"You are still in England."

This is the first thing he says to me when he sees me. This is, of course, after he has already barreled past the housekeeper, past an indignant Sariel, and up the stairs to my bedroom where I am sketching at my writing desk. Thankfully, I was clothed.

"Yes," I had said, "And you are standing, unannounced, in my bedroom."

I had not turned to look at him, but I knew in my soul that Leviathan Desmott was glaring at me.

"Merritt, I asked you to leave before—"

"Stop." The word tore from me, sharp and cutting.

This was the moment I had longed for, the moment I had been willing to venture out into the night to obtain. And now I was so bitterly afraid of it. I could not decide what was worse, him recognizing me for who I was or him not recognizing me at all. I thought of the blade strapped to my hip—it could all end now. Maybe I should do it before I even give him the chance to speak another word.

I closed the book I'd been sketching in and slowly stood up. I kept my back to him as I asked, "Why did you warn me about Lucius?"

"I told you, he would do terrible things to you—"

"But you have never shied away from terrible things before." The words came out as a breath, one exhale carrying words like leaves on the wind. The words, soft and fragile, hit him fully and he made a sound deep in his chest, a sort of pained groan.

He cleared his throat and said, "What?"

There were footsteps on the stairs, the distant sound of other people talking on the level below us. I spoke quickly, rushing to get the question out before I could be stopped. Before someone could interrupt us. "There have been other people—other girls before me who you could have saved and you chose not to. And what of the people you referenced in your letter, the others who Lucius suspected. Did they not heed your warnings or did those warnings never leave your lips?"

He hesitated. "I tried to warn them. I sent letters; I even visited a few of the people on his list. Merritt, you are not the only person he suspects. Since the day he heard there was even a chance of an angel coming to earth he's been—"

"Get out of my house."

I turned to see Gabriel's hand grab Leviathan's shoulder. The angel pulled him backward and Leviathan might have had a fair shot of fending him off if he hadn't caught sight of my face right at that very moment. I saw it happen—saw the look of outright horror that fell across his face. He knew me. Suddenly I was no stranger to him.

The noise that came from him was pained and feral. It registered as something akin to a laugh and a sob. A broken noise unlike any I'd heard. He looked at me, wide-eyed and frightened. This was my worst nightmare and wildest hope all delivered in one instant.

I thought he might cry. I thought I might cry.

All the while Gabriel was hauling him out of my bedroom and towards the stairs. I followed, yelling and saying things that even I cannot recall. Leviathan half walked, half was pushed, down the stairs and into the entryway. Once he was out of Gabriel's grasp he backed away but he did not leave.

Gabriel stood on the stairs, between the two of us. And there Leviathan stood, my Leviathan, at the bottom of the stairs looking up at me. His face was a masterpiece of assorted emotions. The one that took precedence on his face was not directed at me at all—it was directed at Gabriel.

"You brought her here." The words came from him in a growl, a rumbling sound that made my heart quiver in my very chest. Leviathan was breathing deeply, the rise and fall of his chest coming in quick succession. "You brought Cassiel here—to Lucifer." He spat, "Where you know damn well that he will kill her."

Gabriel's shoulders tensed and he lowered himself one more step, closing the gap between the two of them. "I will only ask once more." He said, his tone even. "Leave my home."

Leviathan was physically shaking now. "You promised. You were supposed to care for her. She wasn't supposed to end up here. How—How could you let this happen. He will kill her. Don't you see? He will torture her, defile her and butcher her. How could you allow her..." He trailed off, his throat bobbing as he looked from me to Gabe. His shoulders were trembling with every breath, every inhale and exhale of ragged air.

Gabriel closed his eyes for the briefest of instances, his expression morphing from ire to serene resignation. I knew that look. Gabe's fingers flexed.

Leviathan raised a fist first, preparing to strike and, without thinking, I darted forward—foolishly landing myself directly between an angel and a demon, both of which were quite ready to kill one another. It all happened so fast, my moving in the way, Gabriel charging forward, Leviathan's fist coming towards my face. The next thing I knew I was on the ground and Michael was standing over me. He had one hand wrapped around Leviathan's wrist and the other braced against Gabriel's chest.

"That is quite enough. Need I remind you that Merritt is extremely human? The two of you could kill her."

"Here, here." Sariel agreed.

The woman stood in the doorway of the parlor with her arms wrapped around herself. I am not sure who received a more reproachful look, Gabriel or Leviathan. Neither one of them seemed to care.

