Chapter Twenty

Dante

Dante now stood in the bright light of the angelic plane. He was alone—at least for now—with the memories of he and Seth together. Leaving Mount Everest had been rough, not because it was physically hard for Dante, especially now that his energy levels were recharged. What had made it difficult was that he was now on the ethereal plane while Seth was back in New York City. Being apart from him was painful. There was an emptiness within Dante that only Seth could fill. With Seth in his arms, Dante felt complete. The saving grace was that he could still smell Seth on his clothing.

Wondering how Seth was doing down on Earth, Dante worried about him. There were no doubts in Dante’s mind that nothing could hurt Seth physically. He would have been incorporeal. The worst that could happen would be that someone would pass through him. What worried Dante the most was what Cal had to say. Whatever information the cop had could have an adverse effect on Seth. Dante didn’t want him emotionally hurt anymore. He had had enough anguish over the last ten years—and more so in the previous few days—to last an eternity.

There was more to his want to keep Seth safe and happy. His need to make sure this happened went beyond an angel’s desires to prevent their charges from being harmed. It even went beyond an angel keeping their charge safe until they got to the point that they were no longer needed. Dante’s want came from the love and desire he felt for Seth—the fact that he wanted to be with Seth and make his eternal life as perfect as possible.

Taking a deep breath then releasing it in an attempt to calm his nerves, Dante set out to find Killian. He wasn’t sure how the other angel would react to what he was going to ask. It was a longshot, but Dante had to try. No matter what the outcome of this was, he had to get the information from Killian. He was the only one who would know how to go about what Dante was planning.

As if on cue, Killian appeared five minutes after Dante started looking for him. A smug smile drew up one corner of his lips. Killian irritated him. Dante had been in a foul mood from the way Killian acted toward Seth after his death. Seeing the platinum blond angel again brought back that irritation tenfold. Dante wanted to knock that egotistical expression off his face.

Biting back the emotions, Dante nodded at him. “Got a minute? I want to talk with you about something.”

“For you handsome? I have more than just a minute. We could make it an entire day.” Killian’s lust-filled gaze roamed over Dante leaving him feeling exposed, dirty and pissed off all at the same time.

“I’m serious, Killian. Now isn’t the time for that.”

Not now, not ever, he tacked on silently.

“Spoilsport.” Killian crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. “It’s been too long,” he added.

“Killian,” Dante barked quickly, trying to get his attention while derailing his thoughts of what he wanted. “I’m being serious.” He lowered his voice. “I really need to ask you a few things. It’s important,” Dante said quietly. He didn’t need anyone else getting nosey and overhearing what they were going to discuss.

Killian sighed then motioned toward one of the short white buildings on the other side of the field where they standing. “There’s a small secluded room there that no one will be using right now that we can use.”

Dante breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped Killian had abandoned his flirting when he realized how important it was to Dante that they spoke. By the time they had entered the room—the door closing behind them—Dante had all but forgotten about Killian’s earlier insinuations. Pacing through the room, he gathered his thoughts.

Turning to face Killian, he rolled his eyes at the angel who had now planted himself on one of the oversized couches and put his feet up on the table.

“Relaxed much?” Dante scoffed.

“If we have to do this serious shit, I might as well be comfortable.” Killian shrugged. “You should try it. Might help with as high strung as you look. I could have helped you relieve some of that tension. But nope, you want to talk.” He snorted.

Dante groaned silently. So much for thwarting Killian’s desires. The fucker had a one track mind. Like a dog with a bone, once he latched onto something, he wouldn’t give up on it so easily. Dante should have remembered that about him.

“What do you know about transcending?” He asked quickly.

Dante hoped that if he didn’t acknowledge Killian’s last statement, he would get the hint that Dante wasn’t interested in sex with him. Not that they hadn’t fucked each other before, but it was in the past. There were no emotions that went with it. A means to an end, scratching an itch for each other. That was before Dante had grown to love Seth. It had been forever since he’d been sexually active with Killian, or anyone for that matter, other than Seth this morning.

The memories of them on Mount Everest kicked in. His cock stirred. Shit. This wasn’t the time—nor the place—for his body to be reacting this way. Dante didn’t need for Killian to spot his erection and end up getting the wrong idea. Grabbing one of the pillows, Dante turned on the couch and rested his feet on the table, putting the pillow in his lap. Drumming his fingers on the cushion, he turned his head to meet Killian’s eyes. If he kept the other angel’s gaze locked with his, maybe Killian wouldn’t notice anything else. At least that was the hope anyway.

