Chapter 17

Iwondered how this parchment could have a drawing of Arina on it as she appeared now. She couldn't possibly be old enough to be the person from this very old document. She was mortal. She aged.

Granted, lately there had been a lot of other things that didn't make much sense.

Bella was still speaking, so overcome with enthusiasm that she hadn't even noticed that I'd grown rather quiet. She should have known better. I rarely shut up.

"This woman, whoever she is, must know something about the wand. It's not Thea. I've seen pictures of what she looks like."

I tapped the parchment. "Her name is Arina."

"You know her?" Bella said, surprised.

"She helped me out not so long ago."

"And this Arina woman knows Thea?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Arina isn't from this world," I told her. "Maybe her path once crossed with Thea's."

"We have to speak to her. She could lead us to Thea."

Bella looked hopeful. No, more than just hopeful. She was practically bursting with eagerness.

"Or maybe she doesn't know Thea," I said. "Maybe the page is showing us Arina because she is an expert in immortal artifacts. Her magic allows her to trace the history of any person's or any object's magic—basically, how it got where it is today. Maybe there are clues in the wand's magical history that will lead us to Thea. And Arina is just another step in our quest to find her."

"One way or the other, we need to speak to Arina," Bella said. "I need all the help I can get to find Thea's grimoire."

I sat down and pressed a button on the armrest to bring down the television. Then I dialed the Legion office in New Orleans.

Jace Angelblood answered my video call. New Orleans was the seat of his territory, the South Territory. Seeing his face again, after meeting his mother Alice, made me really appreciate how much he looked like her. Except for his severe, closely-cropped haircut. That was all his father's influence. I guessed that's why I'd always thought Jace looked like Colonel Fireswift.

"Pandora, a pleasure as always. I do hope you're not calling about the end of the world again. You really must eventually learn to clean up your own messes."

His words were so smooth, so angelic. And he'd even managed to take a dig at me during his greeting. Colonel Fireswift would have been so proud. Except, of course, Jace's jab was all in good fun because we were friends. Which his father most certainly did not approve of.

"Actually, I was calling about something a little less exciting. Sorry, Jace."

Jace and I had been part of the same Legion initiation class. Like all Legion brats, he'd joined in New York, the same city that boasted the world's only academy devoted to the education and training of the angels' children.

"Perhaps you've heard of my new Angels' Court."

"Oh, yes," Jace chuckled. "Your new project is creating quite a stir. Several angels have called me to complain about it."

"Oh, really. Which ones?" I asked, curious.

"You know I can't tell you that."

"Never mind." I gave my hand a breezy wave. "I bet I could figure it out. But why would those angels complain to you?"

"They probably hoped to gain my support," he said. "Because they think I'm just like my father."

I flashed him a grin. "If only they knew that we're friends."

"Let's keep that under wraps, Leda. I'd prefer not to go to war with any other territory commanders during my first year as an angel."

"All right, but you can't hide that you have a soul forever, Angelblood."

He snorted.

"Wait a minute." I bit my lip. "To what end did those angels hope to gain your support?"

"You really don't want to know."

"Sure I do," I told him. "I can't stand secrets. Come on, tell me."

"No."

"Tell me, or I'll set a herd of wild mountain goats loose in your office."

"I believe you." Jace sighed in defeat. "Some angels want to convince Nyx to brand you a rogue for ‘subversive behavior unbefitting of an angel and a holy representative of the gods'."

"Well, isn't that nice? Some more nicknames to add to my resume."

"Nyx will never do it. You're her favorite. She likes you even more than General Windstriker."

"Must be my way with angels," I said. "Besides, Nyx can't brand me a rogue for doing exactly what she told me to do."

"Which is what exactly?"

"To improve the Legion's image in the eyes of the human population so more of them want to join our ranks."

"Wow." He looked impressed. "The First Angel sure doesn't aim low."

"Of course not. She's an angel."

"Even for an angel, this task might be impossible," Jace warned me.

"Sure it's possible." I grinned at him. "But only because Nyx gave it to me."

"Nice to see all that angel modesty is rubbing off on you," he said drily.

"Like a potent perfume," I said with a smooth smile. "Say, Jace, I'm calling to let you know I'll soon be flying my rather large and obtrusive airship into your territory. I'm bringing the Angels' Court there."

"My father's territory is closer to you," he pointed out.

"Yes, it is, but I'm waiting for Colonel Fireswift to be back in his territory before I fly the Angels' Court there." I smiled as I imagined the look on Colonel Fireswift's face when he saw my ship coming his way.

"Be careful, Leda."

"Always."

Jace laughed like he thought I was crazy. "Ok, Leda, why the advance notice? I'd expect you to just show up and say ‘surprise!'."

"It's been brought to my attention that not all angels enjoy being surprised."

That was an understatement. In fact, angels hated anything outside their control, anything that could not be planned.

"I see you learned something from my father's course," Jace observed.

I grinned proudly. "Passed with flying colors. I'm a perfect angel now."

"I'm sure," he chuckled.

"There's something else."

"Ah." He shook his head slowly. "There it is."

"There what is?"

"The real reason you're coming to New Orleans—and why you called ahead."

"What, I can't stop by to see my old friend Jace and spread the Legion's benevolence and love to the people of his territory?"

"Not really. No. You always have a plan."

"Well, now that you mention it…"

"Spit it out, Leda," Jace sighed.

"There's someone in your territory that I need to speak to," I told him. "An expert of sorts."

"An expert on what?"

"Immortal artifacts."

"I wasn't aware there was an expert on immortal artifacts living in my territory." His eyes were alight with calculation.

"Right, and it would be best if you remained unaware of it."

"That will be difficult now, considering that you just told me, Leda."

"I told my friend Jace. Not the angel Lieutenant Colonel Angelblood."

He sighed. "I take it back, Leda. You haven't changed a bit."

I pressed my finger to my lips. "Shh. Don't tell Nyx, or she'll put me back in remedial angel lessons."

The truth was, though, I had learned something from Colonel Fireswift's training. I knew that I had to speak differently to different angels. For some, angel decorum had to be observed, but not with Jace. Jace was a pal. He'd been right there with me from day one of Legion training—first as rivals, then as reluctant colleagues, then finally as friends.

"Ok, I won't whisper a word to Angelblood," Jace agreed. "So who is this expert of undisclosed mysteries?"

"Her name is Arina, but the less you know, the better it is for you. I'll come and hold my Angels' Court over your city tomorrow. Issue a notice for petitions. I can't fly this airship all the way there without a reason, after all. I'll pay Arina a visit myself, after the Court has adjourned for the day."

"The First Angel wants you to stay put on that airship," Jace reminded me.

"Hey this is me, remember? The Angel of Chaos." I winked at him. "Somehow I'll find a way to go to Arina while remaining on board."