Leviathan stepped back, towards the front door and ran a hand through his hair. No one else moved. Gabriel still remained in an offensive stance and Michael kept a hand outstretched in the direction of both men, prepared to stop them if either decided to strike out again. After a long moment of silence, Leviathan moved towards me. Both Gabriel and Michael tensed but found themselves met with the demon's outstretched hands. A surrendering pose.

"Relax." Leviathan said, "I only mean to help her up."

He offered me his hand and I took it, allowing him to pull me to my feet. His hand was slick against my palm. Michael and Gabriel stepped back to make room for me to stand. It took a second for me to untangle my skirts and find my balance again, but Leviathan did not let go of my hand until I had. When he finally did relinquish his hold on me, he seemed uncertain about whether he should have.

"Are you alright?" He asked. "I—You shouldn't have gotten in the way. That was foolish of you."

I felt myself blush and turned my attention to my twisted skirts once more. "I do not need you to come uninvited and lecture me, Leviathan."

"Mr. Desmott," Sariel said abruptly, "You came uninvited into my home and, as such, I would ask that you leave now."

He shook his head saying, "No, I need—"

She did not let him finish. "I shall count to three and if you are not through the threshold I shall allow my husband to escort you."

Leviathan scoffed. "You, Sariel, are no more married to Gabriel than I am."

Gabe did not take kindly to this and he moved forward, sidestepping both Michael and myself to get to Leviathan. "Get out now."

"Now, wait a second." Michael said, "How about we all take a moment and breathe."

Gabriel shook his head and said, softly,  "Get out of my house."

Michael once again took up post between the two of them. "Aye, why don't we let Merritt decide what she wants? Huh? She may want to see Leviathan?" He looked to me eyebrows raised in question. "Yes?"

I swallowed. This was my chance to ask him about Lucius, about his choices. About me. I stepped forward and placed my palm on Gabriel's arm. "Just let me have five minutes with him? I should explain—"

"You don't owe him an explanation," Gabriel said sharply.

I lifted my chin. "Perhaps not, but I want to give him one."

"You came here with a purpose." Gabe said, "Do not forget who you are, who he is."

"Please." My grip on his arm tightened, "Gabriel, you have done so much for me. Please, consent to this. Let me talk to him."

Michael did not wait for Gabriel to give permission. He nodded to the parlor, "Go on then. You've got twenty minutes, no more no less. At the end of it, he's gone. Understood?"

Leviathan did not speak, did not even move. He merely looked at me, wide-eyed and worried. He had never looked more human.

I turned to Gabriel once more, reluctant to go against someone I viewed as a brother. "Tell me I can speak to him. Tell me I have your blessing on this."

"You don't need my blessing." The words were angry coming from his mouth, clipped and unnatural.

"But I want it." I breathed.

His jaw tightened and he turned his eyes on the demon standing in his foyer. "I will listen in. If she so much as sounds distressed—if she starts to cry or even sneezes—I will make you wish you were dead."

They actually let me shut the parlor door.

Leviathan was still breathing heavily when I turned to face him, my back pressed to the door like it was the only thing keeping me upright.

He kept his distance, keeping his eyes on me as I slowly crossed the room and took a seat in one of the armchairs. Although there was plenty of space, he refused to sit down and remained where he was standing next to the fireplace.

When first he spoke, his voice was hoarse as if already exhausted from a conversation we'd only just started. "I knew Gabriel was with you, I even identified Sariel and Uriel. But, somehow, I didn't—"

"I do not think you were meant to be able to see me, not until the time was right. All of this orchestrated so that I might...I might get close to you."

Leviathan and I had crossed paths, both of us having odd emotions towards each other, all of it masked by my ignorant humanity. When the veil was lifted and I was made aware of my purpose here, such naiveties were taken from me. When it happened I became as much of my old self as was possible under the circumstances. So, although nothing physically had changed about me, Leviathan could now see me with clear eyes.

His voice broke through my thoughts. "And now the time is right?"

I hesitated before replying, "Yes."

"Time for what? Is Lucius correct in his assumptions?"

"Leviathan—"

"No," he said, "I would only ask that you do not lie unnecessarily."

"Will you be able to tell if I do?"

He pursed his lips. "No,  I can only detect untruths with nephilim. But I know you, Cassiel. I know what you look like when you try to lie."

"Even in this form?"

"Even so."

"Like how you know with Rosie?"

He nodded.

