Hellina beckoned with her hand from behind Hell's service counter, and those who stood in the line that only felt like it hadn't moved in an eternity turned to look at Zeph and the souls he escorted. The angels who had heard of or seen him before didn't speak or look for more than a second as Zeph walked toward the check-in counter, skipping the line in front of the replacement Hellina was training.
"She is not among them, I take it. Was she found worthy of salvation, Husband?"
"She is battered and broken in body, mind, and soul but still draws breath if only barely. Please pray for her and the old neighbor who rushed over as fast as his feeble body would allow once he heard what he thought was the screaming of another woman. Medical and backup are on the way, so I must return after my work here is done."
The dozens of angels and souls that didn't understand why Zeph got to skip the line heard the one word that made them instantly understand the why. At least in part.
"Husband."
