Chapter 20

Annie and the children climbed into Aiden’s truck, and indulged in drive-thru cheeseburgers and shakes. Her palate wasn’t the most sophisticated among Suzi’s identities. After dropping off the kids at the hotel, she returned to her apartment.

“Home sweet home,” she murmured aloud.

It had been days since the night Judas appeared, and Azailkahbil attacked her. Now, finally, she could spend time in her own space.

Annie briefly considered tidying up her apartment, but housework wasn’t her forte. Instead, she rearranged her bed, rolled up the carpet beneath it, and replaced the sheets and blankets. As she undressed, about to slip into her pajama shorts, she hesitated and smiled.

“Time for porn!” she said, and she laid back on the bed, nude, and grabbed her phone.

She saw she had a few missed calls and messages.

“Damn it. I hate being responsible,” she thought to herself as she opened the list.

A call from Detective Wilson and an unknown number. A text from Nick and the detective.

Nick texted, ‘Great work on the Bowers’ case. The family was very impressed and would like to speak with you. Can I give them your contact info?’

Poodle texted, ‘Tom sent me that video. Great work. I think we can get a facial hit on those men. I’ll let you know.’

Annie realized she wasn’t the best decision-maker for the collective. She needed Suzi, Suzanne, Judith, or another responsible identity to take charge. If Annie stayed in charge, she would eat THC gummies and either masturbate until her hand fell off or go out and have sex with as many strangers as she could find. The least destructive option would be dancing around her apartment naked, but even that seemed perilous given the state of the place. Cleaning was out of the question.

Desperate, she tried waking Suzi and Judith, but they remained unresponsive. Annie recalled their vivid trip to the other void, a psychedelic experience akin to an acid trip. Since she lacked acid or THC, she wondered if Suzi’s plan from the hospital might work.

Lying back on her bed, Annie placed pillows on either side of her naked booty to prevent rolling off. She closed her eyes, focused on her breath, and visualized oxygen-rich blood feeding her brain. Deep within her cerebral cortex, she found the golden cord—the same one Suzi had pulled to access the void.

Annie tugged the cord. Synapses fired around her, colors shifting as the environment transformed. She became a floating consciousness connected by the golden thread to vast emptiness. She thought of Aiden and glimpsed a pale, faded blue image—an outline of him lying in a pencil-drawn bed against a black background.

That still worked as expected, but she decided to test it again.

Next, she thought of Reed and Rio, finding them asleep in their hotel rooms. But when she focused on “Suzi,” nothing happened.

Undeterred and determined, she opted for Suzi’s plan and thought of God.

Nothing.

“Well, that proves that, I guess,” she thought.

Even when trying to speak in this place, no sound was made, so when a musical voice hit her, it startled her.

“My! Aren’t you breathtaking! I’ve never seen such amazing colors!” a voice came from the void.

“Who’s there?” Annie called out, making no sound.

“Sheild your eyes child. My light can be blinding to one who has never seen us before.”

“God?”

Laughter came that sounded like bells.

“No. Now shield your eyes, please.”

Though Annie lacked eyelids, she squeezed them shut. Despite her lack of physical arms in this ethereal place, she instinctively placed them over her non-existent face and eyes. A brilliant white light materialized before her, its intensity undiminished by any shielding. Once fully formed, the light diminished to a mildly irritating glow. Annie opened her eyes and lowered her arms, but the brightness remained unchanged.

Before her stood the most exquisitely magnificent creature she had ever encountered. Although discerning distinct features proved impossible, the humanoid shape with two arms, two legs, a head, and a face could only be one entity: God. Annie knelt—or at least attempted to.

“My lord,” she whispered.

“Please, no,” the radiant figure replied. “I am not the Lord, thy God. My name is Kariel. I serve Gabriel, the Archangel of the Almighty.”

“I am humbled to meet you, Kariel. I am Annie. Servant of Suzi, uh.. humble follower, uh..”

“I know who you are and the intricacies of your mind. You are one soul with many facets—a unique being rarely seen. Dare I say, a ‘unicorn’ in human terms.”

“Are you here to take me to heaven?” Annie asked, her heart racing.

The bells laughed again.

“No. I am here because you called for the lord. As a celestial, it is my duty to assist you.”

“You are a celestial? Not an angel?”

“I AM an angel. YOU are the celestial,” Kariel corrected. “What did you need help with? Or would you like a favor?”

“A favor?”

“Was that a question or a statement?” Kariel’s eyes sparkled.

