“Head librarian. I know this might be a bad time, but I wish to speak with you.” Pahaliah approached Kate.

  The young Nightmare shook her head. “There is no better time than now. How can I help you?”

  “You have more sway in the upcoming negotiations than I do. For me to achieve what I want to propose to you would mean stepping up to lead. I do not want that. I am a scribe, taking note of the truth and observe reality is all I want to do. Still, your library has inspired me to suggest building a library for the heavens. I ask you, humbly, to rey my suggestion and push for it if you can and want.”

  “Pahaliah, right?”

  He nodded. “Yes, that is my name.”

  “I like your idea. I am frankly shocked that you don’t have such a library yet. I will do as you ask and more, under one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “Find your librarians. Go out into the heavens and find a group of angels who will run your library and I will make sure it is built even if we have to do it ourselves. You are welcome in our library to seek our advice, our help and any other information you need to achieve your goal. When you have your librarians, come to the library and speak with me and we will make it happen.”

  Pahaliah bowed. “Your kindness exceeds all expectations, head librarian. I thank you with all my heart.”

  “It’s a long way to go but I am optimistic that you will have your library.”

  “Hearing your words, I am too. Thank you.” He bowed again and stepped away.

  Apollyon raised an eyebrow. “I did not think you would agree to his request so easily.”

  Kate shrugged. “It’s his big dream. He wants to describe the worlds and have his works readable by everyone in a public pce. He wants to write for a library. I think that deserves support.”

  “I agree. And I agree with him, your kindness exceeds all expectations. I thought you would be less friendly today.”

  “I almost was but Michael decided to surprise us all. I guess getting confirmation that we are on a good path now lifts my mood.”

  “Maybe you can share that good mood with me.” Sariel approached Kate with worry on her face.

  “I will try. What do you need?”

  “Until today I was not sure if you were aware of the mental issue that drives archangels to do what we did. I suffered from it too, maybe I still do and that worries me. I ask you to join me in private and delve into my mind to confirm if I have changed or not. I understand if you are unwilling.”

  Kate sighed. “You aren’t like them. But I can touch your mind and see if I can describe what I find to you, maybe even compare it to what I have seen in the archangels’ minds.”

  “That would be sufficient, thank you.”

  “Want to do that right now? In your office?”

  “The sooner I have certainty, the better.”

  “Alright. Polly, let’s meet here again in like twenty minutes or so. Send me a letter if I haven’t shown up in time and check on me if I don’t respond.”

  Apollyon nodded. “Understood.”

  “Want to sit down or something for this? I don’t know how this will feel on your end.” Kate didn’t really know how to talk to Sariel about her request and getting started with it.

  “Being seated seems prudent, yes.” Sariel got comfortable on her chair. “You may begin.”

  Kate took several minutes to explore Sariel’s mind before sitting down as well. “Alright, you want me to compare what I found to the archangels, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. Imagine a mind like a pace, maybe a castle or mansion. The part of you that you show to other is the garden around the pace and your innermost feelings and memories are in the building, right?”

  “I can imagine that, yes.”

  “In that garden, you also keep the impact other people have on you. Like, if you care about them or deeply hate them, stuff like that. In this garden metaphor, they would be like little birds or hedgehogs, mice, animals like that. Those who have a positive impact on you help keep your garden healthy, those with a negative impact try to mess it up.”

  Sariel nodded. “I understand.”

  “So, when I look at a demon mind, I see a wilderness with little paths throughout and a nice cozy home in the centre. Every mind is different, of course. Some are like a forest, some are sandy dunes with cacti, some are vast swamps, but all are teeming with life. Every demon has animals, small and rge, tending to whatever environment they are in. Polly’s mind for example is this massive castle with incredibly sturdy walls, but there are vines growing on them. Birds roosting on the towers and fish in her moat. She is guarded but also gives home to those she deeply cares about, protecting them.”

  “Archangel minds ck those animals.”

  “Yes. The archangels are all fake. Their minds have rge paces and massive gardens but don’t ever try to touch even a smallest flower. It will crumble. There is no substance in their gardens. They appear perfectly designed, no leaf mispced, the wn perfectly even, the paths dry and absolutely free of any debris, not even tiny twigs. And especially no animals. It is a dead facsimile of nature. Everything about them is kept within their paces, because they are scared to let it out. You though… On first look you are simir but that is deceiving. You are a well-kept garden, no bde of grass if out of order but looking closer there are little mice zipping around between them. There are birds roosting in your trees, little rodents digging under your bushes, your flowers are beautiful but they are wild. You appear like you put up a fa?ade but in truth, what was once fake has been repced by thriving nature. You are nothing like the archangels, you have the mind of a demon using the angelic ideas of presentation to create something unique and wonderful.”

