Chapter 3
Gabriel
Gabriel was trying his best to hold it together. Of all the… The management team had actually… He couldn’t even…
He watched the demon, Leviathan, walking up to the huge coastal home, like Gabriel was just supposed to follow. Well, apparently that was what he was supposed to do, because he was now in an immersive “Professional Development Partnership.”
The demon might not have understood what that meant, but Gabriel did.
They were stuck together. He had no idea exactly what the management team had done, but if one of them left the vicinity of the other, it would probably be a painful experience.
The team had ways of doing such things, and he’d seen it before in partnerships.
Heck, it’s how the management team managed to get new members on board. They felt pain and discomfort when they were away from other team members. Gabriel wasn’t supposed to know that little secret, but he was the Divine Herald. He knew a lot of things.
Sure, they could separate, but it wouldn’t feel good, and Gabriel had no desire to inflict that on anyone, nor to experience it himself.
They probably had a few miles of leeway, or else a few hours of time before it kicked in, because he did have a job to do.
The point was, he couldn’t just blow this whole thing off and ignore the directive. The team would’ve made sure of that.
Even Leviathan thought it was all insane. For angels’ sake, the demon who had apparently created social media thought the idea was absurd!
Gabriel deflated a bit. Once again, the problem was that the management team wasn’t wrong. He wasn’t as efficient as he used to be. The numbers said it all, didn’t they? And this demon was apparently quite comfortable with topside if he hadn’t been downstairs to work in over five hundred years.
Perhaps Gabriel could use a bit of assistance with the mortals. He worked hard at his job and took pride in it, and if he could improve, then he would.
Levi being the Embodiment of Chaos made him slightly nervous, though.
Arioch, the chaos demon he was familiar with…
Well, he certainly didn’t need someone like that helping him.
It would be more like sabotaging him if Arioch were around.
He had a sense that he wasn’t far from where that particular demon had settled, as well.
Hopefully they didn’t run into one another.
He really didn’t think he could take any pranks right now.
With a sigh, Gabriel trailed after Leviathan into what was apparently his residence. He walked in the door and stopped, his breath catching in his lungs.
It was astounding.
The house was beautiful, and the decorations made Gabriel immediately think of the sea. There were calm sea colors on all the walls, driftwood furniture, and shells and sea glass scattered about.
What was truly astounding was the aquarium. Aquariums? There had to be multiple ones, because he wasn’t sure they were all connected. Leviathan was gently lowering his octopus friend into one of them, where the octopus happily let go and swam about amongst the fish and coral.
Leviathan left his hand in the water, making a small noise in his throat, and some of the fish came over and explored his hand, almost rubbing up against him like cats would. It was rather fascinating.
Gabriel had to admit that Leviathan himself was rather fascinating.
He wasn’t what Gabriel had expected. Most of the upper level demons he knew had big, hulking forms. Leviathan was…
small. Much more of a normal human height, and perhaps even on the short side for humans.
He was wiry and had dark black hair, and it almost looked blue at the tips.
His eyes were outlined in a black color as well, and they were a striking blue-violet color that made him think of the ocean at sunset.
The decorations were also interesting. Leviathan had tattoos and piercings and those things in his ears that looked like they were earrings, except they were hollow or something inside. Gabriel found himself staring, and he quickly looked back to the fish tank.
“Most of the fish were rescued, and they don’t mind being here.
If they want to go back to the ocean, I always accommodate them,” Leviathan said, taking his hand from the tank and stepping down.
“Hachi, of course, is only visiting, and he’s more than capable of making his way back to the sea on his own.
I have various tide pools he can stop in outside on the way there. ”
“Hachi?” Gabriel asked.
Leviathan motioned toward the octopus, his fingers doing something that looked almost like sign language, and then the octopus—Hachi—waved a tentacle at Gabriel.
How odd.
“He’s not a demon,” Gabriel said, because he would have known. Still, he’d waved at Gabriel. Animals didn’t do that.
Leviathan began getting out food and seaweed or algae or something to give the sea life in the tank.
“No, he’s not. Octopi are extremely intelligent.
They communicate, they think, and they play.
