“I must confess to being ill prepared in learning my brother does not carry some mythical key to the Abyss as in the prophesy. Instead of a tangible artifact to unlock some unholy gateway, Abaddon is the key. After he gave me a glimpse of the Abyss, I knew beyond any doubt how powerful a role Angelina plays in our mission.”
“I…I don’t know what to say. It explains so much and yet poses so many problems.”
“How do you mean?”
“What…what if something were to happen to Angelina?”
“My brother sees only victory in the future, while I can imagine all manner of possible outcomes,” Raphael acknowledged. “Each one of us holds a vital part in what lies ahead. My Father’s will must be done. Abaddon exists to carry out our Father’s wishes. No matter what happens to you, Angelina, or me, Abaddon will see this mission through. We are here only to prevent needless loss of life and prevent the dissolution of this reality.”
“But if something did happen to Abaddon…”
“It might precipitate Armageddon,” Raphael completed Catherine’s thought. “I feel Lucifer would challenge my Father immediately, hoping to conquer heaven while our forces were in disarray.”
“Wouldn’t the Lord create another Avatar?”
“My Father has a weak spot in regard to Lucifer and the complexity of free will. He could, but I do not know if he would.”
“Then all is at risk,” Catherine whispered.
“I doubt my Father would have it any other way. Know this, my Father’s present Avatar is not to be taken lightly. He will do whatever it takes to be victorious, even if it includes risking this reality. Abaddon battles with a visceral hatred of Lucifer rivaling by Father’s love for the Angel of Light as my brother Michael jokingly refers to Lucifer.”
“You weren’t kidding when you said this was very complicated.”
“Lucky for us, it isn’t complicated to Abaddon.” Raphael held his teacup up in a toast to Catherine.
“Nor to Angelina,” Catherine added, clinking her teacup into Raphael’s.
Chapter 12
Dinner Dress Up
“Oh, my love…” Angelina sobbed, her sweating body squirming closer to Abaddon’s, shuddering near collapse from their lovemaking, “…how can you… how do you know me so… I mean…”
“I feel every thought and every wish when I hold you.” Abaddon stroked Angelina’s face with his fingertips. “All of creation disappears when I am with you like this.”
“I…I thought I would die from the pleasure.”
“You should probably get ready before Catherine comes in to collect you.”
“I guess you’re right. Come and take a shower with me. I’ll scrub your back.”
“Can both of us fit in there together?”
“I’ll let you know in a minute.” Angelina leaped to her feet, pulling on Abaddon’s hand.
Abaddon sat up, pulling Angelina back onto his lap. “I know we fit here together.”
Angelina gasped, molding her body into his, writhing again at Abaddon’s touch.
Later, as Abaddon reached to open the door between the rooms, he leaned down to look into Angelina’s smiling face. “Remember, you promised to tone yourself down with Catherine.”
Angelina pulled Abaddon’s face down with both her hands, kissing him gently around the mouth. “I know. Don’t nag me, Cat junior.”
Abaddon laughed, and opened the door for Angelina.
“You look good, my brother,” Raphael said, looking up from his seat at the table, “and you, Sister Angelina, look positively radiant. You did a very nice job helping Abaddon dress appropriately.”
“Thanks, Raph.” Angelina walked over to Catherine and embraced her. “I love the way he looks in dark gray, especially in a three piece suit. I’m sorry about the way I acted earlier, Cat.”
“It was me overreacting again. I’ll do better. By the way, are you hurt?”
“No, why?”
“Well, the way you were screaming in the next room, Raph and I thought maybe you had…” Catherine burst into laughter as Angelina’s mouth dropped open and she uncharacteristically blushed a bright crimson.
Catherine put her arm around Angelina’s shoulder, pulling her toward the door. “I so got you. C’mon, I think you need a Zombie.”
“You know what they say about payback,” Angelina replied with a lilting voice of warning.
“Feeling better?” Raphael asked Abaddon as they followed the two Sisters out.
“I am healed completely. Angelina has impressive powers of rejuvenation.”
“I will take your word on that, my brother. Sister Mary Catherine?”
“Yes,” Catherine turned quizzically.
“Knowing my experience with humans goes back thousands of years, may I make a suggestion for this evening’s attire?”
“You don’t want Sister Angelina and I to crab everyone else’s evening by dressing as nuns, right?”
“If you already knew, why did you make me ask?” Raphael said with some exasperation. “I thought if I were to broach the subject you would go postal on me.”
“I just wanted to see that ‘female humans are so tedious’ look on your face.”
“Crab, postal?” Abaddon repeated.
“Never mind, my love,” Angelina whispered to him. “So, what did you have in mind, Raph?”
“Would you two consider this attire?”
Instantly, the two nuns were dressed in evening wear so hauntingly perfect for each of them Catherine looked at Angelina and then back at herself in surprised silence. Angelina went over and hugged Raphael.
