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Assistant: Title: A Divine (Romantic) Comedy
        Author: Dystopian_God Dystopian_God 
        Chapter: 33/49 
        Summary: Depression is a horrible thing, all consuming and crushing. So when a failed attempt to cheer him up by the Six Sins leads Lucifer Morningstar, lord of the Seven Circles of Hell and Rubber Duck Enthusiast, into a random bar in a random city the last thing he's expecting is to strike up a conversation with someone who understands the pain of lost love.Naturally, things quickly spiral out of hand as Lucifer, now Lucius Magne, tries to date the lovely Camila Noceda while hiding his true nature, completely unaware that Camila is doing the exact same thing with the true nature of her daughters college... and her other daughters species. Add in some troublesome earth-bound imps, Some troublesome Sins trying to 'help' him, and trying to run an entire dimension sized kingdom and you got a romantic comedy for the ages.One could almost call it a Divine Comedy.Now fresh with its own Tropes Page: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/ADivineRomanticComedy
        Contents: Chapter 33: Welcome to CHERUB: Manny Noceda
    

    

        
          
          
            A new job, with new responisbilities... things certainly are looking up.
          
        

      
        
          So i know at least some of you are wondering what the point of all this is. why bring up these chapters in the main story and not a spin-off? Well, that... is a spoiler :) But trust me, the pay off will (hopefully) be good. There is a reason for these chapters... and it'll be revealed near the end of this chapter. But dont worry, this is the last Heaven chapter for awhile now.And after this, we get to rejoin our main couple as they prepare for a big reveal or several.Anyway, this chapter is just to tie up some things and finish up for a bit, while also preparing some plot crumbs from a big plot loaf in future chapters. So this chapter is shorter than others.
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
    
  “Good Morning, Captain Noceda. It is currently: Eight AM in the morning. You have a meeting with: Deerie. You have dinner with: Everyone.” The robotic voice chirped happily as a retro-wave tune began to play, rousing him from his sleep.

  His bed was a scientific marvel: A pod built into the wall that shimmered like glass and opened with a musical tune to it. The inside of the pod was a bed made of some soft and silky material that felt like sleeping on a cloud, and since he had done so a few times he could vouch it was very similar. The bed had a gel layer that could be heated or manipulated into a massage function that was thew peak of comfort.

  A part of him didnt want to get up, just wanted to close his eyes and keep sleeping until enough time passed that someone was forced to come look for him. He was sure Emily wouldnt mind, she was always trying to make sur epeople were as content as possible.

  Alas, he had gotten his fill of just sleeping the day away long ago.

  He slowly clambered out of the pod as the robotic but happy sounding voice informed him of all the important things he had to do. He rolled his shoulders as he stood up and stretched out like a cat as he wandered over to the vanity mirror and began to comb his hair and perform his daily grooming.

  It was an odd quirk of Heaven, that the human body still got dirty and you needed to clean it and take care of it. Sure, you never got fatter or thinner unless you wanted to but other than that all bets were off. It was something that Beau had explained to him near his first days: that Heaven didn't want you to lose track of what made you human overtime so it kept you having to clean yourself up every now and again.

  This was, at the end of the day, still your eternal reward. And losing track of the parts of yourself that got you that reward would defeat the entire point.

  He smiled brightly, turning his face every which way and that as he made sure he was at least somewhat presentable before getting out a simple suit and making his way downstairs. The many pictures he had taken of his family during life still hurt to look at as he passed them by… but the sting was so much lesser now that he had some semblance of a life outside of just himself and this house.

  He had friends, he had a job, and he had fulfillment.

  Camila would be so proud of him. He may have been willing to wait half a century to introduce her to everyone but he was sure she would be happy with the life he was building the two of them up here. Here, nobody would judge either of them for geeking out to their heart's content.

  He had a small stack of written and leather bound Cosmic Frontier fanfiction he was dying for her to read, he liked to think that talking with literal angels had only increased his sens eof creativity and left him a better writer overall.

  “Morning Heaven!” He sang out as he opened the door and did a little skip down towards the walkway leading to the bus depot. “I have a feeling that it’s going to be a wonderful day!”

  He wasnt sure when he became slightly more musical, never having been one for singing and dancing when he was alive. It was another odd quirk of death, perhaps. He had tried asking around and people tended to just stare at him oddly. Those same people would be engaged in a massive musical number not even an hour later.

  Heaven had a musical bent, his father would be so proud when he got here.

  Thoughts of his family eventually brought him back to thinking of Camila and Luz, and his mood darkened as he approached the bus stop.

  This was all for her… Everything he did was for them. The life he was building for Camila and Luz once they arrived would make everything worth it… even if they didn't remember him, or they moved on with their lives after his passing he would smile and nod because they deserved to live life their way instead of his.

  He loved them both so much… he didn't know what he would do if they forgot about him, even if he was certain that Luz wouldn't even remember him at all by the time she passed from old age. But he would persevere… he had to.

  “Los amo a ambos con todo mi corazón.” He whispered to nothing at all as he made his way onto the bus leading to Cherub Town, leaving behind his very empty house.

  **********

  “Alright you maggots! Who here wants to live forever?” Molly yelled out, marching back and forth in front of a bunch of avian cherubs who all crisply saluted her and looked as serious as possible.

  “Tonight, you have the most important duty of them all!” she roared before producing a golden parchment which glowed like the sun and had quite a number of doodled hearts drawn on it. In simple script was a basic request to have their daughter find love. “You’re going to play Cupid!”

  One of the cherubs gently raised her wing. “We’re the Cupid Corps, ma’am. We always play Cupi-”

  “No backsass!” Molly yelled and began to wave a ruler towards a swirling golden portal. “Go down there and find her a date! Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Datemate, Significant other… go on.” She began to make waving motions with her hands. “Shoo.”

  The cherubs all looked to one another before taking off and flying through the portal. The golden vortex closed up behind them and Molly turned towards him and smiled. “Thanks for the ruler, Manny! It makes me all serious and stuff.”

  “You’re the one who wanted to act like a general in front of the cherubs.” he teased, smirking as the two moved to leave the room. “I dont see the appeal but you do you.”

  “Oh, come on!” Molly whined as she thrust the ruler towards his chest. “You mean to tell me you dont enjoy acting the part?”

  He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, opening the door and gesturing her onward with one of his own wings. “Eh, once you direct one CHERUB team you’ve directed all of them.”

  “Lame!” Molly complained as they made their way out of the portal room and back towards one of the many office centers. Still a bright pink everywhere and still with more motivational posters and cute paintings than anyone would know what to do with, the Headquarters of the Joybringer was one that never ceased to amaze him. Real clouds actually drifted through the larger area’s and cast rainbows over the workers, a special treat from Emily herself. Schools of flying fish gently swam through the air and bubbled happily towards anyone they came across as the mountains of backlog were finally decreasing for once.

  Emily had made this place seem like a kid on a sugar rush designed it and yet somehow it worked. Just being in here made his inner child want to sit around and play with the fish or fly through the clouds.

  “Hey, Manny. Emily is looking for you.” Alex said from atop one of the backlog mountains, sliding down it on a makeshift sled made of clipboards. The Jersey jock had grown his hair out and tied it back into a ponytail, already combing a hand through his head of hair while the new ring on his finger glinted from a stray rainbow.

  Alex slid to the bottom of the massive backlog mountain and he reached over to help his friend up, the winner laughing as he got pulled straight. “Thanks, Manny.”

  He smiled and punched Alex in the shoulder lightly. “Don't mention it, bro.”

  “Bro.” Molly’s voice came from behind them, the spider-like winner sitting atop her own backlog mountain and grinning down at the two of them as they turned to look at her. “Bro, bro bro, Bro-”

  “I don't sound like that.” Alex grumbled before a worried look crossed his face. “I dont- I dont sound like that, do I?”

  He grinned and shrugged before leaving his despairing friend behind to make his way up to the head office. Paper planes flew by as cherubs sent them on their way towards whatever office they needed to get to, the folded papers flying despite all logic saying they shouldn't.

