Verse 2: At the Port of Galveston

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Lilly}

Lilly throws up her hands. "What in God's name are you even talking about? When did I suggest you'd lie? I offered to take you to watch some comedians, because I thought it would be good practice for you. To give you a chance to practice, I don't know how to say it, practice looking past what someone is saying to get at what someone means. Practice isn't always comfortable. Hell, it often kind of sucks. But it's valuable. Incredibly valuable.

"I mean, have you heard mathematicians talk? I have! Worked at a bar frequented by grad students once. Got to listen to them talk math before the alcohol took them. No idea what they said, but I do know they used metaphors, similes, played loose with the details all the time. Because they're humans. Because human minds aren't made for that kind of precision. They get lost in it. Now, maybe Willow is some sort of superhuman ultra genius and she doesn't need that. But I doubt it. And even if she doesn't, she's gonna need it to communicate her ideas with literally everyone else."

{GM}

Jezreel’s glare eases just a hair. “Please leave, Lilly,” the young angel says in Celestial. Less heat colors her tone, but strong tension remains. “Adrenaline has driven most of the blood from my brain and pushed it to my extremities. I cannot think clearly. We can talk later – after my system has regained equilibrium. But Marduk wants information now, and I cannot reliably offer that with you in the room, causing my heart to race.”

{Barazephyr}

- Marduk: Enough. You should also know better, Jezreel, that not all Angels can be held to the same standards of Truth as you. I don't care if you get angry at me. I don't have time to humor your foolishness. Angels are dying and you're more worried about your ego? Your pride? I'm getting too old for this shit. -

- Jezreel: I am not trying to hold Lilly to the same account of Truth, Marduk. I am expecting her to acknowledge the insult of suggesting I would lie. But you’re right, Marduk. Angels are dying. Humans are dying. I need your help; you need mine. I will answer any questions you have. Any questions that Barazephyr and Maledriel have. As soon as you move aside and let Lilly leave. That wastes no time, nor does it interfere at all with gathering the information you need. Feel free to send her what is said here by text… or audio recording. For Heaven’s sake, you can stream it to her if that’s what you prefer. Lilly can text one of you any questions she has, and one of you can relay them to me. But I will not do so while she remains in the room. You’re ‘too old for this shit,’ Marduk. Maybe you are. Forgive me, Virtue, but I don’t yet have the maturity to put this out of my mind while Lilly sits in the room with me, reminding me of her insult while she refuses to so much as acknowledge her actions. My 5,475 days of life have not yet granted me the wisdom that your millennia of experience have given you. Ce n'est pas juste. Pourquoi les adultes attendent-ils toujours plus des enfants que ce qu’ils exigent d’eux-mêmes. -

A cheerful Bobby gives Jezreel a thumbs up.
No worries Jezreel, I got you covered he says pointing at the screen, showing he took the liberty to start ahead on her suggestion before she even mentioned it.

{GM}

Jezreel turns her head when Barazephyr addresses her. She nods once and then returns to glancing back and forth between Marduk and Lilly.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

Lilly shrugs. She walks to the nearest window, and unless someone physically restrains her, opens it and hops out.

[Tay-Dor]

[Marduk]

Marduk glares at Jezreel, "Most Holy, you are not deserving of that name right now. I should know. I was a Seraph long ago. You are supposed to be the closest to the Divine, the post pure. This anger and hostility towards another Angel is unseemly. She did nothing wrong aside from not taking into account who she was speaking to."

"You are an Angel, A Seraph, most removed from Humanity, not the teenage girl your vessel appears to be. Your obstinance is hampering our mission and I will have words with your Superior when I have a chance." Marduk finishes.

"Lilly, do what you must, though I'd prefer it if you stayed so we wouldn't have to repeat this one's information again." Marduk tells Lilly by the window.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

"Bobby's got that covered. And frankly, Marduk, far as I'm concerned, we could all benefit from being a bit closer to Humanity." Lilly hops through the window.

[Charybdis Richelle]

[Marduk]

Marduk glares at Jezreel, "Most Holy, you are not deserving of that name right now. I should know. I was a Seraph long ago. You are supposed to be the closest to the Divine, the post pure. This anger and hostility towards another Angel is unseemly. She did nothing wrong aside from not taking into account who she was speaking to."

