Verse 2: At the Port of Galveston

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Barazephyr}

''Jean embarrassed? I don’t think he is capable of that feeling. Maybe if he makes a mistake, but I have never seen him make one. Embarrassed....wait! Bobby switches back to Jean’s tone of voice.

’’'Boundaries exit for a reason, Barazephyr. Without them, there is chaos. Failure to learn this lesson is a embarr...' wait yeah no, that one was all me.’’ Bobby now remembers again followed by shrugging his shoulders, unable to come up with a time when Jean should have felt embarrassed.

{GM}

Jezreel nods. “You’re probably right, Barazephyr,” she admits. “Jean is an Elohim. He’s not supposed to feel emotions… Or at least not to react to them, anyway. So, I suppose he wouldn’t actually feel embarrassed even were he willing to admit his mistakes, which – in my admittedly extremely limited experience – he isn’t.”

The young angel sighs. “Are you good for a while, Barazephyr? Do you need to run a few laps around the complex before I get started – to keep from getting too restless? This story is a long one. It’s complicated. I will be as brief as I can. I know time is precious right now. But even so, it will take more than a few minutes.”

{Barazephyr}

Bobby bursts out laughing.

’’Like a puppy with too much excess energy. Oh Jezreel, you crack me up. Good stuff!’’ wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

{GM}

Jezreel narrows her eyes and cocks her head, looking as confused as the puppy Barazephyr just mentioned.

The young Seraph shrugs. “I didn’t mean it as an insult, Barazephyr. Just an acknowledgement of the Ofanim need to move. It works for human children. I’ve minded some kids with ADHD for my mother on occasion. It was her suggestion to give the a chance to move before asking them to be still for a while. It often helped – better than fidget spinners and the like.”

{Barazephyr}

’’I am good to go, Jezreel. The faster you start, the faster we get to the information you have stored in that head of yours. I am all ears’’ he adds as he keeps on typing, while alt-tabbing between different tabs whenever another thought pops in his mind that he wants to check up on.

{GM}

Jezreel cocks her head again, processing. Then, understanding dawns, and she nods. More to herself than to the room, she softly says under her breath, “That’s a metaphor.”

Shaking her head to clear it, the young angel rights herself. “Thank you, Barazephyr… for the form, I mean. I didn’t even know forms like that existed in Heaven, let alone where to find them.”

Jezreel takes a long slow breath. “Okay, where to start…” She chuckles. “And don’t tell me, ‘At the beginning.’ That’s a very dangerous thing to say to a Servitor of Revelation…” She lets out a puff of air and sobers. “The story of my life… as condensed as I can manage. But, for this to make sense, I need to start before my birth, before my conception. My mother, Dodai, is a Mercurian of Children. At the time they met, my father, Cosom, was a Seraph of Lightning. They were assigned to work together creating a program for Internet safety for the children of Canada, starting with Montreal. While working on that program, they fell in love. Over time, they decided they would like to have a child. Originally, they intended to do it the traditional way. From what I understand, in the rare cases when two (or more) angels want to have a child, they approach their Superior and ask for that Superior to create a new angel from a mixture of their essences. It doesn’t happen often since normally Superiors just create Servitors by pulling their Forces from the Symphony to make a Reliever or an angel. But, in either case, the new Reliever or angel is already fully developed and ready to Serve. Which I probably don’t need to explain to you, but since it is different from my experience, I mention it for contrast and clarity.”

“My parents followed protocol. They approached their respective Superiors. Christopher was pleased that Dodai wanted a child of her own and immediately agreed but, not wanting to create friction with Lightning, insisted that they obtain permission from Jean as well. However, when Cosam approached Jean, Lightning said he would ‘take the matter under advisement’ and suggested that Cosam consider his reasons for wanting a child. Cosam did wait awhile and examine his motives, as requested, and he decided they were pure – that he loved Dodai and they wanted to create an angel that was formed from their two essences. Deciding that they had met Jean's requirement to wait, Cosam and Dodai went to Christopher and again asked to have a child, but Christopher refused without direct approval from Jean. Returning to Jean, Cosam again asked for permission, but Jean again advised patience and reflection. I don’t know specifically what was said; this is as much as I could get either of my parents to tell me. But reluctantly, they agreed to wait.”