I stood up and stepped forward, "What you did for her at the Ballantyne, what you did for me—"

He held up a hand. "You heard Michael, we have twenty minutes. We don't have time for this. Say what you wish to say so that I might leave before this dissolves into a fight."

"Very well." I sat back down, putting much needed distance between us. "I need to know where your loyalties reside."

His brow furrowed. "Why does it matter? If we are all damned then it changes nothing. I have no doubts as to why you are here, for it appears the fury spoke true. What I don't understand is why you, of all the angels in heaven, would do this to yourself."

I kept myself from agreeing or disagreeing with his statement. Instead, I pressed forward with my own desires. "I need to know for my own purposes. I need to know if you are still loyal to Lucifer."

He was incredulous. "I am standing here, am I not?"

I met his eyes. "You are, but I do not know what any of this means. You could be here to spy for him. You...You might be..." I swallowed, unsure what I wanted to say, what I even meant.

"Cassiel, tell me why you are here. Why did you choose this? Why when there are so many others who could have taken on this task? Michael or Gabriel, any of them would be better suited. Not you."

A lump formed in my throat. "Please—"

"Cassiel." He moved forward and knelt before me.

His body was so close to mine that, had we been two regular humans, I would have been quite uncomfortable. Instead, my heart swelled. I remembered him. The fall had not changed him much; he was still as handsome as ever. I wanted to hear him say my name again. The word, which often registered oddly when coming from the mouths of others, seemed lyrical on his lips. Cassiel. It sent energy from the top of my head to my toes and I adored the sensation of it.

"He will kill you. He will kill you and he will make me watch." He did not touch me, but he remained close as he said, "I need to know why. Why would He send you? Just answer the question."

I looked down at him, studied those eyes I knew so well, let my gaze fall on his lips. Once, he'd told me that kissing me was like flying. I wondered if, now without his wings, he would still feel the same. My face was hot as I said, "First tell me why you are here. Why did you come to this house today?"

He shook his head dismissively. "It does not matter why I'm here. What matters is why you left heaven and became a human. This isn't like you." He breathed the last part, like he was afraid to say it, afraid to admit how well he'd once known me.

I found that I could not look at him as I said, "Yes, well. I once thought that siding with Satan and betraying Adonai was not like you. I suppose neither of us is a good judge of character."

He swallowed hard and wrapped a hand in the hem of my dress. "You wound me."

"You don't look wounded," I whispered, no humor in it, just frustration and years worth of hurt. I looked at the door. "We only have twenty minutes. Less, now that we've wasted time on whatever this conversation is. If you expect any of your questions to be answered, you must first explain to me why you came to this house. Why you came to me, unannounced."

He swallowed and opened his mouth to speak but I stopped him.

"Need I remind you that I know what you look like when you try to lie?"

"Lucius sent me to check up on you."

I tried to stand up, but he placed a hand on my knee to keep me in my seat. "I have him believing that I am playing double agent. Lucifer is under the impression that I have gained your trust and can give him access to you." I tried to stand up again, but Leviathan put a hand on my waist, pressing me back into the chair. It was not a rough gesture, but firm, unwavering. "He wanted me to ascertain your presence in London."

"Please move so I can stand up."

He shook his head. "You also owe me answers."

"I will scream," I threatened. "Then Gabriel will kill you. Is this really what you want?"

"Listen to me. I came here believing you would not be here." He said, "I had it on Gabriel's word that you were gone, away from this place. I warned you to leave for America and you did not heed me. You remained here. I would not come at all if I believed even for even an instant that you were so foolish as to have remained in London."

"If you knew I was under the protection of angels, then you would also know that I have a task to complete. I will not be so easily frightened away, Leviathan."

"I had hoped Gabriel might realize the danger you were in and remove you."

"This is not his mission, it is mine."

"And why did you chose it then? Why would you take it upon yourself to remove demons from the face of the earth?"

I came to remove only one demon and he sits before me, his hand resting very close to the sword that could end him. The look on his face, the way those dark eyes scanned my face, my hair, my hands; he was angry, yes, but those eyes held love in them, love for me. Worry for me.

"Are you still loyal to Lucifer?" I told myself that if he answered 'yes' that I would end him now, right here in the parlor. The blade was coated in holy water and had remained thus for days now. One cut from it and this would all be over. I might be fast enough that I could turn the sword on myself before Gabriel could stop me.

His hand on my knee tightened. "Would I be here, on my knees, telling you all of this, if I were?"

