TITLE

PROLOGUE

As the bright yellow sun settles over the horizon of Heaven's grand ocean, an angel leans on a railing of a resort's grand suite, eyes closed, listening to the lapping waves on the sand, lost in meditation, his fingers playing with a strange amulet laid around his neck. A soft hum tickles his ear and he opens his eyes to see an orb of white light descending from above. It floats down in front of him, and flashes bright, and the angel blinks in surprise. A moment of confusion is replaced by a sudden realization, understanding and memories.

"Charlie!"

Spreading his wings wide, the angel tucks the amulet into his robes and shoots straight up into the sky, and with singular determination, bolts towards the city skyline.

At Adam's apartment in the main city of Heaven, he and Lute are lounging, laughing as they relish in the hunt to happen in one months' time. A loud knock at his door disturbs him, grumbling, and he jumps up and angrily pulls open the door to see the angel from the beach standing there.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Angel." Angel says, matter of factly.

"No shit you're an angel, I asked WHO you are, dumb ass!"

Angel says again, stoically explaining, "Angel is my name, Adam, that's all you need to know."

"No shit?" Adam blinks, adding with a singular laugh, "Fucking lazy. What do you want?"

"You're going to Hell in a month for an execution. I want in."

Adam, sipping on his drink, spits it out, "Excuse me? Wh.. no! We don't need you."

Angel's demeanor hasn't changed at the denial, "Yes, you do. You know your angel army can be harmed. You've gone into all previous executions with abandon. You need strategy, and that's what I do."

Lute steps up, "Fuck off. We got this."

"No,"Angel's demeanor has darkened, "You don't. Morningstar and her motley crew will be training, knowing you have weakness. They have a chance, and you want them all dead, right? I can make sure you succeed."

Adam scoffs, but Lute thinks, "And what do you have to offer?"

"What? Are you seriously considering this asshole?"

"Angel is right about one thing, one of our numbers was killed in the last execution, and it's not going to harm us to have more weapons next time." Lute looks to Angel, "You're a strategist? Prove it. What do you have in mind?"

Lute steps back to give Angel room to enter, and Adam rolls his eyes in exasperation.

"This better be fucking good!"