"Okay, what's so big that it can't wait?" I asked Sue as I leaned on the wall of her workspace. I've always envied these accounts people who got bigger desks, comfier seats a better window view than us IT guys.

"Stay away from her," Sue said without even looking at me.

"From who? Don't you think it's about time you told me everything?"

She swivelled her chair around and tossed a familiar-looking thing at me.

"Tell's hairpin?!" I said, my eyes locked to the ruby on the hairpin.

"I intercepted it last night. I think it was trying to find your mom, but couldn't find a route to Tartarus, so it ended up just circling above my house."

"The angel that Little Vicky mentioned... it was you, wasn't it?"

Sue nodded, probably knowing that there was no more point in hiding it. "Good thing I arrived just in time too. If I was any later, your son would've done irreparable damage to himself. That was one dangerous kid. Don't let him fight again. Next time, he might not be so lucky."

"What are you talking about? He told me that it was you who finished the werewolf."

"No, I didn't finish the werewolf. I forced her to leave, killing werewolves is not in my job description. But before I arrived, your son already had the werewolf beaten up without a chance of returning the blow. That boy... he has a potential that outshines both you and your mom put together. If he uses too much of his power, he could've destroyed this city on his own."

"I seriously don't get what you're saying. My Vicky beating up the werewolf? I don't believe you."

"Not exactly him, but his power that was doing the beating. I don't understand it myself. You should ask Lilith to seal up his power, at least until he's old enough to control it. I think he may be a Lili himself."

"I can't ask Mother. I'm forbidden from entering Yenne Velt and she won't listen to my voice."

"Aww, that sounds so sad. Why don't you ask your mom instead?"

"How would my mom know about this? It's Mother who did all the claiming."

"Oh, you will be surprised. Your mom was something like a legend among angels."

"My mom? A legend?"

"Your mom, at the height of her power approximately one hundred years ago, was one demon that even the angels who reside in Briah were unwilling to face one on one. Her presence in her lilin form in a confrontation often caused my side to withdraw without a fight. She loves fighting. And when she fights, she was one crazy, feral bitch."

"Don't talk about my mom like that. But I thought you didn't know her?" I said coldly.

"Okay, first of all, I didn't lie. As an angel who has lived since before Adam arrived on Earth, I know of many things. But I didn't know her personally. There was never any need for me to face her as my duties back then were quite different. Barbiel never sent me to deal with demons in the flesh, until now."

"Barbiel? That name sounds familiar."

"Her other name is Barachiel. She governs the month of October and big boss of the zodiac Scorpio. I was Mihael, an angel of the last days of Scorpio." Then she got quiet for a few seconds, before speaking in a soft, and shaky voice, "I understand that your mom made a deal with Barbiel at the moment of your birth."

"A deal?" I leaned a bit forward.

"However, I was not privy to the details and it was not my place to ask," she said with more composure.

"Who are you, Sue? Are you Sue, my best friend or Mihael, an angel, my enemy by default?"

"We don't have to be enemies, Patty. I have not had a need to strike at a single demon since I entered this body a year ago."

I was about to ask her how many demons she had struck when she continued, "And I'm pretty sure that Lilith didn't specifically tell you to fight every angel you see, am I right?"

"Mother never gave us such an order. She probably considers angels as beneath her concern. Mother fought three of your most powerful angels in the past and won. Your people are not a threat to Mother."

She chuckled. "Cute. It's amazing how much control she has over your kind. Hey, I have an awesome idea. Try saying 'Lilith' for me."

I looked sharply at her. "And why would I want to do that?"

"Oh, just humor me, would you?"

"Do you call your mother by her name? Oh wait, I forgot. You don't have a mother."

As soon as I finished, he smile disappeared to be replaced with a serious look. "Please, humor me. I'm trying to prove a point."

I raised an eyebrow at her odd request. "Oh, alright. I don't know what's up with you, but I'll say it, okay."

Her lips formed a hint of a smile now. "Go on ahead, Patty."

"Fine, I'm saying it," I said, while at the same time wanting to refuse her request."

"Patty, I'm waiting."

"Fine! Here it goes..." For some reason, the word won't form on my tongue.

"Don't make me wait too long, Patty."

"Quiet! Let me do this in peace."

She got quiet, but still looking intently at my face.

"Turn around! I can't do this while you're looking," I scolded.

She swivelled her chair around so that her back was to me.

"Li... Li... urgh... Lil... Li-il... Li-il-i..." I managed to let out before she turned around again and told me to stop.

She mocked. "You can't do it, can you?"

I didn't want to admit that she was right. It took me time just to gather my will to say it out loud but even then I was unable to say Mother's name properly.

"That is one of the many compulsions and restrictions she forced on you and your sisters. You're actually pretty good, to be able to attempt to say her name. Your sisters would've refused me the moment I requested it and mindlessly attacked me for 'insulting Mother'. The only lili that I know who was able to say Lilith's name in full was your mom, which was pretty impressive, considering that Lilith's conditioning is among the most powerful among demonkind..."

"Enough! Mother did no such thing! Stop dissing Mother!" I yelled at her face as I turned and left.

-----

"Who does she think she is?" I fumed as I zipped myself and went to the sink. I turned the tap and as the water poured into the basin, I paused and started to wonder. Why was I so sensitive just now? That wasn't enough reason to be so mad at Sue.

I splashed water on my face. Slowly, I felt my anger dissipate with every splash. With my eyes closed, I moved to grab at the wall-mounted toilet paper on my right. I pulled at the roll of toilet paper a few times, then used the length to wipe my wet face roughly. If mom saw me doing this, she would've screamed in horror. She always told me to wipe my face upwards gently. Meh! Mom and her wife-training schemes.

