Page 59 of Greed

“Again with the wet shirt. We really have to stop meeting like this.” He glanced at her chest, and this time she glared back. She didn’t find it cute or sexy, and she wanted to smack him. “I like this side of you. I can see why you were chosen now, Minetta. You have a fire that burns in your soul and a strength of character most don’t exhibit.”

“Don’t talk to me like that. I’m no one’s pet, not yours and not your Father’s. Now let my friend go. She just saved my life.”

“You know what she is, yes?”

“I do, and I don’t care,” Minetta said, as her legs finally gave out and she landed on her ass in the mud. Her hand fell open, unable to keep it closed any longer. She stared at the simple little dirt weapon and wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.

Michael lowered the two of them to the ground and released Penny’s neck. There was a massive red handprint around her throat, and she wanted to choke Michael for hurting Penny.

“Interesting. Did she happen to tell you why she is in your life? How a demon came to be your best friend?” Michael folded his great wings, the tops still rising high above his muscled shoulders. He stood with his feet apart, his toned abs on display as he crossed his arms over his chest that held thin silver lines that looked like runes embedded into his skin.

“Michael, please don’t. Send me to Hell, send me to purgatory. I don’t care, but don’t do this,” Penny pleaded.

Minetta looked at Penny and then back at Michael. “Penny told me that she came into my life to keep me away from Riker or Mammon or whatever the hell his name is. The friendship was unexpected but came after we met.”

Michael smirked, and she had the strongest urge to get up and punch him square in that pretty face. And if she could’ve moved, she would have tried.

“Would you like to tell her, or should I,” Michael asked Penny.

“Tell me what?” She looked at the horrified expression on Penny’s face and realized that she was missing a crucial part of the story Penny had told her. “Penny, what is it? What didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m so sorry,” Penny cried and dropped to her knees, covering her face as she wept. Red tears seeped from her eyes that were shocking against her pale skin.

“Come on Penny, the truth will set you free,” Michael mocked.

“Have you always been this big of a jerk,” I asked, which only made him laugh hard.

“I guess I will. Penny came into your life to kill you,” Michael said flatly. Minetta looked between the two of them, and when Penny didn’t refute the absurd claim or look at her, she licked her lips and stared up at Michael.

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“Really? A guessing game? Now I know why I didn’t have any interest in a second date,” she grumbled. Michael roared with laughter this time and smacked a hand off his leg which only annoyed her more. She was tempted to throw the dirt at him just because.

“Oh, you are perfect, alright. Fine, I will tell you. She sold the little that was left of her soul for something that she deemed more important than your mere life.”

“I did not,” Penny suddenly yelled. “I was approached and, yes, I agreed, but the prophecy says the apocalypse must happen. I thought I was doing the right thing when I agreed.”

“And let’s not forget the fact that you would be granted the opportunity to become human.” Michael held up a finger. “Able to die.” He held up a second one. “And a certain archangel granting you forgiveness to get back into Heaven had nothing to do with it?” Michael lifted the third finger as he cocked a brow at Penny.

“Is this true? Did you plan to kill me so you could get back into Heaven?” Minetta gawked at her, but Penny just looked at the ground.

“Don’t forget the part where the apocalypse can take place. You see, Minetta, Penny here hated all humans before she was tossed from Heaven. They revolted her. In fact, she was so against the job she was tasked to do that she wanted everything on Earth to be destroyed. Isn’t that right, Penny?”

“Please stop this,” Penny pleaded.

Michael smiled, and she wasn’t sure if he shouldn’t be tossed from Heaven for being a Grade-A jerk.

“Humans were destroying the Earth. I used to think they didn’t respect a thing. I really did think I was doing what was right.” Penny looked at her. “But then I met you, Minetta, and I couldn’t do it. We were like kindred spirits. Friends right from the first word spoken, and I couldn’t follow through. I finally saw what Father had wanted me to see, but I had been too blinded by my own resentment and anger. So instead, I bargained for a deal to keep you away from Riker in exchange for your life, but the moment you met him, my deal was broken. Minny, please forgive me.”

“You lied to me again. You had the chance to tell me the truth, and instead, you gave me a half-truth to make yourself out to be a hero, a savior?” Minny staggered to her feet, her legs seized, the muscles revolting against the movement. She sucked in a sharp breath as she stumbled but held out her hand to ward off Penny’s help as she made to move in her direction.

“So then tell me this, why must I really stay away from Riker, Penny? What is the truth?”

“Yes, Penny, what is the truth,” Michael mocked.

Minetta pointed a finger at Michael. “You shut up. I’m done listening to your annoying, condescending attitude. You, sir, are nothing more than a winged version of shallow charisma! And it saddens me that God has made you his number one archangel. Manipulating me the way you did. You disgust me as much as anyone else, so don’t act like you’re some freaking saint for forcing this confession. I know it’s not for me. It’s only to further your own agenda.” She pointed up toward the sky. “You have most certainly grown too big for those tighty whitey britches you’re wearing.” She pointed to the flowing white fabric around his waist. “I shudder at the thought of spending an entire day with you, let alone an eternity.”