{GM}

“You’re trying to dictate how I feel?” Jezreel says. “Fine. Please. With the wisdom of the ages, tell me how I do that?”

[Marduk]

"You are an Angel, A Seraph, most removed from Humanity, not the teenage girl your vessel appears to be."

{GM}

Jezreel shakes her head. “I am both, Marduk,” the young Seraph says. “I am precisely as old as my body is. I will have my fifteenth birthday in somewhere between 12 and 20 hours. Dodai never gave me the exact time of my birth. She only said, ‘in the early hours of the morning, before the sun had risen.’ In October in Montreal, that doesn’t narrow the time much.”

“You’re only 15?” Galgaliel blurts out in astonishment.

Once again, Jezreel shakes her head. “I’m only 14, Galgaliel. I won’t be 15 until tomorrow.”

[Marduk]

"Your obstinance is hampering our mission and I will have words with your Superior when I have a chance." Marduk finishes.

{GM}

“In what way? I already told you I would answer your questions and those of the two Servitors of Lightning. I even gave you a method to field them from Lilly that will cost no more than seconds. Barazephyr has already set that in motion.”

“You wish to contact my Superiors?” The teen angel shrugs. “Would you like their email?” she asks. “Creation rarely checks his, but Revelation is fairly prompt. If you want a response faster, though, you can contact The Speaker of Holy Mysteries; most often, I report to Raziel rather than Lithroy himself. Raziel usually replies within hours rather than days.”

[Marduk]

"Lilly, do what you must, though I'd prefer it if you stayed so we wouldn't have to repeat this one's information again." Marduk tells Lilly by the window.

{Lilly}

"Bobby's got that covered. And frankly, Marduk, far as I'm concerned, we could all benefit from being a bit closer to Humanity." Lilly hops through the window.

{GM}

Jezreel nods and takes a long, slow breath. Then she looks around the room. “So, as I asked before, did my explanation of Willow’s Destiny and her maths answer your first question, Marduk?” the young Creationist asks. “Do you have any follow-ups or want clarification? Or shall I move on to the others?”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal sighs and attempts the ethereal song of harmony, hoping to affect Jezreel, Lilly and Marduk.

Base roll: [_3d6]=(5+2+3)=10
With a TN of 6 that just fails.

[Tay-Dor]

[Marduk]

Marduk sighs in annoyance. Sometimes its better to go it alone and not have to deal with Celestial politics, over-eager relievers, and prepubescent angels. "Yes, beautiful math that will change the world for good or for ill." Marduk shakes his head. "I don't see how, but then I'm an old soldier and not much for the high brow things."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Mal}

Mal sighs and attempts the ethereal song of harmony, hoping to affect Jezreel, Lilly and Marduk.

{GM}

The tiniest ripple of Disturbance ebbs forth as Maledriel attempts the use of the Song. Jezreel looks over and gives the Mercurian a weak smile. “I struggle with that one myself, sometimes,” the teen angel says. “Perhaps the Symphony doesn’t mind a few heated words and would rather save the Disturbance for a chance to stop physical violence?”

[Marduk]

Marduk sighs in annoyance. Sometimes its better to go it alone and not have to deal with Celestial politics, over-eager relievers, and prepubescent angels. "Yes, beautiful math that will change the world for good or for ill." Marduk shakes his head. "I don't see how, but then I'm an old soldier and not much for the high brow things."

{GM}

“I don’t understand how yet either, sir,” Jezreel admits. “But I know maths are the foundation for most science and thus most progress. Mathematics allowed humans to go to the moon and send probes into deep space; maths are the foundation for computers, or – to bring up technologies you might find more comfortable with, the discovery of the Pythagorean theorem in ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt allowed the ancient Romans to develop the beginnings of surveying, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, bookkeeping, creation of lunar and solar calendars, arts, and crafts.” She shrugs. “So, though I don’t understand the specific applications of Willow’s mathematics yet, Marduk, I do understand how math can be a force for good or ill. Nuclear power and the atomic bomb are clear examples of the same equations put to vastly diverse purposes.”