“I didn’t understand the question. Can you help me wake up the others in my head?”

“They rest,” Kariel explained. “You bound a soul to a vessel—a feat requiring immense will. And you revived him, expending no small measure of your energy. You should be resting too.”

“You are raising a hell, uh -HECK of a lot of more questions than I started with.”

“Sleep for now, child,” Kariel said gently. “Call for me again when you are ready.”

The light in the shape of the person dissipated and Annies’s consciousness went limp, and all the lights Annie could see went dark.

* * * * *

Suzi’s eyes fluttered open, her body cocooned in the remnants of a perfect night’s sleep. The warmth of restful slumber clung to her limbs, and she marveled at the absence of nocturnal restlessness. But something was amiss. Why was she naked? And why did her own bed feel both familiar and foreign? The last thing she recalled was her head and face being used as a Tesla coil. And there was vomit.

The memories surged forth, unbidden. Suzi sat up, her heart racing.

“Oh, God! Annie—what did you do?” The words escaped her lips, a desperate plea for answers.

She leaped from the bed, her bare feet padding across the floor. The bathroom mirror reflected her wide-eyed panic. And then, almost effortlessly, she was transported into Guillermo.

“Annie!” Suzi’s mental shout echoed through their shared psyche.

Annie, still nestled in her own bed, stretched like a contented cat. Her smile was both innocent and mischievous. “Morning, everyone!”

“What did you do, Annie?” Suzi demanded.

“I tried to be a good girl,” Annie confessed, her voice sheepish. “I tried to wake you up and I tried to do what I thought you would have done.” She smiled a big, toothy grin. “We’re a unicorn.”

“At least we have an ally,” Judith chimed in.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Suzi’s mind raced. She focused on Judas’s room, but darkness clung to its emptiness. No sign of Judas.

“She has such a beautiful name,” Annie began.

“She?” Judy corrected. “I think he was a ‘he’.”

“There was no penis!”

“There were no breasts.”

“Maybe she’s just flat-chested.”

“Maybe he has a micro-penis.”

Annie’s protest died on her lips, leaving her gaping. She recovered with a playful pout. “Well, THEY have such a beautiful name,” and stuck her tongue out.

“Kariel,” Suzi whispered.

A blinding light engulfed their collective consciousness, birthing a new space. Unlike their familiar rooms or those inhabited by the demon and Aiden, this room shimmered with white brilliance. And there, poised within, stood an entity of otherworldly magnificence.

The person defied easy categorization. Dark-skinned, yet devoid of racial markers, they embodied universal features. Their wavy blond hair contrasted sharply with their skin, and their eyes—green as sunlit emeralds—held the universe’s secrets. Tall and sinewy, they exuded strength without bulk, like a masterful athlete. Their white gown flowed from broad shoulders, trailing gracefully. Golden bracelets adorned their wrists, harmonizing with their ethereal beauty.

Suzi’s breath hitched. This was no ordinary beauty; it transcended mere physical allure. Neither sexual attraction nor gender mattered. The sheer presence of this being held her captive.

“Hello, child,” Kariel sang, their voice a celestial chorus even within Guillermo’s confines.

“Hello,” Suzi whispered, shy and painfully aware that all nine of her personalities were staring at Kariel, and they were all naked.

“Be not ashamed of your body, for we are all beautiful,” Kariel’s voice resonated, soothing Suzi’s self-consciousness.

“Some of us are more beautiful than others. Present company included,” Suzi quipped, her humor a fragile shield against the celestial’s scrutiny.

“There is no need for flattery with me,” Kariel replied. “Would it make you more comfortable if I were more relatable to a standard human?”

Without waiting for an answer, Kariel transformed. Suddenly, they were a shorter, early-20s kid—dark hair falling into their eyes, saggy pants, an oversized sweatshirt, unlaced high-top sneakers, and a CD Walkman slung on their hip.

“This image is from your memories,” Kariel explained, “one I found most entertaining. Is it more suitable?”

“Nice!” Spike’s enthusiasm bubbled forth.

Suzi smiled. “It is a little easier to relate to you in that form.”

“Very well then,” Kariel said, “this is the form I will retain for you. Now, you have questions.”

“So many questions,” Suzi murmured. She settled onto her bed, her other personalities mirroring her movements.

The events of Annie’s first encounter with Kariel last night replayed in her mind.

“You said I was breathtaking,” Suzi began, “and that you had never seen light like mine. Others have made similar comments. What does that mean?”

