The OOC:

The following are stories already told relating to Belial that have relevance in the Angelic storyline even today. For anyone to fully comprehend I should state that my characters are very story driven. I tend to treat my rp like an ongoing TV series; there is the hour long plot, the ever growing, ever widening inner-personal plots and the over arcing seasonal plots" You know, just like a TV series. Therefore to understand what?s going on with my characters one must read the posts. Simply indulging in play is fine, but shallow; the stories cannot be fully understood simply from an occasional in-room interaction. Too much is going on at all times for me to be able to encapsulate it in brief bursts in-room.

The below are old posts made to the BHO board on AOL, they have been somewhat tweaked from their originals; some parts have been rewritten and all has been edited anew. They are given in the appropriate order in which they should be read. They are not all the posts made from Bel's perceptions and do not cover every aspect of her past....they are merely posts that relate to the Angelic story arc. If other aspects of her life need more clarification or understanding, I will posts those stories at that time under relevant threads.

I felt the following should be posted here on DM mainly because many continue to wonder what Bel has become and how she got there. The following will aid in explaining a lot. Fool that I am, I have continued telling the story from the PoV that everyone knows everything" forgetting that in the move from AOL to DM, many may not. So in an effort not to have to repeat myself and allow others a greater understanding of what?s going on, I offer up what came before? enjoy!

Belial's story is a theme I hold closest to my heart....it is a story of redemption. It is a story that asks the theological and philosophical questions of what is redemption and how does one gain it. In many ways Belial is merely a reflection of my personal growth; from child to woman into true wisdom. Through her stories I can share my journeys, through her eyes I can see an image of what I have become.

Lanette

Awakening Part 2

The shadows stretched out over the top of the levee, it almost seemed as if they swallowed what little light which found its unwitting way there. Hungry, yes that is what comes to Belial's mind as she snakes alongside the corrugated steel of the dockside warehouse. The creaking of the large ships is heard over the distant sounds of life that rolled in off the river. It is a desolate sound as if she were the only living soul on land. But she can smell it; she knows it is close. She is not alone.

Belial slips around the corner, her body kept at a crouch, narrowed green eyes piercing even the darkest depths, forever seeking and suspicious. Overhead the threatening clouds of the storm smear the sky with a sudden flash of brilliance, laying bare the dockside in almost blinding light. Bel blinks to clear her vision, and knows by the scent that suddenly screams into her it is too late. With a preternatural grace the creature lands behind her a looming presence with outstretched wings of the most glorious feathery white. It smiles down upon her, folding its arms in a casual manner not at all intimidated by her presence or appearance" almost as if it had been" waiting for her.

"Hello?" the merest pause but significant, "sister." Its laughter is like a roll of thunder, it echoes out into the darkness, a natural sound on such a night as this. "My, but you are rather tense tonight. Tense and ever so suspicious" is this perchance a typical state of being for you?" Belial spins to face the creature; her green eyes brighten a harsh red as her hands curl into fists at her sides. Her tail whips out behind her with a fury all its own, refusing to be stilled by even the strongest of conscious thought. She glares up at the thing, standing her ground even though logic and reason say it is folly.

"Where is the Oberon, fiend"!" her voice a demand, cold, harsh and not to be dismissed. Lankyn would have been proud.

"The" what?" Again the roll of its laughter as it tilts its head to peer at her, almost as if looking at a prize insect to be added to a collection. "You are confused, aren't you? He had mentioned this about you. But truthfully, sister, it surprises me. You were the one who once kept history of Our past. You were the one who spoke only of fairness and equality. What has become of you? Tell me, do you enjoy playing the monster or is there something" else? Something I am missing?"

Belial stares up at the creature. "You are insane." She said, meaning it as a simple statement of fact. The creature obviously has no idea of who she is or why she's come. Belial steps forward, a threatening light darkening red eyes. "Tell me, where is the Oberon! Tell me quickly and I shall spare you." A slow smile so cold and heartless it could have frozen the entire Pacific Ocean in a mere matter of seconds.

"Ah, and you can look the part of the evil you play with finesse"." Said as if speaking more to itself than her. The creature flutters its wings, straightening itself to its full height. A sudden swirling darkness envelops it and then from out of that darkness a man of dark hair and bright blue eyes emerges. "Is this more pleasing to you then sister" Less threatening, more applicable to polite conversation?" His humor is intact as he folds his hands behind his back watching her intently.

"I care less for your tricks monster. You know what I want."

"Yes." Almost a whisper it is spoken so low, "You want the Oberon. Do you mind if I ask you what that is?" he smiles and handsome features lighten. There is something overtly supernatural about this creature, Belial sees this as well as senses it. There is within it great powers" but are they great enough to withstand hers"

"Lankyn, Corwyn, the Elven Lord." Belial supplies although she suspects he knows full well of whom it is she is seeking. This game is as old as the dirt that graces the earth yet if it is the way this creature chooses to play, Belial knows these rules and knows how to win. "Yet you and I know I waste my time telling you."

"Yes." He walks around her, eyeing the tail with a chuckle and a smirk. "Quaint. Whatever inspired you, sister?"

Belial's anger boiled, she fought down the urge to smash in this monster's seemingly handsome face. Instead she took her cues from his behavior, adapting a nonchalance of her own. "I enjoy my tail, sir. It has rather" unique uses."

"Ah, you must enlighten me. It sounds" fascinating" if a tad bit sexual. Ever so trapped in the physical however." His laughter holds a tone of mockery to it that incenses her.

"That's it!" she snaps, her voice stringent with frustration and anger growing quickly out of control. "Tell me now where he is or I shall remove that handsome head of yours from the rest of you!"

"As if you could." His humor is obviously intact as he laughed with sincere amusement, "Do you not know who I am, sister" Do you not recognize me?" he sounded incredulous. "Surely some part of my nature must sing to yours?"

Belial turns away from him, dismissing him with a wave of a small hand. "I do not have time for this game; I have other more pressing matters to attend to. If you shall not be forthright with the information I am seeking then I have to choice left but to take it from you."