Jezreel sighs, blinking back the dampness suddenly prickling behind her eyelids. “But moving on to the relationship between Willow, Christie, Donna, and Violet is simple. They have all been close friends since early grade school. Willow and Donna met in preschool. I am the only newcomer to their inner circle, and I make up the most obvious connection to them – though, if I were the target, whatever attacked them has extremely poor timing. Barchiel wasn’t directly known to them as far as I know, but – in his Role as a Galveston police officer, he was called to the scene after their 911 call for help. I don’t know if Barchiel and Reshnu were acquainted. Reshnu and I may have met weekly, but he never shared personal information. It would make sense to me if they did. Despite the disagreements between their respective Superiors, as two of the very few martial angels in town, I could see them at least sparring together or working out at the same gym. But that is speculation on my part, not something I know as fact.”

“After I learned about Reshnu and Barachiel, I started checking on the few other angels I know in town. There aren’t many I know personally.” Jezreel shrugs. “I’m relatively new here, and I am not the most social of angels. Just maintaining relationships with Willow and my other friends and working part-time makes up about as much socialization as I can stand.” The young Seraph shakes her head. “Of those I do, though, I know of two possible victims who have not been mentioned in the papers – Humlet, Mercurian of Destiny, and Verchiel, Mercurian of Creation. Both have gone missing. All of the girls and I have a passing relationship with Humlet. In her Role as Lewis Watson, a librarian at Rosenberg Library, we had met her together and individually to smaller and lesser degrees when using the library. The others had attended various story hour events with ‘Ms. Watson’; we had all used the library for research at one time or another. Willow and I volunteered there off and on. Willow and Donna both know Verchiel in his Role as Virgil Harmon, a maths teacher at Ball High School. Both Christie and Violet know of ‘Mr. Harmon,’ but Donna had him for a Geometry teacher this year, and Willow had him for Geometry last year and Trigonometry and Elementary Analysis this year. Both ‘Ms. Watson’s’ and ‘Mr. Harmon’s’ co-workers find their absence from work to be strange. ‘Mr. Harmon’ in particular had won the perfect attendance award at Ball High (and previously Weis Middle School) for 7 years in a row.” Cocking her head, she adds, “Actually, come to think of it, all four of the girls had Mr. Harmon for either 8th grade maths or Algebra while at Weis.”

Jezreel looks around the room, taking in everyone’s eyes. “Would any of you like to know anything else about these relationships before I move on to the ‘anything else I might know about the deaths’ category?”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

{GM}

The tiniest ripple of Disturbance ebbs forth as Maledriel attempts the use of the Song. Jezreel looks over and gives the Mercurian a weak smile. “I struggle with that one myself, sometimes,” the teen angel says. “Perhaps the Symphony doesn’t mind a few heated words and would rather save the Disturbance for a chance to stop physical violence?”

Mal smiles wanely "I was worried the shouting in a strange tongue and people jumping out of windows might draw attention to us. It no longer matters."

Jezreel looks around the room, taking in everyone’s eyes. “Would any of you like to know anything else about these relationships before I move on to the ‘anything else I might know about the deaths’ category?”

"I'm aware of the deaths of five angels, the latest being Adoel, Malakim of Lightning. Her body was found in the early hours of this morning at UTMB labs. Do you know of any link between these people and the lab?... A wild idea has popped into my head, if we can show a line between all the victims, perhaps something is somehow using the symphony to detect and follow that connection. This is an even wilder speculation... Your friend has some kind of maths in her head that touches the symphony, could this maths be used, even subconsciously, to manipulate or read the symphony?" he looks around " Wild speculation, but nothing about this situation is normal...and I'm not accusing anyone of conscious, spiteful, actions."

[Juramenta]

"I'm aware of the deaths of five angels, the latest being Adoel, Malakim of Lightning. Her body was found in the early hours of this morning at UTMB labs. Do you know of any link between these people and the lab?"

''Five that are related to Jezreel. Worldwide, I found sixteen of them, boss.'' he responds keeping his eyes on the screen. '' At least counting in the last 30 days and that only includes those that have been properly recorded.
Those who are related to Jezreel and are officially reported:
Reshnu, found and declared dead on the 5th
Barchiel, found and declared dead on the 5th
Adoel, found and declared dead today

Yves and Eli never officially reported any of their angels soul-killed, but since we already know they lost angels. It wouldn’t be too far fetched of an idea to assume it contains Humlet aka Ms Watson and Merchiel aka Mr Harmon. Turning them from missing to soul-killed.

