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At the vampire's words, Jezreel looks up as if slapped. Her
color goes vaguely green, and she starts trembling with the effort
to blink back tears. Stunned she doesn't even quite realize that
in this case, the knowledge of the Truth has hit her far harder
than the filthy nature of the lie.
Kalamiel shakes her head. Even without the confirmation of
the Seraph, the lie was obvious on his face.
The young Seraph starts for the door, wanting to step outside
to collect herself before she falls apart in front of the prisoner -- and
all the other senior Angels, she reluctantly admits to herself, not
allowing herself even the slightest bit of self-deception.
Turning to Michnelion, Jezreel says only, "He's lying, sir,"
before she steps out the door into the hallway. Closing the door
behind her, Jezreel leans against the wall and slides down it into a
sitting position before hunching over and letting the tears come.
The angel of Flowers kneels beside the Seraph and puts her
arms around her shoulders and gently rocks her. "There, there. I
know it hurts, seeing something like that. There's no shame in
feeling it."
Jezreel gives Kalamiel a weak smile. Embarrassed to be making such a
scene when anyone else can see her, she rubs the tears out of her eyes with
the back of her hand. "I'm sorry," she says softly, flushing a bit. "I
know I shouldn't let it bother me... I should have expected it really,
but..." She shrugs apologetically and wipes her wet hand on her jeans...
Her ragged breathing shows you that she hasn't quite got her emotions
under control yet. She is still fighting not to cry.
When Detective Ross and the vampire step out into the hallway, Jezreel
stands and straightens herself, pulling herself to her full
height. Standing tall, she addresses the vampire in the most commanding
tone she can muster. "Mr. Henderson," she says, with all the might and
authority of one the Seraphim, for once truly feeling herself to be one of
the Most Holy rather than an inexperienced child. "A moment of your time."
Jezreel locks her gaze on Mr. Henderson's eyes and says, "If you see Cozbi
again, give him a message for me." To be sure that she has the vampire's
full attention, she transfers one point of Essence to him without waiting
for him to either agree to or protest her command.
"Tell Cozbi that he cannot have Damien Morris. Tell him that his daughter
will not allow it." Jezreel pauses just a moment here to let that sink
in. Then she adds, "That is the Truth."
,p>
"Uh . . ." says the vampire, a bit stunned. "Damien Morris . . . got it, I'll tell Cozbi if I see him again.
[Jezreel's resonance: yes, he believes himself to be speaking truth, WHY? Well, he feels crappy about lying to you, he feels bad for you, and he is too scared of you Angels to say no . . .]
Still meeting his eyes, Jezreel simply says, "Thank you," as though she is
sure he will do her this favor...
As Detective Ross leads the undead down the hall, the vampire's head turns to catch a last glimpse of the child angel before he himself turns a corner down the hall, and vanishes from sight.
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