  Sariel didn’t know how to respond, so she simply nodded.

  “To clearly answer your question: no, you don’t have the same fw the archangels have. You care deeply about your friends. Not just your friends, you care about so much, almost more than other demons do. Your mind is beautiful. You are beautiful.”

  Sariel stood up, sternly walked over to Kate and hugged the young Nightmare. “Thank you. Your affirmation means much to me. I nearly dare say more than you can imagine but that is not true. You can feel my appreciation, can’t you?”

  “I can and I’m gd to be able to this for you.”

  “You are a good friend, Kate. I wish to speak with you more about this but I need time to think first. Shall we return to Apollyon? I do not wish to make her worry.”

  “We can talk whenever you want. But sure, let’s get back to Polly.”

  Apollyon had patiently waited in the rge conference room. “How did it go?”

  Kate smiled. “It went well.”

  Sariel nodded in confirmation. “Kate managed to assuage my doubts about myself. I will seek you both out soon, but I need time to think now.”

  “Of course.” Apollyon returned a smile. “You know where to find us.”

  “Yes. Goodbye.” Sariel teleported out of the room.

  “Hm… Polly, I had a question.” Kate looked around the rge room with ornamented walls and a massive table.

  “Ask.”

  “The bel at the door calls this the chambers of the pandemonic council of archdemons. I wasn’t aware of any archdemons. Who are they, what is this room and why are they important?”

  “They are not important, not anymore. The pandemonic council is still a thing. Currently, it is made up of the leaders of the most important institutions of Hell, meaning the universities, the administration, the inquisitorium, the justiciars, the preservers and the library. Having a seat on this council made one an archdemon before immortality. It was an honorary title. You would be considered an archdemon by some even to this day.”

  Kate nodded. “I see. I know most of those institutions, but who are the preservers and why wasn’t their leader here today?”

  “They are the demons who take care of monuments, museums, galleries, everything in regard to preserving things that aren’t written works and pure knowledge, which falls under our purview. As for why their leader wasn’t here… they don’t have one right now, just as we didn’t have one for a long time. They were invited but declined to join, trusting us with the decision-making.”

  “Fair enough. And the demons on the murals around here? I guess they are the st archdemons?”

  “Yes. Here, look. The four on the far wall are Amaymon, Corson, Ziminiar and Gaap. Their roles are now condensed into Lucifer’s position. They represented the interests of the citizens who didn’t fall under any of the other categories and took care of administrative duties. Over here are Bael and Belial who both led the universities and schools, one did research the other did teaching. Next to them is Asmodeus who was high inquisitor at the time, long before Lilith took up that mantle. Then we have grand justiciar Paimon with General Beleth. You know the tter.”

  “Quite the character.”

  “They all were and still are. Near the door is Zagan, master of the treasury, a position that we no longer need. Then comes Vinea, the dy of knowledge as she was called colloquially. She watched over our libraries and museums. Lastly, we have Purson who was to regute our impact on nature and keep us humble, and Bam whose position is also now part of Lucifer’s duties. She oversaw our infrastructure and settlement pnning. I repced Beleth for a few decades but when we became immortal, we dissolved the council and restructured everything. I was asked if I wanted to take her pce on the mural, but I declined. She deserves it more than I do.”

  “Honestly, I don’t think she does. But I would also decline if someone asked me. So, this means Vinea is my, our, whatever, predecessor. I should talk to her someday.”

  “You already have.” Apollyon grinned. “The demon who asked if Fury had published her recipes yet.”

  “No… really? The bright blue one with the bck hair?”

  “Yes, her.”

  “That’s Vinea?”

  “That is Vinea, yes.”

  “She’s in the library like every week. How did I not remember her name? We know all the names of everyone who enters the library on either side.”

  “Because too many people come in every cycle. Our memories are clear and vast but we don’t remember every tiny detail, especially not when we don’t pay attention. You didn’t know who she was until now, why remember her name?”

  “Fair. Still, that’s crazy that I already met her. She knows I’m head librarian, I’m her successor and she never brought it up.”

  “I think she’s amused by you not recognizing her.”

  Kate shook her head. “Incredible. Well, next time I’ll talk to her.”

  “Make sure I’m there to watch.”

  “I will.” The young Nightmare smiled in amusement.