They plan ahead for trouble, and they develop bonds.
They can also be troublemakers because they’re so inquisitive.
Hachi is my current topside adventure buddy.
Although I guess I have two of you now, since you’re joining in the fun.
I have a feeling we won’t be sinking any ships, though, huh, Buttons?
” he asked, looking over at Gabriel and grinning.
“Why do you call me Buttons?” Gabriel asked, because that was an easier question than trying to figure out what the two of them were supposed to do together.
He smirked and motioned up and down at Gabriel.
Gabriel looked down at himself. He looked… the same as always. White suit, white tie, not a stain in place.
Leviathan grinned at his confusion. “You’re quite buttoned up, you know. Don’t worry, I’ll get you to loosen up, maybe even unbutton that shirt and roll up those sleeves.” He winked at Gabriel after that.
Gabriel knew he was being teased, but it somehow didn’t feel mean-spirited. Still, he resisted the urge to defend himself. He was the Messenger of God—he had to look neat and orderly.
“So what should I call you? Tattoos?” Gabriel snarked back. He knew it was stupid even as the words left his mouth. Tattoos? He couldn’t come up with anything better than Tattoos? For heaven’s sake. He had the urge to shake his head at himself, but he kept his composure.
Leviathan just smirked, and again, Gabriel didn’t sense any meanness behind it. “You can call me Levi. And if you’d like to come up with a nickname for me, I’m sure we can figure something out.”
The way that Leviathan—Levi—was smiling at Gabriel made him want to fidget. It felt almost… suggestive. Which was impossible. People did not get suggestive with Gabriel. Ever.
Well, maybe demons did sometimes, but they were just trying to tease him and get a rise out of him. They thought it was funny to ruffle his feathers, and he didn’t really blame them for the urge—they were demons, after all. He knew none of them actually meant the teasing.
It was, on occasion, even nice to be teased. None of the angelic side would dare. When he appeared they waited for messages. Or gave messages. There was some awe, especially from lower level angels, and everyone treated him like he was always on duty, which he supposed he was.
Levi was still staring at him, head tilted now, and Gabriel again fought the urge to fidget. The demon was just having a bit of fun, and Gabriel could be a good sport. He tried to think of a witty retort, but he’d somehow lost the train of the conversation.
Before he could sink into awkwardness, Levi brushed his hands off from the feeding and started walking across the large living space towards the open kitchen.
The living room, the aquariums, and the kitchen were all connected, and there were huge windows along the back wall looking out over the sea. It really was a beautiful space.
“Come on, Buttons, let’s grab some lunch and discuss what our partnership means,” Levi said over his shoulder.
Gabriel trailed after him, thinking he really ought to tell Levi not to call him that.
But really, demons would do as they pleased.
Plus, the name didn’t feel mean, and he didn’t get the sense that Levi was really making fun of him.
He’d experienced that often enough to know the feeling, and it wasn’t emanating from Levi.
He supposed if he had to be in a partnership, Levi wasn’t the worst choice based on what he knew so far. Sure, Embodiment of Chaos sounded a little… well, chaotic, but otherwise the demon seemed open to the idea and not angry at being stuck working with an angel. There was that, at least.
Gabriel walked into the kitchen, where the demon was pulling food out of his fridge and pans out of his cabinets.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Levi looked over at him. “Making breakfast. You like coffee with it?”
“Coffee?” Gabriel asked, slightly confused. They were afterlifers. They didn’t need to eat or drink.
Levi turned around, folded his arms on his chest, and smirked at Gabriel. “Yes, Buttons. It’s that dark, aromatic drink that you add sweet things to in order to enhance the flavor. It gives a pleasant little jolt of energy as well.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes. “I know what coffee is. It’s not like I don’t visit topside. I’m aware of what mortals eat and drink.”
Levi raised his eyebrows and just waited, like he knew there was more to it.
“I’ve never had it,” Gabriel finally admitted. “I don’t usually partake in human food or drink.”
Levi looked at him, appalled. “Why on topside wouldn’t you enjoy mortal food and drink? It’s one of the best things about being here!”