"A threat. It saddens me that you are not more communicative. I would have thought that of all of us, you would have retained that objectiveness that had once made you such a shining light in Eden. Belial you were once the most revered for your work, your compassion and your understanding. Tsk, tsk. What has been lost to us and brought down into the pits of Sheol! And look how that has disfigured you! A tail, like a beast, talons and horns like medieval monsters! And was it not Memnoch that had spoken out in Heavens arena before God and all the host of the greatness of the Human spirit' And yet, look, just look at what it has done to you!" the monster with its handsome visage had started to pace. "I do not know what I am to say to Raguel" He awaits Armageddon with trepidation although it is his job to make the final judgments and he has had this assignment since the dawning of our race." The creature stopped cold in his pace, blue eyes pinning her with an almost palatable intensity. "You stand on the precipice; it is up to you to make your final choice. I can no longer leave the blanket and security of memory lost upon you. It is time for you to wake up sweet sister Angel."

"Angel"!" clearly the monster is deluded! Deluded and blind!

Belial's anger hit the overflow and she pounced" Only, he held up a hand that froze her in mid-air and although she does not fall, nor can she move in any direction. As she hangs suspended in the air, he moves towards her. Kissing two fingers he places them to her forehead. She fights against the invisible bonds, trying hopelessly to twist her head away from his touch when suddenly she is filled with a blinding white light. It consumes her into it and she is lost within its depths. The light shreds the layers of misperception, slices past the insanity brought on by the Fall; it reveals the Truth of what is and has been" after tonight Belial will never be the same again. She will know from whence she truly came, the purpose of her "birthing" and the one who created her.

Sariel, Archangel, He who holds the power of Knowledge, looks down on the unconscious figure of his latest charge. He remembers the words of the one Belial called "the Oberon". He realizes how right his Brother had been. Belial needs to be awakened, and now is the time. Armageddon is fast approaching; whether on this plane or any of the others. And with the tolling of the bell it is time for the one whose role it is to decide the fate of the Angels that have Fallen to do his own job. Sariel looks down at the female figure shaking his head sadly. He remembers the days of glory, when the Host was one. Before the speech of Memnoch, before the declaration of Morningstar that had divided them. Before the birth of man and the discovery of Sheol" aspects that corrupted Heaven, stole away the peace of Duty. He feels the weight of the oncoming war as if it were a personal burden laid upon his shoulders. Soon, very soon and the prophecies will be laid open and the fury of Heaven and Hell will play itself out like an insane Italian Opera. If he were any other of the angelic, perhaps he would have felt destiny in his path, but not Sariel. All he sees is the blood that will spill as brother slaughters brother in a war that never should have been waged.

If only for the light of God! For surely were they to bask within it, none of this madness would even be a contemplation.

((Timeline: Awakening was written at the end of August of 1999. It was intended to launch the "End of Days? storyline and introduce some important aspects of Belial's origins. Based on a lot of research I was able to dig up some little known, (i.e. obscure), facets about Belial. Those being that she was the last angel to fall and once held title of "Angelic History Keeper". The thread was concluded by Lankyn who in the end rescued himself and set the stage for the upcoming "End of Days" story arc which lasted for several years IRL. Heh.))

In the Eye of the Storm

Calm fell. From Heaven distilled a clemency; There was peace on earth, and silence in the sky; Thomas Hardy, There Was a Great Calm It is a beautiful day, the sky clear, the sun shining warmly, not too hot with the ocean breeze that begs windows to be opened wide. Belial stands on the porch of HadesDawn, dressed in a spring cotton frock of white sprigged with miniature rosebuds, a snood catches up long ebony hair while short, stray curls escape to dance about her face teased by the breeze. She leans on the railing while green eyes scan the manicured lawn that fronts her home and her tail takes on a slow, lazy sway. The French doors behind her are open and the sounds of Yvette bustling and muttering can be clearly heard. Bel smiles pleased by Yvette's excitement to have guests over during the daylight hours, she makes a note to herself to do this more often. The aroma coming from the kitchen makes Bel's mouth water with anticipation, lunch would be spectacular Yvette has outdone herself for the company.

"Missy B" Ya did say one o'clock" They have nigh on a half hour yet, may as well come inside an' taste mah chicken." Yvette with her warm southern drawl said from just inside the open French doors.

Bel turns and smiles, nodding to her housekeeper/cook. Yvette fits the image to perfection of the infamous Marie Laveau, a voodoo priestess of New Orleans, circa Earth 1830's A.D. A mulatto by birth, she dresses in long multicolored flowing skirts with cotton peasant blouses, wearing her kinky black hair wrapped in a colorful turban; she looks as if she may have just stepped off the streets of nineteenth century New Orleans. Yvette carries on with her family's tradition, she hails from a long line of voodoo hierarchy, not that Bel really cares about that, but it seems to Yvette to be important. An awesome cook, Yvette specializes in Creole, Cajun and southern dishes, but Bel has learned the woman's skills are unsurpassed in the kitchen; it's the housekeeping that has become the problem'

Neither she nor Sun lead typical lives and they both have a penchant for making terrible messes. Sun when she eats at home and Bel when her hunters/assassins drop by for a little unexpected battle or three. Yvette, calm about many of the roommates' odd behaviors simply doesn't have the stomach for the gory cleanup or the strength for disposing of what?s left of the bodies. Besides, it isn't fair to the woman Bel has grown fond of, although Sun's preference would be to eat her"

So, to avoid anymore conflict she's decided to automate HadesDawn, not for the typical chores but for those special occasions when she and Sun can't help their messes. To this end, she's hired "Damien" and his?"mates" to do the job. The male seemed very knowledgeable about the subject and claimed he knew where to purchase the supplies. Bel has set this date today so that he and his?"friend" can inspect the house and she can pay them their retainer. Only the best will suffice, the equipment will have to be strong enough to handle the messes, sturdy enough to last a long time, and be able to work well within the intense manna fields generated by the nexus and the nature of the house's inhabitants. A tall order, she knows, but one the male seemed confident he and his friends could fill.

Belial takes her time following Yvette to the kitchen, located behind the sitting room/parlor, green eyes dancing over the area where most of their entertaining is done. The heavy overstuffed furniture is covered in dark red velvet, better for cleanup after particularly gruesome nights, and very comfortable for any sport, be it sitting or otherwise. The walls are painted a soft hue of rose while the floor is hardwood, covered with plush oriental rugs with varying designs; their colors intended to compliment the d"cor. Along the outside wall is the grand fireplace, where a fire is kept lit no matter the season, today is no exception although tempered glass doors are folded closed to keep out the heat. Above the fireplace is a mantle, here only a few of the collected eclectic treasures of the roommates' can be found, all ancient antiques from varying time periods of Terra Prime. Obviously they both like that dimension a lot. The art hanging from the walls reflects the same taste in antiques as the other accessories do. The room is warm and inviting, a comfortable place to pass the time.

