As it turned out, Jael had to remain on the mortal plane anyway. When she requested entrance to Gabriel's cathedral, a separate and secret plane that Gabriel controlled carefully and firmly, she found her request denied. She did not take offense to that; it happened every now and then, when Gabriel had another guest who was not meant to see her or possibly vice versa, or when Gabriel was too busy elsewhere to speak with her unless it was a pressing emergency.

Jael weighed whether telling him about Satan's plan was a pressing emergency, but decided it was not. She would try again in a few hours. Until then, she could hang out with Azarel and his mortals or take on any Guide-related matters that might present themselves, despite her time off.

She was right on all counts. A visitor had requested an audience before Jael had, and Gabriel had gone to attend to that. It was the sort of visit Gabriel had not expected, and, when in the course of discussion he received Jael's request, he did decline it. There was no reason for Dantel to become aware of Jael's affiliation with Gabriel.

Gabriel had found a minor angel to send to Dantel and ask him some questions, but, after a few questions had been put to him, Dantel had decided instead to speak with Gabriel directly. They met not in Gabriel's cathedral, which was too private a place for Gabriel to allow an unknown like Dantel, but the angel seemed fine with that, as he preferred to meet in the Library. Since the Library was also a very private place, albeit one controlled by Dantel, Gabriel had agreed to the setting.

The Library of All Knowledge looked like a vast depository of books. In fact, it bore at least one copy of every book or record ever written, and then some; instructions written by angels for each other on how to solve problems and defeat specific enemies, on how to manage places like Purgatory and the Breach, and the histories behind such places; and manuals ascribed from their Father Himself. Those books were prized, in that Being's absence, but Dantel had restricted access to them for very specific reasons, ones which he had never quite explained.

There were steps and steps and steps, curving upwards with books lining the shelves and lining each level and even supporting the staircase itself, books on shelves that stretched up toward a bright, domed ceiling, made of some substance - possibly angelwork - that allowed light in but was completely closed. Gabriel had only visited the Library a few times in the past several eons, and it had certainly grown since the last time he had laid eyes on it. "You keep your Library well, Dantel," he commented as he made his way up one of those staircases, as Dantel strode down the same one. They met in the middle.

"Thank you, honored Gabriel," Dantel answered with a small bow. "I appreciate your taking time to visit and speak with me."

"Of course," Gabriel said with a small smile, and Dantel gestured to some chairs, set around small square desks much as mortal libraries might exhibit.

"Please do have a seat. When Carabel came to me with her questions, I thought, considering their nature, that it might be best to speak with you in person, and in confidence." He pulled out a chair and sat on it, as did Gabriel. "I mean no offense toward the lovely Carabel, but the fewer parties involved in any matter, the safer that matter is."

Gabriel nodded. "Since Carabel must have already introduced the subject to you, perhaps we should get straight to it. The Host are concerned about these portals opening between the Breach and the mortal plane."

"As they should be." Dantel nodded, his wings bobbing slightly in additional affirmation. Those wings were white, but also possessed a unique cream-like sheen; he was considered an angel, but had not been created as one, and the recognition was more of a courtesy in acknowledgement of excellent service in the past. There were a very few like him, but all were assigned to specific posts as befit their learning and craft, and, unlike higher-ranked angels, they could not change the colors of their wings.

At Dantel's comment, however, Gabriel tilted his head. "You imply that you know more of the matter than we do."

"That is correct. It is part of my duties, after all. Not directly, but it was impossible for me not to note in the regular passing of my work. The demons in the Breach are collating records of the most vulnerable places on Earth, and have been testing each for viability."

"Have they chosen one for their primary entrance? So far, the holes they've made have been too small for any but the lowest of demons."

"If they have chosen one," replied Dantel, "I have not noticed it yet. I do know that they have narrowed their options down to six. I have not written then down; neither should you, if I may suggest so. But I can tell you each one, and their reasoning, and perhaps you will draw useful conclusions from my words."

Gabriel nodded. "That is acceptable," the archangel acknowledged.

Dantel also nodded, then began to tick each of his fingers up to six as he recited the list. "The Mariana Trench. They have already tested Challenger Deep and found it quite suitable but for one factor, which I'll reach shortly. Antarctica, specifically Byrd Glacier, with the same result and the same reasoning. The Dead Sea, but that appears to be low priority due to the connection many mortals make between it and religion. California, in general, but particularly several low-lying areas which they have also tested. Louisiana, specifically New Orleans. The Netherlands, particularly the coast."

"Those are all low-lying areas." Gabriel frowned. "But they vary widely in every other respect. Some are remote, some are fairly populated; some are very deep, and some are comparatively shallow."

"So I noted," Dantel said. "But I am not familiar enough with demons and their methodology to guess which might be their final choice, or whether they may only choose one."

"They must choose only one," Gabriel mused. "They don't have the resources to monitor more than one, especially if they're taking into account that we may discover them. My question is, are they looking to cause a disturbance, or would they rather slip in without being noticed? For in the latter case, they should go with Challenger Deep or the Glacier; for the former, New Orleans or the Netherlands."

"Quite so," Dantel said, his words slower than they had been before, as though thoughts were occurring to him just then, "but there are different ways to go unnoticed. The mortals keep careful watch over just about every square meter of their plane. Sudden movement in Antarctica or the Pacific may raise suspicion among them, and by association, among us. It might better serve their purposes to take on humanoid forms, such as they can, and slowly infiltrate a populated area."

Gabriel leaned back in his chair. He did tend to underestimate the mortals and their defensive paranoia at times. "You make a very valid point."

"I have my moments." Dantel chuckled. "I hope I have been of some assistance to you."

"You have been invaluable," Gabriel assured him, genuinely. "But I do have another question for you. Are you aware that anyone is helping the demons?"

"They don't need help." Dantel shook his head. "They have been working on this for some time. We are catching wind of it only now because they had been tepid toward the plan and slow to test it. That need not mean they are working alone, however."

"You think they are working in league with someone."

"It is possible. There is certainly no shortage of creatures for them to align with. Many of the Titans still seek revenge, as do the Jotunn, the Watchers, and many of the old forgotten gods who wish to reassert their will over mankind. You know of them all, of course; you've spent your existence battling them. If I may, it might be worthwhile to post angels to watch such enemies."

"And, lest we forget," Gabriel said dryly, "there's always our old friend, my fallen brother himself."

Dantel nodded again. "There is he. I have no word on any unusual developments on his part. Still, such an alliance would fail to surprise me."

Gabriel ran a hand over his face and through his hair. "It would not surprise me either."