The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 101: Lots of Ways to Look at Something

Chapter 101: Lots of Ways to Look at Something

This was a new experience.

Crowley splayed his hand out wide and pushed the door inward. It had been locked, but that was no encumbrance to him. As he entered he drew in the small sting from the horseshow above the door, let it center him, and he didn't enter completely until he was certain the angel was at his side.

There was shouting. Anathema was lit up like a Christmas Tree, by the sound of her voice. Not so uncommon. But to hear Tracy's tone so stern and deep: Tracy had a lot of voices to begin with. Sounded like she was saving this one for special occasions.

Aziraphale and Crowley crept into the kitchen, listening with growing alarm. The women were upstairs in that guest bedroom that had once held the angel and the demon for two hundred years, or twenty minutes, depending on your point of view. Tonight, it held a muffled row instead:

"He's losing a bit of himself every time he picks it up!"

"He does not!"

"He does, Goddamnit! How can you not feel it? I can feel it and I'm not even trying!"

"Where does it go?"

"Proxima. That word stands out in my mind, always, when I touch that thing!"

"Dearie! That's because that's where Jinny might be! That's what you're feeling! Every time he touches that sword he amplifies his angel nature, and reaches out to those stars searching for her! That piece isn't gone! It just sifts back down, imbedded and hidden for safe keeping throughout all his layers!!!"

"You're telling me he feels whole to you?"

"He doesn't to you?"

The shouting stopped. Crowley held his breath. They strained to listen for anything. But that was it.

There was no more conversation.

Quite suddenly Crowley whipped out his phone and started texting something. Aziraphale peered over his shoulder. "What are you doing?' he whispered.

"Telling the lads to take their time, and so on." Crowley bit his lip. "You really think they're prepared to come home to this?"

"Sporting of you."

"We'll trying to keep the tongue lashings to a minimum tonight. There's been enough drama dragged into this home as it is."

Thumping could be heard upstairs, and a slam, and the two women emerged stomping down the stairs and cold in their silence. The witch marched right up to Crowley and demanded," Let me see the ward."

Without question, the demon pulled out the ruby medallion, and the witch grabbed it so tight she nearly yanked him down. Out came a jeweler's loupe, and she put it to her eye and scrutinized every raised surface on the thing. Then she went "Hmmm," and dropped it.

Next she came to the angel and held out her hand. "You. Next. Out with it."

The angel's fingers stumbled over each other trying to extract the ward.

"Come on, come on!"

"B.G.," Crowley warned. "Take it down a notch. He's had a rough night."