At the instant the portal opened… and then closed, Angela was certain of one thing.
If she struck now, she could land the blow. For a heartbeat, her dagger twitched in her hand.
She stopped.
Angela stared at the empty space where the orange cat had vanished, jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
"Orange cat…" She muttered darkly. "If everything you said turns out to be a lie, I swear I will make you regret ever opening that mouth of yours."
Her grip tightened. "And if… if… I really am Odin's daughter…"
"Then I'll make you acknowledge me a hundred times over."
Silence answered her.
Anger still simmered, but it was no longer directionless.
She knew what to do next.
The first breakthrough. The most reliable and most dangerous source of truth.
Amenadiel.
As the eldest son and future successor, he would have access to secrets few others could touch.
More importantly, when Angela had been sent to Silver City, it was this eldest son who had been placed at her side, guiding and teaching her personally.
If no third party was present, then whatever he said would be the truth or as close to it as angels ever allowed.
Decision made, Angela moved quickly. She returned to the guest chambers and pushed open the door.
Nothing.
She circled the room once. Twice. Three times.
Even checked the pillars beyond the balcony.
No sign of him.
That was strange. Amenadiel was restrained and he rarely wandered without reason.
Did something happen?
Did he discover something and leave?
Her unease spiked.
She turned and rushed out and collided directly with someone entering.
Both figures tumbled.
Amenadiel lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling in blank confusion.
"…Who am I?" He muttered. "What just happened?"
"Oh! Brother, I'm sorry!" She hurriedly helped him up, steadying him.
After checking his eyes and seeing the daze fade, "Are you all right? Should I take you to the Asgardian treatment hall?"
It took a moment, but Amenadiel waved his hand weakly.
"I'm fine. Angels aren't as physically durable as Asgardians." He said with a faint smile, "But our recovery is still quite good."
Angela stilled.
That word… Asgardians.
Had she not already been shaken by Garfield's words, she might have ignored it.
Instead, it struck her like lightning.
The darkness inside her thoughts cracked open.
"Brother." She asked carefully, "do you know something?"
Amenadiel blinked. "About what?"
She hesitated.
He frowned slightly, then said calmly, "Do you mean your wandering around Asgard last night… or the fact that you're Odin's daughter?"
"…"
The world seemed to stop.
Angela's grip tightened on his shoulders. "…What did you just say?"
"Brother, what are you talking about?!" She shook him once, too hard.
Amenadiel's eyes spun again. He quickly raised a hand, divine power flaring just enough to steady himself.
"Angela—stop—if you keep shaking me, I really will faint. Or worse."
"…Sorry." She released him at once.
Amenadiel sat down heavily, rubbing his temples.
"The Asgardian royal family has terrifying physical resilience." He said after a pause.
"If angels had bodies like that, we wouldn't have been locked in stalemates against the forces of Hell for so long."
His voice softened. "Many of our brothers and sisters died guarding the gates."
Angela stood frozen.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream