GI 5 Spoilerific New Year's Sneak-Peek!

Happy New Year, everyone—and a special happy New Year to anyone who had to work yesterday or today, or who spent their New Years’ taking care of someone else.

So, my twelve days of Christmas this year was more like one cat manifesting diabetes, four visits to the vet, two days of travel, five days out of town for family, three days of other social obligations, two days of labor to help out a friend going through some rough stuff, several other days lost to errands, some heavy medical stuff looming over our family, and… well… Good Intentions V progressed by 20k words in December, which in context seems pretty okay.

The decks look clearer for January, at least. And the story keeps moving! This month’s spoilerific sneak-peek brings us Rachel checking in with the angel in Dominion over Las Vegas, along with a bit of a world-building reveal. The revelation in here may have been obvious to some readers, but I’m not sure I’ve ever spelled out this particular part of Heaven’s angle on things.

January's chapter for the Patron tier is on the way!

~~~~~

“Your report is noted. Thank you.” Matteo’s eyes held all the same frost that filled his voice. He was a big guy even by guardian angel standards, with a strong beard and thick, tanned biceps poking out under the sleeves of a white tunic. His only accessory was a simple gold cord for a belt. The look had gone out of fashion before Rome started wobbling, at least to Rachel’s mind.

An angel’s appearance was a matter of personal preference and self-image. Big-and-buff said one thing, ultra-humble clothes said another… and his tone and icy stare said a third.

“If you’ve got questions, Lorelei might know details. I can ask,” Rachel offered.

“Of course.” Matteo’s expression held firm.

“Um. Cool. Not reading this.” She gestured with her fingers to indicate Matteo and herself on the other side of the altar. Other angels looked on, practically turning the mortal church's after-hours shadows to daylight with their halos. Only one or two stood close enough to be part of the conversation. “Are you lookin’ at me like, ‘Now fuck off,’ or is that your, ‘Start explaining yourself’ kind of look?”

“Do you have questions? Or more to say?” asked Matteo.

“Kinda wanna know if you’re gonna take action on what we found. We didn’t exactly think our first steps into Vegas would take us into a demon shitshow.”

“It was well-concealed, by your own description,” said Matteo. “We do not know the nature of their activities and I have no evidence of unusual moves by the Pit within my Dominion. Your report is the first of its kind. I’ll have the site watched for a time before taking any action. Until then, it is business as usual, except for your presence.”

“Oh. Gotcha.” Rachel sighed. “So it’s the other kind of, ‘Explain yourself,’ right?”

“You did,” said Matteo. “A disgraced and estranged father gone missing, with worries of a plot against your mortal and demon companions.”

“Partners. You can say partners, lovers, hotties. ‘Boo’ might be out of style, but I like it.”

“The nuances of your relationship are irrelevant to me. Their knowledge of Heaven and the overt presence of an angel in their lives is more concerning. Mortals are not meant to know many things. Demons generally do not improve their spiritual prospects, either.”

“I’ve gotten rules of engagement from three different big hats, including Michael-in-all-caps. I know what I can and can’t say or do. Everyone knows I’m playing it straight. Alex and Lorelei know I’ve got restrictions, too, and they’re fine without having them all spelled out.”

“The decisions of our superiors came without my input. They did not speak for my Dominion.”

“Wow, okay. When did I miss that memo, and did Mikey and the others get a copy?”

“You held Dominion yourself, however briefly, and you had your own unique approach. You were aware of your authority and limits. Mine are no less. I require your cooperation and support in keeping my Dominion peaceful and secure.”

“‘Peaceful and secure’ is the kind of policy you don’t get to decide on your own. Every night life asshole and shitrag gets their say in it.” Rachel saw his already hard eyes harden a little more. “If I run into some kind of dark fuckery in your town, do I deal with it, or are you telling me to come get your permission first?”

Something clicked on the altar. Rachel noticed a single fingernail from Matteo’s hand tapped against the surface. “My Dominion is calm, stable, and busy. This city hosts countless people in transit every day. If you were any other guardian with a mortal charge passing through, we would not need to speak at all. We both know you are different. We both know the chaos that has arisen from your companions and your relationship.

“You are to minimize your impact on my Dominion. It is too late to forbid you from revealing yourself to the mortals you met today, but you will limit further such introductions as much as possible. If you intend to hide in plain sight, remember that you are hiding. No chaos. No purges. No miracles. You are here to accompany your mortal ‘partner,’ and nothing more. This is not your Dominion, and he himself is not under true guardianship. You will limit yourself accordingly. Is that understood?”

“Sure,” said Rachel. “Anything else?”

“You will remember that mortal lives are trivial in comparison to mortal souls.”

“Duh. Lives are still precious. What’s your point?”

“Mortal life is a crucible that tempers and perfects the immortal soul. Trials and suffering are natural and necessary. Every intervention in mortal hardship diminishes the outcome.”

Rachel didn’t try to hide her wide-eyed skepticism. “That’s a fuckin’ theory, unless you heard it straight from the Divine yourself.”

“It is the practice in my Dominion. It is the principle we all hold. While you are here, you will abide by it. Guardians guard, but they must exercise discretion. Those ‘big hats’ have decided your relationships with the mortal and demon are worthy of exception, and I will abide by that decision. You will remember the principles of Heaven and my Dominion. You are an angel and a guardian. I believe I can trust in your good faith.”

His frigid tone and stare implied otherwise.

“Cool. Sounds like we’re done.”

“Yes.” Matteo watched her turn to leave before a final thought occurred to him. “Rachel. If you find evidence of demonic connection to this matter, you must report your discoveries to me personally without delay. I hold Dominion over this city. Defense against the Pit is my responsibility.”

“Gotcha,” said Rachel. At least he understood that part.