Chapter 21: New Addition

Just outside the Senate, Evelyn waited on a bench, poised and calm. She felt as if the world was in her hands. Things were moving forward as planned, and as fortune would have it, Vega's leaders would be welcoming her into their bosom in mere moments.

She glanced over at her companion and sighed. The archangel in disguise looked poised as well, but Evelyn knew Uriel's behavior. She was pretending to be unaffected by the current state of affairs. As if their plans weren't finally coming together.

"You could be more excited, my love," Evelyn whispered, knowing fully that Uriel could hear her clearly. "You look as if you are restraining yourself."

Uriel didn't react at first, staring at the Senate doors. Inside, the senators were still debating on the status of Arika in their community. When she did turn, she had a mild expression on her face, as if she were trying for serene, but missing a step.

"I've told you once before that dealing with my family is much more than a flirtation, Evelyn," Uriel said, in a hushed tone.

"Do not call me that in public," Evelyn hissed.

"It seems as if you don't understand what is going on," Uriel responded, gazing at Evelyn with a look of restrained emotion. "My brother is ruthless. Both brothers can be."

"You seem to underestimate me, my love," Evelyn smiled at her and touched her blonde tresses.

Uriel shook her head. "You over estimate your ability to convince."

Evelyn's smile faded. "You're angered because I have taken matters into my own hands. I've told you before that I will always serve Helena, even if it comes at odds to your own agenda."

Uriel sighed, resigned, and turned back to watch the doors with her expression once again feigning serenity. "And so it will be."

Evelyn smiled again, patting Uriel's hand. "It will work as it should. Just as this will."

~~*D*~~

"This is for the best of Vega!" David exclaimed, his face flushed with ire.

The Senate roared again in upheaval.

"But if she joins-"

"-her interests are not our interests-"

"-we need the support, we need allies-"

The voices were dizzying and David knew that eventually they'd see to reason. It was just taking far too long. And they couldn't afford the wasted time.

"Listen! QUIET!" David yelled, trying to get their attention once more. He stood in the middle of the Senate floor and slowly rotated, noticing the heated discussions. Some yelled at him and others at each other. The Senate had become unhinged after finding three of their own strung up and hung out to rot for all of Vega to see. David's stomach had been in a constant state of turmoil since he witnessed Graywell's dead stare. His desire to drink every morning would soon be problematic if he couldn't get a handle on himself.

He glanced up at the Lady of the City and knew that she was under duress as much as he was. She sat upright, poised with regality. Unfortunately, the stress was plain on her face, as she kept silent during the volleying. Surely, she was choosing the right time to put everyone in their place. It was something he admired about Claire. Her tenacity had allowed her to grow into her leadership role, and he underestimated her ruthlessness time and time again. For some reason, it still surprised him when she made shrewd decisions. She was a formidable opponent, and would be a greater ally when push came to shove.

And yet, he had his own plans that needed to come to fruition. And Arika was always a means to an end.

"WE DO NOT HAVE TIME!" David bellowed.

The room began to simmer down, jolted out of their individual discussions, startled by his loudness.

"THERE IS NO TIME! We need to finish with these ridiculous…arguments! We need Helena! We need this for Vega! We need to bind ourselves to any allies we can muster. Do you think that the deaths of our Senators was all for show? Hmm?" David paused, turning to take in everyone. "Do you think it wasn't a warning? The signs read 'End of Days'! What do you think is coming our way?"

"I'm not convinced it was Gabriel's doing!" Senator Drake yelled out. "Perhaps it was one of our own Houses vying for control! Who's to say it was not you, David? House Wheele?"

David froze for a brief second at the ludicrous accusation. "I would do no such thing! Kill our own?"

Claire decided then to speak up. "It is actually within your capabilities, Senator Wheele."

David turned to look at her. He wasn't sure what she was trying to accomplish, but the knowing looking on her face reminded him of all that they both knew and kept to themselves. "It would not be in the best interest of Vega to slaughter some of our strongest leaders during this time."

"And, of course, you are always for the 'best interest of Vega,' right David?" Claire responded, her gaze not veering from him.

He steeled against her unsaid words and opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by her change of tone.

Standing from her seat, she took in the room, eyes moving from David to the rest of the scared leaders. "Senators, can we really take the chance at this point? What if it was Gabriel's acolytes who have made their move against us? What if we lose more of you?"

David closed his mouth. Was she siding with him? Momentarily confused by her tactic, he stayed silent and he watched the others.

Senator Drake spat out, "Do you want to take the chance that it was House Wheele who put us here in the first place?"

"Let's look at the facts, everyone. The threat of angels is constant, but this has escalated it. We no longer have an archangel to help us fight our battles and give us guidance. Gabriel is out there with an army of not only angels, but also humans who will do anything for him. And we can't tell the difference. Our walls have failed us. We need to be airborne. We need help." Claire sighed. "As much as it pains me, we need alliances. Don't you agree?"

David's mouth hung open again, momentarily, and then he came to his senses. He was still on display and needed to wipe the shocked look off of his face. Perhaps fear finally drove Claire to his side. Maybe they would actually succeed in protecting this city. He attempted to keep the smugness that was threatening to take over his expression and nodded to Claire. "Arika as part of the Senate would strengthen our defenses. She would be an important asset."

"A true alliance, David?" Claire asked, eyebrow raised. "Let us be clear. Voting for her immediate addition to the Senate is on a temporary basis and only for a defined wartime scenario. She will have limited decision-making abilities and limited voting power."

David nodded once. Anything to get the process going. They needed Helena's air support, even if it wasn't what he had hoped it would be. The rumors were probably not true, but Arika had assured him once before that she could bring more than just air support to Vega. Helena had an elite guard that rivaled the Archangel Corps. That alone would be a boon. "In this wartime scenario, would we allow an ally to join the Senate?"

Claire stood poised and strong as the leader that her father would have wanted her to be. David had wondered what would happen to House Riesen once Claire's father disappeared. Although often at odds with her, he was strangely proud of the Lady of the City. He nodded once to Claire and relinquished the floor to her, moving back to his own seat.

Claire's voice echoed through the room. "Let us put it to a vote."