Bel pushes the swinging door inwards, stepping into the kitchen. Yvette looks up from the pot she is stirring, smiling widely as she holds up the wooden spoon.

"Taste mah sauce." It is a statement, not an invitation.

Belial chuckles huskily as she saunters over and obliges the demand, a brow arching as she murmurs her appreciation. "Mmm, very tasty. I do hope they like spicy foods?" She can't help the teasing smile tossed to Yvette.

The cook nods, satisfied with the comment. "I'm sure they are polite, Missy B, an' they won't say if they don't. Now when did ya want me to bake that chicken, hmm?" Astute brown eyes flicker to Belial as its Yvette's turn to lift her brows.

Momentarily Bel wonders what Yvette must think of all these males currently sniffing around her, and then her thoughts shift to them as she shrugs in response. "I don't know yet, sweets, still have to ask him, eh?"

"Well, if ya were to ask me?" Yvette begins, but Bel knows better.

"I wasn't." she smirks at her cook and friend. "Asking you, that is?"

"Oh' Hmph. I suppose ya think that will stop me from speaking mah peace."

"I could hope?"

"Hope all ya want, Missy, but the wind talks to me, I know what yar facing, an' changing times are upon ya. It's in the air all about ya. Can't ya see it' Sense it' What with all yar angelic self"! Ya have no common sense, girl! Yar already in a heap of trouble what with that stunt ya pulled on Gabriel, an' all them angels hunting ya! Just cus they takin' a break don't mean they still aren't a comin' fer ya." Yvette's turn to interrupt her with words more true than Belial wants to admit.

Since the eerie silence from her siblings has fallen, (a nice break from the constant battling that had plagued her for weeks true....however") she can't help but think that this is merely the eye of the storm and soon all of Heaven is going to tumble down on her head, along with some big bad from Hades too. Some brick maker, if that odd creature from the O&A the other night was being honest. Not to mention Daug, and Vincent' Belial has done her share in making enemies out of all the wrong sorts. If she's not very careful all of them are going to strike at the same time and that could be very bad for her health.

Belial growls then huffs as she turns to face the sink. She hates being lectured. Dipping her hands in the soapy water she rinses them off under the flow of the faucet. She knows nothing short of murder would stop Yvette from speaking her?"peace" as she calls it.

"Turn yar back on me, pretend I ain't even here." Yvette snorts returning her attentions to the pots bubbling on the stove. "I know ya, Missy B. I seen the hell ya already gone through, what with that nasty night-dark vampire! What's his name" I saw what he did to ya and yar daughter!"

"Welv?" Bel mutters as she stares at the soapsuds slowly popping.

"Yup, him! A fine piece of work, hookin' up with a scoundrel like that! Look where it got ya, huh' Hmph! An' that Ash fella" With his soft words an' docile attitude"! Thought ya were mad draggin' that poor sot in to yar life, indeed!" Yvette shakes her head in disapproval; it's the same attitude she's used to chide Rae, Belial's daughter, when she was here"

"Ash was?"

"A terrible mistake!" Yvette finishes for her. Belial scowls at the woman darkly, not liking being chided at all, nope, not even a little bit' and the direction Yvette is insisting on taking"! But she remains in the kitchen, knowing the wisdom in taking it now rather than putting it off for later. It will only make it that much worse.

Yvette snorts anew, sitting the wooden spoon in a tray made for such things as she rounds on Bel. "An' now" Luse, Missy B" After the Lady"!"

The Lady is how Yvette refers to Sun, Belial's roommate. Perhaps it sounds reverent but it is spoken with a hint of sarcasm as Yvette feels that Sun's social position is flawed because of her" "bad manners and unappetizing eating habits". Yvette thinks Sun should deport herself more civilly; she is married to the head of Bloods and one of the chosen Children after all.

"Now, look, Yvette, Luse an' I already agreed to be friends, alright' Above and beyond anything else!" That tail flicking rapidly to and fro as Bel glares heatedly at Yvette.

"Oh' I see, an' what about that demonic lord with all them wives" Ya ready to be just another number in a man's harem?"

"That was all a misunderstanding, Yvette, Lars was merely joking about all that?"

"Joking"! Ya're insane, Missy!" Another well-placed snort, maybe Belial is rubbing off on Yvette too much"

"Well" That's....Possible?"

"Ya aint blind, Missy B. Ya aint stupid, but sometimes" I wonder where that brain of yars gits off ta" Ya gonna reason yar way outta the other two as well" What's their names again?"

"If you can't remember their names, I sure aint gonna tell you!" Belial snaps at the woman, turning towards the swinging door that leads back into the parlor. Yvette is speaking, of course, about Leviticus and Scott, both who are still so new that neither have a set place in her reality yet' Well, other than food"

"That's the ticket, tuck that pointy tail of yars an' run hide. Ya can't play these kinda games, Missy, without getting hurt. Ya best make up yar mind afore ya lose what ya really want." Yvette's tone softens on the last words, tinged with sadness and concern.

Belial stops at the swinging door, turning to smile to the woman. "I know, and I know that you're worried. Look" Have a little faith in me, ok" I'm trying to figure things out' And right now with' *the trouble" I'm not going to be making any hasty decisions. I'm not trying to drag any of them into this, you know?"

"I know. I do. Missy B just remember one thing, ok?" Bel eyes Yvette skeptically before granting her a nod. "Welv." That said Yvette turns her attentions back to the pot on the stove.

Bel groans, "How could I forget"!"

In fact' Belial could never forget the Drow" he stole her heart and somehow" She's never managed to get it back. She doesn't bother trying to explain or justify why or even how she feels about Welv. Instead she simply lets Yvette keep her opinions about the situation. No use in trying to clarify the passion or the darkness that had drawn Bel to the Gangrel" sometimes Bel even wonders why"

Yvette hides her smirk with a ducking of her head and simple bob of head, while lifting her apron up to wipe her hands just as security alerts them to the arrival of their guests. "Well, well, they are remarkably on time. There ya go Missy B, something be workin' right fer a change."

"Yes, let's hope it's a trend?" Belial quips, chuckling as she gives Yvette a warm smile. Then pushing through the swinging door she quickly heads for the front of the house to greet Damien and his friend.

"I'll set out lunch an' let ya know when it's ready." Yvette calls after her.

