Page 78 of Absolved In Death

“Are you okay? That slit to the throat looked brutal.”

“I’m sorry, I’m at a loss on what to say. Should I ask how I ended up here, considering I’ve broken a ton of your rules? Or maybe why you exiled Zaz. He’s an amazing man, and he deserved so much better. Or I can ask why you insisted my fathers abandon me. How do you know I was safer without them? I have no clue where to start.”

“I can see how the humans came up with the ‘mysterious ways’ phrase. The lack of transparency must be very frustrating for you, and I can give you some clarity,” they said, sitting down on a white leather couch. “Come sit with me.”

I was shocked I didn’t trip, fall, and break my neck. A baby giraffe had more grace than I did as I walked to the couch and sat down. God waved their hand, and a tea service tray popped onto the ottoman coffee table. The pot poured on its own, adding the perfect amount of sugar to the ruby red tea. I brought it to my lips, blew on it, and took a sip. It was a herbal hibiscus blend. My favorite.

“Thank you, this is delicious…” I trailed off. I felt so awkward and out of my element sitting next to them.

“You’re welcome. You’re here because Michael used his high level angel magic to cast a favor spell on you in the Pit. If you were to perish in that battle, he requested I find you. As for breaking rules…” They paused, taking a sip of their tea. “I think you’re very similar to Lucifer in the sense of having your own moral code. You care about the less fortunate. The disenfranchised. You are fighting for what’s right, and I see no issue with that.”

“Thank you…” I replied, at a loss for words again. God basically complimented me.I think?“Why did you exile Zaz?” I tried to keep my tone even, because the last thing I wanted to do was start an argument. I doubt I’d get this chance again.

“That decision was a moving part of a much larger plan. Michael has a talent for developing talent. Azazel wasn’t just an amazing guardian angel—he’s a skilled seer. When he foretold you, I didn’t believe him right away. Prophecies are not set in stone. After he told me of his visions, I knew it would all come to pass. The Tribunal, however, didn’t see it that way.”

“So you let them exile him?” I asked, trying to understand how this happened if they believed the vision.

“I let them exile Zaz so he could be with you. His relationship with Desmond and Bash came to light at the perfect time. An angel fraternizing with a demon hybrid and an incubus?Scandalous. It was Michael and Lucifer 2.0. I knew he wouldn’t let the vision go because he’s a good soul. A person who truly acts for the greater good, even if it means making sacrifices for himself. Once he was on earth, he’d use his talents to guide you in the right direction.”

“Is that why he was allowed to keep his wings and magic? He said disgraced angels rarely did.”

“Yes. You had a third question?” they asked.

“Why did you make my fathers abandon me?” My teacup shook in my hand, and I put it down on the tray to avoid spilling it all over the pristine white furniture.

“Because I truly believed you’d be safer in the mortal realm as a ‘human’.” They said the last word in air quotes. “Lucifer has too many enemies, and so do I. My enemies would not hesitate to get revenge via Michael’s child. I’m not negating the pain you experienced by not having a father. That’s very valid, and I’m sorry you had to experience that. But I felt you growing up in the human world would give you a unique perspective on life that would help you understand the gravity of this war—what was at stake to lose.”

“So growing up in adversity as a human gave me what being raised with my fathers couldn’t?”

“Exactly. Lucifer would have spoiled you, turning you into a spoiled brat. Michael would have worried over you constantly. Immortals often lack empathy and grit. And to save the world, you need both of those qualities in spades.”

I let their words sink in as I slowly sipped on the rest of my tea, until the cup was empty. Then I refilled it myself, and drained the second cup.

“I’m not sure I agree with you on the last part. Michael is sick, and he suffers from a broken heart. We have no clue what to expect, and I wish I had more time with him. Like the twenty two years I lost.”

God gave me another smile, but this one was coy. They definitely knew something I didn’t,

“Michael will be fine. He and Lucifer’s conflict will eventually reach a resolution, but it must happen of its own accord, in its own time.” I tilted my head, silently urging them to give me more detail. “That’s all I’m willing to say on the matter.”

“Okay. So where do we go now? I’m immortal, so I highly doubt a throat slit is going to kill me permanently.”

“No, it won’t. You’re due to reanimate soon. I’m going to cast you back to earth and let you swim your own way,” God announced. “You have an immense power, and I feel you’ll be able to use it to leverage this situation to your benefit.”

What did that mean?How was that helpful in the slightest?

“Are you intentionally this vague?”

“Maybe. I do work in mysterious ways,” they said, flashing me a smile Nonna was well known for, theI know something you don’t knowsmile. “Think, what power of yours has the ability to literally change the shape of the world?”

Before I could answer the question, everything started to fade away. The last thing I heard was God’s voice saying, “Good luck, Diana.”

26

MICHAEL

No one told you fatherhood came with a huge side of heartbreak. Heartbreak with a serrated blade that cut through me deeper than I ever thought possible. I could barely breathe as I stared at my daughter in the middle of the camp. Red tied her corpse to a long wooden pole, where everyone could see it. Luci and I had our hands bound and were magically restrained in a shielded bubble on a makeshift stage. Red’s soldiers jeered, shouting obscenities at us.

Lucifer held me in his arms, leaning our foreheads together. I existed in the moment, listening to his stuttered breathing with my eyes closed and taking in the immense sadness we both felt. He kissed my cheek, the wetness of his tears hot against my skin.

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