“My Lord Raphael,” Angelina said, with a toss of her raven black hair, “I am impressed beyond words with your taste in modern women’s attire. I think though we will have to monitor your obsession with women’s clothes catalogues.”
Raphael laughed appreciatively. “This dark blue suits you well, my dear - simple and elegant.”
Catherine’s blonde hair shimmered lustrously in the hallway lighting. She touched the burgundy evening gown hesitantly, almost afraid to show too much attention toward it. Both gowns were cut to a neckline extending from shoulder tip to shoulder tip with small differences which heightened each woman’s natural curvature. Catherine shook her head slowly, trying not to show the pleasure she felt from the gown. Raphael walked over to her and grasped Catherine’s hand.
“Do not think so much, Cat,” Raphael counseled. “Already I feel those negative vibes at anything short of angelical. This clothing is but a small matter. It cannot change what you are inside. You do not disgrace your calling. You merely accede to the appropriate costuming required here. Certainly, you and Sister Angelina would be seated at the restaurant here without any hesitation, but your attire would make everyone else in the place uncomfortable as you said yourself. You look amazing, my dear Sister Mary Catherine.”
“It would make it less noticeable when you pass out, Cat,” Angelina added.
“You brat! I will so drink you under the table.”
“In your dreams. How do I look, my love?”
Abaddon had been staring at Angelina without blinking from the moment Raphael changed the nuns’ clothing. Angelina looked down at the front of Abaddon’s suit pants and clucked in fake disapproval.
“My Lord Abaddon,” Angelina stated admonishingly, “you cannot go into public like that. You like the way I look, huh?”
Abaddon nodded his head slowly. Angelina stepped in front of him, blocking Abaddon’s inadvertent show of attraction.
“What are you gawking at, folks? Nothing to see here,” Angelina joked with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Speak up, Cat. Can you handle being beautiful for a night or not?”
“I believe we will attract more attention dressed like this than if we were wearing our so called nuns’ uniform. It will be more comfortable for the people around us. I was wrong before with Ange, but these gowns are a step up from that street walker’s outfit she was trying on.”
“Good. My brother, you need to speak so I know you are well.”
“He’s okay, Raph,” Angelina answered for Abaddon. “He’ll have to recite five Our Father’s and ten Hail Mary’s on the way up to the restaurant. It may be we won’t have to constantly shield everyone’s view from the front of his suit then.”
“You have a remarkable gift, Raph.” Abaddon continued staring at Angelina as the others laughed. “We must consider allowing this alternate clothing more often.”
“Whenever Sister Mary Catherine is comfortable with it, I believe it would be innocent fun,” Raphael replied.
“Don’t worry, my love. Now that Raph has broken the ice so to speak we can have our own private dress up shows.”
“Nice going, Lord Raphael. You do realize you can’t put the Genie back in the bottle now, don’t you?”
Raphael chuckled. “We’ll survive, Cat. Let’s go up and see this marvelous view you and Sister Angelina spoke of.”
Abaddon and Angelina followed Raphael and Catherine toward the elevator with Angelina holding Abaddon’s hand.
“Say it with me, my love.” Angelina giggled, seeing Abaddon had not been able to suppress his infatuation with Angelina’s new look. “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
* * *
“This is very beautiful,” Abaddon commented as the four companions sat near the huge picture window looking out over San Francisco’s vista.
“When it’s clear like this the view up here is breathtaking,” Catherine added.
“Excuse me,” a lilting husky voice called out quietly from behind Abaddon’s shoulder.
Raphael had watched the beautiful woman with auburn hair walk towards their table accompanied by her equally beautiful blonde haired companion. Raphael smiled in appreciation, noting the pair were dressed much as Angelina had clothed herself earlier, earning Catherine’s streetwalker comment. When Abaddon turned to face the new arrivals, the auburn haired woman leaned into him, her breasts barely concealed in the tight fitting black dress she wore.
“Are you and your friend basketball players?”
“No, we’re not,” Raphael answered for Abaddon as his brother had immediately looked toward him for guidance. “We…”
“You two must be bodyguards,” the woman stated, putting a hand on Abaddon’s shoulder.
“Cat, can you see me?” Angelina’s face reflected her annoyance.
“Oh sorry, are you married?” The blonde haired companion asked Raphael.
“No, but…”
“I’m Wendy and this is my friend, Chloe,” the auburn haired Wendy said, ignoring Angelina’s look of death. “We think you two are so hot. We’re here alone. Can we join you?”
“You’re joking, right?” Angelina’s voice took on a hard edge.
Catherine laughed at Angelina’s obvious discomfort at the woman’s complete disregard for their presence. For the first time since they met Catherine noticed Raphael was at a loss for words.
“What’s so funny, blondie?” Wendy asked Catherine.
