Chapter 29: Rendezvous

Walking through the hallways during the dead of night was something Evelyn had always relished. There was an odd calm in the air and the knowledge that others were slumbering was comforting. As if she had moment to herself, to her own thoughts, to be herself without any witnesses. And although it took a moment to dismiss her guards, she was uninterrupted in her walk towards the Stratosphere.

Enforcing a curfew and using her own wardens had been key to taking over Vega. She smiled to herself as she walked. Evelyn had seen Consul Whele's face, knowing exactly when it dawned on him that he had given her the keys to the settlement. She knew that taking over had been part of the plan all along. It had been a relatively fast progression without his realization until it was too late. Vega was now hers. All in good time.

Just outside the door to the chamber that formerly belonged to Archangel Michael, she paused and took a moment to compose herself. And then she opened the door and walked inside.

The room looked as it had when Michael was still occupying it. The long sheer curtains were fluttering with the light breeze from the open full-length windows. Her maroon dress flowed behind her as she made her way around the circular dais to the other side, where two ornate chairs sat just in front of an open oversized window.

A bottle of wine and a filled wine glass occupied the decorative wooden table between the chairs. Someone sat in one of the chairs, casually sipping on a glass of his own.

With her usual grace, she sauntered over to the other chair and sat down. Her regal poise was apparent as she gazed at the occupant across from her. She carefully picked up the other glass and placed it to her lips, not wanting to be the one to start the night's exchange.

"It seems you have been quite busy," Gabriel's voice rumbled with amusement. He took another sip and then smiled at her. He was at ease with his leg crossed over the other, lazing back and keenly taking her in.

She took a sip of the wine and then carefully placed it back on the table. "Your plan has been going well."

"It appears so, yes."

She nodded. "And Uriel is on her way to Helena as promised."

He grinned at her. "Yes. I know."

She kept his gaze, succeeding in feigning calm. Over the years, Evelyn had perfected the guise of strength, never allowing others to see her true perhaps slightly more nervous state. Taking on the Arika personae had been oddly liberating. Meeting with Gabriel was a gamble and one that she was banking on. If she were in his good graces, she would be able to salvage what was left of those she was in charge of. As some of his acolytes had informed her, he would keep them safe when the true reckoning was upon them. Not that she was a true believer, but she knew that archangels were fickle. Uriel had made that abundantly clear.

He stared at her in that unnerving way of his and drank the rest of his wine. "How does the Chosen One fair?" he asked, pouring himself another glass.

She took a moment and picked up her glass. "He is secured as requested."

He eyed her and took another gulp of wine as she did the same. The silence between them wasn't exactly comfortable. He probed, "And the lovely Noma? Also in a cage?"

"Yes. Both are secured and being watched by my elite wardens."

"Your wardens are properly…motivated?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.

Amused, she smiled at him. "They are my most trusted wardens. Believe me, you would be impressed by how Helena trains them. Sense of self is no longer an option."

He laughed. "Spoken like a true queen."

She paused, wondering when Uriel had told him that she was not Arika. She gracefully stood up, finishing the glass of wine and placing it on the small table. It appeared as if she was leaving and Gabriel's expression changed from amusement to disappointment.

But then she moved closer to him, taking the glass out of his hand and placing it next to hers. He smiled up at her, an eyebrow lifted in expectation.

In two fluid movements, she straddled the archangel and took his face into both of her hands, pausing with her lips hovering just over his. She searched his surprised eyes for any malicious change in energy as he sat frozen for a second.

"My, my. Uriel was right. You are full of surprises."

Evelyn's lips curved up into a sly smile. "You have no idea."

Gabriel recovered quickly by encircling her small waist and pulling her closer as she pressed her lips to his. Evelyn knew it was a risk that she was taking, thwarting Uriel's own feelings for a chance to secure her position with the blonde archangel's brother. But Evelyn needed to make sure that she would survive whatever chaos was coming. She was a survivor, first and foremost.

And the chaos was coming. She was sure of it.