The Dealers

Chapter 20 - Noah

Getting sloshed with my brothers was a bad idea and I knew it after the second bottle of whiskey. However, we still pushed on in a pathetic attempt to mask the fear we felt about the morning.

Barely able to remember, I thought back to calling Lena—against my better judgement—and then chickening out at the voicemail and hanging up. Why was I so damn awkward when it came to her?

As much as I wanted to smooth things over, I had to push Lena to the back of my mind because within the hour, Azrael himself would be at Moorehouse.

Slightly tender from the whiskey, I peeled myself off the couch and noted the sun barely visible on the horizon just outside the sprawling windows. I hadn't even made it to my old bedroom last night. I turned to see Eli and Finn passed out around the room as well.

Both of my brothers stirred with matching groans as they forced themselves up. Aside from bottles of liquor and plates of leftover lasagna littered around, we luckily hadn't destroyed the house. It wouldn't be too hard to restore the place as it was before we had to welcome our guests.

After restoring things to the way they were, we had to make ourselves presentable as well. Rushing into the nearest bathroom, I made a point not to get lost in the nostalgia. As I took a cold shower, I tried to calm my nerves but it was hard.

Donning the usual black suit and black dress shirt that I often wore on the job, I fixed my tie and walked back into the living room where my brothers were also fidgeting with nervousness. None of us spoke for a long while.

"So, we just wait?" I finally said after more time had passed than I anticipated and still, it was just the three of us in the giant manor. No Azrael and company.

Eli shrugged but Finn didn't speak. Mr. Comedian had nothing to say when it came down to it and I found that amusing but, it wasn't the time to pick a fight amongst each other. We had to be strong and united otherwise Azrael would have the upper hand—not that he didn't already.

I could only remember receiving Azrael once before and I had just turned eighteen. While much more regal and less awkward than the moment at hand, the first time had been when my father essentially offered me to be of service Why not, right? Since my two eldest brothers had already begun their servitude at that point and my father, had already sold his own soul to Azrael.

I shuddered at the thought and those distant memories seemed lightyears away as I heard a single, solid knock at the front door.

The three of us looked at each other and back at the door and while we should have shown haste, we all hesitated.

We finally got up from the couch and knew we shouldn't wait for a second knock. Realizing it should be me, I hurried to the door—without showing how nervous I actually was—and opened the door swiftly.

I could not hesitate in any way.

Standing in front of me, instead of the large cavalry I expected, stood a single man.

Surprised, I reminded myself that what stood before me, was no man. More powerful and mythical than anything I could ever fathom, Azrael looked human on the outside. One would be stupid to underestimate him by his chosen appearance.

Tall, strong and intimidating for a reason, Azrael nearly towered over me at six-foot-two. With features dark as night and dressed head to toe in black, he stood there stoically and I couldn't help but swallow a feeling of dread.

While I could only recall Azrael visiting Moorehouse once before, I had seen him many times when summoned on business. No matter how many times I had been in his presence, I was still nervous. Azrael was unpredictable and at times, unreasonable.