Page 399 of Castings & Curses

She nodded. "A bit out of breath and windswept, but I'll be fine. What now?"

"We need to go see Raphael," I replied.

Around this moment I noticed a number of angels gathering nearby, looking at Melinda. It reminded me that she had been wanted and my task had been to return her to heaven. It no longer was, but I decided it might be best to leave before there were any mix-ups.

I led the way, and stretched out my senses searching for Raphael as we approached his quarters. We didn't get far before we were approached by an older female angel known as Erisiel.

"The archangel Raphael is in the Great Hall of Light and seeks an audience with you. If you'll both follow me."

Heaven isn't purely a physical place, and she bent space so the path would take us there more quickly. Soon we were at the entrance with its huge cherrywood doors, but two angels guarding it barred the way. Their swords were sheathed but offered a silent warning.

"The goddess Melinda can't proceed any further," the nearest of the guards said. "She will be taken in for questioning."

I wondered if they were choosing not to recognise her role as muse. Several more angels approached, and my eyes widened in shock.

"Melinda has been cleared of any wrongdoing," I said. "Besides, I will need her with me as we seek to explain the evidence we've found."

"You will have to manage alone," the angel said as he gestured to the others to take Melinda away. "A goddess with her full powers isn't allowed to enter the Great Hall of Light, and this is required."

"I promise, we'll get this sorted out soon," I told Melinda.

She looked upset, but more than that surprised, as she followed the angels away.

"Oh wait," she said, holding out her gym bag.

"Thank you," I told her as I took the bag from her.

"I have faith." Those were the last words she spoke to me before she was taken away.

I knew they'd haunt me until she was freed.

"Well done for fulfilling your mission and bringing Melinda back to heaven," the guard said with an approving smile.

"It was no longer the mission," I replied.

He merely shrugged as he resumed his work, and I made my way into the hall alone. The angel Erisiel didn't follow me.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I had aimed to meet with Raphael alone, but when I learned about the Hall, I expected more angels.

There were three archangels waiting there for me — Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel. Oh, this was going to go well. I sighed as I stood before them, Melinda's bag still in hand.

"Aurelia, I heard you were followed upon your return to heaven," Raphael said. "I'm glad you made it here safely."

"Thank you," I replied. "I think the one following us might've got away, but I'm not sure, as I left before the angelic patrol returned."

"Of course," he replied. "You're probably wondering why Melinda was taken into custody. It's mainly a formality, and we want to be sure she wasn't involved in this. I have already spoken on her behalf."

I gave him a soft smile. His mere presence reassured me. I nodded to all three angels as I opened the bag and lifted out Misha Drake's sculpture — the one that had held the note. I wanted to get straight to the explanation, because I didn't want to leave Melinda alone. She needed to know she wouldn't be abandoned here.

"The angel Carriel informed Melinda and I that her angelic residence, which she'd occupied while working as a muse on heaven's behalf, had been ransacked.

"We didn't go there after receiving Carriel's information, but Melinda retrieved a bag of items before that. We believe the person who ransacked her home might've been looking for something, and there was a very small chance she might have it.

"There were two sculptures of Misha's that Melinda retrieved from among her belongings. One of them contained a hidden note with alleged information about the sins of supernatural beings, including angels — including two of you present here today."

Gabriel's eyebrows rose. He was a tall and solidly built man with pale skin and long, blond hair. In a word, I'd describe him as intimidating.

Uriel had red hair, which set him apart from the others.

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