by Dante King
You don’t have to tell me twice, I thought, giving what I considered a chivalric bow. I knew Lucifer wasn’t big on bowing (it was kind of why he no longer frequented the Celestial Realm in the first place) but it was no real hardship to show respect to such a beautiful woman. Besides, I had nothing but scorn for the rest of her entourage.
She looked back and forth from Maddie to me, evidently well-pleased with her effect on us. “Rise,” the angel said, spreading her arms wide like a Viking woman welcoming her husband back from battle. “Madeleine and Luke. Long have I yearned to meet the two of you.”
“All you had to do was ask,” I said, hoping these angels couldn’t hear my heart thundering against my rib cage. Just being in the presence of the Headmistress of the Celestial Academy was doing things to me.
Maddie stuck an elbow in my ribs. “Flirt,” she cooed. She didn’t sound upset about it in the least. In fact, if this gorgeous angel were to suggest some extracurricular activities between the three of us, I was certain Maddie would accept with the same winning smile she’d used on me back in the diner where I met her.
The Headmistress of the Celestial Academy either didn’t notice or considered such behavior undeserving of a direct reply. “I apologize for the inconvenience,” she said, gesturing at the cloud-covered hill where a dozen warrior angels had surrounded us only a few moments ago. “Had we been given advance notice you were coming, there would have been no... unpleasantness waiting for you at the Pearly Gates. Thank you for your patience.”
“Luke,” Myles said, giving the Headmistress a respectful nod. “Maddie. This is Judyth Dominia, the Headmistress of the Celestial Academy. The highest-ranking angel in our illustrious institution.”
“Second highest,” Judyth said with a smirk. I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t seem interested in explaining things to us mere mortals. “So, you’ve finally come. I have to say, I quite wish you’d chosen the Angel of Light, Luke. You and I might have met each other sooner…”
Oh yeah, I thought, a frisson of lust tingling through my veins. This woman wants me. It made a sick kind of sense—Judyth was an angel, and I had the bloodline of a demon inside of me. That kind of made me the ultimate bad boy, as I’d already learned in the Infernal Academy. For someone as powerful and established as Judyth, trysting with one of Lucifer’s candidates for Archlord of Hell was even sweeter and more forbidden than the apple in the Garden of Eden.
Or whatever the fruit was. I dimly remembered arguing with Mareth over that point. Speaking of which, I hoped Mareth and Christina were alright. We’d left them without any explanation—I’d have to check on them soon.
For now, though, I had to navigate this new land. The last thing I needed was to make a fool out of myself this close to the Pearly Gates.
“Well, I’m here now,” I said, letting my hand slide down the curve of Maddie’s hip. I watched with pleasure as both Myles and Judyth’s eyes fixed on it, shock filling those holy orbs as I gave my girlfriend’s ass a shameless squeeze. You’ve never met anyone like us before, I thought with pride. Your stuffy angel academy’s about to get its world rocked in the best way…
A smile spread across the Headmistress’s face, and I could tell she was thinking the same thing. “Yes, you are,” she said, nibbling her bottom lip. She caught herself, adjusting her halo and clearing her throat. “Shall we? Your orientation should have begun an hour ago. We’ll need to get you signed up for classes, then we’ll give you and Madeleine a tour of the grounds so you can get acclimated to your new home.”
“It’s Maddie,” Maddie told the Headmistress with a smile. “There’s no need to be so formal!”
The Headmistress’s gaze hardened. “Oh dear,” she purred, a strange smile playing across her features. “You really do have a lot to learn, don’t you? There is every reason to be formal, dear. Now follow me.”
Without further ado, the Headmistress retreated to the Pearly Gates. A glowing aura filled the space between the doors, bathing the already divine surroundings in a warm, peaceful light. For a moment, I really did feel like I was on my way to the other side—to a world where everything was goodness and light, where there was no pain, guilt, or regret. Where I could truly be free…
Careful, Luke, I thought, catching myself. This place might not be Hell, but it’s every bit as seductive. And just as much of a trap.