((Timeline: Posted 07/03 Gabriel wasn't too happy to have his head taken" he's set assassins on Bel to gain hers. This post is not only a 'slice of life? but also establishes much of the inner relationships that played pivotal roles in the unfolding events. The primary importance of this post was to point out that a lull had fallen, the angelic assassins were taking a "break"....sort of....and to outline HadesDawn security which led into Onyx security as well. Steps were taken to protect all Blood holdings from any form of threat, including ethereal and energy oriented beings.))

Initial Defiance

Fight the good fight. New Testament. 1 Timothy vi. 12

Belial lies in the grass on her stomach with the warm sun on her back. Cradled in her hands is the bloom of a perfect rose, the soft red petals full and fragrant, sweet to the smell, silky velvet to the touch. Green eyes gaze at the flower with contemplative awe as though seeing the miracle of its creation for the first time. Odd, just hours ago an act of such simplicity she would have thought a waste of good time, but now she can barely catch her breath from the reeling of feelings and thoughts blossoming as beatifically as the rose in her hands. Somewhere, in a vague distance, she hears the security alarm, alerting her that someone has breached the grounds of HadesDawn. Lost to her thoughts, she assumes it must be Leviticus, an astute soul of some mystery whom she is currently developing some kind of relationship with, well, maybe anyway' A nip of her lower lip, not wanting to leave the wonder of this new realm of realization, not wanting to be dragged back to her reality or face the things she would rather pretend aren't there. She keeps her focus on the flower, fingertip stroking the side of a large soft petal. Yvette will no doubt tend to Leviticus and enjoy the task as well.

And then the hand falls to her hair, violently dragging her to her feet as dark, pupiless eyes peer menacingly at her. The familiar smirk curls Gabriel's lips as he dangles her in front him, a coarse laugh as he gives her a shake like one might give a misbehaving puppy. "Belial, fancy meeting you here," he says with no fondness.

Green eyes widen as her fists pound against the hold of his hand in her dark ebon curls. "Let me go, Gabriel, before you force me to do something you won't like!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." He shakes his head as he gives her another rough shaking, those dark eyes intense and yet empty. "Always so disobedient, looks like you need to be taught a lesson, angel."

Belial growls low and snakes a kick at his groin, missing as Gabriel easily sidesteps, shaking her harder in return. "Lemme go, Gabriel, or ya really will be sorry!"

Gabriel laughs the knife flashing as he brings it to her pale throat, laying the edge to creamy skin. "Not until I get what I came for, my dear sweet maggot. I shouldn't have to remind, Belial, you should be smart enough to know what I want."

She spits in his face, fingers frantically trying to pry his from her hair and then she feels the cut, the sinking of that blade" Belial is not one to panic, but the idea of her head being in his care for any length of time is just unfathomable for her. Giving up on his hand in her hair, she grabs the hand with the blade, and Gabriel's arm ignites suddenly into flames. Green eyes widen and she gasps as he rips the knife from her throat, shaking his arm in an attempt to put himself out. It would have been comically if she weren't so upset. His other hand loses its hold and she is able to twist free, leaving a handful of ebon locks in his tightly clenched fist.

"You Bitch!" Gabriel snarls as he at last is able to extinguish his arm. He spins glaring at her. "Do you know how hard it is to get a jacket that's tailored to fit"!"

Belial glares back, taking a predator's stance as she begins to circle him, blood dripping freely from the wound on her neck. "Why are you here, Gabriel" Just to claim my head as your prize" Or did you have another, darker idea inside that insane mind of yours?"

"I'm intrigued." He looks from his singed arm to Belial then back again. "You going to tell me how you did that or am I going to have to rip your entrails out for the next seven centuries until you do?"

"You have to catch me to rip out my entrails, Gabriel and the way I see it' You aren't doing such a hot job of that." Belial snaps back. "Why are you here, already?"

"I came here to take that pretty mane of yours, Belial and to leave a note for Raphael. He's been misbehaving as badly as you, little maggot. Must be rubbing off. What"! Is it in the water or something"!"

"Freewill, Gabriel. You have no say over me any longer! And I'll be keeping my head, thanks ever so much!" As she circles him he turns, never giving her a chance to blind-side him. A soft snarl falls as she prepares to pounce anyway.

"Look, maggot, I know something is up. You can't just burn me like that; you don't have it in you. So spill it, before you piss me off enough to annihilate you outright."

"You want a taste of what else I can do, Gabriel" Is this why you're really here?" Wary now, certain she's figured out his plan she begins to put distance between them, suddenly unsure. If he can catch her won't this be bad for her side" Yes, obviously, but showing off her new" tricks" Could be worse"

Gabriel stands perfectly still, dark eyes peering at her intensely. "So you can do more new tricks." It is a statement as he nods his expression dark and threatening but he makes no new advances.

"Yes, I live in Rhydin, lots of magic?" Lame, true but in a pinch it sounds good"

"Yes." The word is low and it trails on the "s". Gabriel shakes his head as he moves a step backwards. "You tell Raphael that it's time for him and the other exiles to pay for their pollution. You tell him; we know and we're coming." In a dramatic swirl of that tailored, yet burnt, jacket he vanishes as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving her standing in the garden staring at the spot he'd just vacated.

"A*shole!" She fairly spits the word as she spins on her heels, striding towards the house, rubbing her head as her other hand lifts to staunch the flow of blood from the slash across her long, slender neck. She has to let Corwyn know what?s just happened" By the Gods, she hopes she didn't let anything really important slip"

((Timeline: Posted 07/03. Gabriel can't let Bel win, it simply isn't in his nature" It was also an excellent way to hint that the power has begun to shift. Gabriel sensed something is off; Bel almost gives him a taste, but realizes quickly how foolish such a move could prove. However, it also pointed out security flaws that were addressed by the Family in yet another thread. (We were even then a prolific lot!) In the end it was Maddock who came up with ways to keep external property safe from invasion with aid from Bel, Wylde, Luse, Luc and Fio of course!))

Everything Precious Part II

It's Wednesday, two days since Vincent left Rhydin"and her. Belial has a standing engagement to meet with Sid on Wednesdays; they like to hang out at the Stars End Bar & Grill for karaoke night. Belial doesn't sing, but Sid seems to enjoy it, and the two tenders, Liam and Rian, as well. Tonight as she makes her way to Sid's house, she can't keep her thoughts from straying to the occurrences of last night' when Belial had gone to the O&A, mainly to distract herself, mostly to stop the tears from claiming her anew. (She's really over crying!) Her emotions have been jagged, harsh and raw, driving at her with sharp talons that shred thought and reason. She had been lost in them for hours and prayed that there would be some relief, no matter how light or casual, waiting for her at the bar. Only she should have realized that Luse would show up and, of course, notice her frame of mind. It didn't take him too long to get around to interrogating her, not that she was surprised; Luse has always been there when she's needed him, and there's no reason he'd stop now, even if she wanted him to.

