Melly dipped her fingers in the font and signed herself as her eyes adjusted to the dimness after the bright sunshine outside.  She moved down the center aisle of the nave.  Both choirs were already present in the chancel, occupying either side of the transept with the altar between them.  She noted absently, as she genuflected before taking a seat near the front that they were singing Faure’s 'In Paradisum', softly, ‘In paradisum deducant te Angeli...’

The mass Clem had chosen, she knew, was the chanted Missa pro Defunctis, a medieval mass.  All the monastic offices for the day would be the Office of the Dead, also chanted in their full solemnity. 

The choir moved on to the Sabat Mater as she watched the servers finish preparing the high altar.  This mass would not be in the vernacular…it would be a Tridentine mass, following the pre Vatican II rite, in Latin, translations of which were already in the pews.  She suspected Richard might have approved.  The funeral of king, she’d always thought, the pomp and circumstance, the formality, the rigid ceremonial, wasn’t really for him, but for his heir, a first solemn and official pronouncement by the church to the realm that one reign had ended and another was beginning, a pronouncement whose consummation was the coronation.

The Sabat Mater ended and they moved onto Schubert’s Ave Maria.  As the strains of that died away all the bells off the monastery began ringing, tolling a death knell for a king, three and a pause, three and a pause with the changes between…once for each year of his life.  The end of it was the signal to begin the mass.  Melly rose and signed herself as Clem began the introit, followed by the first blessing of the remains with holy water and incense then moving smoothly into the penitential rite followed by the chanting of the Dies Irae.  She moved through it automatically, standing to kneeling to sitting and back again, all through the long and complex ritual, all accompanied by the Gregorian chant of the choir, each side alternating for the kyrie and the psalmody with its antiphon, and singing together for the rest while the smell of incense filled the church.

After communion, Clem incensed and blessed the remains again with holy water, while the servers and the thurifer took their places, the thurifer in the lead incensing the way, followed by the child bearing the crucifix and then the pall bearers…Adrian, Trevor, Jake, T’Beth, Josh and Gideon carried Richard, while the others followed...flanked by the children bearing candles while the choir chanted psalm 130, one of the penitential psalms of David.  De profundis clamavi ad te Domine …out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord. O Lord hear my cry….

After that is was simpler, the ritual less for the prayers at the graveside, the final blessings with incense and holy water, and all the last things of this world.  She dropped a handful of dry earth on Lily’s grave and said a prayer for her and Richard and for those who’d miss them.  She said a prayer for herself.

Later, she knew, the brothers would close the graves and place candles at the foot of each and flowers at the head.  The monastics would remember them at every mass and office for the next month, their names resting on the altar, praying for the repose of their souls, repeating every day the prayer Faure set to music… 

‘In paradisum deducant te Angeli’…”May angels lead you into Paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest.”

The Council arrived together for the funeral. They popped in on the drive just outside the main entrance to the church. It was a beautiful day, partly cloudy with a pleasant breeze.

A brother, acting as usher, hurried up to them the moment they climbed the stairs to the wide open double doors. There was organ music playing, and the church was near to full. They were led up the aisle to reserved seating. Margaret was in the lead, followed closely by Maya. Marc was third. The three were the only permanent members, what with Bella missing. The current elected members filled in the seats after the permanent members were seated.

Marc, aware of at least one shock someone on the council might have to deal with, was watching Maya and Margaret closely. He was rewarded by seeing Margaret freeze when her eyes came to rest on Doni, who was looking lovely where she sat next to Stephen.

Then the ceremony began and there wasn't much room for discussion. Marc did catch a glimpse of Dinah, looking quite broken hearted as she contemplated her lost friend Liliana.

The congregation filed out behind the pall bearers in two lines, exiting from the front.  Marc paired with Stephen and Doni next to Maya, then Liam with Margaret.  Doni smiled at Maya and whispered, "Nice service.  Clem did well."

Maya, looking straight ahead, hissed, "Yes."

Marc flicked a glance at Stephen. "Everything else all right?"

