Chapter 10
THE UNNAMED ANGEL
Iland on the outer platform of the Nerve Center, a spherical building attached to a tall, needle-like support column.
My reflection greets me in the dark, one-way glass, and I avert my eyes, slipping out my small knife.
Before I have time to draw blood, though, someone inside opens the sliding glass door.
Amezarak stands next to the doorway, bowing his head in a show of respect.
My fingers twirl the knife in idle occupation as I stride into the quiet room, the door closing soundlessly behind me, and I take my seat at the circular marble table.
All five of my Secretarii sit waiting.
“Proceed, Bat,” I say with the wave of my knife.
Batriel stands to speak in that unusually low timbre of his.
“This morning, an Israel-based patrol spotted a known Messenger escorting a young human with a ‘peculiar signature’ in her soul through the Tel Aviv airport. To remain undetected, our agents did not intervene and ended their mission early to report back. Subsequent patrols have been unable to reinstate surveillance of the target.”
I stop twirling the knife, slowly setting it down on the table. “Are they using veils?”
“We cannot say for certain, though this is an older archangel, made before the Punishment. The odds of him being well-versed in the skill are higher than the usual Speculatores.”
“Have your subordinates compose a report of everything we know about this Messenger. Figure out the identity of the girl, too, and do the same for her.” I pause. “Who was in that initial patrol? Lower angels?”
“Yes, Sir. Two junior agents, not considered nobles. Both have outstanding service records.”
And they have proven themselves to be more useful than some of our actual archangels. “Have them promoted a rank. And give them special recognition, something very public, to make sure they are well-recognized for their good work.”
“I will see to it.” He moves to retake his seat at the marble table. “If there are no further questions, this concludes my report.”
"Sir, if I may?" Amezarak asks, waiting for my permissive head nod before proceeding.
"The modern nation of Israel holds several critical sites of Armageddon, including those directly mentioned in the prophecy and those still unknown to man.
We should be able to use the airport's surveillance technology to determine which direction their car was last seen heading.
If they were driving East, then the obvious answer is Jerusalem.
But if they were going West, then, well.
.. The entrance to the Abyss isn't far. And if the human really does have a peculiar signature in her soul. .."
A fair observation. “It’s possible. Bat, get the statisticians to run the probability of this girl being the Key to the Abyss.”
Ana gasps, forgetting the etiquette of these formal meetings. “But that would be so ahead of schedule—”
“I’m aware,” I cut her off with a glare before turning my attention back to Batriel. “Which is why I want the probability thoroughly investigated by our team. If it’s true, then we need eyes inside the Abyss. Some of the best you can spare, Bat.”
“Understood,” he says with a curt nod, scribbling into the notebook before him. “As long as their trading pipeline remains open, their entrance has weaknesses. I will prepare Elara and Thalios to become a rotating intel team.”
My eyebrows pull together in concern. “You would put two of your oldest children in such a high-risk position? You know what will happen to them if they’re caught.”
“Yes.” He looks up from his paper, his shadowed face both stoic and proud. “If this human is truly the one who can open the Abyss, then they would gladly accept the risk. They’re the only ones I’m confident can remain undetected by the locusts.”
“Very well.” I dip my head, trusting his judgment. “Onto our next topic, then. The U.S. election is rapidly approaching. I need a full status update on our proposed mission’s risk analysis. Tamiel, you may proceed.”