His Love In Time: Volume I
Chapter 1: Halo

MY WIFE DRIVES ME TO WORK, TO SPEND A little more time with me. Though it is the middle of October on earth, it is seventy degrees in Limbo City, and the sky is a vibrant red shade. I am wearing my work uniform – Pearl White suit with matching tie. Even my swords sheathe is white. I do not go to work without it, because it fit me so well.

In the place where everyone goes after they die, a small city named Limbo City exists. Under the watchful eye of the guardian angels. More people pass through here than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It is from this city that so many people meet God face-to-face to receive Judgement. It is in this city that I have been spending forty-hours per week, every week since I was twenty-one. That was the year I finally found out that I had a purpose, more than being a marine biologist. In the past couple of years, though, activity has gotten strange.

Yet somehow, I figure out a way to wake up every morning and come to work for the rest of my life. For my kind, this could last for centuries. Do not get me wrong, I love my life here. After all, I am the only half angel, half human here. I am also the only married angel here, and we are expecting. The first baby born in Limbo City since me.

It may sound petty, but I am proud of the fact that I get to keep my family going. Okay, maybe I am a little too arrogant. Something that my wife reminds me of daily. But I do not care. It does not make it any less impressive!

Limbo City is not as scary as it sounds. The constant beautiful weather. I love the sun, the buildings, and the purple ocean with golden wave caps. And I love living with my wife and feeling a sense of someone needing me.

“I hope you have a great day at work,” my wife says to me, as I am walking away from the car before I get to the liquid looking, rainbow portal from earth.

My wife says that I look so much like a hairless warrior. With the body of a mythical god.

Staring at the line that seems to be going on for miles, I feel rushed. Life here has been going so smoothly, usually. I mean, we get the occasional person that does not like that they are going to hell, so they try to rush the gate. That is when I get to put on my ‘game face’ and make sure that they go to the elevator. Or the scariest part is when a demon tries to go through the portal to earth. But there are so many portals here. There is no wonder, that there are so many crazy ghost stories are out there.

Ever read about vampires? Those are demons that attach themselves to the soul of a bitten one. What about a werewolf? A dog-like demon that hitches a ride on a new baby to a beast. The occasional witch? A demon possession on a person that is still living and breathing. Those are the ones that arrive by mistake.

The part that I must worry about now is my unborn child. There is no telling what can happen. The first child, besides me, to be born here. What if Lucifer or his queen, Lilith, sends one of their minions to take over the baby and raise hell on earth? Is having a baby here really the right thing to do? It feels like it is, especially when I begin to feel the baby move. But, after looking at this line, it’s handling all sorts of wrong.

Do not get me wrong, I am a very valuable protector, but I cannot be everywhere at once. Messing with me, though, is like messing with a police officer. You just do not mess with a cop’s family.

“I’ll miss you,” I say. I genuinely do miss Lynn every single time I go to work. You would too if your wife looked like an Amazonian Princess mixed with an Israeli Princess. I enjoy going to work, it just makes my coming home that much more enjoyable.

“Tell Peter that I said hi.”

“I will.”

“I love you,” she proclaims. “I’ll see you after work, I’ll be here around two.”

Hearing her say this makes work go by so much more slowly.

“I love you too,” I insist. “I got to get to work!”

She gets out of the car and runs to me. She gives me a tight hug, like she always does, before a sensual kiss. Great, now it is going to be a slow day, I think to myself. I walk to the security post, turning around and she is gone.

It is an eight-hour shift, like most jobs, along with an hour lunch. Then, every day, after work I go to the bar for a drink. Work does not usually bother me; the rampaging demon trying to break into heaven, though, gets a little tiring. Especially when it is an everyday occurrence.

Saint Peter never breaks his cool, during the whole thing. I think it is because of him doing this for so long, that he expects it. I have only been here for ten years. He is usually ready for a small battle, even though he never fights.

