“Well, well. So this is the new one that’s had Ecto all up in a tizzy,” she said, setting me down on a branch. I look down. We were at a dizzying height above the forest floor.

I should kill her, right? That’s what Heidi had said. But... this was a literal child. At least in appearance. That would be a bit much to just up and murder in cold blood, wouldn’t it?

“What’s wrong? Need to kill me? You wouldn’t kill a child, would you?” she said, giggling. “Oh right, names, names. It’s a little unfair that I know yours. You can just call me... call me Thea.”

“You let go of me.” Why? What was she trying to accomplish?

“Yeah. You can fly off, if you want, hmm? But I just had a feeling you wouldn’t. You don’t seem like the type, Quinn.”

“What do you want with me?”

She held a hand to her chest, feigning offence. “How rude. I only wanted to have a chat with you. To answer those questions burning inside of you.” She poked me right above my heart. “I’m willing to give you answers, Quinn. About us. About you, about angels, about everything.”

I should have just flown away. But I just... she seemed so non-threatening, a little kid in an a suit, hanging and playing in the branches while waiting for my answer. Were her mouth shut, I’d never have thought she was a demon. I had to know a little more, right? “Sure. You don’t have any ulterior motives. Like I’d buy that.”

“You aren’t leaving.” She giggled. Like she read my mind.

“Why should I trust you?”

“Why should you trust them? Sarah, Heidi, Angelina, Nep.” She counted their names on her fingers. “You’re just going to trust them because they’re angels? That they don’t have motives of their own? That they aren’t hiding things from you?”

“They’re human at least. I can understand them. And they understand me.”

“You wound me so... all these prejudices against me from the get-go. I can’t catch a break. Won’t you give me a chance?”

“Are you working with him?” I asked. “Ecto, I mean.”

“Ecto? Don’t worry, I won’t tell him anything. Really, he’d just spoil everything. He’s no fun anymore, you know that? You really left an impression on him. On his hand, to be precise. He’s dead-set on finding Sanctuary 73 and purging you all from here, says that you’re the last thing standing in the way of his grand ambitions. And oh boy, are his ambitions grand. Why, he’s really itching for promotion from the first sphere, and I— oops, I’m getting ahead of myself. But don’t you see? I know so much more than they do about us. Or why don’t you ask them how an Echo is born? Or how demons are made? I doubt even Nep really knows the answer.”

I shuffled in place on my branch. “Why are you telling me all this? I'm just some newbie angel.”

“Because you’re Vespa’s angel, Quinn. Perhaps you don’t understand how special a thing that is. I could tell you that, too, if you want.”

I almost agreed on the spot. “You’re a demon, though.”

She rolled her eyes. “You know, we demons have a branding problem. You say ‘demon’ and people already get all defensive. We’re not your enemies.”

“You just want to end all life on Earth.”

Thea pursed her lips. “Well, if you phrase it like that, yes. Because we want to create a paradise for you humans. A place away from earth where you can live forever. Something the angels simply can’t accept. A paradise.”

Could that be true? “I... need to ask Nep about this,”

She laughed. “Interested now, aren’t you? You wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of history, now, would you? Our record is 6-0 already, you know. The angels lose every single time. And this will be no different.”

“This is a lot to take in.”

She looked around, suddenly panicked. “Oops. She’s coming, now. Here, take this.” She pressed something small and hard into the palm of my hand. “In case you’re interested in talking a little more.” She vanished into the forest.

Sarah burst through the canopy and landed on a large branch beside me. “Quinn. Thank god you’re okay.” She knelt beside me, looking over my whole body for injuries. “How do you feel?”

“I’m fine,” I said. Vespa landed on my shoulder. “Who is she?” I whispered.

“I don’t recognize her,” said Vespa. “How odd.”

How odd, indeed. I had a lot on my mind on the walk back to Sanctuary 73.