Chronicles Of A Fallen Angel-Chapter 59: Revelations

"That depends on what you are and what you're doing here. Celstials are... complicated. Some join willingly, become assets. Others refuse and get eliminated as potential threats. There's not really a middle ground."

"Great."

"But here's the thing – if you're smart, you can use this." Marcus stubbed out his cigarette. "The Covenant isn't monolithic. They have factions, competing interests, internal politics. If you play it right, you could potentially negotiate a deal that keeps you alive and autonomous."

"What kind of deal?"

"Information. Service. Specific jobs they can't or won't do themselves. In exchange, they leave you alone to do whatever it is you're doing here." He looked at me meaningfully. "And they stop investigating you quite so thoroughly."

It was an option. Not a great one, but better than being hunted indefinitely.

"What do you get out of helping me?" I asked. "You keep giving me information, warning me about threats. What's in it for you?"

Marcus was quiet for a moment, his expression distant. "I told you before – I was like you once. Powerful, confident, thought I could handle anything. Then I made enemies of people I shouldn't have, and I've spent a century running. I don't want to see someone else make the same mistakes."

"That's it? Altruism?"

"That, and I'm bored. Immortality is tedious when you spend it hiding. Helping you is the most interesting thing I've done in decades." He smiled. "Plus, if you succeed in whatever you're planning, it'll shake up the power structure in this city. And I do love watching established powers squirm."

Fair enough.

"Tell me about these investigators," I said. "What am I dealing with?"

"Three of them. The leader is a woman named Catherine Morse – human, but enhanced with angelic blessings. She's been with the Covenant for forty years, and she's very good at what she does. Patient, observant, doesn't make assumptions."

"And the others?"

"Alexander Chen – former demon, made a deal with the Covenant to avoid Hell. He's their muscle and their expert on infernal matters. If you have any demonic connections or contracts, he'll find them."

"I don't."

"Good. The third is Hector Sokolov – He's a witch, specializes in tracking magic and reading power signatures. He's the one who'll be analyzing the energy you left behind in that vault."

Three investigators. All experienced. All focused on finding me.

"How do I know you're not working with them?" I asked. "This could all be a setup to get me to reveal myself."

"You don't. But if I was working with them, I'd have just told them where to find you. The Jackals' safehouse isn't exactly a secret to people with the right connections." He pulled out another cigarette. "I'm helping you because I choose to. You can trust that or not – your decision."

I weighed his words. Marcus had helped me before with no obvious benefit to himself. And everything he'd told me so far had proven accurate.

"Assuming I believe you," I said, "what's my play here?"

"Option one: Run. Leave the city, establish yourself somewhere else, hope they don't follow."

"Not an option. I have unfinished business here."

"I figured. Option two: Go to ground. Minimize your supernatural activity, don't use your powers, try to wait them out."

"How long would that take?"

"Months, maybe longer. The Covenant is patient." He saw my expression. "Also not viable, I'm guessing. Which brings us to option three."

"Which is?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"You let them find you. On your terms. You arrange a meeting, demonstrate that you're not a threat, and negotiate a deal that gets them off your back."

"And if they decide I am a threat?"

"Then you fight, and you probably die. But at least you'll go down swinging." Marcus lit his second cigarette. "Look, I know it's not a great choice. But those are your realistic options. Run, hide, or engage."

I thought about it. Running meant abandoning everything I'd built – my position with the Jackals, my progress with Selene, the fragments I'd collected. Hiding meant stagnation, sitting still while the Covenant closed in. Neither was acceptable.

Which left engaging.

"How would I arrange a meeting?" I asked.

"I can pass a message through my contacts. Set up a neutral ground meeting, just you and Catherine Morse.

She's reasonable – if you can convince her you're not planning to start an apocalypse or overthrow Heaven, she'll at least listen."

"And if I can't convince her?"

"Then you'll find out very quickly why the Covenant has survived for two thousand years." Marcus exhaled smoke. "But I've seen how you operate. You're smart, adaptable, good at reading people. Use those skills. Make her see you as an asset rather than a threat."

It wasn't a perfect plan. But it was better than waiting for them to kick down the safehouse door.

"Set up the meeting," I said. "But give me a few days to prepare."

"How many?"

"Three. I need to handle some other business first."

Marcus nodded. "I'll arrange it. But Cain? Don't underestimate Catherine. She's caught things far older and more powerful than you. The only reason you have a chance is because you're willing to negotiate rather than fight."

"Noted."

We sat in silence for a moment, the cemetery quiet around us. Then Marcus spoke again, his tone more casual.

"How's your work with the Vampire queen?"

I looked at him sharply. "What do you know about that?"

"I know you completed a job for her – retrieving a ring from Mercier, which is what led to the vault incident." He smiled. "Walls have ears, especially in supernatural spaces."

"It's complicated."

"It always is with Selene. She's brilliant, powerful, and emotionally closed off after five centuries of surviving through manipulation and control." He glanced at me. "A difficult boss to have, no?"

I didn't answer, which was answer enough.

"Word of advice?" Marcus said. "Don't play her. She's too smart for that. Whatever you want from her – power, protection, information – be honest about it. She'll respect that more than any game you try to run."

"And if what I want is her?" I said quicker than I could stop myself.

"Then you're braver than I thought." He stubbed out his cigarette. "Selene hasn't let anyone truly close in centuries. If you manage to break through those walls, you'll either have the most powerful ally in the city or you'll have made an enemy who'll make your Covenant problems look simple."

"I'll keep that in mind."