Kushiel tapped his foot impatiently. He and his inquisitors had found the Papilio estate empty of anyone but human staff. The inquisitors had questioned the staff, of course. What they'd gathered was that Michael Morningstar and Penemue Caelestis had brought Pava to Jehovah and Raphael for healing, Cruciata had allegedly prayed to God and the Light, both demons' bodies had transformed, Cruciata had been smuggled into Heaven, the pair had taken the vows and been given the names Cassandra and Iris, and Jehovah had given all that had been Betzalel Papilio's to Cassandra.
Kushiel didn't like this. Lord Betzalel Papilio had been the Duke of Jannah and the Foreign Minister of Heaven. All of his wealth and influence should not be trusted to a demonic infiltrator. Whenever he finally got around to replacing Jehovah with himself as God, Kushiel did NOT want to deal with hidden traitors!
Kushiel groaned when he spotted Cassandra and Iris finally returning. The two new angels were surrounded by an escort of guards. Jehovah clearly trusted the pair. The old fool! Well, he'd sing a different tune once the truth inevitably came out.
Cassandra and Iris nearly jumped out of their skin when they found their estate swarming with red-robed inquisitors. One with pale skin, raven hair growing down to his waist, a pair of black-feathered wings, a silver halo over his darkly handsome head, and silver runes stitched into his red robes approached them.
"Greetings," said the harsh-looking angel. "I am Lord Kushiel Moonwing, Grand Inquisitor of the Heavenly Inquisiton. You have kept me waiting." He glared at them.
"Don't take it personally!" Cassandra lamented. "We weren't expecting you!"
"No one expects the Heavenly Inquisition!" Iris laughed. Both Cassandra and Kushiel stared at her as if her halo had turned into a bicycle tire. "It's a reference to a human comedy show," she blushed.
"Never mind trivialities of human entertainments!" Kushiel barked. "I wish to know what your purpose in being here is! Bear in mind that if I should find you have LIED to me, I can inflict all the wrath of Heaven upon you both!"
The guards raised their spears. "Be careful how you speak to the Duchess of Jannah!" said one.
"The ancient laws say that the Inquisition is above any lord or lady and that we may defy even commands from God Himself in the event of a perceived emergency," Kushiel said coldly. "King Jehovah may wish to interfere in my work, but He knows He isn't allowed to by the very ruled that HE wrote. Besides, I'm just here to talk for now. Now answer the question, ladies."
"Iris came here to be healed," Cassandra answered. "The cure turned us both into angels, and we were brought here for protection."
"Protection from what?" Kushiel asked. "Don't keep anything from me. I will find out in the end... and I will remember what you did not divulge."
Cassandra gulped. "Protection from those in Hell who hate angels... and also from the legal system. I was accused of murdering my father Archduke Beelzebub, and Jehovah saved me from a lengthy trial that might have gone badly."
"Aha!" Kushiel grinned triumphantly. "So we have a schemer and a murderer in our midst! You are no angel, Cruciata Carrionfly!"
"Don't call me that!" Cassandra screamed. "It's not my name anymore! I'm a Papilio! I reject my father's rebellion against Heaven! Jehovah isn't what I was told He was!"
"Hold your unmannered tongue, spoiled brat!" Kushiel thundered. "You have all but confessed to the murder of your own father! You are a sinner, and I will prove it!"
Kushiel swooped out of the estate, followed by his inquisitors. He would soon prove that these demon bitches were no true angels. He secretly released a magical device from his sleeve as he walked away. It was invisible to all eyes but his own. If it could be seen, it would take the form of a crystal eye with a sapphire jewel studded in it. This device would allow Kushiel to both see and hear through it as it flew through the Papilio estate as if he were actually there. Even better, it could pass through walls as if they were made of water. The secrets of Cruciata and Pava would soon be Kushiel's!