“Yes, and he doesn't need you flapping about his head like a mad raven while Grandpa crowns him.”
Dominic had a harness on too, but so far, he hadn't tested the length of the attached leash. He was content to sit on my hip and enjoy the vantage point. Even Lesya, who was getting too big to hold, was in her daddy's arms so she could have a better view. My husbands stood around me, all of them, including Arach for once, and Fenrir was with us as well, but the Squad, Intare, and Froekn were standing in the street with the Angels and Demons. No Demons were in the sky because they had come in their prime forms out of respect for Jesus. There was no need for claws and horns today.
“Heaven and Hell are united at last!” Lucifer shouted as he stepped up beside Jesus.
The crowd roared and the Archangels, all of whom stood to one side of Jesus, smiled brightly. Even Abaddon was there, home at last.
“This is the way we were meant to be,” Luke went on. “We are one pantheon that should never have been divided. Although I created Heaven, I have grown to love Hell, and I don't feel comfortable ruling here. So, I am here today to crown your new King, a man who, thanks to my daughter, possesses the magic of your old King.”
The Host went silent as they digested that.
“Relax,” Jesus said as he held out his hands. “It's just his magic, not his downer vibe. I'm still my groovy self.”
Laughter spread, then cheering and a few shouts of encouragement.
Azrael lifted a brow at me.
“I told him to be himself,” I whispered. “No one wants him to be Jerry.”
“Thank you.” Azrael leaned over to kiss my cheek. “I was worried about him.”
“Angels and Demons,” Lucifer said, “we are one people again, but we will be ruled by two kings.”
With his wings out, I couldn't see the crown Lucifer was holding. But then he turned to face Jesus, and a glowing band of gold came into view. It shone so brightly that it was difficult to make out the details. I could see points topping it but that was all.
The Devil lifted the Crown of God over Jesus's head. “Before the Host of Heaven and the Horde of Hell, with our allies in attendance to bear witness, and the magic of our territory running through me, I crown you, King Jesus Christ, and grant to you the power of the Seven Heavens.”
I went still as magic thrummed through the ground, transferring its attention from Lucifer to Jesus. My jaw dropped. I had no idea that Luke was going to give Jesus full control of Heaven. Whoa.
The glow of the crown wasn't the only light upon Jesus as Lucifer anointed him King, magic also flowed down from the Devil's hands into the Son of God and settled inside him. Jesus, smiling broadly, hugged his stepfather and then turned to draw Holly into their embrace as well. All the while, Heaven shook with magic and joy.
Then Jesus turned to face the crowd, flanked by his mother and stepfather. “From this day forward, let there be peace in our pantheon!”
Gods and demigods cheered for the new King of Heaven.
Then Jesus nodded, bobbing his head a little, and said, “Groovy.”
Chapter Forty-One
The crown came off just minutes after the Devil set it on Jesus's head.
J-man tossed the Heavenly Crown on the Throne of God, then through his robe over it to block the light. “Phew, that thing was frying my mind!” Then he waved the Cherubim down from their places above the Throne with a, “Knock it off already. It's time to party, dudes!”
The Cherubim cheered and landed, surrounding their new King to give him high-fives and share hits off the joint J-man pulled out of his pocket. Those of us on the terrace hurried over to congratulate Jesus before the Angels started to climb the steps to give their allegiance to their new king. Luke had offered to release the Angels who had made vows to him so that they could forge new bonds with Jesus, but a couple of the Avenging Angels refused and decided to stick with the Devil. One of them was Gaviel.
Luke suggested that Jesus sit on the Throne to receive the vows, but J-man had given that an emphatic no, saying that the Angels were his brothers and sisters and he didn't want to start this new relationship as the Man might. He'd accept their vows and form bonds with them, but he'd do it his way, with hugs, kisses, and a bit of puff-puff-pass.
The reign of King Jesus Hadranius Christ would start with peace and love.
After getting my hug and kiss (sans the puff), I went down the terrace stairs with my family and joined the rest of our group. Since they wouldn't be giving their allegiance to Jesus, the Demons were heading out of the city to a pavilion that Luke had created earlier that day. With so many in attendance, they needed a massive space to hold the celebration.
As we followed the line of Demons through the golden streets, between the white buildings lit to nearly blinding levels, we passed Angels who were waiting in line to make vows to their King. They wept, laughed, cheered, and hugged each other. Jugs of wine were passed around and even some of those special cigarettes that Jesus favored. We received celebratory shoulder pats and were offered cups of wine as we passed by. Feathers brushed us endlessly, and my children were in, well, they were in heaven, stretching their hands out to touch Angel wings and giggling when the Angels kissed their cheeks.
But then we left the city, passing through gates that gleamed pearlescent in the lantern lights. A path had been laid to the pavilion, outlined by lampposts and set with gold stones. Ahead of us, the enormous tent was alight, Demons manning the buffet tables and setting out mugs of Hellbrew. Jim Morrison's voice trailed out of the tent, asking if we loved him madly, and there were flowers everywhere.
But all of that was like an oasis in the vast sea of sand that surrounded the heavenly city.
“Heaven's a desert?” Austin's voice carried over to me.