  Finally, he opened the door to Emily’s personal office and carefully avoided the paper piles on the floor. Emily had decorated her office as haphazardly and randomly as she could, as if she had gotten distracted halfway through a theme and jumped to another… something he knew for a fact had actually happened to her. The carpet was plush and velvety, a very serious color to match the wooden walls that were covered in pictures of everything from cats playing around to The Good Witch Azura posters. Several bookshelves filled with many different books ranging form romance to young adult adventure novels filled the shelves while various windchimes hung from the ceiling alongside the fan.

  Emily, the adorable Seraphim who was also his boss, was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment as her hand flew faster than anything human, the pen in her hands smoking slightly from how fast her hand scrawled word to paper. The young seraphim looked up, blinked, and then smiled brightly upon seeing him. “Manny! You got my message!” She flew over her desk, her six wings flapping furiously, and landed in front of him and began to vibrate in excitement. “Guess what?”

  He smiled and ruffled the hair on her head, the young woman shaking from excitement as the news within her threatened to burst out. “Oh, I don't know… you won the election?”

  She opened her mouth and a stream of pure consciousness let loose that he couldn't even follow, the words stringing together and slowly morphing into an unknown language to human ears. Her eyes were shining as she talked at a pace no human could match and he gave up trying to follow it when he realized it really wasn’t even a language he could understand anymore.

  “Emily,” he interrupted her, the seraphim pausing. “You’re speaking Enochian again.”

  She chuckled in embarrassment. “Ah… sorry about that. Again.”

  “Just- just speak slower, I don't really know how to speak Enochian.” He began and she smiled before thankfully resuming at a pace, and language, he could understand.

  “Your advice worked wonders: Sera actually listened to me when I asked for more responsibilities today! I asked exactly like you told me to do and it worked!”.” She did a little dance that reminded him of Luz so much it hurt before she seemed to deflate slightly. “Also, I’m going to be sitting in judgment with the High Council this evening so I'll be late to dinner with everyone tonight.”

  He shook his head. “Don't worry about it, Em. We’ll keep some of Mrs. Di Martello’s pasta warm for you.” He opened the door back up and let her fly out, the seraphim looking at him gratefully as he did so.

  “Also, I read those books you recommended!” She seemed to brighten up as she spoke, her voice happy as could be. “Azura and Hecate really do seem to have an interesting dynamic and I can't wait to read the next one where they have to team up against Emperor Dhar-”

  ‘Oh Luz, you two would be such great friends…’ He thought to himself with a rueful grin as Emily rambled on about The Good Witch Azura. He had asked about Luz many times, wanting to know everything he could about his daughter. The letter in his pocket burned like a brand against him and he patted his chest right over both his heart and the letter he had read over and over again.

  He was happy for her, he truly was. She had moved on and gotten over the pain of his passing and was coming out of her shell..

  All without him in her life at all.

  It hurt, to be on this end of the mirror and know he couldn't talk to her for God knows how many years yet… but she was happy, and that was enough for him. He had asked about Cam as well, of course he had, but it seemed like she had just… fallen into a rut. No changes to her life, nothing extraordinary to do… just existing.

  Part of him wished she would move on, that she would find someone else that could make her happy while the other part… He didn't know. Caught between the selfish and guilty desire that she not move on and the fervent hope that she does so she could be free of the pain… he didn't know one bit. Being dead was complicated, and seeing the world move on without you hurt like hell.

  He kept all that to himself, however. He didn't want to burden the happy angel that was like the second daughter he and Cam were never quite able to have with his own problems.

  “- and the Gildersnake returned as her friend! It was amazing!” She continued info-dumping, the seraphim excited to share her love of earth culture with someone who wasn’t her elder sister. “Thank you for the recommendation! Really, it’s amazing.” She went in for a quick hug and he laughed and patted her on the back.

  “Don’t mention it, Em.” He smiled and the seraphim began to hover in the air as she looked about the central office. Molly waved to both of them as she slowly used the backlog as a makeshift projectile and landed a shot against Alex, who returned fire.

  “I’m really happy you all came here to join.” Emily said with a wistful look on her face. He looked over at her and grew a bit concerned by the sad sight in her eyes. “Before this… I didn't really have much in the way of friends: Being a member of the High Council and the youngest seraphim in Heaven will do that to you… But now I have you and the gang!” She did a loop through the air. “It truly is amazing!”