Finally, I understood the meaning behind Lucifer’s laughter. Attending two Academies would be like threading the eye of a needle. I had to walk a very thin line if I was going to come out of this on top. Was I ready?
I glanced over at Maddie—who grinned at me like Christmas morning. Hell yes I was ready!
“Let’s go, babe,” I said, giving my angel a peck on the cheek. “I can’t wait to see the dorms. Let’s get ourselves checked in!”
“Welcome home,” Judyth intoned, her voice going all deep and otherworldly as she stepped into the glowing aura. “The Celestial Academy welcomes you, students. Your angelic training begins now…”
Hand in hand, Maddie and I stepped into the next phase of our adventure. The glowing light rolled over our bodies, and we were gone.
Chapter 2
Paradise, I thought, looking around the crowded lobby. That’s where I am. Paradise.
The sense of having entered the most wonderful place in the universe grew stronger as Judyth and Myles led us down a street paved in solid gold. Towering buildings with Doric columns dotted the avenue, their frescoes gleaming with the same perfect, healing light that suffused everything else. Angels flew over our heads, some playing what looked like a very complicated game involving nets and some simply dancing to the music of the spheres. The ground on either side of the golden street was made of solid cloud, as fluffy and white as a bag of marshmallows.
“Holy shit,” I gasped, staring up at a statue of two battle-ready angels standing outside the gymnasium. “This place is incredible.”
“It is,” Judyth agreed. “And please don’t swear. Foul language is strictly forbidden within the grounds of the Celestial Academy.”
There were several epithets I could think of with which to respond to that, but I held my tongue. I knew Lucifer had pulled some strings to get Maddie and I admitted to the Celestial Academy—the last thing I needed was to let down the Prince of Darkness by washing out because of some technicality. The people in charge up here would definitely have their eye on me, waiting for me to put a toe out of line so they could get Maddie and I out of their realm.
“Luke’s just a little overwhelmed,” Maddie said with an easygoing smile. “We’ve spent so much time surrounded by fire and brimstone that we’ve totally forgotten how to behave like civilized beings. Thank you so much for understanding that we need time to adjust.”
From the change in Myles and Judyth’s expressions, I knew my girlfriend had just hit a bullseye. Damn, so they like flattery, huh? I thought, giving Maddie a little slap on the ass as soon as our guides weren’t looking. I’m not terribly good at that any more, but maybe I could make an exception.
“Watch out down there!” an angel yelled. A diamond the size of a dog’s head tumbled out of the clear blue sky, clinking against the golden bricks as it hit the ground. My jaw dropped open at the sight of the jewel—back on Earth, I could have bought a luxury liner with that kind of wealth.
Two angels swooped down, their wings beating a tattoo against the ground as they fought. “It’s my point!” one yelled, grinning from ear-to-ear as they used their net to shove the other angel out of the way. “It was over the line when it fell!”
“Not a chance!” The other laughed, pushing the first fellow away with a well-practiced shove. I recognized immediately that the second angel was better at this game, whatever kind of game it was. “We’re playing with King’s rules now, Yordan!”
The second angel scooped up the diamond with his net and took off, leaving a few scattered feathers behind in its wake. The first angel gave out a triumphant bellow and shot after him, t
he rest of his team already changing formation to adjust to this change in the game.
“That looks like fun,” I said, watching the angels duck and dive on the currents. Flying was one of the most fun things I’d done in the Infernal Academy, and I never missed an opportunity to stretch my wings and cause some carnage. “Is this some kind of sport the angels play, or is it purely recreational?”
Judyth rolled her eyes. “It’s called Viceroy,” the Headmistress said desultorily, “and the younger Cherubim are simply wild for it. Two teams, Virtues versus Vices, with a set of rules I can never quite pin down no matter how many times I have one of my secretaries explain it to me. They’re going to be opening up teams later this semester, I hear.”
Maddie watched the two teams of angels fight over the jewel. It flashed in the brilliant blue sky, almost too fast to see with the naked eye as it passed from team to team. After a moment, I realized my girlfriend had begun to hum. When I caught the tune, I tossed my head back and laughed.
“Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds?” I asked, giving her a grin.
“What can I say,” Maddie told me, nibbling her bottom lip. “I wore out my copy of Sargent Pepper’s when I was in high school…”
Judyth’s gaze was wry. “We don’t encourage secular music in the Celestial Academy,” she said, banishing the smile right off Maddie’s face. “Our students learn harp, Gregorian chants, classical pieces—and of course, the hymnal…”
The Headmistress continued to walk, one eye on the angels above our heads. Clearly, she wanted to know in advance if any of the Viceroy players would get in our way.
“Geez,” Maddie whispered as we followed. “She’s kind of a stick in the mud, isn’t she?”
“She’s an angel,” I said with a shrug. “Isn’t that who you’re meant to be?”
“Yeah, but not like that,” Maddie protested. “I thought being an angel would be fun. But if you can’t swear, and you can’t even sing the Beatles, what’s left?”
“I can think of a couple of things,” I said, prompting a giggle from Maddie.
“She is hot,” my girlfriend murmured, watching the sway of Judyth’s ass as she led us to a steep set of marble steps. “In a kind of regal, imperious way. She kind of looks like a princess—but the kind that would have you beheaded if you ever pissed her off.”
Myles turned around at that, his eyebrows all the way at the top of his forehead. “If you’ll follow us,” he said, raising his voice to ensure that Judyth hadn’t just heard us, “we’ll take you on a quick tour of the Admissions building.”
The stairs beneath our feet looked like they were carved out of a dream. The marble stretched upward, as smooth as butter, with tiny curlicues and arcane symbols carved into the banisters like protection spells. Yet I couldn’t help but notice how the luxurious environment of the Celestial Academy clashed with the actual students. Oh, the angels we saw making their way up and down the stairs looked hale and healthy enough, their books clutched to their chest or hanging from satchels at their side. But on my tour of the Infernal Academy, I’d been flirted with at least a dozen times by cute demon girls, and plenty of other students had stopped to speak with me or welcome me to Lucifer’s own college.
In contrast, these angelic beings barely noticed we existed. Everyone kept their head down, their noses in a book and their minds fixed on their studies as they made their way to and from buildings. To be honest, the whole thing was kind of a drag.
Maddie felt it, too. “This place is definitely not a party school,” she said, speaking from a corner of her mouth.
The words were much lower than anything she’d said so far, yet this was what prompted Judyth to turn mid-stride and gaze down the stairs at us. “There certainly are parties,” the Headmistress assured us with a wry smile. “Our co-educational fraternity, Alpha Omega, has a freshman mixer at the beginning of every semester and regular get-togethers on holidays.”
“They get quite loose,” Myles added, giving us the lamest smile imaginable. “The invitations they give to attendees state that they go on until question mark, in fact!”
Maddie and I shared a look. I didn’t need demonic powers to know what she was thinking—her thoughts matched my own. Heaven was lame as Hell. Only Judyth herself, with the secretive little light of mischief dancing behind her eyes, seemed to promise anything like real fun in the Celestial Academy.
“Sounds wild,” I said sarcastically, prompting a snort from Maddie. “I’ll have to check my curfew.”
“And of course,” Judyth added, “there’s the Pindance.”
Maddie frowned. “Pin Dance?”
“You’ve heard the phrase, ‘how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?’ It’s a great joke among the student body. So our annual cotillion expands on the theme. There are awards given to the group who can shrink themselves down small enough to fit more of themselves on the head of a pin than their fellows—they get a ribbon and everything!”
“Wowwww,” Maddie said with an awkward smile. “How fun!”
Judyth led us to the top of the stairs and through the massive double-doors of the Admissions office. The Olympic theme I’d seen on the streets carried into here, where massive granite columns supported a cupola with a reproduction of Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel painted on the ceiling. Or maybe this was the original somehow, preserved forever in a realm without time. Either way, few people seemed to stop and remark on it.