Want me to compile you a list with causes of death on the others or want to stick our investigation to the five related to Jezreel?'' Barazephyr says as he starts searching for more information on a Costello Bissett.

’’Weird that Jezreel wasn’t informed in those days of Reshnu having been reported missing since the 2nd, they must have known she had a appointment with him on the 6th. Maybe later, Bissett is more interesting for now.’’ he mumbles to himself as he continues his search.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal smiles, at Bobby "Include data on all the angel deaths, you never know if we might find a link."

[Juramenta]

’’Alright, I’m on it’’ he replies as he glances at the first open tab to update the document intended for Lilly, making sure everything discussed so far is neatly updated to send her later. He then turns back to the task at hand, creating a fresh document labeled Soul-Killed Angels – Summary Report.

As he types, the screen displays:

- Bandine has no records on file, so there is no data.

- Christopher reports two soul-killed angels:
On September 9, Doniel was a Cherub whose Role, Donatien Lavigne, a Red Cross nurse in the Ukraine. He was soul-killed defending his charges from a demonic attack upon a Red Cross hospital. All of his charges survived, though, as he engaged the demons in Celestial combat to buy them time to escape.

On September 18, Shassiel, who was possessing a trio of refugee children in Palestine, was soul-killed as he left his hosts in a safe place and ascended to the Celestial plane to find three more to bring to safety.

- David reports only one soul-killed angel. On September 14, Jahassiel an Ofanim, whose Role, Johanna Smythe, was acting as a rescue worker, digging survivors out of a collapsed building in Yemin. No one is certain what happened to soul kill her. She was working without any other Celestials.

- Dominick reported Reshnu.

- Eli never sent in a report.

- Gabriel has reported two angels soul-killed in the last 30 days. (in Port-Prince Haiti vs drug demons)

On September 24, Both Adrop, a Seraph whose Role was Adan Hernandez, and Sabrathan, an Ofanim whose Role was Sera Abasolo, were both CIA agents trying to rescue an undercover DEA agent who had been captured by a gang lead by known demons of Saminga and Fleurity known for their cruelty and brutal torture. They freed the hostage. No one saw what happened to Adrop or Sabrathan. Gabriel assumes they were killed fighting off the demons and gangers long enough for the hostage to make it to safety.

- Janus reports only one soul-killed angel. On October 1, Zarall, a Malakim whose Role, Zuri Leal, a DEA agent who was assisting the Ecuadorian government in combating drug trafficking was soul-killed in a raid. Mayhem ensued.

- Jean reported Adoel.

- Jordi has no records on file, so there is no data.

- Lawrence reports five soul-killed angels, Tartys, Jamaerah, Rahatiel, Hagith, and Oriash, all Malakim. All are reported lost on October 4 during a joint military operation with Michael against demon-led forces in the Ukraine. No details are given other than to say their operation was a success. They prevailed against great odds, and they are considered acceptable casualties.

- Litheroy reports no angels soul-killed within the last 30 days.

- Marc reports no angels soul-killed within the last 30 days.

- Michael reports four soul-killed angels. Three of them were Usiu and Empyrean – both Malakim – and Pamyel, an Ofanim. All are reported lost on October 4 during a joint military operation with Lawrence against demon-led forces in the Ukraine. No details are given other than to say their operation was a success. They prevailed against great odds, and they are considered acceptable casualties.

He also reported Bachiel who must have been killed later on the day as he only arrived at the scene after getting called in to investigate the murders.

- Novalis has no records on file, so there is no data.

- Yves never sent in a report.

- Zadkiel reports no angels soul-killed within the last 30 days.
---

Once he is done, he sends the list over to Mal's e-mail adress.
He then returns back to his own research while continuing to listen on to the conversation,
His search on Bissett starts by opening up e-mails Jezreel specifically kept unread. Using a online translation program to turn the French text into English in order to read them.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal's phone pings, and he glances down to see Bobby's email. "Thanks Bobby"

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

The tiniest ripple of Disturbance ebbs forth as Maledriel attempts the use of the Song. Jezreel looks over and gives the Mercurian a weak smile. “I struggle with that one myself, sometimes,” the teen angel says. “Perhaps the Symphony doesn’t mind a few heated words and would rather save the Disturbance for a chance to stop physical violence?”