Jezreel glances around the room and sighs. “They waited, but they were not happy about waiting. They griped about the delay frequently – to themselves and to anyone they could share this with, the other angels they interacted with. While they were waiting and still working on their project and a second to break up an Internet child pornography ring, Dodai and Cosam met another angel who was tangentially working on another Internet project in Montreal. While working with him, Cosam and Dodai mentioned their petition to have a child. The angel smiled beatifically and said that he thought it was an excellent idea. He asked them if they were sure that they were ready. They said yes. He asked if they were content to wait. They admitted that they thought they had waited long enough, and that they were impatient with waiting for Jean's approval. He asked again, ‘Are you certain?’ Dodai and Cosam said, ‘Yes.’ They wanted the child now, before they might be Reassigned and separated. The angel nodded. ‘So be it,’ he said, laying his hands on each of them. At that moment, Dodai found herself with child because, as you have likely already guessed, the angel was Archangel Eli, who had granted their petition.”

“And therein lies the roots of the later problems.” Jezreel drains her juice like humans often slam down alcohol. Then she stretches out of her yoga pose and walks to the kitchen to refill her glass.

“Would anyone else like something while I’m up?” the young Seraph asks. “Maledriel, would you like a refill?” She sighs. “Dodai would expect me to offer food, I think. I don’t have a lot of snack stuff around. I have some nuts and some grapes. Some cheese and crackers. If anyone is hungry…”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal looks down at his juice, currently untouched. "I'm fine for refreshments, Jezreel, thank you for asking. You know that if you want to take a brief break at any time you just need to say. Would it be easier for you to speak to just one of us rather than us all? I mean no disrespect in asking that, I know your upbringing has been difficult."

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Hearing the ''Take the matter under advisement'', Bobby can't help but sport a wide grin. Believing it is one of Jean's favorite things to say.
Once she stops to get refreshments, he instantly jumps up. ''Oh, no, no, no.'' he says as he rushes to the kitchen.
''Sit down, relax and continue your tale. No stopping when it comes to the good stuff!'' he says, already opening cupboards to find what she is planning on getting.
''I am happy to do it; no need to take a break. So what happened when Jean found out? No, please, just continue as you were planning to tell it. Amazing story so far.'' he exclaims cheerfully, hoping to get her to continue the tale and not waste time playing host. No one has time for that when a story starts getting good.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal looks at Bobby and then back to Jezreel "I apologise for Barazephyr. He is very good at what he does, but has the social awareness of a house brick."

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

''He is so right at that. Mal is amazing at it. He just needs to look at you and knows exactly how you are feeling.'' Bobby says in response as he is going through the cupboards unless Jezreel verbally objects.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal looks at Jezreel "So I do know how difficult this is for you, Jezreel. We take this at a pace that you're comfortable with."

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Bobby stops, turns to Mal and it finally seems to click what Mal was trying to get at.
He places the things he found on the table, since he already took them in his hands anyway, but stops trying to take over playing host.
Gives a thumbs up to Mal and heads back to the pc to continue his work.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Mal}

Mal looks down at his juice, currently untouched. "I'm fine for refreshments, Jezreel, thank you for asking. You know that if you want to take a brief break at any time you just need to say. Would it be easier for you to speak to just one of us rather than us all? I mean no disrespect in asking that, I know your upbringing has been difficult."

{GM}

“No, thank you, Maledriel,” Jezreel says. “I have no secrets. I know none of you well, so the number really doesn’t make a difference.”

{Barazephyr}

Once she stops to get refreshments, he instantly jumps up. ''Oh, no, no, no.'' he says as he rushes to the kitchen.

''Sit down, relax and continue your tale. No stopping when it comes to the good stuff!'' he says, already opening cupboards to find what she is planning on getting.
''I am happy to do it; no need to take a break. So what happened when Jean found out? No, please, just continue as you were planning to tell it. Amazing story so far.'' he exclaims cheerfully, hoping to get her to continue the tale and not waste time playing host. No one has time for that when a story starts getting good.

{GM}

The young Seraph hesitates a moment, glancing between Maledriel and Barazephyr, and says, “In one of my human classes, I studied a small bit of mythology – not the real events, I know, but the way the humans view them… Looking back from the vantage of history. The unit began with an overview of the difference between guilt cultures and shame cultures. In guilt cultures, society only holds people accountable for their own actions or inactions; therefore, individuals only feel embarrassed by what they themselves has done or failed to do. In shame cultures, society believes people are responsible for the actions of those close to them as well as their own. They are, therefore, embarrassed by the actions of family and close friends as well as their own.”

