"She doesn't need to be escorted." Jack's voice issued through clenched teeth. He glared at the pair of Venators who had moved into flanking positions beside Schuyler. "We can take her home."
"Really?" Forsyth raised an eyebrow and stared at Jack. Behind them, the room grew silent as the committee held its breath, wary of the impending confrontation between the two.
"Yes really." Jack stepped forward and stared down the older man. "Or are you insinuating that you do not trust us to handle her?" Schuyler took a mini step forward but the Venator's hands caught her shoulders and arrested her movement midstep. A light gasp rippled around the room and Mimi looked across at her brother. Jack's hands were now clenched into fists and the knuckles were white, a sure sign of his building rage. If Jack hit Forsyth, there would be no going back.
You really need a keeper She sent to him as she lightly stepped between the two men and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Jack calmed as her fingers pressed against him, feeling reassured by the nearness of her presence. Taking the subtle hint, he stepped back, allowing Mimi to take the lead. With a soft smile, Mimi removed her hand from Jack's shoulders and clasped his hand, readying herself for what was to come. Linked with her twin, she stared at Forsyth allowing all her calm arrogance to shine from her eyes.
"I don't think we need to get into a pissing contest gentlemen." She announced clearly and distinctly. "We will take charge of Van Alen."
Sky heard the words and shook her head, why was Mimi fighting to take charge of her? It was clear that the blonde girl had no interest in Sky's welfare but here she was, standing before Forsyth and insisting that Schuyler went with them. She craned her head, staring at the scene before her. Mimi's fingers were linked with Jack's and he heart sank once more as she remembered what had happened earlier. Sky didn't have long to muse on heartbreak as Forsyth stepped forward, clearly angered by Mimi's step up to her brother's defence.
"On what authority?" Forsyth replied, his eyes snapping to Mimi with a telltale flush of anger colouring his cheeks. The senator was not used to people flouting his authority. For one long moment, he thought about ordering the Venators to clap Abaddon and Azrael in irons as well, but he knew that such an action would not be well received. Briefly he cursed the decisions that led Charles to birth the twin angels of the Apocolypse. Abaddon and Azrael were always a thorn in his side.
"On the authority vested upon me by the one who rules above." Mimi snapped back, her patience finally exhausted. "I stood at the left hand of the Almighty with my twin and 'we' outrank you. Do not force me to remind you of where you stand." Her words echoed across the room, their tones ancient and timeless.
Sky watched the interchange with growing unease. As Mimi stepped into the fray, she could almost feel the power crackling from the blonde girl. It buzzed across her skin and raised the hairs on her flesh. As Mimi spoke, the room collectively held its breath and the Venators' fingers dug painfully into her shoulders as they tensed to either side of her. If it came to a fight, Sky wondered how she would fare.
Forsyth stared at the two who stood before him, his mouth working soundlessly as he tried to process what had just occurred. He could feel the expectation of the crowd and tried once again to regain his composure. It was hard to argue against her, he knew that she was right. Azrael and Abaddon were some of the Almighty's highest Angels and they did outrank him. Even though they had never pressed their rank before now, he knew in his heart that they were right and that fact rankled more than any other order he had been given.
"We do not follow the old lines of power anymore Azrael." He said finally, attempting to inject some of his usual arrogant pomposity into his words. The twin angels had to know that times had changed. Paradise and the old rules were far away, even Michael had embraced the new world, it was inconceivable that he could be pushed aside by rules the committee had not lived by for centuries.
"No.. we follow the words of the Regis." She took a breath and stepped forward. "Who is Michael, pure of heart, the sword of the Almighty. After him we follow Gabriel, the Uncorrupted who was beloved of the Almighty and beyond that." She stepped closer, straightening her posture and allowing her words to carry over the crowd. "You follow us." A ripple of muttering broke through the ranks of the room and Forsyth broke into a sweat, feeling the will of the crowd shift. It was true, they followed the chain of command that had existed in heaven. Lawrence had only become Regis because these two had been too young. Forsyth was on dangerous ground, his appointment as Regis in Waiting was tenuous and he knew.
"But you followed the Morning Star." Forsyth babbled, trying once again to compete with the resonant tones of absolute authority that was issuing from Mimi's mouth.
"And once again I must remind you that; So. Did. You." She spaced out the words distinctly, making sure that everyone caught their meaning. "Yes we took a while to rejoin Michael, but we all followed Lucifer. We may be the Almighty's 'dark' angels but we are as banished as you."
Sky finally found her voice, feeling the pressure and tension racket up as Mimi and Forsyth exchanged words. "I'll go with them, I don't mind."
"You shouldn't have to go with them." Mimi replied, not taking her eyes from Forsyth. "We are adequate guards and convieniently enough, Venators in our own right. My brother is correct, we are capable of handling your.." She hesitated on the words and then continued. "house arrest."
"She's not under arrest." Forsyth blustered losing control of the situation as he struggled to deal with the two he saw before him.
"Then you should have no problem in letting her come with us." Jack chimed in. He had relaxed slightly, his hands now hung loosely at his sides and he was stifling a grin. Mimi had effectively undermined Forsyth without letting it come to a fight. He had no choice but to let them take Schuyler now.
Forsyth stared at the pair of them and then out across the crowd. "I called this conclave." He stammered out, trying to retrieve some measure of control from the room. "I am in charge of the committee."
"Only because we gave you leave to do so." Jack utterred softly, but loud enough that his voice carried to every ear on the floor below them. "Lawrence is dead and we have no Regis you are only in this position by virtue of having your memories intact." Leaning forward, he whispered into Forsyth's ear. "We can call a White vote and install a new Regis if you wish but you have to be very sure that you will be the one to win."
Forsyth swallowed and stepped back, knowing he had lost the argument. He turned to face the committee and his words rang out across the room. "Azrael and Abaddon will take charge of the Van Alen girl." He nodded curtly to the pair of them and hurried from the stage. Jack and Mimi breathed a long sigh of relief and turned towards Schuyler.
"You can get your hands off her now." Jack's voice snapped at the Venators and Sky felt the heavy hands leave her shoulders and she flexed her arms, relieved at last to be free. "And we'd better get back home." Jack and Mimi left the stage and headed down the central aisle towards the exit. On either side of them, their fellow Blue Bloods watched their progress, awe and apprehension on each face. Sky walked in their wake, stunned by the power she had felt. In no time at all and followed at every step by whispers, they had reached the elevator, Oliver bringing up the rear in awed silence as they walked into the metal box. The door clanged shut and the tension eased, Jack pushed the button and leant back against the wall with his eyes closed. Sky looked at those around her
"Mimi.. " Sky looked at the blonde girl and plunged ahead. "I'd like to say thanks for sticking up for me."
"I didn't do it for you." Mimi responded without even looking at her. "I did it for Jack." She stared at her then and Sky was shocked at the barely concealed hostility in the other girl's gaze. "And the fact that Forsyth was an arrogant fool, refusing to see the truth. If it had been any other circumstance, you would be left to the wolves understand." Schuyler nodded dumbly and Oliver clasped her hand reassuringly. For the rest of the trip back to the Force Mansion, the group were silent.