“Transcending? Since when have you been interested in that topic?” Killian’s brows furrowed questioningly. “It’s not part of your caste to worry about how it happens. You take care of your charges, and I take care of getting them to their final resting place—or helping them transcend if that’s their destiny.”

“People can always change their destiny. We all have free will to choose what we do—even after death. So if someone chose to transcend instead of walking down the path to eternal salvation or everlasting pain, then they have that right, correct?”

“I suppose there’s a chance that they can, but it would take work. If they aren’t supposed to transcend, then it’s a longshot.” Killian shrugged lightly. “The ghost has to do something impressive. An act that is so pure and selfless that they are deemed worthy to enter. The act has to fit a certain caste requirement as well. Depending on what they do, would depend on where they end up after transcending.”

Dante nodded silently. Contemplating the information he was given, he thought about what Seth could do to transcend. Would his need to bring the Doctor to justice be enough, especially once they got him behind bars?

Putting the pillow back on the couch, he let out a breath.

“But even as a longshot, it’s possible,” Dante said to reinforce what he had heard. He wanted to make sure without a shadow of doubt that he understood what Killian was saying.

“Yes. That is right. Sometimes it’s as simple as saving another’s life. Other times it’s more complex and time-consuming. There are pros and cons on both sides. If the act is simple, then it wouldn’t take very long. There may not be a full chance of achieving angelic status, but at least it will give them solid ground to choose one of the other two paths. The more complex aspects take a lot longer. Yes, they give a stronger chance for transcending, but the other side is that they run the risk of becoming lost. Their souls could potentially become damned in their attempt to transcend.”

“So is this something that just happens? Or does someone need to commision the creators for ascension rights?” Dante asked.

“It’s something that happens. No one else needs to be involved in the matter,” Killian replied.

“So for the ghosts who are destined to transcend, do you and others in your caste guide them toward the task they’re supposed to complete? Or is that something that a ghost automatically knows?” Dante felt like there had been so many questions that he didn’t have answers to—ones that he was determined to get in order to help him and Seth be together.

“The ghosts who are destined to transcend are the ones who choose what the task is going to be. While we take them to the crossroads—let them know they are due to ascend while giving them the information about what happens when they do transcend—they have to make the decision themselves what their actions will be. It’s within them, and they need to choose what’s right for their soul. We, as angels, can’t get involved.”

Dante nodded. He chewed his lower lip while contemplating the new information. The conversation brought up some points that he hadn’t wanted to think about—ones that were quite real possibilities that could potentially happen. Dante was worried about Seth’s soul getting lost. As much as he wanted to spend eternity with him, Dante didn’t want his soul to become forever damned—to wander aimlessly. He would be in constant pain, suffering throughout eternity.

Then there was the chance that the transcension may not happen. Dante would fight to see it succeed though. Regardless of what it was, Dante would do whatever it took to get Seth to that point. Dante simply needed to get back to Earth, meet up with Seth and tell him everything he had found out.

“You aren’t asking this out of curiosity are you?” Killian asked. “You’re trying to figure this out for that Seth kid,” he said accusingly.

Dante was left speechless. He wasn’t going to lie about his motives. At the same time, he didn’t feel the need to confirm Killian’s accusations.

“I can see it on your face. Hell, I can smell him on you,” Killian said indignantly.

Killian leaned over then ran his fingers down Dante’s chest. Slipping his hand beneath Dante’s shirt, he began tracing soft touches over his warm flesh. “You do realize I could make you forget about him. I know exactly how you enjoy fucking. I make a perfect bottom for you.” His hand trailed southward toward Dante’s pants.

“Stop!” Dante barked out, pushing Killian away from him. “I told you I don’t want to have sex with you.” He stood up. Backing away from the other angel, Dante glowered at him. “Not now nor ever,” he growled out. “I don’t want to fuck you, Killian.”

“Come on, Dante. You know you want me. I saw the erection earlier. I can give you everything Seth can’t,” Killian smirked. “Who wouldn’t want all this?” He swiped a hand over his body.

“No, you can’t give me anything I want. I don’t think you’ve ever been able to,” Dante scowled. His words were clipped, his tone frigid. “Perhaps you could with one of the many other angels you are intimate with, but not me.”

Dante was pissed. Not because Killian had sex with others. That wasn’t his concern. He didn’t care if the other angel was being intimate with different guys. He was angry that Killian had tried to seduce him knowing that Dante was feeling the way he did about Seth.

Killian stared at him. He seemed to have been in such shock that he was speechless.

“Thank you for the information, Killian,” Dante said coldly. Turning his back on Killian, He walked out the door, leaving the man sitting alone in the room. His need to get back to Seth overpowering.