{Mal}

Mal smiles wanly "I was worried the shouting in a strange tongue and people jumping out of windows might draw attention to us. It no longer matters."

{GM}

“What shouting?” Jezreel says. “I never once raised my voice.” Thinking back, Maledriel realizes this is true. No matter how intense and fervent her words, the Seraph kept her volume in normal conversational range.

The young angel shrugs. “But even if they had heard it, no one would likely have taken notice. People yell around here all the time. These are very low-rent apartments.” She shrugs again. “And like the stereotypes I heard back in Montreal, few Americans here speak anything other than English. Those foreigners who speak other languages are largely ignored. A few recognize Spanish when it is spoken. Anything else tends to be written off as ‘other.’ My French sometimes gets a questioning glance, little more. I doubt Celestial would be any different.”

“Besides, it’s not like Lilly had far to jump. The windows she used exit out onto the same balcony as my front door.” Jezreel cocks her head. “Is it still a balcony if it isn’t separated from the other units? I’m not sure. Maybe I should call it a covered walkway. But either way, it wouldn’t be the first time someone in these apartments has exited that way in the last thirty days or so.”

Jezreel looks around the room, taking in everyone’s eyes. “Would any of you like to know anything else about these relationships before I move on to the ‘anything else I might know about the deaths’ category?”

{Mal}

"I'm aware of the deaths of five angels, the latest being Adoel, Malakim of Lightning. Her body was found in the early hours of this morning at UTMB labs. Do you know of any link between these people and the lab?... A wild idea has popped into my head, if we can show a line between all the victims, perhaps something is somehow using the Symphony to detect and follow that connection."

{GM}

Jezreel drops her head, closes her eyes, and shudders. “Another angel dead? Another Malakim? That couldn’t…” She cuts herself off, revising her thought even before speaking it. “That shouldn’t be possible.”

Opening her eyes again, the young Seraph meets Maledriel’s gaze steadily. “I don’t… didn’t know Adoel… didn’t know of him. Though I am not surprised to learn Lightning had an angel at the labs. I don’t know what idiot thought putting a laboratory dealing with some of the most deadly diseases on Earth in a hurricane zone that is only 7 feet above sea level was a good idea, but…” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t speculate. I know nothing more about the Galveston Labs than what was in the newspaper.”

“None of the girls ever mentioned Adoel to me nor the labs, so if there are any connections, I don’t know about that,” the young angel admits.

Shrugging her shoulders, Jezreel says, “I’ve never heard of any way to use the Symphony like that.” She shakes her head. “Tracking people like that sounds more like a Cherub’s gift or an Ofanim’s, but I have to admit, I don’t know more than the basics of how other Choirs use their gifts. Dodai has described how Mercurians sense the Symphony, but it is alien to me. Maybe I’ll understand it better when I’m older, but for now I just take it on faith that is how it works; the Symphony tells me her explanations are True, even if I can’t comprehend them.”

{Mal}

"This is an even wilder speculation... Your friend has some kind of maths in her head that touches the symphony, could this maths be used, even subconsciously, to manipulate or read the symphony?" he looks around " Wild speculation, but nothing about this situation is normal...and I'm not accusing anyone of conscious, spiteful, actions."

GM}

Jezreel shivers as though a cold wind has blown through the open window. “Soldiers can sense the Symphony, but I think that their Superior has to grant that gift. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. But a human, with the power to influence the Symphony?” She shivers again and cocks her head, listening. “That’s terrifying. But… I don’t know.”

The young Angel shakes her head. “I don’t know,” she repeats. “The Symphony is silent about that… Or I am too rattled to listen. Creation might know. But it is nothing Uncle Eli has ever mentioned to me.”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

"The situation seems unique to me. From your unusual birth and upbringing to being asked to ward this gifted human. I get the feeling that Eli has some plan up his sleeve. Has anyone considered that Willow Reid might be descended from a Grigori?"

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Jezreel looks around the room, taking in everyone’s eyes. “Would any of you like to know anything else about these relationships before I move on to the ‘anything else I might know about the deaths’ category?”

