Down Where The Blue Violet Beauties Bloom

Chapter 1: Danger-Seeking Angels

The stairway to Heaven ran perfectly straight from the lower realms to the Pearly Gates except at one place, where the steps bent and turned through the tumbled ruins of old Olympus. In the heart of those ruins, a dolphin statue curved over a crumbling pool. The bottom of the pool had been broken by the bombardments of Heaven’s architects. The dolphin arched only over a hole with no water, just open sky below.

One sunny morning, a group of student angels gathered at the dolphin statue. They were all handsome young males wearing sky-diving trunks, except for one, a girl holding an umbrella. Shar was half-pretty, but she was far from perfect. The standards were high in Heaven for angel girls.

Shar’s eyes were a fine shade of columbine, but one was sometimes lazy. Her hair was honey-colored and unruly instead of perfectly straight and blonde. Her halo floated slightly off to one side, no matter how she tilted her head to accommodate it. Shar’s imperfections made her a shy angel who liked to keep to herself, except when she went sky diving with her best friend, Anin.

So are we going to dive, or not? Shar wrapped her gloved hands around the silver umbrella handle. Anin fingered the umbrella spokes to make sure they were firm.

I’m ready. You’re in front.

Shar stepped to the edge of the pool. She climbed onto the curved back of the dolphin statue. She balanced her stockinged feet against the subtle air pressure. She prayed that the umbrella would hold the weight of two angels. Anin’s brown arms clasped her from behind. He pressed her towards the dolphin’s slippery snout.

Wooo! hooted the onlooking boys. Do it, Shar! Do it!

Shar leapt forward, and then she was falling down through the wide-open bottom of the broken pool with Anin’s arms wrapped around her. Far below them in the sky, the pale line of the stairway to Heaven tipped and spun vertiginously.

Wooo! hooted the boys from above. Wooo!

Wind rushed. Shar felt her skirt flutter above her waist. The dive-pleasure penetrated her shoes and stockings, starting with her toes and rising to her thighs. Anin’s hands grappled. Shar gasped when his forearm levered roughly around her stomach. His fingers clutched the pleats of her dive skirt. A ripping sound crested the rush of the wind.

Anin! she shouted. Are you alright?

He didn’t answer. Shar felt Anin’s chin digging for purchase on her rear end. He held his precarious position with his arms clamped around her thighs as they plummeted through the lowest stones of Olympus. The stairway to Heaven grew wider and wider in the sky. The trajectory resulted to be perfect. In two minutes they tumbled together onto the wide sun-washed steps. Shar disentangled herself with relief. Anin’s grin was bigger than she’d ever seen it.

That was incredible, Shar! Sorry about your skirt.

Shar pivoted away from Anin’s low gaze. She’d spent three weeks working on her sinful skirt, hiding the thing in the closet of her Holy College dormitory. After all of that effort, her skirt was a disaster of torn fabric. She covered her exposed panties with her hand.

Don’t you dare look, Anin!

I only slipped a little.

Probably on purpose!

Anin didn’t argue further with her. He only grinned as he always did, perhaps admitting his guilt, perhaps not. Anin had a big, beautiful grin. His teeth were pearly white in contrast with his light brown skin. He rubbed his elbow and looked off the edge of the stairway, as if that would assuage the awkward silence. Ever wonder what’s down there?

Earth of course—millions of souls living in material bodies and a lot of them forgetting all about Heaven.

I heard some senior students talking about other places besides Heaven and Earth—dark places filled with demons and evil creatures. If demons go to Earth and try to seduce human souls, then they must live down there somewhere, right? I’d ask one of the professors, but I know they’re forbidden to talk about such things.

Shar sighed. "Yes, so why are we talking about them then?"

I’m just glad there was no wind, Anin continued. I didn’t want an accident to happen while we were doing the tandem dive together. You have to swear not to tell anyone, but William found a strange book while he was polishing the floor in Professor Postlewort’s office.

What sort of book?

Anin’s brown eyes turned mischievous. "It’s a forbidden one—the kind they don’t have in any of Heaven’s libraries. It has a red Ministry censor stamp right on the front cover. The book is called Botany of the Fae Courts, whatever that is. It shows pictures of creatures covered with thorns and spines."

I’ve never heard of the Fae Courts, but Botany is the study of plants, Anin—how to identify different types, and how plants make babies with the blessings of our Lord. Postlewort teaches Botany, but I’m shocked that she’d have a forbidden book in her office. Why would plants be forbidden?