I opened my eyes and looked at the mirror. With a little 'eep!', I spontaneously jumped a step back.

For in the mirror was not my face, but Uriel's, in his grungy vest with the backdrop that seemed familiar. Then I remembered, it was the Hall of Records, only, looked at from a different angle. I recalled that long hallway and the entrance which lead to Yetzirah, the Realm of Elements.

"Are you alone?" he asked as he leaned forward a bit to look at my left and right. His voice was as clear as if he was standing in front of me, which may be true, in a way.

"Archangel Uriel! Why are you here?!"

"Technically, I'm not exactly 'here', as in 'there'."

"Archangel Uriel! Can't I even wash my face in peace?"

"Look, I don't like to do this, either. But I feel I must remind you of your obligation to return to Tartarus for two weeks at the turn of the season."

"I'm afraid I can't, Archangel Uriel. You see, I don't have my wings anymore," I said as I spread my arms as if to show him my nonexistent wings.

He frowned. "Is this your idea of a joke? I can see perfectly well the shape of your..." he leaned forward again, and I could see the mirror rippled at his face as if it was about to push through, "... oh! Hm, I see what you mean. That could be a problem."

"Sorry..." I said, making myself look as if I regretted it very much, though actually my heart was leaping with joy. I don't need to go to Tartarus anymore. Yay! With luck, he may even forget me altogether.

He chose that moment to shatter my joy. "But it's not a problem that can't be remedied. Raise your hand."

"Why?" I asked, feeling slightly depressed.

"Just do it, please."

"Not until you tell me why," I said as I crossed my arms.

"Are you always this difficult?" he snarled. When I didn't reply him, he acceded defeat and said, "I intended to give this to you when you're properly appointed as my new consort. But... since every angel in Briah and Assiah already know that you're the new 'Queen of Tartarus', I guess it doesn't matter anymore."

"You're speaking as if that was my fault!" I protested with a stomp of my feet.

"It is your fault. You shouldn't have let that pesky agent of the Thrones go that easily. Thanks to you, my mailbox kept flooding since Christmas. Now I hear I'm about to have a riot in my hands. You're the first of my consort who flaunt her new position within 24 hours of acceptance." He slapped his forehead, though no sound was heard.

"Hey, don't blame me. You're the one who tricked me."

"Oh, believe me. I have already regretted that decision."

"Why'd you chose me anyway?"

"I am under no obligation to explain my actions to you, daughter of Lilith," he growled, which sent a shiver up my spine.

"Hello..." I wave a hand in front of his face, "Do I look like anyone's daughter to you?"

"Am I supposed to care for your human appearance? Look at me, I look like a man, don't I?"

I nodded.

"Well, let me tell you the truth. Angels don't have gender. I only look like this to make my job easier."

"Am I supposed to care?" I taunted.

I saw his brows tick as he said, "You are lucky that angels don't get angry. Now RAISE YOUR HAND!"

"Okay! Sheesh! You sir, has a stick stuck up your ass," I said as I raised both my hands.

"No, not both hands. Just one," he said as his background slowly melted away until in the end, it appeared as if he was standing in the same washroom as I was. Then in a bright flash, my reflection appeared standing in front of him. I looked behind by reflex.

He wasn't there.

I looked back into the mirror and saw that in his right hand, is a scythe with a three foot-long handle.

Deathscythe.

Then he placed the handle on my palms and I immediately felt the weight of the scythe. I say 'weight' loosely, because despite the scythe looking like it was made of black metal, it was actually pretty light, as if it was a plastic toy.

I gripped the handle of the scythe and for that moment, it was like I was the scythe. I could smell death from miles away, see the different aura and spirits in the toilet and even see the date of my own death, which I must say, isn't very comforting.

"I hope you're not like those mortals who cringe at seeing their own deaths and go mad when they realize that they're about to die," Uriel said from behind me. Strange though, while I could see the date of my own death, his death date is represented by the symbol that I know as 'infinity'.

"How can you expect me to not be afraid of my own death when it's presented by my own eyes?" I protested while looking intently at his face in the mirror.

"It is understandble for you to be afraid. Persephone was afraid too when she was given the scythe. She attempted to run back to Mount Olympus through Taenarum on foot before Cerberus stopped her at the gates.

"Question!" I raised my left hand like a schoolboy.

"Please." he gestured with his right hand. He was still standing behind me.

"How is this going to help me get to Tartarus?"

He simply answered with, "Look at the mirror."

I looked at the mirror, then said, "Okay, I've looked."

He chuckled, which sounded cute, despite coming from a Mick Jagger clone. "Raise the scythe, then slash at the mirror," he said.

"Archangel Uriel! What the hell are you asking me to do?! Do you have any idea how much flak I'll get if Miss Rios found out I broke the mirror?"

"Relax, nothing's going to happen. The scythe is a spiritual weapon. Just slash at the mirror."

I knew shouldn't trust him, but for some reason, it felt like I had to. So with a little bit of trepidation, I raised the scythe's blade high in the air and slashed at the mirror with all my might. When I pulled back the scythe and opened my eyes, there was a smooth, clear line on the mirror's surface. It appeared like I had almost cut the mirror in two. That was also the time when I noticed that the scythe had turned into ice!

Great Mother! I'm so-so-so-so-so dead. Ms. Rios is going to disembowel me and feed my intestines to the dogs. Why the hell did I do what he told me in the first place?

*Sorry for the late posting. It's just that I found that I didn't have the time to type down the new chapters lately. Just got my hands on Devil May Cry 4 and a game controller :P The next chapter is almost done, I just need to type it down too.

*Any comments are very appreciated.