But it would be strange to go to work and have nothing weird happen. Neither of us know when a demon will attack – probably from hoping for the best for so many years. But aside from that, the only thing that ever happens here is the occasional lost soul. It is not like they know about where they are, they’re just not sure where they’re going or why.

When I get to my post, Saint Peter is ready to let the first soul come up. The way it works at the security gate, is my security booth stands to the left or right, depending on which way you are facing. Saint Peter will call the person, by their first and last name, and they are to stand on a platform. If God approves, the pearly gates will open, I will receive a green light, and they are free to go. If God disapproves, I will receive a red light, two demonic humans appear, and they go to the elevator. However, if God says that they need more help. A white light appears, and I am to escort them to the eternity building. The eternity building assigns them an apartment and provides a watch. The watch tells them how long they must fix their unfinished business. They receive a second chance at the platform after their time is up. Depending on the person, they can either have fun as a ghost on earth or learn what they forgot to learn. God allows them into heaven, most of the time.

“It’s a wonderful day, Jacob,” Saint Peter says, smiling ear to ear. He gets down from his big booth, and the short round man comes up for his daily hug. “I hope that you are having a happy morning. How’s Lynn?”

“Lynn’s great. It is a good morning. How are you, Peter?” I could get in trouble for calling him, Peter. But it is weird calling him Saint Peter, all the time.

“I am well.”

We both know that we were not able to socialize long, as there are thousands of people waiting for their turn for judgment. As we settle into our position, we wait for the clock to turn three-sixteen.

“Well, here we go.” A young man, about nineteen walks up to the podium. “Name?”

“Young. Adam Young,” the boy says.

“Ah yes, Adam. Let us see here,” Peter is staring at a huge book. I, personally, have never seen the book. But this is where Saint Peter gets to give the soul a chance. “Uh huh,” Saint Peter says as he is reading. “Says that you died at a young age due to a mass murder-suicide? You killed thirteen children, then took your own life. Oh, Adam, Adam, Adam.”

Adam looks around and again at him, “What?”

“Step up on the platform.”

I focus my eyes on the light bulbs below, waiting for them to light up. No one hears what God tells the person on the platform. All we know is what the lights tell us. The platform will glow the same color.

After a few minutes, the red light in my booth turns on. Two very large demonic humanoids appear. The two of them grab Adam by his arms and escort him to the elevator. The elevator opens, a red and fiery glow reveals, and they are gone.

“Next please,” Saint Peter calls out the next soul.

A young woman steps up to Saint Peter’s podium.

“Name?”

“Amanda Swift.”

“Ah, yes. Mrs. Swift. Oh, you poor thing. At least the children made it out all right. I am sure God will smile upon you. Please, step up.”

She does as Saint Peter instructs, and judgment does not take as long as the previous time. A green light shows up, and she gets the go-ahead to start hiking up the gorgeous stairway to heaven.

“Jacob, I brought you a gift for the baby, I made it myself,” Peter announces while we are waiting for the next person on the platform.

“Oh yes, what did you make?” I ask, with suspicion. The last thing I want is a nightstand that is not level.

“Well, it’s a type of bed, a manger.”

“Where did you find the time to build a manger?”

“Do you know the story of Jesus born in a manger?” One of the most incredible stories ever told in the bible.

“Of course.”

“I made that one, and it’s not being used now.”

That would explain why he has a manger, it is over two thousand years old. I guess he had the time at one point.

“It’s in my locker, I’ll bring it to the B and G after work,” Peter gives me a thumbs up, and I return the gesture.

“Thanks, Pete!” I can see the change in his expression from the name I just called him. Calling him Pete will get me in trouble. I should not call him Peter, either. However, he is usually okay with that.

He turns to the book and does not speak to me anymore.

“Angela, God is giving you a chance to find out what your unfinished business is,” I say as I step down from my security booth.

“Really?” the young redhead asks.