“I understand both.” She sighs.

{Mal}

Mal looks at Bobby and then back to Jezreel "I apologise for Barazephyr. He is very good at what he does, but has the social awareness of a house brick."

{GM}

Jezreel frowns a moment before nodding. “Another metaphor.”

{Barazephyr}

''He is so right at that. Mal is amazing at it. He just needs to look at you and knows exactly how you are feeling.'' Bobby says in response as he is going through the cupboards unless Jezreel verbally objects.

{GM}

Jezreel’s frown deepens. “Maledriel,” the young Seraph corrects Barazephyr. She shrugs. “That’s usually an Elohim’s gift.”

Turning to Maledriel, Jezreel says, “No need to apologize to me about manners, sir. My mother says that wolves in the wild have a better understanding of social niceties than I do, which I don’t doubt. Most of polite conversation is merely lies in which people pretend to like and care about others whom they don’t.” She sighs. “But Dodai also says that if dogs can be taught to shake hands, then surely I should be able to manage at least the simple duties of a hostess.”

As Barazephyr begins to search the contents of her cupboards, she chuckles. “I suppose this works almost as well as running laps.” She takes a moment and points out where the nuts, plates, bowls, cheese, and fruit are. The cheese cleverly sits in the drawer marked ‘cheese’ inside the refrigerator. The fruits in the one marked fruits in the fridge as well. Nothing else sits in those respective drawers even though there is room for other items.

{Mal}

Mal looks at Jezreel "So I do know how difficult this is for you, Jezreel. We take this at a pace that you're comfortable with."

{GM}

“Please don’t lie to me, Maledriel,” Jezreel says. “No matter how well-intentioned the lie. You can’t possibly know because I haven’t told you the situation yet. All of you said you were not aware of the details of my background, and the Symphony told me you spoke truthfully. I appreciate the offer for me to proceed at my own pace, but the pretense at understanding only makes me feel worse.”

{Barazephyr}

Bobby stops, turns to Mal and it finally seems to click what Mal was trying to get at.

He places the things he found on the table, since he already took them in his hands anyway, but stops trying to take over playing host. Gives a thumbs up to Mal and heads back to the PC to continue his work.

{GM}

Jezreel pours shelled, mixed nuts in one bowl and grapes in another. As she does so, she picks up her story. “I can’t be certain, but I believe that everything would have been fine if my father had simply told Jean what happened at the outset. My mother sent word to Christopher, and he was overjoyed for her. His only advice was to stay in her human Vessel until she gave birth since he had no idea what assuming Celestial form would have done to the child growing in her womb.”

The young angel begins slicing up some brick cheese as she continues. “But, as I said already, Cosam is a coward. He was afraid of how Lightning would react, so he didn’t inform Jean until after I was born.” She sets crackers on a separate plate.

“Feel free to take what you want,” Jezreel says, gesturing to the small snack spread on the kitchen table.

“Thank you, Jez,” G.G. says as he hops off the stool, using this as an opportunity to move at least a little.

“Jezreel,” she immediately corrects the Reliever.

“My apologies, Most Holy,” Galgaliel says. “Jezreel.” He emphasizes her full name.

The Seraph nods her acceptance of his apology, walks back to the area in front of her desk, and resumes her cross-legged position on the floor. “Once I was born,” she says,“Cosam could no longer hide the fact, so he finally reported my existence to his Superior. Jean was outraged. Well, as much as an Elohite can be anyway. Lightning saw this as direct defiance of his orders. Cosam tried to explain that he had not intended to defy the order. He argued, honestly, that Eli had granted the pregnancy before revealing who he was... But Jean would hear nothing of it. He immediately Outcast Cosam for his disobedience. Matters only got worse from there.”

Jezreel pauses a moment, taking a sip of her juice as she looks around the apartment to gauge reactions and see whether or not anyone has questions.

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Bobby will attempt to access Heaven's database from her PC to search for Cosam.
If his files are classified, he will send in a request for access, like he did earlier with the others.
Afterward, he will search if any of his names pop up anywhere else in the database. Other angels who may have used his name in reports or other documents.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

{GM}

“Please don’t lie to me, Maledriel,” Jezreel says. “No matter how well-intentioned the lie. You can’t possibly know because I haven’t told you the situation yet. All of you said you were not aware of the details of my background, and the Symphony told me you spoke truthfully. I appreciate the offer for me to proceed at my own pace, but the pretense at understanding only makes me feel worse.”