“Well, I have tried some here and there,” Gabriel defended, “but usually I’m just delivering a message and then off to work again. It’s very busy. I’m actually surprised I haven’t received any messages to deliver yet. I’m usually very busy.”
Heavens, could he say he was busy one more time? Gabriel was feeling vaguely flustered. He was usually unflappable, but all this… the leadership team meeting, the message, the partnership, the fact that he wasn’t doing his job as well as he’d thought… Well, he was flapped.
He wasn’t sure that was even a human word, but it was how he felt. Levi was simply not what he expected, either, and that was throwing him off.
Gabriel looked over at the aquarium again, listening to the sounds of Levi bustling about in the kitchen and cooking.
Hachi was building a little cave out of shells using his tentacles.
Some fish swam by curiously, but Hachi just kept pulling in shells and covering himself up.
His skin was blending in as he grabbed them, too.
What demons had human pets? Or traveling companions? Or whatever Hachi was. Granted, Gabriel usually only saw upper level demons, who were rather cocky and full of themselves and entrenched in the downstairs world. Levi was an upper level demon, though.
Perhaps living topside for over five hundred years would do that. Perhaps, just maybe, Levi would be able to help him, and this partnership didn’t need to be a complete disaster. If Gabriel could find some way to be more effective at his job, then he would do it.
He was not doing any Tik Tok dances to get messages across, though. A Divine Herald had to draw the line somewhere.
“Have a seat,” Levi said.
Gabriel looked away from the aquarium to see Levi setting a steaming plate and a mug on the round kitchen table, then getting another plate and mug and setting them at the other seat. He gestured for Gabriel to sit down.
Well, he supposed a little mortal food would be fine. He certainly didn’t want to be rude and offend Levi, either. While he’d been lost in his thoughts, the demon had made him a meal. He hadn’t even conjured it out of nothing. Gabriel walked over and sat down.
It smelled… lovely. There was a sort of musky aroma floating from the cup, where steam was curling up. The food was a fluffy omelette that had cheese and potatoes leaking out the sides. It smelled quite heavenly as well.
Levi started eating, so Gabriel picked up his fork, cut off a piece of the omelette with the side of it (he had used utensils, of course), and placed the food in his mouth.
Oh. Oh, my.
Levi smirked across from him, and he realized that perhaps he had made a little moaning sound at tasting the food.
He finished chewing and swallowed. “This is quite extraordinary. Thank you for preparing it for me.”
“Try the drink,” Levi said, motioning with his fork toward the cup.
Gabriel was still a little overcome at the richness of the food, and he had to force himself to put his fork down and not take another bite right away.
He reached for the mug, which was a dark blue and reminded Gabriel once again of the ocean.
He brought it up to his lips and took a sip of the hot liquid within.
The flavor explosion in his mouth almost short-circuited his brain.
He closed his eyes, savoring and trying to categorize all the flavors.
It was dark and musky, like coffee beans so often smelled.
Levi had added things to it, though, so it was also sweet, but the sweetness had a rich, earthy flavor to it.
He thought, perhaps, it was chocolate, which he had tasted once very long ago.
He remembered the sweet explosion on his tongue even this many centuries later.
But there was more. Something leafy and sharp, but in a pleasant way.
Mint, perhaps? And the flavors were all cut with the richness of milk, but not milk like he had tried decades ago.
He opened his eyes to see Levi watching him and grinning. Oh, he hoped he hadn’t moaned again.
He cleared his throat, placing the cup down. “It’s quite lovely. Truly. Thank you.”
“Glad you like it, Buttons. Now eat up, and then we’ll come up with a plan of action,” Levi said, taking another bite of his food.
Well, it wasn’t like Gabriel really had much of a choice. It would be rude to refuse the food and drink that had been made for him. He tried not to moan or close his eyes as he took the next bite, savoring the experience.
Perhaps Gabriel could enjoy his time topside with Levi. It was quite a novel thought. He liked his job, of course. He did important work, and he had a fulfilling purpose. Nevertheless, he wasn’t exactly sure when he had last really enjoyed something.
Luckily, another taste of coffee washed away that disheartening thought, and Gabriel enjoyed the novel experience of partaking in mortal food.