Chapter 215 — Sera and Henry
Sera waited until Crowley walked away before she spoke.
"Well."
Henry looked at her.
"Well what?"
"That went better than expected."
Henry glanced toward Crowley.
"He didn't threaten him."
"That's progress."
Charon slowly emerged from behind Henry's shoulder.
"Angel scary."
Henry looked at him.
"You hid behind me."
Charon's face disappeared.
"I was… thinking."
Sera laughed.
"You were hiding."
"No."
"You were."
Charon's face reappeared.
"Very strategic hiding."
Henry sighed.
Sera looked toward Gabriel.
He was still standing in the courtyard, talking quietly with Brook.
"He doesn't seem dangerous."
Henry nodded.
"Neither did Elias at first."
Sera's smile disappeared.
"Fair point."
They watched Gabriel for a moment.
Henry lowered his voice.
"Do you think he's staying?"
Sera shrugged.
"He said for now."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one we have."
Henry looked uneasy.
"Do you think he's safe?"
Sera considered it.
"Safe for who?"
Henry frowned.
"Us."
Sera looked at Gabriel again.
"I don't know."
Charon's face appeared between them.
"Angel good?"
Sera smiled.
"We don't know."
"Angel bad?"
"We don't know that either."
Charon thought about it.
"Angel confusing."
Henry nodded.
"That's probably the best description."
Sera folded her arms.
"He hasn't attacked anyone."
"Neither did he threaten anyone."
"Exactly."
"Except he came from Heaven."
Sera looked at Henry.
"That's what bothers you?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Me too."
Neither of them said anything for a moment.
Then Gabriel turned toward them.
Charon immediately disappeared behind Henry's neck.
Henry sighed.
"You don't have to hide."
"I am not here."
Sera laughed.
Gabriel approached.
"Everything all right?"
Henry looked at the empty space behind him.
"Yes."
Sera nodded.
"Fine."
Gabriel smiled.
"You're both terrible liars."
Charon's voice came from behind Henry.
"Angel sees too much."
Gabriel laughed.
"I've noticed."
Charon slowly peeked out.
Gabriel looked at him.
Charon stared back.
Then immediately hid again.
Henry shook his head.
"He'll get used to you."
Gabriel smiled.
"I hope so."
Sera studied him.
"Are you staying?"
Gabriel looked toward Brook.
"For now."
"Why?"
"Because I want to understand what brought me here."
Sera nodded slowly.
"And if Heaven calls you back?"
Gabriel's expression became serious.
"I'll decide what I do."
Henry looked at him.
"Even if they order you?"
Gabriel smiled.
"Especially then."
Sera exchanged a glance with Henry.
That answer didn't make her trust him.
But it helped.
Not much.
Just enough.
Charon finally emerged again.
"Angel staying?"
Gabriel nodded.
"For now."
Charon considered this.
Then disappeared behind Henry again.
"Good."
Henry blinked.
"Good?"
Charon's muffled voice came from behind him.
"Better than new scary angel."
Sera laughed.
Henry smiled.
Gabriel did too.
For the first time since he had arrived—
the tension felt slightly lighter.
Not gone.
Not even close.
But lighter.
Gabriel was still an unknown.
Heaven was still watching.
Hell had felt his arrival.
The Earth was still reacting.
And none of them knew whether Gabriel would truly remain with Xcution.
But for now—
he was there.
And sometimes, for people who had survived as much as they had—
"for now" was enough.
End of Chapter 215