Hadriel landed on the roof and stalked purposely through the door that led to the inside of the cathedral; his soldiers eying him in a state of utter disbelief, “Get a healer here now!” he shouted as he walked past them. Leo obeyed while Muriel and Satael followed Hadriel. They knew to never question him, especially when his features were set as if he were about to go on a killing spree. Within the cathedral, the upper layer was made up of rooms and a couple of balconies, the rooms weren’t really necessary since angels didn’t sleep but they did sometimes use them.

 In an uninhabited room Hadriel laid Missouri’s limp body down onto a bed. He stood beside the bed looking down at her, the memory of the demons being sent flying backwards to their death flashed before his eyes. In that moment he knew that they were dealing with something that the angels didn't have the upper hand in. All the cards lay at the feet of Varcan.

"Where's Leo with that healer?" Hadriel snapped, his arms crossed at his chest, his body tensed. "It takes a while for a healer to be available, you know this Hadriel, you have to be patient." Satael spoke calmly which served to increase Hadriel's temper.

"Patience!" He spun to face Satael and Muriel. "She's barely alive and you're asking me to be patient!" He growled. Muriel took a step back as if his tone had cut her deeply but Satael was his closest friend, they'd fought many battles together and he wasn't intimidated by Hadriel's outburst. Instead he looked at him as if he were reading a well put together novel.

Satael was about to speak but Leo returned with a healer. Hadriel hadn't even notice who it was, he was solely concentrated on Missouri. 

"Who's injured?" the healer asked and was directed to the body of Missouri. She sat at the edge of the bed and inspected Missouri with such calm that Hadriel found himself getting angry, he turned to leave, he couldn't bear to see the sight of a dying Missouri. He was unaware of Satael's gaze but was stopped halfway to the door by the healer. " She's a human, we are not permitted to heal them." she said and moved to go, but Hadriel was in front of her in no time. 

"You have no choice." he spoke through clenched teeth and when the healer showed no compassion he knew what he had to say, " the council will have your life if you do not, she's under our protection, we're just following orders." 

Missouri's eyes eased open, her entire body screaming to be mobile, she was faintly aware of last night's occurrences, but she could recall the instant throbbing of her head and them the complete loss of energy that followed. How it happened? That was the question that she wanted the answer to. 

Missouri cautiously sat up in bed, anticipating a great pain, but when it didn't come she was immensely surprised.

"How are you feeling?" Hadriel spoke from the corner of the room, Missouri gasped upon hearing him speak, she hadn't noticed that he was there, but how could she? He was standing in shadows and only when he stepped forward and the light from lamp beside her bed caught him did she see him and instantly her breath caught.

When she didn't answer he stepped closer to the bed. "What are you thinking?" his head turned to the side to examine her in much the same way he did the first time they met. She caught his eyes and held their gaze for a moment. "In the space of two days, my life has changed in such a way that, my beliefs have faltered, my life is crumbled beyond repair." When she saw his perplexed features she continued, "I'm still expecting to wake up tomorrow just to realise that this was all a dream."

"That's what you wish for? To never have known the truth about the higher power you humans believe in?" He asked.

Missouri pondered this, yes, she didn't quite like the way things turned out after all in only two days she'd been attacked twice and almost died, but looking at this-angel, she knew that she would never wish she'd hadn't met him. She did loathe him at their first encounter but while they were captured she sensed something in him, something more than just brutality and savagery.

"I've never believed in a higher power." she looked at him squarely in the eye.

The door creaked open and Hadriel took a step back from the bed. Missouri saw Muriel; she was carrying a couple of bags in her hands. "Those are your things." His tone changed, he was no longer human but everything now seemed-forced. This perplexed Missouri, how could someone alter their emotions so effortlessly? It made her wonder if he'd ever really cared whether she was alright or if it was just false.

"My things?" she looked to Muriel who made it her sworn duty to avoid gazes with Missouri. "Yes, and you are informed that you are confined here, you are not to go anywhere. If there's anything you need just ask and Muriel will gladly procure them for you."

"I'm confined? To what, this room? Are you kidding me?" Anger arrived in full force, her eyes blazed pure fire. How can he keep her prisoner here? Hadriel responded to her anger with his own. "To the Cathedral, and yes confined." his voice calm and clipped. From the corner of her eye, Missouri saw Muriel studiously pretending not to listen to their exchange of words, the angel actually seemed uncomfortable. And why shouldn't she feel that way? Missouri wondered with what manner Hadriel spoke to the other angels and why on earth would they put up with it?

"You stupidly wanted to be head strong and almost got yourself killed by your attempt to prove your independence, so when I say that you are not to leave his place you can be damned sure that I mean it and will do anything required if you decide to behave in any manner that displeases me. Do I make myself clear?" He was the most authoritative man Missouri ever met and she felt her hatred for him in full bloom. When Missouri refused to give him the satisfaction of her submission, he interpreted her silence as acceptance.

He snapped his head to Muriel and in the same voice he used to speak to Missouri he said, "Is there anything else." He was clearly dismissing her and Missouri had the urge to throw something at him. The angel seemed abashed but recovered quickly and broke out fluently, "The council requires to see you." 

He turned his head back to Missouri, indicating that he was finished speaking to Muriel, she left.

"Do you want to get up?" Hadriel asked and outstretched his hand for Missouri. She looked at it as if it carried the plague, but Hadriel didn't seem to mind her look of disdain. "I don't know. Is it something that would displease you?" she feigned sweetness.

Examining her cautiously he replied a simple "No." 

"Oh well then I would most definatly like to get up." She ignored his hand and stood up only to realise that her clothes was stained wth dried blood, she desperatedly needed a bath. She heard Hadriel sigh, "Missouri-" he began but was silenced by her question, "What's the Council?"

Hadriel contemplated whether or not to appease her curiousity but decided that she deserved to know. "Remember when I told you that there is no God?' Missouri shook her head in response, how could she forget?

"Heaven is ruled by four angels, they call themselves the Council. They are the ones we serve. I have to go now, bath room right through that door." He pointed at the back of Missouri, amd she somehow felt insulted, did he just tell her to take a bath? "Don't look so broken, I noticed your expression when you looked at your clothes." Hadriel smiled and Missouri wished that he would always be that way.

As he left, he smiled to himself for reasons unknown to him of course, but standing at the door to heaven, his smile faded. He would have to tell the Council what happened last night and then the reall battle may begin. They still didn't know how Missouri did what she did and he'd intended to speak to her about it but was requested by the Council, that'd have to wait until he returned.