"So far.  Cal'd like a chat, but I'm sure you expected that," Stephen replied, his lips twitching.  Sobering, he added, "We're waiting for the next call out."

"Is Trevor ready with security and a monitor?"

Stephen nodded. "We're ready.  Or so he says.  Cassidy's on it and Baz has located another ten monitors for us.  He's also sending Tobie and Chance who were with him on Malta.  They'll be taking over for Paul for now."  Stephen blinked in the sunlight as they exited the church.  He could see the choir moving into position at the cemetery.

There were quite a few people gathered there already, ones that couldn't fit into the church, or perhaps preferred to skip the most formal of the religious rites. Marc frowned when he saw Paul fall into step just off to his left, Stephen on his right.

"I don't suppose Laz wants Paul back?" Marc asked. It sounded almost like a plea.

Stephen stifled a grin.  "You want to explain to Dinah?"

Marc rolled his eyes, Paul grinned.

"Think of it as incentive to resolve all this in a hurry," Stephen advised,  "so you can move back into your new house."  They were nearing the cemetery.  Stephen saw the Reverend was positioned so that he'd be just behind them during the final rites.  "The council meeting is as soon as you get back?"

"Yes."

The press, who'd been barred from the service were approaching; the cameramen becoming almost frantic as they realized the woman behind Stephen was Doni.

"Stephen! Stephen!" one called out, "your thoughts on the attacks on the Ops Teams?"

Another called out, "Doni, what happened? We all thought..."

Laz's security team moved in, forcing them back.  Doni leaned forward and hissed, "No interviews, you hear me?  None!" to Stephen.

Marc, hearing her, grinned.

Stephen nodded as they began to slide into position around Richard's open grave.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Reverend stiffen and come to attention, then forgot it as the service began.  Twenty minutes later it was over.  He dropped a handful of dirt on Richard's grave and sent a hope to wherever he was that he was finally and forever at peace. 

Brushing his hands together, he looked over to Lily's grave, where, as he expected, he saw Dinah and Doni, both in tears; both, for once, in harmony.  He was just about to join them when the Reverend grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Who," the Reverend demanded, fortunately in a loud whisper rather an shout, "are they?"

Stephen looked to where he was gesturing.  "Members of the Council of the Awakened."

The Reverend narrowed his eyes and looked like he wanted to hiss curses.  He leaned close and began whispering fiercely.  Stephen, when he realized what he was hearing, locked every muscle under conscious control, his face set in impassivity.

"Show me," he demanded as the Reverend paused for breath.  The probe he sent into the Reverend's mind had nothing of the polite diffidence of his previous encounters with the man's mind.  The Reverend didn't fight him, just let him look.   When he was done he looked around for Marc, but he was already gone as was the council.  He swore.

"Father, I will take care of it.  It may be that I will need your help later.  Be where I can find you."

The Reverend nodded.  "I will pray and prepare myself.  They are demons, foul and evil, so you will certainly need my help."

Stephen controlled the impulse to roll his eyes and moved off, pausing only for a fast word with Clem before joining Doni and Dinah and whisking them off to the wake, where he was sure he'd find kleenex for them and Marc for himself, who wasn't going to believe a word he had to say.

Marc had not gone directly to Hoolihan's but had seen the rest of the Council off to Home. After he was quite certain that was all right, and no one was left to wander around the Refuge gathering intelligence he didn't want them to have, he headed to the Wake.

Hoolihan's, as most people know, is not a place that can be "found."  Usually. But in this case, since it was a Wake, and people who might not understand Hoolihan's, they'd lowered the shields, so to speak, and opened the doors to the invited guests.

The usual rabble, aliens, oddities, and such were in short supply there too.  Hoolihan himself was, as usual, behind the bar. And, as usual, no one could really quite see him, or make out his species, but his voice was the same as always and the place hadn't changed in centuries.

The penguin waiters were bustling busily around, and the newest bouncer was looking quite handsome in black jeans and black teeshirt in honour of the fact it was a Wake. Julian, arriving about then, walked up to his son and shook hands. "Good to see you, Lis. Watch it, someone who's nicknamed Laz is coming.  Don't get confused."

