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quietly.
    ‘Oh, I understand very well,’ he replies. ‘ The greatest good for the greatest number , right? They hammered that one home in sociology one year. We humans are … what, just one rung above the animals? But when Luc takes out his vengeance on all of us because you slipped through his fingers, just remember what you sacrificed, Mercy, because it will all be your doing. Having more than a little personal experience of sacrifice, I’m guessing you won’t want that on your conscience. It’s a coward’s way out. And you’re no coward ,’ he spits. ‘Or do I have that wrong?’
    Every word hits me like a blow, and I’m hardly surprised when we are rocked by another blast wave of heat and energy that knocks us both off our feet.
    Sprawled where I am on the ground, I only have enough time to raise my head before the Archangel Nuriel steps out of a vortex that seems to have opened upon the stairs just above us.
    She’s so beautiful.
    Her long, dark, wavy hair snakes out around her shoulders as if she’s a living Medusa. Her dark eyes are wide and unseeing, and she seems made of lightning; so bright in outline I can barely discern her form, the sleeveless garment she wears. She’s weaponless, and there’s an expression on her face that looks almost … vulnerable. All of the joy I’ve always associated with her, is missing.
    Ryan’s face is tilted up towards her, enraptured, and I know the same look is upon my face.
    ‘ Soror ,’ Nuriel pleads. ‘ Salva me. ’
    Sister , she’s saying. Save me .
    Though I kneel up and reach out to her, she does not meet my eyes as she drifts, weightless, above the stone. And I realise that this is a vision of some kind. She’s a projection, she’s not really here. Luc showed me that such a thing could be possible.
    I rise and approach the vision cautiously, passing my fingers through the edges of Nuriel’s constantly shifting, fraying outline. I feel nothing. She could be a hologram.
    ‘ Festina ,’ the vision whispers, ‘ ne delear ut K’el deletus est. ’ Come quickly. Or I will be destroyed, as K’el was destroyed.
    I close my eyes briefly in renewed horror at the mention of K’el’s name.
    ‘What is she saying?’ Ryan says, getting up cautiously.
    But I’m torn by the memory of Nuriel siding with Michael, with all the others, against me. And I do not reply.
    ‘ Salva me, soror. ’ Nuriel’s voice is eerie and emotionless. ‘ Salva me .’
    Then there’s a jump-cut moment — like a break in transmission — where I imagine for a moment that Nuriel’s outline wavers, rippling outwards. Then she winks out of being, leaving Ryan and me circling the space between us warily.
    ‘You could hear her,’ I say bluntly. ‘See her.’
    Ryan nods, still puzzled. ‘But she could have been speaking backwards. What did she say?’
    ‘She was speaking in Latin. She wants me to save her.’
    Ryan’s face is, instantly, transparent with hope. ‘So you’ll stay long enough to free her?’
    ‘It’s a trap, Ryan,’ I say flatly, and his face falls. ‘The last time I “saw” Nuriel, Luc was chasing her down, above the waters of Lake Como. Luc’s got her, I heard him say it. This vision is an elaborate kind of bait. Some measure of coercion was used. Torture.’
    ‘But she’s a friend of yours, right?’ Ryan’s voice is almost pleading. ‘And she’s in trouble?’
    ‘Yes,’ I say tightly, realising where this is heading.
    Ryan challenges me with his eyes. ‘So do it — if not for me, then for her. Stick it to Luc one last time. Defy him. I know you want to. If you’re not going to hang around to defend us, at least leave us someone who can.’
    I’m stung by his words. ‘It doesn’t change the fact that it’s a set-up! You don’t “get” what we are, what we’re about. We’re not in it for you . Anyway, Luc’s not going to just let me walk in and take her. Even if I did decide to help her, I forbid you from going anywhere with me, so