Conifer lead me through an apprehensive but passive crowd, and pointed me in the direction of the Hellmouth.

I wasn't looking forward to returning to Hell. I guess technically there was no reason for me to stay very long, actually, and I didn't really have to let Tecie know I was back. All I had to do was abduct some kids.

But I also wanted to stick around, even for a day, and I wanted to be staying with Tecie while I did so. I think I might've started to miss her if I didn't, even if she was a mere demon trying to plant doubt into my mind.

I didn't bother heading back to the group home and jumping in the portal. I just leapt into the Hellmouth- a difficult feat, really, since the opening was quite small and meant for climbing.

I was instantly in Hell, at the bottom of a pit that would have seemed endless from above. I headed for the elevator in the side room- I had been on so many elevator rides today- and headed up to Pride. It was all very tiring, but had to be done to get anywhere in this confusing world.

I didn't have to do much sneaking to get through the main lobby and into Pride. And even then, I had a feeling no one had been told about the angel that had been caught in Hell- The Few would have wanted to keep that secret.

I headed straight for Tecie's apartment without much thought. I still didn't know where it was, exactly, but I had proven myself pretty good at guessing my way.

I found it after a good hour's worth of searching. When I got up to her door, she was actually standing outside it. She didn't seem the slightest bit surprised to see me, but she did smile.

"Back so soon?"

"Things came up." I was doing my best, still, to be wary of her and her lying ways. But I think I was okay with seeing her again.

"I haven't touched your stuff." I sort of wanted to point out to her that none of the stuff in that bedroom was mine, but decided against it. She gripped her handbag for a moment. "I think I'll skip work today. Come inside. I'd love to know what's happened."

I stood outside the door. Truthfully, I did want to go in. But if I did now, it'd seem like I was accepting her request to speak of highly confidential information. And I didn't want to do that. "It's not your business."

She sighed. "I think I will head to work today, then. Keep under the radar while I'm gone. Stop talking to Stacy, your weird cultist friends, et cetera."

I did not say anything. I may have sought her out, but I had no need to be friendly. Michael had told me not to trust her. And I was going to default to his orders.

I got to my bed- the bed, really- and settled down on it. My back was still incredibly sore, and I was starting to nurse a headache.

I lay back for a while, just dazed and relieved to be laying on something soft. Then I took a shower- I needed a moment to check my wounds.

It had been as Conifer had said- the area where my wings appeared on my back had been cut and heavily bruised on my left side. When I touched it, it stung, and I couldn't wash it with soap. I only rinsed myself quickly in the shower before getting up and readdressing my bandages. I probably needed some new, not bloody ones soon.

I had only been gone for a day, so I wasn't expecting any real changes in regards to the church or anything. But I thought it might be nice to check out how they were doing, and to defy Tecie's requests for me. Who knows? Maybe one of the followers knew a thing or two about children.

I put on a sweater, and, after a moments thought, one of Tecie's hats and dark glasses. I couldn't risk getting caught this time around, and I would certainly never let myself act so irrationally again.

I went to the church, and it was Lilith who greeted me with a sort of whisper. "We bought out the other neighboring building."

"How much land are we allowed to even own in this city? Will there come a time where we won't be able to buy?" It was nice to talk straight business with her after the stress of the last day.

"I don't think we'll have to worry for a while. The city's big, and we're in a low income neighborhood anyways. The land's not worth much."

"Did the recruitment go smoothly then?"

She had a sort of negative-positive half smile when she spoke. "No, it went good. We're up to two hundred and fifty."

"What is the bad side, then? You don't seem pleased."

"Um." She sighed. "I'm so, so sorry, Nichael. But we only gained a hundred pledged members, out of the three hundred and fifty or so that attended the seminar. And even then, few are real members- this was only two nights ago, after all. Mostly they're just 'interested'. Only a few, no obligational types have moved in with us. Sorry."

"Don't apologize for that. We'll just push another speaking seminar soon. Keep a couple a week. Make sure everyone attends, and is... shamed, let's say? For not showing. We have to keep these sessions frequent. I know exactly what I'm going to say next time we have one, but otherwise I'm trusting in you to carry Heaven's words for me."

"Of course, of course!" She was becoming ever more loyal to me, and it was honestly hard to tell if she was agreeing with my tactics or falling for them. "Are you speaking tonight?"

"Yes, that's probably for the best. But meanwhile, I'm looking for any followers who know about children, or Moll, or the children of Moll. Send them into the second-floor bedroom in the main building. I'll speak to them alone."

"Right away." She sort of bowed before going.

I liked running the church. It was almost like a game. Entirely like one. I had control of almost everything when I was in the church, and there were no consequences to my actions. Some of the older members would have killed themselves at my command. The newer ones? They'd get there. And I wouldn't really care either ways.

The bedroom I had requested was actually Lilith's, but it used to be an office. There was a desk in the corner, with a single stiff wooden chair, and I moved both to the center of the room. I thought, if I was going to question these people politely, I might as well make it fun.

The chair was made to face a blank wall. I sat on the floor behind the desk. The room wasn't nearly as intimidating as it could have been, smelling of roses and filled with blankets, but it was probably enough.

Someone came in.

"Sit down." I said. "Don't move." I tried to keep my voice light and neutral. Sort of comforting, sure, but that weird kind of detached comforting that some people speak in.

They sat down.

"What do you know?" I asked.

"Of children...?" It was a man's voice, and I could tell he was quite scared.

"Yes, of children. That is why I called you here, isn't it? Are you to say you are so uncertain, you cannot even recall five minutes ago? Is a mind like that really fit for my service?" I was pretty much giggling at this point, as I could hear the man's breathing speed up, and his hands fidget. He was legitimately nervous!