She'd been sitting in her favorite booth at the Oak, sipping off some new dark roast blend coffee Tral had whipped up to appeal to her, when out of the blue, Luse had flashed back to something she'd mentioned in passing almost an hour ago"

"What happened 22 hours ago" Belated Luse had inquired as if the thought had just struck him.

"Cried." She'd said as if that was the whole quintessence of her current predicament.

"Okay, see, there....that's freaking me out." Luse had commented. "Who doesn't cry at some point?"

"I don't. I don't ever cry!" She'd been vehement, but Luse simply thinks that she is somehow, someway like him, with a past, a childhood, a time of innocence's. "Angels don't have emotions; we weren't made for them?"

"Guess what, Bel....you apparently do cry." Luse had exclaimed. "Ev-o-fuckin'-lution....turns out that Darwin guy was right."

"I....I....NO!" Belial had retorted. "Angels don't evolve."

"Uh.....ya sure about that?" Luse had asked.

"We just....We....Well, we just don't!" She insisted because it was the truth, as she then thought it to be.

Luse had eyed her then, watching her with that inscrutable gaze, but she could see a hint of his confusion in the hold of his body. "Emotions.....yeah, they're a bitch."

"Yes, yes, that they are. I hate them. I don't want them!" she'd nodded to his comment emphatically.

"But you have them?" He'd interjected.

"I want to cut them out and toss them in the ocean!" And the torrent poured from her then, as if trying to wash away all the horrible feelings roiling and churning inside. She confided in him. Explained how she felt just like the abomination Gabriel had dubbed her. Her anger and blame of Corwyn" She even told Luse of Vincent and his departure" (Leaving out the more personal details that she still keeps private between her and the Master Vampire") Some of her guilt had been alleviated by his response, she hadn't expected him to be so understanding; Belial knows that to Luse Vincent is the enemy.

In the end Luse, in his typical soft tone, had said, "Then fight. Fight the new feelings you're feeling....fight your siblings....fight the power....fight everything...."

Belial had smiled then, and laughed. "Oh, trust me....I am staying to fight..."

She had begun to outline the basics of the plan she'd been forming to Luse when Michael's Delta, one of the elite angelic assassins, appeared. He walked into the Oak like there was nary a spell ever cast to keep his ilk out. More powerful than the last hunters sent, this one was also brazen in his righteousness. Standing in front her as brave as you please, naming her the abomination she felt certain she has become. But Belial had been expecting them, expecting the worst ever since she foolishly "borrowed" Gabriel's head"

She'd asked the angel if he could read, if he hadn't studied the History of the Word" The angel gave a noncommittal insult in return, his ignorance obvious by his behavior alone. At first, it had only been a suspicion, all of the angels sent to "collect" her had lacked the same teachings, had not known the History of Heaven. But they were lesser angels, angels made with one duty in mind, and that was to slaughter, kill and destroy. However the elite angel, (one of Michael's own), had no knowledge of the Words, had no understanding of the context. This was a blow to Belial, who had once held the title of Keeper of History, Protector and Administrator of the Words. She recalls her time in Heaven most vividly of late and the importance that had once been granted to the sharing and keeping of the History, when Faith and Grace were inspired by the Words. It seems Luse is right and things do change for Angels after all"

The fight turned nasty when Michael's Delta stabbed her in the chest with his spear then went explicitly after Luse, seeming to know his importance to her and taunting her with the knowledge. This new turn in events disturbed her greatly, that somehow they knew, knew who she loves, who she cares for and that they would take them away just to punish her! It was the ways of the old without any of the understanding or grace of the Words. They would kill all she loves, while leaving her for last so that she may suffer knowing they all died simply because of their significance to her. Yes, Gabriel would think this way. But the real question is: why does Michael" Something is very wrong when He Who is As of God turns into a worse abomination than she"! At least she has a valid excuse; she's trying to save her neck" Michael's neck has never been on the line, so what?s his investment, his motive here" All she has right now are speculations and assumptions, cold comfort in those lonely hours before dawn when hope seems the furthest away and winning more concept than reality. And no comfort at all when watching as the angelic assassin descended upon Luse, one of her best friends, with the strict intent to kill simply because she cares about him. No, she'd found that very upsetting indeed" Of course they had triumphed over the would-be-assassin, and information was gained.

Less than two houses from Sid's brownstone now, Belial pauses in her stride, a hand lifting to pull long curls from her face. More of them will come, she is certain. More will try to take them out one by one so that the armies of Heaven can sweep past and spill Armageddon down upon the heads of the mortals. That's got to be His goal" Or so Belial assumes, having no evidence or understanding otherwise, why else would Michael be so intent on destroying Corwyn, sweeping the rest of them out of existence too' It's obvious from the way the would-be-assassin had spoken that all Fay are now dubbed "abominations" like her. How's that possible"!

There were rules afforded to the Exiles, she remembers them clearly, and the creation of the Fay was never questioned or punished. The Essence, or God as it is more naturally referred to, had no need to intervene. He asked simply that the mortals be allowed to mature as they would at their own pace, that the Exiles keep certain arcane knowledge secrets so that human kind could retain their blind faith, their innocence so to speak. None of the Exiles have crossed any lines" Or have they"

What does Belial really know of what Corwyn's been up to' The Progenitor of the Elven race and leader of the Bloods is truly inscrutable, not to be trusted, he is a puppet-master extraordinaire, and he knows how to accumulate power and how to wield it effectively. What could he have done that would make Heaven want to erase them all" Belial's mind boggles over the multiple possibilities" And yet, one thing is crystal clear" "Nothing is evil which is according to nature." Marcus Aurelius, a favorite quote of Corwyn's, and one she feels grants an uncanny insight into his multi-dimensional soul. Yes, Corwyn is in this somehow, the question is where and how does he really fit in"

There is no real way of knowing, she can't just drop by and ask Michael for the lowdown on what?s going on inside his head. And Corwyn"! He won't spill any secrets he hasn't already, his agenda is kept close to only him, but he also is most adamant that they are bringing this war to him not the other way round. He sounds sincere in his insistence, maybe she doubts him unjustly' But Belial knows that he's not sharing everything he knows with any one of them, except perhaps Wyld" And that one is as tight lipped as Corwyn. And as long as she senses the secrets, she can't help her suspicions" or her doubts.