  A gong sounded throughout the building and Emily gasped before she began to rocket towards the glass dome they had for a ceiling. “I almost forgot my meeting with Sera! You’re in charge, Manny!”

  Emily disappeared and the entire office turned to look at him. “Back… er, back to work?” He tried and was thankful that everyone responded by doing just that.

  He awkwardly sat on the steps as he wondered what to do: The teamsters didn't need oversight in their work despite Molly wanting to act like an army captain, the backlog was shrinking by the day, and everything seemed to be going alright. He couldn't think of anything that could ruin this day.

  He reclined against the steps leading up to the main office overlooking the massive central office and sighed in contentment. He reached into his coat pocket and brought out a simple letter lined with gold.

  FROM THE OFFICE OF: Emily the Joybringer.

  REPORT ON THE LIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF: Manny Noceda.

  REPORT OF: Luz Noceda

  
    Oh, where do I begin? I’ve been looking in on her for a while and thankfully the bullying has taken a turn for the better: the assembly on tolerance and peer-pressure did wonders on the Staff. But stuff like that makes me sad so I’m going to focus on the great great great news!
  

  
    The blessing worked: Luz has an entire new friend group now! When Manny made his blessing of “I want Luz to find somewhere she truly feels understood.” I initially was sad because it didn't seem to work, but now Camila sent her off to someplace called Reality Check Camp and she’s taken to it like a cat to yarn. She’s already fast friends with her cabin-mates and I’ve heard one of them, named Masha, call her ‘cute.’ Perhaps I should put the Cupid Corps to work? Something to think about.
  

  
    She’s having so much fun working with her new friends with the camp activities and is impressing her counselors with how fast she’s picking up ‘Appreciating Public Radio’ and ‘Learning To Love Yourself’. Personally I think that last one sounds super fun and I want to implement it in the offices but Manny doesn't need to know that since it’s not really relevant.
  

  
    You didn't write that down, did you? Anyway, Her and Camila are actually writing letters to one another now, so fun! I should write letters to people, texting isn't the same. Anyway, Luz seems excited to get back home since apparently her cabin-mates all live close by, or at least close enough to drive to her home! Isn't that grand?
  

  
    She’s really coming out of her shell now and we’re all very proud of her but I bet Manny is even more proud of her!
  

  With Lots Of Hugs, Emily!

  He smiled and wiped a tear away from his eyes and folded the letter back up into his jacket pocket. Whenever he felt down, whenever he felt… bad about everything, he would simply read that report and he would brighten up considerably. His daughter was thriving now and he couldnt ask for more.

  Now he just had to think of what he wanted to bless Cam with and he would be golden.
  


  **********

  “Okay, I’ll admit that this is better than Alex’s.” A Jackal Headed and golden eyed virtue with a poof of fluff around his neck like a scarf and a kind smile on his muzzle said nervously, looking between the mature woman at the head of the table and his husband.

  Alex, said husband, gasped in fake-horror with a hand against his chest. “Julio! How could you?”

  “He actually understands what real Italian tastes like, that’s what.” The mature woman with graying hair tied into a bun beneath a crown-like halo and with laugh lines on her face said, Her eight eyes glinting happily as she nodded and began to carve up the Lasagna like a pro. “I don't know how it is in Jersey today, but back in my time we learned from immigrants from the old country. Can’t beat that.”

  “I’m pretty sure New Jersey is full of Italian immigrants.” He said, carving into the Bruschetta as calmly as he could. “At least, that's what it's like nowadays anyway.”

  “Yeah, mom.” Molly said, chewing loudly and waving a fork at her mother. “Jersey was kind of always Italian, same as New York. I even hear they have all kinds of cool shows based on Italian Families there. Like, there’s this one i watch, Jersey Shore, and it’s-”

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full, girl. You weren’t raised in a barn.” Maria said with a stern glance towards her daughter.

  Molly shrugged her shoulders and Maria sighed.

  He took a look around the Di Martello house once more: at the old architecture, at the plants growing all along the walls, at the little shrine to Anthony sat beneath a tree… The house looked ripped straight out of the Italian countryside. The patio they all sat on was decorated with lights and candles as they all ate happily beneath the shining light of Him.

