“For angels’ sake! You’re so slow, stop dragging you’re feet!” Leo playfully scolded Missouri. She woke up around ten, she had a pretty late night of wallowing and now she was determined not to let Hadriel’s hate faze her. She half-heartedly smiled at Leo; he, who was always cheerful and had a joyous effect on her, was only succeeding in unmentionable proportions. He came to her room around midday and he insisted that she should see something within the Cathedral.

“Where are you taking me?” Missouri questioned, this place was maze of masked territory.

“To the training room.” He kept his gaze forward, but Missouri slowed and looked after him. Noticing her absence; he too paused and turned to face her, his face a cloud of exposed confusion. “Why have you stopped?”

“A training room? Are you serious? This is a Cathedral, for God’s- angels’ sake. There shouldn’t be a training room.” Missouri was absolute. As if the heavens opened up and granted light; if that was possible; Leo’s expression shifted to one of humour once more.

“There also should not be bed rooms, or balconies and many other things that are housed here.” He jabbed.

“Fair point.” She agreed, but still she stood unmoved, Leo was patient, he knew this was still new to her and so he gave her time.

“I think my question is why. Why have all these modifications to a Cathedral?” she waited for his answer. Leo stepped closer to her, grabbed hold of her arm gently and pulled her in step with him.

As they continued to walk he spoke, “This had never been a place of worship.” Leo gaped into her startled eyes and smiled, clearly her reaction amused him.

“For centuries places like these have habited your world merely as a guard for the door. It’s been built by the forces of heaven, the ground floor is merely a concealment for the actual duty of the Cathedral.” He finished. Missouri took a few seconds to process, and then added.

“You’ve been around for centuries?” She asked in amazement.

“Does this face look as if it’s been around for centuries?” He laughed and Missouri began to relax. “Angels do die, we are immortal but our jobs call for high prices. None hardly live a full century.” He confessed.

“I see. What if someone decides to revive the Cathedral, or clear the space for housing? What do you do?” She queried; an image of Hadriel negotiating with a potential buyer eased into her mind.

“No one wants the land or building.” He declared, a private smile hinted at the corner of his lips.

“How can you be so sure?” She probed.

“The Cathedral is shielded in sigils that are strong enough to alter the human emotion. One look at the Cathedral and it will be passed off as merely rubbish.” He finished.

“Must be awesome to be all powerful.” Missouri jested.

“It can have its benefits but- it’s a life that’s really lonely. Only half of the angles I know are emotionally secured, the rest are unwilling, or perhaps afraid.” He grew serious, but once he finished his features morphed into his usual portrayal of wittiness.

Missouri thought that she definitely knew which category Hadriel fell into, or maybe he wasn’t unwilling, maybe he too was secured. She let her thoughts slip uneasily form her mind. She wanted so much to push him aside, but there he was, the first thought that entered into her mind.

“Which one do you fall into?” Missouri questioned Leo. He paused for a bit and answered, his clear blue eyes speaking of longing. “None. If I am ever lucky enough to find what my heart desires then I will not be afraid or unwilling, but yet I am not secured. There are not that many angels my age, so that limits my possibilities.”

“I’m sorry.” And Missouri was, she hoped that he found what he coveted, hoped that he would be luckier than most.

“Can’t miss what you never had.” He lit up once again. “We’re here.”

He opened huge steel double doors and Missouri gasped at the volume of empty space. Commenting that the room was huge would be an understatement. The centre of the room was colossal, lining an entire wall were weapons the imagination would fail to conjure.

Leo stepped in and Missouri eyed him, he looked at home here, peaceful and she found herself rejoicing in his serenity. This was the first time she saw him appear honestly happy.

“I can see this is a favourite for you.” She commented and waited for him to turn and give a confirming smile.  “Before I was stationed here, I trained angels. It’s my one true love. Now I get to do that again.” He declared.

“Do that again? Who are you going to train?” Missouri was amused.

“You.” He was decisive and Missouri’s smile faltered.

Hadriel purposely encountered Satael, “I need you to summon one of the Seraphim.” He was forthright and Satael felt somewhat satisfied to see his friend back to his usual self.

“Those who see most clearly are the highest ranking of angels Hadriel.”

“I didn’t ask you for a lesson Satael; just do it.” He walked off but Satael was in pursuit.

“They are not going to just appear because I asked it; you need permission from the Council.”

“I have it!” He growled. “They asked for information on the girl and that is what I am trying to source but you are proving an obstacle.” Hadriel turned and stared deadly into the eyes of Satael. He didn’t exactly have the Council’s permission but he chose to stretch their words to fit his desire.

“I am sorry, I will go to heaven.” Satael backed away and left.

Hadriel stood motionlessly, he felt drained but his work must continue. “I have located the demon you asked for.” His spell was broken my Muriel, she stood in front of him, waiting for his response. 

