believe his youngest brother had fallen so far as to interbreed with other Angels of Chaos. He never would have contributed to the monsters such inbreeding produced.
“So what are your thoughts on the report?” Gabriel asked, shifting the topic back in a safer, less painful direction.
Uriel breathed a tired sigh. “Two angels dead. That’s three this year including the one our beloved brother dispatched.”
“Althean was one of his Grigori. Even though he wasn’t in the fourth choir, it was still within his scope to deliver justice.”
The woman chuckled. “That sounds like approval. Be careful, dear brother, lest I think you actually support our eldest sibling for once.”
“Just because it was his right, doesn’t mean I agree with the justice he delivered,” Gabriel protested. “Death was an extreme verdict, especially given our inability to produce more angels. Althean could have been rehabilitated, given sufficient time and attention.”
Uriel shivered. “Death was probably more merciful.”
Gabriel waved a hand dismissively. “But it’s not Althean that concerns me. He was Grigori and had every right to be walking among the humans, even if his actions weren’t sanctioned. These other two angels were away from Aaru without permission, one of them yours.”
He felt a wave of power from his sister, gritty as the sand they sat upon. “Furlac was delivering a personal message for me. His death had nothing to do with his errand. It was simply an unfortunate accident.”
Gabriel’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Uriel in disbelief. “He was murdered, dear sister. Pray enlighten me as to who killed him, and how it had no connection to his clandestine visit on earth.”
Uriel glared at him. “I do not know who killed him. I’ve recused myself from the investigation due to my conflict of interest. I’ll read about it in the final report. All I know is that I sent him on a peaceful mission and he never returned.”
Gabriel couldn’t help the harsh laugh that escaped him. She lied. If she wasn’t planning a rebellion, what was she up to? Could it be that his own sister found the idea of human companionship too tempting to resist? Was she perhaps hiding a Nephilim of her own, or one born to an angel in her choir?
She snarled at him, and he felt the abrasive scrape of her power, like a rasp against his flesh. “I mourn. He was a loyal member of my choir. I’ll thank you to understand my sorrow and respect the tragedy of our loss.”
He personally felt no sadness, no sense of loss over this angel, but he inclined his head in apology for his callousness. “Then what about Vaol? Raphael’s angel. He left a body behind without a mark on it. How did he die? Who could have done such a thing? ”
Gabriel watched his sister closely to see her reaction.
“The Grigori are investigating this death. I believe they suspected a devouring spirit, which is in keeping with the manner of death.”
“And the thought of a devouring spirit loose doesn’t bother you? I find it hard to believe you could be so casual about the prospect.” He shook his head. First his brother’s odd behavior, and now Uriel’s indifference. What was going on?
“Of course I’m concerned. I have great faith in our brother and his Grigori to contain the matter. If he is unconcerned, then there is no cause for worry.”
Gabriel frowned—was she aware that the monster had been slain or was she just oddly unaffected by the thought of an imminent apocalypse?
“The timing of the two deaths would lead me to believe they were connected, and the fact that the deceased’s choir is not cooperating requires added scrutiny in the investigation.”
Uriel waved a hand in irritation. “You see conspiracy where this is none. Their deaths were not at all similar. How could there be a connection between an angel delivering a message and one whose life was taken by an abomination?”
Gabriel winced. A devouring spirit was something they all
“So what are your thoughts on the report?” Gabriel asked, shifting the topic back in a safer, less painful direction.
Uriel breathed a tired sigh. “Two angels dead. That’s three this year including the one our beloved brother dispatched.”
“Althean was one of his Grigori. Even though he wasn’t in the fourth choir, it was still within his scope to deliver justice.”
The woman chuckled. “That sounds like approval. Be careful, dear brother, lest I think you actually support our eldest sibling for once.”
“Just because it was his right, doesn’t mean I agree with the justice he delivered,” Gabriel protested. “Death was an extreme verdict, especially given our inability to produce more angels. Althean could have been rehabilitated, given sufficient time and attention.”
Uriel shivered. “Death was probably more merciful.”
Gabriel waved a hand dismissively. “But it’s not Althean that concerns me. He was Grigori and had every right to be walking among the humans, even if his actions weren’t sanctioned. These other two angels were away from Aaru without permission, one of them yours.”
He felt a wave of power from his sister, gritty as the sand they sat upon. “Furlac was delivering a personal message for me. His death had nothing to do with his errand. It was simply an unfortunate accident.”
Gabriel’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Uriel in disbelief. “He was murdered, dear sister. Pray enlighten me as to who killed him, and how it had no connection to his clandestine visit on earth.”
Uriel glared at him. “I do not know who killed him. I’ve recused myself from the investigation due to my conflict of interest. I’ll read about it in the final report. All I know is that I sent him on a peaceful mission and he never returned.”
Gabriel couldn’t help the harsh laugh that escaped him. She lied. If she wasn’t planning a rebellion, what was she up to? Could it be that his own sister found the idea of human companionship too tempting to resist? Was she perhaps hiding a Nephilim of her own, or one born to an angel in her choir?
She snarled at him, and he felt the abrasive scrape of her power, like a rasp against his flesh. “I mourn. He was a loyal member of my choir. I’ll thank you to understand my sorrow and respect the tragedy of our loss.”
He personally felt no sadness, no sense of loss over this angel, but he inclined his head in apology for his callousness. “Then what about Vaol? Raphael’s angel. He left a body behind without a mark on it. How did he die? Who could have done such a thing? ”
Gabriel watched his sister closely to see her reaction.
“The Grigori are investigating this death. I believe they suspected a devouring spirit, which is in keeping with the manner of death.”
“And the thought of a devouring spirit loose doesn’t bother you? I find it hard to believe you could be so casual about the prospect.” He shook his head. First his brother’s odd behavior, and now Uriel’s indifference. What was going on?
“Of course I’m concerned. I have great faith in our brother and his Grigori to contain the matter. If he is unconcerned, then there is no cause for worry.”
Gabriel frowned—was she aware that the monster had been slain or was she just oddly unaffected by the thought of an imminent apocalypse?
“The timing of the two deaths would lead me to believe they were connected, and the fact that the deceased’s choir is not cooperating requires added scrutiny in the investigation.”
Uriel waved a hand in irritation. “You see conspiracy where this is none. Their deaths were not at all similar. How could there be a connection between an angel delivering a message and one whose life was taken by an abomination?”
Gabriel winced. A devouring spirit was something they all
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