ARCHANGEL

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Okay folks, the boxing demo is over.” Angelina used the lull in action to stand up and wave in a dismissing gesture toward the crowd. “Come see us tomorrow. We’ll be here all week.”

  Angelina’s comments drew the laughter she had hoped for. The crowd dispersed with only a couple of the men trying to get either Catherine or Angelina to join them by the pool again. Rachel stood up near her lounge chair, watching Abaddon with more than an apprising stare. Catherine, so absorbed in the action between Krazinsky and Abaddon she needed to gulp air, realizing she had been alternately holding her breath and gasping for air.

  “Who…who are you?” Krazinsky asked wearily. “It is impossible for me not to have hit you.”

  “So that was boxing,” Abaddon commented, looking at Angelina for confirmation. “Entertaining, but repetitive.”

  “Yeah, baby, it’s a little more brutal when two men in a ring try to beat each other’s brains out. Vic is very good at it. I’ve seen him box. Are we done here, Vic?”

  Krazinsky nodded glumly, recognizing there was really nothing further to say. His whole upper body throbbed. His arms ached painfully where Abaddon had batted away his blows. Angelina grabbed up a towel and handed it to the boxer. Catherine picked up Krazinsky’s drink cup and set it and her own beverage on the table out of the way.

  “Why don’t you and Rachel go patch things up now while my friends and I catch up on our relaxing,” Angelina suggested hopefully. “Maybe…”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Rachel interrupted, walking over next to Abaddon. “I’m…”

  In the blink of an eye, Catherine had Rachel’s left ear pinched painfully in her right hand, twisting the woman’s appendage upwards, evoking a startled yelp of agony.

  “You’re leaving right now, you little tart!” Catherine spat out between clenched teeth, shaking the now sobbing Rachel slightly for emphasis. “Do you understand or do I have to give you a boxing lesson?”

  “I…I understand. Don’t…don’t hurt me,” Rachel squealed, trying to arch her body in such a way as to ease the pain.

  Catherine released her. A smiling Angelina guided the still sobbing Rachel over to Krazinsky. He had simply watched the exchange silently. Krazinsky put his sore arm around Rachel as she tentatively felt her injured ear and led her away. Angelina shook her head in a self-satisfied manner, folding her arms over her chest as she watched the couple move away.

  “Ain’t love grand?” Angelina asked with a sigh, looking back at Catherine and Abaddon. “That was a lot of work bringing the happy couple back together, huh Cat?”

  “I should have head-butted her,” Catherine stated, gesturing at Eric, who had been hovering nearby, praying a security team would not be dispatched to the pool area. “Please bring me another Long Island Iced Tea. I didn’t get to finish my other one. This Irish Coffee just ain’t doing it for me.”

  “Spewy!” Angelina exclaimed reproachfully.

  “Muffy!” Catherine retorted as Eric busied himself picking up the extra cups and saucers.

  “That was all very exciting, was it not?” Abaddon asked. “I believe I will have a beer this time, Eric. As Catherine says, the Irish Coffee is not the right beverage tonight.”

  “Very well, Sir.” Eric smiled. “That was tight. Krazinsky is a monster. He eats guys up in the ring.”

  “No, Eric,” Abaddon replied, shaking his head negatively, “Victor is not a monster. Bring me also a double shot of…ah…oh yes, Bushmill’s.”

  “Make that two,” Angelina said, draining her Irish Coffee and handing Eric the cup before he moved away. “What are we celebrating, baby?”

  “Everything.” Abaddon sat down contentedly.

  Chapter 27

  Earthly Attractions

  Angelina nodded her head in agreement. Catherine kicked Abaddon’s lounger, causing him to look up at her in surprise.

  “You were flirting with that cheap blonde-haired floozy,” Catherine accused him. “What, just because I don’t give it up for you the first moment you express interest in me you start…”

  “Heyyyyyyyy…” Angelina interrupted, grabbing Catherine around the shoulders. “Take it easy, Cat. First it was a sacrilege to even consider it and now it’s an insult because you didn’t get mounted. Eat some snacks and quit making a fool out of yourself.”

  “Were you not flirting over by the pool, Catherine?” Abaddon asked as Catherine twisted free of Angelina.

  “Yes, but you…you didn’t even care.” Catherine heeded Angelina’s advice and ate one of the foodstuffs on the tray. “I was watching you…and…and you didn’t even look up all the time Ange and I were over there.”

  “I listened from here. You both seemed very happy. I want you both to be happy. Should I have acted angrily because you were both having a good time?”

  “Oh my God.” Catherine mumbled under her voice. “I…I was trying to do the same thing Rachel did.”

  Angelina laughed appreciatively. Catherine sat down on the lounger with a repentant look of realization. Angelina immediately went over and wrapped her arms around Catherine fondly.

  “You are the bomb, Cat,” Angelina told the hapless Catherine.

  “So… I was supposed to go over to the pool and act like Victor,” Abaddon announced brightly, finally deciphering what Catherine had meant, evoking more laughter from Angelina. “I cannot do such things, Catherine. Many innocents would die.”