“My name is Catherine and this is my friend Angelina.” Catherine regained her composure. “I wasn’t laughing at you, Wendy. In fact, if my friend Angelina doesn’t mind, I think it would be great for you and Chloe to join us.”
“What!?” Angelina turned toward Catherine with some anger. “Are you out of your mind?”
Wendy had already grabbed an unoccupied chair from a nearby table with Chloe quickly mimicking her actions. In a matter of seconds the two women were seated next to Abaddon and Raphael. Wendy draped an arm around Abaddon’s chair. Chloe sat with her chair butting up next to Raphael’s and smilingly put her hand on his thigh.
“Want to buy me a drink, big boy?” Chloe asked Raphael. “I’ll have whatever your sisters are having.”
“My… ah… sisters are having Zombies.” Raphael enjoyed immensely the looks Angelina was trading with Catherine, who simply grinned back at her long time friend.
Wendy smiled with a predatory look. “Wow, you boys will definitely need some company soon.”
A waitress approached the table and looked questioningly at Chloe. “Can I get you anything?”
“I think we’ll have two glasses of Berringer’s,” Wendy answered as Chloe shook her head in agreement.
“I’ll have a coffee,” Angelina requested pointedly.
The waitress nodded and went to fill their order.
“So what do you guys do for a living?” Chloe asked Raphael.
“As you surmised, my brother and I are bodyguards. I’m…”
Raphael paused as two men approached from the bar. Neither man seemed in the mood for friendly conversation.
“Wendy,” Raphael said, “were you and Chloe alone when the two of you came to our table?”
“We were on a blind date with two stiffs. We didn’t like the company. I was right. You two are bodyguards. I told you, Chloe.”
“Are those two gentlemen threading their way toward our table your dates?” Raphael persisted.
“Yes…” Wendy answered, glancing at the men. “We don’t want to be with them and they can’t take a hint.”
“So you thought it would be a good idea to blow them off by coming over to our table?” Angelina’s anger changed to annoyance watching Catherine take a huge gulp of her Zombie drink. “Will you quit swilling that down so fast, Cat. I told you…”
“Hey,” the first man to arrive at the table said, taking Wendy’s arm, “what’s the idea?”
Raphael immediately shook his head in the negative at Abaddon. Watching the two men carefully, Raphael noted they were nearly as large as he and Abaddon. One had sandy hair tied back in a ponytail. The other man wore his dark brown hair short. Raphael looked questioningly at Wendy.
“These gentlemen appear up to the mark to me, Wendy. Why are you and Chloe doing this?”
“We don’t need no charity work from you, buddy,” the darker haired man upbraided Raphael. “If…”
“My name is Raphael and this is my brother…” Raphael began, extending his hand to the man.
“I don’t care… hey, wait a minute… Raphael, did you say?” The darker haired man smiled for the first time. “Did you hear that, Pete? It’s one of those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Where’s your red headband, Raphy?”
“He’s the turtle on the half-shell, right Jake?” Pete caressed Wendy’s arm. “Is this guy over here your fellow turtle… ah… Armadillo or Michaelangelo, or…”
Catherine giggled again at this banter which had drawn an instant sigh of disfavor from Raphael. Raphael could see Wendy and her friend Chloe enjoyed the exchange, contrary to their professed distaste for Jake and Pete. Abaddon watched the men appraisingly, listening and trying to decipher the human play unfolding at their table. The waitress served Wendy and Chloe’s wine along with Angelina’s coffee. Pete moved aside to allow the waitress to complete her task.
“Shall I put this on your card, Sir?” The waitress asked. Raphael nodded his consent. “Can I get either of you two something to drink?”
“Yes, please join us,” Catherine blurted out, earning surprised looks from her other three companions.
“Maybe we should take their dates like they’re trying to do to us, Pete? Yeah, I’ll have a Jack Daniels. How about you, Pete?”
“Same for me and put the drinks on the Mutant Ninja Turtle’s tab,” Pete added, looking around for a chair.
“Over here, Pete.” Jake walked over to an empty table nearby. He appropriated two more chairs.
“This table is getting awfully crowded,” Angelina remarked, seeing Catherine down the rest of her drink.
“There’s plenty of room, sweetness,” Pete told Angelina. “What’s your name, honey?”
“I’m Sister Angelina and this is my friend, Sister Mary Catherine,” Angelina replied brightly. “We’re nuns.”
Jake laughed. “Yeah, right. You’re out of uniform, Sister.”
The waitress brought the two men their drinks.
“
Thanks, Raphy.” Jake held up his glass. “It looks like the band is coming back from break. “How about a dance, Chloe?”
In moments the two estranged couples were on the dance floor dancing so closely they appeared to be the same person. The band started out with an old tune the female singer announced as Body and Soul. Angelina looked at Raphael.
“Well, oh wise oracle of human nature.” Angelina’s sarcastic tone evoked another giggle from Catherine. “What in the world is this all about?”
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