Just a note for you; the last line before the break, and the first line after the break, are supposed to be like a time shift. So, sort of imagine it like a movie where when one ends another one begins. Also, I'm trying to capture the difference between Present Patch and Past Jev.

Chapter Ten

I was mildly aware of my surroundings. Nora had begged me to go to this white collar event that her job was having, and I couldn't say no to her. I chuckled as I remembered how she'd convinced me to go.

"No offense, but you're a secretary Angel. How did you get invited to the CEO's event?" I asked.

Nora blushed, as this was the question she didn't want me to ask her.

"Does it matter?"

"I'm curious." She sighed, exasperated.

"Fine! So…my boss thinks I'm cute and all…don't worry!" she hurried on, as my face must have looked dark. "He hasn't tried anything. Still, he told me about this event that was happening; I think he was going to ask me, but I stopped him. That, and a little bit of a mind-trick to get us invited, and here we are!"

She had this bright smile on her face as she ended, as if it would make me just accept everything she said. I had accepted it. I didn't mind taking her, but it was the perfect chance to tease her.

"So…I need to have a word with this boss of yours, right?" I hinted. She blushed again.

"Look, I just want to have some fun, okay? I'm always working and you're always gone! Besides, I know for a fact that girls flock around you, and I've never said a word." I rose my eyebrows, thinking of the whole Marcie Millar and Dabria incidents. My thoughts must have registered on my face.

"Okay, so I haven't said too much!" She began to pout, and she placed her arms around my neck.

"Please…I can get the dress and everything! You'll love how I look! It'll be time for just us! And I want to see how you look in a tuxedo again…" I realized the direction of her thoughts, and suddenly, I didn't mind the idea of her in a dress anymore. Especially with what would be waiting for me afterwards. I sighed, smiling.

"You win, Angel." Grinning, Nora sauntered out of the room.

However, I hadn't been around such uninteresting people since I'd been kicked from Heaven.

It hadn't been completely not-worth it. The food and music were okay. And then there was my date. I felt like breaking a few men's necks after walking Nora through the building. She looked amazing. She'd bought a haltered sparkling black silk gown, with pearl earrings, and had her hair up in a bun with some messy curls falling. I'd almost not wanted to let her leave the house; it was all I could do not to rip the…

Nope, I couldn't even think about it. At the moment, we were dancing to slow music around the dance floor.

I dipped her backwards.

Chauncey's wife fell backwards into my arms.

She was sick, having caught the plague that ravaged through the valley years after my first encounter with Chauncey. The woman was clearly fading away. Chauncey had been smart enough to plan ahead, when he saw that the Valley was susceptible to the strange illness outside of its hills. He'd already sent most of their items and valuables to a ship that was waiting to cross the English Channel. He'd dragged his wife and children all the way up here, leaving the poor Valley to its own devices. There was no food; no clean water, and no one to turn to. Thievery had increased, as did arson and alcoholism. Poor Nina, and anyone else who hadn't left the town, died that year. I only stayed long enough to bury Nina in her own grave next to Francis, and then I followed Chauncey to the edge of France. Unfortunately for him, the ship was only sailing during Cheshvan, and so he couldn't get rid of me as easily as he'd hoped. Unfortunately for me, Cheshvan was coming to an end at the end of the night, and we were yet to have stepped foot onto the boat. I couldn't have Chauncey running away on me.

I looked down, through Chauncey's body, at his dying wife. I couldn't help but feel some sort of pity for her; she'd been a faithful little thing, breeding his children, although everyone knew that her husband was a playboy. Still, I couldn't afford to drag along her dead weight with me, and I couldn't let them stay here until she died some time later. Lifting the pillow from the bed, I placed it on top of her face. She barely struggled.

"Father?" I turned at the sound of "my" son staring at me. "What happened? What did you do?" he asked me, horrified. I approached him quickly, mindtricking him into believing that she'd died in her sleep. Quickly barking orders at someone to have the grave hands come and take her away, I grabbed the child and quickly stuffed him into a carriage. I demanded that the coach take us to the docks, where the boat was waiting for my command to sail.

I could feel my body slowly peeling away from Chauncey's. I struggled with him, holding on long enough to struggle onto the boat, and to fall onto the ground, before falling away. Quickly, I made myself invisible. Chauncey rose, sensing me in the area, and he began swinging wildly.

"You…bastard!" he shouted. "She couldn't even receive a proper burial!"

She would have died eventually. As will the rest of your children, and those afterwards. I told him matter of fact.

"Father!" Chauncey's annoying child cried out again. He grabbed him to stop him from swinging anymore. "I know you're sad, but you have to stop! She wouldn't want this! There's no one there, Father!"

Listen to your son. He's very reasonable.

Chauncey fell onto the ground, crying. I sneered at him.

What, now is your time to cry? You slept around with the servants anyway! While your wife began to suffer, you were too busy with your hands in other pots to notice! You wanted that woman for her wallet and her womb; you don't deserve to cry for her! Her, nor any of the other poor souls you left to die in Loire Valley!

"That's not true!" he sniveled. "I…I am a man! It was what my father did; it was what was expected of a man of my status… I…"

Whatever. And we both know who your real father is. I'll find you when we reach English shores. And with that, I sauntered into the lower level of the ship, leaving Chauncey to cry out in the soft rain.

How am I doing?