“Luce: "But what about all those other times, when I die before we kiss, before--" Bill: "Before you even have a chance to see how toxic your relationship might become?”

“Luce closed her eyes,trying to remember exactly what he'd looked like. There were no words for it.It was just an incredible, joyous connection."I saw him.""Who,Daniel? Yeah,I saw him,too. He was the guy who dropped the ax when it was his turn to do the chopping. Big mistake. Huge.""No,I really saw him. As he truly is." Her voice shook. "He was so beautiful.""Oh,that." Bill tossed his head, annoyed."I recognized him.I think I've seen him before.""Doubt it." Bill coughed. "That was the first and last time you'll be able to see him like that.You saw him, and then you died.That's what happens when mortal flesh looks upon an angel's unbridled glory. Instant death. Burned away by the angel's beauty.""No,it wasn't like that.""You saw what happened to everyone else. Poof. Gone." Bill plopped down beside her and patted her knee. "Why do you think the Mayans started doing sacrifices by fire after that? A neighboring tribe discovered the charred remains and had to explain it somehow.""Yes,they burst into flames right away. But I lasted longer-""A couple of extra seconds? When you were turned away? Congratulations.""You're wrong.And I know I've seen that before.""You've seen his wings before, maybe.But Daniel shedding his human guise and showing you his true form as an angel? Kills you every time.""No." Luce shook her head. "You're saying he can never show me who he really is?"Bill shrugged. "Not without vaporizing you and everyone around you.Why do you think Daniel's so cautious about kissing you all the time? His glory shines pretty damn bright when you two get hot and heavy."Luce felt like she could barely hold herself up. "That's why I sometimes die when we kiss?""How 'bout a round of applause for the girl, folks?" Bill said snarkily. "But what about all those other times, when I die before we kiss, before-""Before you even have a chance to see how toxic your relationship might become?""Shut up.""Honestly,how many times do you have to see the same story line before you realize nothing is ever going to change?""Something has changed," Luce said. "That's why I'm on this journey, that's why I'm still alive. If I could just see him again-all of him-I know I could handle it.""You don't get it." Bill's voice was rising. "You're talking about this whole thing in very mortal times." As he grew more agitated,spit flew from his lips. "This is the big time,and you clearly cannot handle it.""Why are you so angry all of a sudden?""Because! Because." He paced the ledge, gnashing his teeth. "Listen to me: Daniel slipped up this once, he showed himself,but he never does that again.Never.He learned his lesson. Now you've learned one,too: Mortal flesh cannot gaze upon an angel's true form without dying.”

“This was never making love before..not before you.I knew how different it was going to be with you the first time we kissed.""You knew that...just from a kiss?""I'll have to remind you about the kiss.”

“Will Daniel win or lose?" Luce asked, knowing the answer before the words had even left her lips."I can see how the idea of Daniel decapitating you does not maybe scream out romance," Bill said, "but really, what's the difference between his killing you by fire and by the sword?""Daniel wouldn't do that."Bill hovered in the air in front of Luce. "Wouldn't he?”

“When you're about to die, your whole life's supposed to flash before your eyes. When you fall in true love, on the other hand, what you see in the twinkling of an eye is your entire future.”

“I want to kiss you one more time before I die.”