Stretching their arms, Puriel looked between the demons—their interest was piqued. They had no idea that the Knights built their headquarters around a Seal. Obvious, in retrospect, but the order could not always be called rational. Good to see it was something of a worthy opponent. 

What little offense they took to being used as cannon fodder was quickly superseded by excitement. Alone, it would have been nearly impossible to infiltrate the headquarters. But with allies, even so few, it would be another matter entirely. Agrid was a master tactician—even Puriel could acknowledge that—and while this other creature may not have her level of experience, he was certainly… eager. A good distraction, at least. Liable to kill a nephilim, but at least Agrid thought such things unimportant. If they could accomplish what she asked, they would have direct access to whatever nephilim hid within the Knights’ fortress… perhaps they could even convince their newfound allies to aid them in an abduction. Surely they would find pleasure in “corrupting” an angel. If they had to frame it like a sin, so be it. The angels had to know the truth of God. Not what the Knights told them.

[i]What [/i]was [i]that[/i]? Cherry’s thoughts wavered like the flames she'd been bathed in. Ah. You’d think she’d have gleaned some knowledge of the occult being an [i]occultist [/i]and all, but the chances only seemed slimmer as time went on. 

[i]Fire[/i], Puriel said absently, lingering in the possibilities Agrid’s deal presented. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

A mental sigh, loosening the jaw without touching the lungs. [i]I don’t know why I bother.[/i]

They stood and moved to a chair across from Agrid’s, hoping to spend the rest of the conversation at least at eye level. The body moved with certainty—an ember guided by the breeze. Energy swelled within them. What a gift! They itched to bend the body, see what power it now held… but no, this was not the time. Patience. Picking at the loose stitching of the armchair, they listened to the boy’s demands with disbelief. “Such confidence,” they said derisively. “What is your name, young one?”