02
Tattered second hand furniture flooded the living room. The bookshelves which hadn’t seen an actual book were crammed precariously with various papers, videos, and games all of which looked like they were seconds away from tumbling to the floor. The floor was covered with discarded pizza boxes and unopened electronic devices in a variety of sizes that had been obtained by some of his roommates more illegal endeavors.
Several stray dogs of varying sizes and temperaments were sprawled out around the room adding a distinctive odor to the cluttered room.
Duncan collected dogs like it was his job. He loved them, trusted them. The way he saw it, they were the only trustworthy creatures God managed to create. Plus their barks would keep most intruders at bay.
Duncan was zoned out in front of the TV, obsessively playing the same video game for days. They didn’t require much sleep but the lack of it along with his beer consumption and his wide bloodshot blue eyes made him look like an insane leprechaun. The accent didn’t help to dispel that rumor either.
It seemed funny that at one time, Duncan had been known for his wisdom and his power. He was an elder in their community, someone that the other fallen had looked up to but over the years he became known as a bit of a joke in their circles.
Zachary tripped over some boxes as he made his way through the maze to the recliner. The dirty dishes and empty beer bottles on the coffee table quickly caught his eye, “It was your turn to clean.”
“Got a little busy here. I’ll do it tomorrow. This bloody dragon will be the death of me,” Duncan scratched absently at his unruly bleached-blonde hair then reached for the beer bottle on the floor in front of him.
Zachary frowned, “You could’ve at least thrown out the food. We’re gonna get bugs.”
“They’ll keep the mice from getting lonely,” Duncan took his eyes off of the TV and looked over at his friend, “Jesus man, you look like hell. Does someone need a hug?”
“Shuddup,” Zachary rolled his eyes.
“Got caught up in another clearance sale scuffle at The Dragon’s Lair again, did ya? Nerds sure do love their funny books.”
Zachary dropped his bag on the floor and collapsed into the worn out leatherette recliner with a sigh, “Killed a demon.”
“Yeah, right,” Duncan chuckled and his eyes traveled down to his friend's beat up Converse sneakers; the glow of the green sludge was still present though fading, “What’s that all on your sneakers?”
“See above.”
“Eww! Disgusting. Don’t you wipe your feet? That’s gonna be a bitch to get out of the carpet."
Zachary rolled his eyes. Cleaning lessons from a slob, that was some rich shit indeed.
"I thought you gave up brawlin’ with the underworld?”
“It went after a girl. Right in front of me. Was hard not to get involved."
Duncan eyed his friend suspiciously, “Good for you buddy! It’s time you got back into the world. No more wanking off to Lois Lane or whoever been given you a tingle.”
Zachary was irritated and he shifted in his seat, “It wasn't like that, perv. She was a child.”
Annoyed, Zachary got up to leave the room as Duncan shouted, "Can’t be too picky. Compared to us the rest of the world’s an embryo."
Zachary stared into the bathroom mirror as he recalled the girls words. 'His face was all... blurry and twisted but when I was touched him it wasn’t a mask. It felt like melty skin. The twisted people, they’re real, aren’t they?'
Zachary stormed back into the living room where Duncan was still playing his video game, "She saw it."
"What’s that now?"
"She saw its face. It’s true face. The same one I saw. Not his borrowed shell."
Shocked Duncan drops his controller, "Impossible. Humans don’t... Not ever... "
"Then how could she have known?"
Zachary and Duncan shared a worried look.
"Lucky guess?"
Zachary frowned, "Too descriptive for a guess. She knew right down to the way their skin feels all melty.”
Duncan got woozy from the description, "Please. You can stop trying to refresh my memory. I remember it all quite well."
Duncan's uneasiness made Zachary grin, "Been out of the game too long have ya, buddy?"
"It’s a losing game. No one really wants the other side to lose. Something about downsizing. But If this girl did see what you say she saw it wasn’t the first time. Won’t be the last. Oh well. Worrying about the business of mortals ain't part of the job description anymore."
