Chapter Text

Well, I wasn't expecting Purgatory to look like this. I've been on Earth many times before, so it felt like being on it. It seems cleaner here, smells better, and is much brighter because the stars are out in full force, thanks to no pollution.

The street we're on has several small shops and apartment complexes, giving it an old "European" feel. Walking through the portal and standing on the ground, I feel a sense of calmness and peace wash all over me. It's like the feeling you get when you get out of a warm tub and dry yourself out. Your body feels so refreshed and relaxed. Maybe it's Purgatory itself that washed away my nerves. If so, thanks.

Naturally, the moment I'm spotted, everyone gets all eyes on me. I stick out like a sore thumb because I am the only demon on this street, maybe for miles. Phones come out, and people call or take photos as I do my best to stay calm. Remember, Bee. You're a Sin Lord. You're used to this shit. So I posed a bit, not too sexy, but enough to make it clear I'm not afraid to show them that I'm a hot demon who's got no problem walking up in this bitch.

A few angels are staring and blushing while others are flying away. Maybe in terror? Seriously, I'm not that intimidating. I'm not even showing half of my inner demonic form. If Collin here can stand to work in a club full of demons, why can't these guys handle one of me?

"Sorry about the staring," Collin says as he takes my hand. My sharp ears are picking up gasps and more whispering. No doubt rumors are going to spread both by word and online. Maybe I should see if there are Purgatory and Heaven Social media I can access? "Shall we get dinner?"

"Lead the way," I say with a smirk as we take to the air with our wings. As we fly, I get a better overview of Purgatory, and let me tell you something.

It's big.

Like I can see hundreds of districts that go out for miles. Each of them is unique in their own way. Some are styled like something you'd see on Earth, while others range from full-on sci-fi to medieval style. Some even look like jungles, deserts, and mini-oceans kept in place in their zones to prevent any damage to the others. The district we're flying in looks like a combination of London, New York, and Ottawa based on the buildings and street placements with angels and dead humans walking around going about their business. Obviously, there are no cars since everyone can fly, so the streets are primarily for walking instead of driving.

"Why are there so many districts, and why are they all different?" I ask while taking my phone out to take a few photos to post later.

"It's to cater to everyone's personal comfortability," Collin explains as he leads us. "Some people like different environments to feel closer to the ones they have on Earth. Plus, some residents have lived here for centuries, trying to earn the means to get to Heaven."

"What about the future cyberpunk-looking ones?" I ask.

"Mostly to test out what will be popular in the future. I guess God wants to get a head start on things."

I guess the big guy really likes planning ahead. It makes you wonder how he can do all this while still managing the universe.

We fly until Collin starts to go lower and eventually land at our destination. The Between restaurant looks like a combination of Heaven of Hell in one building. It looked like a Viking mead hall as the base was three floors long and long enough for my club. There were some low-key gothic designs around the outside, but what really stood out was the additional decorations it held. First, there were demonic horns poking out of the top of the building with a halo around it. The entrance had majestic glass doors with stylized angels and demons. Half of the outside lighting was heavenly blue, while the other half was demonic red. Finally, there were glowing black flames on the lanterns leading to the entrance on the stone path.

In other words? It looked fucking awesome!

"Tell me this is a place where we can get drunk and beat people up like a bunch of Norwegian berserkers after a raid," I ask Collin, who giggles.

"It's not like that kind of place. The aesthetic is just for catching attention. It's a normal restaurant inside. Come on," Collin answers as he guides me inside.

We go through the doors, and the inside is equally designed to be a perfect blend of both worlds, but it is not quite the mead drinking hall I was hoping it would be. The walls are golden with red demonic runes, while green wooden columns hold the place up. While there are three floors for the eaters, their center has a massive dome-shaped ceiling that shows angels and demons on opposite ends flying in their respective realms; only the images are constantly moving as if they were a GIF on a loop.

The golden tables have red velvet booths around them with the proper silverware, glasses, and a pitcher of chilled water already prepared with the smell of warm bread boxes beside them. A nearby bar has a demonic red lizard-looking bartender preparing drinks and an angelic blue jay-looking one beside him doing the same. The servants are a mix of different kinds of angels and demons, and the guests are no different. It's the first time I've seen any demons in Purgatory.

Most are with their own kind, but occasionally, I spot angels and demons mixing with each other and acting as if they were all old friends. It's good to know that Collin and I aren't the only ones with such a relationship.

Well, friendship, I mean. We're not a couple.

...Yet?

"Ready to go?" he says, and I see Collin already has a host ready to take us there—a female Imp with a gazing look at me. I guess it's because I'm the Sin Lord of Gluttony and all. She's not the only one to have such a shocked and excited look in her eyes. Most of the demons we pass by to our table have the same look, with many whispering to any angel who is curious.

I should have contacted my PR agent before I did this. Ah, well. No guts, no glory.

Once we get our seats and menus, we both sit down, and I quickly look at the wine list. I could technically make any drink, but where would the fun and experience be in all that? Despite misconceptions, demons and angels could technically eat each other's food and drink so long as it didn't contain holy water, special herbs that are deadly to us, like wolfsbane, blessed salt, and a few other things.

I...I haven't had any angelic food or drink in quite a while, except for the sandwiches that Collin sometimes brings. One catches my attention, and my mouth drools at the thought of tasting it after a near eternity.

"Hello, can I start you with any drinks?" A female sheep cherub with blue wool asks as she flies over.

"Château Fleur Cardinale," Collin says.

"Refresia Seraphia Zenetha," I say with a shiver. I haven't had that wine ever since I was banished, and I was going to have the whole bottle down my throat by the end of the night. Maybe two?