That the two were related was obvious, only that Julian hardly looked more than 5 years older than Lisandro, is what made it hard for anyone to see them as father and son.

Marc arrived about then, for his first trip to Hoolihan's. He blinked for a moment as he took the measure of the place.

"Watch that guy," Julian whispered to his son. "Troublemaker of the first order."  He sauntered away as he winked at Marc.

Marc advanced toward the bar. Lisandro, leaning against it nodded affably.  "Drinks are paid for, furniture isn't."

"Ah, the young man who caught my attention some years ago or so. In Greece then, weren't you?"

"Right. I'm here now."

So I see."  Marc nodded at him and wandered off toward the crowd, picking up a drink as he went.

There were a lot of people Marc did not know there. Not surprising.  He hadn't known Richard or Liliana, beyond seeing them a time or two. His attention had been elsewhere back then.

Paul, who'd faded into the scenery not far from Marc, nodded as he spotted several of his colleagues. He thought, perhaps, he could let his guard down a bit. He sensed that this place was not the type were attempted assassinations would be tolerated.

Laz saw Paul and then checked the dispositions of the others he'd assigned to the wake.  Satisfied he picked up a soda water from the bar and looked over to where Dinah was sitting, with Melly and Doni, all three of them clutching tissues and clearly reminiscing.  He spotted Tommy with Liam and continued his scan of the room.  For now he was satisfied.  He began a circuit of the room, nodding to Trevor as he went by and then continuing on to a well situated corner that gave him a view of all the doors and his principals.  He registered Stephen clearly searching the room for someone as he handed the three women each a drink and set some more kleenex on the table for them. 

Stephen took a long swallow of his own drink and set it down as he checked to be sure everything among the three women at the table was OK before headed off towards Marc, leaving a kiss on Doni's head as he went, whispering to her he'd be back as soon as he could.  She wasn't fooled but let him go.

Trevor too had scanned the room, clearly pleased with what he saw. He got himself a drink and fell in with Adrian, Jake and T'Beth doing a bit of reminiscing themselves. Josh and Gideon joined them.

Marc finally spotted Dinah. He might have gone over but the amount of used kleenex frightened him off. Then he spotted Stephen headed his way.  He nodded, clearly surprised to see the look on Stephen's face. Since they'd only seen one another a few minutes ago, the change was noticeable. "A call out?" he asked.

"No," Stephen said.  He relayed rapidly and concisely what the Reverend had said and what he'd seen in his mind; "So," he finished, "I know it seems incredible but it fits the evidence of the grave and the ruins as well as the timing so far as we've pieced it together."

"Stephen, they've been on the Council since the very first days..."

"I know," Stephen replied gravely.

"The good reverend is nutty as a fruit cake."

"Also true," Stephen agreed.  "Still..."

"Still," Marc agreed. "Well, it could explain a lot. I always wondered why such brutal methods were used if it were other Awakened."

"True," Stephen agreed.  "I think we need to find a way to check it out, as soon as possible.  I'm feeling like an alarmist and am not happy they now know Doni's alive and well and chatting.  Any ideas?  'Cause right now the only one I have has to do with armed guards around her 24/7."

"Yes, we need to make sure Trevor and Laz are aware of this possibility.  There is a Council meeting... Can you bring the Reverend to Home? I'd like to keep it quiet though. Keep the both of you being there a secret.  I've got an idea."

Stephen, catching Laz's eye agreed.  "Care to share the idea or is it still germinating?" he asked, moving his eyes to where Trevor was and capturing his attention as well.  Both men headed his way.

"I've no idea if it will work, but... it involves me using my biggest talent. If they are Awakened, it won't be a problem. If they aren't... well, we'll see."

"Right, so what do you want me to do besides manage the Reverend and show up?  Anything?"

"I might need you to back me up on what was found in the grave and at the site. Better have someone round up the evidence to bring along just in case. Oh, and see that Melly is there."
 

