Uriel (Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld #39)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Emilia

The aroma of garlic and herbs wafts through the air as I move across Raphael and Helena’s penthouse. It’s a stark contrast to the chaos of the past few days—warm, inviting, and utterly normal. Well, as normal as a dinner with angels and half-demons can be.

“Emilia!” Raphael calls from the kitchen, his voice warm and familiar. “Come in, come in. Don’t just stand there like a stranger.”

I can’t help but smile as I make my way towards his voice. It’s comforting to see this side of Raphael—not the efficient doctor I know from the hospital, but a relaxed, barefoot man in an apron that reads “Kiss the Cook (At Your Own Risk)”.

“Something smells amazing,” I say, peering over his shoulder at the stove. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

Raphael winks at me, stirring a pot of what looks like the most decadent pasta sauce I’ve ever seen. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, my dear. Being an archangel comes with a few unexpected perks—eternal life, divine power, and the ability to make a mean carbonara.”

A laugh bubbles up in my throat, the sound surprising even me. When was the last time I laughed like that? Before all this apocalypse business, certainly.

“Where’s everyone else?” I ask, glancing around the spacious kitchen.

“Helena’s mixing drinks in the living room,” Raphael says, a fond smile playing on his lips. “And Uriel... well, last I saw, he was having an existential crisis on the balcony.”

I feel a pang of concern at that. “Should I go check on him?”

Raphael shakes his head, his expression softening. “Give him a moment. This can’t be easy for him, you know. The thought of working with Lucifer... it goes against everything Uriel has stood for millennia. He’s the Archangel of Chastity, the embodiment of divine purity. And now he’s considering allying with the Prince of Lies to prevent the apocalypse. It’s bound to be tearing him apart inside.”

I nod, understanding all too well. “I can’t even imagine how conflicted he must feel.”

“Exactly,” Raphael sighs. “Uriel’s always seen the world in black and white, good and evil. But this situation... it’s all shades of gray. He’s being forced to confront the idea that sometimes, to do what’s right, you might have to work with those you’ve always considered wrong. It’s shaking the very foundations of his beliefs.”

“Now,” Raphael says, breaking me from my reverie, “make yourself useful and take these to the table, would you?” He hands me a basket of warm, fragrant bread. “And Emilia? Try not to worry too much. Uriel may be stubborn and set in his ways, but he’s stronger than he looks. He’ll be alright.”

With a grateful smile, I take the bread and head towards the dining room. As I set the basket on the table, I hear the clink of glasses from the adjacent living room.

“Ah, there you are!” Helena’s voice rings out. I turn to see her sauntering towards me, two colorful cocktails in hand. “I was beginning to think you’d gotten cold feet about our little plan.”

I accept the offered drink, eyeing it warily. “What is this?”

Helena grins, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I call it ‘Apocalypse Now’. Don’t worry, it won’t kill you. Probably.”

I take a cautious sip and am pleasantly surprised. It’s fruity with a spicy kick, and deceptively strong. “This is... actually really good.”

“Of course it is,” Helena says with a wink. “My mixology skills are quite legendary. Now come, sit. We have much to discuss.”

As we settle onto the plush sofa, I can’t help but marvel at the surreal turn my life has taken. A week ago, my biggest concern was navigating hospital bureaucracy. Now I’m sipping cocktails with a half-demon, planning to thwart the end of the world.

“So,” I say, trying to sound casual, “this plan of yours. Are you sure it’ll work?”

Helena’s smile turns predatory. “Oh, darling. When I put my mind to something, it always works. But perhaps we should wait for your angelic boyfriend before we get into the details.”

I feel heat rise to my cheeks at her words. “He’s not my... we’re not...”

“Not yet, maybe,” Helena says with a knowing look. “But trust me, honey. I’ve been around long enough to recognize the signs. That archangel is head over wings for you.”

Before I can formulate a response, the balcony door slides open, and Uriel steps inside. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him. He’s shed his usual formal attire for a simple white shirt and dark slacks, and the fading sunlight catches in his hair like a halo. For a moment, I can almost see the angel beneath the human facade.

Our eyes meet, and I feel a jolt of... something. Electricity? Recognition? Whatever it is, it makes my heart race and my palms sweat.

Helena looks between us, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, now that we’re all here, shall we eat? I’m starving, and Raphael’s been torturing us with the smell of his cooking all evening.”

As if on cue, Raphael emerges from the kitchen, a steaming dish in his hands. “Dinner,” he announces with a flourish, “is served.”

We gather around the table, an unlikely group united by circumstance and an impending apocalypse. As Raphael serves the pasta and Helena refills our drinks, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of belonging. These celestial beings, with all their power and ancient knowledge, are becoming... friends.

“Alright,” Helena says once we’ve all settled in and taken a few bites. “Let’s get down to business, shall we? We have an apocalypse to prevent and a speed dating event to crash.”

Uriel sets down his fork, his expression serious. “Helena, are you certain this plan of yours will work? The stakes are... rather high.”

Helena’s eyes gleam with excitement as she leans forward. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” she begins. “We’re going to use Uncle Lucy’s own pride against him, and War’s ego as bait. The DeLux Café hosts a speed dating night every week. We’ll create a profile for War on their app, something he can’t resist—all about chaos and destruction, his favorite things.”

She pauses, grinning mischievously. “I’ll pose as a potential date. Trust me, I know exactly what buttons to push to get his attention. Meanwhile, we’ll lure Lucifer there with the promise of a business meeting about expanding the café.”

