Green Tea and Black Death (The Godhunter, Book 5)

by Sumida, Amy

  The black of his wing curled lower as he leaned down to me, the food would have to wait.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  We made love three more times in the Garden of Eden before we were finally sated enough to eat the meal he'd prepared. Like everything else I'd found in Heaven, it was sublime. Now we were roaming his home and he was showing me of all the other things he was passionate about.

  Azrael was a connoisseur of fine art. Go figure. When I told him I was an artist, he was delighted. I had to promise to invite him to my next gallery show. Hopefully, it wouldn't be in Chinatown like my last one. It may be safer now but I still didn't want to visit for awhile.

  His collection was, of course, unbelievable. He had original works from all the great masters. Renoir, DaVinci, Rembrant, the list went on and on. He had long halls with walls covered in artwork. It was like walking through a private museum. Then there was the statues. They were plenty of angels but there were even more gods and I wasn't surprised to see the mix of pantheons he had collected. I'd learned to never limit gods by the myths humans created about them and I assumed angels were no different.

  Then we found a nice, comfy room, sat, and just talked. We talked for hours and hours. You ever have a deep conversation with a lover where it seems like it's all so kismit, that everything you love, they love, and that they share your opinions on everything of import? There's usually a lot of exactly and I feel that way too used. It's like the Universe made this person specifically to be with you.

  That was the conversation I had with Azrael.

  The more we talked, the more I knew I hadn't made a mistake. This was a man I'd have chosen for myself, without magic influences. We just clicked. I connected with him intellectually, much more than I had with any of my other lovers. In a way, it was an even deeper connection than the one I shared with Odin. I spent a lifetime with Odin, knew him like I knew myself, but we weren't of the same mind on most issues.

  I'm not saying my love for Odin was any less for this lack of similar thinking. Opposites attract and all that but there's something to be said for finding a kindred spirit. By the end of the night, I felt like I'd known him my entire life. And as similar as we were, there were distinct differences that attracted me too.

  He told me of his responsibilities and from the telling, I could see another side of him. He was so compassionate in his work, part of his duty was to comfort the bereaved who had lost a loved one, and he told me stories of wrapping his wings over grieving widows to help them cope, or laying a hand on a troubled child and helping them sleep. He shared their pain and aided them as best he could. It was this compassion that had led to him carrying my soul to Hvergelmir, without it I wouldn't be there. I wouldn't have been in the well for Odin to pull me out.

  But for all this human interaction, he was alone. He was never seen, never spoken to, except by others of his kind who had their own responsibilities and were often absent from Heaven. He mainly did his job and then came home, no sightseeing along the way, no talking to strangers. He did have an avid curiosity though and he watched, listened to, and read all about humans. He had a huge movie collection, a human wardrobe, and loved our music. Humanity was a great draw for him but he'd always been on the outside, looking in.

  Not anymore, if I could help it. I was going to pull this angel into my world and let him experience all those things for himself. Most of all, I wanted to introduce him to everyone. I wanted to end his loneliness, not just with my company but with lots of diverse company. There was no reason for him to be alone anymore.

  “I wish I had brought my sketchpad,” I looked him over from my perch on the couch next to him.

  “Why?” He looked so amazing, sitting there with his wings curled to the side, in nothing but a pair of jeans.

  “So I could sketch myself an angel.”

  He beamed at me, got up and rooted around in a drawer. Then he was back with a pad of paper and a pencil.

  “Will this do?”

  “Perfect,” I grabbed them and went to work.

  I was almost done when we heard footsteps coming down the hall. I stopped and looked up at him in surprise. What happened to the whole alone thing? But he looked just as shocked as I and got up to investigate. A clear voice rang out, calling his name before he made it past the doorway, and Azrael's expression cleared.

  “In here,” he called, then looked at me. “It's my brother, Mike.”

  “The Archangel Michael, you mean?”

  “Yeah, Mike,” he shrugged and sat back down.