Stephen nodded as Trev and Laz arrived.  He filled them in briefly, his requirements regarding Doni specific.  Then he asked Marc, "How long before you want to do this?"

"Let's wait until the last minute.  About an hour from now. Oh, and Stephen wear your secret decoder ring. I'm not going to end up the only permanent member on the Council."

"Yessa massa, but I'sa jess gettin' usta beins' free."

Marc burst out into a loud guffaw. "And don't I envy you that.  Come on I need a drink. Several."

"Me, too."  Stephen glanced back at the table.  They'd gone from crying to laughing, so it might be safe.  "Wanna join us?  I think the rain's stopped," he said, gesturing.

Stephen didn't miss that Marc's face got a tiny bit softer when he looked over that way. "All right, but I'm heading for the door if the gushers start again."

"And I thought we were friends." Stephen sighed dramatically.  "Clearly only in fair weather," he quipped, leading the way.

"Clearly," Marc agreed with a grin. "Hullo," he said to Dinah as he approached the table.

"Hi.  You two all done plotting?"  Dinah asked, moving her chair a bit so Marc could sit beside her.

"We weren't plotting," Stephen said.  "We were planning.  It's different.  I'm going to get another round.  Same thing for everyone?" he asked, giving Doni a look she interpreted with ease.  Receiving affirmative responses all around he headed for the bar, taking her with him.  By the time they reached the bar she was gaping at him, but agreeable.  Stephen got Tommy's attention and conveyed his wants -pathically and apologetically, then did the same with Melly.

Marc watched them walk away and then turned his attention to Dinah. "So..." Marc said.
 

"A function generally performed by underpaid women using a needle and thread..." she said straight faced.

"Really?" he replied. "Don't worry, I won't ask you to sew on a button for me."

"I'm relieved.  I cook.  But I can't sew worth a damn...the bane of my grandmother."  She saw the tension in him.  "I take it things aren't going well?"

"Well, let's say the game just changed. I'm going to have to leave sooner than expected. So, may I have a dance?"

It obviously surprised her.  "I'd be delighted to dance with you."  She put her hand in his and let him draw her up from the table, her smile glowing.  "I would have said dancing wasn't something you indulged in, if I'd been asked."

"It isn't. But it's the best I can offer at the moment. Protect your toes."

She chuckled.  "Consider them protected.  I'll even let you lead.  How long can you stay?"

"An hour. Two at most."  Luckily there was a slow song playing and Marc didn't embarrass himself too badly.

"We could leave if you like," she suggested, watching his face.

"You don't want to stay and mingle, and... ah..." he asked.

"And cry some more?  I don't think so and I don't think Lily would have approved.  She would, however, approve of what I have in mind.  The question is, will you?"

As the song ended he took her hand and they walked outside. Hand in hand they got lost and found, unsurprisingly,  his house.

He drew her into the bedroom and then into his arms. He buried his face in her hair.

Stephen and Doni, heading back to the table watched them leave.  "She's changed," Doni commented, sitting down.  "A lot." 

Stephen nodded. "Mac started it; it's possible Marc will be the catalyst for the rest."

"I like her now.  She's less hostile and defensive."

Stephen agreed and they moved on to other subjects.

Reno arrived and began looking around for someone. It was clear who the someone was when he spotted Melly. Trevor, Laz and Tommy had their heads together over by the bar.

The rest of the crowd, at least those not currently involved in the Refuge, told stories and drank to Richard and Lily.

Melly took Reno's arm and drew him towards the bar and Liam who'd been trading stories with Jake and Adrian.  "I was wondering where you'd gotten to.  I saw you at the graveside and then lost track of you...but I figured you were waiting until it was safe...and dry," she said, teasing him.

"You have no idea how waterworks scare guys," he commented, making her laugh away the last of her own tears.

"I don't understand why," she replied.

"It's because we can't fix it.  And we hate that."

 "Well, now you're here I've good news and bad news.  Which first?"

"Uhm, the good news, definitely."