The plants had little demon eyes.

Shar grimaced and tried to erase the horrid image from her brain. Well, if the archangels in their wisdom stamped the book as forbidden, then it’s sinful, Anin. You shouldn’t have looked at it. Forbidden books make you think things a good angel shouldn’t.

You dive in the sky, Anin countered. You’re a hypocrite sometimes.

A lot of students dive in the sky during college, and they turn out just fine.

Some even kiss.

And they only kiss, because physical love is sinful. Shar turned and shouldered her umbrella to defend against Anin’s warm proximity. I need to do my homework for Earth History. If I keep slacking, my guardian won’t be happy.

Anin grinned. Come to my dorm room and kiss with me instead. Rebels have to stick together.

Maybe we’re rebels, but that won’t stop Professor Grimble from failing me if I don’t proofread. I already have to say three thousand prayers because Postlewort saw you kiss me in the cloister hallway.

I only got one thousand.

That isn’t fair. They always think it’s the girl’s fault.

It is, especially when she’s so pretty. Anin’s grin widened. Let’s do a tandem together again next time.

I’m not sure there will be a next time. Shar quickly climbed the stairs towards the white pediments of Heaven, which dwarfed the sunlit Olympic ruins underneath them. She suppressed a faint sin of anger. Anin was a typical angel male, possessed with a brash masculine confidence. He always took charge, and he often tried to shock her with flattery and forbidden romance.

Everyone at the Holy College thought Anin was her boyfriend. She wasn’t so sure. Anin’s love was far from angelic or pure. Whenever he touched her or kissed her, she felt froggish and wrong. On that afternoon, she felt more wrong than ever before. Her new dive skirt was torn, and she’d done a tandem dive with a boy—something no proper angel girl would even dream of.

~*~

That afternoon, Shar sat at her desk in the back row of Earth History class. She struggled to focus on the tri-dimensional timeline on the chalkboard. Professor Grimble was nearing the end of another boring, forgettable lecture. Anin sat in the second row. He was snoozing as usual.

Shar nibbled on the end of her silver pen. The metal taste seemed unusually acute. Her legs tingled, and her chest felt warmer than normal in her over-hip corset. Her bruised thigh felt particularly queer where Anin had handled her. Purpley-pink tints were blooming on her skin beneath the prudent hemlines of her student robe.

She prayed that no one would notice. She’d dusted her face and neck with titanium powder before class, but not as carefully as she would have liked, since she’d been afraid to be late. She hoped the bruises would go away. She’d be humiliated if she had to see the school nurse. She’d have to tell the truth for her own good.

Shar stacked her books so she could exit the classroom quickly. Earth History was almost over, and Anin would surely ask her to go back to his dorm room for more illicit kissing. The more she gave in to Anin’s urgings, the further he wanted her to go. Anin was out of control. Professor Grimble raised his voice, interrupting her reverie.

One final thing, class—an amazing opportunity has come to my attention. The Ministry of Ignominious Affairs—that’s right, the MOIA—is recruiting undergraduate angels for a special project.

Anin roused from his customary slouch. Missy May also perked up in the first row. Missy raised her hand. What’s the project, professor? I thought the Ministry only took graduate students with the highest marks.

The Ministry usually picks the best of the best, Missy, Grimble crooned at his favorite pupil. In this case they’ve lowered the qualifications. The flyers are on my desk. Class dismissed.

Shar grabbed her books and slipped in front of the crush of other students. She ducked into the stairs that led down to the privacy of the lower cloisters. She trotted the first flight of steps, but Anin materialized directly in front of her on the narrow stone landing. The smell of smoke rose on the sanctified air.

Anin, you’re not supposed to flash inside the Holy College! With papers in your hand, you could set something on fire!

Look at this. Anin held up a slightly smoking Ministry flyer.

WANTED: DANGER-SEEKING ANGELS

Do you have what it takes to join the Ministry of Ignominious Affairs? The MOIA is recruiting undergraduate angels for a special top secret project. Are you adventurous? Do you have acting skills? Are you committed to suppressing sin and corruption wherever they may be found? Standard entry requirements are waived for this once-in-a-soul-cycle opportunity. Get special operations training! No appointment necessary! Apply today!

Shar shrugged. The Ministry only accepts the best of the best, like Grimble said. You’re joking, right? You’re only a sophomore. Missy May is a senior, plus she gets perfect marks in everything.

I know. Missy and Muhja almost beat me to the flyers. Anin hefted the sheaf of hand-scribed flyers.