  When Eric arrived with the drinks, the three were laughing uncontrollably together. Angelina took the tray from Eric, wiping away the tears streaming down her cheeks. She served her two friends and held up her shot glass in a toast.

  “I love you two and Raph more than anything,” Angelina stated solemnly. “Let nothing ever come between us.”

  Angelina clinked her shot glass against Abaddon’s and Catherine’s, sipping the Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey before taking a gulp of her beer. Catherine drank deeply. Abaddon followed Angelina’s lead. Catherine raised her glass but Angelina held up her hand.

  “No more toasting for you if you plan on gulping instead of sipping and eating,” Angelina admonished.

  “I…I want to go to bed with you two,” Catherine said hesitantly, before looking away toward the pool. “It must be a sin how much I want to be with you both right now.”

  “But you are with us, Sister Mary Catherine.” Abaddon missed Catherine’s verbal intent. “If you are tired, we can go back to our room. I think we should get you some dinner though first.”

  “I think Cat means go to bed with us in the biblical way.” Angelina’s amused look turned to one of surprise. “Are you okay, girl?”

  “I…I have never even felt tempted to do such a thing,” Catherine whispered. Abaddon sat up again, watching the two women intently. He set his drink aside. “Our daily life before prison was dedicated . These battles with demons and human monsters… it…it just goes on without end. Lately… I see the years stretching out before me… and I’m afraid.”

  “Afraid of what, Cat?” Angelina embraced Catherine tightly.

  “You are the chosen of the Lord.” Abaddon reached across to grip Catherine’s free hand where it lay on her lap. “You will never have anything to fear, not even death.”

  “Sor…sorry… I want to… you know… have something else when I wake up to think about besides creatures of the dark,” Catherine stated with a slight slur. Her eyes closed momentarily at the touch of Abaddon’s hand.

  Catherine opened her eyes. The concern on her companions’ faces jolted Catherine. She set her glass down on the table as Abaddon released her hand. Slipping out of Angelina’s grasp, Catherine shifted into Abaddon’s lap. She framed the Archangel’s face with her hands. Catherine kissed Abaddon with a growing passion and very little between the two in the way of clothing. Pulling away before the sense of urgency flooding through her obliterated all else, Catherine stroked Abaddon’s chest, breathing raggedly. Abaddon exchanged questioning looks with Angelina who was also breathing heavily.


  “Wow! That was hot.” Angelina tensed, looking around the area to see if they were drawing too much attention.

  Eric, who had been glancing their way, turned with his back to them when Angelina pointed a warning finger in his direction. The crowd by the pool was oblivious to anything beyond the pool area. Angelina quickly seated herself next to Abaddon, throwing her arms around both Catherine and the Archangel.

  “Group hug, group hug!” Angelina joked. “Why don’t we go get some dinner, Cat?”

  Catherine turned toward her friend, naked desire apparent in her features. “I’m not… sure if I could get through a meal, Ange. I…I’m about ready to explode and I think Abaddon is nearly bursting out of his swim trunks.”

  Angelina giggled, as she investigated Catherine’s words for herself. “Oh baby, you like all this attention, huh?”

  “I am merely doing everything I can to make you both happy,” Abaddon replied with a benevolent smile. “I do think dinner would be a good idea. If Sister Mary Catherine will return to the other lounge chair, I will finish my drink and regain the control necessary for walking to the restaurant without attracting attention.”

  “We could get room service,” Catherine suggested, surprised when both Angelina and Abaddon laughed at her words. “What?”

  “You got it bad, Cat,” Angelina remarked, stroking Catherine’s shoulder.

  Catherine blushed. “I told you that already.”

  “Room service it is then. C’mon.” Angelina pulled Catherine to her feet. “Give the big guy here a chance to sip his drink and then we’ll adjourn our meeting to the room.”

  “We have a Jacuzzi in the room too,” Catherine remembered happily, sitting down across from Abaddon once again.

  Angelina retrieved her shot glass and beer before sitting next to Catherine. Abaddon leaned back again with his knees up. Lifting his shot glass, Abaddon sipped the whiskey thoughtfully as the two women watched him expectantly. He noticed their questioning looks and shrugged his shoulders.

  “You did say I could sip my drink, did you not?”

  “I did, baby, but that was before I knew you were actually going to do it,” Angelina replied in a hushed urgent voice. “Cat’s not the only one in a little distress.”

  “Are…aren’t you… you know… kind of excited?” Catherine asked Abaddon hesitantly, not able to meet his steady gaze.

  “Sister Mary Catherine.” Abaddon sighed, looking up once again at the stars above. “I have watched millennia pass with not even a tiny moment as wonderful as the time I’ve spent with you two and Raphael. I apologize for not wishing to race from one astoundingly beautiful moment to the next without pause.”

  “I…I didn’t mean…”

  “You brat!” Angelina interrupted Catherine. She gestured at Abaddon. “He’s messing with us, Cat.”

  Abaddon’s shoulders had begun to shake as he tried to keep a straight face, finally giving up and chortling in obvious satisfaction at his small deception.