Zachary shrugged.
"Right, Zach?"
0000
The next afternoon Zachary stumbled from his room to find Snurk sitting on the sitting on the couch. If he didn’t know better it might have looked like a drug deal was about to go down.
SNURK
Where’s you get it from?
DUNCAN
You know I never disclose my sources. Do you want it or not? It’s a fair price. You’d pay triple anywhere else if anyone else had it.
Snurk took his time thinking about the offer.
DUNCAN snapped, “Think quick. I don’t got all day. I got a list of other folks that be wanting that too, you know.”
Snurk hemmed and hawed at the deal, “I’ll give you... 150.”
Duncan scoffed, insulted by the offer, “I'm good at 3.”
“200?”
“Now it’s 350. Keep wasting me time I’ll keep going higher. I’m offering you first crack and here you are trying to make a deal. Rogan’s been looking too and I’m pretty sure he’ll pay anything.”
“C’mon. We’re old pals. Remember when I did that thing for you that time?”
“This ain’t about preference. Preference don’t get me anywhere. I called you first. That’s all you get. Now it’s about money which I prefer above all things.”
Snurk growled as he took a roll of bills from his jacket and begrudgingly gives it to Duncan, “Fine. Fine. I’ll take it, you bastard.”
Duncan grinned, counting the bill, “Last I said it was 350.”
Snurk handed him another bill, “Use it to fix up this dump.”
Zachary sat down asking, “That the crap you went to procure in the middle of the night?
Snurk’s brow crumpled as he held his new beanie baby protectively.
“That crap just got us grocery money for a month,”
All of a sudden a blinding and brilliant light filled the room. It faded almost as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind an outline of a woman. She’s faint as mist but slowly turns into solid before the men's eyes. A glow radiated off her cocoa colored skin as if she'd been dusted head to toe in powdered gold. Her doe shaped, mint green eyes blinked rapidly to adjust to their new surroundings. The brightness in her eyes quickly darkened and a frown appeared, unaccustomed to being in such a dismal atmosphere.
Duncan never forgot her face, not even after several hundred years. It was a face he had hoped to never see again. Nrisis, a Seraph and one of their father's favorites, like Duncan had once been. His history with the Seraph standing in the middle of his living room was a complex one, filled with conflicts of epic proportion and awkward, sexual tension that had spanned eternities. It was a history that Duncan left behind along with his wings. Though, seeing her now standing there uninvited in his home brought back all of his repressed pain and anger with a scorching vengeance.
In an instant, Zachary had dropped down onto one knee out of respect for his betters. The Seraph's presence did not seem to move Duncan in the same way. Duncan stretched out his arm giving Zachary a sharp swat to the back of his head.
”Dude, get up. It's not our job to bow down to these uptight, rule stickler, ass kissers anymore.”
SNURK abruptly stood, “Yeah. I’ve got a thing somewhere else.
Snurk rushed out of the apartment leaving Nrisis to her business.
Straightening her long dress, smoothing out the wrinkles caused by her journey, Nrisis stood before the two fallen angels, “Apologies for the intrusion. I do hope I'm not interrupting anything of importance,”
She glanced toward the television, a video game in pause mode, “Somehow I doubt that I am.”
Nrisis walked around, checking out the room, “Or ever could be.”
She shot a quick nod toward Duncan in acknowledgement, “It's a pleasure to see you again, Udonon. Looks like playing the rebel has really paid off for you.”
Duncan sneered back at her. No one calls him that anymore.
“Zach quick, give animal control a ring! We’ve got a bitch loose in the apartment.”
Nrisis raises an eyebrow but her voice remains sweet and light -for now, “Still as charming as ever. It's good to know that all your years earthbound hasn't found you much changed.”
“Get to talkin' Nissy or I'll be bouncing you out of here on your arrogant angel ass.”
NRISIS sighed, casting her attention toward Zachary, “Must he always talk so much?”
Zachary got to his feet, “Unfortunately.”