“Your aura in the Ether is remarkable,” Kariel explained. “Typically, humans—even celestials—have one or two colors at a time. Yours swirls with multiple colors simultaneously. I had never witnessed such complexity before. Occasionally, someone might display two mixed colors, but your radiance surpasses that.”

“Ether, huh? Not void?” Suzi probed.

“The common term is Ether,” Kariel confirmed, “but you may call it as you wish. Officially, it is called the Ethereal Plane.”

“Is this place part of the Ether?” Suzi gestured toward the entirety of Guillermo.

“No,” Kariel clarified. “This is your id—the super-conscious mind. Unique to you, it personifies the aspects of your id, compartmentalizing your needs, wants, desires, fears, aggressions, and impulses. You perceive them as personalities, but they are all you—a single soul.”

“And what about being a celestial?” Suzi pressed. “What does that mean?”

“Celestials play a crucial role in the ongoing battle between Heaven and Hell,” Kariel explained. “They possess abilities that can sway the war’s progress. As a human, you have free will—you can choose to participate or not. Celestials are the neutral party, and their original duty was to keep the Prime Plane clear of demons and preserve humanity. Unfortunately, humans are fallible and corruptible, and demons are malicious and powerful manipulators.”

“How did I get involved?” Suzi wondered aloud.

“I do not know,” Kariel admitted. “You are the first new celestial I’ve seen in over 400 years. Your benefits include perfect health, quasi-immortality, and the use of your unique ability.”

“Heaven versus Hell,” Suzi mused. “The essence of Good versus Evil. God versus the devil.”

“Yes and no,” Kariel replied. “Angels serve the Lord’s army, but we oppose the seven armies of Hell—some of which include corrupted celestials. Their greed threatens the balance.”

“Seven?” Suzi’s curiosity flared. “I thought God ruled Heaven and Satan ruled Hell?”

“Satan is a devil, but not THE devil,” Kariel clarified. “He, along with Lucifer, Mammon, Beelzebub, Leviathan, Asmodeus, and Belphegor, are generals of Hell. They were once angels, cast out from Heaven. Their collective desire is to amass enough Will to open the gates and take Heaven by force, overthrow God and reclaim Heaven. But they do not rule Hell—the Lord, thy God, reigns supreme.”

Suzi’s throat tightened as she grappled with the enormity of her involvement. The desire to shrink into insignificance tugged at her, urging her to keep her head down and avoid the weight of her newfound destiny.

“God is all-powerful,” Suzi began, her voice trembling. “He rules Heaven, Hell, Earth, and everything else in existence. Why doesn’t He simply wipe out the devil generals and their armies?”

“He is a god of creation, not destruction,” Kariel explained. “He wants them to CHOOSE him, just as he does with humans. They were once in his grace and could be again, if they repent and seek his forgiveness. They are selfish, which is also why they cannot name a single leader.”

Suzi massaged her temples. “Okay, I think I understand. You mentioned perfect health, quasi-immortality, and my ability. Can you elaborate?”

“Certainly,” Kariel responded. “Celestials age only when they desire. Without exerting their Will, they maintain perfect health at an age of their choosing. You, a 46-year-old woman, already feel your body reverting to that of a mid-20-something. With concentration, you could alter your physical form to any age in between.”

“And healing?” Suzi pressed.

“Unless corrupted,” Kariel continued, “you heal from any injury within days. Corruption prolongs the process, depending on its severity. But death comes only through specific unknown means—a unique method for each celestial, angel, or demon. Alternatively, you can retire willingly, your soul judged for eternal life within or outside the Golden City.”

“So, even as a celestial, Heaven isn’t guaranteed?” Suzi’s heart sank.

“No one is guaranteed a place in Heaven,” Kariel affirmed solemnly.

“That’s some bullsh—uh, bull malarkey,” James blurted, catching herself.

Kariel’s smile remained serene. “It is His design. Celestials, like humans, possess free will. To attain eternal life with Him, they must seek, love, and respect Him. Celestials remain neutral, impacting both angels and demons.”

“My ability?” Suzi leaned forward.

“Difficult to pinpoint,” Kariel admitted. “You’re a ‘Binder,’ having bound the demon Azailkahbil and re-bound Aiden. You can also ‘impress’ or perhaps ‘possess’, as you did with your desire upon that nurse. Two abilities—rare but not unheard of.”

“How many celestials exist?” Suzi wondered.

“Fewer each millennium. Currently, fewer than 100. Some remain active, while others relish their immortality.”

“Angels and demons?” Suzi probed.