{Mal}

"I'm aware of the deaths of five angels, the latest being Adoel, Malakim of Lightning. Her body was found in the early hours of this morning at UTMB labs. Do you know of any link between these people and the lab?... A wild idea has popped into my head, if we can show a line between all the victims, perhaps something is somehow using the Symphony to detect and follow that connection."

{GM}

Jezreel drops her head, closes her eyes, and shudders. “Another angel dead? Another Malakim? That couldn’t…” She cuts herself off, revising her thought even before speaking it. “That shouldn’t be possible.”

Opening her eyes again, the young Seraph meets Maledriel’s gaze steadily. “I don’t… didn’t know Adoel… didn’t know of him. Though I am not surprised to learn Lightning had an angel at the labs. I don’t know what idiot thought putting a laboratory dealing with some of the most deadly diseases on Earth in a hurricane zone that is only 7 feet above sea level was a good idea, but…” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t speculate. I know nothing more about the Galveston Labs than what was in the newspaper.”

“None of the girls ever mentioned Adoel to me nor the labs, so if there are any connections, I don’t know about that,” the young angel admits.

{Barazephyr}

''Five that are related to Jezreel. Worldwide, I found sixteen of them, boss.'' he responds keeping his eyes on the screen. '' At least counting in the last 30 days and that only includes those that have been properly recorded.
Those who are related to Jezreel and are officially reported:
Reshnu, found and declared dead on the 5th
Barchiel, found and declared dead on the 5th
Adoel, found and declared dead today.

{GM}

“I don’t think Adoel is related to me,” Jezreel says. “I’ve never met him. The only link I see is that his death occurred in Galveston.”

{Barazephyr}

"Yves and Eli never officially reported any of their angels soul-killed, but since we already know they lost angels. It wouldn’t be too far fetched of an idea to assume it contains Humlet aka Ms Watson and Merchiel aka Mr Harmon. Turning them from missing to soul-killed.

"Want me to compile you a list with causes of death on the others or want to stick our investigation to the five related to Jezreel?'' Barazephyr says as he starts searching for more information on a Costello Bissett.

’’Weird that Jezreel wasn’t informed in those days of Reshnu having been reported missing since the 2nd, they must have known she had a appointment with him on the 6th,’’ he mumbles to himself as he continues his search.

{GM}

Jezreel shrugs. “No, that’s just the kind of…” The young angel takes a deep breath. “... the kind of warmth and compassion Dominic ever shows. Why bother telling me Reshnu is dead? Why not let me find out the hard way, from strangers?” She sighs. “Most likely, Dominic was testing me – to see whether or not I would report it.”

{Barazephyr}
Maybe later, Bissett is more interesting for now.’’ he mumbles to himself as he continues his search.

{GM}

Jezreel starts and turns her head to look at Barazephyr. But she holds off responding to his muttered comment until she has finished answering Maladriel’s questions.

{GM}

Shrugging her shoulders, Jezreel says, “I’ve never heard of any way to use the Symphony like that.” She shakes her head. “Tracking people like that sounds more like a Cherub’s gift or an Ofanim’s, but I have to admit, I don’t know more than the basics of how other Choirs use their gifts. Dodai has described how Mercurians sense the Symphony, but it is alien to me. Maybe I’ll understand it better when I’m older, but for now I just take it on faith that is how it works; the Symphony tells me her explanations are True, even if I can’t comprehend them.”

{Mal}

"This is an even wilder speculation... Your friend has some kind of maths in her head that touches the symphony, could this maths be used, even subconsciously, to manipulate or read the symphony?" he looks around " Wild speculation, but nothing about this situation is normal...and I'm not accusing anyone of conscious, spiteful, actions."

{GM}

Jezreel shivers as though a cold wind has blown through the open window. “Soldiers can sense the Symphony, but I think that their Superior has to grant that gift. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. But a human, with the power to influence the Symphony?” She shivers again and cocks her head, listening. “That’s terrifying. But… I don’t know.”

The young Angel shakes her head. “I don’t know,” she repeats. “The Symphony is silent about that… Or I am too rattled to listen. Creation might know. But it is nothing Uncle Eli has ever mentioned to me.”

