#@differentkindofweird

A little gift for @differentkindofweird, who asked me to please continue my answer to the "cafe on the edge of life and death" plot. This is more a stream of consciousness/flashback thing, but here we go: "Okay, so I've got an Extra Hot Mayan Mocha with black pepper whipped cream for Hades, cayenne Pupperccino for Cerberus, the usual English Breakfast for Queen Elizabeth--yes, I know, Your Majesty. I will check again, but so far they are not accepting you back, no matter what Charles is up to. Can I interest you in a scone while you wait? Yes, yes, just sit back and relax. What? No, Mr. Barker, you can't start a showcase with the antique mugs, those have literally been around since before Christ. Yes, Mr. Wright, I *know* they butchered "Under the Sea," but Mr. Disney has already...somebody grab that oven, it's trying to torch Ms. White's cheesecake again!" "Excuse me? Miss? This is Thirsty Souls, right?" "Yes it is, how may I..." "Uh, Miss? Down here."

I do a double take. The voice sounded high, yet tired and wise, so I expected a cherub, or perhaps a rookie demon. But no, this is a human child, probably between nine and eleven. A girl, rail thin, brown hair, waifish green eyes, matching green glasses, those plastic frames they make for kids. Dark blue school jumper, white blouse with a Peter Pan collar. And a necklace. One of those faux gold "guardian angel" birthstone necklaces, with an emerald in the center.

Okay, Heaven couldn't have missed this one. But the way she keeps twisting her hands, can't look me in the eye, something's wrong. So I look way down. "Hi. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Juliet. Juliet Brigitta Bishop."

I lean my elbow on the counter, chin propped in one hand, and raise one eyebrow. "No, really."

She unbuttons her right wrist cuff, showing off a deep burn that encircles her entire wrist, still fresh and furious. "You think they'd do that to a kid named Sally? Anne? Skylar or Olivia?"

"You mean the angels?" Surely not.

"No," she confirms. "Humans. That's why I can't go back to..." She shudders, and I nod. I've seen plenty of bodies so mutilated, not even the most fearful of permanent crossing over would return. Still, there's something way off here, and Juliet deserves comfort while I figure it out. So I motion toward one of my coziest tables, one with blue velvet seats and mahogany trimmed in gold, on the heavenly side of the room, diagonal from the counter. "Why don't you sit down? Is there something I can get you to eat? Drink?"

Juliet glances up from under her lashes. "This doesn't look like the place for peppermint hot chocolate."

"You might be surprised. That's my favorite, too." I mix up some magic, extra red and green sprinkles, a mound of whipped cream and chocolate chips, and get Juliet settled before making a call upstairs. I get J.C. on the line. As usual, Jesus anticipated my questions. No, he says, not at all a rejection, and not an oversight, I ought to know better.

"Then what the heck--excuse me. What's going on up there? Peter fall asleep at the switch? Does this kid belong in another heavenly realm? I'm confused."

"Patience, Cass. She's frightened to come any further, either direction. And--per the multi-realm contract, she's under your jurisdiction. A tortured soul."

"Tortured soul? She's--how old is this kid?"

"Nine on Easter Sunday."

"A tortured soul at nine? For heaven's sake, *why?* Demons get to her with stories of hell already? Some of your misguided fundies? An overzealous aesthetic?"

"That's a journey you need to take for yourself, Cass. You know you can always call upstairs."

"Of course. Thanks. Deuces, I'm gonna need a Midnight Soul Espresso."

"May I suggest a water process decaf? You've been hitting those Midnights a little hard ever since you escorted those souls from the apocalypse."

"Hey, you try explaining locusts with human faces and *teeth* over pumpkin spice lattes and cake pops, Man! Oh, right--you created them. Sorry. And I must admit, they were kinda cool."

"Thanks. And need I remind you, I sent down those gingerbread chocolate cake pops especially for you?"

"Nope. I still have half a dozen left over. Thanks again."

"You're welcome. So, you'll take Juliet's case?"