The angel seemed to remember the reporter’s presence. She gave something I think was meant to be a smile, though it made him visibly recoil. “This is your world – we angels will allow you the running of it. Our administration of the Church is only in response to your unavoidable worship of us – beyond that, we have little interest in associating with you.”

Kara stopped translating for a second; she let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Man, I never thought I’d dislike any angel more than Raziel.” Then she continued as the reporter stammered, “Is...is that why you’re in Mexico City – to appoint a head for the Church here?”

The eyes turned aloof. “Partly,” said the angel. “We are currently conducting other business here too – vital business for all angelkind. You humans here in Mexico City, and then also around the world, may notice certain affects. This interview is at an end.”

“What does that mean?” yelped Brendan.

“I don’t know – but they’re already affecting humanity more than enough,” Wesley ground out. He was glaring at the screen, his normally closed-off face alive with anger. Remembering what Alex had told me in confidence, about his entire family having angel burn, I didn’t blame him.

“Quiet, you guys,” said Alex.

The final image showed the Twelve in their angel forms, their winged figures glowing brightly. “We chilangos can be proud that the Seraphic Council chose Mexico City from which to address the world,” the reporter said in a voice-over. “But for now...we can only wait, and wonder.”

“God, we can’t do away with them soon enough,” Liz burst out as two commentators in a newsroom appeared onscreen, talking excitedly. “Talk about doing the world a favour!”

“At least they don’t seem to like that smarmy Raziel very much.” Kara still stood in the doorway, her nose wrinkled in distaste. “It sounds like he may not even be holding onto the Church much longer.”

“Yeah, but none of this matters unless we can actually get into the Torre Mayor,” growled Sam. “Alex, what’s up with that? You’ve got a plan, right?”

I glanced at him, wondering what he’d say. When Alex wasn’t taking the team on practice hunts, he’d been hanging out around the rear of the Torre Mayor, watching the service entrance. Though I’d had the sense for days now that a plan was forming in his mind, he didn’t seem to want to talk about it yet.

He obviously didn’t want to talk about it now, either. “I’m working on something,” he said shortly. “Don’t worry, we’ll get in. But first things first, guys. We’ve got to get the security info, or we’ll be working blind once we are in.”