“Yes!” I placed one hand on the small of her back, and the other wrapped around her arm. As I escort her to the Eternity building, I mouth the word, “Sorry” to Peter. He gives me a nod, confirming all is well.

The building is tall, really tall, like an executive building with hundreds of offices inside. The main lobby always has a new car smell in it, for some reason. The tile floor sparkles like crystals, and the marble countertops have a golden shine to them. The woman behind the counter looks like your typical receptionist in a law firm.

“Name?” the young woman says.

“Angela McPherson.”

“Well, Ms. McPherson, you are sentenced to three hundred years of community service. During this time, you will be following your loved ones around on earth as a ghost. You are not to interfere, but you can learn. It is a time to learn and observe. Once you find out what your unfinished business is, please return here and let us know. If your timer runs out, judgment happens immediately. Here is your watch, with your timer, and here are your apartment keys. Your watch will GPS you to your apartment. Do you have any questions?”

“Three-hundred years?”

“That is correct,” the secretary responds.

“I’ve been in that line for over two-hours, and I have another three-hundred years?!”

I intervene, “Actually Angela, you’ve already been in line for two-hundred years. One-hundred years on earth does not feel the same as it does here in Limbo. It is like an hour has gone by.

“Then, how do you know?”

“Because I’m not dead.”

“I’m dead?!”

“Well, yes, you didn’t know that before meeting God?”

“I thought this was part of a circus show I was watching.”

“I’m sorry,” I try to help Angela, but she is not liking anything that I am telling her.

“This is a load of bull!”

In a second, after she says this, the same two large humanoids appear next to her. They say, “Angela McPherson, judgment has been casted on you, and you are coming with us.”

“Sure, as hell beats waiting for THREE-HUNDRED YEARS!”

And they are gone.

The screams coming from the elevator doors are haunting to anyone. I do not understand why anyone would choose that.

I walk back to the security booth to wait for the next one.

Before too long, it’s the end of the day, and I am walking to the Limbo City Bar and Grill. The only bar in all of Limbo City. Just a small place that demons and angels go to “socialize” without having to worry about a war breaking out. God allows it, on one condition. Angels cannot drink alcohol. So, I drink soda before going home. The demons can drink whatever they want.

I am okay with this, for the most part. I don’t enjoy alcohol anyway, and I have a pretty sweet gig. Free rent plus pay, it does not get any better than this. Never mind the groceries and utilities are also free. And the cars do not use fuel, here, so it is a beautiful life. I am also the only paid employee in all of Limbo City.

To my left, a short round, Santa Claus looking man sits next to me at the bar. It is Saint Peter, holding the manger. “Wow, Saint Peter, this looks amazing! Thanks!” It is truly breathtaking. The wood is hand carved and sturdy. There is a carving above the head, in the headboard, that reads Luke 2:1.

“I’m glad you like it,” Saint Peter says proudly.

It is not long before another angel joins the B and G. He is a new angel, no more than two weeks old. Which means only one thing. He was a human kid, then died, before learning right and wrong. The angel sits down next to Saint Peter but within earshot of me. I want to ask him his name, but for some reason I am shy. He is a messenger angel, not a warrior. His uniform is a long white robe, with a belt made of rope. That is it.

In the earlier years, the messenger angels would also have a shield and a sword. They did everything, but now all the angels have specific jobs.

The two demons that escort all the wrong to hell, are sitting in a booth behind us. They are taunting the poor boy. Throwing pretzels and ice cubes at his perfectly blonde head. Looking at him, I can tell that he is not happy. His vein in the forehead is beginning to show. Like he will turn big and green if you make him upset, type of look.

Because of the natural law, this messenger angel is not allowed to do anything to defend himself from the two demons. Unfortunately, I’m a guardian angel, so I have to try something. “Leave him alone,” I mumble under my breath.

