Jaoel’s blue eyes flicked up to Gabriel’s, not lingering this time as they focused on the scenery outside. “Interesting. I thought your newest agent was your most capable one as well?” he mused with a slight scoff. “Does she not have the blessed cross to assist her with it?”
“Teresa is a prideful woman, Jaoel. You can’t fault her for trying on her own first.” Gabriel deemed it commendable in fact, even if the motivations behind it were less so. What twisted games mortals chose to play among themselves was of no concern to him so long as they fulfilled their purpose. “Her patience is thinning, however. She will turn to it for help soon enough.”
Jaoel graced that with a thoughtful hum. “What if it doesn’t work?” he asked after a pause, training his eyes on Gabriel once again. A challenging spark lived in them today too, something Gabriel had started to notice only after the angel had made a full recovery.
“It will. No human is immune to its power when they’ve kept the gifts so close to themselves.” Which was precisely why it was a little strange indeed, but then again, Teresa hadn’t really turned to the cross for proper help either. “What makes you suggest something like that, Jaoel? Blessed objects are infallible.”
Jaoel turned his attention to the scenery again, shrugging. “No reason. It just looked like he might cause her some trouble.”
“Something like that is not likely to happen. He will fully submit to her if she wished so and used the cross’ power.”
When Jaoel faced Gabriel again, the remnants of a smile still lingered at the corners of his full lips. “I hold no doubts about that. I was simply curious, that’s all.”
“That reminds me.” Gabriel closed his eyes and relaxed back into the luxurious leather seat, enjoying the smooth rocking motion of the car. “I am being put in charge of overseeing the efforts in Asia and you will be assisting me.”
“Oh?” the other angel said, letting his voice perk up. “So, we will be spending more time down here?”
“Yes. There is a lot of work ahead of us, so we won’t be going back to Heaven too often. I will make arrangements so that you can attend a cleansing whenever we do.”
Jaoel made a disgruntled sound and Gabriel could imagine the exact way his eyebrows would have scrunched if he’d let them. “I think I’ll be okay even without them. I’ve had no further… episodes, you know that. It’s been months since the one in the gardens and I feel fine.”
“That doesn’t mean the symptoms can’t resurface,” Gabriel pointed out in a stern voice, remembering that first and only time he’d seen lust overtake an angel like that. It was enough to put his body on alert, to spike his heart rate and make him snap his eyes open so he could make certain his companion was still himself.
“Urie—”
“I have been relayed Uriel’s recommendation,” Gabriel interjected, wanting to avoid a lengthy argument.
“So, you know that any leftover corruption that remained after the initial ritual has been cleansed.”
He did. Earlier in the week, he’d been over to see Uriel and his healers, all of them in agreement that Jaoel didn’t require more than an annual visit to the cleansing baths. Still, Gabriel didn’t see harm in maintaining a more regular schedule. A few extra treatments could help strengthen Jaoel’s soul so it could deal with the long-term trauma of having survived a demon attack.
“You will do as I say, Jaoel, or you will not be joining me in Asia.”
Jaoel made a whiny noise but didn’t argue further, keeping quiet for the rest of their ride.
39
Noah got off the train and wrapped the red woolen scarf tighter around his neck. He’d expected Florence to be colder than Lisbon, but the heatwave the region of New Italy had been experiencing for the past two weeks had skewed that expectation a bit. Which wasn’t to say he’d come underprepared, he hadn’t, he’d just hoped the temperature might cooperate a little more. In any case, weather was the least of his worries, though it seemed his real ones could wait a little longer too, seeing as Teresa hadn’t shown up to greet him at the train station.
Noah dragged his suitcase across the dome-enclosed building, fighting with his phone to book himself a taxi to the accommodation the Church had provided for him. He still didn’t know why Teresa had left two days before him, but considering how busy she’d been lately and the conversations he’d overheard, he was positive it had to do with the negotiations.
About an hour after his arrival, Noah made it to his suite—a luxurious studio located within the Church Headquarters with a massive bathtub that could easily fit three people. He was tempted to test it out and contemplated doing just that for a few minutes, his body cravingthat relaxing soak amidst bubbles he couldn’t enjoy in his own apartment. Ultimately, he didn’t have the time since he needed to be ready for the celebratory dinner in two hours which Teresa had unironically dubbed ‘the most important dinner of the decade’.
Postponing his bath for later, Noah took a quick shower and changed into the custom-tailored designer suit Teresa had gifted him the week before. He spent some extra time fussing with his hair in front of the mirror, slicking it back first, and then to the side to make himself look appropriately presentable and not like he’d just gotten out of bed. Once he’d somewhat succeeded, he attached the golden cross pin on the lapel of his red suit jacket and headed towards the banquet hall which also served as a ballroom.
The opulence on the way there was head-spinning. Garlands and ribbons in the gold, white and red colors of the Church decorated every suitable surface, some hanging freely, others arranged in complex patterns on the walls. Plants had their leaves and blossoms dusted in gold. A statue stood tall and proud at every intersection of corridors he passed, usually erected on a black marble pedestal in the middle.
Noah stopped in front of the elevators and pressed the button, checking the time on his phone. The official start was in ten minutes, which meant his visit to the roof garden would have to wait until the introductions were made and he could excuse himself. His plan was to spend a while there and skip most of the networking, then head back since he saw no point in sticking around after the official part. His meeting with the Cardinal was tomorrow morning anyway.
“Ah, there he is! Noah, dear, how was your journey here?”
Adrenaline speared through Noah, dragging his focus back to the real world. He stopped and turned at the sound of Teresa’s voice, plastering on the best smile he could.
“Good…” he trailed off, forgetting the rest of what he’d been about to say as his attention veered to the man next to her.
Much like the Church ministers Noah had encountered on his way here, Teresa’s companion was wearing the traditional white robes, though his black sash was different. The golden embroidery along its edges and the multiple crosses dangling from the braided golden cord that sat on top of it distinguished him from the rest as the Church’s leader—Cardinal Matthew Lourenco.
“Cardinal Lourenco, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Noah rushed out, dipping his head in a show of fake respect.