"You took them all?"

Anin grinned. Yep, but Grimble already had one in his hand for Missy. Imagine how amazing it would be to work at the MOIA. Ministry agents fight every day against sin and corruption. Guardians go to Earth and defend people against evil. I couldn’t be an inquisitor. My clairvoyance scores are too low.

Anin, the Ministry won’t take you. You’re great in Math class, but you’re failing Earth History and school in general.

Anin’s enthusiasm drained from his face. You’re right, but I’ve always wanted to be an agent. I’d like to see the inside of the MOIA building if nothing else.

Sounds like fun until the Ministry locks you up for ignominiousness.

You mean until they lock us both up. You’re going with me.

Shar blinked. Are you crazy? I’m not going into the MOIA unless they take me in handcuffs. Now you’ve done it. Grimble is coming.

Detention! boomed Grimble. The professor descended the cloister stairs at a surprising speed for his oniony girth. Hand over those flyers, Anin. Our good Lord says ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ You’ll write those words five hundred times after the final period each day this week. A thousand for you, Miss Di Salvo.

Why me? I didn’t even—

Grimble wiggled his finger. No backtalk, young lady. Girls are held to higher standards in a co-ed institution like this.

Of course, sir. Thank you, sir.

Anin surrendered the flyers to Grimble’s outstretched hand. Shar and I really wanted to apply for jobs at the Ministry, Professor. That’s why I took the flyers. Do you think maybe our detention could be delayed—

You two want to apply at the Ministry? Grimble laughed. A Ministry interview would be a good lesson in humility, and I’m tired of babysitting a couple of failures. Fine. I’ll want to see your rejection slips as proof that you went to the interviews. Otherwise, I’ll file a complaint for theft and lying, and maybe you’ll both get expelled from school.

~*~

Shar fidgeted next to Anin in the Ministry waiting room that afternoon. The Ministry Of Ignominious Affairs was Heaven’s intelligence agency. The MOIA inquisitors could supposedly read the most impure thoughts of every angel in Heaven. Bad angels were arrested and taken into the Ministry for reformation.

The MOIA waiting room was crammed with job applicants, all sitting in uncomfortable metal chairs that were probably designed for sinners and delinquents instead of prospective employees. A group of scienticians was calling the student applicants to the front of the room. The applicants stepped into a scanning machine that beamed light over their bodies before they went deeper into the Ministry for interviews.

Missy May and Muhja had also arrived. They awaited their turns on the other side of the aisle. Missy was beautifully accoutred. A satin hairband restrained her perfect blonde hair. Tapered white slippers with daring pink bows peeked from under the hem of Missy’s professional-looking robe.

Shar shrank in her seat. Missy made her queerly nervous—more nervous than an end-term math test or even the scienticians’ scanner. She watched another student step into the scanning machine. She almost preferred expulsion over an interview at the Ministry, yet she had to give Anin credit for his bravery. When Anin wanted something, he went after it. She knew that only too well.

I don’t want to go into that thing, Anin. It doesn’t look good for bad angels like us.

A muscle in Anin’s neck twitched. Just keep your mind blank. Don’t think about kissing or anything sinful.

I’m sorry, but I’m worried! Maybe if we tell them we changed our minds, they’d give us complementary rejection slips. It’s better than getting arrested.

Anin’s face was resolute. You can do this, Shar. Trust me. Neither one of us is going to be arrested. I only wish I knew the right things to say so they’ll take me. I’m so tired of going to that useless traditional school and listening to lectures from those professors. If the professors were any good at their subjects, they’d have better jobs in Heaven.

As if on cue, the buglephone crackled. Anin Al Adin, the metallic voice intoned.

Anin stood up and smoothed his robe. Here we go.

Good luck, Anin.

There’s no such thing as luck, Muhja said from the other side of the aisle. He’ll need the blessing of our Lord, and he isn’t going to get it. Hey Anin, do you have an extra flyer, or did you use them all to write love letters to Shar? Missy and Muhja giggled.

Anin ignored Muhja and strode to the front of the room. A scientician motioned him into the scanner. A brilliant beam of light ran over his robed body from head to toe. The group of scienticians consulted the scanner controls. One of them leveled the same question that he’d asked the other applicants.

Anin Al Adin, have you dived illicitly, kissed, or engaged in any other ignominious or sinful activities?

No, sir.

Tell the truth, please. The scientician tapped his pen on his clipboard.