Mal looks directly at Jezreel.

"I am not lying to you Jezreel. I can see with my own eyes your behaviour, how difficult this is for you. I am a Mercurian, I understand body language. I have grown quite good at reading it. So, please, have some respect for me too. Besides, while you were arguing with Lilly I read the symphony. While it withheld information, I do know, generally, how difficult your relationship with your father was. So no lies."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

“Please don’t lie to me, Maledriel,” Jezreel says. “No matter how well-intentioned the lie. You can’t possibly know because I haven’t told you the situation yet. All of you said you were not aware of the details of my background, and the Symphony told me you spoke truthfully. I appreciate the offer for me to proceed at my own pace, but the pretense at understanding only makes me feel worse.”

{Mal}

Mal looks directly at Jezreel.

"I am not lying to you Jezreel. I can see with my own eyes your behaviour, how difficult this is for you. I am a Mercurian, I understand body language. I have grown quite good at reading it. So, please, have some respect for me too. Besides, while you were arguing with Lilly I read the symphony. While it withheld information, I do know, generally, how difficult your relationship with your father was. So no lies."

{GM}

The young Seraph, closes her eyes, cocking her head, considering. Opening them up again, she meets Maledriel’s eyes and nods. “Then I apologize. I should not have jumped to conclusions.” She hesitates, taking a sip of her juice. “But then if the Symphony has already shared all of this, why am I going over it again? Why didn’t you say something when I asked everyone in the room what you already know? I specifically asked what you know, to avoid wasting time and to avoid bringing up events I find painful to dwell on.”

Jezreel never raises her voice. Her words hold no heat. Her tone falls nearly as flat and measured as an Elohim talking about the weather. Her eyes and shoulders droop, as though from exhaustion.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

"Because the others do not know, and apart from the information surrounding your creation and that you are estranged from your father, the information I gained was limited. It was not my intention to increase your discomfort, and if I have I apologise. Although, if I am to be honest" a little smile " I was also interested to see if there was anything I may have learned that you were unaware of, and if that was the case I would have told you."

[Tay-Dor]

[Marduk]

Marduk listens from his position by the door being reminded as to why Malakim tend to work alone or with other Malakim. The others go off on tangents or cast too wide a net. He clears his throat, "What is the relevance of Jezreel's creation to our current mission?"

"Also, I think we should confine our investigation, for now, to those angels killed here in Galveston."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Mal}

"Because the others do not know, and apart from the information surrounding your creation and that you are estranged from your father, the information I gained was limited. It was not my intention to increase your discomfort, and if I have I apologise. Although, if I am to be honest" a little smile " I was also interested to see if there was anything I may have learned that you were unaware of, and if that was the case I would have told you."

{GM}

A vine of pink creeps up her neck into her cheeks. She closes her eyes again and takes several deep breaths. She opens them once more and nods. “Thank you, Maledriel,” she says softly; her voice remains flat. Then she looks at the items Barazephyr is stacking on the table, staring at them as though she has never seen their like before.

{Barazephyr}

Bobby stops, turns to Mal and it finally seems to click what Mal was trying to get at.

He places the things he found on the table, since he already took them in his hands anyway, but stops trying to take over playing host. Gives a thumbs up to Mal and heads back to the PC to continue his work.

[Charybdis Richelle]

[Marduk]

Marduk listens from his position by the door being reminded as to why Malakim tend to work alone or with other Malakim. The others go off on tangents or cast too wide a net. He clears his throat, "What is the relevance of Jezreel's creation to our current mission?"

{GM}

“I don’t know, sir,” Jezreel admits. “But Barazephyr asked about Costello Bissett, one of my father’s many aliases, so I must answer. And there is no way for me to answer that without explaining the whole situation. I am trying to be as brief as I can.”

[Marduk]

"Also, I think we should confine our investigation, for now, to those angels killed here in Galveston."

{GM}

Jezreel nods. “I will still need to go just a little farther, Marduk, to do that. Because you asked me to explain anything else I ’feel might be relevant to this case,’ and one relevant detail is related to my father… or at least he is the source of my information, but I cannot in good conscience share anything I learn from him without a bit more background, sir."

The young Revelationist gives Marduk a wry smile. “Besides, sir, you said I had until the Ofanim was bouncing off the walls to finish, and he still seems to be managing.”