The bartender holds my hand and begins to pet my thumb. I glance down at the new feeling that starts to rush over my skin, giving me goosebumps. An impression that I am not happy with. I look up to see the bartender, attempting to calm me down. The blonde haired woman, who is built like an MMA fighter and model says to me, “Don’t stress about it, hun. If they keep it up, they’ll get what’s coming to them.”

“I’m not built that way,” I argue. As I watch more food hit the back of his head with my peripherals.

I try to continue my drink before witnessing one of them throw a knife at his head. The blade won’t kill him, but it will hurt something fierce. The butt of the handle hits him, right on his head. Causing some blood to show, and they begin to laugh.

“That’s enough!” I yell, standing up to face them.

“Don’t,” she says again, this time holding my arm and pulling me back. “I am begging you, please don’t. I really don’t want to clean up a bar mess.”

To please the friendly bartender, I turn back around and sit down on my stool. I wish I could cut both of their heads off right here and now. I would rather help out the bartender than deal with these two clowns.

I can hear the two demons laughing and joking about me. “Bring it on feather boy,” one of the beasts says.

Trying to ignore them is going to take some inner-strength that I am not sure I can muscle up. The bar is loud. But I can still hear the two idiots making fun of him.

Without my knowledge as to why, the entire bar is quiet now. I hear the doors swing open, with a loud squeak. A tall, dark, and handsome man walks in. He sits down, with the two demons. This man presents himself as he has a lot of power. He is wearing the most excellent pressed suit, tailored to fit his every muscle. His wings look like they are a part of his leather jacket but they aren’t. The patrons are just staring at him. Perhaps they are worried that he was going to do something.

As he starts to talk to the two demons, the rest of the bar begins to speak once again.

“Lucifer, if the numbers continue to rise, we’re going to have to think about taking over again.” I hear one of the demons say to him.

I think I recognize him, but I can’t put my finger on it. This is the guy that used to tease me when I first started here. I remember him standing next to me, at the gate, and taunting me. He would say, “You know, I am an angel. These gates cannot stop me from being with my father.”

Staying clear from him is the right way to be.

The same demon that was throwing things before throws another knife at the angel’s head. This time, however, I catch the blade before it hits the little angel.

“Pick on someone your own size,” I say with a little more strength than I think I have.

“Excuse me?” the larger of the two demons says.

He stands up and takes a step towards me, but before he can get more than a couple of feet away from his table, Lucifer’s hand is gripped around his arm. Lucifer tells him, “Samael, now is not the time.”

Samael looks back at him and says, “This little half breed needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Don’t forget who that little half breed is,” Lucifer warns him. I am not quite sure what he means by it, but it is an honor knowing that Lucifer is threatened by me.

Samael inches his way to me. Focusing his eyes on me. I also began to feel Lucifer’s gaze on me, as Samael gets closer. “Did you say something to me?” he says. Samael is not a little guy, either. He stands at a hunch, over seven feet tall. His muscles are so large that they, too, look like they have muscles. The bodybuilder, calmly, sits down on the stool next to me. Sarcastically, he says, “Why don’t you speak in my good ear.” He taps his ear that is facing me.

Not caring about the size difference between us, I tell him, “Leave him alone.”

Samael looks down at the bar top and nods his head. “That’s what I thought you said.” He stands up, turns around and begins to walk away. He quickly pivots and swings his massive hand at me. Without hesitation, I am able to catch his fist before it plumbs into my face. His eyes widen, not sure what just happened.

I remove my grip from around his fist and allow him to step back. He looks at his fist and massages his knuckles for a moment. Confused he turns back to Lucifer, who was now smiling at me with an evil smile. The type of smile that makes you think that they are hiding something.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Saint Peter. Thanks for the manger,” I grab the manger and walk out the double, swinging, doors. I don’t want to stick around to find out who the stronger immortal is. It could be a fight that goes on for hours, and I am already beat from work. I look at my watch to see the time is about two in the morning. My wife usually picks me up around this time.

