Page 19 of Greed

“Your Wednesdays?” she asked, and I sighed, annoyed and wished the stupid race would start already.

“Please, you must have heard about my Wednesdays? I mean, that is why you’re talking to me, right?”

“I don’t….”

I cut her off again. “It’s fine. You don’t have to admit it. Wednesdays are where I fuck all of you horny women who need desperate need of servicing for a short time. Understandable considering that the men you’d normally get to choose from are pathetic and unrememberable in any fashion. You can call and make arrangements at my front desk. Just ask for the Wednesday special. You know it’s quite rude of you to approach me out in public. You have some nerve.”

“You fucking pig!” She marched away, and I stared after her.

See, this is why humans made no sense. I’d clearly heard her mind, and she wanted to fuck me, so I offered her an opportunity of a lifetime, and she storms off like I’d insulted her?

Forgetting the odd woman, I turned my attention to the announcer.

“Hello everyone! What a great day to raise money for two amazing causes that will significantly impact our community for the better.” I rolled my eyes at the dramatic and so untrue statement. Nothing would make this place better. “When you are done with the race, be sure to pick up your prize. Without any further ado, on your marks, get set…Go!”

The little ribbon that had been my only barrier fluttered to the ground as the sea of humanity surged forward.

I sprinted down the short distance to the water’s edge and dove in—there was this blissful moment where all was quiet, where I was weightless, and my mind flashed to another time.

I flew across the now dull grass toward the war that had erupted before my eyes. How could the day go from being perfect and serene, the way it should be, to this mad chaos? Angel on angel, brother on brother, and friend against friend, the sea of angels divided with many caught in between. Swords raised, and the two sides clashed, the sound like a thunderous Boom as they collided.

The fiery sky spread like a blanket across everything, making the ivory palace look like it was bleeding. White feathers floated to the ground around those maimed or dying—bright red blood sprayed in all directions as limbs fell to the ground below and painted their once beautiful home.

The wails of pain were loud in my ears as I neared the battle. My wings pushed hard and fast as I streaked across the ground and saw my shadow for the first time. I didn’t have time to contemplate it as I pulled my golden sword that glowed among the darkness spreading over everything.

The mighty dragon roared, sending vibrations through my chest. The sound rippled from the ferocious beast a moment before the Hellfire poured out of its mouth. The blaze charred everything living or not living in its path, turning it to grey ash.

Lucifer rose from the back of the great beast, his black leather armor dark against his pale skin. As Lucifer pulled his deadly sword, a sharp ring rang out that was louder than the screams and clanging of metal. Lucifer paused as Michael approached. They stared at each other—brothers once united were no longer.

I jerked as the unbelievably loud sound of hundreds of people filing into the water brought me back to the now. I hadn’t thought about that day in a long time. I shook it off and rose to the surface, my arms slicing through the cool waves until I was well beyond the pack. I could sense the creatures that lived in the water, keeping their distance from the loud chaos even though they were still curious.

I’d felt like that at one time with humans, and then I was forced to roll around in their pigpen with the insubordinate swine, and everything changed.

* * *

“Those can sit over there.” Minetta pointed to the shady area where they were placing the extra refreshments. Penny was a lot stronger than she looked. She was easily carrying four cases at once. It would have taken her twice as long to accomplish the same amount.

“So, what do you call this…event again?” Penny said as she smoothed back the little wisps of hair that had rejected being placed in the bun.

“It’s called a triathlon because they do three events. The open water swim is first, then the cycling and finally the run.”

“And where exactly are we located along that route?”

“We are at the halfway mark of the run.” Minetta looked around for the cups. They had to be here somewhere. She could see the bobbing shirts of the runners heading down the street. She looked around again for the boxes of cups, but they were nowhere in sight. How could she have forgotten the cups?

“Have you seen cups?”

“No, did you want to head back and get them? I can man the station.” Minetta glanced up at the nearing runners.

“That’s okay. Let me take a look under the table one more time. Maybe I missed a box.” She lifted the blowing fabric out of the way and knelt down, looking for the elusive paper cups. She paused—her hand in the box as the same strange hum and tingling from the other night raced over her body. Her chest rose and fell faster as the feeling spread and became a constant pulse under her skin.

Minetta could hear the runners getting closer, but she couldn’t focus on what she’d been doing. Sneakers pulled up alongside the table. The strange sensation was so strong she wondered if she was in the middle of a medical episode. Toby began to whine, and she started to back up to see what was wrong. But she smacked into Penny’s legs Penny seemed to hit her back under the table with her knee. At least that was what it felt like since there was enough force that she crashed into the boxes. Rolling forward, she fell out the other side of the table in an embarrassing heap at the runner’s feet.

Toby rushed around the table and nudged her, whining furiously, before putting himself between her and the stranger. Minetta stared at the expensive black sneakers and then slowly up at the person that was glaring down at her. He lifted the sunglasses covering his eyes, and she let out a little gasp as their stare met. She was suddenly tumbling forward into pits of beautiful amber. Other runners began to arrive around her, but all she could focus on was him.

His face was chiseled, but not the way Michael’s had been. His was rugged, with a dusting of a five o’clock shadow. His hair looked perfectly unstyled, the extraordinary blond color that had streaks of gold in it would’ve looked messy on anyone else, but it looked sexy as hell on him. She fought not to fidget in place as his eyes roamed over her face and then lower to her body before meeting her gaze once more as she rose to her feet.

Penny was talking to her, her hands waving in the air. She should see what she wanted…but those eyes were like dark honey on golden toast or maybe like amber diamonds on a sunny day. They were intoxicating and… She was staring. Her eyes went wide, a hot flush racing through her body that had nothing to do with the bright sun in the sky.