Sneak Peek: Good Intentions IV (Patreon)

Progress Update: finished up Act Two of Three last Friday, pressing onward this week. Manuscript is currently at 115k words. It's getting harder to find preview bits that aren't outright spoilery, but I guess the closer we get to release the less that matters?

Anyway. Ever wondered about Rachel's day-to-day working relationship with her peers?

They usually gathered at night, when most of the mortal world took to the safety of homes and their beds. They shared information, sought counsel, and resolved disagreements. The simple company of their own kind provided natural comforts. They tended toward houses of worship, ranging from cathedrals to mosques to humble chapels and shrines.

In Seattle, the angels gathered at St. Mark’s Cathedral on Capitol Hill—right up until the brief tenure of the previous angel in Dominion over the city. By sole virtue of personal habits, without proclamation or expectation that anyone would follow, the next in Dominion shifted the nightly gather to the top of the Columbia Tower in downtown. The curving black skyscraper provided the best view of the city. The difference spoke to her priorities: Keep Watch. Do Work.

Her tenure was uniquely brief. Her exit, abrupt. With spring coming on, her successor would soon surpass the length of her service in Dominion. Much was said to dispel any impression that the change was a punishment. Much more was muttered behind her back. None of it meant as much to her as the lasting nature of the changes she’d made. Night fell over the city, most mortals returned to their homes, and guardians with free time drifted not to the cathedral, but to the top of the tower.

“What up, Mei? How’d the break-up go?”

“Straight to 911, as it happened,” the other angel sighed. The dark-haired angel turned from the northwest view to her new visitor and stopped short before saying more. “Rachel, where did you get hors d’oeuvres?”

“Huh? Oh, there’s a shindig in the Tower Club downstairs.” Heedless of Mei’s stare and looks from the dozens of their peers around the rooftop, Rachel dipped a prawn in the small dish of cocktail sauce on her crowded plate and popped it in her mouth. “It’s good shit. I loaded up. You want any?” She held the plate out in offering.

“Where—how did you get it up here?”

“I used the service exits, obviously. Can’t ghost through the walls with a plate of goodies.”

“You went right in there and took it?” Mei glanced left and right. Most of the other angels returned to their conversations, but she still felt the eyes of some upon her. The newcomer didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Yeah. It’s free.” Rachel shrugged. “Some bullshit political fundraiser. Not like those fuckers were gonna give the leftovers to the poor until I gave them some grief about it. Seriously, this is what’s been missing from our get-togethers. We do all the same social shit mortals do at bars or coffee shops. We should at least get our fuckin’ snack on. Ought’a put an open bar up here, too.” She popped a cream puff in her mouth. Mei stared. Rachel bit down so she could speak. “What?”

“Never mind. Why are you asking about the break-up? How did you know?”

“Because I remember you saying your girl Chrissy was gonna wait ‘til finals were over for this quarter before she told her punk-ass boyfriend to go fuck himself. My guy’s about done with his finals so I figured it must be time. What’s this about 911?”

“She’s been saying that since December,” said Mei. “You’ve been waiting for this?”

“Yeah, I listen to my people. Might not be in charge now but I still care. How’d it go?”

“He started ranting about being done wrong and making it right. Then he went off about his guns. That’s when Chrissy called the police. He ranted his way into getting arrested. She’s with her cousins.”

“Good for her,” Rachel said, then muttered, “Guess it’s a day for police stuff.”

“Is that why you’re here?” asked Mei. “You don’t always come by now that you don’t have to be here. I figured you had better places to spend your free time.”

“Yeah, sorta. No offense.” She held up the plate again. This time, Mei took a cream puff. “The boss wants to see me. It’s probably about the cop stuff from this afternoon, but that’s only the most obvious fuckery I’ve been near today, y’know? Plenty of other shit sticking to my heels.”

“Lovely imagery. Oh wow, these are good snacks,” Mei conceded.

“Mm-hmm!” the blonde whimpered.

Mei stopped. “Rachel.”

“Huh?” Her eyes fluttered.

“The food isn’t that good.”

“It’s amazing.”

“You don’t even have any in your mouth now.”

Rachel took in a deep breath as if gathering her resolve. “It’s not the food. Good grub, but no. You’ve seen through me.” Her voice cracked.

“What is it?” Mei asked.

“It’s Alex and Lorelei.”

The other angel stepped close to touch her arm. “It’s okay, Rachel. You can talk to me. What is it? Are you okay?”

Rachel looked left and right. No one was listening in now. She lowered her voice. “She must have gotten Alex good and riled up today, because he is fucking the hell out of her right now and I can feel so much.”

Mei let go of her. “Oh.”

“It’s the bond, y’know?” Rachel breathed. “It’s all I can do to keep it together. Most of the time it’s faint, but tonight is wow.”

“Uh-huh.” Mei stepped back.

"Am I making it weird?"

"When are you not?"