  It was all completely at odds with the vintage Ford Falcon in Maria’s driveway. “My husband never once let me drive, or even approach his special d@mn car.” she had explained once when he brought it up. “I’ve become a bit of a car junkie in response since I've been up here. He would hate it but, eh, screw him.”

  And that was the first and last time he asked about the car.

  “This linguini is delicious, Mrs. Di Martello.” Julio said happily as he smiled at the eight eyed woman who nodded at the jackal-like virtue.

  “Honestly, it’s almost as good as my mom’s food.” He said very carefully and Maria smiled at him.

  “I'll allow that since your mothers food should always come first.” The eight-eyed woman said with a smile. “When she ends up here, remind me I want to cook against her to see if I can live up to the bar you’ve set.”

  “I'll keep that in mind.” He carved into a sun-dried tomato and grinned at the spices and flavors of it.

  Maria nodded and Molly smiled and together they ate in silence. It was a companionable silence, something quite peaceful and-

  “So, when is Emily showing up?” Julio asked and Alex bumped his husband's shoulder with his own.

  “Probably soon, who knows with the Council-” Molly began, her mouth full of lasagna to her mother’s displeasure.

  There was a knock on the door and Alex laughed to himself. “Speaking of…” He got up and disappeared around a corner as he went towards the front.

  “So…” Molly began, leaning against the table and staring at Julio. “You really think my mom’s cooking is better?”

  “As a virtue born under the light of Him On High, I cannot lie.” Juliop explained, his pointed ears twitching. “Like, it’s a morality thing since I work for the Virtue of Humility herself.”

  “A virtue working for a Virtue, how’s that work?” Maria asked and the jackal-like angel laughed.

  “It’s certainly interesting, that’s for sure. So many winners mistake me for my boss until they actually meet the Virtue herself… helps that she’s also the High Seraphim.” Julio leaned back in his chair and looked up at the violet clouds above them all. “I just explain that being a virtue with a small v is an angelic order while being a Virtue with a big V is something you're chosen as.”

  Before anyone could respond to that, three figures made their way inside. Alex looked shocked and bemused as Emily rushed over to shake Maria’s hand… and behind them both was a figure that all of them had only ever seen in statues or paintings.

  She was tall, so tall she had to awkwardly crouch down to fit underneath one of the strings of lights before standing up tall once more. She was dark skinned with a series of freckles beneath her blueish-gray eyes all underneath a long stream of thick white curls. A massive glowing crown was hovering around her brow that held a glowing white halo around the tips of the crown itself. A beautiful white dress hung all the way to the ground as she seemed to glide her way forward, a pair of six wings curled up against her back like a cloak.

  “Guys, guys! This is my sister, Sera!” Emily said happily as she gestured to the truly giant woman excitedly. Maria dropped her fork in astonishment while Alex and Molly just gaped. Julio hurriedly got out of his seat and snapped a crisp salute, looking shocked at her presence.

  “Um, hi?” He offered politely, his mind whirling as he realized he was sitting before one of the rulers of Heaven itself.

  The giant seraphim nodded gratefully and summoned up a small and simple throne to sit in. “Thank you… Manny, is it?” At her question he nodded, causing her to smile gently. “Emily has told me so much about you, thank you for taking care of my little sister so far.” The glow of her crown and halo increased slightly as a couple eyes appeared along the crown itself

  “She’s a bright young woman, who reminds me of my own daughter to tell the truth.” He blinked as the one thing he never quite wanted to reveal slipped out beyond his power. He had meant to say something about how he didnt mind and yet… that.

  Sera blinked at him and then nodded, the glow in her crown and halo slightly dimming from ‘blinding’ to ‘gentle warmth.’ “That is very good to hear.” She nodded her head gently.

  Emily, meanwhile, had an odd look on her face. It seemed somewhere caught between surprise and joy as she seemed to start vibrating in pure excitement. He sighed and opened his arms to which the young woman came over and hugged him tight enough that even his enhanced body started to strain.

  “Emily… don’t kill me again…” he wheezed as the seraphim let go and stared at him with a gentle look in her eyes.

