ARCHANGEL

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Hey, is it getting foggy in here?” Angelina asked, looking around.

  The very air inside the restaurant started to shimmer. The people moving near them began to slow down as if they were part of a movie someone had switched into slow motion. A duskiness settled into the rippling atmosphere. Bright lights in the background dimmed slowly in synch with the diminishing noise level and inanimate people.

  “Brother!” Raphael called out in the near silence. “You are bending reality.”

  Abaddon stared at the table, his hands balled into fists, causing tendons to stand out on his arms in tense relief to his mottled skin. Angelina and Catherine took each of

  Abaddon’s hands in both theirs, lending what comfort they could. The Archangel of the Abyss warred on in a desperate attempt to regain control of his power. Light and sound waned in and out, gradually stabilizing as reality blinked back into normalcy. Figures flickered into focus and Raphael sighed with relief.

  “Do you plan to make our time here this exciting every day, my brother? That… was very impressive.”

  “And a little frightening.” Angelina blinked up into Abaddon’s face. “You with us yet, baby?”

  “I…I am sorry. This new twist in our direction is harder to face than the demons.” Abaddon gestured for Darla’s attention once again. “I know why Lucifer’s horde does what they do. In spite of knowing something of human history it is very difficult to reconcile what humans are capable of.”

  “We are also capable of great kindness and compassion.”

  “Yes, Sister Mary Catherine - I will try to focus on that fact,” Abaddon stated as Darla arrived with Abaddon’s drinks. “Children should not be targets for deranged animals. I may be feeling this drink a little. My judgment or outlook in general may be overly harsh right now.”

  “So long as you don’t shut the world down around us like a broken Merry-Go-Round, I think you’re handling things okay,” Raphael remarked. “It will take almost an hour for Agent Pomada to send us anything to work with.”

  “The three of us can adjourn to our suite and download what Bill sends us,” Angelina offered. “You can find Carol the rat and hear what she has to say. Cat and I will need some time to decipher what we download anyway.”

  “Our relaxing evening is going away. No rest for the wicked or the ones who hunt them down.”

  “Cowboy up, Spewy. Hey, what are we getting so morbid for?” Angelina exclaimed, pushing Abaddon on the side of the head playfully. “This is what we do, right?”

  “Indeed, Sister Angelina,” Raphael agreed. “I will leave you three for now and see how Carol the rat is as you have suggested. Abaddon can reach me instantly if you need my input. Carol won’t be through with work for a couple hours. I think I’ll observe her.”

  “Stay clear of the crap tables, young man,” Angelina reproached Raphael, wagging her finger at him.

  Raphael pointed at Angelina. The startled nun yelped, launching out of her seat holding onto her rear end with both hands. Catherine clamped hands over mouth to keep from laughing at Raphael’s rebuke of Angelina. Abaddon chuckled appreciatively while Angelina rubbed the injured area, biting her lip to keep from saying anything which would incur further action on Raphael’s part.

  “You are a very slow learner, Sister Angelina,” Raphael said with a disappointed shake of his head. “Don’t wait up for me.”

  As Raphael turned and walked away Angelina sat down gingerly and finished off her beer. Her two companions kept their attention locked on the table in front of them, avoiding any eye contact with Angelina. A few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed with Angelina scowling in the direction Raphael had headed.

  “Will you be repeating this performance often, Sister Angelina?” Abaddon asked. “That was very entertaining.”

  “Yeah, Ange…” Catherine began, but shut up immediately as Angelina shifted her malevolent stare toward her friend.

  “I’m so happy I could amuse you two,” Angelina snarled. “Raph is getting just a bit testy, if you ask me.”

  “Perhaps it would be wise to stop baiting him then,” Catherine suggested.

  “Ya think?” Angelina fired back with some disgust. “I thought Raph could take a joke.”

  “He seems to take it quite well,” Abaddon remarked.

  “And he dishes it out with very little effort.” Catherine nodded sagely as if she were talking to a colleague in a behavioral institute for higher learning. “Raph seems to get the better of the exchanges though, don’t you think, Abaddon?”

  “Yes, Sister Mary Catherine.” Abaddon also nodded solemnly, agreeing after deep contemplation. “I believe my brother formulated his response quite pointedly.”

  “Oh, you two are a riot.” Angelina broke into a giggle at the end. “I had it coming. That doesn’t mean I should have received it.”

  “Maybe… oh crap, incoming,” Catherine said, directing her attention down at the table.

  A small entourage entered the bar, led by a couple very familiar to the three at the table: Victor Krazinsky and Rachel. A black man of the same stature as Krazinsky followed along behind accompanied by two gorgeous women. Two black men followed the group, their hair cut to just stubble and their eyes taking stock of the room professionally. They too were massive in stature. Krazinsky spotted Abaddon. He immediately changed course toward the opposite side of the room. Rachel smiled provocatively. She broke away from Victor, walking straight for Abaddon, Catherine, and Angelina. After a moment, Krazinsky followed reluctantly, trying not to show his displeasure at Rachel’s actions.

  “Well, well, well,” Rachel called out in lilting tone, holding up her hands in feigned surprise, “if it isn’t the champ and his two angels.”

  “Hi, Vic,” Angelina waved slightly. “Hello, Rachel, good to see you both. I’m sure you’re busy with friends, so have a great evening and…”

  “Why don’t we join you,” Rachel cut her off, pulling the black man forward past Krazinsky. “This is Kane Johnson, the heavyweight champion of the world. The blonde here in the burgundy gown is Deb. That’s Candy in the slinky black leather miniskirt. The big guy here is Abaddon, and his two friends, Cat, and Ange.”

  Abaddon stood up, while Catherine and Angelina merely waved their hellos, and shook hands with a reluctant Krazinsky. “Hello, Victor.”

  Abaddon turned slightly to shake hands with Johnson. The heavyweight champion looked at the Archangel’s extended hand and laughed. He faced Krazinsky with an ear to ear grin on his face.

  “Vic, this is the guy Rachel’s been raving about?” Johnson asked incredulously. “Tell me he ain’t the one embarrassed you up by the pool. Man, you can’t be taken down like some punk by one of these muscle bound dweebs. We got a fight to promote. What…”

  “The man has skills, K,” Krazinsky interrupted, shrugging his shoulders. “Come, let us go elsewhere. We…”

  “Don’t be such a bad sport,” Rachel cut him off, yanking on his arm. “C’mon, it’ll be fun. I bet Kane would like to spend some time with Abaddon here.”

  “Sure, I’ll have some fun with your new friends, Vic.” Johnson reached around to pull a couple of chairs over from the empty table next to them. He indicated his security men should sit at a table nearby.

  Krazinsky reluctantly pulled the table next to Abaddon’s closer. In moments, the Krazinsky party was seated. Darla hurried over to take their orders. After the waitress left, Johnson noticed his two female companions looking over Abaddon with more than idle interest. Rachel sat down nearest Angelina, keeping her distance from Catherine, who had eyed her with annoyance from the moment the group had approached. For her part, Angelina felt welcome excitement building with their visitors’ arrival. She ordered another round when Darla waited on the others. Abaddon sat down quietly after being rebuffed by Johnson. He did not order another round. He smiled at Darla when she returned with the drinks, indicating she should put them on his tab.

  “So, Abby,” Johnson began after taking a gulp o
f his drink, “what did you do to my man Vic by the pool?”

  “Victor was showing me something about boxing,” Abaddon answered. “You are the heavyweight champion of this boxing? Congratulations.”

  “Yeah, but you kind of put a damper on my business,” Johnson said. “When you slapped Vic around, word of it got out. We have a match planned. It cuts down on the profits if folks think any clown off the street can throw down on one of us.”

  “I did not slap Victor around,” Abaddon replied. “I am sorry if I damaged your business in some way.”

  “No harm was done, Abaddon,” Krazinsky assured him. “The reporters’ build up for our fight already guarantees us a sellout. My manager…”

  “Maybe I could show you something about boxing, Abby,” Johnson broke in.

  “Woe there, Mr. Johnson.” Angelina clasped Abaddon’s hand. “Vic can tell you - playing around with my friend is not a good idea. I pointed out to Vic last night the fact professional boxers do not fool around with civilians because it’s against the law. Why don’t we talk about something else or better yet maybe we ought to call it a night, huh Cat?”

  “That would be a good idea,” Catherine replied immediately. “We have a hard day ahead of us tomorrow. It would be best if we went up to our room.”

  “Don’t be like that.” Johnson’s smile disappeared, to be replaced by a look of petty annoyance. “If your boy here can’t take a little kidding, I’ll lay off. I didn’t care much for your inference it would be dangerous for me to mess with little Abby.”

  “Gee, too bad.” Angelina eased out of her chair. “This meeting is adjourned, champ. We don’t want any trouble. You’re throwing around words which might bring more trouble than you can dream of.”

  “Why don’t you sit down, cupcake, and let the boys talk,” the woman named Deb told her. “Or better yet, why don’t you go up to your room alone?”

  Angelina immediately leaned with both her hands on the table toward Deb, a crooked smile forming on her mouth. “You don’t know me well enough to assume I won’t drag your trash talkin’ skanky little ass out of your seat and bitch slap you until your eyeballs pop out of your head.”

  Unused to anyone standing up to her, let alone threatening her, Deb shrunk back in her seat anxiously at the naked promise of violence radiating from Angelina’s eyes. Johnson reached toward Angelina’s arm only to have his hand swallowed up in Abaddon’s fist. Abaddon shook the hand gently and then released it. Johnson jumped up out of his chair, causing it to tip over.

  “Do not touch my companion, Mr. Johnson,” Abaddon warned. He helped Catherine to her feet. “We will be leaving now. Goodbye, Victor. I do not like your friends.”

  “Goodnight, Abaddon,” Krazinsky replied with a slight smile. “Sorry we interrupted.”

  The two security men had hurried over to each side of Abaddon, watching for a sign from their boss. Johnson shook his head negatively. He sat down again without another word. Abaddon turned away and walked toward the restaurant entrance with Catherine and Angelina keeping pace on each side. Abaddon paused to sign off on their charges after Angelina wrote out a huge tip for their waitress. Johnson waited until they had left the restaurant before turning to speak with Krazinsky.

