Page 379 of Castings & Curses

"Was Misha Drake one of us? I mean, an angel. Perhaps an angel who fell?"

"You're very perceptive, you know?" he replied as he glanced absently up and down the corridor. It was clearly something he didn't want overheard. "I can see why you were assigned to this task. Misha was indeed one of us. He committed an act of aggression against a fellow angel — it was before your time. A decision was made to place his angelic soul in a human body."

"I see," I replied with a grim expression. As much as I valued Raphael's compliment, I felt uncomfortable with Misha's fate. It might've been inappropriate or unfair based on the nature of his crime.

"This angel he wronged — could they have held a grudge against him?"

Raphael shook his head. "It was one of the other archangels, who was his superior at the time. I know for a fact he has forgiven Misha. I don't believe that angel was in any way responsible."

I nodded at that as I wondered what had happened. "If you'll forgive me for asking, which archangel?"

Raphael studied me for a moment in silence before finally answering with a name I knew well. "Gabriel."

"Thank you," I replied.

I felt uneasy about the fact the information hadn't been disclosed to me before, but it was reassuring that Raphael named Gabriel for me now.

"It would be best to avoid such questions in the future," Raphael said with a sudden aloofness.

It was the first time I'd seen him turn cold toward me, and it harmed my trust in him a little. If he was one to turn these responses on and off, he wasn't being honest about his true feelings, or so I felt. He was trying to manipulate me and coerce me into submission.

"I see," I replied, while making no promises.

If I'd known him better, I might've felt injured, but for whatever reason it didn't work on me. I just felt that Raphael was finally showing me who he was beneath the surface, and the little bit of hero-worship I'd possessed dissipated. It wasn't to say we weren't working toward the same goal, but I didn't appreciate being left out of the loop, especially when I was putting myself at some risk — however minor — to solve this case.

"It's not our policy to discuss those who've fallen, Aurelia, or who have harmed others within the angelic hierarchy. We feel it only brings about undue scrutiny of those who have left our ranks in less than ideal circumstances. Discussion on the matter is usually limited to the higher ranks. Withholding this information was not intended as a slight against you, Aurelia. It was decided it wasn't a significant point in the case as Misha was living a mortal life."

It reminded me of a description I'd once been told. 'Humans have souls. They're encased in matter. Angels are souls who have taken a form.' Ironically, I was a human who was now a soul, and no longer encased in matter. I had human and angelic forms. It didn't feel much different from being a regular mortal woman, except my perceptions were more finely-honed, and I possessed abilities like flight and divine magic. I could draw on the power of God to fight threats, but I was more a functionary than a warrior. More a thinker than a fighter. A lover too, when I had the chance to be.

I sighed. What could I do? I still felt I hadn't gone into this situation fully informed, and limited information was holding me back. Perhaps now it wouldn't, but I couldn't help wondering what else I might not have been told.

"Misha's form might have prevented him from being able to defend himself fully."

"Quite likely," Raphael replied.

"Is there anything else I haven't been told that is relevant to the case?"

I looked Raphael in the eye as I asked, and I could tell he didn't like the pressure I was placing on him.

"No, though the possibility was raised by Seraphim Joanne that this might have been a crime of passion."

I was surprised that Joanne, my superior, had made that connection. Somehow I couldn't envision a former goddess turned muse forming a relationship with a fallen angel, but stranger things had happened.

"What about Lucia?" I asked, remembering Misha's girlfriend.

"We're considering the possibility that Melinda and Lucia might've had a conflict of interest. Lucia is being watched by the sentinels, so we should be prepared in case she should become a target."

I shook my head sadly. It just wasn't a good situation at all. "I think we should speak with both parties before we reach a conclusion about that."

I wasn't sure Raphael liked my comment, but I was here to help with the investigation the same way he was.

Ahead of us, I noticed an elderly woman as she walked through an adjoining corridor. She wasn't someone we'd spoken with before, when Kallen was with us.

Noticing her, Raphael stopped her before she could climb the stairs.

"Yes?" I heard her question as I approached.

"May I ask your name?" the archangel asked.

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