~~Young~~

Chapter Twenty Three

   “Figure what out?” he looked to Death, who looked at God, so Gage looked to God.

   Eventually Death huffed in irritation when God stayed mum, “you’re a prick you know that,” she pointed firmly to him, “you’ve put him through enough, you should have told him already!”

   “And you are on my short list for your own involvement with Seraphine so you better watch your tongue.”

   “And I’m a god in the same right as you no matter how deluded you are so you can just kiss my ass.”

   “He’s a god…” Gage heard Sera whisper in awe.

   “The God,” God corrected her and she gasped, “no matter how Death would otherwise repudiate my position in the hierarchy.”

   “Repudiate? Like anyone was given the chance to vote and therefore refuse. Your ass wiped the floor with all our worshipers before doing the same to us while we were weak from lack of worship. Then you just climbed up the ladder and proclaimed yourself the one true god,” she held her hands up in mock reverence, “leaving the rest of us as what, immortals? Not quite asshole,” she finished her rant before turning back to Sera, “we’re all either angels or gods here sweetie so don’t listen to him.”

   Gage stumbled, only the bureau beside him kept him on his feet, “I’m…” he swallowed, “we’re not in purgatory are we?”

   “Nope,” she grinned and rocked on her toes in excitement, “He’s letting you stay too,” Death smiled at him, “you and Sera can be together, for, like, ever now!”

   Gage attempted a deep calming breath, it wasn’t working, “How is that possible, I should be burning if we’re in heaven.”

   Not that that didn’t sound like great news in theory, never having to leave Sera’s side again. But with her as an angel and him as a…well he was going to figure that out later, but it wasn’t an angel and he didn’t belong here no matter what amnesty God was going to grant him.

   “Not after what you did. Even he couldn’t refuse you after you repeatedly risked your life for others. It changed you,” she shrugged casually.

   But Gage had to disagree, “no, she changed me,” he walked up to Sera and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Talk about melting, when she embraced him, pressing a cheek against his chest as she closed her eyes, he was a puddle. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head wishing it was her lips, but loving this moment the way it was just the same. Maybe…maybe he could hang around for a little while…

   Death threw her hands on her hips with a huff and stomped over to the pair, pushing them apart to get behind them, “believe me I know she was the one who started the ball rolling, but because of her you made some choices I don’t think you would have otherwise-hey put it down!” she grumbled when he pulled his wing from her grasp, “I’m trying to show you something!”

   He did as she asked, cautiously lowering his wing to her hand. His eyes were on Sera as he did it. It was his right wing Death was after and he was afraid of Sera’s reaction. Only instead of disgust or fear, she met his gaze with a knowing grin.

   “See,” Death wrenched his wing around so he could see it, “You’ve made a step back in the right direction.”

   Gage was floored. There, at the end of his wing, were two white feathers. Not black, not brown, but white. He had to pull on one to make sure she wasn’t trying to trick him, and sure as shit it hurt.  

   “How is that possible?” Gage found himself asking for the second time.

   Once again Death looked to God to explain, but once again he chose the silent routine. She wasn’t letting him get away with it this time though, and instead she picked up the closet item, a small vase, and threw it at him.