  “Azrael, you're gonna laugh but I could have sworn I just saw you flying while you were fu-u-u....o-o-oh hello,” Mike amended as he caught sight of me. “ Then again, maybe you won't laugh,” he looked over at Az with big eyes.

  “How are you?” Azrael gave Mike a hug.

  Michael's wings were hidden but I'm sure he had some, since Az did. He was wearing sweats and a T-shirt which read Holier Than Thou. His hair was blonde, his body nicely built, and he had a beautiful face but he did nothing for me. I didn't even feel a twinge of attraction. I was so relieved, maybe the lioness magic was finally satisfied.

  “This is Vervain Lavine, Goddess of Love and Lions,” Azrael introduced us and I put the sketch pad down to stand and offer him my hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Vervain,” he shook my hand and looked at Az with disbelief. “Since when are you dating?”

  “Since now,” Az grinned and took my hand.

  “And she's an artist,” Mike gestured to the sketch I'd made, “that's kind of perfect for you.”

  Azrael picked it up and looked it over, smiling. “Indeed, she is.”

  “Well, the Host is home,” Mike grinned and wagged his brows. “So you might wanna be a little more careful in your outdoor activities.” I felt my face start to heat and Mike quickly waved it off. “No, no, only I saw you, don't worry, and I only caught a glimpse.”

  “Oh, thank you,” I sighed.

  “No, thank you,” he chuckled as he went for the door. “It was a hell of a glimpse. See you in a few years, brother. Got to go torture some assholes.”

  “Keep flying,” Az called after him.

  “Well that was abrupt,” I raised a brow.

  “And now you see why I don't have a lot of social interaction,” he chuckled. “Angels generally have a lot to do, especially the archangels.”

  “At least you're able to take some free time for yourself every once in awhile.”

  The more I spoke with Azrael, the more I admired him. The simple fact that he did his job at all was admirable. Just like Anubis, he'd been handed a heavy role and he didn't shirk it. Both of them could have just said, screw it, and gone their own ways but they didn't, no matter how difficult it made life for them.

  Most of the gods I knew didn't really have a lot of responsibilities anymore. In fact, a lot of them had jobs among the humans. Thor had a line of cruise ships and Brahma sold luxury cars. Even Persephone owned a landscaping business, Little Western Flower.

  Maybe it had something to do with the amount of followers they had. Christianity was huge right now, so Azrael's responsibilities were just as big. Whatever the case, it was always comforting to meet a god who truly cared about humanity. Anubis had just as much responsibility as Az, just as much honor, but I'm not sure if he truly cared about the people who came through Duat.

  “I think I'll be needing to make even more free time for myself,” Azrael took my hand and pulled me back against his chest, so that we were both sprawled out on the couch. “Mainly to spend with you.”

  He kissed my cheek and I felt all of sixteen again, snuggling with my first boyfriend and soaking up every compliment he dished out. The butterflies were tickling my stomach, just as happy as I. No need to work their magic, no need to save him, just so damn happy to be with him. I sighed and snuggled deeper into his arms.

  “This feels so right,” my head found a spot just under his chin, where it fit perfectly. “I don't want to leave.”

&nb
sp; “Do you have to?” He pulled his head to the side to look down at me anxiously.

  “Well, eventually,” I laughed, “I can't stay all night when the boys are expecting me home.”

  “You could send them a letter,” he pulled me closer. “I was hoping to spend the night with you.”

  “Oh, that sounds amazing,” I bit my lip as I thought it over. How wonderful it would be just to take a break from everything and spend one night in Heaven with Az. I really, really wanted to but I didn't want to hurt Trevor or Kirill's feelings and me spending the night with Azrael after our first date might do just that. “I can't. The guys would be upset since to them it would seem like we hardly know each other.”

  “I wouldn't say hardly,” he started stroking my hair and I closed my eyes to enjoy it. “And I assume you'll tell them we've gotten to know each other intimately.”

  “Maybe just one more intimate moment before I go home?” I kissed him softly.

