teeth. Vin’s arm was draped around his shoulder. Something exploded in the building behind them.
“No change there,” said Alice, sliding out from beneath Vin’s other arm as they set him down on the ground, everything else forgotten. His teeth were chattering. “What’s wrong with him?”
Vin suddenly hunched over, clutching his ribs and crying out, and Alice started back. “Can’t you help him?” There was fire at her wrists and in her hair; sparks dancing behind her and drifting into the night.
Mallory looked grim. “There’s nothing I can do.”
“What’s...”
But Alice was cut off by another yelp from Vin, and the horror on Mallory and Castor’s faces mirrored her own as they watched his wings stretch; saw the darkness seep along them from the tips like ink, creeping further and further up the feathers until his wings were black to the roots... and then there was nothing more. Alice crouched in front of Vin, edging closer. She could see his back heaving with each breath; see the outline of his wings shaking as they folded in on themselves.
“Vin?”
There was no answer.
“Alice...” Mallory was ducking down, holding out his hand. “You should come over here to me.”
“No. I... Vin!” she said, and scooted closer to him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. She could feel him trembling; feel the damp of the sweat that had soaked his clothes.
“I’m okay...” he said. “I just... need a minute.” His voice shook almost as badly as the rest of him. “I’m fine...”
“Yeah, right,” muttered Mallory, and Alice glared at him before turning back to Vin.
“What...” And she tailed off – because Vin was looking at her. His forehead dripped with sweat, and his short, dark hair was drenched with it... but all Alice could see as he raised his head were eyes of pure black.
“Vhnori...” she whispered, “what did you
“WHY D’YOU THINK I was in Adriel’s office?” Vin had finally stopped shaking, and was sitting at least vaguely upright on the tarmac.
“I thought you were waiting. For us.”
“Well, there was that...” He wagged his head from side to side. “Adriel knew what was going to happen. All this was planned.”
“Planned. Because this looks so beautifully planned.” Alice waved sadly at the burning warehouse. There was no sign of the fire brigade, despite the plumes of smoke and the flames spilling from the windows. She imagined they had quite enough on their hands elsewhere. One more fire was nothing.
“Alright... maybe not the details. But Michael knew. He knew Gabriel would turn on him; he has done ever since hell.”
“But he told Gabriel that he’d restore him if he found the way to... Oh. Boy, do I feel stupid.” Alice’s eyes closed in resignation as she realised what had happened.
Michael had set it up. All of it.
All along, he’d wanted Lucifer restored... and the Fallen had done it for him.
“Bingo.”
“But... you.”
“Yeah. Me.”
“You knew.”
“Most of it.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“Who do you think I’m more afraid of? You, or Michael?”
“Me. It should definitely be me.”
“Funny you should say that... No.” He grinned weakly. “Adriel knew Lucifer would summon him.”
“He wanted his old job back...” Mallory interrupted. “But he couldn’t have it if Adriel had already passed it on.”
“Exactly,” said Vin, wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve. “Which is where I come in.”
“But why you?” Alice asked.
“Like I’m supposed to know?”
“Well, yes.” Alice shook her head. “All this.” She glanced at Castor, who was keeping his face absolutely blank. “All this... for what?”
“For victory,” said Mallory. “Everything else is just collateral damage.”
“
“Everything. He wants to win. And he wants to stay the winner. Absolute war, remember?”
“He’s more of a bastard than I thought.” She thought about the library; about everything he’d said. “He almost had me fooled that time.”
“Alice...” Mallory cleared his throat, breaking into her train of thought.
“What?”
“It’s... it’s nothing.”
“No, what?”
“Well, it’s just... if Vin’s taken over from Adriel...”
“Yes?”
“Well...” – Mallory coughed into his hand – “doesn’t that... kind of make him... your new boss?”
“I quit.”
And as the fire raged behind them and the angels scattered, they sat on the tarmac and Alice buried her head in her hands, and despite themselves and despite everything else they tried to understand, and to work out who had won.
They didn’t see Castor slip away into the darkness.
They didn’t see Michael narrow his eyes at the sound of their voices, his sword strapped to his side and his breastplate spattered with blood and soot, before turning away and melting back into the shadow, ready for the next fight.
They didn’t see the first of the blue and red lights flashing on the far side of the building.
They didn’t see Rimmon half-walk and half-crawl out of the door to the loading bay, and they didn’t see the shadows which moved across them as something flew high above in the dark sky.
“YOU KNOW THAT from now on, it gets harder, don’t you?” said Mallory at last.
“This has been easy? Up to now?” Alice said. “Easy? Seriously?” She looked at Vin and blew out an exasperated breath, “And
“Easy? Sure it was. Walk in the park. Now the fun really starts: the balance is well and truly in their favour, and I think it’s fair to say we’re outnumbered and outgunned. Which is just how I like it. Except for that shotgun Gwyn had. Bastard thing. I
Alice sniffed, then scrubbed at her face. Adriel had told her to help them; to help them remember that there was more than just their war at stake. That was exactly what she was going to do, whatever it cost her. Because that was what she was needed for.
It was Vin who finally broke the silence.
“Anybody else hungry...?”
“Vin!”
“What? I’m starving!”
“Shut up.”
“Look, if you’d had the kind of night I’ve had.... Can I order Alice to get me a burger or something? That’s how this works... Ouch! That