I listen, fascinated and a little terrified, as Helena outlines her plan. It’s audacious, clever, and more than a little insane. But then again, we’re trying to stop the apocalypse. Insane might be exactly what we need.

“When War shows up, I’ll ‘accidentally’ spill a drink on him,” Helena continues. “But it won’t be just any drink—it’ll be a binding potion that’ll weaken his powers temporarily. That’s when we spring the trap. Lucifer confronts War about his little coup attempt, and with War caught off-guard and weakened, Uncle Lucy can use his authority to send War packing back to the Underworld.”

Helena leans back, looking proud of herself. “It’s all about the element of surprise. War won’t expect to be ambushed at a dating event, and Lucifer’s ego won’t let him back down from a challenge to his authority. What do you think?”

A heavy silence falls over the table as we all process Helena’s plan. I glance at Uriel, trying to gauge his reaction. His furrowed brow betrays a complex tapestry of emotions, each one etched into his features—doubt, concern, and something that looks almost like admiration.

“It’s... certainly unorthodox,” Uriel says slowly. “But I must admit, it has a certain devious brilliance to it.”

Raphael chuckles, raising his glass in a mock toast. “High praise indeed, coming from you, brother. I, for one, think it’s delightfully chaotic. Count me in.”

I take a deep breath, considering my words carefully. “It’s risky,” I say finally. “A lot could go wrong. But... I don’t think we have many other options at this point. And if it works...”

“If it works, we save the world,” Helena finishes, a fierce grin on her face. “Not bad for a night’s work, eh?”

As we dive into the details of the plan—discussing disguises, timing, and contingencies—I find myself swept up in the energy of it all. It’s terrifying, yes, but also exhilarating. For the first time since this whole mess began, I feel like we might actually have a chance.

Throughout the discussion, I can’t help but steal glances at Uriel. He’s fully engaged now, his initial reservations giving way to tactical planning. Watching him like this, seeing the strategic mind behind the stern exterior, I feel a rush of... something. Admiration? Attraction? Both?

At one point, our eyes meet across the table, and I feel that jolt again. Uriel holds my gaze for a moment, a soft smile playing at his lips, before turning back to the conversation. The brief interaction leaves me flustered, my cheeks warm.

“Emilia?” Helena’s voice breaks through my reverie. “Earth to Emilia. You still with us, darling?”

I blink, realizing I’ve completely lost track of the conversation. “Sorry, what?”

Helena smirks, her knowing gaze flicking between Uriel and me. “I was just saying, we’ll need you to run interference if anything goes wrong. Keep an eye on the other patrons, make sure no innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire.”

I nod, forcing myself to focus. “Right, of course. I can do that.”

“Excellent,” Helena says, clapping her hands together. “Now, let’s talk outfits. We need to look the part if we’re going to pull this off.”

As Helena launches into a detailed description of her planned disguise, complete with a red wig and “enough glitter to make a unicorn jealous,” I feel a gentle touch on my arm. I turn to find Uriel looking at me, concern evident in his eyes.

“Are you alright?” he asks softly, his voice low enough that only I can hear. “This is a lot to take in, I know.”

I offer him a small smile, touched by his concern. “I’m fine,” I assure him. “It’s just... a lot to take in. One minute I’m a social worker, the next I’m plotting with angels and demons to avert the apocalypse. It’s like I’ve stumbled into some cosmic soap opera.”

Uriel chuckles, the sound sending a warm flutter through my chest. “No, I suppose it isn’t. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here. I’m not sure I could face all this without you.”

His words catch me off guard, and for a moment, I’m at a loss for how to respond. Before I can gather my thoughts, Helena’s voice cuts through the moment.

“Alright, lovebirds,” she says, her tone teasing. “If you’re done making googly eyes at each other, we have a world to save.”

I feel heat rise to my cheeks as Uriel and I hastily put some distance between us. Raphael catches my eye, giving me a knowing wink that only makes me blush harder.

As the evening wears on and the plan takes shape, I find myself feeling strangely... content. Despite the looming threat of the apocalypse, despite the danger we’re about to walk into, there’s a sense of camaraderie, of shared purpose, that feels almost like family.

“So, uh… I think we should call it a night,” Uriel says, rising from the seat.

Helena’s warm expression suddenly turns serious. “Oh, you absolutely must stay here. War will chase you to the end of the earth until he gets what he wants. But he’ll never find you here.” At our questioning looks, she elaborates, “Ever since our break-up, I cast a protection spell that’s similar to a restraining order. This place is completely off his radar.”

Emilia and I exchange glances, relief and uncertainty passing between us. The offer of sanctuary is tempting, but the idea of being confined, even in a luxurious penthouse, doesn’t sit well with me.

“That’s... very generous of you,” I say carefully. “But are you sure? We wouldn’t want to impose, or put you in danger.”

Helena waves a hand dismissively. “Please, danger is my middle name. Besides, any chance to stick it to my ex is a bonus in my book.”

Raphael chuckles, wrapping an arm around Helena’s waist. “What my darling means to say is that you’re welcome here for as long as you need.”

I feel a gentle squeeze on my hand and turn to see Uriel watching me, a small smile playing at his lips. “You okay with that?” he whispers.

I consider for a moment, then nod. “Yes,” I say softly. “We happily accept the offer.” My smile widens, and I lean my head against his shoulder.

The fate of the world hangs in the balance, teetering on the edge of destruction. But here, in this moment, surrounded by laughter and love and the spark of hope, I allow myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, we can tip the scales in our favor.