Nrisis sighed, “This has always been your problem, Udonon. You have never known when to keep that mouth of yours shut.”
She waved her hand in the air, “There. Now that should take care of him.”
Duncan tried to speak but his words come without a sound. His brow creased and his eyes narrow in on Nrisis. Once more, he tries to speak but there’s only silence.
An evil grin spread across the Seraph's bow shaped lips. Duncan yelled but still there was still no sound. His face turned angry and red as he became more animated, more frustrated. Finally, realizing he has been defeated he slumped back on the couch, crossing his arms at his chest and kicked at the coffee table in front of him, pouting like a spoiled child.
“As much as I have missed our banter I simply do not have time for all of your childish interruptions. Not everything is about you, Udonon. My business is with… Psaudamael.”
A ball of worry knotted in Zachary’s stomach, “It’s Zachary now.”
“Right. Right. Of course. Zachary.”
”What... what business could you possibly have with me?”
Nrisis circled the room as she spoke, “We need to talk about the girl, the peculiar little thing with the funny colored hair that I led you to the other night.”
“That was you?”
“You think you just happened upon that little scene? I've been following her situation quite closely. It was terribly presumptuous, I admit. I did so want to speak with you before but there wasn't any way. Visits down here are being strictly monitored.”
“Why the sudden interest in one insignificant human?”
With her hands still at her side, Nrisis clenched and released her fists in frustration. Being questioned by anyone, especially someone as inferior as Psaudamael was insulting to her.
“I have my reasons. All I ask is that you keep an eye on this girl. Intervene if you find her in peril. There are things out there that are a danger to her.”
“Isn't there... isn’t there someone anyone a little more qualified?”
“Oh yes, of course. Many, many, many more qualified than you but I needed someone that was honorable. And bad taste in living arrangements aside, you are the most honorable one that I've found down here amongst the fallen. This is what you were looking for when you choose to fall, wasn’t it? The big hero type stuff.”
“How would I even...”
”I’ve gone ahead and bound you to her. That night when you met her maybe you felt a spark or perhaps some heat?”
Thinking back, Zachary remembered how his whole body began to tingle when he took the girl’s hand, “Like an electric shock?”
Nrisis, at last, appeared pleased, “Good. Good. Now I need to get back before anyone notices I've gone. If you need me, Udonon knows how to reach me.”
And with a flash of light and mist she was gone as quickly as she appeared.
Duncan’s voice came back as good as ever. “Bloody Seraph bitch coming into MY house acting all high and mighty and demanding like she matters down here.”
“Still got a few of those unresolved issues, do ya, buddy?”
“Shuddup,” Duncan growled as he went to the refrigerator for a beer, “You’re not thinking about helping her, are you?”
Zachary remained silent – he was guilty as charged.
“Wait... wait. You think... do you think that if you do this, they'll take you back? That's it, isn't it?”
Embarrassed, ZACHARY’s head slumped, mumbling, “I don't know. Maybe? Don't you ever think about going back?”
DUNCAN scoffed at the very thought, “That life is long gone, my friend and it wasn't all that great to begin with. You want to go back there live under their thumb, but maybe it’s worse this time around for you and they got you living under their shoe? You don’t know but I've worked side by side with them. I know how they operate. No doubt they've seen that guilt-ridden soul of yours and to them it's like candy on Christmas morning. Those... feathery fucks will hold that crap over your head and they'll dangle that pretty piece of hope in front of you. Use you to do their bidding then take all the credit, they will. How come she breaking the rules to help this girl anyways?”
“She said the girl’s in danger.”
“Whole bloody city’s in danger. Don’t see her helping them, do ya? Something’s rotten here.”
“Yeah. The garbage you still haven’t clean up.”
Duncan called over a dog to him and fed it an old pizza crust from the table.
“See. I’m getting to it. Human business is too tricky. Most make their own messes and they don’t want to be helped cleaning them up. They just want to wallow and complain about the troubles they caused themselves. I wouldn’t get involved with this. Let Nrisis handle it. Whatever it is.”