{GM}

Once she finishes answering Maledriel’s questions, Jezreel turns her head around, looking up to catch Barazephyr’s gaze. “Bissett?” the young Seraph spits the name out like rotten meat. “What do you want to know about my father?” She takes a slow, shuddering breath. “No, wait. Before I answer that... That’s a very long, complicated, and painful story. What do you already know about Cozbi? So, I don’t have to waste your time discussing information you already know… And to spare myself any more emotional torment than absolutely necessary.”

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Mal}

"The situation seems unique to me. From your unusual birth and upbringing to being asked to ward this gifted human. I get the feeling that Eli has some plan up his sleeve. Has anyone considered that Willow Reid might be descended from a Grigori?"

{GM}

Jezreel starts at Maledriel’s comment. Turning away from Barazephyr to address the Mercurian, the young angel says, “As far as I know, yes, my creation, my birth, and my upbringing are unique in Creation. The Symphony has confirmed this for me several times. Lord Jean considers me, and I quote, ‘A reckless experiment, typical of Eli’s dangerous whims, that should never have been allowed to happen.’ No, I don’t know Uncle Eli’s motivations for creating me this way. I know the story surrounding my birth, from my parents’ perspective; I know their whys, but I don’t know Creation’s. A fact which neither Lightning nor Judgment want to believe, even though Dominic has interviewed me personally and, as a far more experienced Seraph than I, has to know is the absolute Truth.”

Then the young Seraph shakes her head. “I can’t answer whether anyone, anywhere, ever has thought that Willow might... possibly be descended from Grigori.” She spreads her arms wide. “It’s too broad and too speculative a question. The Symphony either won’t tell me, or I am not focused enough to discern the answer. I have never considered that. Nor has anyone ever suggested that to me. That is as certain as I can be of an answer.”

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

"Oh! So that’s why they keep those files on you classified, it’s tied to your birth?" Bobby speaks up excitedly as some of the puzzle pieces fall into place.

"Let me bring you up to speed on what I’m doing here, so you get the full picture.
Existence or The Symphony, as we call it, is the most incredible and super awesome thing ever, right? Like, mind-blowingly cool. Everything is connected, but not every connection is obvious or easy to travel. To me, it’s like a giant treasure hunt. Every search starts with some kind of map, a clue that points you toward something bigger, but it’s never straightforward. Sometimes, you don’t even know what the treasure is until you stumble upon it.

The faster you connect the dots, the more mysteries you can solve. And for me, that’s the best job ever. I’ve followed clues that were as obscure as a photo of a rock, spending days figuring out where that rock might be on Earth. Other times, I’ll crack open a computer and find unopened emails followed by appointments made to a angel who later got soul-killed. Is it related? Who knows! That is the mystery. Sometimes it’s a breakthrough; sometimes it’s a dead end. But every thread matters.

In this case? The faster we find these links, the better our chances of stopping the next tragedy. That’s why I’m doing what I do, connecting threads, chasing leads and trying to make sure no one else ends up as another soul-killed name on a list. So that’s my role in all this."

Bobby turns around to Jezreel, but the keyboard keeps typing despite him moving his fingers away from it.
"As for your father, I didn’t even know he was your father until you just mentioned it! There are classified files on you and I’ve sent multiple requests for access about an hour ago. We’re here to figure out why these murders seem to be orbiting around you and, honestly, they might not even be about you directly. That’s the exhilarating part of this mystery: piecing it all together to see the bigger picture.

Anything you can share that might be relevant would be a huge help. Cozbi’s name, for example, is new to me, that’s already something to dig into. The more pieces we have, the closer we get to the truth." Bobby turns back to the screen and manually takes over typing again.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Barazephyr}

"Oh! So that’s why they keep those files on you classified, it’s tied to your birth?" Bobby speaks up excitedly as some of the puzzle pieces fall into place.

{GM}

“I don’t know, Barazephyr,” Jezreel says. “I didn’t know they were classified. If I did, I would have protested that already. I certainly will now – once I find out who I should talk to get get that done. The Seraphim Council, maybe? I have no secrets. I want none. And I certainly don’t want others creating them for me.”

{Barazephyr}

"Let me bring you up to speed on what I’m doing here, so you get the full picture. Existence or The Symphony, as we call it, is the most incredible and super awesome thing ever, right? Like, mind-blowingly cool. Everything is connected, but not every connection is obvious or easy to travel. To me, it’s like a giant treasure hunt. Every search starts with some kind of map, a clue that points you toward something bigger, but it’s never straightforward. Sometimes, you don’t even know what the treasure is until you stumble upon it."