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Without turning from the screen, Bobby grins and speaks up.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if there are demons sitting in Hell right now, grumbling about us: ‘I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for those meddling angels!’" he chuckles as his fingers tap away at the keyboard.

"That’s because Mal and I? We’re Heaven’s version of Scooby-Doo! Nobody seems like a suspect until we pull that mask off. Every lead, no matter how unrelated it might look, could be the missing link. Hot News always gets the first scoop. And the awesome part of it all? We’re fast enough to chase them all down. So, just sit back, relax, and trust in the investigation. Ain’t that right, boss?"
Without glancing away from his work, Bobby extends his left fist toward Maledriel. Hoping for a fist bump showing they are in agreement.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal fist bumps Barazephyr.

"He's right. I've learned, as part of this role, how seemingly unrelated facts can end up being linked. There are so many unusual things about this situation that we can't rule anything out, so even the smallest fact might help us work this out......oh, and I'm absolutely a combination of Fred's style and Velma's brains."

[Tay-Dor]

{GM}

Jezreel nods. “I will still need to go just a little farther, Marduk, to do that. Because you asked me to explain anything else I ’feel might be relevant to this case,’ and one relevant detail is related to my father… or at least he is the source of my information, but I cannot in good conscience share anything I learn from him without a bit more background, sir."

The young Revelationist gives Marduk a wry smile. “Besides, sir, you said I had until the Ofanim was bouncing off the walls to finish, and he still seems to be managing.”

[Marduk]

"If you think its relevant than it must be so. You may continue." Marduk says, poised to take notes.

{Barazephyr}

"That’s because Mal and I? We’re Heaven’s version of Scooby-Doo! Nobody seems like a suspect until we pull that mask off. Every lead, no matter how unrelated it might look, could be the missing link. Hot News always gets the first scoop. And the awesome part of it all? We’re fast enough to chase them all down. So, just sit back, relax, and trust in the investigation. Ain’t that right, boss?"

[Marduk]

"Very useful. The sooner you find the demons, the sooner I can dispatch them." Marduk replies deadpan.

[Juramenta]

"Very useful. The sooner you find the demons, the sooner I can dispatch them." Marduk replies deadpan.

{Barazephyr}

Bobby raises his arm to give a thumbs up without turning around. Instead his eyes stay focused on the screen.
He saves the conversation document and sends it over to Lilly per e-mail with the title: Please delete after reading part 1/X:

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Jezreel nods. “I will still need to go just a little farther, Marduk, to do that. Because you asked me to explain anything else I ’feel might be relevant to this case,’ and one relevant detail is related to my father… or at least he is the source of my information, but I cannot in good conscience share anything I learn from him without a bit more background, sir."

The young Revelationist gives Marduk a wry smile. “Besides, sir, you said I had until the Ofanim was bouncing off the walls to finish, and he still seems to be managing.”

[Marduk]

"If you think its relevant than it must be so. You may continue." Marduk says, poised to take notes.

{GM}

“Thank you, sir.”

---

{Barazephyr}

"That’s because Mal and I? We’re Heaven’s version of Scooby-Doo! Nobody seems like a suspect until we pull that mask off. Every lead, no matter how unrelated it might look, could be the missing link. Hot News always gets the first scoop. And the awesome part of it all? We’re fast enough to chase them all down. So, just sit back, relax, and trust in the investigation. Ain’t that right, boss?"

{GM}

Jezreel frowns, not understanding the reference, but she doesn’t interrupt. And since Marduk comments and Barazephyr continues, she doesn’t ask.

{Marduk}

"Very useful. The sooner you find the demons, the sooner I can dispatch them." Marduk replies deadpan.

{Barazephyr}

Without glancing away from his work, Bobby extends his left fist toward Maledriel. Hoping for a fist bump showing they are in agreement.

{Mal}

Mal fist bumps Barazephyr.

"He's right. I've learned, as part of this role, how seemingly unrelated facts can end up being linked. There are so many unusual things about this situation that we can't rule anything out, so even the smallest fact might help us work this out......oh, and I'm absolutely a combination of Fred's style and Velma's brains."

{GM}

“I don’t understand your metaphors,” Jezreel admits. “They sound like they may be allusions of some sort, but I don’t recognize them.” She shrugs. “But I think I understand your point.”

The young Seraph takes another sip of juice. She breathes in and out slowly and deeply before nodding. “Let me continue, then, so Marduk doesn’t rescind his permission for me to explain.”

