Mathew looked at the blond man in front of him, keeping him from reaching the woman.

The young man’s eyes showed him that the blond old man wasn’t actually a man. He was permeated with some kind of powerful dark aura, meaning he wasn’t an ordinary adversary.

However, since the enemy of an enemy should be a friend, there shouldn’t be much problem for Mathew to finally get rid of the young woman who so cold-bloodedly slaughtered his dad, and then he’d be able to start the work of correcting God’s mistakes about the Earth.

“I’m really perplexed for what makes you come all the way into my beloved establishment, blowing everything up and stuff, just to get to Uriel. And I was really inclined to let you just get her and get the fuck out from my restaurant.” Azazel started. “But here was supposed to be a non-aggression zone, and since you ruined it, I’m not gonna let you leave unscathed.”

***

Uriel felt Azazel’s demonic aura expanding through the whole room, and the weight of the world was suddenly placed over her shoulders.

She was used to the pressure that any really strong demon emitted. However, having an Exilus as her physical body, and having nothing of her grace to make it possible to fight back, the pressure coming from Azazel’s demonic aura took her right off guard, punching all the air out from her lungs.

So this is what a low ranking comrade feels when witnessing the grownups fighting? She asked to herself, the oppressive feeling taking over her whole being.

And soon after that, everything went black.

***

“You know, I just found out that angels and demons are real, and my first adversary ends up being one of the strongest high rankings in a demonic hierarchy I only thought to be a myth to us, humans.” Mathew said, not even flinching after the demon in front of him released his threatening power. “I believed my whole life, that a God that created us to live through everything we live through every day, wasn’t worthy of the adoration it so desperately commanded from us.”

The look in the demon’s eyes showed bewilderment, and Mathew thought it was good to have his first opponent to be such a strong one. And still, looking at Mathew as if he was more than a good match.

“So you’re one of Metatron’s Envoys?” The demon asked, despise oozing from his voice.

“No... I’m his future master!” Mathew answered, raising his hand towards the strong demon in front of him. “Now, before I end you, would you kindly tell me your name?”

“Well...” The demon answered, looking pleased to have such an arrogant guest. “Despite the ‘ending me’ part, I’ll tell you my name anyways. I’m called Gordon, here in the Haled, but most of my ancient acquaintances use to know me as Azazel.”

“Good. I’ll have it as a habit, not to get revenge on anyone whom I don’t know their names. Thank you Azazel, telling me your name was a true act of kindness. Now begone.”

A strong force flowed from Mathew’s extended hand, restraining all of Azazel’s movements. The grand marquis looked baffled while using all his strength to try and get out from the invisible grip, but a stronger force tossed him real hard and fast against the opposite wall, blood starting to trickle down his nose and eyes.

The force kept pulling and pushing Azazel against the wall, making stars burst in front of the demon, each time his head crashed against the structure.

Soon enough, there wasn’t much left of the great Azazel, but a completely broken body, hissing while trying to desperately breathe.

“My name if Mathew, and I’m the Harbinger of a new era for Eden. I’m the keeper of Revenge!” Mathew said to the hissing mass.

He looked at the young woman, fallen unconscious for some reason, and hushed.

“You’re not gonna get away with what you did. Even if I have to wait for you to wake up...”

And sat down, still observing her while cherishing his black crowbar.

***

“She’s after you because you have the Page.” Purson answered quite shortly after the question was asked.

“That I know, but I want to know why her. Metatron could’ve put anyone other than her, but still, they designated her to chase after me and the Page. I want to know why.”

But before Purson could say anything to answer Nezariel’s question, a familiar voice sounded at the doorway of one of the empty floor’s entrances not too far from them.

The voice took Nezariel completely by surprise.

“The scribe didn’t. He didn’t assign Uriel to the task of hunting you down.”

Nezariel looked at the doorway, surprised to see her mother, Grace, standing there with a mixture of tears, joy, and disbelief in her eyes.

And the Ophanim felt it too. Wanting to cry, to smile, to laugh, the need to be embraced by that only hug that made her forget about the rest of the world. So she stood up, her lips bobbing up and down, trembling and trying to say something that would never be said.

Nezariel felt her human part, still not as far from the surface of her essence as she felt it was, wanting to cry wildly, and so she ran towards Grace, tears washing down her face, her human side crumbling down in emotions she never thought being able to feel ever again.

Her sight was so blurred, that in her last steps, she tripped over a broken piece of concrete on the floor, falling right in Grace’s embrace, while wrapping her arms around her mom’s neck herself.

“Don’t you ever, ever leave us again, you hear me little girl?” Grace asked, sobbing uncontrollably.

“...”

Becca couldn’t say anything for a long while, her lungs almost popping out because of her screams.

The young angel felt so desperate and lost, that during that moment, she was nothing but a child who got lost from her mom, crying out loud after finding her.

Expressing the vast loneliness that no one could ever be able to express in words...

The fire crept comfortably in its brick circle, heating the water for a few more instant noodles.

