After-Life

Chapter 29. Plotting & Scheming

"I am not being turned into a horse! Mab, please, don't encourage this," Adrian whined for the umpteenth time.

It wasn't exactly an ideal situation, Mabel had to agree, but Asmodeus had a point. Up until now, she had only ever seen Thet, Asmodeus and their brethren in relatively tame and shrunken down versions of their true forms. These were other-worldly beings, though! They had been conjured into being in order to terrify and to inspire awe. It stood to reason that there would be no standard steed in the living world that would come close to accommodating such beings on their backs.

"I'm sorry Adrian, but I don't see any other way," she chewed at her lip. "These are deities, angels, and demons. They simply do not ride into battle on regular horseback."

"Hold on now, Ade. Let's think about this for a moment," Pete mused quietly, stunning everyone. "You've been complaining for weeks now that your well of inspiration has run dry. Since Mab and Kris teamed up with these guys, mate, you've created a hit record while serenading a hoard of Vikings!"

"Who happened to be bludgeoning a bunch of Saxons to death," Adrian sulked.

Pete waved away the comment and continued. "Minor details. Look, you've got to admit, the energy of the group has rocketed from feeling stuck in a rut to feeling emboldened in a very short space of time. We've all noticed it in some way. If we truly work out the dates, it's a no-brainer that this surge of good vibes stem from their interaction. We've always looked out for each other, haven't we?" Pete looked around at the assembled band members.

Eric and Kristoph glanced suspiciously at Asmodeus who held up his hands innocently, "don't look at me laddies, this one's all on the Aussie!"

Pete snorted, "Kris, remember your stage fright? Ade, Hey-hey, Eric and even you were unsure if it would be better for your health, if you went your own way! I mean, sure, Valentine-or Lucifer here, screwed you over, but with Asmodeus's help you come to life on the stage mate!"

"Not to mention in the bedroom," Asmodeus winked impishly at Mabel, who rolled her eyes.

"All I'm trying to say is," Pete sighed. "We owe these guys, Thet and Asmodeus at least."

"Charming," Lucifer scoffed bitterly.

"And well, if nothing else... we've got the hair for it" Pete grinned weakly, as he ruffled his matted mess of shoulder length, hair. The few dark blonde dreadlock tangles he had, flopped messily in with the rest of his crop.

Adrian groaned, "fine! Fine. I'll do it. What's to say we won't just be normal sized steeds though?"

"You won't," Thet smiled. "Your heights, added to a standard height of a full-grown stallion, I reckon it should work out to a suitable size."

With the horse debate settled, Mabel returned to mithering on the finer details of her scheme. Kristoph knew better than to interrupt her trail of thought when he saw her brow furrow in deep concentration. Instead, he looked over at Cain, barely comprehending that the man standing before them was not only a religious icon on multiple negative grounds, but also his own son from a life so far removed from his current role. Aside from their embrace, Cain had barely said a word to him, and Kristoph couldn't help but wonder if he was a disappointment in the man's eyes.

How long had he been in purgatory now? Surely Cain, like any child separated from their family for so long, would have developed an idealised imagining of what a family reunion would be like. Kristoph considered all the various lifetimes he'd led. Some he recalled; others were barely more than a long-forgotten dream. He'd all but forgotten what it had been like to be Adam, only the paternal instinct seemed to have lingered and that had only shown itself when he'd first seen Cain. In contrast, Cain had spent all this time with only his wife for company, no children of his own to entertain. Only his garden and a host of memories stemming back to a time that no one outside of the minds of other-worldly beings and deities could recall, to keep his mind occupied. What a lonely life! Kristoph couldn't help but think that he and Mabel had gotten off lightly in comparison to the man who was more of a stranger than a son to him now.