My nerves were frayed beyond belief! Father had arrived at 11:50 am, and I had moved to entertain him by showing him the delights of soda pop. He was apparently already familiar, but accepted the offering with a nod, expertly popping the little tin open. It was impressive, his mastery of that small tab!

I was grateful Father had done away with his horns for the moment. I didn't want (Y/N) to be any more frightened than absolutely necessary. However, when Metatron arrived, it occurred to me that I probably should have thought to prepare her a little more. Oops.

She sat rigidly stock-still, staring at the behemoth from her seat on the divan. I could taste her terror; it was totally guttural and instinctive, it tasted repulsive. Metatron folded his wings primly and looked around until he spotted Chris by the kitchen island and went to join him. "Good afternoon, brother." His voice was very low and resonant.

I took a seat next to (Y/N), taking her small, cool hands in mine. "Do not fret, my love. That is only Metatron, see his feathered wings?"

(Y/N) looked like she was working hard to maintain her unflappable exterior veneer, but I could taste her acute distress. "Mmmm."

I smiled guiltily, "Forgive me, it slipped my mind; I should have debriefed you regarding his unusual dimensions in advance."

(Y/N) was looking at the massive angel intently and didn't really reply. It seemed very unlike her to be frightened by something solely for being unfamiliar. She'd taken everything else in stride; why would Metatron specifically get under her skin?

I patted her hands gently. "I'll just go and offer Metatron a soda pop, I'll be right back." She shot me a look of uncertainty, and I resolved to be quick and return as swiftly as possible.

I rose and approached Metatron and my father.They were exchanging pleasantries. I gave Father a look indicating he shouldintroduce us.

Thankfully, he noticed. "Metatron, this is my son, Andy. The reason we arehere."

Metatron turned a bit to look down at me and nodded, not responding to myextended hand. "I know. Shall we begin?"

I felt flustered and insulted, being rebuffed, "My brother, Ashley, isn't hereyet. Would you like a soda pop while you wait? They are fizz-"

Metatron shook his head. "-No. Too much sugar."

Prick! I was about to offer him some water when I saw Ashley pop throughdimensions over near where (Y/N) was sitting. Instantly my hackles were up andI unceremoniously abandoned my father and our ill-mannered guest to go have afew words with Ashley before things got under way.

His freakishly round-pupiled, brown eyes found me as I headed towards him, andimmediately he looked ill at ease. As well he should. His tail started to waguncertainly.

I reached him and stood a little closer than generally socially acceptable tomake a point. "Ashley."

Undeterred, he stared right back at me. "Andy. Look-"

I cut him off, wanting to get my two cents in, "-(Y/N) is MINE.If you so much as touch her, I willkill you."

Simultaneously, I heard (Y/N) calling out in disgust from the couch, "Andy?!?"and Chris calling from by the kitchen island, "Boys!Silence!" I felt my mouthslammed shut, beyond my control, but I held Ashley's gaze until he broke awayfirst. Lecherous fiend!

I turned to find my father shooing at me to go sit down aside (Y/N), and forAshley to settle into the other settee. (Y/N) took my hand in hers and held ittightly, making me wonder again what was wrong. Father sat in an armchair,leaving Metatron looming over all of us. "Let us review what has brought ushere."

Metatron pointed rudely at me, "Andrew, biological son of Christopher and Amy,you have lived your adult life thus far as a lust demon, as you so chose. Inaccordance with that choice, you have made many contracts with women foramorous services, have you not?" I nodded, my mouth still sealed shut.

Metatron pointed to (Y/N), "And it is the case that you have fallen in lovewith your latest mark, is it not?" Again, I nodded. "And you, (Y/N), youlove Andrew?" I was pleased to see she nodded quickly, though she saidnothing.

When Metatron moved back to pointing at me again, I decided that he hadabsolutely no manners, he should be ashamed of himself! "Andrew, Shàngdì hasheard Christopher plead your case for aid. He knows you wish to be free, notonly of your contract with this woman, but also of the hunger that drives youto hunt. A hunger you chose to accept as a young man.Further still, you wish for immortality for your current lover. We are inagreement that what I have said is true?"

I nodded, starting to get nervous. I felt (Y/N)'s sweet hand tremble, almosticy cold. I forced myself to try and put on a braver face for her sake.

Metatron nodded as well, seemingly satisfied. "Very well. In his beneficence,Brahman will indeed help you with your troubles. He is pleased with you thusfar. However, be aware that nothing shall come to pass, nothing shall change,unless the following instructions are followed closely."

I couldn't help it; I leaned forward to listen. "Andrew, you will go to everyliving woman with whom you have an outstanding contract. You will begforgiveness, and do so sincerely, for depriving them of any chance of findingcontentment in romantic love and having used them as food."

I nodded, but there was more, "You will start with the most old and infirm, andfinish with those who are young and healthy. The last shall be Lelahel, whomI'm sure you recall." I swallowed dryly, but (Y/N) didn't seem perturbed by theannouncement. "When we are done here, you will go straight to your home. In it,you will find your map has been altered. It will now lead you to she whom theAlmighty wishes you to see next. Only when it leads you here are you to returnto this place. When it does, do not falter."

Falter? Why would I hesitate, once my trials were completed? I wanted to askabout that as well as communications with (Y/N) via computer, even some kind offancy cellphone use, but my mouth was shut, and I huffed through my closed jaw."Unf! Unf!"

Father shot me a warning look before waving a hand at me, freeing me from hisgrip. "But can I speak to (Y/N)? Send her letters, use a computer for messages,or look at her on the cellphone using the camera?"

Metatron took me off guard when he smiled warmly at me and answered in acompletely different tone, "Yes, my grandson. As you work through your toils,you will be rewarded with correspondence opportunities."

I kissed (Y/N) on the cheek, excited, but she remained stiff with unease.Metatron carried on in his earlier, somber tone, after taking the time to pointat Chris. "Lucifer, while Andrew is at his labors, you have agreed to announcehim as your heir, and as the son of the immortal, human woman, Amy. You willstill carry out this task?"

Chris nodded, "Yes."

Metatron pointed at Ashley, and I took a moment to gloat over how he wasobviously trying to hide that it made him nervous. I couldn't really blame him,Metatron positively stank of purity and righteousness! "You have agreed, undercoercion, to aid your liege and his son in their quest, Ashley." Coercion?Was it something my father had said? "However, you must make the decision ofyour own free will. Will you stay here, in Andrew's place, until he finisheshis task?"

Instantly, unthinking of my pride, I was on my knees at Ashley's feet, "Please,brother, please! There is no other hope for me, no other way! (Y/N) has myheart and I will die without her love, she is but mortal-"

Ashley looked wildly uncomfortable. "-Get up, man."

Hope started to die in my chest. "Please?" I bent and kissed Ashley's filthyshoes.

Ashley shifted away from me, "Dude, fine! Fine; stop that! But how am I goingto eat? What if my contracts lessen, and I'm not getting enough energy-"

Metatron interrupted him, seeming to ignore him, "-You are all in agreement, asis Amy, the immortal human?" He waited for all of us to nod, though Ashley washesitant. "So be it."

I felt funny for just a second, a little nauseated, perhaps? "As of thismoment, the two of you," of course he was pointing at Ashley and I, "are freeof your hunger, for the time being."

I blinked. How novel.

Metatron turned to me, "You may leave here now, go straightaway to your abodein the Underworld. You will have one night and one day to begin your questbefore the Infinite One will assume you have changed your mind."

I held up a hand from where I knelt at Ashley's feet, "Please, can I gatherjust a few things?"

Metatron nodded, "You have one night and one day, Andrew." And with that, hewas gone.