Um, yes, Anin’s voice cracked. Just diving. Just once. A couple times.

Interrogation room six. The scientician shook his head and made notes. Anin slunk dejectedly towards the inner hallway.

Next, burped the buglephone. Sharlotta Di Salvo.

You can do it, Shar, Missy drawled.

Do it, Shar. Do it, Muhja echoed. Missy covered her mouth quickly to contain giggles. Shar kept her eyes on the floor. The senior students weren’t just making fun of her. They were mocking her reputation too. She stalked to the front of the room and took her place in the scanner. The scienticians worked the controls. Shar closed her eyes against the brilliant light, but she was too late. The room disappeared in a sea of shimmering stars.

Miss Di Salvo, have you dived illicitly, kissed, or engaged in any other ignominious activities? The disembodied voice came from the void.

Just diving. A little bit. Shar blinked her eyes. The stars swam. She couldn’t even see the scientician, who coughed audibly.

Interrogation room eight.

Shar groped her way out of the machine. She was halfway back to the crowded seating area before her vision resolved. She reversed and made a beeline towards the interrogation rooms. Hushed giggles erupted in the waiting area. Shar looked over her shoulder. Missy and Muhja were pointing at her and laughing. Without thinking, she raised her hand and made a rude gesture.

The buglephone burped. Stop, Miss Di Salvo.

Shar froze. The scienticians clustered together, gesturing animatedly. Missy and Muhja were no longer laughing. Their faces were grave. A murmur of shocked whispers rushed through the waiting room. Shar felt her legs go rubbery. She couldn’t believe what she’d done in front of everyone. She’d never even made such a gesture before. She’d only seen Anin do it once towards another boy who had insulted his diving technique. The Ministry would probably just lock her up on the spot.

Miss Di Salvo, interrogation room twenty-six.

Shar walked down the long, dimly lit hallway. She felt feverish and thin as a pencil under her robe. Tears threatened to overwhelm her eyelids. She turned a bend at the end of the hallway and faced the foreboding silver digits. Twenty-six. She turned the cold round knob and entered a small, bright room. A white-robed archangel with a grey beard and a golden halo sat behind a semi-circular table, in front of which sat a folding chair.

I’m Inquisitor Duriel. You may sit.

Yes, sir. Shar sat primly. She pressed her legs together and lowered her chin with an attitude of virtuousness and humility that was proper for angel girls. Duriel examined a worn silver clipboard.

I see you were registered with Heaven as Valentina Sharlotta Di Salvo from Florence, Italy. Your earthly father and brother are librarians here, but your mother was an unrepentant pagan and went the other way. Is that correct?

Yes sir. I think so, sir.

According to your Ministry records, you’re a sophomore at the Holy College of Sacred Doves. I see good marks for classes in acting, history, and Latin. In preparatory school, you placed first in a grade nine Latin contest, and in the same year you were elected to your class council.

Yes, sir.

In grades ten, eleven, and twelve, however, you served over twenty detentions for tardiness and skipping class. You were caught on four occasions kissing a boy, which resulted in an equal number of punishments and a formal warning.

Yes, sir.

For some reason we don’t have your college records on file yet, but I doubt they are favorable. Do you share the Ministry’s dedication to fighting sin and corruption, Miss Di Salvo?

Yes, sir. Of course, sir.

What other qualifications do you have besides your schoolwork?

None, sir.

Duriel leaned back in his chair. Your scan shows that you’ve been diving in the clouds below Heaven. That’s the behavior of a bad angel—a rule-breaker and a malcontent.

Yes, sir.

I was informed that you made an obscene gesture at some other applicants in the waiting room. Is this a joke, Miss Di Salvo? If you wanted the Ministry’s attention, you’ve got it.

I’m sorry, sir. Shar felt her chin tremble. She didn’t want to burst into tears in front of the cranky old archangel, but she couldn’t help herself. I know anger is a sin. I only came to the Ministry because I wanted to support my friend, Anin. He really wants to be a Ministry agent. I’m not qualified for this job. I’m not a good angel girl.

The archangel patted his forehead with a handkerchief. His grizzled moustache twitched. So you committed the sins of anger and pride then, but in the context of love and charity. You were doing something you didn’t want to do, but for the good of another.

Yes, that’s right, sir. School is boring for Anin. He wants to work in the Ministry so he can go on adventures and actually do things.

So you’re loyal to your fellow angels, the archangel persisted. You’re willing to make sacrifices at your own personal risk. When your boyfriend wants a kiss, you let him have it despite the sin, and then you lie to protect yourself and him.

