The Night Beat

time. Now the Three A’s were going at it, since the two fallen angels were still trying to follow Lucifer’s orders and destroy Adlet.
    “Let me go, withdraw the rest of your troops, or I’ll give the order to attack again. Only this time, we’ll focus all our energy on you.”
    Lucifer threw me to Jude, who caught me easily. “So be it. It’s not over. We will meet again.”
    “Looking forward to it.”
    Lucifer’s eyes locked with mine again. Thank you. Then he opened his mouth. Sound came out, but nothing like I’d ever heard before. It was loud, but not painful, and not in a language I understood.
    The minions did, though. To a one they disengaged and flung themselves into the convergence chasm. Lucifer spread his wings and opened his arms. He tackled the Three A’s and they all tumbled into the chasm as well.
    Lightning flashed down from the sky, hitting all parts of the chasm. Our side scrambled to get away, though Jude and I didn’t. The ground rumbled as the lightning struck and this time the sound was deafening. I and all the other animal-based undeads covered our ears but it still hurt.
    And then, just like that, the chasm was gone. Along with all the minions, other than those already living on the human plane.
    “Well done.” The voice came from the heavens. I’d only heard it a few times, in my mind, mostly.
    Those beings who recognized the voice knelt or bowed their heads, and yanked those who didn’t recognize the voice into similar positions. Jude and I didn’t bow. We knew it wasn’t expected.
    “Thanks, Yahweh. To protect and serve and all that.”
    Lightning went around me, but it didn’t hurt. It was Yahweh’s way of hugging. He didn’t manifest in a physical body as a rule. But that was fine. I thought of him as lightning anyway, even though he was much more than that.
    Then the lighting was gone, just like the chasm and the minions, and we were left standing on a street in the bad part of town. Just us, all of Prosaic City’s Night Beat cops, a handful of other humans, and hundreds of undeads.
    “What’s your cleanup plan?” I asked Jude.
    “The usual. Memory wipes for the human side, as appropriate. Strong lectures for those who need to retain the memories. Subtle ‘thanks for helping and here’s the spell you were supposedly under’ messages to the minor minions who like the status quo enough to have risked their unlives to help us tonight.”
    “Routine.”
    Jude kissed my forehead. “You were all anyone could have hoped for and more.” He sighed. “They’ll be back, you know. Either Adlet will win or the Adversary will. Or they’ll combine.”
    “They can’t combine. That’s why the plan worked, all the way along. Because I’m the Child of the Adversary and a werewolf, my kind is poison to the Adversary. That’s why they want me with them in the Depths, to break that weakness. But it’ll never happen.”
    He smiled. “I know.” Jude looked over my shoulder. “He’s not as jealous as your latest ex, but he’s not as cool about it as he’s going to pretend to be.”
    “Ralph?”
    “Yeah, your mate.”
    “Am I making a mistake? I mean, undoubtedly not on the same level as the mistake with Jack, but still, I’d like some kind of clue. I think I deserve it.”
    Jude chuckled. “While I’m not a prophet, he does rub off the more you’re around him.”
    “So Magdalena and Miriam said.”
    “I think, out of all your choices, this is the one most likely to be right for you. I wouldn’t expect it to be all smooth sailing, mind you, but I give it very good odds for success.”
    “I’ll take it.” I leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
    “I won’t be at the Sanctuary Center any more.”
    I shook my head. “You can be. You can let me know where you are, too. I can handle it now.”
    “You’re sure?” He looked hopeful.
    “Yeah, I am. It doesn’t…hurt…to see you any more. Besides, Ken shouldn’t be the only ex I go whining to when I have a relationship problem.”
    “Oh, good. Can’t wait. Maybe I’ll still hide.” Jude grinned. “He’s getting really impatient, and since patience is truly one of his virtues, I’d suggest you trot on over and reassure your mate that you’re still a monogamous wolf, and that I’m not the being you’re doing monogamy with any more.”
    I kissed his cheek again and did as he said. I wasn’t stupid. Ralph was sitting on his haunches, and he had the worried and annoyed expression