  “Thank you.” She said and went back to her own seat.

  And then the teasing began. “Ha, sap!” Molly said, poking him in the side. “Sappy!”

  “I’m sorry that Emily reminds me of Luz, I didn't realize it was such a crime.” He rolled his eyes art her and the new yorker grinned and opened her mouth-

  “You are the last person who has any right to make fun of others having kids, Molly Di Martello.” Maria said and Molly winced as her mom b@tt in. “How long have you been up here and you haven’t met anyone?”

  “Mooom! It’s literally Heaven, I can meet a guy or gal when I'm ready to! I have a literal eternity for it!” Molly whined and Maria smiled

  “So I have a literal eternity to never be a grandmother?” She asked very innocently.

  “Mom!” Molly yelled out, embarrassed as everyone turned to begin teasing her.

  Molly and her mom argued back and forth while Alex laughed and egged them both on, casually revealing his and Julio’s matching rings much to Molly’s mortification at being outclassed. Emily opened her mouth but he simply shook his head at her. He was staying out of it and he would recommend she do the same.

  “I truly do mean it, you know?” He blinked and looked over at the giant seraphim, who was watching Emily begin to trade gentle barbs with Molly and Alex despite his best efforts. Sera had an odd look on her face, her smile seeming a bit sad. “Emily… she has been a bit sheltered, I will admit it, so it does my heart good to see her coming out of her shell like this.”

  “She has the CHERUB office.” he began only to be cut off.

  “Those are workers, servants.” Sera waved her hand dismissively and he frowned slightly. “She’s never had a friend she can just be herself with without a vast gap of power between them.”

  “We have that ourselves, though.” He tried to explain and Sera glanced at him with a smile.

  “And yet you ignore it.” Sera said, looking down at him kindly. “You ignore it and treat her like just another angel… I haven’t seen her like this in a long while and I'm very happy about it.” She sighed in contentment and folded her hands in her lap.

  “She’s a good kid… though she isn't really a kid.” He explained to which Sera laughed.

  “Yes, yes- she does like reminding me she isn't a young seraph anymore.” Sera seemed pensive now, staring off towards the distant and shining lights. “She was the last one made by Him before He left us all… She never really knew what it was like to be raised by Him.”

  He blinked, confused over what exactly she was saying.

  “I want to trust her with more than she has… but I also know there are some decisions she can't make yet.” Sera sighed as her shoulders sagged. “I… I will make the hard choices until she’s ready to take up a bit of the strain. It will be a very long while, though, before she’s ready to do so.” She looked down at him and seemed to look right through him.

  Whatever she saw, she smiled. “You are a good man, Manny Noceda.” She stood up and brushed her dress down. “I will leave you to your dinner. Please, take good care of her.”

  He nodded and she left, her massive wings flapping gently so as not to disturb any of the outdoor decorations.

  “She can be a bit… much, sometimes.” Emily’s voice came from behind him and he turned to see the young seraphim staring after her sister with an odd expression on her face. “I sometimes wonder if she even knows I’m not a hundred years old anymore?”

  He shrugged, not even blinking at the crazy sounding age as he turned back to see a full on food fight between Julio, Alex, and Molly as Maria sighed in disappointment.

  He looked at Emily, she grinned at him, and together they grabbed handfuls of food and entered the fray.

  **********

  Cross City was home to many different places, some of them quite out of the way since they didn't seem to fit the general aesthetic of the shiny and clean looking metropolis.

  And yet, not everything was the shining city on a hill. No, there were places that saw less travel, less people, and so they were left pretty much alone and to their lonesomes. They weren’t bad places, per say, since it was Heaven and nothing was there… but they were slightly less forward facing than everything else up above.

  Azazels was one such place

  It was a bookshop that was designed to look and feel like it was old. The smell of old paper, the pressure of antique books all around, the dusty look of outdated furniture that hasn’t been replaced since the 70’s… he loved it so much. He came here every week for his writing club to meet and draw up new sequels and spin-offs for Cosmic Frontier.

  He entered the bookshop and just took in the feeling of a true treasure trove of hardback books all around him. A simple chandelier hung from the ceiling of the second story down above the many shelves of books that made up the almost maze-like first floor. He rolled his shoulders and breathed in deeply.

