“You would save me, but not yourself?”
“Yes. That’s what heroes do.”
“Do you love me? Do you love me even though I ripped your wings off?”
“Yes, but remember, I do have father issues.”
Michael laughed. Mia had disarmed him. He put her back to sleep. He had to think, and he didn’t need her pheromones distracting him.
He called Sariel in.
Sariel walked in and was relieved to see Mia still alive sleeping on the couch.
“We have a big problem. Can I count on your discretion?’
“As always.”
“There is corruption in the Council of Women. A faction probably headed by Fredericka Cooper just tried to kill Mia twenty years ago. Someone planted a volo candle and transported Mia and her friends, including Orion, twenty years in the past. They were in their younger bodies. Mia, Murphy, and Burk Hicks were the only ones who maintained their twenty-first-century memories. While she was vulnerable, Mia, sans wings and powers in a twelve-year-old body, defeated two squads of Other assassins. Mia also killed a deer-woman who possessed an Ute woman.”
“Mia is a highly trained warrior. I believe she started training with the superhuman and then was polished by Nicholai from the Brotherhood of the Wing,” Sariel said and then added, “She is also our healer.”
“I know. This is why I’m going to ask her a question. You will abide by her answer.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mia, wake up.”
“You know I’m actually starting to feel better. I guess this is what they mean by heavenly rest.”
“Mia, shut up,” Sariel said.
“K.”
“Mia, I have another important question to ask you. I want your honest answer,” Michael insisted.
“I will give you my honest answer,” Mia promised.
“If we determined that you were a threat to Heaven and the earth below, what would you suggest I do with you?”
“I would ask you to kill me. But to not let Mark Leighton know an angel killed me. That would set him back on his original path.”
“You heard her,” Michael said.
Sariel dragged Mia off the settee. He put his foot down to hold her still and raised his sword. He brought it down with all his might. It was stopped by Michael’s sword.
“But I thought you said…” Sariel stopped, confused.
“Forgive me for putting both of you through that.”
Mia looked up from the floor and closed her eyes in relief. “Man, do I hate Old Testament maneuvers.”
“Get up, Mia,” Michael said.
“Sir, I’d like to oblige you, but Sariel’s big fat foot crushed my spine.”
“I do not have fat feet.”
“Dude, those have to be size twenty-four sextuple E’s.”
Michael knelt and examined Mia. “You have a crushed spine.”
“No kidding. And Ted wonders why I don’t like coming here,” Mia grouched. “I guess I can say bye bye to my wings.”
“I never liked them on you,” Michael said. “They smelled of bird.”
“But the armor was amazing,” Mia pointed out. “And black, very gothic.”
Michael looked down and shook his head. “You want me to give you Lucifer’s wings?”
Sariel could tell Mia was considering it. “Mia, no.”
“The need for my wings to match Victor’s is gone. I guess I don’t need wings, except for the number Elizabeth did on me. I am taller though. I like that.”
“How about Nephilim wings?” Sariel suggested.
“Now you’re just making fun of me,” Mia pouted.
Michael nodded for Sariel to pick Mia up. He did so and cradled her to him when the pain decided to arrive.
“Sleep, Mia,” Michael commanded, and she slept.
Mia woke up on the hillside just the other side of the aerie. She ached, her head was spinning, but she managed to get to her feet. “My legs work, check.”
“Why are you talking to yourself?” Murphy asked.
“Hello, Murph, I’ve just been with Michael and Sariel.”
“You look a little worse for wear.”
“They play sick little games up there,” Mia said hoarsely. “What day is it?”
“Don’t really know. I did just see you last night having an argument with Ted if that helps.”
“Yes, it does. I suppose they’re looking for me?”
“Don’t know? Altair came by and talked with Lazar, and then he took off. Ted left with Orion to hunt down Quazar, and Audrey took the kids with her, something about going to the zoo with Glenda Dupree.”
“Aw, I missed the zoo trip. Poop.”
“I like your dress. It’s on backwards. Want to explain that?” Murphy asked.
“No. I’ve got a beast of a headache. Mind if I ask for a ride home?”
Murphy scooped her up and walked down the hill with her. “You aren’t as heavy.”
“It’s this new diet I’m on. It’s called Crush Your Spine - Lose Your Wings. It’s all the rage in Heaven these days.”
“Ouch. Why don’t you wait to elaborate once I get you in the house? Press the doorbell,” he said.
Mia did so.
Lazar opened the door. “There you are. We were worried something bad happened to you,” he scolded.
Murphy carefully carried her past Lazar and up the stairs. He laid her on the bed. “I better recharge. Get some rest. We’ll talk later,” he promised.
Mia heard Lazar make his way up the steps. He tapped on the door. “Are you decent?”
“I guess,” Mia said, looking at the gossamer fabric of the dress she had on backwards.
“You left this in the yard,” Lazar said, tossing the pink robe on the bed.
“Go out and burn this, please.”
He laughed. “What happened to you? Last I saw, you were jetting upwards.”
“Rules of gravity, what goes up must come down,” Mia said and turned her head into her pillow.
Lazar saw the red, angry, spine-length wound on her back. “Oh, Mia,” he gasped.
“I find that the medical attention I get up there has slipped. I think they privatized Heaven,” she said, curling