Melly beamed at him.  "Stephen talked to Baz who talked to the Royal Albert, who then talked to Trevor.  This body guard business...the Royal Albert, as a favor to Baz will handle security for us inside the hall and allow Laz's people in too, so we'll be able to go."

"Oh, geez. I hadn't even thought.... So, that's great!"  Reno's smile was something Melly hadn't seen quite that grand before.  "Now the bad," he added, the smile fading a bit.

"I'm going to have to leave in about an hour or so.  There's been a development and Stephen wants me at the council meeting.  I'm sorry.  I was hoping we'd have the rest of the day together."
 

"Hey, we have now right?  Wanna dance?"

"Yes." 

She set her drink down and let him lead her to the floor.  As he led them into the dance she said, "If I can get back early enough, maybe we can, if you'd like, have dinner together," she suggested, settling herself comfortably in his arms.

"Oh, hey that'd be nice. I'd really like that. I cook. Don't tell the rest of the minions though."
 

"Your secret is safe with me, dear," Melly promised.

Doni watched Melly and Reno revolve and lifted an eyebrow towards Stephen.  "Now that's an interesting couple.  I wouldn't have predicted it, but I like it."  She looked at her mate, currently as relaxed as he was going to get with the meeting ahead and said, beginning innocently enough to fool him, "The house is wonderful, now that Jordon's finished."

He finished swallowing and agreed.

"So I was thinking, especially with all the new people and the summer ending and all that that maybe we should host a housewarming."  Doni kept her eyes on the dance floor.

He was no longer fooled.  "A housewarming?  At our house? And invite upwards of a hundred people?  Not counting those who'll start arriving any day now?"

She nodded.  "I was thinking we could have it outside, and show off the terraces to the waterfall.  Maybe a swimming thing with the pool there, and a barbecue or something."  He groaned.  She ignored him and continued on with her plan.  "I was talking to Melly about it and she suggested we could put a temporary dance surface out there as well.  Say the weekend after Labor Day, since a lot of folks already have plans for that."  He groaned louder and she got firm.  "Stephen, read my lips." When she had eye contact she said, firmly, "We are doing this.  Adjust yourself to the idea.  But it's happening.  It's something you need to do for them all."

He gave in gracefully.

Then she gave him the rest of the plan.  "I'm also arranging for karaoke."

He choked on his drink and glared at her.  She lifted her chin and glared back.  He eyed the tilt of the chin, gave it up and said, "I have to go.  Promise me, you go no where without Laz.  No where."

"I promise.  Now you promise me you'll be careful."

He pulled her chair over next to him and kissed her, hard.  "I will." Then he was gone.

He reappeared at the Refuge, conferred with Clem on a number of matters, collected the Reverend and Tommy and then winked out again, reappearing in a side office in the council building, where he'd told Marc he'd meet him.  Melly arrived not long after.  He introduced her to the Reverend and hid his grin as she began a gentle cross examination of him and his ability and experiences, extracting his life story in less than ten minutes.  She was still at it when Marc arrived. Paul wasn't far behind. 

"Dammit," Marc muttered. Paul pretended he didn't hear that.

"So, Father," Marc began eyeing the Reverend, "how certain are you about all this. And please, no hellfire and brimstone speech, just give me the facts."

"Ah, a non-believer."  The Reverend met his scrutiny with limpid assurance.  "Perhaps it would be simplest, knowing your lot as I now do, if you just, er, satisfied yourself as Stephen has done."

"Thank you," Marc said and dived into the Reverend's mind. He emerged not long afterwards. He frowned.

"Remember, the future of the Refuge may depend on this meeting. So please, wait for my signal before giving your testimony. Will you do that?"

"Certainly.  I am at your disposal," he promised.  "But I can assure you, you will need more than just my testimony."

"Let's get though that before we worry about the rest.  All right. I need to go to my office for a bit.  The meeting will start in 10 minutes. It will take me some time before I signal you, Stephen. Are we all clear?" Marc asked, looking at everyone.

The Reverend nodded and returned to his conversation with Melly, completely unconcerned...or so it seemed.  Stephen glanced at Marc and shrugged.  "You just handle your end and I'll take care of him."