  “Raphael’s right, you are getting annoying.” Angelina finished her drink. She turned to Catherine. “Maybe we should sleep in the living room and let the comedian here have the bed all to himself.”

  “As you wish, Sister Angelina,” Abaddon acquiesced without hesitation, finishing his whiskey and sipping his beer.

  “No!” Catherine squeezed Angelina’s hand in a panic. “I’ll never get the courage up again to…”

  “Relax, Cat, he’s just calling my bluff.”

  Abaddon looked over at Angelina. “You two could go up to the room. I will follow along later. Perhaps I will go for a swim.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Angelina ordered. “Sharing you with Cat is one thing. Sharing you with those floozies over by the pool is another thing altogether.”

  Abaddon sat up. “I meant every word of what I said before about these moments together.”

  Catherine stood up too quickly and began to stumble forward. Abaddon caught her while standing up from the lounge chair. Angelina steadied Catherine from behind. Catherine hugged Abaddon tightly.

  “I think we better get up to the room.” Catherine spoke with a more noticeable slur. “Do you think Raphael will be okay?”

  “We have the phone,” Abaddon reminded her. Angelina gathered their belongings up. “He will either call the room or our satellite phone if he needs us. I believe Carol will keep his mind off gambling.”

  “Cat and I will keep your mind off everything for quite a while,” Angelina said confidently. The three walked toward the entrance into the Casino. Angelina gave Eric a little wave goodbye as they walked past. “You’re off duty Eric. I hope to see you tomorrow.”

  “Lord Raphael has my card. I will look for you all in the future. Goodnight.”

  * * *

  Hours later, Catherine woke up with a start. A feeling of well-being swept through her with such intensity she sat up awkwardly, looking around in disbelief. When Catherine felt Abaddon’s warm hand against her back, she shuddered. Every nerve ending tingled at his soft touch. Catherine glanced up at Abaddon where he lay with Angelina huddled against his other side sound asleep.

  “Are you well, Sister Mary Catherine?”

  “I…I feel so guilty. Being with you and Ange was so unbelievably wonderful.” Catherine kissed Abaddon’s shoulder. “God forgive me. I loved it so much.”

  “There is nothing to forgive.” Abaddon remembered with fierce clarity how Catherine had screamed out with abandon during their lovemaking, her sobs of release still ringing through his mind. “Think no more of guilt. Our Lord knows your path here in his service will be most arduous.”

  Catherine buried her face against Abaddon with a deep sigh. “But the… things I did… I…”

  “You felt physical love,” Abaddon insisted quietly, kissing the top of Catherine’s head. “There was nothing in what you did that was sinful. I know of your faith and devotion to your religion. In our mission you must be much more than a nun. Your sanity in these battles ahead must have a solid base. As you said by the pool, you need to awaken to more than creatures of the dark.”

  “Oh… Abaddon,” Catherine cried out softly, shifting on top of the Archangel, “I love you so much.”

  “And I you, Sister Mary Catherine,” Abaddon whispered, allowing Catherine’s rising urgency to engulf the two of them. Angelina woke up and joined in happily.

  * * *

  Raphael walked quietly into the suite, shutting the door carefully behind him. The first light of dawn had begun gleaming off the towering casino buildings along the Las Vegas strip when the Archangel had exited Carol’s vehicle outside the Venetian entrance. He smiled, remembering the passionate goodbye Carol had afforded him before reporting for work. Raphael continued on into the living room where the sofa sleeper was, expecting to see Catherine sleeping there. Noticing the sleeper had been unused, Raphael entered the main bedroom with huge king-sized bed. He was more than a little surprised seeing Abaddon bordered by the sleeping Angelina and Catherine. Abaddon watched his brother’s quiet entrance. He moved his left hand off Catherine’s shoulder to wave a greeting.

  “Hello, my brother,” Abaddon whispered. “Did all go well?”

  “I managed to avoid the dice tables if that’s what you mean. I see Cat changed her mind about a closer working relationship and Angelina did not find the new arrangement too repulsive.”

  “You were right, Raph. Sister Mary Catherine was receptive to having something more than our battles. Carol must have enjoyed your company for you not to have returned until now.”

  “She is an extraordinary woman,” Raphael confirmed in the same hushed tone Abaddon used. “She will contact us immediately if anyone of notoriety arrives. I had forgotten the rather intoxicating aspect of physical bonding. Carol was quite exquisite. Will you be curing any hangovers this morning?”

  “All is well. We had room service bring food. We ate while bathing in the Jacuzzi,” Abaddon continued to whisper. “I could fit in the tub with Catheri
ne and Angelina. It was most soothing. They did not get much in the way of sleep though.”

  Catherine stirred slightly, her hand stroking down over Abaddon’s chest as she repositioned her head contentedly. Although Abaddon remained still Catherine raised her head up to meet Abaddon’s gaze. She paused only a few seconds before slipping out of the coverlet and into a sitting position with hands steadying herself on Abaddon’s shoulders. Catherine leaned down and kissed Abaddon tenderly, moving against him with a low moan.