“Lock him up, I will see to him later.” Hadriel advised walking off to his room. He had asked that they locate as many demons as possible, so that he may gain information on Varcan, but it was not the sole reason. He needed something more valuable than that and he intended to find it, no price was too high. But for now he would let the demon sit in anticipation; he would gain control.

“You’re kidding right?” Missouri gaped at him, cautiously.

“No I am not. Hadriel told me of your-abilities; he asked me to help you master them and train you how to defend yourself.” He was frank.

“I suppose I am not surprised that you know about what happened.” Missouri was unable to make eye contact, she felt embarrassed, why? She couldn’t find just one reason to sum it up, it would take hours to list all her reasons for humiliation.

“I am the only one that does.” Leo searched for her eyes. “Hadriel only told me, not even the Council knows.”

“Why hasn’t he told anyone?” 

“It’s not in my nature to question Hadriel; if he were anyone else I would demand reason. But Hadriel has good judgement; I would follow him and him alone blindly. But I do have my theories.” Leo raised his brow at her.

“Like what?” she asked.

“For instance; the Council is rash, there is no way to tell what they would have done to you once they find out.” He spoke truthfully and Missouri felt a bitter taste enter her mouth.

“Don’t worry about it; Hadriel wouldn’t let anything remotely bad happen to you, he is quite loyal to his friends.” Leo comforted, but Missouri wasn’t sure about that. Hadriel may care for his friends but she was not one of them, nor did he have the slightest inclination to protect her.

“Let’s start, every day, I want you to meet me here around this time. Like I said only I know of this so Satael and Muriel are not to find out.”

“I can do that, besides I am not quite close to either of them.” Missouri confessed. “They can be a bit overwhelming.  I want to begin with the fire, can you try that?” He asked, turning serious instantly.

“I’ll try.” She offered and attempted to concentrate.

 “Come in.” Hadriel called out immediately after the knock sounded at his door. He sat upright into his seat.

A woman of slightness of shape walked in; she was all grace. Her face covered by the short curtain of straight black hair that fell to her chin. He grey eyes searching the room until it rested on Hadriel.

“Arael?” Hadriel spoke involuntarily.

“You did send for Seraphim.” She replied.

“I did, but I wasn’t expecting you.” He replied truthfully. Before he was leader of the Cathedral, back when he was in training, He and Arael shared a relationship. It wasn’t serious, not on his end at least. After his assignment all connection severed, he was happy for the end, he was growing anxious that she saw more to their attachment than there was.

“I never thought I would be back in a room with you.” She ignored his comment, her eyes falling on the bed that lay to the far corner of the room. Hadriel tilted his head slightly, registering what she viewed. It surely did bring back memories.

“This is not a social call.” He cold and she looked at him smiling.

“It never is any more. Such a pity. What is it that you want?”  She asked in all seriousness.

Hadriel motioned for her to sit. When she did he began.

“The girl in our protection, I need information on her parentage.” He commanded.

“What does her parentage have to do with her being coveted?” Arael asked and Hadriel sighed.

“It might give some insight to why she is coveted.”

“Missouri right?” She asked for confirmation and Hadriel nodded, his chest constricting by just thinking about her.

Arael’s eyes grew darker. It stayed that way for a minute then they returned to their rightful colour.

“Her mother was Ingrid Bates; she got pregnant when she was twenty seven. After the baby arrived she went into depression. She died a year later. Suicide. Nothing of importance, Ingrid was just a normal and quite unimportant human.” Arael finished.

“And what of her father?” Hadriel asked.

Arael shook her head. “I can’t find him, there is no record.” She answered. Hadriel grew upset, he spoke in forced calmness. “There must be a record of who he is.”

“The Seraphim have all the information of human kind in their brains, and it’s weird but I can’t find anything to suggest he even existed.” She was clearly confused.

“How is that possible?” He spoke more to himself than to her.

“If he’s human I would have known.” She joked and something clicked in Hadriel. “Thank you Arael, you can leave now.”

“So much for old time’s huh?” she rose from the chair and walked out.

Hadriel knew there weren’t any records of fallen angels besides, angels couldn’t procreate with humans. Perhaps her father inhabited other circles.

“I am sorry.” Missouri looked to Leo who stood pensively observing her; she was unable to create what she did when Varcan attacked her. “It’s fine.” He smiled encouragingly.

“We’ll get back to that. We can start with defence.” He told her and officially begun the training. Missouri wasn’t an angel so his tactics would not be as easy for her to master.

“Since we cannot call upon your power, I will give you a weapon.” He walked over to the wall and took up a sword. He ran his fingers over the metal longingly, gently. He handed it to her, as soon as it kissed her palms, her hand sunk and the blade scraped the floor.

“I don’t think it’s for me.” She laughed at Leo’s amused expression.

“It will be a while, but for training I am giving you something you are least likely to hurt yourself with.” He took away the sword and handed her a cylindrical object. It was thin and long but it felt like sponge.

He thought her the basics and convinced that she had made some headway decided to let her off. It was dark when they exited the room. Leo walked her back to her door and he left for his watch.