he looked at me.

„I’m not here to ruin the party.” He told casually, „And since when a church is a private property?”

„Since... whenever. What do you want?” I frowned. Okay, I could bear with Shadows since he actually wasn’t an asshole to begin with, but Gates... Come on, me and him don’t sail on the same boat anymore.

„To talk.” He sighed sitting down in the row behind me and Matt.

„We don’t have anything to talk about.”

„Yeah, we do.” He insisted, his browns staying fixed on me. „We need to talk about the upcoming war... And how to avoid it.”

Notes