Green eyes slide to the brownstone where she spies Sid already heading down her steps, had Sid even come out that door" Belial seems to doubt it, she's not heard any doors opening or closing, and the night is quiet. Sid is nevertheless waving and grinning but with an odd undertone, as if she too is on that edge between nervous breakdown and comatose overload. Belial lifts a hand and waves back, putting a smile on taunt lips; at least she can look like everything is fine" Still, she has no real resolutions, no ideas on how to stop something that really doesn't need to begin" Sighing, she waits for Sid to catch up to her, looking now at the dark sky overhead.

Yes, she senses them all about Rhydin now; they are getting as familiar with the area as any good tactician would" Soon, the angelic will know Rhydin as well as the Bloods" Bad, very bad for her side! It takes away one of the best advantages, knowing the territory and exploiting it. It seems every time she turns around they take yet another advantage away from her side, making their odds at winning slimmer and slimmer. She can't fault the strategy, her side is employing it as well, it's just that they need every advantage if they are going to win this war, and right now" Things are getting bleaker rather than sleeker" That's no way to go into any battle. Something is going to have to turn these tides or they are going to lose"

At last Sid catches up; smiles and hugs are exchanged before the facades crumble. It's the first time they've seen one another since the spell that changed them' The two gaze at one another for what feels like a long time but in truth is only seconds. Then turning almost in unison they fall into a lazy gait heading towards the Stars End Sector, not really talking, lost in their thoughts as to where to begin, perhaps" Or maybe just enjoying the stroll"

(Originally posted 08/03. Timeline is given at end of part three.)

In-Between When you sit with a nice girl for two hours, you think it's only a minute. But when you sit on a hot stove for a minute, you think it's two hours. That's relativity. Einstein

Time is subjective: to the experience, to the moment, to the individual. Time is a concept of conscious thought. Without a physical meter does time exist"

The true state of an angel is little else than energy, it does not exist without effort on the physical plane; it has no corporeal form to call home, no beating heart or blood flow to mark its existence, it merely is. It is said that to see an angel in its true form could kill a mortal" the energy is too bright for the simplistic senses of physical beings" However there are some, some who have been gifted a host form upon creation knowing no other way of being. For them it is easy to adjust, adapting to the physical as any human being. It is nature, or becomes so. For the others not blessed with the gift of the physical the task proves more of a challenge. For Belial it had been pretty simple, she had carried none of the memories of Heaven or her Fall with her. Taking the form of a demon had seemed a natural state; it was in some odd poetic way she did not fully comprehend everything she deserved. Too bad she hadn't attempted to associate the why"

When the creator made the angelic race, Belial was not among them, she would not become until three generations hence, she was not even a sparkle in anyone's eye' And yet, through magic greater than she, she is the same as those of the original nine now. One of the great Seraphim, the most blessed; the ones God has put above all others. She is a legend even to herself, a legend that should not exist, in fact more an aberration than anything else; a creature made unholy and outcast in a moment of supplicating gestures, arcane magic and spent words. This is how she is rebirthed: unholy, outcast, nothing more than an abomination of her race. Nothing new, right"

She's always been an outsider....Made to think for herself, created for a specific job, she was expected to seek understanding of both sides. Never to judge without full knowledge, be it right or wrong, good or bad. Her existence was based on learning to look beyond the obvious, beyond individual perception, to find the truth and to shine that light as brightly as possible. Recording the words so that the truth will never be lost, that the past, the history can be relied upon to be there whenever there is need.

She'd lost everything when she Fell, everything she'd been created for. Now, being a sensible soul, she would like to believe that her loss is nothing compared to what she's gained" However, there had always been this small part of her, buried in what could be thought of as a heart, that one day, one great and glorious day, she would be redeemed and her purpose would be returned" A silly goal to hang on to, ridiculous, impractical, inane goal that the Fallen dare never conceive" She'd made her choice, hadn't she"

Woe is she, the state of abject misery, because she knows beyond a shadow of doubt that such hopeful thinking is futile now" to the very essence of her being. Seraphim, the name would be whispered among them, the first of their race to be created" Granted special attributes each and given particular duties to oversee. There had been only nine of them, nine angels made and in them God placed all that is sacred. She was not among them then" and now" She holds far more than she should of each gifted power.

As a Keeper of Heavens History she recalls the details with ease, as if the information had been somehow imprinted upon her very essence" Michael, "He who is as God", oversaw their race and would be the creator of Belial and her generation of Angels. Gabriel" "God's Strength", need anything else be said" Gabriel is the fearless warring soul; it is through him that the Angelic can learn to understand the essence of mortal violence, what drives the ambition towards bloodshed. Perhaps comprehend the urge to kill and destroy' Yet had that not also been Gabriel's undoing" Granting him such an unholy attribute would not help to inspire faith' not then or now when he needs it the most' Belial's thoughts stutter to a halt.

Why' Why now" What is happening now that she would draw such a conclusion' The words form but do not fall, their echo does not exist in this place, where silence is the only sound. She senses something close, nearby, but she cannot place the feeling, the essence. She doesn't feel threatened, but then how could anything possibly hurt her in this current state of existence"

Thoughts drift from her like waves passing over the great sea. Tossed by turbulent tides from one topic to another she finds herself pondering two faces as they flicker, familiar and yet distant, connections to a life that is slipping, sliding away into the oblivion that owns her.

She's haunted by these faces, by the souls who posses them' haunted even here in this far away place where the physical has fallen away and she is scattered to the whim of the winds. An elf with incredibly long ears, handsome yet deadly dangerous, even here where emotion is thin and transparent she understands she's tied to him, drawn to him' She is pulled towards the light of him and yet driven away' She cannot move closer but nor can she draw too far away' He is within reach and remains untouchable.

Confusion is split as the other face takes precedence; it has a darker visage, an echo of loss that brings the desire to turn from the feeling. This other face is emotionless, cold and yet' Within his embrace she had found peace and greater understanding, needs she hadn't realized were fed and nurtured" What had sustained her before had paled to the gift his attentions had freed and yet' This face, this essence brings pain, deep and slicing. Pain that resonates with the permanency of death? She would erase him but he holds her soul like a stone in his cold unrelenting hand" Gone yet still holding her hostage"

'Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Raziel, Uriel, Sariel, Raguel, Morningstar, Azriel.' Did those names come from within her, or from outside of her from somewhere else?