I closed my eyes tightly, firm in my resolve to do what needed to be done, but reluctant to hear the word that would condemn him. "Just answer it simply. Yes or no?"

"No. I am not loyal to him. Nor have I been so in quite some time."

I paused, waiting to see the lie on his face. My shoulders stiffened, sure that I was hearing him wrong. "How long?" I whispered, "How long since you were loyal?"

"Nearly twenty years."

I leaned forward. "And what of Adonai?"

Leviathan swallowed, the discomfort on his face clear. "What of Him?"

"H-Have you tried to speak to Him?"

"He does not listen to the likes of me."

There was a knock on the door.

"We shall have more time." I called.

We waited, but a second knock did not come.

I grabbed Leviathan's wrist, "Please, please speak to Adonai." I knew in my soul that this was what needed to happen. I needed Leviathan to pray, I needed him to seek Adonai despite his own uncertainties about whether he would be accepted. "I have spoken to him, asked on your behalf, but you should ask too. Speak to him, please. Please just—"

An emotion akin to pain crossed his face and he cut me off, "Cassiel, why did you come?"

My voice broke. "Please just pray."

"Why did you come here? It was not for every demon was it?"

"I—" I bit my lip.

He reached forward, slowly, afraid I might reel away from his touch. The pad of his thumb pressed gently against my mouth as he whispered, "Stop, lest you cut yourself."

"Leviathan, when I saw you—"

He closed his eyes. "Cassiel, just speak outright."

"To kill you. I came to kill you."

The noise that escaped him mimicked the one from earlier, it came from low in his chest, a mixture of a laugh and utter despair. I wanted to hold him, to swear that I never actually meant to hurt him—but that was not true and he knew as much already. The lack of surprise on his face said as much. This cry of anguish was not the evidence of shock; instead, it was the ache of hearing a truth he had already recognized.

He pulled his hand back from my face and I caught it, mid-air and held onto his fingers for dear life. "I'm so sorry—"

His eyes met mine. "Don't say things you don't mean."

But I did mean it. I was sorry. In fact, I believed that if I began to apologize to him I might never truly stop. "I should have realized that we'd drifted apart. That our views were changing. That you were spending too much time with Lucifer. But I didn't. By the time I noticed you were gone, I couldn't save you. You fell and it is my fault."

He pull his hand from mine. "Nonsense. The fault is entirely my own. I lied. I learned to lie to you. I let you believe that I was fighting alongside Michael and Gabriel when it was not the truth. I knew you would be upset and that you would advise me against listening to Lucius, to Lucifer—but he was so incredibly charismatic, he still is. He thought he could overtake heaven, that he could grant us the same freedoms that humans possess, and I believed him. I...Cassiel, I chose not to tell you. If anyone deserves an apology it is you."

"How am I to know that you are not doing the same now? How can I know that you aren't still lying to me, that this isn't all a game? You betrayed my trust before. What proof do I have that you truly are not his agent sent to beguile me?"

"I have been very clear about my intentions and those of Lucifer."

"That is not an answer," I whispered.

"You just threatened my life—I know for a fact that you would not do so unarmed—and yet I have not moved away from you. I have not retaliated or yelled. You could kill me quite easily from where I am and yet neither of us has moved. This is because you believe me and because I trust you."

"What does Lucius want with me?"

"Now?" Leviathan asked, "Now he would have you killed—and painfully, of that I am sure."

"But it has not always been that way?"

He shook his head. "At first he wanted to study you. Study your body, your soul. You are human, but you still have access to parts of your angelic nature. I believe it was his desire to understand what those qualities were and, how he himself might use them. Once he was certain that you were, in fact, supernatural, he would have begun to torture you and interrogate you."

"Interrogate?"

"Yes. You are the first angel, or former angel, that he could actually get access to. Angels are never in actual human form. They merely look like humans. Because of this, they cannot be hurt or used for information—you, on the other hand, most certainly can."

"What information does he want?"

He shrugged. "Anything you could give him pertaining to heaven. It is his desire to challenge heaven once more. If he could gain access—"

"Adonai would never allow him back in heaven."

"Lucifer has always given himself more credit than he deserves."

"But he was not sure of my identity until recently. How did he discover it?"

Leviathan's mouth formed a thin line and he could no longer meet my eyes. "Demons cannot sense angels. For years Lucifer has roamed the earth tracking down any instance where a human has appeared to wield angelic qualities. There were countless others before you. Some I have met—even helped to bring to him...others I have not. Before he found you he was tracking two humans in America, a mother and son who both claimed to be able to see the future. He tortured them until it became clear that they were frauds. Their lies cost them their lives. Lucifer is not a kind man, especially not when he feels deceived."

