“Alright, what do we have here?” Kate walked around the magical contraption that was built into the gss cube in the isotion chamber.

  “In essence, it’s a mallet for a massive gong. This room is designed as the inverse of the defence rings under the rest of the city. It was quite easy to rig it up to generate a directed pulse aimed at the rings. It’s the most controlble way.”

  “And you are ready to go whenever everyone else is ready?”

  Nanshe nodded. “Once we are done here, I will inform Azazel so the inquisitors and the volunteers can get into position. I have heard that Monica is ready?”

  “I want to say yes, but we need to ask her directly.”

  “Of course.”

  “Actually, Eisheth, is Monica still here?”

  The succubus nodded. “Yes, she is having a nap in the cat room since shortly before you arrived.”

  “I will talk to her when she is awake again.”

  Nanshe looked pleased. “Good, thank you. I didn’t want to give her permission, but Sariel wanted to post a lot of Justiciars here while the defence rings are down, you should talk to her too.”

  “We will have as many as she feels are needed, but they all must be in human disguise.”

  “Hm… not sure if that wouldn’t draw too much attention.”

  “You might be right. I might talk to Az about it, maybe she has more insight.”

  “Good idea. I also would like to ask for some security down here if we aren’t firing it today.”

  “I’ll notify Sariel.”

  “Thank you.”

  Monica shuffled out of the cat room and nearly bumped into Kate who was waiting in the hallway.

  “Oh hi, you’re back.”

  “I am. How are you?”

  “Well rested. I wanted to get back to Anahit if that’s okay. There is more to learn.”

  “Your eagerness is inspiring and I wanted to inform you that everything else is in pce to send out that magical pulse whenever you are ready.”

  Monica nodded slowly. “Let’s confirm with Anahit that I am. I think I am, but I want to be sure.”

  “Alright.”

  Anahit was having a cup of tea and a novel in the restaurant.

  “Ah, Monica and Kate. Hello.”

  “Hey.” Kate approached the table. “May we join you for a moment?”

  “Of course.”

  Monica took a deep breath. “So, uhm… everything else is done… you think I’m ready to read that inscription?”

  “You are and I will be there with you if you struggle. I don’t expect you to, but I don’t want the pressure to get to you.”

  “I will do my best then. And thank you for believing in me.”

  “It is what a good teacher does.”

  “And after we did it, I would actually like you to keep teaching me, if that’s allowed.”

  “That is up to the inquisitors.”

  Kate smiled. “I will put in a good word with Azazel. I am all for learning whatever you want.”

  “I don’t want to push my luck, but I would love to learn more about Hell and you guys in general.”

  “Have you seen the door in the back of that hallway that should by all means lead outside?”

  “I have, yes.”

  “That door leads to the second half of this library, the Hell half. The part we are in now has every non-trivial human text in it, and the other part is the same for demons. I don’t know if I can allow you access to that part, but maybe I can bring you specific books from over there.”

  “That would be so very awesome of you.”

  “I can’t promise anything though, but I’ll try.”

  “That’s all I can ask for and it’s something for after we free Lilith.”

  “Alright. With your permission, I will go tell everyone that we are ready. We can wait until tomorrow, might be a long day if we do it now.”

  “Please. Would noon be a good time?”

  “Yes. I’ll tell everyone and I’ll be back in a bit for some dinner if you both are up for it.”

  “We’ll be here.”

  Kate got up again and left the restaurant, instantly bumping into Nanshe and Sariel.

  “How convenient to catch you both.”

  Sariel nodded. “It is. Have you spoken to Monica?”

  “I did a moment ago. She is ready to begin tomorrow at noon.”

  “Then we will stand ready. The justiciars are already deployed, besides here. I wish to post our best at this library.”

  “Of course, but they all need to be in human disguise.”

  “I will make sure they are.”

  Nanshe spoke up. “I would like to request extra security in the isotion chamber.”

  “I will guard it myself.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It is the duty I chose.”

  “I’ll come down there and keep you a little company after dinner.” Kate almost felt like she wasn’t doing enough with everyone being so eager and busy.

  “There is no need for that, but I appreciate it.”

  A few hours ter, Kate and Sariel sat together with a bowl of snacks on the walkway around the isotion cube.

  “I do not understand why you chose to be here with me. I do not expect trouble.”

  Kate chuckled. “I could have gone back home and try to sleep, but I don’t think I could manage to close my eyes. There is too much happening and spending some time with my friends is a nice thing to do. I really didn’t expect to come back from a month-long vacation to everything being finished over here. I feel like I didn’t do enough.”

  “Nonsense. You have done good work coordinating the efforts here. This is the culmination of the work we all have done, including you.”

  “Yea… I suppose it is. If you don’t mind me asking, you were with the angels when Lilith was imprisoned. Did you know her?”

  “We have never faced each other in combat, and I have only ever received reports about her. I regret not meeting her before.”

  “Really? I almost expected you to be quite happy that she will see your fallen self, your proper self, first.”

  “There is merit to the thought that she will see me unburdened by past encounters, but as I see it, to truly understand how much I have changed, one must have known me before I did.”

  “That makes some sense too.”

  “Still, my desire to free her and meet her at all outweighs any thought of how it could have gone better. She has my deepest respect for her actions and beliefs.”

  “I purposefully avoided reading about her, any specifics you are alluding to?”

  “Her nearly unshakable faith in humanity has been inspiring, but I understand that her stance likely has changed now.”

  “I haven’t thought about that… she might just hate me because I was human.”

  “I find that unlikely. While I see your human heritage as a unique strength, even an uncharitable person might argue that you have overcome the, in their eyes, despicable nature of your former self. Especially the demons leave no room for doubt about their acceptance of someone. When I surrendered myself to Athena’s mercy, I asked for punishment. Instead, she offered me a home. My duties are a form of repentance, but I chose them of my own free will. Athena, reacting to my offer to protect Hell and its inhabitants, said to me the same thing as I told you: that my non-demonic heritage is a strength, not a blemish. That my angelic experience makes me unique, but no less demon than anyone who lives in Hell. I will arrogantly cim that she was right.”

  “I don’t think that’s arrogant. You are awesome.”

  “Thank you. Please, do not worry about Lilith’s reaction to your heritage. I worried for too long about my heritage.” Sariel paused before smiling and making an amused noise. “Did Apollyon tell you that we engaged in sexual activities before you left?”

  “She did not. Was it as good as you had hoped?”

  “It was better. She is truly skilled in bed and having now experienced you both, I can comfortably cim that she has taught you well. Your styles are very simir.”

  Kate ughed. “That is such a sterile way to put it, but I appreciate the compliment.”

  “Would you have preferred if I told you that you fuck like your mentor?”

  “That’s worse! I’m just to gd that you are starting to partake in all that.”

  “You were right when you told me that I need to show my inner self more, not just in my interior design decisions. I also feel the need to tell you that Apollyon was far more romantic and sensual than I expected. Facing her on the battlefield gave me the impression she would be rather harsh and more violent. Our talks made me question that first impression, but I have now learned so much more about her than I could have hoped before. I understand now why you two are so close.”

  “She is awesome, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is. And you are too. We shared tales about our mutual enjoyment of you and your company.”

  Kate blushed. “Don’t hype me up too much, okay? You are far more awesome than I am.”

  “Let us agree that our degree of awesomeness is equal.”

  Kate chuckled. “Agreed.”