"Sinking", continued

[jeriendhal]

New York, NY

There was some sweet irony in the fact that to go to Liberty Island now, you hand to pass through a metal detector manned by armed security guards, Zadkiel thought grimly. No doubt that put the owner of the Tether on edge. Good.

After the ferry ride, she spoke shortly to the Seneschal, and was passed through a small doorway, and allowed to walk up the stairs to what was probably the most private place on the island, the balcony of Liberty’s torch.

“Aren’t you afraid of some human seeing us?” she asked the short, red haired woman who waited for her there. They were in full view of Liberty’s crown, though it was in between elevator loads of tourists at the moment. It was the dead of winter on this portion of the Earth, and the wind blowing here at the torch chilled Zadkiel’s Vessel to the bone.

“If you of all angels can’t feel the protective wards around this place, you must be doing worse than your fellow Cherub,” Lilith answered, smiling slightly, as she leaned both elbows on the railing. “No one will see anything here that I don’t want them to see.”

Zadkiel’s face grew flushed with anger. “Don’t you dare joke about that!”

“My apologies then, Archangel Zadkiel,” she said, though she didn’t stop smiling. “Now, since you’re so rude enough to block my resonance, why don’t you tell me what you Need from me?”

The Cherub drew a breath to calm down. For the sake of Christopher and poor, mad Retzel, she had to remain focused. “I Need to meet with Andrealphus, to negotiate for Christopher’s release. I also Need you to courier the message, and to set up thing on neutral ground, on Earth or in the Marches, it doesn’t matter which.”

Lilith nodded, the smile dissapearing as she became all business. “Any particular parameters you wish to make known to him?”

“I want it small. Just him and me, plus an additional servitor each if he so wishes. And I wish it to happen as soon as possible.”

“That can be arranged.” Lilith held out her hand and Zadkiel took it, the geas band forming as a heavy brass bracelet on the archangel’s wrist. “I’ll see to things immediately.” The demon princess paused. “Care for a little information as well?”

Zadkiel frowned. “For what price?”

“An open exchange on either side, no geasa involved. I’ve got a few questions myself.”

“Done.”

The red haired woman nodded. “Here’s what I’m sure you’d like to know. Christopher is alive, but he’s in very bad shape. One of my girls in Andre’s employ got a glimpse of the poor kid while she was servicing a customer down in the dungeons. It’s as bad as you might expect, perhaps worse. Whatever Lust has been doing to him is making him go Dissonant.”

Oh, God. “Thank you, that is important to me. What would you like to know in turn?”

“Just what is going on upstairs in the Seraphim Council? From what little I’ve gathered, Larry has been dragging his wings in a most un-Malakite manner during this crisis. You’d almost think he didn’t want Christopher back.”

She closed her eyes in pain. “The Truth of the matter? I don’t really think he does. But the Seraphim Council was nearly unanimous in it’s desire to see Christopher returned, so he went along rather than provoke an open revolt.”

“Almost unanimous? Who voted against it?”

“That information will cost you,” Zadkiel said, zipping up her Kevlar lined parka to her chin. The wind coming across Hudson Bay seemed to grow a hair colder, though it was probably her imagination.

“One little tidbit more then,” Lilith said agreeably. “Druiel managed to get on Andre’s bad side somehow, despite the help he gave in betraying Christopher. Andre was sufficiently peeved to knock him about a little, and Saminga hasn’t seen fit to come to his servitor’s defense.”

“Interesting. Pity Andre didn’t soul kill the murderous little betrayer,” Zadkiel said coldly. “As for the Council’s vote, David voted against attempting to rescue Christopher, while Yves, Jean, and Gabriel abstained.”

“David voted against him?” Lilith actaully looked surprised. “I knew there was bad blood between them over the Hunts, but surely there’s more to it than that.”

“Perhaps there is, perhaps there isn’t, Lilith, but more than that I won’t say.” Zadkiel opened the door to the torch’s interior. “You will contact me when you received word from Andrealphus?”

“Of course. A pleasure doing business with you, Lady Zadkiel.”

“Thank you.” Zadkiel made to go, but then something made her turn about and ask, “Do you care, Lilith? Do you care whether Christopher lives or dies?”

The First Woman raised an eyebrow. “Honestly? I’ve never thought much about him. He’s one of the few Superiors who has never had dealings with me, and he’s certainly not hostile. So at least from the business perspective I haven’t much reason to care either way.”

“You should. Christopher cared about you. He spoke of the situation between you and your daughters often enough in our conversations.”

“Good things, one hopes.”

“Worried is more like it. He couldn’t understand how the First Woman could create life as you do, and then treat your offspring so callously.”

Lilith frowned in irritation. “All my daughters are given a choice when I create them. Whether they choose to be Free or a Servitor is up to them.”

“Hard to be Free, when the price is to wear nine shackles with your mother’s signature on them. That troubled… troubles… Christopher to no end.”

“Well, if you actually manage to get Christopher back, tell him to give me a ring, and we can discuss it,” Lilith said, her face returning to a more neutral expression. “I think by the time this is over he should have learned some important lessons when it comes to idealism, eh?”

Zadkiel frowned at her again, then retreated down the stairs.