A Scripta

Grim's astral self knew exactly where it was going. He had remembered the map to Olympus that Hermes had given him, and shot up there. He stood before a huge marble temple, with eight columns around it. He floated inside, to see a grassy courtyard, with a stream running through it, and deer drinking from it. He floated to them, and they scattered.

"As long as I don't catch her bathing, I should be fine," he muttered, and floated further into the temple. He saw a greyhound and it came right up to him. He let it sniff his hand, and then the dog looked up at him with eyes that showed intelligence. Grim wondered if it was a man that Artemis changed into a greyhound.

"Yes," said a voice off to the side. Stepping out from behind a column was a beautiful woman in a long blue dress, with long dark hair. Grim didn't think it was Artemis.

"No," she said with a smile, "I am not Artemis."

"I am sorry, my lady," Grim said and bowed, averting his eyes. "I don't know who you are."

"I am Hecate." She didn't move from the spot. The greyhound went to her. "You come looking for Lady Artemis?"

"To see if she has her arrows, that's all. I put them away--"

"She has them."

"Oh." He looked around the temple. "I guess I'll be going, then."

Hecate nodded, and turned away. "You will know us all eventually, psychopomp."

Grim floated out of the temple and looked at it from a distance. "I wonder if I can find Stefan while I'm here." Olympus was a part of heaven, just like Hades was a part of "hell". Kiko had explained it perfectly, that there were many realms where spirits could go, spirits that would be comfortable in their endings. Olympus was in the "good" neighborhood.

He thought about where Stefan might be, and he saw a gold light in the distance. He flew to it, through fog and clouds, and found himself at a wall, facing what looked like an abyss. Stefan was manning that wall, flying along it. Grim's heart leapt.

"Stefan," Grim called, and the angel stopped mid-flight.

"Michael!" Stefan flew to him, and they embraced in the air. Grim could feel him against him, smell his clean scent. Grim thought he could feel the kiss that Stefan gave him. "I need to patrol the wall--"

"I've missed you so much."

Stefan tilted his head, smiled wanly, and caressed Grim's jaw. "I've missed you too."

Stefan and Grim were oblivious to two angels that flew up in the air a few yards behind them. One wore a scarlet cape and drew a sword, while another wore a light blue tunic and put his hand on the other's sword arm. Stefan took Grim's hand and flew to the edge of the wall, and lit down. They embraced again.

Archangel Michael glared at Archangel Uriel who held his sword arm. "The Seraphim is tainted and distracted. He will remove that ring and he will be no longer in love."

"I don't think that will do it," Uriel said. "We were meant to love man, were we not?"

Michael said nothing, as he watched the two figures in the distance. "Romantics," he spat, and flew away. Uriel grinned, and sent a message to Stefan that he would watch the wall for him while the two reunite temporarily.

When Grim woke up, he felt angel wings brush his face.