"Who are you?" Gabriel repeats, but he doesn't have time to listen to the answer. A gigantic figure descends from above them and Gabriel turns, swiftly plunging his blade into the figure before it can attack. It's an instinctive move that has him stumbling back in horror as the figure explodes in a supernova of light. He's just killed one of his brothers. How can he ever come back from that?

He turns back to Topher and grabs a handful of his shirt. They need to get out of here right now. He pulls and the scene around them disappears, replaced by the clean lines of an upscale hotel lobby. Gabriel falls back into the carpet. His wings have transformed with the transition. Now, they seem more solid, distinctly avian and distinctly damaged.

Behind the booking counter, an insipid man smiles and says. "Loki, I see you've brought a friend. The meeting is already under way."