A few centuries ago when the leadership team had insisted more souls were needed for the growing population, no one had thought to suggest reincarnating ghosts. It hadn’t even been brought up. Why not? It would have made the most sense.
It was odd.
Kushiel didn’t understand any of this.
He felt a hand gently rest on his, and he couldn’t help his flinch, making Cass pull back.
Shit.
He was immediately embarrassed. He wasn’t in heaven or hell. Touch didn’t hurt his skin here on Earth, but it had been a spontaneous reaction, and he could barely look up to see the hurt or anger in Cass’s face. The man had been beyond patient and kind with him, and here he was mucking things up again.
“Hey,” Cass’s soft voice said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking,” Kushiel muttered, mortified by his reaction. He finally looked up, and Cass’s face was soft and kind. It made his eyes feel a little wet, and he didn’t even know why.
He cleared his throat. “I, um, I don’t know anything about ghosts. Which is odd when I think about it. Even the leadership team doesn’t really deal with ghosts, and they have their hands in everything.”
“Well, they wouldn’t have anything to do with ghosts,” Cass stated, like it was obvious.
Kushiel felt a bit stupid, but his lost souls were too important for him to not ask questions. “Why not?”
“Who makes up the leadership team?” Cass asked.
“Well, I don’t actually know any of their names. Actually, I’m not even sure they have names,” Kushiel pondered.
Cass just laughed. “Yes, that’s probably true. Butwhoare they?”
It hit Kushiel then. Of course. “Angels and demons.”
“Right,” Cass replied. “Angels and demons, none of which can see ghosts. So they can’t keep track of them, or try to influence them, or try to send them on to the afterlife.”
“But…” Kushiel paused, thinking. “We have a reincarnation team.”
“Made up of angels and demons, I’m sure,” Cass responded.
“Just angels, I think,” Kushiel responded. “But we also have a ghosthood team.”
“And who is on that?” Cass asked curiously.
“I… I don’t know,” Kushiel responded, suddenly realizing that fact. They were always hooded and wore gray, and they didn’t really interact, and Kushiel suddenly had no idea if they were angels or demons… or something else entirely. But what else? Mortal souls were not allowed in the afterlife.
Well, except apparently Michael was.
“Would ghosts be in the afterlife?” Kushiel asked. “Is that what they are?”
“I’m not sure,” Cass shrugged. “Ghosts tend to be ghosts because they want to stay on the mortal plane of existence andnotbe part of the afterlife. But I suppose anything is possible. If they are angels or demons then they aren’t typical, because you lot cannot see ghosts.”
Kushiel absorbed that. So Cass didn’t quite know everything, but he certainly knew a lot. More than Kushiel, apparently, at least when it came to being topside. Since that’s where Kushiel’s current work was, he was glad to have Cass helping him.
“Thank you,” Kushiel said sincerely. “Thank you for helping me.”
“Of course,” Cass replied. “I would help whether or not I got a divine message from Gabriel. A ghost in that kind of shape… Well, how could Inothelp?”
Kushiel nodded, and the two sat for a moment. Kushiel wasn’t sure what else to say. He didn’t know what to do next. He supposed he could go do some research in heaven or in hell, but he honestly wasn’t looking forward to the pain of going back to either one. He also wasn’t sure how far he would get, since whoever did this wouldn’t be stepping up to explain, and he doubted anyone else had any idea of what happened.
Cass yawned, and Kushiel looked out the window and realized quite suddenly that it was dark out. Cass followed his gaze and nodded, like he was acknowledging how late it was. Kushiel felt a little stupid for overstaying his welcome, but at least he would get to see Cass again. After all, they’d be working together. He was cheered immensely by the idea that this wasn’t goodbye. He stood up, ready to take his leave, and Cass stood up too.
“Well—” Kushiel started, but Cass interrupted him.