I’m so sorry, sir. I’m weak, and I pray for forgiveness.

Yes, of course. Of course. The archangel nodded to himself, as if pondering. He tucked his handkerchief away and drummed his fingers on the table.

May I go then, please?

Oh no, young lady. You’ll be staying right here.

Shar felt a chill run up her spine. So she was doomed. She’d made too many stupid mistakes. She was a pathetic angel girl failure. She’d never see Anin or her classmates ever again. The only question was what painful reformations the MOIA would use on her first. The archangel’s eyes looked haunted, as if seeing terrible things in a faraway place.

This will be a very dangerous mission, Miss Di Salvo. This mission may involve a lot of kissing. You have more experience than most angel girls with breaking the rules and indulging in sin, but nothing in Heaven can prepare you for the lust and corruption that you’ll face down in the field.

I…I don’t understand, sir. What…what field?

Inquisitor Duriel rose up from the desk. His white robes gleamed, and his halo shimmered from on high. I mean the field of battle between good and evil, of course. You’ll start your training immediately, but first you need to sign some things—paperwork for risking your soul and notifying next of kin—all of the legalities. Congratulations. You’ve got the job.

Chapter 2: Springing The Trap

The glorious light that suffused the mental realms illuminated the rooftops of the Holy College in shades of pale grey. A flock of doves swooped on the downdraft to scatter across the flagstones like papers in a swirling wind. The doves strutted back and forth, then flew again in unison. A few stayed to lodge in the shadows between the columns, where they fluttered, cooed, and fussed.

Shar sat on a courtyard bench with her Ministry textbook spread across her lap. She was waiting for Anin, but she was no longer a Holy College student. She still wasn’t sure why the Ministry had hired her. Given the situation, she’d been too afraid to complain. She’d signed all of the complicated paperwork.

Even more unbelievably, after only six weeks of junior agent training, she was already working on her first Ministry mission—a secret mission so remarkable and startling that if Anin knew, he’d turn red with envy. The patter and slap of Anin’s sandals echoed across the flagstones. Shar glanced at her Ministry wrist-watch. As usual, Anin was late.

Hi, Shar, Anin said. He stopped in front of the bench and looked down at her. Are you studying for the Ministry?

Yes. It’s an advanced book on the seven deadly sins.

Anin boggled at the heavy textbook on her lap. You’re learning all of this new stuff. It’s damned unfair. You didn’t want to set foot in the Ministry in the first place.

Shar felt a faint warmth of pride, which she quickly suppressed. According to her textbook, pride was the deadliest of sins. You should work on your language, Anin. Talking like that won’t help you advance.

Advance to what? With my marks, I’ll be lucky to get a job scraping up dove gunk after I graduate.

Maybe you should study harder then.

I like to have fun, and I don’t plan to grow out of it. I like to have adventures too. They’re the one thing I’m good at. That’s why I wanted to work for the Ministry, but I know I’ll never be qualified.

Your marks aren’t very good, but you’re daring, clever, and good at figuring trajectories for umbrella jumps.

Anin managed a half-grin. Thanks for the kind words, Shar.

Kindness is an important angel girl virtue. I have to work hard on my virtues. That’s why I’m reading this ridiculously big book.

That’s a fancy wrist-watch Duriel gave you. Does he ever punish you when you screw up? Does he ever take you into his office for a ‘talking-to’ like Professor Grimble?

Shar felt heat rise to her cheeks. That’s none of your business.

Anin shrugged. Fine. So are we going diving? I can’t believe the Ministry lets you go down to the ruins of Olympus whenever you want. The ruins are supposed to be forbidden except for historians and scholars with official Ministry permits.

I have a permit. Shar smiled, but Anin glowered at her like Grimble.

I don’t know why you even signed up with the Ministry. You were perfectly happy going to the Holy College, and just because you get half-decent marks doesn’t mean you’ll be a good secret agent. You aren’t adventurous or danger-seeking in the least.

I can be adventurous.

Anin looked skeptical. When did you ever do anything adventurous when I didn’t twist your arm to get you to do it? I’ll bet you won’t last. You won’t even make it through your first mission.

I’ll bet I do.

Fine. The bet is on. If I win, you have to come to my dorm room and let me do whatever I want with you.

