“But she changed sides.”
Hesediel nods.
“Hadraniel broke many hearts that day.”
“I used to have a friend named Mason. It hurts when they go bad.”
“Then you understand.”
“You know that I don’t have a history of getting along with angels, right?”
She looks down at me.
“Samael remarked on that.”
“Plus, I used to be Lucifer.”
“That too.”
“But you’re willing to work with me?”
“Strange times make for strange allies. Samael was once the greatest enemy of all, but he saw the light. If I can ally with him, I can ally with the Abomination.”
I put the Glock back in its holster.
“And I guess I can work with a halo polisher. Come on over and have a drink.”
She follows me to the bar.
“Hesediel, this is Candy and Wild Bill.”
She stares at Candy for a minute. Candy stares right back.
“You going to call me Abomination too?”
“No. We’re alike. Inhuman, but fighting a war that will benefit mortals.”
“It’ll benefit everyone, so don’t go putting your war off on regular people. They didn’t start it.”
“It’s not pleasant to contemplate.”
“Then let’s have a drink,” says Bill.
She looks at the bottle.
“Is that a Hellion brew?”
“They no longer deliver champagne down here, I’m afraid.”
“I’ve never had it before.”
“No time like the present.”
“If I refuse?”
Bill looks at her, the only one in the room tall enough to go eye to eye with her.
“Where I’m from, friends have a drink before going into a fight. Makes sure no one supposes they’re above anyone else.”