“After my birth, though before I could roll over or even lift my head, let alone speak and act independently, I knew myself to be in the Service of Creation. The Symphony told me – without words. It felt right. Dodai and Cosam are my parents, but Eli is my Creator. Naturally he was my first Superior." Jezreel nods. "Because of that, both Dodai and Cosam expected Eli to take me under his wing for training, but he would hear nothing of it. ‘You wanted to be parents,’ Eli told them. ‘So, be parents. The moral and intellectual training of your child is your responsibility. Just remember that your child Serves Creation,’ he admonished them, ‘And be cool.’ A bit concerned, my mother asked Eli if he minded having me trained by an Outcast, but he just laughed it off saying, ‘Why would I mind? I did have something of a hand in the whole affair, after all.’ Eli then suggested that Cosam just wait until Jean calmed down, and it should all blow over.”

Jezreel sighs. “But it didn’t. As time went on, Jean's stance did not change as Eli had predicted. He continued to refuse to see Cosam or give my father chance to redeem himself. In a gesture of goodwill, Creation offered to speak to Lightning on Cosam's behalf, and he gratefully accepted. Eli approached Jean, as one Archangel to another, and freely admitted his own role in the affair. He asked that Jean take Cosam back as Dodai and Cosam really had no chance to refuse the gift of my birth that Creation had spontaneously granted. Jean, however, refused to budge. Lightning asserted that if there was no wrongdoing on Cosam's part, then he would have immediately reported what had happened. The fact that Cosam concealed the deed implied a sense of guilt. And Jean further said that he would not accept Cosam back until and unless he admitted his own responsibility in the affair rather than seeking to blame Eli for it. And I understand that. Secrets create far more problems than they solve.”

The young angel picks up her drink again but shakes her head before drinking it. She just squares her shoulder and pushes on. “Seeing Jean's response as unreasonable and his Outcasting as unfair punishment, my father became bitter and angry. Shortly after my 4th birthday, he left. He would occasionally visit, to see me, to teach me bits and pieces about technology and so on that he felt I needed to know. He instilled a love of computers that I still hold, but he refused to talk to me about where he was going or what he was doing when he wasn’t at home. My father just said, ‘A child wouldn’t understand. All you need to know is I love you.’ And it was True – even though it hurt my heart whenever he left again. The Symphony confirmed it.”

Jezreel blinks eyes, suddenly bright with unshed tears. “I don’t know exactly what happened next. I didn’t see it. My father next told me. Honestly, I never asked. It doesn’t matter how or why. Shortly after my 6th birthday, my mother and I had a visit from Moriel, a Seraph of Judgment, who interviewed us both separately, asking about Cosam’s recent activities and whereabouts. Only after he was satisfied I knew nothing more than Cosam had left us, did Moriel tell me my father had Fallen, twisted into a sick perversion of a Balseraph. Later, my father told me his name is now Cozbi and he now Serves Vapula, the Demon Prince of Technology.”

The young Seraph rubs her eyes with thumb and forefinger, wiping away tears as discreetly as she can. “Why does this matter to anyone other than me?” she asks aloud. “Because I am fairly sure that it’s not only humans and angels that are dying. My father emailed me this morning to warn me to be careful. He told me that demons are dying in Galveston – demons and other Servitors of Hell. He was worried for me. Cozbi still loves me. I know most angels believe that a demon can’t love, but he does. He has said so many times, and the Symphony has confirmed it every time. Yes, I know he is a Liar. I know that they somehow believe…” she shudders. “That they somehow take their own lies for truth. But, I verify everything Cozbi says, and over and over the Symphony has told me in this one thing, my father speaks the Truth.”

Jezreel meets Marduk’s eyes directly. “It is even harder to judge a Balseraph’s words when written or electronically produced than it is in person. I know that some of my father’s message is true but parts of it are lies, and I cannot understand the Symphony’s answer as I try to sort the truth from the lies. But since he has to believe it to avoid hurting himself, I am fairly sure that at least the gist – that Servitors of Hell are dying – at least that much is likely the truth. I can’t bring myself to trust the details – which ones and what kind. And, in general, I doubt you care if Servitors of Hell die. Good riddance. But the fact that not just humans and angels are targets may be relevant. Perhaps that might help someone with your experience and wisdom to find out what is behind this, even if it does nothing but confuse me further.”