Chapter 9

Louvre Museum, Paris, France

As secretive as a recluse spider, Katrinka watched as Fay and Azrael entered the glass pyramid and disappeared down the escalator. She waited five minutes before she too entered the Louvre. Once she had purchased her admission, she moved quickly into the museum. She reasoned everyone and their brother would be viewing the Mona Lisa. It would be a good place for her to hide. The portrait would be her best chance to locate Fay in the massive museum.

Eventually, Fay and Azrael found their way to the portrait of the Mona Lisa. The viewing area was crowded, with all in attendance jockeying for an up-close chance to get a piece of Leonardo da Vinci’s grand masterpiece. Katrinka waited until Fay moved on to an almost vacant grand master’s viewing gallery. Most of the paintings were larger than Fay’s garage door. Her intention was to first speak to Azrael in private. She waited until Fay had left Azrael alone.

As Kat approached Azrael, it seemed to her Azrael was expecting to see her at that moment. “Hello,” Katrinka greeted her. “Nice to meet you again.”

Azrael returned Katrinka’s greeting in Russian. “Hello, Lady Katrinka. Come. Sit with me,” she said in welcome.

The two women continued their conversation in the Russian language. “I wanted to speak to you alone,” Katrinka said. “Fay will return soon.” Katrinka reached into her satchel and withdrew a pen. Offering it to Azrael, she said, “I return pen. I no use it.” She smiled. “But you know it.”

Azrael returned the smile.

“As I say before,” Katrinka went on, “I would like to speak to you before Faya comes back.”

“Fay will be a while. She went to the ladies’ room and then she is going to get confused and turned around before she finds her way back to us,” Azrael predicted.

“Then I am correct,” Kat claimed. “You are more than Marine Embassy guard.”

Azrael nodded, yes, but remained silent.

“Azrael, Angel of Death,” Katrinka continued, “the psychopomp, who transports souls to afterlife after they die.”

“Go on,” Azrael coaxed.

“Two men follow me are not espionage agents but angels?” Katrinka asked.

Azrael offered her a confirming nod.

Katrinka’s mood saddened. “You have purpose,” she said. “I fear you are here to take my Faya to afterlife.”

“That is what I like about you, Lady K. You are a badass and you are quick on the uptake,” Azrael said.

“What do I do?” Katrinka asked.

“I like living as a human sometimes. I am not in a hurry to do my job. But I will when the time comes. In the meantime, I have grown to like your Faya,” Azrael informed her. “She has a pure soul. They are very hard to find these days. I may be willing to negotiate,” Azrael offered. “A soul for a soul?”

“Deal,” Katrinka was quick to reply. “My soul for her soul.”

The conversation returned to English. Azrael seemed to consider Katrinka’s offer. “I’ll think about it,” she said. “But I may have something else in mind. Anyway, Fay will be back soon. We can talk later.”

Shortly after, there was an echo in the hall. “There you two are!” Fay said, louder than she had intended. In an instant, she hugged Katrinka. Then the mush began to flow. “Oh. I am so happy to see you!” Fay exclaimed. “I have been so worried.” Fay stepped back from Katrinka. “You are okay. You look good!” Fay continued, “Katrinka, you know Azrael.”

Katrinka responded, “Azrael and I have had some time to get to know each other.”

Fay apologized, “All I did was go to the ladies’ room. Then, I got completely turned around and ended up somewhere else. Me! I never get lost.”

Katrinka responded, “I wish I had time to visit but I must return to safe house. I cannot be out too long.”

Katrinka could see the disappointment in Fay’s expression. “I need help to leave France,” Katrinka continued. “But I do not know my options. U.S. or Russia. Is it possible?”

“We have a lawyer in Cairo,” Fay told her. “I will contact him to learn if the Egyptian government has placed a warrant for your arrest. Once we know the answer, Sasha and I will know if we need to begin extradition applications or not.” Fay hugged Katrinka again. “It is so good to know you are alive and well, sweetheart.”

“It is the same with me,” Katrinka replied warmly.

“Can I do anything else for you?” Fay asked.

“Yes. The photo of stones I text to you,” Katrinka said. “What about them?”

“They are a rarer blue diamond variety,” Fay told her. “An appraiser at Tiffany thought them worth perhaps twenty to twenty-five million. But if they are conflict diamonds then I do not know.”

