Autumn Feast - Charlie Richards Page 0,44
to the window. “Ah, Hamish?” He looked over his shoulder. “Why is there a fence made of... are those leaves all around our house?”
Hamish came over and put his arm around him. “There are a lot of trees in Vermont.”
Liam looked up at him, made a face. “Seriously?”
“Come on, my little matchmaker, let’s get out there and see if there’s any blood that needs mopping up.”
“Blood? What blood?” Liam hurried out of the bedroom, practically on the back of Hamish’s heels.
The first thing Hamish noticed when he got to the living room was Ravish standing in the corner. He was sleeping.
Azrael was sitting on the chair in front of the fire, reading a novel Hamish had just started.
Liam walked over to Ravish and examined him. His eyes were open, but he was definitely asleep.
“Creepy, isn’t it?” Azrael said, putting aside the novel. “I sleep standing too, but at least I close my eyes.”
“Hamish used to do that,” Liam told him. “He sleeps in bed with me now.”
“Love.” Azrael sighed. “If I had a reason, maybe I’d try the bed too.”
“I’m sure Ravish would sleep beside you if you asked him,” Hamish suggested.
“Why in creation would I want that mangy demon sleeping with me?” Azrael shook his head.
“What happened between you two?” Liam asked. “Were you once a couple?”
“A couple, with him? No. He’s a demon, Liam. I’m an angel. That wouldn’t be permitted.” Azrael stuck his nose in the air.
“Maybe not,” Hamish said, sitting on the sofa. “But something happened, didn’t it, that time when you were hunting him in The Place in Between?”
“Long time ago, ancient history. Subject change,” Azrael announced. “Since he’s asleep, listen to me.” He looked at Hamish. “You saved the world from a demon invasion. You’re in. Our side has claimed you, Hamish.”
“Makes him sound like the movie of the week,” Liam chuckled. “Superhero saves the world and earns his wings.”
Hamish found that funny. He laughed. “White ones, don’t forget.”
“Of course, baby,” Liam replied. “But I was kind of partial to the ones with black flecks.”
“Naughty boy.” Hamish blew him a kiss.
Azrael frowned. “Listen, seriously. Hamish, you don’t want your soul going to the dark lord, do you?”
“The dark lord and I are no longer on speaking terms,” Hamish said. “But I don’t want to give my soul away without knowing the conditions.”
“Conditions?” Azrael echoed.
“Yes, conditions, Angel Boy,” another voice rang out. “Nothing is without conditions.”
They all looked over at Ravish, now wide awake.
“Don’t listen to him, Hamish,” Azrael protested. “Liam, please make Hamish see reason. You are a good, God-fearing mortal man. You don’t want Hamish’s soul rotting in hell, do you?”
“Hamish will make up his own mind, Azrael,” Liam told him. “And it’s my experience that nothing is at all like I learned in Sunday school.”
Ravish clapped his hands as he came forward. “Bravo, Liam. You are correct. These outdated stories of heaven and hell don’t fly anymore. I can’t believe you would stoop so low, Azrael, to use the old fire and brimstone rhetoric to scare our friends here.”
“Some of us hold to tradition,” Azrael retorted.
“Traditions with no basis in reality?” Ravish told him. “Redundant, no?”
Azrael ignored that.
Ravish turned to Liam. “Don’t think that Azrael’s offer comes without stipulations. And I apologize for before. It was rude of me to invade your thoughts on our first meeting, Liam. It’s rather a habit of mine.”
“Apology accepted, on one condition,” Liam said.
“That being?” Ravish smiled at him.
Hamish shot him a dirty look. “Tone it down.”
“Sorry,” he said. “What is it you want, Liam?”
“You tell us the story of your first meeting with Azrael,” Liam explained.
“It would be my pleasure.” Ravish bowed his head.
Azrael exploded with anger. “You would ask him, a demon, and not me, who is the epitome of truth and purity, to tell you our history?”
Ravish began to laugh.
“And what are you laughing at, demon?” Azrael glared at him.
“Just funny to watch you get so angry. Angels are supposed to be so good-natured.”
They moved toward each other, threateningly.
“Ah, ah.” Hamish jumped up and pushed them apart. “We are eager to hear both sides of the story.”
Ravish sat down in a chair. He leaned back, arms across his chest. “You can even go first, Angel Cakes. Then after you finish, I’ll tell them what really happened.”
Azrael grumbled under his breath. “We are wasting time. We need to decide this contest and take our leave.” He looked at Hamish. “This is about your soul, not about Ravish and me.”
Hamish put up a hand. “I