Disclaimer: If you sue me, I'll countersue on the basis of a fraudulent lawsuit. Or something like that.

A/N: I put a little B/L slashyness in here. Interestingly enough, I don't really see Bartleby/Loki... ::scratches head::

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Chapter 7: The Angel of Death, Revisited

Loki and Azrael sat in a gold Jeep Grand Cherokee with tinted windows, spying into the windows of Bethany's house. Azrael dropped the binoculars into his lap and turned to Loki.

"See that old woman there?" Azrael pointed to an elderly, gray haired woman out watering her garden. Loki nodded. "I want you to smite her."

Loki raised an eyebrow. "Why, Azrael? She's an old woman."

"I don't discriminate. I'm an equal opportunity hater." Azrael grinned at the blonde 'man', evilly.

"But why smiting, and why NOW, Azrael? Aren't we supposed to be INCONSPICUOUS?" snapped Loki.

The demon nodded. "Yes, but wouldn't it be fun? For old time's sake?" He clapped his hands together in glee, beaming at Loki.

Loki eyed the old woman's form, regretfully. "I SUPPOSE so..."

"Well... Is she an innocent?" asked Azrael, grinning widely.

After a few seconds, Loki responded, "No..."

"Then do your job, Loki." A sword of fire suddenly materialized in Azrael's hands and he held it out to Loki. "Here. I made this for you."

Loki turned it over in his hands before eying the old woman. "Okay. I'll do it."

* * *

"Hello there, ma'am. My name is Luke. Skywalker." 'DAMMIT', cursed Loki inwardly, grinning outwardly at the elderly woman and holding out a hand. "You look like you could use a hand in watering that there garden."

The old woman smiled at him, squinting her eyes. "Luke Skywalker, you say?"

"Yeah, that's my name. Don't wear it out." Loki forced a giggle, holding the sword inside his jacket. "What might your name be?"

"Edith Willams," said she. "Those there are my prize begonias. First prize for three years running." The elderly woman beamed, stepping aside to allow Loki a better view of her withering plants.

"I was just passing through town, Mrs. Williams. And an older woman, such as yourself, shouldn't be outside alone, in the dark. There are many an unsavory character lurking about in these parts of town. Especially recently."

Edith smiled. "Oh, you're such a nice young man. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Loki grimaced. 'How the hell can I kill this old lady? I mean, she only did ONE bad thing...' He managed a weak smile. "Well, Edith...There's a problem... You see, you were a bad girl a long time ago."

"What?" asked Edith, growing worried.

"In 1943, during World War II, you cheated on your husband while he was stationed in Germany. Fighting for your freedom. Your eldest son Walter was a result of that illicit affair, yet you never told your husband. He went to his death believing Walter was his heir, when in fact, your second son, SEAN, was the true heir. You willingly let a bastard inherit your husband's fortune."

Edith frowned, squinting at him. "Are you one of those mental hospital escapees?"

"I know everything about you," Loki said, in a booming voice. 'Simple, so simple,' he thought to himself, curling his fingers around the handle of the flaming sword. 'One fluid movement should do the job...'

Edith backed away from Loki, growing frightened. "Get away! I'll cry rape!"

"You're a bad woman, Edith June Williams. Bad women suffer the same consquences, in the end." Loki was getting the hang of it. 'It's like I never quit...'

"I'm old! Don't kill me," Edith cried, beginning to think that maybe the nice, blonde haired young boy wasn't quite so nice. "Step back! I know judo!"

He smiled at the old woman, patronizingly, and that bothered her. "That won't help you now, Edith." Loki cackled as he unsheathed the flaming sword and drew it back, preparing to deliver the death knell.

Old Edith crossed herself. "Holy shit."

"It's too late to pray, old lady." Loki was about to smite the sinner when Azrael poked his head out of the Jeep's window.

"Loki, just forget about her and get in the car. We're running late!"

Loki glared at Edith. "You got lucky this time, you old bag. But remember, God sees and knows everything! Every transgression! God knows you ran over your neighbor's dog! God knows you shoplifted some Alkaseltzer from your local convenience store! If you're not careful, you could spend your dying days in HELL!"

Edith fell to her knees, clasping her hands together in prayer. "Thank you God, for sparing me!"

"Don't thank God," Loki growled, "thank Azrael. That smarmy fuck." He turned his back on the old woman, tucking the sword underneath his clothing, and darted for the Jeep. Once he was in, he turned on the demon. "Why the fuck did you interrupt me?! I was starting to get the hang of it, Azrael!"

Azrael grinned. "She was an innocent. You've lost your touch."

"An INNOCENT? She can't be an innocent! I saw her transgressions! I searched the old bitch's soul! I know what she did-"

"She fucked another man and gave the family inheritance to the bastard?" asked Azrael, as they pulled out of the driveway. Loki nodded. "You're welcome... Now say thank you."

Loki knotted his brow in confusion. "What?"

"I made that all up! I clouded your mind! I wanted to see how far you'd go for me!" Azrael giggled. "I have utter and complete control over you, Loki! You're my...bitch!" Azrael giggled again.

Loki sat back, glaring at the demon. "Fuckin' prick."

* * *

"What do you mean Loki's HERE, in Illinois?!" cried Bethany. "Bartleby, I thought you said he dropped out!"

He nodded. "Loki is on the other side, working with whomever is behind this mission, whomever is using Leilita as their key to destroying the world. I'm as certain of that as I am that that Jay fellow's never gonna get laid."

Bethany paced around the kitchen nervously, her arms crossed over her chest. "I can't take this, I really can't. If you and Loki are not trying to lay waste to the world, someone else IS."

He nodded at her, sitting back in his chair, propping up his feet on the kitchen table. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, Bethany. But we've got to take care of him, as well."

"Isn't he your best friend," she asked, sitting beside him at the table. Bartleby winced but nodded, drumming his fingers on the polished surface.

After a few minutes, he said, "Yes. And much more. But that doesn't matter anymore, Bethany. It's not important. We have to find Leilita, find out who's behind this plot to destroy the world, and find Loki."

"His betrayal really hurt you," she murmured, softly. He finally nodded, and she drew his hand into hers, rubbing it. "You love him?"

Bartleby raised a dark eyebrow at her. "What, you think we're gay?"

"Well... It's kind of hard not to think two men who spent a millenia in one another's company didn't /ever/ have homosexual feelings." Bethany smiled at him.

"I don't have genitalia," he reminded her. "I can't have romantic or sexual feelings for women /or/ men."

"You still loved him though, if not as a lover, then as a friend, and his turning his back on you hurt." She said, astutely.

Bartleby's bottom lip quivered at the truth of her words. A nod from the former angel. "He's...he's a special person. But he's lost it. He's really lost it. When God forgave us, we made an oath to protect you... Loki, I guess he joined leagues with this Leilita chick or something. He no longer has God's protection. No one upstairs has been able to locate her whereabouts. It's as if someone's cloaked her."

Bethany dropped his hand and headed for the fridge, leaning her back against it. "I had such a simple life, you know? I raised my daughter as best I could, ALONE, without anyone to help me. I think I did a pretty good job."

"You did, Beth - " She cut him off.

"And NOW it might all go down the drain! Bartleby, she could DIE! I don't want to lose her!" Bethany cried, shaking her hands. "I don't know what to do!"

Bartleby sighed. "I won't let her die, Bethany. I'll-"

"MOM! HELP!"

Bartleby paused in mid-sentence as Bethany raced for the stairs. "FAITH!"

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TBC

Alex