Marc met Stephen's eyes for a moment and then zapped off.

Ten minutes later the emergency Council Session was being gaveled into being by Marc himself. The room was crowded. Everyone was concerned about the attacks on the Listeners.  The media was out in full force as well.

"Please, can we have order!" Marc said in his most controlled voice. People settled down then, and Marc surveyed his fellow Council members. With Bella gone, and Stephen suspended, only Margaret, Maya and he sat at the seats for the permanent members. The elected members, some of them around as long as they had been, looked tense and expectant. They seemed to sense something in the air.

"Something has arisen which makes it imperative I deviate from the planned agenda," Marc stated.

There was a buzz in the room. Most people had already heard Doni was alive and with Stephen so many of them were eager to learn where she had been for so many years and why everyone had thought her dead. This was what they expected.

Maya and Margaret exchanged a look but were ready to brazen it out.

They waved for Marc to continue.

Then Marc signaled Stephen. It was now the Reverend's show. Marc sat back, closed his eyes and prayed for a moment.

Stephen opted to walk the short distance to the council room, with Melly and Tommy behind him and the Reverend.  He led them in, having only to force his way past one reporter before the rest moved to give him passage, pelting him with questions he ignored.  He led them to the same table he'd occupied with Charlie Palmer, a point many recalled.  He nodded to Marc as they sat. 

Then, before Marc could say anything a stir swept the room as Doni appeared and made her way towards the front of the room, ignoring everyone, the clamor of questions and the whispered speculation.  She moved a chair next to Stephen and sat, her eyes on Margaret and Maya.

Stephen started to say something to her and then stopped.  If anyone had a right to be here it was her, for herself, and for Richard and Lily.  He looked at Marc and waited, his expression conveying his position.

"Let me introduce the Reverend Daniel Dudley Day, Knight of Christ. Sir, will you please inform the Council of what you conveyed to Stephen at the funeral of Richard Plantagenet and Liliana Angeli."

The Reverend stood up and approached the podium.  "I informed him that it was beyond question that those two...beings," he gestured towards Maya and Margaret as he said it, contempt and distaste clear in his voice and manner, "were most certainly not whatever it is you call yourselves...Awakened, isn't it?  They are also most certainly not human by any definition.  I told him that they are demons, the spawn of demons and and that it was their spore I found at Donalora's grave and at the ruins of the house that killed those whom we buried today."

The room exploded.

Marc let the chaos go on for some time before he attempted to gavel everyone to silence.  He looked at Maya and Margaret.  "Would you care to rebut this claim?"

"Don't be ridiculous.  You've known us since ... or as long as the Covenants were formed, from since Home was created. It is absurd!" Maya said confidently into the silence.

"Then you won't object to a demonstration?" Marc asked.

Maya saw too late that she'd opened up a line of attack.   Margaret stood then. "This is idiocy!  She turned on her heel and began to leave the room.  Between one step and another she froze.

The Awakened could feel Marc drawing in power, the room hummed of it, it was like an electrical current all flowing toward him. Margaret spun on her heels.  The crowd leaned forward, the ones in the back standing to be able to watch the pyrotechnics if they were lucky enough to get some.

Maya stood then and threw out her hand at Marc, power crackling along it. He blocked it easily and she too was frozen in position.

"Show me," Marc said in a voice of power no one there had ever heard before, "your true form."

The quiet words reverberated around the room.  The other Council members got up hastily from their chairs and retreated to stand behind Marc.

"Show me your true form," Marc repeated in that same voice, that seemed more as if they heard it in their minds than in their ears. "Show me!" he said a third time.

Margaret screamed. She began to change.