“Thank you, Faya.” The two women hugged again. “I will message you,” Katrinka said. “I must go.” Katrinka reached out to grasp Azrael’s hand. “We can discuss.”

Azrael nodded. “Take care, Lady Kat.”

****

Katrinka returned from the nearby market with apples and beer. She flopped onto the bed and clicked on the TV. The guy at the front desk had given her a converter which allowed her to access a few English programs. They were mostly old American and British produced reruns, but they were all new to her. She found American humor odd, but the British humor was hard for her to appreciate. Television watching was boring, yet she found whatever the offering was, it caused her to fall asleep.

Sleep was about to claim her when a soft knock came at the door. Only the manager, or Irishka, knew she was there. Now fully awake and alert, Katrinka reached for her weapon and paused, listening for any telltale sound that might cause her concern.

“Katrinka,” a voice called.

Kat knew the voice. It may be a friend. The jury was still out on her assessment of the person. She moved with caution to the door. She took the precaution of standing beside the door, and not in front of it, in case someone shot through the door so that she would not be in line with a bullet or three.

Deciding she had enough trust in the person on the opposite side, Kat unlatched the security chain and opened the door. At least the woman was smiling, the sign of a good beginning. “Azrael.” Kat welcomed the visitor without surprise evident in her voice. “Come in.”

Azrael proceed through the door as Kat closed it behind her.

Azrael surveyed the room. “Nice place. Fit for a queen,” she said.

“Yeah. Right,” Kat replied. “You want beer?”

“Sure!”

Kat retrieved a bottle from the refrigerator, opened the top with her pocketknife, then handed it to Azrael. “Have seat,” she offered. “We talk.”

Azrael sipped the beer. She smiled and looked at the bottle. “Beer over the centuries has greatly improved. The piss they served five hundred years ago was pathetic. Carbonation is the secret,” Azrael said. She took a second sip.

Katrinka replied, “I would imagine many things have improved over the millennia.”

“True,” Azrael agreed. “Except for humans. All was going well until Gen Y came along. No offence.”

“None taken.” Katrinka pressed, “What of the deal you suggested?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Azrael said. “I almost forgot. There was a reason I came to see you.”

With some doubt evident on her face, Katrinka reminded the forgetful Angel of Death, “The soul for a soul. Me for Faya.”

Azrael’s face brightened. “The deal. Well, I have been thinking about it.”

Katrinka became worried. Was Azrael going back on the offer? “Me for Faya. That was the offer,” she stated firmly.

Azrael smiled. She took another sip of beer. “Great drink,” she said. “I have another offer for you. You probably won’t like it but hear me out.”

Katrinka continued speaking to Lady Death in the Russian language. “You speak my language well.”

“I’m not one to brag. Well, yes, I am one to brag,” Azrael replied. “I’m fluent in over ten million languages,” she boasted, “give or take.”

Katrinka began to grow impatient. “The deal?” she prompted.

Azrael looked at Katrinka. “You wouldn’t happen to have a cigar, would you?” she asked.

Katrinka’s eyes lit up. “No, but I do have a cigarette.”

Azrael shook her head, no. “I don’t touch the stuff.”

Katrinka now reasoned if she could keep Azrael’s mind off of the deal, she may well forget about it. Again.

But no. “I told you, and you figured out some on your own,” Azrael said. “Well played on that one, by the way.”

“Spacibo,” Kat replied.

Azrael continued, “My original intention was to claim Fay’s soul. It was her time. And, the truth be known, she was well past her time. By all rights, she should have drowned on the mission a few years ago there in the Yellow Sea. But the dolphins got in the way and saved her.”

“She told me,” Kat recalled. “It was awesome.”

“Then she outwitted an alligator and a shark, at the same time,” Azrael explained. “That one impressed me.”

“Me too.”

“Then there was the sick bastard, Roman Justine. I hold Mazikim completely responsible for that wretch Justine trying to kill her, I think it was twice?” Azrael pondered. “Maybe three times? She outwitted him every time. She got him in the end.”

“She has a knack for ducking death, it would seem,” Kat observed.

“Yes,” Azrael agreed. “However, this time is unavoidable.”

“Why?”

Azrael revealed, “Fay has cancer. It will only get worse.”

“I did not know it,” Kat said sadly.

“She has told no one,” Azrael replied. “She keeps it to herself. But this is the Fay I have come to know and to admire. You see, she has a pure heart. Those are very rare in humans. You know it, Lady K.”

