what to expect from Vox Dei, it didn't matter. She had grown up in business meetings with powerful people, so this was just a little step up from that. Sure, she was apparently going to meet the archangels, but the only difference really was their wings. To be honest, she wasn't even sure she could take them seriously if they had them out. Azriel's reminded her of ashes, but theirs would most likely just remind her of doves.

A loud laugh interrupted her and she turned her head towards Azriel, who was sprawled out on his bed. She had been flicking through the stacks of paperwork on his desk and he had been watching her as she read through the things she deemed important. If there was anything important she could take with her tomorrow it was knowledge after all, her tongue already sharpened enough on diamonds and glass.

"What is it?" she said, tilting her head as she watched him.

"You compared my brother to doves," he chuckled, laughter still tumbling down his lips.

"Are you reading my thoughts?" she said.

At that he gave her an almost guilty smile and she raised an eyebrow. After pushing himself up in a seating position he shook his head, waving at the room around them.

"I didn't mean to," he said," it's just this room. There's usually no one here but me, so I put magic on it to let my thoughts echo off the walls. It makes me less chaotic." He beckoned for her to come closer, looking almost boyish with his messy hair and unbuttoned blouse. "Come here, I'll show you."

"Come to me," she said, leaning against the wall.

He moved towards her without hesitation, tucking a lock behind her ear. As soon as his skin grazed hers the world around them seemed to come alive with sounds, bouncing off the walls and flying off with the breeze. She could hear herself, the way she processed the information and dynamic of the gods she had just read about, and then him. Where her thoughts were a structural line, his were a chaos, tangled in each other and falling everywhere.

"I wonder if he will show up this time," he said, but when she looked at him his lips hadn't moved. One glance up proved it was a thought instead, the words dancing in cursive around his head. "I hope he doesn't."

It was easy to guess who he was talking about, but she didn't say anything about it, instead staring him in the eyes.

"You're not going to complain about me hearing your thoughts?" he said," I can switch it off if you like."

Normally she would have told him to do so, but they were growing closer. Although she wasn't one to open up to people, they were going to spend an eternity together. Besides, from what she was hearing, the vulnerability seemed to come more from him than her.

"Are you surprised?" he smirked," that I'm so in touch with my feelings."

"Are you now?" she drawled.

"Only to you," he said," because we're bound by a contract, because I know you won't leave me."

Because you make eternity a sight to look forward to, his thought sung in her ear.

"I normally hate Vox Dei," he said," but I actually think it'll be fun with you there."

"About that," she said," send me home."

He frowned, pulling his hand back. "Don't tell me you're worried? I'll protect you from my brothers, always."

"I don't think Michael the archangel is planning to be the cause of my third death," Jasmina said," I just need to go dress shopping. Gucci sounds good for a gathering in the clouds."

"We're leaving at the break of dawn," Azriel said," you can go shopping in the district of the gods. It's around the corner of my house here."

"My creditcard doesn't work here, Az," she said.

"Mine does," Azriel grinned, opening his hand and giving her the black card that had magically appeared in it. "Go wild, my queen."

She threw her arms around his neck, pecking him on the lips, her smile wicked. "That's my kind of man."

"Devil," he corrected.

"Angel," she teased.

He chuckled, pulling her closer by her waist. "You want me to come with?"

"No need," she said," I like shopping on my own. You have enough paperwork to worry about anyway, I sorted some of it in different stacks."

Azriel turned towards his more orderly desk now, the papers which had been spilling from it earlier now mostly standing in neat stacks beside each other.

"You are the woman of my dreams," he said.

"I am indeed," she said, waving a hand at the stacks," the first one is the most urgent. Trust me, politics is a language I'm fluent in." Her gaze turned towards the one behind it. "That one is a stack of your letters to Dionysus. I don't know why you're in such an invested pen pal relationship with the Greek god of wine, but whatever keeps you busy."

"Dion is great," Azriel grinned," I can't wait for you to meet him, he's one of the few there who isn't so uptight."

"Looking forward to it," she said, turning around towards the door," I'll be seeing you tonight."

"Call my name if anything happens," Azriel said," I'll be there in a second." He pointed at his eyes then. "It shouldn't though, you have the mark of the devil on you. I doubt there's anyone stupid enough to bother you."

She glanced at the broken mirror beside the door, her eyes reflecting in all the shards. Where they usually were as dark as the night, there was nothing starry about them anymore; instead they were the color of ash, a circle of fire ringing her pupil. It matched with her red shoes though, so she didn't mind.

After stepping out of the door she realized how big the devil's mansion was. Large stairways were on her left, a long hallway spreading out in front of her. Above her she could see more floors, each of them as cluttered as this one. She wondered why he kept all the trinkets as she walked down the stairway, but she supposed he had done a lot in an attempt to have fun.

The door to the outside was made from polished, black wood and when she pushed it open, the light almost blinded her. A street made of silver stretched on to her left and right, people floating by on it with brightly colored hair and ethereal looking faces. She followed them to the right, eyes drawn to the glittering golden sky and the big mansions lining the road. The doors of some were wide open, but no one even glanced at it and she doubted anyone would try to break in. The dangers here were perhaps prettier than in hell, but they were there still.

A part of her wanted to enter one for the hell of it, but she couldn't be too distracted. It would take some time to find the perfect dress and if she was here anyway, she might as well see what they had to offer. The silver road ended after a few more minutes, making way for a bustling town filled with chatter and pastel colored shops. She entered the first one, with blue walls and dresses seeming fit for the night, made from stardust and moonlight.

After having made her way through six shops, she moved on to a pink one with dresses woven from satin leaves and silk flowers. It all was a bit too soft to be her style, but she walked through it anyway, placing the multiple bags she was holding down as she held up a gown made from sunflower gold.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

She turned towards the voice, a sweet one made from honey and grace, only to come face to face with a stunning woman. The people around them were beautiful, but she seemed to be on another level, with dark skin the color of the earth and eyes as green as a forest, cinnamon hair curling around her. For some reason the woman reminded Jasmina vividly of nature.

"Not for me," Jasmina said," but it would suit you, I'm sure."

It wasn't hard to guess the woman was important, but until she knew her name diplomacy always was best. Especially if the flower crown around her head was more than just an accessory. Her words seemed to be received well, the woman flashing her a bright smile as she took another dress, one with a corset of diamond flowers and a flowy skirt of angel lace.

"This one, perhaps?" she suggested.

"I love diamonds," Jasmina said as she took it," so that'll be a yes." She glanced up at the woman. "You have good taste, Miss ..."

She let the question hang in the air and the woman smiled sweetly at her, taking the dress of sunflowers.

"It's Persephone," she said," and you must be Jasmina, right? Azriel's queen, I heard."

It only took Jasmina a second to remember everything she had learned about Persephone, the queen of the Underworld, but the goddess already stepped back then.

"Nice to meet you," she beamed," my husband and yours don't always get along very well, but I would love to have a good relationship." She held up the dress. "And besides, we'll match in silver and gold!"

A few flower nymphs walked towards Persephone, hooking their arms through hers. She smiled at them fondly, before turning towards Jasmina one last time.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know you more during Vox Dei," she said," and so are the other gods. We've heard a lot about you, Jasmina Nawar."

A blink of the eye and she was gone, only the scent of spring left behind. Even though Vox Dei was still hours away, Jasmina could already feel the chaos it would cause. With that thought in mind she bought the dress, a calculating smile on her face all the way home.