She reels on the waves, fighting for a pause, a moment of clarity....her thoughts filling with the essences that each name recalls. Centering at last upon Raphael" "God has Healed". Such an odd title among all the others really, something that tends to stand out' As if God would need to heal"! But that wasn't what it meant, no, it wasn't about healing God; it was about healing the Angelic, healing the Mortals. It was about inspiring when times felt too heavy to bear and comforting when the pain bites too deep. If the Seraphim were each a part of a body, he would have been the heart' but not anymore, eh' Now that he too is an aberration just like she"

Again her thoughts stutter to a pause, confusion like tiny shards of cold ice striking bared flesh at slicing speed. There is something" something looming over her but she can't remember what it is. Everything is scattered, lost in a breathless moment of nothingness.

But why' Lost as she is in this timeless, spaceless place of un-being, where her memory is filled with as many holes as a slice of Swiss cheese, she no longer remembers much of anything, well, anything as trivial as what she'd been doing before she was here" in this place. Confronting that which is the essence of her self or at least this is how she's managed to assimilate the experience so far. What a wild ride she's experienced, how many truths have been unearthed" but something is nagging at her, something is nibbling at the edges of her scattered mindlessness. It must be important, right"

She turns what?s left of conscious thought towards what was before the now. It seems foggy, a dark threatening haze unfolds the conjured images of the Before. The dirty abandoned city street, it was late at night, with what smells like a monster lurking nearby, and the overused clich' of a distant fog horn giving the overall setting an even darker tone. A movie" Yes, she thinks it must have been some bad movie" No, the scent is familiar" The predator is not a foe but alas, a friend. Yes, she was evil before, wasn't she"

She can't recall the difference between good and evil, it seems vague, far away, something intangible and foreign but she Fell, and the word holds an ominous texture, and something she senses is bad, wrong.

"There is neither good nor evil but that which we create by our own actions, Belial. What do you create by yours?"

Her actions"! She does nothing really, except exist....Pondering the surging powers as they whisper to her. Such seductive words, pretty phrases, and poetic clause, yet it really isn't the words she hears or recognizes it is the feeling, the pure unadulterated sense of something beyond; beyond her, beyond this moment, beyond the rising of the sun, something that sparkles and shimmers with the glory of absolute truth and understanding. It is from this source that she knows....something she understands could destroy her with no effort' Is this God"

"God is within all. The question isn't whether God exists, it's whether you recognize it or not."

On the heels of those mystifying words come the images, the memories....The smell in the alley had been that of her roommate, Sun, one of the many reasons why she didn't argue with Lankyn when he came up with his insane plan to make her, Sid and himself into Seraphim able to withstand the fury of their brethren. The faces haunting her become lucid and clear....The memory is like a hot knife slicing through her. Vincent....Luse....Welv" all those she calls her family"

"God is within all." a hollow repetition of what she's heard" her words are swallowed into the nothingness, lost as if they had never been but the energy that is Belial begins gathering, taking on a denser form. The whispering grows louder, nearly into shouts, each demanding her immediate attention, her immediate awe of what they grant her the ability to do. Who could have known power would come at such a cost' She certainly never expected this" Is she being eaten alive by the ferocity of their need for attention"

"Belial, it is time." The command slides threw the noise of the demanding powers, finding her with a preternatural ease, insistent, and yet dearly familiar. Perhaps she had not realized until this moment just how esteemed Lankyn had become to her" But she feels it now, stark and right there, not to be ignored. With all his shortcomings and games, he's proven himself to her time and time again as someone worthy of her service. His heart although often kept safely hidden is in the right place; he does as he does for what he truly believes is what?s right for his descendants. She can't fault his intentions, but often his actions appear questionable.

But then feeding scumbags to her roomy isn't like the nicest thing in the world for a soul to do either, so she best not judge him any longer. It is time to lay down the nurtured grudges of the past and work together towards a shared future. She has to remember what her brethren will do if they rain Armageddon down upon the mortal dimension!

The slight five-foot-three inched frame flexes her arms and hands, gazing for a moment at her smooth pale skin. She'd missed her body; only she hadn't realized it until this moment. A smile tugs at full lips as she runs a hand through the short ebon locks. Ahh, yes, she'd cut her mane and sent it to Gabriel" part of her ruse, her own personal plan to try and stop the imminent war. A plan she was in the middle of before" well, before whatever it was happened. But she knows what?s happened, doesn't she"

She isn't nearly as confused as she was before when her essence had been stretched to meet the demand upon her attentions. The power throbs richly inside her, and she knows how to use it now. Like an underfeeding of ticker tape flashing through her thoughts it is instant access, ready at a moment's notice and hers to command with ease. A lesser person might feel all-powerful, wait, no, she does! A playful grin plays across her expression, brightening green eyes. She is not so prideful as to think she is undefeatable; however she can now rely on her new "skills" rather than play hit or miss. What had seemed so like a curse has turned into something new, something hopeful and useful; a break in a sea of astounding setbacks and conflicts.

Suddenly the realization hits her that she'd vanished while tailing Sun. Yet another issue that needs addressing before she and Luse are tying her roomy up in the tower room again. Belial blames the Vampire Hunting so-called "Priest"; it all started over his mind games with her roomy. Nevertheless it needs to be taken care of before they are swallowed in the next "big adventure". Which Belial is certain will be quite soon with her potentially foolhardy plan to end the conflict before it has a chance to begin.

It really is a coin toss as to whether or not it will be a success, not good odds really' but the only option she has found so far that stands even a chance. Perhaps they can come up with something else, but until they do she feels there is no choice but to consider it.

The time spent' away" has done her great good; not having to fight off her brethren nightly has been a wonderful break and thankfully the pain of losing Vincent seems distant to her right now, something she doesn't have to deal with. Something she can stuff into a dark corner of her mind. If her plan fails or even if it works too well, she won't ever have to deal with it. Her private weakness has quieted, to little more than a whisper as well, easily ignored. For now all that can be put behind her.

She has no idea how long she's been....in-between, but she's back! Responding to Lankyn's call with the ease of their shared mental connection she straightens her shoulders, enjoying the feeling of muscle and bone. A deeper sense of existence takes shape within. She has a future to fight for, not just for herself but for all those she holds dear" Her family, her friends, even the random passerby deserves the chance to live out their lives. That's the whole point in the end really: to live out life, grab at the glorious times and find a way to get by during the painful ones. In the end the answer is pretty simple; life is all about the living, and Michael has no right to decide when it begins or ends.

