Season 03 - Episode 21

‘ornaments and decoration’

Pho watches the virtues goggle at one another then rise uncertainly and hurry from the room, a messy train of flapping robes. She watches them go then turns and floats across the room, past her throne, towards her quarters.

Ri falls in behind her and they are both about to leave the room when Pho realises she hasn't heard the main doors close. She glances back and sees Humility still hovering in the doorway, wringing her hands.

“Humility?” she says, retracing her steps to stand beside her throne. “Was there something else, my child?”

“Erm... well, yes, Holy Mother,” says Humility, still half way out of the door.

“Well then approach, my child,” says Pho, settling onto her throne as Ri crouches beside her. Pho hand lands on Ri's head and Humility swallows visibly as she approaches.

“The Orders, Holy Mother,” says Humility, moving stiffly to her knees. “Their final mission. I just...”

“We have been through this many times, Humility,” says Pho. “Have we not?”

“We have, Holy Mother,” Humility agrees. “We have and yet, now that the moment is here, I find that this weighs heavily upon me. To send so many to their...”

“Oh, Humility,” says Pho sadly. “The Great Correction is upon us. Weak stomachs and faint hearts have no home here. Remember, these are not people you command, these are poor, broken creatures. Their lives are worth nothing. Becoming Holy Martyrs is the only honour they could ever hope to achieve. Would you deny them this?”

“I understand, Holy Mother,” says Humility, suppressing a sob. “I will try.”

“Do not try, Humility,” growls Pho, lifting Ri's hood just a fraction.

“No, Holy Mother!” Humility gasps. “I will do it. I will do it now, gladly! I will!”

“Then go with love,” says Pho, smiling kindly now.

Pho continues to smile at Humility as she wipes her eyes and nods. As Humility turns to leave however, the smile falls from Pho's face and is replaced by a cold look of furious disgust. She doesn't take her eyes from Humility's back until she leaves the room.

“We shall have to see about her,” Pho murmurs, whether to Ri or to herself is unclear.

Pho rises from her throne and resumes her withdrawal to her chambers, with Ri following silently behind. Her rooms are lush with the most expensive ornaments and decoration. She looks through her things without enthusiasm, occasionally picking things up then dropping them carelessly to the floor.

“All garbage,” she says to Ri, who is standing in the corner behind her. “Utter trash. You'll see, my dear Archangel, once The Great Correction is complete, then you will see true riches, true splendour worthy of our station!”

She considers a few items of clothing and lays them out on the bed.

“The Cherubim will pack for us,” she says over her shoulder. “There's really very little for us to do now until...”

Pho turns and finds Ri staring at her, hood down, eyes wide and wobbling, teeth clenched and snarling. For just a second Pho's mouth falls open in a gasp, her eyes bulge. Then, a deep calm settles over her and she squares her shoulders, resolute.

“Archangel,” she says. “I see you are attempting to resist your natural instincts. Do you think this wise?”

“Been. Practising,” Ri splutters, each word a huge effort. “Poor. Broken. Creature,”

“The Orders?” asks Pho, confused. “But they are just that and they hurt you. Why should you care for them?”

“No. Me. You called. Me,” Ri struggles. “Broken. Creature. My life. Worth nothing!”

Pho licks her lips and watches Ri fight an obviously losing battle to retain control.

“Ri,” she says finally. “I'm so proud of you, my dear child. This life you've been living, as a weapon, as a thing, it has all been nothing but a test. You understand this, yes? I had to put you through it so you could find your own way and now, you have! A poor, broken creature you may have been once, but no more! You have passed the test! Everything will change now, a new chapter begins for you this day!”

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