They reached the cathedral a few minutes after the bell. The trip had been uneventful, other than Helena's paranoia. This was the perfect place for an ambush, if you didn't care about a couple of angels rushing into any fight that broke out. Anyone looking around for spiritual assassins would have their senses dulled by the two divine presences.

Fortunately the murderer thought differently. Helena knocked on the side door the note had indicated and waited. After a few moments the door opened revealing the flushed face of the priest who'd been assisting at the crime scene. Father Peter. "Ah." He looked repulsed that they had shown up. "You were expected," he managed to force out. He finished opening the door to a parlor room then stood back. It seemed they were allowed in, but they weren't welcome.

That was doubly true with the blessing. Helena could feel it against her skin, warning her off. She was a rival priestess, and she was not wanted here. But today she wasn't going to listen.

Helena clenched her teeth, closed her hands, and walked over the doorstep.

Pain washed over her. The harsh benediction hailed on her from above, and each second felt like a rain of arrows. She couldn't help but flinch as she took the second step. Behind her she heard Camila cursing softly in Portuguese, while Acedia's wings flapped loudly in a futile attempt to shield herself from the pain.

Fortunately after another step the pain faded to a dull throb and a mental weight. Behind her she heard her friends recovering as well. It was probably the worst for her. Helena knew just how much the consecration was weakening her. And she didn't like feeling weak.

"Guys really need to work on your greetings," Camila said with a shaky voice. "Like, this is sorta rude."

"What's rude is demons and other heretics insisting on imposing their demands on a servant of the Lord," Peter said with folded arms.

"No need for that Peter." Helena looked over to see another man had entered the parlor. "They are guests, even if they do not follow the Lord as we do. Insulting them would be petty, and beneath your station." He gave a polite bow to them. "I am Bishop Thomas. The angel Amaiel asked me to lead you to her."

Helena nodded. "Helena Aoede, the Curse Gunner." She always used her title for people she might have to kill someday. My friend Camila Barbosa, and my current patron, Acedia."

"Your grace," Camila nodded. Acedia didn't bother to recognize the man.

"We'd been informed," the Bishop said. "Please follow me. Amaiel's presence would cause a disturbance with the normal worshipers, so she's in the smaller chapel."

He turned and headed through a side door and Helena followed, Camila and Acedia right behind her and Peter taking the rear.

Helena was expecting the man to walk there in silence, but as they walked down the hall he looked back to Acedia. "There's a certain irony in you being here. Of all the sins yours is the most dangerous to people of faith."

Acedia looked up at him and shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not though."

"I wouldn't think a sin demon would have such humility," Thomas said.

"Humans have problems enough without demons," Acedia replied.

The bishop nodded slowly. "I suppose that is true. Thus why the church must help as many as possible."

"Uh, I hate to complain your grace, but it might be easier to get help if I didn't catch fire when I tried to get in," Camila said with more reverence than Helena had heard her use before. "I mean, I know I'm not the best Catholic, but it's really hard to seek God when I feel like I'll die again walking in the door."

"While your situation is... unique, it would be possible to request a priest come minister to you outside the chapel," the Bishop said. "After all, the presence of God is everywhere. Priests can go tend to the sick and dying, tending to those cursed is little different. So long as you have had first communion, the eucharist will be available to you."

"I suggest sticking to confessions though," Helena said. "Since that sort of blessing will knock you out for a month at least." She pointedly ignored the look the bishop gave her. She understood Camila's connection to her faith. Helena had long ago admitted her gods were little better. But she wasn't going to let some puffed up priest abuse that faith for his own ends.

Further awkwardness was halted when they reached a large double door. The bishop unlocked it. "Amaiel waits within."

"Thank you," Heena said. She didn't mean it but she would be polite. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

Light blazed within. As Helena had expected Amaiel hadn't fully dimmed her aura. Even the two humans had to squint to see through the glow from the angel. Acedia was hiding behind her wings again, while Camila looked frustrated and annoyed. Helena took some good cheer from her friend slowly learning why angels were terrible.

After a bit her eyes adjusted to the light, revealing more of Amaiel's form. Like most angels she was androgynous, the cut of her robes the only sign she was a woman. Her hair was shoulder length, and likely a red to match Acedia's. Her wings stretched longer than she was tall, and she had a naked sword at her hip. Helena wasn't sure how 'carrying a sword without a sheath' wasn't prideful, but apparently it didn't count if an angel did it.

"So are you going to turn that down, or are we going to have to talk with our backs to you," Helena snapped.

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"Do you think I wouldn't strike you if your back was turned witch?" Amaiel asked. Her voice echoed within the small chapel. Normal people probably found it imposing, but Helena had heard better. This was going to be very annoying.

"I think your killing intent would give me enough warning to teleport away before you drew your sword," Helena replied.

Amaiel chuckled. "Aye, you would be correct there. I suppose if we are to have a conversation I can acquiesce." The light faded, leaving Helena's eyes stinging, but clear. "Though I fear I do not know why we must speak. You have informed me of a heresy, to some merit, but I have no intention of working with you to root it out."

"We're up to two heresys now actually," Helena said. And she felt no guilt in using the term for this madness. "Apparently a group of satanists took this fake angel as a threat and are building their own fallen counterpart. By murdering people who correspond to the virtues."