"He killed them."

"Yes." Leviathan said. "And then he returned to London and heard about you, a little girl from Manchester who supposedly could not feel pain. They called you demon possessed."

I picked at a loose thread on my dress and said, "Yes, I recall."

He smiled. "I suppose you would."

"I gave him no proof of my identity, for I did not know it myself. How then was he able to decide for sure that I was who he was searching for?"

"He has suspected for some time. I think Gabriel and your other protectors helped to draw attention to you, even if that was perhaps not what they intended. I don't think he was entirely certain until I told him."

"You did what?" I sat back, putting more distance between us.

Leviathan did not move, but he had enough sense to look contrite. "Please listen to me, Cassiel. I did what I had to do." He threaded his fingers in mine, "He was coming after you regardless. I needed to prove my loyalty to him so I simply told him what he already knew to be true."

"You gave him my name?"

"How could I have? I was only certain of it myself when I saw you just now."

"You had no prior suspicions?"

He hesitated. "When we fell and I hit my head—I thought I have may have recognized you then. It felt like you. And then again, when you saw the furies around me."

"They circle you like vultures waiting for you to die."

"They do." He sighed. "That has become worse since my attachment to Lucifer has weakened. They have no proof of my infidelity, but I am always watchful of them. They sense a change and if they could be sure of it, I am certain they would report my betrayal to Lucifer."

I scanned the room, "But there are none here now."

He shook his head. "I have made sure they had better things to do today."

"And—And how does your seeing me make you feel? Are you angry?"

He ran a hand through his dark hair, musing it. "I am angry that Gabriel would allow it. I made him promise before my fall that he would protect you—"

"I did not know that."

Leviathan nodded. "I told Michael to keep you from getting into the throne room and I asked Gabriel to keep watch over you. Those were my last requests as an angel."

"Well, I assure you, Gabriel has not failed in that respect. I have been very well taken care of."

He held my gaze for a long moment, both of us drinking each other in. "Good." He breathed.

"Good," I repeated, that one word seeming to hang in the air between us like a curtain. Fragile and yet so strong.

I had to look away from him before I could say anything else. I worried that, if he looked at me too long like that, I might say or do something inappropriate. The very thought of him, of his hands on my body, of his lips on my skin, was enough to make my toes curl.

"Any other feelings towards me?" I whispered, admiring the intricate workings of the rug beneath us.

He caught my chin in his hand and tilted my face up to his. He smiled, the expression genuine but hesitant. "My feelings have not changed, Cassiel. They have not changed in million years and I doubt very much that they will change in a million more."

I swallowed. "Even now that you know what I came to do?"

His eyes fell shut and he nodded. "Yes, even now."

I placed my palm against his cheek and he looked back at me. "I heard of the things you were doing—the work you were accomplishing for Lucifer. It pained me—"

"You don't have to explain."

"I want to," I told him. "I could not imagine you here, working to hurt Adonai. As hard as I tried, my mind would not reconcile the man I loved with the actions I knew you were committing. The very idea of you losing the final battle and being sentenced to eternity in—"

"But you will send me there yourself? Prematurely?"

"No." I whispered. "No, I don't want that."

"Then what do you plan to do then?"

"I'm not sure yet." It was as close to the truth as I would allow myself to stray. "I have been speaking to Adonai about you."

"And what has He said?"

"Nothing."

Leviathan nodded as if he had expected as much. "I am not meant to be saved, He has already cast judgment on me." He started to stand up but I caught his hand and kept him where he was, kneeling in front of me. His hands resting against my knees.

"Michael has agreed to go directly to Adonai and ask for a response" I explained, "He will go soon."

"And in the meantime?"

"I don't know," I admitted.

Silence. Deep and dark.

Leviathan broke through it, his question quiet. "What changed your course?"

"Hm?"

"Your desire to kill me, what made you realize you didn't want to anymore?"

I met his question with one of my own. "What made you decide to warn me about Lucifer?"

This caught him off guard. "I—I'm not entirely sure. Love, perhaps. I think I loved you even before I recognized you. Something in me always felt drawn to you. Since that moment on the train, since you turned your nose up at me and Rosalie in the carriage. I think something inside of me knew, something whispered that I was meant for you, that girl, with the abhorrent mourning dress and the guts to refuse my apology." He smiled at the memory of it all. "The idea of him hurting you was something I could not allow."

