Johnny sat across from the towering angel, whose cold eyes seemed to embody divine judgment. Zachariah, also known as Zadkiel, folded his arms, gazing at the Rider as if reading his sins, weaknesses, and thoughts. The room was steeped in tension.

  “Speak, child of Cain,” Zadkiel commanded, his tone making it clear this was no request. “Or would you prefer I call you Ghost Rider?”

  “You know about me—how?” Johnny asked cautiously, trying not to betray his growing unease.

  Zadkiel replied with a faint, almost mocking smile:

  “Do you think you can hide your essence, Rider? The lineage of Cain is forever marked by a curse that burns brighter than any star. Your nature is pin to anyone who can see beyond the surface. As for the Spirit of Vengeance… it was merely an educated guess, which you’ve now confirmed.”

  Johnny clenched his teeth. This angel was hard to rattle, but he wasn’t about to back down.

  “You know my story, but I don’t know yours,” he said. “The Bible doesn’t mention an angel named Zadkiel.”

  Melissa, who had been watching the exchange with barely restrained amusement, finally spoke:

  “The Bible only writes about great heroes and vilins. Like me.” She smirked, folding her arms. “Zadkiel was head of Heaven’s special forces. At first, he supported Lucifer when he rebelled against God, but then he switched sides at the st moment. His moral compass wavers like a boat in a storm.”

  “Demoness, stand aside,” Zadkiel cut her off with icy calm. “I have no interest in your attempts at wit. Your lineage is but a stain on the fabric of creation.”

  “I’m more than a demon. I was invisibly present at every biblical event,” Melissa retorted proudly. “If I had my Grimoire here, I could prove it.”

  Johnny interrupted her, preventing her from escating the topic:

  “Enough about Solomon’s Mirror. You’re returning it to the Grimoire tonight.” He turned back to the angel. “How did you end up on Earth?”

  Zadkiel looked at him with a trace of sarcasm:

  “Am I allowed to finish my story? What an honor.” He paused, as if gauging their attention, then continued:

  “I managed to choose the right side in time, but that didn’t absolve me of the consequences. The Father did not forgive my hesitation. My time among mortals is not an exile but a path of atonement. I must help them mortals using their own resources, reminding them of their own light. As for this rapier…” He touched the bde with reverence. “It holds within it a celestial song, one I am no longer worthy to command.”

  Johnny couldn’t tear his eyes away from the artifact. The rapier glowed softly, as if stars were reflected in its bde. Its hilt was adorned with intricate engravings that formed lines of ancient hymns. The weapon was a reminder of the greatness Zadkiel had lost forever.

  “Doesn’t seem like invisible help to me,” Johnny muttered, gesturing to the office’s opulent surroundings.

  “And he’s being modest about his power,” Melissa scoffed. “Angels still in Heaven haven’t lost theirs power's.”

  Zadkiel replied with a faint smile:

  “I cannot reveal my wings or use celestial magic before mortals. My punishment is to aid them through their own means.”

  “You call that punishment?” Melissa eyed the rapier. “In my opinion, it just looks like losing privileges.”

  Zachariah was about to respond, but Johnny abruptly changed the subject:

  “Is it true that angels can’t commit evil?”

  Zadkiel’s sharp gaze nded on him.

  “It’s true. That’s how the Father made us. Even my weapon can only be used against demons.” He gnced at Melissa. “Like you.”

  “Who are you talking about?” Melissa asked with feigned innocence. “I’m just a simple twenty-year-old girl.”

  Zadkiel didn’t fall for her act.

  “Demoness, you can clothe yourself in a human form, but your nature remains unchanged. You are a distortion of His design, a drop of poison in the chalice of creation.”

  “Sounds like a personal problem.” Melissa tilted her head. “Do you really think Heaven was right to cast you down here? You punished like a dog that failed to fetch slippers on time.”

  “The righteousness of Heaven is not up for debate, demoness,” the angel replied calmly. “That understanding comes to those wise enough to see it.”

  “And if you could turn back time,” she challenged, pointing at her T-shirt. “Would you betray Lucifer again?”

  “Pondering such questions is the domain of mortals and demons,” Zachariah replied coldly. “I did what I was meant to do.”

  “At least Lucifer fought for his principles. You, it seems, just chose the winners.”

  “Your existence is a mistake in creation, demoness.” He rested his hand on the hilt of his rapier. “A mistake I will one day correct.”

  Melissa smirked, taking the angel’s direct threat as a personal victory.

  “So, what do you want from me, Rider?” Zachariah asked, a hint of irritation in his voice.

  “A job,” Johnny replied bluntly.

  Melissa chuckled quietly, clearly amused by the situation.

  Zadkiel raised an eyebrow, his voice turning colder.

  “Expin yourself.”

  “You said yourself that you’re bound to help mortals but can’t use violence. You’ll give me contracts to take down vilins. But they have to be real monsters, not common thugs. Otherworldly and mystical threats that only the Ghost Rider can handle. Last night convinced me that monsters shouldn’t roam the streets. I’ll be the punishing fists of the Lord.”

  “You’re offering to be the Lord’s fist? How amusing. And what if I say that it’s not your choice to make, Rider?”

  “Then I’ll walk out and leave you in this toy tower to fight dark forces with paper and pen,” Johnny retorted defiantly.

  Zadkiel smirked faintly.

  “You’re not as simple as you appear. Perhaps you are worthy. I think I can find a few contracts to satisfy your thirst for violence.”

  “And don’t forget the reward,” Johnny said. “You’ll pay for each completed contract.”

  “Did I mishear you?” The angel arched an elegant brow.

  “If all I needed were names of monsters, I’d have gone to my hellish retive. I’m tired of hunting for free, so I came to you,” Johnny smirked. “I heard you’ve got access to miracles of a divine level.”

  “What audacity!” Zadkiel crossed his arms. “Being the Lord’s fist is already an honor. Only a bsphemer would demand payment.”

  “Zadkiel, you don’t have a choice,” Melissa interjected with a devilish grin. “Unless you want to expin to Daddy why you let monsters roam the streets.”

  “Do not bspheme, demoness!”

  “So, do we have a deal?” Johnny smirked.

  “Are you sure you understand what a deal with an angel entails, Rider?” Zadkiel asked coldly. “This isn’t like your agreements with demons, where the winner is the one who cheats better. Everything must be done honestly.”

  “That works for me, as long as you pay for completed work.”

  “I won’t pay you in gold, Rider. But I can open doors to pces your cursed feet would never tread otherwise. One favor in exchange for one contract.” He nodded slowly. “But remember this, Rider: every one of your actions will be judged. My hand will not falter if you stray from the righteous path.”

  Man and angel sealed the deal with a handshake, while the demoness served as the guarantor.

  As Johnny reached the door, Zadkiel called out:

  “I have one more question.”

  “What now?” Johnny asked.

  Zadkiel slowly circled Johnny, stopping in front of Melissa. Tilting his head, his icy gaze settled on her amber eyes.

  “Are you free tomorrow evening?”

  /////

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