Chapter Nine:

Angelique had trouble looking at Mina after she and Dr. Jekyll had spoken while working on the formula's antidote. She almost felt guilty for something that wasn't her fault. She didn't do anything to betray Mina, but she felt she did, even though she kept herself in line and was a good girl for once. She still felt bad about it, though.

She also felt hideously guilty about what Hyde and Ana Pryde had done. She knew it wasn't her fault and that she had no control over it and that Dr. Jekyll couldn't be to blame either, but she still felt a sharp stab of guilt whenever she saw Mina. Especially when she saw Mina with Dr. Jekyll.

She was jealous. The problem was, she knew she was jealous of her friend and that she shouldn't be jealous. She had the man she loved just as Mina had hers. And yet, she couldn't help feel the jealousy rise in her heart whenever she saw them together. Angelique hated being jealous of her friend. She hated being jealous of her sister. She never realised that she could be jealous of the high and mighty FallenAngel. But when she saw Angela and Sawyer together, she felt the envy. She hated being jealous of anyone, really. She had no reason to be jealous of them. And yet, she was. She didn't understand it.

So, one night, while Dr. Jekyll had taken Mina to a revue, and Sawyer and Angela went for a walk in the moonlight, and Skinner and Nemo were in the library, reading, Angelique locked herself in her bedroom and cried. She hadn't transformed into Ana Pryde in weeks, but she could still feel her there, inside her. She laid on her bed, her face buried in her pillows and blankets and cried, saturating the fabrics with her salt tears.

Father, what's wrong with me? she prayed silently. Why do I feel this horrifying jealousy of my sister and my friend? Why can't I be happy in my situation? Why do I seem to need more than what I have? Please, help me, Father…

"Oh, poor FallenAngel," she heard Lucifer say behind the dressing screen. She sat up and saw him walk out from behind it. "Can't seem to find happiness while others around you are blissfully happy, all the while completely unaware your tortured soul is in anguish? All over a simple case of jealousy."

"Go away, Lucifer," she said, digging under her pillows for a handkerchief. "I'm in no mood for your treachery. Please, let me alone." She couldn't find a handkerchief, so she buried her face in the pillows again.

He sat on the edge of her bed and ran his hand gently up and down her back. "How's Ana doing, Angelique?" he asked her softly. "I haven't seen her about lately. What's she been up to?"

"None of your damned business," she muttered into the pillows. "You made me drink the formula. You've ruined my life once again."

"But you liked it the last few times I ruined your life," he said, leaning over her and hissing into her ear. "You loved being allowed to kill whenever you felt like it. You loved being able to enjoy the lustful desires of your Fallen heart. You loved it when I brought you and Moriarty together. You loved him. You loved his kiss, the feeling he gave you when he touched you. Admit it. The only reason you hate me for ruining your life this time is because you want him."

She looked up at the Devil. "What are you talking about?" she whispered.

"Your dear Dr. Henry Jekyll," he said, mocking her. "This time you actually want him. The last few times you two were together, you couldn't care less about his bed. The first time, you were using him to gain your ends. You didn't even sleep with him to do it, that's how much you didn't care about him. The second, you respected your sister's Guarded enough to let her have him. But, now…" He began to undo the lacing on the back of her dress. "Now, you know what it's like to have a monster live inside you, and how he feels to live the way he does, knowing that at any minute, that monster could erupt out of you and destroy everything you've worked for. Isn't that right?"

"Get out," she growled, sitting up quickly. "Get out of here. Now! I don't ever want to see you again!"

"You can't kick me out," Lucifer said, getting off the bed as she stood on it and nearly glowed with Fallen Power in her anger. "I'm the Devil. I own you! You can't deny that you want all three of them. You can't. You want them—Skinner, Sawyer, and Jekyll. Even though your dear doctor's dying of consumption and he won't tell anyone. Admit it, Angelique!"

"Get out of my house!" she screamed, pointing to the door. The Devil was lifted off his feet and he flew backwards through the door. The wood splintered and gave way to the force she sent the evil being through it with. He landed in the hall, covered in debris and dust.

He stood and glared at her as Skinner and Nemo came to see what had happened. "Mark my words, Fallen," he said, glaring at her. "You will pay for this! None of my servants will treat me in this way and get out of it unscathed!"

"Get out," she repeated. Then she looked like she was chocking. Her hands flew to the collar of her dress and tried to get it away from her throat. She lifted into the air as she struggled to breathe.

Unhand her, Son of Perdition!

The men, including the Devil, looked around for the source of the imposing voice. Gabriel appeared at the foot of Angelique's bed, his hand on his sword hilt. "Let her go," he said. "Or taste the wrath of the Almighty God."

"Well, are you pernickety," the Devil said, looking at the ceiling. "First, you kick her out of Heaven and into my service, and now you won't let me punish her for disobedience. What do you want with her, anyways?"

"Lucifer," Gabriel said, gathering the Devil's attention once again. "He has His plan for her. Let her go."

"Fine," the Devil said, twitching his eye. Angelique fell to her bed, bounced off and landed on the floor hard.

"Angelique!" Skinner said, running to her side and bringing her into his arms.

The Devil laughed at the scene. "Have your fun with her while you can, Invisible Man," he said. "For before long, you'll be joining me in Hell. She can't save you from everything." Then he was gone.

Nemo shook his head and sighed. "You Christians have very strange beliefs," he said, helping Skinner lift Angelique onto the bed and make her comfortable.

The Archangel walked over and placed his hand on her forehead. "She'll be all right, Mr. Skinner," he said. "He technically can't kill her."

"What does that mean?" Skinner asked.

"Have you ever heard of an Angel being killed?" Gabriel asked, snapping his fingers. Angelique's dress restored itself. "Of course, somehow, she Fell because she was killed. No one's certain if she Fell in battle or if she was murdered."

"I thought you just said—"

"An Angel can be killed by another Angel," the Archangel said. "But, only Archangels can kill without Falling themselves. And I don't believe anyone else Fell at the same time she did. So she must have been killed by another Archangel."

Skinner looked down into the calm face of Angelique. "What kind of Angel was she?" he asked.

"Has she never told you?" Gabriel asked, surprised. "She took such pleasure serving God in the position she held. She did her duties well and nearly perfectly. She nearly gained enough strength and Angelic Power to rival myself in rank." Skinner cleared his throat. "She was an Archangel. The fourth in line of succession."

"Who were before her?"

"In order, myself, Michael, then Raphael," Gabriel said, ticking off the names on his fingers. "She was one in a million, Angelique was. She took her duties quite seriously and inspired a lot of jealousy in the younger, less experienced Archangels, too, unfortunately." He brushed her hair from her face. "But she was a good girl. Still is, too. Only does what she is ordered to. Unfortunately, her orders come from the Devil himself... I must go. A Guardian is calling for help." He disappeared.

"Yes, you Christians have very interesting beliefs."

…