He also wasn't speaking. "Speak, man."

"Y-Yes. I had five kids when I was human-"

"That is of no use to me. You disappoint, and move your hands too much. Leave." When I heard him get up and walk slowly out, I increased the volume of my voice. "Leave!"

And he scurried right out the door. Even though I couldn't be sure when the next person would enter, I started laughing like crazy, and I really couldn't stop. I didn't normally laugh. I didn't like laughing much, in fact. It must have been because of stress.

I heard the door creak open, and I had to stuff my hand in my mouth to keep quiet. The person sat down. There was a long pause before I had my breath together enough to speak calmly again.

"What knowledge have you brought me today?"

"You wanted to know about Moll, right?" This was a woman's voice. "I work with her."

I wanted to duck over and see who was speaking, but I couldn't risk it. It'd be weird if word got out that I had sat behind a desk and threatened people with my voice.

"And the children?"

"I don't know any children."

"Then what use are you to me?"

"I know Moll?"

"Beyond that."

"I know Moll? That's what I'm offering to you. That knowledge."

"I don't need your resilient sass. Leave."

She got up slowly.

"Wait, actually. What would you suggest buying her? Like as a present."

"Flowers? She doesn't like flashy things."

"Thank you. Your service is appreciated, and welcomed."

The woman left.

That hadn't gone perfectly, but even if one woman got disillusioned, there'd still be like two hundred and forty-nine left. And now I knew what to give to Moll when I apologized to her. Which was evidently something I wanted to do now.

I was sitting, still, back against the desk when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I twisted around and fell on the ground, and found myself staring at a vaguely recognizable woman.

"Hi." She said. "I'm here to speak to you about the children?"

It took me a moment. Marie Newman, that was her name. She was new to The Few, but not the newest- she took over from Phillip Taltos five years ago, as the Gemini. I was almost ashamed of all I knew about her. I couldn't remember what her job was though.

"What do you do again?" I stood up.

"I'm the doctor." She said, gesturing passionately towards herself. "The best doctor in Hell."

"The children then?"

"They're in my care. Or really, the care of someone who works for me. Their names are Wynona and Beta."

"Wynona and Beta?"

"We wanted to number them. Wynona means first born. But we couldn't think of a name that means 'second born', so we made due with beta. What do you want to know about them?"

"Wait, are you in the church?" It would be highly beneficial to have a member of The Few under my control. Stacy didn't count.

"Nah. I came to the talk though, and stuck around. You sound violent. I like that."

"Violent?"

"You don't want peace with the demons, do you? I know you were talking about revolution, and The Few, and all that. But I can tell you're not really that interested in it, are you?"

"No. You're right. I hate demons. How could you tell?"

"Sociology major. But mostly avid people watching. I know my body language. Not to mention, of course, that you pretty much said you didn't want peace when you presented to The Few three months back. That was a major part of my guess."

"Don't be sarcastic with me."

"Look, I can't stand angels. You can't stand demons. I feel like we're going to have a beautiful, mutually beneficial but keeping within our individual morals relationship here."

"Tell me about the children."

"What do you want with them?"

"To steal them."

"Okay, I may have to take back my last statement there. I can't work with you if you steal children. That's not good."

I sighed. "It's an order from Michael. You do realized they're half-breeds, correct? He must see the angel blood in them as making them worthy to raise."

"I'm not going to steal some kids."

"I'll do the heavy work. You tell me the information."

"They live in an apartment near the central square. They go to a daycare every day for most of the day, and have a caretaker watching them at night. They're just kids, after all. I can tell you the address, but first I'd like to whip out a couple legal contracts to make you promise you didn't get this information from me. See you in like three, four days. I have to think of something to say to my lawyer to make this sound legitimate."

"Stay. Here." I grabbed a paper off the floor, where it had fallen when I had moved the desk. I found a pen in a similar location.

Carefully, I wrote out- 'The subject signing this, Nichael/Creed Fardeau, promises not to sue/send police after the other subject, Marie Newman. This contract is entirely legal, and binding. When questioned or other synonymed for information regarding Marie Newman (the other subject), Nichael (the first subject) will not say one word or acknowledge he (the first subject) knows her (The other subject). This sentence, the previous one, and all after and before it, is legally binding as well.'

I signed my name at the bottom as well, and gave the pen to Marie Newman for her to sign with.

"I'm not sure this is legally binding. But I think I'd look insane if I brought it to my lawyer to check out."

"And you'd probably get me arrested if Kell found out I was back in Hell."

"Yeah. Also, wow, you have some god-awful handwriting. Like a seven year old's! It's almost incredible. I think I'd rather get some real lawyer-speak documents written up."

"Can my word just be enough? I'm not sticking around for very long. And even then, why does it matter if you have legal say over me? If it's discovered you gave me the information to steal these kids, you're going to be in large trouble whether or not I was breaking a contract."

"Yeah, but I can sue you from jail, take all you're worth, and bust myself out on sheer cash alone."

"I'll be getting skinned to shreds when that happens."

"True. But you're still worth something, probably. I don't mind scraping the pot."

"...Just take my word on it. I'm not going to snitch. Or even get caught. I have my sword, and I'm clear to kill a few people if I have to. Once I get these kids, I'm never returning."

"Sure. A handshake, though. For legal purposes."

I shook her hand.

"The Richter building, in the south-south western block, street two. Fifth floor. Suite two. I'd love it if you didn't kill the caretaker though. He's a friend of mine."

"I'll try my best." I promised.