The night passed by and dawn was already breaking. Becca was resounding like a kitten with her head in Grace’s lap, but still awake. Just enjoying the motherly touch for a moment, while Grace still talked.

“Uriel came to the Haled on her own free will, which is quite intriguing, since angels have each one their own nature to follow unquestionably. Although it doesn’t change the fact that she did come to the Haled after you, that there’s something wrong with the veil of reality, and that it’s affecting the angels who come to the Haled ever since you stole the Page of Justice.”

“But mom...” The Ophanim asked, still referring to the woman as her mother. “How do you know about the Page? And how did you know where to find us?”

Grace smiled softly.

“I believe that this one by Donnovan’s side is the detective, yes?” She asked.

“Yes, sis. Bertrand, this is Grace, or the demon king Belial. Sis, this is Bertrand, one of the best detectives I ever had the pleasure to meet.” Purson answered, leaving Bertrand with flushed cheeks.

“I’m not that good of a detective. I just... I just had help sometimes.” Bertrand said, his eyes aiming at the ground after that.

“If you’re as good as to find my little girl, and get involved with this troublemaker here” Grace said, pointing to Purson. “Then you’re more than just good. And I feel the angelic powers in you. But first things first, I found you, Becca, because Donnovan told me where you were. He said there was someone with whom I’d love to meet, and now I know why.”

She stared at Bertrand, scrutinizing him from top to bottom, with an interested look in her eyes.

Nezariel looked from Grace to Bertrand, and back to Grace.

“Mom, it’s starting to feel a bit awkward.” The Ophanim said, furrowing her eyebrows.

“I don’t think so, darling” Grace retorted, her voice a bit shallow and contemplative. “You need some training, boy. But once you’re done with practicing, oh you’ll be one fine destructive force of nature.” She finished off, a crooked smile sprouting in her lips.

“Well... I know I need a bit of practice, but ever since I joined Neza’s team, we never got to actually fight so much. But, why’re you interested in me?”

Bertrand looked a bit perplexed, but behind it, there was a bit of amazement.

“I’m interested in you for two reasons” Grace said, an evil gleam in here eyes. “First, you’re my daughter’s partner in this upcoming war, so I should take proper care of you, don’t you think?”

However, before Bertrand could even articulate any response, she kept going.

“Second, My daughter,” she said, looking at the young Ophanim. “Wants and needs some answers, and I think I have the perfect person for the job. Bertrand, you need to meet my therapist. She’s amazing, and I think you’ll make a good team until the time comes for you to join with my little girl again. And Becca, we’re going on a trip, to meet this priest I know. It’ll clear up lots of things for you.”

The Ophanim blinked a few times, trying to absorb the whole information, and Bertrand seemed to be doing the same, but Nezariel spoke first.

“Okay, I guess you can all call me Becca from now on. That’s the name you guys gave me, right?” And a smile shone on her lips for the first time ever since she began her journey.

“So we’re parting ways now?” Bertrand asked, looking a bit insecure.

“It’s only for a short while” Purson answered, reassuring. “I’ll be accompanying you, while Grace takes Becca to this... Priest friend of hers.”

Purson’s tone was a bit disgusted, but he gave Becca’s mom some credit, since she had a strange way with people.

“But first, we need a nice sleep. Come one, hop hop!” Grace ordered. “Bertrand, would you mind coming with me to the roof for a second, before we all go to sleep?”

“Huh... Okay?” The detective answered, not knowing exactly how to react to such an extroverted person.

And so they went to the roof, leaving Purson and Becca to talk about anything, or try to sleep.

***

“What did you want to talk about up here?” Bertrand asked, a bit unsure of what to do.

“You’re Uriel’s broken vessel, am I right?” She shot back, without a single moment of hesitation.

“Yes... Even though I don’t have a single clue about what it truly means.”

“That’s exactly what I brought you here to talk about.”

Bertrand’s face became dark and serious, completely focusing on what Grace had to say.

“I’m all ears.” He said.

“Being a broken vessel, means that you yourself became an angel. A whole new entity with the same powers as Uriel.”

Bertrand looked shocked, but kept listening.

“Since you were a human being before becoming a broken vessel, you can’t learn how to use her powers as if you like you’ve always been an angel.”

“Then... How am I supposed to do it...?” The look on Bertrand’s face passed from shock to disappointment.

“That’s why you’re gonna meet my therapist. You’re gonna go back to your normal, human life.”

A baffled silence dominated the air and lasted for a few minutes while Bertrand thought about the logic behind all of it.

However, after a long moment of consideration, asked her to keep going.

“You have to bottle all your powers up, to make you a perfect human being again. Because what drives your powers, as a broken vessel, isn’t the nature of a caste. It’s your free will as a human being, and this is exactly what makes you so different, and so much more powerful than Uriel herself.”

“So... I’m gonna meet this therapist of yours, and then what? I’m a wanted man. I have nowhere to go in this place.” Bertrand said, opening his arms to show the whole city landscape unfolding below them.

“That, my boy” Grace started in a kind tone. “You leave to me.”