  “Only if you promise me that next time, you'll stay the night.”

  “I promise,” I was already reaching for the button on his jeans.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “If you need to reach me,” Azrael held out a box to me, “write to me on one of these papers. Just fold it over and draw this symbol on the front,” he opened the box and showed me the copy of his tattoo that was carved on the inner lid, “and then place it on your doorstep. It's enchanted to come straight to me.”

  “Like the letter you sent me,” I smiled and took the box. “How wonderful.”

  “You can write me for any reason,” he ran a hand along my cheek, “even just to talk.”

  “I will,” I kissed him goodbye but made it quick since we were standing in my living room with a werewolf and a werelion audience.

  “And if either of you need to contact me,” he turned to Trevor and Kirill, “please feel free to do the same.”

  “Thank you,” Trevor came forward and shook his hand. “It's important to have a way to contact our allies. You are an ally now, right?”

  “Most definitely,” Azrael turned his glittering gaze on me. “Anything you need, you can call on me.”

  “I think I'll be needing to see you again soon,” I smiled. “Think maybe you'll have some time off?”

  “Of course,” he seemed to turn his focus inward for a few moments. “I should be able to take a break in another five days and then I'm holding you to your promise.”

  “It's a deal.”

  “Also, you may come to see me anytime you wish,” he tapped the box I was holding, “the tracing chant is in here, carved into the lid below my name, and the magic I gave you assures your entrance.”

  “Oh,” I hadn't even thought to ask him about getting back into Shehaquim without him. “Of course, thank you,” I hugged him goodbye and he traced away.

  “Your promise?” Trevor pulled me around for a kiss. “What did you promise the angel?”

  “He wanted me to spend the night but I didn't want to do that without giving you both a heads up, so I promised that next time I would.”

  “Oh, well, good,” he smiled. “I appreciate you coming home.”

  “I appreciate being home,” I laughed. “Why does this feel so weird?”

  “Because you just had first date vith angel,” Kirill took me from Trevor to give me a kiss too, “And ve don't know how to act.”

  “How about we act normal?” I took each of their hands and led them back to our bedroom.

  When I looked back over my shoulder, they were grinning at each other like little boys. I smiled to myself as I shut the door behind us. Then they were surrounding me, undressing me and themselves, and I was basking in the love that I had no idea what I'd done to deserve.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  “He's a what?” Krystal looked up from her steak. Generally, she didn't eat meat but she made an exception once in awhile.

  “An angel,” I grinned.

  We were having a working dinner. She wanted to see some pictures of my new paintings for a client she had in Hawaii Kai. We'd gone over the pictures and she made her choices already, so now it was time for dinner conversation and that meant, I'd get to gush about Azrael.

  “Holy shit,” she laid her fork down and just stared at me.

  “Well, you got the holy part right,” I giggled. Yes, giggled okay? Even just talking about Az made me giddy.

  “How the hell did you meet an angel?”

  “On the job.” I shrugged. “He's the Angel of Death. He was harvesting a soul and I was chasing a murdering goddess.”

  “Well there's a story for the grand kids,” she laughed. “Hey, does this murdering goddess have anything to do with that outbreak of bubonic plague?”

  “As a matter of fact,” I grimaced. I should have known Krystal would figure it out, she's no dummy. “I'm hoping it's all over. I brought in a sort of expert to take care of the rats.”

  “Oh,” her expression lightened. “That should do the trick. The only other way to spread it is through handling of infected tissue or blood and I don't think people are going to be doing a lot of that. Plus we have ways to treat it now, so even if they get sick, they have a chance of recovering.”

  “Exactly,” I nodded, “now can we get back to Az?”

  “Az?” She shook her head. “You've given him a nickname already? You do like this guy.”

  “I really like this guy,” I laughed at myself. “I'm twitterpated, like a freakin' kid. He's got me all turned upside down. I think about him all the time and I've got three other lovers to think about. This is so ridiculous.”