“God created eight million initially,” Kariel revealed. “Now, just over one million angels remain. The rest fell in battle and were destroyed or were cast out and turned into demons.”

“So, about a million demons?” Suzi calculated.

“No. There are four million former angels,” Kariel clarified. “Plus, human souls turned lesser demons—totaling about a billion.”

“They outnumber you a thousand to one!” Suzi exclaimed.

“In volume, yes,” Kariel agreed. “But in collective Will, the scales are about balanced.”

“Can more angels be made?” Suzi inquired.

“Unlike humans, angels and demons don’t procreate,” Kariel explained. “We lack gender but can assume any form. Creation—the ability passed only to humans and Prime Plane creatures—is beyond us.”

“Can human souls become angels?” Suzi persisted.

“You think that because a human soul can become a demon, it could also become an angel? The thought is sound, but I’ve never witnessed it. A soul may be corrupted and promised to a devil, but it doesn’t truly belong to them—it belongs to God. To offer this gift from the Lord to a general of Hell is not only an affront to Him but also grants the demon immense power, corrupting the soul irreversibly. However, a human soul can never be so uncorrupted that it could hold the Will bestowed upon us angels.”

“Will,” Suzi mused. “You keep mentioning it. Like ‘willpower’?”

“Essentially,” Kariel confirmed. “Force of Will—a being’s unwavering dedication to beliefs or determination. The more Will a being possesses, the greater their power. Angels wield Sheer Will, unyielding and unassailable. Humans, on the other hand, harbor varying degrees of Free Will—susceptible to weakening or siphoning but never freely given. Demons thrive on oppression and manipulation, collecting Will and power from others.”

“This is overwhelming,” Suzi admitted. “Is there training? Some way to prepare?”

“No formal training,” Kariel replied. “Trust yourself, have faith, and follow your instincts. Your path will reveal more as you journey.”

“And the favor you mentioned?” Suzi leaned forward.

“Angels and demons cannot directly operate in the Prime Plane without immense energy and Will,” Kariel explained. “Demons possess humans to roam, but celestials straddle the Prime Plane and Ether. We angels often grant favors to celestials in exchange for their contributions to the greater good—a minor miracle, if you will—in the Prime Plane.”

“Sounds intriguing!” Suzi’s curiosity flared.

“There is always a balance, however,” Kariel cautioned. “The favor comes at a cost to the celestial and the angel, so the weight of the cost must be balanced with the potential benefits. The greater the favor, the greater the cost. There are things, however, that we are not permitted to grant as favors.”

“What’s the cost?” Suzi pressed.

“It can vary,” Kariel said. “Temporary loss of an ability, turmoil placed in the celestial's path. One never knows until the favor is granted, but we believe there is always a lesson. Twenty-four hours after the favor is granted, the payment is exacted.”

“So, I’d just say, ‘Hey, Kariel, I need a favor’?” Suzi tested.

“Essentially,” Kariel agreed. “Angels have unique abilities, as do demons. If within my power, I’ll provide. If not, I’ll consult my brethren, but the cost would be on them, and they may not see the immediate benefit and not be willing to make that sacrifice.”

“Can demons grant favors?” Suzi wondered aloud.

Kariel studied her carefully and responded curtly after a moment. “They could, but at a steeper cost. Demons seek power for only themselves.”

“I have more questions,” Suzi confessed. “But I need time to process.”

“Of course. Farewell, child.” Kariel’s luminous room dissolved.

Suzi and her personalities sat, contemplating the celestial revelations.

“What the fuck are we going to do?” the Suzanne personality asked.

“We should become a superhero!” Annie suggested.

The Judy persona scoffed. “You would fuck it up for us all.”

“No superheroes,” Suzi asserted.

“But we could stop bank robberies!” Annie persisted.

“Or get arrested,” James countered. “Orange isn’t our color.”

“But we can’t die!” Annie insisted.

“We can die, but only by one way or one thing, but we don’t know what that is, so it could still be anything.” Judith reasoned.

“We should not do anything rash. Judas isn’t around and she was the only one of us that seemed to know what we can or can’t, or should or shouldn’t do within these situations,” the protective, self-preserving J personality suggested.

“J is right. We need to keep a low profile for now until Judas comes back or recovers or whatever. In the meantime, we can be with Aiden and try to help the detectives find what happened to Dr. Adamson and Aiden,” Suzi stated.

“And find out who hurt Ygritte and make them pay,” the Spike persona added.

“Amen,” they all said in unison.