“She will give everything to anyone before she will give to herself,” Kat stated.

“True. I have come to know her and to appreciate her,” Azrael responded. “As a result, I am willing to deal. But a soul is required.”

“A soul for a soul is what you said,” Kat recounted.

“Fay’s cancer is becoming painful for her. She hides it from all. Only her and her doctor know. And me,” Azrael added.

“What can be done?” Kat wondered.

“If you and I strike a bargain, then tomorrow her pain will subside,” Azrael told Kat. “Her cancer will disappear, and she will live out her life, and well she should.”

“Okay. I am in,” Kat immediately replied. “But you say deal changed. You want more?”

“You, my dear Lady, have something I want,” Azrael informed Kat. “You are also a rare human. You are a survivor, and you are clever. No one else would have experienced your life from age thirteen until now and have lived.”

“I sometimes wonder it myself.” Katrinka noticed Azrael’s bottle was empty. “Can I get you another beer?” she offered.

“Please.”

Katrinka retrieved a beer for Azrael, and encouraged her, “Please. Continue.”

“We have the opportunity to right wrongs which have occurred in Russia since before the time of Tsar Nicholas II,” Azrael went on. “Again, Mazikim screwed the pooch. Her guys were Rasputin and Lenin. Again, they are all on her. Always, this is Mazikim. Always trouble with that one.”

“The deal is I agree to assume the headship of Russia as Princess Yekaterina, with you as my Rasputin,” Kat guessed.

“Almost,” Azrael corrected. “I want nothing to do with it. You would be on your own. You can handle it.”

“What would be the purpose?” Kat wondered.

“It is complex. If I had time to explain, I would. We do not have three months for it, so the quick version is you, as Princess, will assume a position of opposition to political Russia. You will restore the Russian soul,” Azrael stated. “Small children will want to be you. You will become a role model. All the small ones now have is Cheburashka. It is like Winnie the Pooh becoming a role model for American children. You can see the problem.”

“I do not know this Winnie the Poop,” Kat said.

Azrael laughed. “Your life will be difficult. But it has been difficult since age thirteen. You are also clever. Difficult is a concept you will eventually own. In the meantime, you will have the power to return to the Russian people their hearts.”

“And I would have Faya and Sasha with me?” Kat asked.

“Your choice.”

“You can tell me the worst and I will still make deal,” Kat affirmed.

“I know you would. But that’s you. So, deal?” Azrael asked.

“No question in my mind. It is deal.” Katrinka considered. “When does this happen?”

“For Fay, the pain subsides beginning today. Her doctor will claim a miracle has occurred. All cancer gone,” Azrael declared. “For you, it is a process, one of time. As they say, ‘go with the flow.’”

“And you?” Kat asked.

“I will remain with Fay,” Azrael answered. “One day the young woman, the kid from East LA, will reclaim her soul. It will be seamless.”

“Can I add to the deal?” Kat inquired.

Azrael offered, “You can try me.”

“When you decide to leave, will you tell me?” Kat asked.

“I will,” Azrael agreed. “But I will be around. You can count on it. We have a lot of work ahead, you and I.”

“May I ask you, why me?” Kat wondered.

“I first noticed you when you killed Gabriel,” replied Azrael.

Katrinka clutched her hands to her chest. “I killed an angel?” Kat gasped.

“An archangel, no less,” Azrael confirmed.

A look of serious doubt claimed Kat’s face. “That’s worse.”

“It may be,” Azrael agreed. “You thought he was the man who would kill Irishka. Gabriel had taken his body when he died. The killing of an angel does not go unnoticed.”

“I have big trouble for it?” Kat guessed.

“No. Gabriel moved on. It is not often a human kills one of God’s chosen ones,” Azrael told her. “So, like I said, it gets noticed. I then realized you possessed something special. I have a mission for you.”

“The stones?” Kat speculated.

“Yes,” Azrael replied. “The purpose of the stones will be known to you at a later time. In the meantime, guard them with your life.”

“Of course.”

“And from time to time, the two men you call topknots…” Azrael went on.

“Yes.”

“They are who you surmised them to be. Angels,” Azrael confirmed. “I don’t want you to kill them. Okay?”

“I will try not to,” Kat promised.

Azrael had finished her second bottle of beer. “Want another beer?” Kat offered.

“Sure. Why not?”

Katrinka retrieved yet another beer for Azrael. After she open it, she asked, “Do you want to watch TV?”