The Sinner

You’re just drunk. Waaay drunk.

But Casziel’s sharp eyes were narrowed, and he muttered a curse in his own language.

Sumerian, I thought. His language is Sumerian because he’s almost four thousand years old…

The surrealism of my situation washed over me again, and I was glad for the booze that let me take a vacation from having to make it all make sense. I was too drunk, in fact, to pay attention as Cas hustled me off the street, around the corner to my back lot where I’d found him, and up the stairs. I managed to retrieve my keys from my purse but getting the right one in the lock was beyond me.

Cas juggled me, the packages from our shopping spree, and the keys, and got us all inside. He dropped the bags, then kicked the door shut. I clung to one arm as he raised the other, palm facing the door.

“Zisurrû,” he murmured.

I could hardly keep my head level or my eyes open, but there was no mistaking the thin light that outlined my door, glowing green in the darkness.

“Okay, so that happ’ned.”

The light faded and Cas helped me to my bed. I crashed headfirst into my pillow but managed to snag the cuff of his jacket. I tugged him until he sat stiffly on the edge beside me. The exotic scent of him was as intoxicating as whiskey, conjuring images of flat land under a bright sun, cradled by two rivers…

“Wait.” My brows furrowed as I tried to think through the drunkenness. “Wh

at is happening, Cas? Tell me the truth. Is this…?” I flapped a hand. “Is this all real? Or am I imagining you?”

“Would you prefer if it weren’t real?” His voice was low. Gentle. “Do you want to wake up tomorrow with no memory of these last two days? Of me?”

My grip on him tightened. “No. I…I don’t know. I can’t think. Something happened tonight. You were afraid but I can’t…”

“I fear nothing,” Casziel said. “Not for me. But if you’re frightened, Lucy. If this is too much…”

“You’ll go away?”

I felt more than saw him nod.

“And I won’t remember you?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“What about your redemption?”

“My only peace is knowing that you are safe and happy.” He stroked my hair; his soothing touch was driving me down, down… “Don’t be afraid, Lucy Dennings. Nothing will hurt you. I won’t let it.”

The safety promised in his deep voice fell over me like a heavy blanket. Like an incantation lining me in his protective light.

I smiled and sighed as I sunk into sleep. “I believe you, Casziel.”

But I don’t know who you are. Or do I…?

Another voice answered, sinister and crawling with shadows.

I’ll show you who he is…

A battlefield.

Bodies lie in pools of blood, soaking the dirt. The smell is unbearable. Nothing moves but ashy clouds that broil across the rust-colored sky.

And the flies.

Flies buzz over the dead like a living fog, their hum loud in my ears and growing louder. I look for an escape, but there’s nothing in any direction but the dead. I brush the flies away from my face, out of my hair. But still more come and I have to run.

Blindly, I trip over motionless limbs and still the flies come at me, covering my eyes, their legs and wings tickling my skin.