"Not only are you Seir, the boss of the Death Walkers," Briony started, sitting in Simeon's car. "But you're also Seir, an actual demon prince of Hell?"
"That is correct, Miss Abel," he muttered, pulling into her driveway. He shut off the car and turned to her. "Though, be careful with the usage of my actual name."
She unbuckled, then looked at him with a tilt of her head. "Why?"
"When you know a demon's true name, you can summon them anywhere, me especially so," he explained as he reached across the center console and fixed her hair that was mussed up from all the excitement. His fingers lingered by her temple before he pulled them back. "And knowing all that you do now, you can surely understand why it would be annoying to constantly be interrupted and summoned."
She blushed and looked down. "Right."
"That's not to say you can't use it," he added after a moment of silence, watching her. "If you ever need my help, or you find yourself in a bind, I'm here for you, Miss Abel."
Briony nodded. He thought she would leave immediately, but she remained seated in his passenger seat. "Hey, Mr. Marquis," she looked up at him. "Why are angels like that?"
He took on an irritated look, glancing out the window. "I can't answer that. It's the same as asking why any of us are who we are. Because we were made this way? Because fate determined it? God? Who knows?"
"You said before that they act on their own sense of justice," she brought up an earlier statement instead.
"Yes. The only opinion that matters is their own. The only execution orders to be followed are the ones made by their hands."
"Why would a god allow that to happen?"
"God doesn't care about his own creations," Simeon said bitterly, his jaw clenched again. "As long as there's souls to fill Hell and keep the rest of us too busy to cause mayhem, he's happy."
Simeon saw her flinch out of his peripheral vision and mentally cursed himself. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I forget about the fragility of humans from time to time. Did I upset you?"
She shook her head. "No, not really. I'm not religious at all; I don't practice anything. I just… I think I'm in shock."
"You're probably right."
"So, Zadkiel… eating my brother… does that mean Jared went to Hell?" She looked at him again, those eyes of hers round and pleading.
"Children are usually the exception, though your brother was particularly... troubled," he said, keeping his tone light. He cleared his throat. "I'm not sure why Zadkiel took him, but he should be going to Heaven for a chance to redeem himself since he was so young."
"Do you think I'll ever see him again?" She asked.
Simeon nodded. "Hopefully, someday, just not soon," another dark look flashed on his face before settling. "Oh, that reminds me…"
He pulled her bracelet out of his pocket and gestured to her hand. "May I?" After her confirmation, he gently clasped the bracelet around her wrist. His touch lingered long after he pulled his hand away. "Don't take that off," he warned. "It's a protective item. As long as you're wearing it, angels can't touch you."
Briony stared at the bracelet for a few moments. "How do you know that?"
"Because it used to be mine, once upon a lifetime ago. Or several," he shrugged, seemingly disinterested in the topic. It was almost frustrating how composed he always seemed to be.
"Yours? How did my grandma come to possess it?"
"Who knows," he repeated his earlier words. "Perhaps it was lost to time and managed to find its way into her hands."
"Mm," Briony didn't ponder it longer than that. "Well, thanks for the ride, Mr. Marquis."
"Certainly. You can take several days off to… deal with the aftermath of losing your brother, Miss Abel."
"You know… I think I'll do just that. Thanks again," Briony gave him a smile that screamed I'm faking it, then she exited his vehicle and went inside.