Melly, watching from the table saw Margaret's silhouette begin to waver, become almost translucent.  Her body shifted rapidly between substantial and...the only word Melly could find was foggy.  It also seemed to her, from an angle perpendicular to the mid line of her back something would start to emerge and then fade as she gained the upper hand against Marc.  Melly sensed Stephen begin to stir next to her and then air began to crackle with the sudden influx of power, the current flow rustling her hair, though it had nothing to do with the fact that the those on the back of her neck had risen.  From the corner of her eye she could see that he was starting to draw power to himself.  As he gathered more and more of it the stink of ozone filled her nostrils and the air around her began to feel heavy as the pressure grew.  Finally, as the windows blew out with the rising pressure, he released it, becoming a conduit of power to Marc.

Marc sucked in that power and fed it back out. Now divided between Margaret and Maya. Maya, who'd stood frozen, began to alter as well.

As their true forms began to take shape the Reverend stood.

Majestic and commanding, totally assured and projecting a different kind of authority altogether, he began declaiming in his powerful bass voice, his arms outstretched and lifted to heaven, "I cast you out in the name of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. I call to my aid all the powers of heaven and in the name of the Most Holy Trinity I cast you out.  I bind unto me the power of the ineffable Name of the most high Lord, he who has named himself I AM, and I cast you out."  He gathered himself and in a voice reverberating with power and determination prayed, " St. Michael, the archangel, leader of the host of heaven, prince of the choirs of angels, I summon you to my aid as has been promised and I implore you, defend us in this battle and cast into hell, to the bottomless pit, these demons, who seek the ruin of souls."  As he prayed the ground began to tremble and the building to shake.

Maya and Margaret became desperate in their struggle drawing all the power they could to themselves, while Stephen calmly reached outward, claiming it back and feeding it to Marc.  As he did the roof blew off and Michael appeared, the host behind him.

The spectators descended into hysteria, a mob rushing the doors, while the cameramen, possibly relatives of Ernie Pyle, ignored it all and just kept recording it, feeding it live to every television on Home.

The Reverend raised his arm and pointed to Margaret and Maya, now revealed as what they were, winged and tailed, eye glowing red, shorn of human form, putrid, grotesque and evil, and continued to pray.  "O most powerful leader of the angels and the host of heaven, I command you to destroy these demons, the unholy and condemned spawn of demons, perverted and most vile offspring of heinous couplings between your fallen brothers and the corrupted flesh of oppressed and blinded children of Adam."

Michael raised his sword and it burst into flame, filling the room with light, blinding and pure, and with a command, his voice terrible, he sent his legions into battle.  The host responded, sending bolts of lightening flying into the room slamming into Margaret and Maya.  As the two shuddered from the impact and tried to retaliate, Michael aimed his sword at them, the light streaming from it becoming a crystal fire, igniting them and filling the room with the smell of brimstone.  Then the host released another volley and they exploded, taking out the far wall.

Marc shut down the power before anything more got destroyed. Michael tipping his sword to Marc, smiled and led the host up and away. Marc had this urge to call out Hi Ho Silver. Instead he gaveled the meeting back to order. Not that there were many people left besides him, Stephen, Doni, Melly and the Reverend, looking smug as could be.  Of course the media were all agog and still filming like crazy.

"I declare a state of emergency until we can reconstitute the Council and I reinstate Stephen to full membership immediately. This meeting is adjourned."

Stephen looked at him and grinned.  "You sure know how to throw a party, Mr. Rogatien."  And then he burst out laughing.

Marc grinned and waded through the rubble to shake Stephen's hand. "Sorry for dragging you here Melly, but I was thinking we might need physical evidence if this trick didn't work.  Hmmm. I think I need to have someone redecorate the council chamber. Uhm, make that the whole building."

Melly laughed, "I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  I may even write a paper."

"Just get Jordon to take care of the decorating, he's good at it," Doni said, her cheeks wet and her eyes brimming, throwing her arms around Marc and planting a kiss on his cheek.  "Thank you," she whispered, "for Lily and Richard and me.  Thank you."

"You're welcome. Let's go home...with a small h."

The Reverend, who hadn't missed the small by-play between Marc and Michael, looked at Marc, his eyes speculative, "You, uhm, know St. Michael?" he asked.

Marc's lips twitched. "Intimately.  Did you know he has a scar on his left buttock?"