That’s disgusting, Anin! You just don’t get it. There’s a huge prison in the Ministry, and most of the angels are undergoing lust-reformation to purify their thought-bodies. It’s an epidemic. The prison is clearance level six, and the doors are double-reinforced with sin-preventative gold mesh. The inquisitors wear padded suits to protect against psycho-erotic contamination. Duriel showed me his.

Anin sighed. I was joking, Shar. You used to laugh at my jokes.

The Ministry isn’t a joke, Anin. That’s my point. There’s pure divine love, and then there’s physical romantic love. You’re confused about the two types, and the Ministry tries to keep Heaven purified. That’s what the inquisitors do—they observe Heaven on psychic level and file arrest warrants when necessary.

Maybe there are more types of love, and it isn’t so black and white.

Shar fidgeted. She’d heard of more types of love in ancient Greek history, but her Ministry textbook was clear on the issue. No. It’s black and white, just like good and evil.

If I win the bet, you have to kiss me for at least a minute. The Ministry says it’s forbidden, but I’ll never believe it’s evil.

Fine. And if I win, you have to admit you’re wrong and apologize. Shar stood up and pushed her textbook into her rucksack, wary of Anin’s hot gaze. And I’m going to win, because Duriel already gave me my first mission.

Well, what is it?

It’s top secret.

Anin palmed his forehead dramatically, as if afflicted with a painful headache. Whatever. Meet me down at the Pearly Gates. I have to flash back to my dorm room to change into my dive suit. I’d invite you to come, but I know you don’t want to. Anin crinkled his nose and disappeared into his flash.

Fine. Shar buttoned up her rucksack and double-checked the secret bottle in the side pocket. She felt exasperated, even more than when Anin had cornered her in the Holy College scroll closet, and she’d clumsily knocked over a rack of holy scriptures with her backside. She really wanted to tell Anin about her mission in the ruins of Olympus, but any hints would depend on Anin to put two and two together to make four. That would probably never happen.

Shar shouldered her rucksack, grabbed her umbrella, and flashed to the lowest edge of Heaven. She stepped quickly into the shelter of the open Pearly Gates, out of view of the spired watchtowers that guarded the stairway like beacons in the ethereal light. A pair of winged cherubim circled above, but the protectors paid her no mind, and neither did the three angels who had arrived that morning with easels to paint skyscapes at Heaven’s edge.

Within a few minutes, Anin emerged from his flash with a residual smell of ozone. He wore his dive suit and carried his tabby cat in his hands. Shar offered a conciliatory smile. She had to be nice. It was the virtuous angel girl thing to do.

Hi, Anin. Nice trick flashing with your cat. He doesn’t catch fire?

Only sometimes. You still remember Tiki, right? Anin dropped his grey tabby cat without looking at her.

Why would I forget your cat? I’ve only been at the Ministry six weeks. I haven’t lost my memories. Are we even friends anymore, or are you too angry? It’s not my fault that I’m working for the Ministry, so I can’t kiss you. Is that why you want me to fail? So we can be together again? That’s really selfish.

Whatever makes you happy, Shar.

Anin turned and descended the stairway. Shar hiked after him several hundred metres down to where the stairway to Heaven descended into the ruins of Olympus. She unfurled her umbrella and mini-jumped after Anin from the left edge of the stair onto the older Olympic stones. She followed over the sloping slabs that had once been the rooftops of forgotten, discredited Greek gods. The old marble was sundered from Heaven’s bombardments, but it still hung in mid-sky as a testament to the power of magic in antiquity.

Anin hopped across a broken pediment, and then leapt down onto a perpendicular connecting section—a wide flat marble block with green striations that gleamed dully. The block was dubbed the Upper Aphrodite Platform—an ambitious diving spot that was little-used due to a history of tragic accidents. A marble pylon stood with a red flag to warn adventurous angels away.

I’m going to wait here. Shar blanked her face. She tried not to fidget or look suspicious. She didn’t want Anin to suspect anything. Could you come and get me when you’re finished? Where’s your braking balloon?

Benjamin is bringing one for me. Anin eyed her up and down. You’re not even wearing your suit under your robe, are you?

No. I got rid of my dive suit when I moved. I didn’t dare take it into the Ministry.

I would have done that too. I’ll see you in a few. Anin scampered along the edge of a broken plinth block that led down to the lower platforms. Shar felt a flicker of envy. She missed the thrill of diving, but she needed to focus on her mission.