The whole place felt rather like the lobby of an extremely fancy hotel, more than the building of a college. The angels in here seemed a bit chummier than those hustling and bustling outside, chatting in groups of twos and threes like the cliques at any college campus. An L-shaped lounge of couches took up one corner of the office, with a vending machine offering snacks and energy drinks (the kind that literally gave you wings) glowing beatifically next to it. Everything was covered with the logo of a halo.
In here, as nowhere else in the Celestial Academy, heads turned at our approach. Male and female angels craned their necks to check out the newcomers, only slightly intimidated by the watchful gaze of the Headmistress. We walked up to a desk carved from a single slab of green marble, behind which an aged matron with a slightly faded halo sat doing a crossword puzzle.
She looked up with a start. “Oh, Headmistress!” She was far older than the other ageless angels here, which amounted to a line or two of wrinkles in her otherwise-smooth forehead. “What can I do for you this afternoon, ma’am?”
“I have two new students,” Judyth said, treating the secretary warmly. “They need to inscribe their names in the Book of Life.”
The woman beamed. “Of course, of course! It’s in Special Collections and Archives—I’ll reserve you the room right away…”
My ears pricked up at the mention of the book. “The Book of Life?” I asked, glancing from Maddie to the Headmistress. “I remember that from Sunday School growing up. Kind of always thought it was more of a metaphor?”
Judyth chuckled. “May I give you a smattering of advice, young man?”
I met the Headmistress’s eyes and nearly dropped to my knees a second time. Having been with so many hot demon girls since becoming one of Lucifer’s candidates for Archlord, I thought I knew a thing or two about keeping my cool with the opposite sex. But whatever strange polarity shift I’d felt inside of me while I’d been with Maddie—turning my wicked desires into strangely pure, wholesome ones—ratcheted up to double strength as I peered into the fathomless depths of the Headmistress’s eyes.
It didn’t make any sense. The angels I’d met at the Celestial Academy so far were so dour and joyless. Yet every molecule of Judyth’s body screamed that there was a hidden naughtiness inside the Headmistress. Her poise and control were incredible. She almost reminded me of…
Lilith. The thought seared my brain. Lucifer’s ex-wife, the Headmistress of the Infernal Academy. That was it. The two of them could have been twins—or the opposite sides of the same coin.
I
waited to see if any visions would come of me banging Judyth in an angelic sex swing, the way I’d had that strange premonition of myself and Lilith. Nothing happened. A tiny sigh of relief left me—if I was predestined to get freaky with the Mistresses of Heaven and Hell, that might have been a little bit too much for even me to handle.
“Please,” I said, hanging onto my control by my fingertips. “I’d certainly appreciate anything you wanted to give me, Judyth…”
Her grin told me she’d understood the double entendre perfectly. “Symbols are important, young man. Sometimes the symbol of a thing is even more important than the thing itself. You humans, with your linear perception of time, believe you create symbols—but it would be closer to the truth to say that symbols create you. The noble hero, the cunning rogue, the dashing villain—all of these are symbols. Metaphors for things inside of yourself you wish you could be or someday hope to be. Remembering that will give you greater control over the world and teach you the importance of belief.”
“Belief is very important in the Celestial Realm,” Myles added.
“I’m gathering that,” I said, the corner of my mouth tugging into a smirk. And I BELIEVE I might just have a chance with you, Judyth. You definitely seem interested…
A chime sounded, and Judyth gave Myles a curt gesture of dismissal. “I can handle things from here,” the Headmistress said. “Thank you for your service, Myles. Return to the Gates now, please, in case any other surprise visitors arrive today.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Myles said, giving me a final look. Be careful, the angel mouthed, turning away and heading back down the stairs. I knew I liked him for a reason.
Judyth led us up and up, past rows of booths occupied by angels deep in research and study. “The Book of Life is kept under lock and key,” the Headmistress explained, checking over her shoulder to make sure her two charges could keep up. “I apologize for the climb—we do things old school in the Celestial Academy. I know down below you’re accustomed to a certain level of shortcuts, but we don’t do things by halves up here. We eschew Earthly pleasures for the simple joy of exertion!”
