Chapter 15: Angel

Zadkiel watched Alix climb the spiral stairs in the corner of the room and disappear. Then he turned to the remaining very large Hellhound and hoped like the other two he’d met that this one would be friendly toward him.

“Hello,” he did his best to keep the tremor from his voice as he reached out, if hesitantly, toward it. The Hellhound scented the air, eyeing him as if he was gauging the threat before he pressed into Zadkiel’s hand. Zadkiel let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding in his relief.

“Are we safe now?” Marie was the one to break the silence, distracting Zadkiel from marveling at the strange, silky texture of the Hellhound’s fur.

“Yes,” he paused as he thought it over, “well, you did trespass on the Angel of Death’s house.” Marie and Nathaniel exchanged shocked looks.

“She’s the Angel of Death?” Zadkiel smiled with something dangerously close to pride.