When Anin was gone, she walked to the end of the marble block and fished the Ministry message bottle from the pocket of her rucksack. It was an ordinary student ink bottle—small and round with a sturdy base. She pressed the cork with her thumb to make sure it was sealed, and then she tossed the bottle over the edge of the marble, where it vanished quickly into the atmosphere. The sky seemed opaque that morning, greyer than normal with clouds of moisture. The angles of the stairway to Heaven were barely visible in the mist.

Shar opened her book and scratched a mark with her pen. She counted the marks. That bottle had been the sixth that she’d thrown. She’d visited the ruins five other times in the previous three weeks. She’d partly invited Anin that morning because she was lonely. She hadn’t made any friends at the Ministry. Duriel had introduced her to Raphael and a few other important Ministry officials, but they were only focused on the progress of her mission.

Her mission seemed simple—to drop message bottles into the open sky below old Olympus. The messages declared in her own words that she was a rebel angel—a malcontent who wanted to leave Heaven. According to Duriel, the messages were a ploy to lure a succubus up to the ruins, where Ministry agents would be waiting to spring a trap and capture her.

According to Duriel, a succubus was a monster from the emotional realms that lured souls using the pleasures of her flesh, the better to trap her victims in cages and make them into her slaves. Duriel had been sketchy on the unspeakable details, but he’d intimated that nothing attracted a succubus more than a chaste, innocent angel.

Shar pushed the thoughts from her mind. She felt disturbed just thinking of such sinful things. She prayed that her mission would be a success. If she failed, she’d probably be dismissed from the Ministry as Anin predicted. If she wasn’t held for reformation, then she’d have to go back to the Holy College in a cloud of shame. Missy and Muhja would laugh at her, and she’d never hear the end of it from Professor Grimble.

No. Failing her first mission was not an option. Duriel had advised her to just be herself. If a wicked succubus manifested in response to the bottles, she was supposed to play the role of a rebellious angel until the Ministry watchers could arrive at the spot. Her acting role couldn’t be that difficult. After all, she’d had plenty of practice.

The sky was thickening amidst the ruins. Pale colors of peach and pink were turning to purple and leaden grey. A flash lit up the atmospheres, and a low rumble of thunder rolled across the ancient stones. Shar closed her Ministry book and tucked it back into her rucksack. She walked away from her exposed position towards the safety of the ruined pediments that led to the stairway.

A gust of wind buffeted her body, bringing dampness. She’d glimpsed storms before in the skies below Heaven, but never up among the broken blocks and columns of Olympus. She scanned the path leading down to the lower platforms. Surely Anin would come back, and they’d make for the Pearly Gates as quickly as possible. Another boom of thunder echoed hollowly, followed by scratching sounds.

Tiki? Shar looked down the platform for Anin’s cat, but something larger loomed through the rain. The woman wore a red leather half-corset and a short russet skirt, an exotic ensemble that exposed her tanned, muscled midriff. Her thigh-high leather boots sported pointed brass toe protectors and polished buckles. The heels of the woman’s boots clicked on the marble with her long, deliberate strides.

The woman stopped and peered from eye sockets that were precarious and gloomy under the overhangs of her wild chestnut mane. Her hair swam in the wind like a gaggle of serpents. Golden hoop earrings dangled from her earlobes—earrings of a sort that would instantly be confiscated from any angel girl insane enough to wear them. The woman’s lips were discolored with mottled bluish hues, as if from lip paint that had worn away. When she spoke, her voice was throaty like a purr.

Are you the angel named Shar, I hope?

Yes. Who are you?

I’m Mistress Theodorah. Is this by chance yours? The woman lifted an ink bottle between her fingertips. A small roll of parchment was just visible inside.

It might be mine.

Wonderful. Theodorah smiled. I’ll make this short, and hopefully your guardians won’t show up and send me to the void before I finish. I’m a New Order succubus. I serve Lady Aphrodite in the wilds of Elysium. The nymphs found your message bottle on the beaches where the Styx flows into the Sea of Desire. The nymphs go to the beaches there to collect coins and things.

I wouldn’t know.

I’ll get to the point. We’ve come for you as you asked. My friend conjured this storm to hide us, but she doesn’t have the power to hold it for long. Do you really want to fall like your message said? Do you want to defect from Heaven? You’ll have pleasures and freedoms beyond your wildest dreams if you join Lady Aphrodite and the New Order succubi. You’ll have everything you ever desired. Our goddess will make all of your fantasies real. That’s what you want, yes? So tell me.

I, um— Shar worked her jaw. Her mind had frozen like her feet. A fast-developing panic attack had seized her.