"I believe we acted with the same motivation." I whispered. Again the silence stretched between us, years of being away from one another, years of betrayal and years of loving one another. I leaned forward and cupped his face in my hands, "Leviathan, I lo—"

There was another knock at the door, loud and demanding. I dropped my hands from his face, startled.

"We are not finished," I said. "At least another few minutes please."

Sariel's voice greeted me on the other side of the door. "At least tell me if he is staying for breakfast. I will have to tell Mrs. Zanderfield to set out another plate if so."

I looked to Leviathan.

He swallowed and called, "Is that a formal invitation or will I be walloped by Gabriel if I try to stay?"

Sariel laughed. "It's a formal invitation."

The corner of his mouth twitched, the smallest of smiles. "Then I accept."

Her footsteps retreated until they could no longer be heard.

"Where were we?" I asked.

"I believe," he leaned forward, his hands braced on the arms of the chair in which I sat, "that you were just about to tell me that you love me."

I smiled, "Oh, is that so?"

He nodded. "I'm quite positive."

"And what would you have said in return?" I tried to keep my tone light, but I was anxious. A small part of me understood that it had been hundreds of years since I'd really seen this man and I should not expect his feelings to have remained the same just because my own had.

"I love you." The words were simple but so very delicious. I had ached to hear them for so long, longer than this girl, this human body, even understood. He continued, "I have never stopped loving you, Cassiel. Surely you know that." He leaned forward, preparing to kiss me.

His lips met my open palm.

He looked at me with all the surprise and indignation I deserved. "What was that for?" He asked.

"Pray to Adonai."

"I can't."

"I do not want to go through with this." He knew what I meant.

I could see on his face that he wanted to tell me to disobey the order, to walk away. But he did not say that, instead he grabbed my hand from where it was still raised, separating us, and kissed my open palm. "He will not listen to me, Cassiel. I don't want to get your hopes up."

"You don't hate me?" I asked. "You don't hate me for wanting you gone, taken from the earth?"

Again he kissed my palm. "Love, I could never hate you."

"Michael will go and request an answer from Adonai. He's been waiting for me to send him, I suppose I'll do it now."

"I will not fight you on this. Whatever weapon you possess to—to kill me or whatever it is you intend to do—"

I pulled my hand away from his lips and dropped it back into my lap. "You will not go to Hell."

He met my eyes. "Then it is my existence you shall take away, am I correct?"

I nodded. "Michael gave me a sword."

This was met with raised eyebrows. "Let's see it then."

"I—"

"Come now," he gestured to me, "I am more than certain you have it on your person."

I sat up in my seat. "Turn your head."

He smiled and did as I asked. I lifted my skirts and released the latch on the sheath before carefully pulling the blade out. I kept it away from Leviathan as I adjusted my skirts and laid it across my lap.

"You can look now."

He did not move away from me, but he made sure to give the weapon a wide berth. "Ah, I recognize this. It has already wreaked rather a large bit of damage to my person." He rolled his shoulders and grimaced at the phantom pain, the memory of something so wickedly cruel it was painful to even think on. His wings—a blade like this took his wings.

I slid it closer to me, letting it rest against the bodice of my dress. "I don't want to use it on you."

He laughed. "I don't particularly want it used on me."

"You seem entirely too calm."

"Do I?"

I nodded.

"I suppose I have felt this was coming for a while now...I may have even wanted it from time to time. Regardless of whether or not this blade is used on me, I cannot continue as I have. I no longer have it in myself to hurt Adonai or humanity. Or you. If you do not end me, Lucifer will. Although his ending will likely be more painful and shall result in my being sentenced to the pit." His eyes narrowed as he took in my expression, "I speak of dark pits and hell and yet you sit here smiling, why?"

I was smiling. "You called him Adonai. All this time, you haven't said His name. But you did, just now."

"I suppose I did, didn't I?" He sighed and stood up. "Whereabouts is the water closet? That should give you enough time to put that thing away before you accidentally stab me with it." His tone was light, but his eyes carried a heaviness that told me he was far from kidding.

I stood too, one fist wrapped in my skirts the other wrapped securely around the handle of the sword. "Through the door and down the hall, it will be the second door to the left."

He walked towards the door but paused before opening it. "Cassiel?"

"Yes?"

He kept his back to me as he said, "If I were to buy you a ticket to America, you would not go, would you?"

"I have work here that must be done."

He nodded and left the room without another word.