Getting away wasn't hard. Sam was helping Collene tend to Scarlet, so River didn't have to explain where she was going. Jean was walking with her outside of town.
"So why did Vera summon us?"
"There's stuff we have to know." River replied.
Their destination revealed itself as a teepee. Impala and Vera were within, arguing next to a fire.
"I knew we shouldn't have involved a Cherubim!" Impala shouted.
"You needed someone to cover Raziel's actions so Zachariah wouldn't notice! And she trusts me!"
"I don't!"
"We're here." River cut off their argument.
Vera and Impala turned as Jean and River entered.
"So. We owe you a tale." Impala stated.
"I just want some answers." River whispered. "Who was Raziel? Do you all know her?"
"Yes." Impala sighed. "Sit down. It's story time."
"You know about Lucifer's rebellion, right?" Vera asked.
"He rebelled against god and was cast into damnation." Jean stated.
"In Heaven it was a lot of politics. There were a lot of 'codes of behavior'. Only four angels had ever seen God-Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. No one was allowed to seek him out and ask questions. A major 'code'..." Vera exhaled, "Was that Angels were not to pair. They could become humans and then pair, but it was forbidden for Angels to. It was considered population control-like Heaven wasn't infinite."
"Nor were we expected to interact in anyway with humans."
"Hell, Lilith was the origin of 'Hell Hath no Fury like a woman scorned.'"
Vera took a swig of a flask and sighed.
"I was a higher rank of Angel, a Cherubim. Raziel was my friend, a Watcher who gave me insight to the world. Impala and Serenity were her friends, they didn't trust me." She began, casting a look at Impala.
"Isn't her name Impala?" Jean asked.
"After I met Daniel's brother I started having dreams of my past life, clearer since I met Rowena. I'm sure you have as well, Serenity. I went to see a shaman to help me fill in the gaps."
River recalled her conversation with Jean earlier. Jean's mouth dropped a little bit as Vera continued her story.
"Sammael...wasn't anything special. He was an Angel, a soldier of God. But he and Raziel had something special. I'd call them soulmates. When the war happened...Sammael left. He wanted to freely love her in the open. But Lucifer lost. And many of the angels who worked under him were sent into the soul cycle as humans, forced to live miserable lives. Raziel mourned his loss..."
"We all felt the pain for her." Impala whispered.
"So she had us make a promise. Every time he is reincarnated we watch over him somehow. Raziel would slip herself into a human form-like you Rowena-and I'd cover her butt." Vera exhaled. "I wanna think this will be the last time, but I doubt it."
River wanted to ask about the future, what happened then, why she wasn't with Sam, but she couldn't figure out how to word it.
"I should go." She finally stated and stood up.
"How do you plan to break it to him?" Impala asked. "Daniel still doesn't believe me."
"...because the cycle doesn't break for centuries."
"Hi."
Walker looked up from within his cell as River approached. The bowler hat sat on a desk.
"Why did you care if I saw?" She asked. He exhaled and looked up for a moment.
"I don't completely know. Maybe it's because you became friendly with me. Hell, I didn't even think about slicing you."
"It's true then."
"You saw me cutting up Scarlet."
"Just as your flower wanted."
His eyebrows shot up and he stood to face her.
"How did you know that?"
"I can read minds." River stated.
"...so you're the Angel they figured be around..."
"So I've been told."
River glanced at the desk and paused.
"I thought you sliced people with scalpels, posing as a doctor and all." She whispered.
"What of it?" Walker replied. River picked up the knife and pulled it from it's sheath.
"Then why did you need an anti-demon blade to hurt her?"
"God damn you're quick " Walker hissed. Unlike his future form, he couldn't block her. All we need is for her to figure out the wench is the witch that stole him from her before...
River dropped the knife with a gasp.
"Ruby."