The drinks come quickly, and I take a moment to savor this. I moan with one sip and swear it takes all my willpower to not cream right there. The melting, wispy feeling of the heavenly wine that goes down my throat and makes me feel like I'm ready to pop is indescribable. It's like having your first time in bed with a man who actually knows what the fuck he's doing. You feel like a real woman when that happens; this is what I feel like right now. All my senses are instantly sharp, and my lava hair is turning blue and pink from the joy. I'm sure I'm shining like a fucking light, and I don't care.

This alone was worth saying yes to a date with Collin.

"Good stuff?" Collin asks as I take another sip and smirk.

"If it wasn't for the fact we were in public? I'd be making you scream in pleasure as thanks."

"Uh, noted," Collin chuckled as he sipped his wine. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

Oh. Right. Still a date. You do this kinda thing.

The two of us stare at each other for a bit while trying to think of something to talk about. This is so weird. We've done this so many times at work; what makes this different?

"...So, do your parents know about this?" I can't help but ask. "I mean, I can't imagine they were pleased with you for asking me on a date."

"Actually, my Mom's planning our wedding," Collin mutters as he groans and covers his red face in embarrassment, making me nearly snort my wine.

"Seriously?!"

"My mom's been trying to find me a girlfriend for years," Collin says as I lean forward with a grin. "She's tried to set me up with different girls every chance she can. And some were okay, but others were just..ugh..."

"How bad?"

"Well, there was Crissie. I jumped out the window in the bathroom mid-date. Alexia was okay at first, but then I learned she was a furry and wanted to make a fursuit out of my wool," Collin grumbles, and I shiver at that. Seriously, that's one thing an angel or demon with an animal body can admit. Furries are weird. "And then there was Amara."

"How bad was she?"

"I faked my death just to get her to leave me alone," Collin answers with a deadpan expression as I whistle with wide eyes. "Yeah, pretending to be a corpse in an open casket funeral was an ordeal but worth it. I almost didn't make it when Cletus did his...eulogy..."

He frowned for a second, and there was a look of sadness.

It took me a minute to realize he was talking about his friends and that he ended up leaving over something terrible. I still don't know what it's about, but it's slowly killing the mood, so I decided to change it.

"I've had bad dates too. Did you know I had a relationship with Tarrare?" I tell him, which makes him lean back in shock. "Yeah, he sold his soul to me for the means to have an endless appetite, and when he got older, I thought about giving him a shot since he was quite the party animal. Only he was a complete pig, and his little appetite made him a monster. But that's what happens when you make a deal with a devil sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Collin asks, which makes me chuckle.

"Okay, eight out of ten times," I tell him before looking at the menu. "Speaking of food. Shall we order something?"

***

Okay. I admit. That meal? Was something else. I've got to make sure my personal cooks can see if they can get some of the recipes in that restaurant because I think I died and went to Heaven with that meal. Once we were done, Collin told me the next part of the date was close by, and it turned out to be a street selling wares. Things like clothing, braids, jewelry, books, tea cups, and all the other kinds of cute stuff you would see at these kinds of events.

Thankfully, this place had demons selling wares or going around as customers, so the staring wasn't that much—not unless you count the ones who wanted a photo of the "Queen Bee" herself. Surprisingly, several angels were all for it. Who knew they were such selfie hordes?

"Hmm," I say to myself as I look at a set of various necklaces one deceased human was showing at his venue. They were each made in different kinds of material from all three realms. Diamonds and Gold from Earth. Seraphim Steel and Zenith Silver from Heaven. Blackfire Onyx and Witch's Amber from Hell. The entire work, really.

"Anything you like?" Collin asks as I rub my chin.

"I can't decide...I mean, I can buy all of it, but I'm the Sin of Gluttony. Not Greed." And thank fuck for that. "I really need the perfect one..."

Collin looks at them before he says. "I don't think a necklace is your style."

"You think?" I turn to him with a raised eyebrow. "So what do you recommend?"

Collin folds his arms and looks around the venue before noticing something near the hairpin section. I try to see what he's looking at, but then he reaches out and takes something deep into one of the inner display boards. He then pulls out a butterfly hairpin. The wings are yellow saffron with pink swirls, designed around the wings with some glowing pixie-like dust.

Smiling, Collin flies over and puts it on my hair. "Here you go. I think you would look cute with this on."

I look in the mirror the owner has next to him, and I turn my head a bit. Looking at my reflection from various angles, I cannot help but agree with him. It really goes nice with my hair, especially when I get my lava juices the right color. It's so simple and small, and yet I love it.

Heh. Kinda like Collin in the way.

...Wait.

I mean in terms of simple and small! Not that I love him!

Forget I said that.

Before I can freak out, Collin asks me what I think, and I give him a big smile. "I think we got a keeper."

"Cool, let me buy it for you. As a gift for our date," Collin says as he quickly pays, and we make our merry way down the street.

"You know. You've been treating me well so far," I grin as he blushes. "We can always find a quick place to fuck."

"Bee," he mutters, but I just laugh and slap him on the back, which nearly sends him off into the air.

"Relax, Collin. I'm joking," I tell him before getting an idea. "But I do have a nice reward for you for the great job you are doing."

"Really? What is it-"

He freezes and turns totally red as I plant a kiss on his forehead. Hmm, it tastes like a mix of lamb and cotton candy. Not bad. I can't help but snort at his expression. His eyes are as wide as dinner plates, and his mouth goes up and down with no words. He raises his hoof, then drops it as he swoons a bit before shaking his head. "Um....thank you?"

"No worries," I tell him as I walk forward and gently sway my hips. "Maybe when this is over, I'll kiss you on your nice, sweet lips."

That actually did make him faint.

God.

He really is too easy.