Page 8 of A Chip on Her Shoulder

“I have seen your heart and understand its worth. For this night’s task, you will be a bright light in the darkness. For those who have taken your brother’s mortal life? You will be the darkness capable of swallowing all light. Frankly spoken, Miss Esmaranda, you have anger issues at times.”

“No shit.”

The angel sighed.

“What? If you wanted an angel, you wouldn’t be talking to me right now. You’d be talking to one of your brethren, probably sipping tea. I’ll admit, threatening to shoot that asshole on my lawn felt damned good. I would’ve done it, too.”

“I am aware, and they are beginning to become aware of this. Fortunately for you, they find women like you to be rather attractive, so do not be surprised if you find yourself courted by all sorts of unsavory beings.”

“There’s a special place in hell for rapists, and I mean to direct them there violently. So there are no misunderstandings. I’ll join them in hell rather happily after helping them get to their final destination. Does that make my stance on this clear?”

“That was not the form of unsavory I referenced, but while they are not planning to engage in that sort of activity with you, they have other methods they will engage in order to win your cooperation.”

“Lovely.”

“You are an exotic human, and men like those appreciate exotic women.”

“I don’t suppose we can just jump to the chase and you tell me what the best name to give that little girl is? I’m no good at things like that, and I don’t want to give her something utterly stupid as a name. I mean, a little stupid but pretty might do—at least that way, her asshole guardian won’t try to change it.”

The angel stayed quiet for a while. “I can offer, perhaps, some guidance on what name you should bestow upon the child.”

“Okay. I’m listening, Mr. Angel.”

“Michael.”

Jesus fucking Christ on a cracker. “I’ve been mouthing off to an archangel?”

“Indeed. As you say, you have been mouthing off to an archangel.”

“And you’re just serving as the middleman between me and some Egyptian divines?”

“We have an amicable enough relationship.”

“Huh. I’m going to hell for this, aren’t I?”

“Very probably.”

“Well, that’s a bummer. I better at least earn my stay. Where do you recommend I begin?”

“You will not need much help to get to where you are going.”

“Well, isn’t that just grand. Okay, since I’ll be going to hell, I may as well get around to earning it. How can I earn a few points towards my trip to hell when it comes to this little girl?”

“She is Egyptian, although her heritage is somewhat mixed. But her name should be of Egyptian heritage.”

“I don’t know a single damned word of Egyptian, so I’m going to need a little help with this, Michael.”

“She is darker of skin than you, although not as dark as her mother, who is of Egyptian heritage. Her hair is pitch black, a gift from her father.”

“It’s actually black? It’s not a dark brown?”

“Her hair is truly black. It will be quite striking against her skin, and while she will not be a traditional beauty, she will still be quite beautiful in her own right.”

“What’s the word for black in Egyptian?”

“There are two words for black in Egyptian. Kem is the black of the Nile’s silt, and is often used for the color. For a little girl’s name, you would use Kanika.”

“That’s really pretty.”