Say yes, Theodorah persisted. Tell me you want to fall, and I’ll take you down. You won’t be punished anymore for being bad. You won’t be alone. You’ll be with the Lady and others like yourself. I wish I had more time to sell this, but I’m tired and in a dangerous situation this close to Heaven.

I’m still not sure.

Well, it’s either yes or no, and I’m expecting a yes, because my friend and I have climbed half an eternity to get to you. Say yes, please, and say it now. Mistress Theodorah seemed taller and darker when she stepped closer. The wind whipped her red-brown hair, which made a sound like serpents hissing, but the hissing was the drops of rain, which hit harder on the marble with every passing second.

Yes, fine. But I—

Fantastic, Theodorah interrupted. Lady Aphrodite has rules about free will, so I’m happy to have the agreement bit over with. Hold still.

Shar glanced over her shoulder. Her chest felt heavy and hollow as a cathedral bell. Where were Duriel and the Ministry agents to spring the trap? There were no Ministry angels to be seen, and the succubus was closing the distance quickly. Theodorah opened a leather pouch at her belt and withdrew a small bundle, which she unfolded into a queer-looking red hat. Shar eyed the silver baubles, the small pink bow, and the abbreviated semi-circular brim.

What’s that?

They call it a Bliss-Trip Bonnet, Theodorah answered. I don’t know what it’s for. I’m not savvy with the ways of dream magic.

Shar edged back, but Theodorah reached and slipped the hat quickly over her head. The succubus turned her, pulled her hair through the loop in the back, and fastened the hat with a damp chin strap. Shar shivered when Theodorah’s hand gripped her forearm. The fingernails of the succubus pricked oddly on her skin.

I think we should talk more. I’m not ready yet.

Whatever the hat is making you feel, it’s normal, Theodorah said. Or at least that’s what I was told. Now we’re going to jump. The trip down will be much faster than coming up. You’re as light as a feather, angel. The philosophers say that a feather and a stone will fall at the same speed. I don’t believe it. Please hold on tightly to me.

The sounds of male voices came through the rain. Shar felt her heart leap until she realized it was only Anin and his friends. They were running down the platform towards her. Their dive trunks clung wetly to their legs and waists, and splashes of rain flew from their feet. Anin’s mouth dropped open. All of the boys gawked at the exotic interloper.

Who are you? Anin said. What are you doing with Shar?

I’m taking her away, Theodorah answered. Your friend isn’t happy in Heaven. She wants to leave. I say she’s made an excellent choice.

Anin’s brown eyes hardened. What are you talking about? Shar, who is this? She isn’t an angel. She doesn’t have a halo.

Anin, please go back up to Heaven. Just go away.

I don’t think so. Anin took a step closer.

Don’t worry, Anin, Theodorah said. Your friend will be safe. Who knows—maybe if you’re bad enough, I’ll come back for you some day.

Wait— Shar felt Theodorah’s strong arms wrap around her and yank. They tipped together off the edge of the platform. Shar sucked her breath, expecting a crazy sustained plunge without a braking umbrella, but instead she and Theodorah landed hard on the lip of another ledge several metres below the Upper Aphrodite.

Shar groaned when her sandals hit the stone. She felt like both of her ankles had snapped, but Theodorah had landed like a cat. The succubus held onto her arm with a steel grip and twirled her back to her feet. The Ministry agents were still nowhere to be seen. Instead, a second succubus was waiting. Theodorah’s accomplice wore a faded black robe with a pinched waist and gold-embroidered lapels. Her long, jet-black hair blew in the wind. She held a wooden staff high and sang in a strange language.

We’ve got her, Theodorah said. Let’s go, Dierdrah. We’ll leave the climbing ropes. Shar, your backpack will be heavy. You should leave it unless it’s really important.

I want it. Please?

Oh, I like that attitude. Theodorah smiled, but the smile faded, and silvery-blue eyes of the succubus shimmered with concern. You’re trembling, angel. This is scary for me too, but don’t be afraid. Have faith in the Lady. You’re going to be safe.

Shar trembled. She was soaked by the rain. Her head felt weird and heavy in the Bliss-Trip Bonnet. She worked her jaw against the damp chinstrap. Suddenly a white light illuminated the scene. A loud crack sounded with a hiss of steam, accompanied by a smell of ozone. A team of Ministry agents had flashed directly onto the ledge.

Jump! shouted Dierdrah. The black-robed succubus brandished her staff. Shar felt her heart leap