A flash of anger passed through Amaiel's eyes. "Strange I have not sensed this travesty. But I see only truth in your words. I have two heresys to hunt then. For while watching the fallen slaughter each other would be just punishment, the lives of the innocent must be guarded." She looked down at Helena. "I doubt you simply wished to bring me this knowledge. Speak."

"I want information in return," Helena said. "I don't plan on working with you either, but we can each go places the other can't. If you tell me what you've learned I might be able to stop this."

"I am not a summoned creature to be bargained with," Amaiel's wings snapped open. "I am the sword of the Lord, and the only reason I have not struck you down is because the laws of the land forbid it!"

"So much for omnipotence," Acedia muttered, forcing Helena to stifle a laugh.

Amaiel looked shocked for a moment, then grinned. "Be glad the Lord wishes humanity to have free will, for otherwise you would have already lost this battle. All three of you owe your lives to his omnipotent mercy."

"Can we have the old angel back? I liked him better," Camila muttered before blushing at her own blasphemy.

Helena simply shook her head. "I actually like this one more. The directness is refreshing." She locked gazes with Amaiel. "And unlike Nezaiel you care enough to actually hunt for these murderers. But you won't break the law, and you're too proud to ask the police for help. Which means as much as we'd both love to fight each other, our time would be better spent offering aid."

The angel's disdain didn't change, and for a moment Helena thought she might actually get a fight, but after a moment Amaiel folded her wings. "It is not pride that keeps me from begging for assistance. And I have no interest in having heretics commit crimes for me. However, you do have access to the darker corners of the world. It is easier for sinners to confess to each other than to the righteous." The angel shook her head. "But I have no information for you. I have only begun my search, and the heretics are cunning as most heretics are."

"Really?" Helena didn't like that. Two days wasn't much for a human investigator, but an angel who was obsessed with justice was much harder to hide from. "The killer must be better than the average hedge mage." Or perhaps the angel wasn't looking as hard as she could.

Amaiel shrugged. "Heretics have long studied how to avoid the wrath of heaven. Not all witches are as arrogant as you."

"She's got you there," Camila fake whispered. Helena glared back at her friend. This was not the time.

The angel in a rare bit of mercy ignored the byplay. "I believe that concludes our meeting. Should you wish to offer me more aid, you know how to request an audience." Amaiel of course didn't even consider that she might need Helena's help.

And sadly that was that. Another dead end. Complete with a homicidal angel threatening her. "I don't suppose you'd consider a non-lethal duel just so I can get something out of this," Helena asked.

"No," Amaiel replied before vanishing into light.

Helena turned and shrugged. "I guess that's that."

Understandably no one looked particularly happy. Father Peter was verging on apoplectic. "You, you dare threaten an angel in the house of God!"

"It wasn't a threat, it was an offer," Helena said. "People keep challenging me but I haven't had a proper spar in over a month." She was getting really out of practice.

The priest apparently didn't see it that way. "You-!"

"Enough Father Peter. We should let our guests out," Bishop Thomas said. The man's smile was tight lipped but he managed it. "Please follow me."

The walk out of the cathedral was suspiciously quicker than the walk in had been, but Helena didn't question it. She wanted out, and it seemed that was the one thing all of them could agree on. When they reached the Parlor the Bishop opened the door before adding, "If you do learn anything please send word so we can pass it along."

"I will." She might not do it as soon as they would like, but that was their problem. With that settled she walked as fast as her pride would allow out of the church.

Simply stepping outside was like a massive weight leaving her soul. The dull ache that had been pressing in on her was gone completely. She heaved a great sigh of relief.

Camila groaned next to her as the jiang-shi woman stepped out. "Ai. Like, I didn't think it was possible to feel more stiff since I died."

"Can we go somewhere else?" Acedia muttered looking back at the cathedral. "I don't like it here."

Helena nodded and started towards the market. "The bells are going to start ringing again soon anyway."

"Wonderful," Camila hopped faster. "Maybe I should have annoyed you more so you started that fight. That probably would have kept them busy. Even if I shouldn't be enabling your bloodthirst."

"It's not bloodthirst," Helena replied. "No one was going to be hurt." Permanently. "Besides, I really am out of practice. I used to duel my friends all the time but now that we live in different realms..."

Camila grinned. "Should I be hurt that you don't ask me to duel?"

Helena chuckled weakly. "Sadly dueling you would be boring for both of us. As you're well aware, a fight between a magician and a jiang-shi involves the magician running away and shooting the jiang-shi until the jiang-shi dies or the mage gets kicked in the gut."

"Only have fuzzy memories of that, but I do remember you hitting me with a spear, which sucked," Camila admitted.

"I don't know if Ira would like you or hate you," Acedia said. "But you seem pretty bloodthirsty."

Helena just shrugged again. If you trained for combat enough, the training became fun. Either that or you quit. Helena had learned that from her tutors. But it was hard to explain. Instead she turned to Camila. "Speaking of training, I was thinking of letting you stretch your muscles. We may be in a real fight soon."

"Nice!" The smile didn't quite reach the jiang-shi woman's eyes though. "But unless they come to us again I don't know if we're gonna catch them soon."

"We didn't learn anything," Acedia added sullenly.

Helena grimaced and nodded. They were stuck, with nothing but a bunch of bodies. She was going to have to think of something. And fast.

For now though it was time to let Camila stretch her muscles. Who knows, maybe a break would help?