  “Shit, Vic, I didn’t even see his hand move. It felt like if he had closed his fist my hand would have been pulped. What the hell is he?”

  “Something beyond our understanding,” Krazinsky answered. “Let us drink, and speak no more of Abaddon.”

  “I…I’ve read the name Abaddon before,” Candy said suddenly. “It’s in the bible, under Revelations. Abaddon in the bible is the angel of the Abyss.”

  “As I said, let us speak no more of this,” Krazinsky repeated.

  A more than animated Catherine hurried back into the bar and directly over to Krazinsky’s group. Before anyone could move or prevent her motions, Catherine halted, smiled, and slapped Rachel across the face hard enough to catapult her to the floor. Rachel burst into tears, cringing as she held her face with one hand while pulling herself behind Krazinsky’s chair with the other. Catherine waited in front of the table of startled people. When she saw Rachel had no intention of getting up, she waved a warning finger at her.

  “Take that as the only warning you’ll ever get, you two bit little tramp,” Catherine instructed in the now silent bar. “If I see you again, I’ll rearrange your face to the point even Vic here won’t have anything to do with you.”

  Catherine walked slowly to the exit where Abaddon waited with his massive arms folded over his chest, shaking his head in mock disapproval. Angelina stood next to him, peering into the restaurant while trying to stifle a somewhat inebriated laugh. Catherine strode past her two friends. They followed her lead with only quick glances back into the restaurant.

  Krazinsky picked up his drink and took a long sip. He put his arm around the chastened Rachel who regained her seat next to him. “As I said, let us speak of this no more.”

  Chapter 33

  Back to Basics

  Raphael waited out of sight near the check-in counter where Carol worked. He watched her with some reluctance. Catherine and Angelina had been right many times about little nuances much less important than Carol’s possible dark side. Raphael did not want to find out about any involvement Carol might have had with outing them to the Clinton demons. He remembered holding her writhing body during their lovemaking and softly stroking her red hair as she lay in his arms.

  For the next two hours, Raphael watched his paramour, hoping no one would approach her other than the hotel’s usual patrons. Moments before her shift was due to end, a tall impeccably dressed man in his twenties sauntered casually up to her desk area. His complexion was abnormally white, in stark contrast to the dark blue three-piece suit he wore with white shirt and tie. He reached up with his right hand and smoothed down his already slicked back dark brown hair. Carol seemed startled when she noticed the man. She smiled at him tentatively. Raphael concentrated on their beginning conversation.

  “Was everything to your liking, John?” Carol asked.

  “Actually, no,” John answered without an accompanying smile. “I have not heard from our VIP guests. The visiting party has been observed gallivanting around the casino.”

  A terrified look briefly flashed across Carol’s face Raphael could not help but notice. He shook his head regretfully. Carol held her hands out in a placating gesture.

  “I…I did… everything you asked,” Carol said in a hushed but obviously panicked voice. “Wha…what could have gone wrong?”

  “I am unaware of all the details at this juncture,” John replied with a knowing shake of his head. “You will be held accountable, unfortunately.”

  “I don’t think so,” Raphael said calmly from John’s right side, causing him to spin away from where he heard Raphael’s voice with his back pressing up against the customer counter.

  “Who…how…” John recognized the huge Archangel but pretended shock.

  “Why spend time on all the boring details, John.” Raphael waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “You seem like an intelligent fellow. I will not insult your intelligence with idle banter. Please extend me the same courtesy.”

  Carol backed away from her counter, mouth working as if attempting words, but no sound issued forth. John’s shoulders slumped, matching the look of disgust outlining his features. He stared down at his shoes, fists clenching as his hands rested on either side of him atop the counter. Pausing for a moment, John straightened and glanced back at Carol. He then extended his hand toward Raphael.

  “Sorry big guy, you startled me. I’m John Pennington.”

  “I don’t think I care to shake your hand at the moment, Mr. Pennington. Did you think we could be buddies?”

  “No, but there’s no need for us to be inhospitable.” Pennington grinned. “After all, we represent two sides of the same coin, right?”

  Raphael pinned Pennington against the desk, his suit and shirt ripping as Rapha
el twisted the material in one massive fist. Raphael leaned close to the terrified Pennington.

  “Never, ever, Mr. Pennington, flippantly list my Lord with your masters,” Raphael whispered. “If you do, I will make sure you burn, little man. Got it?”

  Pennington nodded fearfully. Carol put a hand on Raphael’s arm in an attempt to placate him. She jerked away when Raphael looked at her. Gone was her caring lover’s face. The Archangel Raphael met her eyes impassively, all softness gone from his countenance. He released Pennington.

  “Who do you serve, Mr. Pennington? Think carefully before you answer. In the blink of an eye, I can have you standing before my brother Abaddon. You will tell me or you will surely tell him.”

  “Listen,” Pennington pleaded, his hands now extended in a placating manner. “My masters do not issue orders to me in person. I…I’ve never actually seen…”