  I'd given her the promised explanation about my numerous lovers last week. So I was finally able to be candid with her about my love life. She was more accepting than I thought. In fact, she had looked as if she was thinking over the possibility for herself. I'd probably see her with two dates at the next gallery show.

  “Hardly,” she huffed. “You love Trevor, Kirill, and Odin but they've all been brought into your life in dramatic ways. There was no normal courting stages with them. I think the closest you came to that would be Trevor but even he was already tied to you pretty dramatically. Now here comes this guy who you're super attracted to in so many ways, and you're able to experience the whole shebang with him. It makes sense that you'd be more fascinated by him.”

  “It does?” I thought about it. “He's really amazing but so are the others. Maybe you're right, maybe it's just the newness of it.” I knew it wasn't though. I needed to tell her about the well. She was one of the few people I felt like I could tell.

  “Well, you never know,” she smirked. “He could be your soul mate or some crap like that. Tell me more.”

  So I did. I told her everything. Dying as Sabine, my relatives begging for my salvation, Odin refusing to let Az take me to Christian Heaven, Az placing me in the well and touching my soul. I told her about the Garden of Eden, the flying, the other angel, even the sketch, which I'd of course brought to show her. She ooohed over it appropriately. Her eyes were huge by the time I'd finished and her drink was gone.

  “Another please,” she held her empty glass up to a passing waiter and looked immediately back at me. “You are kind of soul mates then.”

  “In a way,” I shrugged, “I guess.”

  “And are you fucking kidding me? You made love to him in the Garden of Eden? You're my new hero.”

  “It was so amazing,” I laughed at her jealous expression.

  “Does he have any friends?” She gave me big, hopeful eyes. “Come on, hook a sister up.”

  “They're all so busy,” I shook my head. “I barely talked to Mike for two minutes.”

  “I can take two minutes,” she nodded her thanks to the waitress who brought her fresh drink. “God knows I've done it before.”

  “It'll probably be the best two minutes of your life,” I winked at her.

  “Two minutes in Heaven. Damn,” she took a long swallow of her lihing margaritta. “Wings. I want a man with wings.�
�

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  “Excuse me, Miss Vervain?” A thin man with light brown hair and a nervous disposition approached me on my way out of the restaurant.

  “I don't know you,” I backed away and started reaching for the dagger I had tucked in my purse.

  “No, no,” he waved his hands, “I'm a vampire,” he flashed his fangs and I frowned and stopped moving. “Huitzilopochtli sent me. He needs you to come with me, right away.”

  “What? Why?” I narrowed my eyes on him. Blue said he wasn't behind the vampire stalkings. This could be a total setup.

  “He wouldn't explain it all to me but he said to say the words little witch to you and you'd know it was he who sent me.”

  “Oh,” I relaxed. That was Blue's pet name for me and I doubt his little vampire minions would have known it. “Okay, it's strange that he wouldn't come for me himself.”

  “He's unable to trace at the moment, a bit of a magical malfunction,” he shrugged. “I'm to take you to a bar owned by my master, our god will meet you there.”

  “Curiouser and curiouser,” I followed him to a waiting limousine. Too bad I hadn't traced to the restaurant, I wouldn't have had to come back for my car. “Well, at least we're going in style.”

  “Yes, of course,” he opened the door, ushered me in, and then followed me inside. “I'm Eric.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  The rest of the ride was spent mostly in silence, with a lot of twitching from nervous boy and a lot of hard staring done by myself. When we finally pulled up in front of a club in Waikiki, I was relieved to get out of the car.

  Eric got out and helped me out, then gestured to the door in front of us. I looked over the dark hole of an entry, the two bouncers dressed in tuxedos, and then up to the flashing sign.

  “The Blood Bank?” I asked my escort.

  “Yeah,” he chuckled. “My master thought it was funny.”

  “Vampire humor,” I grimaced as I went to the door, “great.”

  The bouncers took one look at the man beside me and pulled back the velvet rope blocking the entrance. I looked them over, found them excessively wanting, and went inside.