I look at the stairway to heaven and focus on the portal. The line is growing, which means that a lot of people are passing away on earth. Saint Paul and Michael, however, are handling the gate during this time, so I am not too concerned. Michael taught me everything I know, and Saint Paul is just as fantastic as Peter. The difference is, Saint Peter is respected as an angel.

I grab a seat, outside the grill, waiting for my wife. It isn’t long before I am joined by Samael’s friend. Looks wise, he is almost identical. The only real difference is that he isn’t as significant. Beating him, won’t be a problem. “You know, Lucifer is going to win,” he breaks the awkward silence.

“Win what?” I ask in confusion.

“The war between heaven and hell,” he explains.

“Excuse me?” I respond with shock in my voice.

“I know you’ve only been here for ten years, but this war has been going on for centuries. In the end, God is going to give up his throne to Lucifer, to save His people.”

“Yeah, ok.”

“I’m serious,” he continues. “Lucifer is learning and is tired of being the “ruler” of hell. He wants to rule it all. And while God is a God of mercy, Lucifer will convince God to forgive Lucifer for his wrongdoings. Then when God least expects it.”

“Leviathan!” Lucifer says from the doorway. “Enough!”

Leviathan looks down like a cowardly dog while Lucifer retreats into the distance.

“You’re Leviathan?” I ask.

“Yes, sir. The great Leviathan!” he says proudly.

“If you’re so great, then how come I’ve never heard of you?” I ask in response.

“You’ve never heard of me?!” he hisses at me. He stands up and slowly begins to grow. Before too long, he morphs into a giant dragon. His long tale is over one-hundred feet long. He is taller than a T-Rex ever was and just as pretty.

I don’t feel like getting eaten, today, so I say the only thing that I can think of. “Oh, you’re that Leviathan!”

As the dragon stretches his neck, to his full size, he stops and snaps his glare to me.

“You’re the one that swallowed Jonah!” I realize.

The dragon shrinks and morphs back to the annoying demon that sat next to me a few short minutes ago. Leviathan says, in honor, “That I am.”

I can see my wife driving toward me, in the distance. I stand up and offer my hand to Leviathan, just to be polite. “I hope that we don’t have to bump heads again in the future.”

He smiles and says, “You scared Samael and Lucifer. I wouldn’t want that either.”

The beautiful dark blue nineteen sixty-seven Ford Mustang GT pulls up next to us. The convertible top is down with Lynn’s perfectly flowing brown hair blowing in the breeze.

“Nice car, man!” Leviathan says. “What’s your name?”

“Sprite, Jacob Sprite.”

“You’re Jacob Sprite?”

“Yea, why?”

“No reason,” he says staring at me like a deer in the headlights.

I shrug the weird moment off and got into the car.

Driving as if she is in a race scene from a movie, we were at the foot of our apartment building in little to no time.

Because our apartment is built for angels, not humans, the only way to enter is through our balcony window. There was virtually no door to enter the building. Not quite sure why, but it’s always been that way. If you look at the building, it is towering over the purple ocean. Which makes it beautiful to witness, as the golden wave caps clash together. Our apartment is facing the sea. The sun and moon are in the same spot day after day. But the color is not white or yellow like on earth. It is a crystal ball, that gives us a glimpse of the planet.

I lean over and picked my wife up like I am carrying her over the threshold. My massive wings reach out to take flight. I flap the wings, slowly, to enjoy a quiet liftoff. With a few flaps of my wings, we are on the top floor to our apartment building. I land quietly and softly onto the balcony.

I, carefully, put my wife down, so that we can walk inside. We both walk in to see our refrigerator door wide open. “Hi, Gabriel,” my wife says in disgust.

From behind the door, a tall man pops up. His halo, causes the entire room to glow like every light is on in the house. “Oh, hey!” he says with excitement.

“Please, take whatever you’d like,” I join in with the annoyance talk.

“Oh, sorry. Do you mind?”

“Not at all,” sarcastically.

