It took a minute or so before I could regain composure. When my eyes were dry and my throat clear, I spoke up. “That reminds me. Does this mean you have all your memories back?”
The smile waned. “Yes. I remember everything about being an archangel, but…it’s sort of bittersweet.”
I tilted my head in question. “Why?”
“The Michael you knew is now just a small fraction of who I am. I will never be him again.” His voice held such regret in it that I reached out and touched his hand, trying to choose the right words to express how I felt. As annoying as his poltergeist self had been, I did like him deep down. I hadn’t even considered the fact that regaining his body and all of his memories would change his personality.
“Who you are and who you were are the men that I owe my life to. You can never disappoint me, Michael.” My words had the kind of truth I expected from someone like Gabriel. I wasn’t the smartest or most eloquent person. However, judging by the relieved expression on the angel’s face, I made my point well.
“Thank you. For everything. Your faith is something no one can replace.”
I waved the comment away. “Knock it off. Just because you got your body back doesn’t mean you get to sweet talk me.”
Michael laughed. As with Gabriel, the joyous feeling filled my chest and erased the aches and pains that had previously resided there. I caught myself wishing he would never leave and cursed my vulnerable state.
Just then, Gabriel walked through the door with a dark-haired Hispanic man I didn’t recognize. They were both wearing street clothes: Gabriel in a black sweater and dark blue jeans while the stranger wore a grey button-up shirt and black slacks.
I lifted an eyebrow. “I’m digging the casual look on you, Gabe. Be careful or one of these Albany girls might make off with you.”
The handsome angel blushed, to my delight. “I’ll be quite careful. Jordan, this is Raphael. He’s going to be treating you.”
“Raphael? As in archangel Raphael?”
Gabriel nodded. I squirmed in my seat. “Geez, I’m really getting the star treatment, aren’t I? Why are three of God’s archangels wasting time with a waitress?”
Raphael spoke with a surprisingly deep voice that had a hint of a Spanish accent in the background. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You made an important sacrifice. You are entitled to a bit of attention.”
That made me smile. “Fantastic. You wouldn’t mind bringing me something to eat, would you?”
“Certainly not. Michael, mind showing me around?”
“No problem.” Giving my hand a final squeeze, Michael stood and led Raphael out of the room in search of food. Gabriel sat beside me and began inspecting the many bandages adorning my body.
“What happened to Belial?”
Anger flickered across Gabriel’s face at the mention of the demon’s name. “We burned his body, but unfortunately the Spear of Longinus did not kill him permanently. Demons are very hard to destroy. Their souls are simply expelled from their bodies and return to Hell where their wretched leader gets them new ones.”
“Guess I’ll be needing a lot more crosses, then,” I said, trying not to wince as he checked my chest wound.
He nodded with a grim expression. “Many. Michael was immensely concerned with your condition. He even went before the Father and Son to plead on your behalf.”
My jaw dropped. “Plead what on my behalf?”
“I think she might want to hear this from me, Gabe.” I spotted Michael in the doorway with a glass of ice water and a Nutra-Grain bar. Raphael entered behind him, glancing between us with a worried look. I eyed Michael’s careful expression as he walked towards me with the food. He very pointedly did not look at me as he handed the items over.
“Hear what?”
“Based on the persistent nature of the demon Belial, I asked the Father to remain at your side until we have determined he no longer wants possession of your soul.”
I sputtered in mid-swallow of the water. “What?”
Michael cleared his throat. “It was the logical thing to do.”
“Logical? Michael, you’re an archangel. You can’t just hang around my stuffy little one-bedroom apartment!” I exclaimed, resisting the urge to throw the health bar at his head.
“I’m not moving in with you and I won’t be abandoning my post as Commander of God’s Army. I’ll just be continuing my job here on Earth alongside you.”
I gave Gabriel a pleading look. “There is no way The Big Guy agreed to this, right?”
Gabriel coughed into his hand. I noticed the upward twitch of his lips. The damn angel was trying not to laugh. “He found it to be an acceptable proposition. I’m quite sorry.”
I palmed my forehead, trying to wrap my head around this ridiculous idea. Well, at least this put an end to the problem of being alone. Lord knows I had never thought it would be ended by way of archangel.