((Timeline: Posted 12/03. Bel's time in-between grants insight into many faucets of the Angelic Story Arc. A few more details of the Angelic and its hierarchy are given. It demystifies some of the mystery as to what Corwyn's 'spell" did. It hints at some of the new found talents she's been blessed with. The time in-between allowed her to discover her potentials, and gain a modicum of control over them. It also foreshadowed what was coming" but that happened in another thread and was posted by Lankyn.))

Gatherings Part II

Belial is standing deep in the depths of the Bloods Stars End Space Port warehouse. Recently the "Rowan" had returned with a huge supply of high tech equipment and she is taking her time going over the newest stock. Some of the paraphernalia is beyond her ability to understand, she's never seen such advanced gadgets, but there are gems buried in the mass of alien toys: the light combat armor Jazz had discovered is skin tight and resilient, it allows a spectacular freedom of movement as well as an impenetrable shell capable of reflecting even the strongest of blaster charges. The armor reminds of her of her favorite fighting gear; a black cat suit that allows her to move quickly and unimpeded, while leaving nothing for an enemy to grab hold of. Yes, Bel is very pleased with Jazz's find!

But for Belial the true gold is the blasters the intrepid crew of the "Rowan' has purchased on their extraterrestrial journeys, they make her mouth water with anticipation. Their batteries, although tiny even in comparison to the ones found at Stars End, offer a longer life span and a lot more bang for the buck. She can easily get off sixty rounds per battery pack; her old blasters were limited 12 to 20 shots max. Of course, Belial takes two and plenty of the tiny battery packs, which disappear into one of the many intra-dimensional pockets that adorn her body armor. They don't even leave a telling bulge, nifty little feature that!

"Yo, Bel, so, what ya think, toots" Like the loot?" Finni takes a casual lean against a nearby crate, looking arrogant and overconfident as usual. From the look of him captaining a firefly class spaceship in the farthest reaches of space seems to agree.

"Love the new toys, Finni" You sure do look" Um?" a slight intentional pause, "Good. And don't you even try to take that the wrong way, Finni, I'm not even remotely hitting on you!"

"Yeah, like that's news." His trademark smirk is offered along with a nod towards the table laden with blasters of varying sizes and degrees of destruction. "Let me know which one's ya like best, cool. I'll pick up more."

"Hmm' Finni" Maybe you can help me with something?" her sweetest smile to her brother in Blood, which to those who know her radiates danger.

"Bel, I ain't stupid. Don't ya grin at me like that toots, unless yous thinking about spreading fer me."

"Finni"!" She frowns at the mere suggestion. "Fine, then I won't be sweet in my asking?"

"Great." His expression straight and sincere, he means what he's saying. "So' Whatcha want?" "Energy dispersal weapons. Got any?"

Finni blinks at Belial without a clue. "Huh?"

"Energy dispersal?"

"I heard ya the first time, toots." Finni interrupts. "What the hell ya need somethin" like that fer anyways?"

"Um?" It's Belial's turn to stare, "You do know about the assassins, right?"

"Ahh, Bel" We's always had them on us, we're the freaking Bloods."

"No, Finni, not the mortal ones." Belial shakes her head in exasperation.

"I know what she's talking about Finni." Jazz interjects as she rounds the corner of crates behind Belial.

Belial turns to smile to the girl. A new Blood member really, someone she's not very familiar with at all, but she's heard good things about, well nearly all good" after all" the girl had been sent to assassinate Lankyn. Thankfully she'd switched teams instead. "Hey, Jazz, how's life in the great wide expanse?"

"Smooth and shiny." Jazz replies returning Bel's smile with one of her own. "I see you found the body armor, I designed it myself and found a guy who could put it together for us."

"Yes, love the armor, Jazz! It's perfection!"

"Great, can we get past all the family reunion shit"! I'm still waiting here."

"Contrary to your beliefs Finni, the world does not evolve around you." Jazz retorts.

"Careful, toots. I'm your captain."

Jazz snorts. "Yeah, that's an incentive to leave you alone." But her tone hints otherwise.

"Man, if yous just gonna pick on me I'm outta here!" Finni snaps.

"Look, she wants an energy dispersal weapon to rid herself of the energy creatures attacking her and the others while we are out gallivanting in space, Finni. If you would just read the damn shipboard updates you'd know this already! Heck, Trillion knows all about it, and she's not even a Blood!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah well, I gots better things to do, I'm the freakin" captain remember"!" Finni defends looking sheepishly down at his feet.

"I'll see what we can find, Ms. Belial." Jazz ignores Finni and again smiles to Bel.

"Bel, or Belial, is fine Jazz. Drop the Ms., please" And Thanks."

"Anytime." Jazz grins obviously pleased by Belial's invitation of intimacy.

"Yeah, it's a freakin" conspiracy, yous wimins are gonna be the death of me yet!" Finni snarls just as his communicator bleeps at him. "Damn, gotta go see what?s up with the "Rowan". Trillion is refitting the weapons right now and only God knows what kinda havoc she's getting into. Later, Bel and don't fret, we'll find you? that thingamajig yous want."

"Later Finni. And thanks!" Belial waves to Finni as he turns to head off towards the "Rowan's" docking bay.

"Ms" I mean, Bel" You might want to try out one of these." Jazz snatches up a rifle-sized gun from the table strewn with weapons and tosses it to Belial. Bel easily catches the weapon, turning it about in her hands inspecting it. "It's lightweight and the aim on it is excellent. Ammo is small too, same batteries as the blasters you took a shine to there." Jazz gives a significant nod to the new "toys" already riding in Belial's holster.

"Hmm, thanks again Jazz, I'll try it out. Hey' You might want to talk with Maddy before you head back out." Belial looks up from the light rifle-styled blaster to Jazz. "I'm sure he has a list of stuff he'd like to lay his hands on?"

"Sure, will do." Now its Jazz's communicator that bleeps, she frowns eyeing the small window. "Great, gotta run mediate another lovers quarrel." A heavy, resigned sigh of someone used to such labor. "Nice seeing you, Bel, hope to see you again soon. Later!"

"Later, Jazz!"

"Ohhh!" And don't worry; I'll remind Finni about that gadget you want, we won't forget!" Jazz calls over her shoulder as she sprints off towards the docking bay.

Belial watches the girl depart, shaking her head with a smile. The whole space adventure does sound intriguing" Maybe when her current issue is resolved she'll take a ride with Finni and the gang on the "Rowan". But first' there are still things to do, places to go, and angels to find. She slings the rifle-styled blaster over her shoulder and in a blink is gone.