When Jael was finally able to gain admission to the cathedral, night had settled in over New York long since, such that those who worked on normal sleep cycles had already turned in for the night. Fortunately, Jael had no need for such frequent sleep. She walked down the familiar aisle and found Gabriel sitting under the pulpit. He stood and took some steps toward her. "I apologize for having held you off for so long," he stated. "I have had a long conversation with Dantel."

"It's fine." Jael folded her arms. "And what did Dantel say?"

"He gave us something to work with. A few points the demons have been considering using as their main portals. There are six in total, but I've further narrowed it down to those that are more likely and less likely. I will position my teams accordingly."

"And what exactly does that mean for me?"

Patiently, Gabriel moved his hands in a gesture that created the image of a sphere. A point on it sparked briefly as he referred to it. "I consider New Orleans to be the most likely danger point. It is well and densely populated, and the demons would be able to pass through the city without attracting much notice. However, California's lower points also carry risk for something of the same reasons, as do the Netherlands. Dantel also mentioned the Mariana Trench, Antarctica, and the Dead Sea, but I think those are less likely. I plan to cover all of them in any case."

Jael just looked at him.

"You will be moving to New Orleans. You have been my eyes and ears for millennia, possibly the best I have. If the demons do start to enter the mortal realm there, I have no doubt that you will notice it, just as you noticed the others."

She smiled for a moment, such a genuine smile, and accompanied by a similarly genuine blush, that she turned her head away for a moment. When she looked up again, Gabriel's expression was solemn. She remembered what had brought her there in the first place. "No can do, Gabriel. I'm needed in Hell."

Gabriel frowned. "What for?"

"Satan's preparing his army. My troops need training, and there isn't much time."

A brief expression crossed Gabriel's face, and Jael realized with a start that she had referred to her troops in a passive form. Gabriel did not miss the opportunity to point it out. "They don't particularly need you to be there. Your inferiors are better suited to train them. You are a supervisor."

"Whatever. Satan expects me to be there."

"And I expect you to be in New Orleans."

"You're going to blow my cover, your cover, or both."

"Consider it my problem."

"But it involves me directly."

A sound like a warning growl rumbled low in his throat, barely perceptibly. "I will create a pretext."

"That's pretty much what Satan said."

"I'm sure he did." Gabriel's grey eyes darkened; they were becoming less a calm silver and more a growing tempest. "You seem to have forgotten, Jael, that while you are a lieutenant in Satan's army, you are a colonel in mine."

Jael took a gulp of air and a step back. In this state of irritation, she found the archangel dangerously sexy, but with emphasis on the dangerous. "I'm starting to see why you gave me that position."

Gabriel started to say something, but bit the comment back, almost visibly. "Good. You may take tonight to make any arrangements you require. Tomorrow morning, you will be in New Orleans."

"Right. Copy that."

"You said there was little time for the troops to prepare. Specifics?"

"Satan expects everyone to be ready in six weeks."

Gabriel considered that bit of news for a moment, and then suddenly smiled. Gabriel had a nice smile. Jael liked his smiles. But there was something behind this particular smile that she found disturbing. Haunting.

"What?" Jael asked.

"The winter. He's waiting to strike in the winter and take me out before I grow strong enough." He tossed his head. "Get to New Orleans, watch for demons, and, if you see any, look for their point of entrance. Do not confront any demons unless you must. Just watch them until I tell you otherwise."

"Fine. Okay. But what happened to watching Azarel?"

"Azarel seems to be doing fine. Besides, I didn't say you couldn't keep in touch with him." Gabriel shrugged. "I would be surprised if you didn't."

"Why is that?"

Gabriel shrugged again. "He's clearly sweet on you."

"Well, then, it's very one-sided."

"I had hoped not."

"Why?" Jael studied Gabriel's expression. "Oh. You thought me liking him would get me off your case."

"That would be logical."

"It would be, yes. But these things are never logical." Jael smiled sweetly. "Once you wrap your pretty head around that, Gabriel, you'll understand me much better."

"I understand you perfectly."

"Do you, Gabriel?" In a moment of fearlessness, she took a step closer to him, and another. A third step brought her close enough that their bodies nearly touched. "Do you really?"

He looked down at her. The look was not one of condescension, as Jael had expected, but neither was it one of any sort of love or lust or longing. It was... well, difficult for her to read. She thought she saw a drop of amusement in his eyes, but otherwise the only word she had for it was "inscrutable."

His eyes had reverted to a midtone, a cloudy but unthreatening grey. His breath had a warmth to it, much as a sun's rays might. "Be in New Orleans tomorrow."

"Yes." That breath touched her lips. It was almost a kiss.

"Good. Is there anything else, Colonel?"

She was beginning to feel dizzy. "No."

"Thank you. Good night, Jael."

"Good night." She forced herself to take a step back. He watched her as she turned and left the cathedral. She could feel that gaze upon her even as the doors shut behind her.