Gabriel begins to make himself a sandwich, not caring much about my wife and me being in the room.

Breaking the silence my wife asks, “What is it, Gabriel?!”

“Oh, sorry,” he picks up a well-built sandwich and begins to shovel it in his mouth. While chewing, he says, “God sent me. And I come bearing gifts.” He says, walking towards the perfectly carved, box on the counter.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because you’re having a baby,” he chuckles. “Why?”

“No, why did God send you?”

“Oh, because of little Jacob in there.”

Lynn, concerned, begins to rub her belly. “What do you mean? Everything is fine, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” Gabriel reassures. “He just wants you three to move to earth.”

“He’s kicking us out?” I ask.

“Jacob, you know that any demon that sees a baby here will try to take over the baby and go to earth. What would you do if Lilith got a hold of him?”

“That won’t happen.”

“Did you really think that the baby will be one-hundred percent safe here?”

“I had hoped that since I was born here, it would be alright.”

“Of course you did, and what did your wife think when you told her?”

“You knew about this?!” Lynn asks in anger.

Looking back and forth at Gabriel and Lynn, I am trying to get my words to come out, in fear of saying the wrong thing. “Well, I… and… uh…”

Quietly, and secretly, Gabriel slides the box towards me. The Hebrew carving says a word that I have never seen before. But once I open the box, my mind is having a hard time grasping the beauty of what was inside. The glow illuminates the room ten times brighter than it was. It looks like a glowing necklace, but I know it has to be something a lot more serious.

“Here.” He has a crooked smile painted on his face. His flawless skin of an angel, makes him look like he was still in his twenties regardless of him being centuries old.

I try to remain calm. The ring is almost too much to hold. But to refuse this gift, is like rejecting a gift from God Himself.

“It’s your halo, Jacob,” Gabriel says, with a smile on his face.

“Halo?” I ask.

“All of us have one, and we felt that it was time that you wore one too. So, wear it and wear it proud.”

“But why now? Why are you presenting me this Halo?”

“Because God wants you and Lynn to raise the child on earth. This will give you the opportunity to come and go as you please. You’re allowed to keep working here, but the baby cannot stay.”

“Why?”

“Gabriel, we want the baby to live a great life, in Limbo,” Lynn tries to explain.

“I promise, Lynn, I want what is best for him. And for you. I don’t want him to grow up there, on earth!” Gabriel tries to explain.

“So, you would rather our baby have to worry about being a demon?!”

“Lynn, that’s uncalled for. He’s trying his best, and it’s not like any of us can really tell God, no,” I defend Gabriel.

Gabriel begins to inch his way to the balcony door while Lynn and I are conversing. He is walking calmly and quietly, hoping not to make a sound. He is hoping that it is going to be our problem, now.

“Not so fast, you little half winged, blond haired, freak,” Lynn threatens.

Gabriel stops, the put down is not necessary, but enough to make her point.

“I’m not finished with you yet.” Gabriel points to himself, confused. Lynn continues, “Why didn’t you warn me?”

“Well, I…”

“Didn’t want the burden, is that it?”

“No, I was...”

“You’ve looked in on me, every week for 7 months, and you never thought to say, “Hey, I have some news for you.” Not wait until we are about to go into labor!”

“I know. I was…”

“No, you’ve said enough. Get out of here.” Lynn tells Gabriel and orders him out the door.

I look back at the halo on the counter and walk to it. I pick the halo up so that I can try it on. I place the halo on my head. I don’t even feel it, but I feel a sense of power that is floating above me. “Perhaps this thing does give power,” I say to myself. I take the halo off and place it quietly down.

Before I know it, Lynn has already vanished into the bedroom. I attempt to join her, but she slams the door in my face. I scream out, “Can I at least get a pillow?!”

The door opens up, and a pillow smacks my face. “Thank you!”

Making my way to the couch, I am not dreading the night, but I will miss holding her. But thankfully it is just one night.

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