  Yes, this was just what he liked.

  “Afternoon, Zaz.” He said cheerily as he waved to the humanoid figure with a head made up of eye-covered wings. He assumed they smiled because the eyes lit up and Azazel nodded to him as he passed on by.

  It was always hard to tell what someone with no facial features… or face was thinking.

  Still, he came in and checked out as many books as he could read in the allotted time and always returned them on time, never late, and adding that to the fact that he usually tried to be polite and he was fairly certain he and Azazel were friends. And if not that, acquaintances.

  He walked over to the classics and began to browse, wondering if he should reread the Cosmic Frontier books or go for something a bit more niche like the Safehold Saga? He was spoiled for choice since Azazel had all the good stuff.

  As he was browsing books he heard the door open at the front and someone enter the shop. Surprisingly, he heard Azazel start grumbling… somehow. The mechanics of someone without a throat or mouth making noises of discontent aside, it was a rare thing to hear Azazel be annoyed.

  He shook his head and refocused his efforts on finding something to read for his book club. He could hear whoever had entered the shop shuffling about from bookshelf to bookshelf, curiously moving all about as if indecisive on what to read.

  Maybe he could recommend a book for them? He had done it before, that was how he had ended up in his book club anyway. He finally found the book he was looking for: a rare copy of the unpublished ninth book in the Cosmic Frontier series that had only been finished by another author after Rene Goddenberry’s passing. This one, however, had been finished in Heaven by the author herself.

  He giggled like a schoolboy at the thought of reading what every other Cosmic Frontier fan alive could only dream of reading. He looked up at the book sitting proudly at the top of the shelf where eve he could not get at it and planned to flex his wings before a slender hand reached over and grabbed it.

  “I believe you were looking at this one, correct?” A feminine voice said from next to him and he turned to look at her… and then proceeded to look up and up because holy hell was she tall!

  She was a giant of a woman, standing well over nine feet with honey-blonde hair like gold that fell over her shoulders. Pale pink skin mixed with an aquiline, almost regal face that was matched only by how inhumanly beautiful she was. Camila was, of course, the most beautiful woman he would ever know but she was a distant second.

  She was clad in a black dress that was fitted well to her and he kept his eyes on her face as he smiled and held out his hand for the book. He felt somewhat like a child waiting for his mother to give him something again as she placed the book in his waiting hands.

  The woman smiled at him. “I would hate it if someone kept a book from me, myself.” She lifted up the small stack of books in her own hands and his eyes boggled at the alien, completely indescribable languages on all the book spines.

  “I… ah, those look like interesting books?” He tried, his mind trying to understand what language that even was.

  “Oh, these?” She looked down at the books and cocked her head to the side. “I suppose it is rare to find books written in ancient Enochian in this day and age… luckily, I finally found a shop that sells them.” She grinned like a cat as she hugged the books tight. 

  Ah, that language. “I mean, i know a few people that can speak it so if you need to translate something-”

  She laughed but waved his statement away with a free hand. “Ah, no. I can read Enochian fine, speak it too. I… would rather work on this myself.” She laughed to herself before continuing. “Honestly, the main problem has been finding Enochian books of magical theory that aren’t restricted by the High Council.”

  He scratched his head with his free hand. “Sounds like you struck gold, then.”

  “Indeed, I did.” she grinned once more and held the stack of books underneath her arm.“Now I can finally continue my research.”

  He blinked at her. “What are you researching?”

  She raised an eyebrow at him, looked him up and down, and then smiled. “You ask a lot of questions, oh mystery reader.” She said finally after an uncomfortably long silence. “And you haven’t even asked me my name yet.”

  Well, if he were honest he hadn’t planned on it since he doubted he would see her again but it didn't hurt to be polite. “Ah, forgive me, but what is your name Miss…?”

  She smiled down at him and there was a glint in her eyes. “You… may call me Lily.”

  
  

    
      
        
        
          HAHA, A WILD 'LILY' APPEARS.I am sure her presence in the story will only be beneficial :)Next Chapter: Camila prepares for a party, and Lucifer rallies the Sins'
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