{GM}

The young Seraph nods but refrains from interrupting the Ofanim.

{Barazephyr}

"The faster you connect the dots, the more mysteries you can solve. And for me, that’s the best job ever. I’ve followed clues that were as obscure as a photo of a rock, spending days figuring out where that rock might be on Earth. Other times, I’ll crack open a computer and find unopened emails followed by appointments made to a angel who later got soul-killed. Is it related? Who knows! That is the mystery. Sometimes it’s a breakthrough; sometimes it’s a dead end. But every thread matters."

{GM}

Here, Jezreel interjects. “Solving mysteries, bringing secrets out into the open, is definitely desirable. Secrets only make it easier for evil to thrive; they often lead to deceit, even when started with innocent intent. But trying to solve them as quickly as possible?” She shakes her head. “That can create more problems than it solves, sir, because quick observations can easily lead to error. For instance, there are no unopened email messages – other than spam routed to my spam folder – on my system that I have not opened and read, not unless something has come in since you entered my apartment. I may not want to know what my father has to say, but I always read his messages anyway. It's dangerous to ignore his email, and I often learn from it - though likely not what my father intends for me to learn. But I have not replied to any of his correspondence since I moved to Galveston.”

Jezreel sighs. “For all of his many faults, I don’t think that Cozbi is involved in these attacks in any way. My father is a coward, Barazephyr. Cozbi doesn’t care for the sight of blood. It’s too… untidy for him.” She scoffs. “My bare feet upset him a great deal. They are, he says, ‘unbecoming to one of the Most Holy and an embarrassment to our Choir as a whole.’ His words. Not mine. The sheer mess of combat aside, Cozbi would never dare directly fight a Malakim – not physically, at least – and definitely not if the Virtue had other Heavenly backup. He might try to lure angels into a trap, but he would certainly want to be far away when he did so. Cozbi even kept his distance when he had me kidnapped.”

{Barazephyr}

"In this case? The faster we find these links, the better our chances of stopping the next tragedy. That’s why I’m doing what I do, connecting threads, chasing leads and trying to make sure no one else ends up as another soul-killed name on a list. So that’s my role in all this."

Bobby turns around to Jezreel, but the keyboard keeps typing despite him moving his fingers away from it.
"As for your father, I didn’t even know he was your father until you just mentioned it! There are classified files on you and I’ve sent multiple requests for access about an hour ago. We’re here to figure out why these murders seem to be orbiting around you and, honestly, they might not even be about you directly. That’s the exhilarating part of this mystery: piecing it all together to see the bigger picture.

Anything you can share that might be relevant would be a huge help. Cozbi’s name, for example, is new to me, that’s already something to dig into. The more pieces we have, the closer we get to the truth." Bobby turns back to the screen and manually takes over typing again.

{GM}

Jezreel nods. “Cozbi rarely uses his name in correspondence with me. He knows I despise it. Costello Bissett isn’t his real name, sir, just the latest in a series of throw-away Role names that he’s used in his lifetime. Searching the name isn’t likely to yield anything useful. Any information about Costello Bissett will be a carefully crafted lie. Heaven’s databanks may list Cozbi, though – unless Jean is too embarrassed to have anyone read about him. If that comes up dry, you can try Cosam, which was his name when I was born, before…”

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.”

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

“Solving mysteries, bringing secrets out into the open, is definitely desirable. Secrets only make it easier for evil to thrive; they often lead to deceit, even when started with innocent intent. But trying to solve them as quickly as possible?” She shakes her head. “That can create more problems than it solves, sir, because quick observations can easily lead to error.

Barazephyr’s eyes slightly widen, while simultaneously tilting his head a little sideways in utter confusion. A single thought flutters through his mind: Madness.
As Jezreel explains her crazy out-of-the-box theory about solving mysteries at a slower pace.
He decides to spend his time efficiently by sending her the forms she needs to lift the restrictions on her files. Including a step-by-step instruction on how to fill it in.
The boring parts he fills in for her, to save her the time to do it herself. Even if Jean would immediately notice his handiwork in it.

Unless Jean is too embarrassed to have anyone read about him.

''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.

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.”

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.
’’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.