The fortress hung suspended between earth and sky.Not literally floating—though divine architecture made such things possible. Just positioned on a mountain peak so high that clouds formed below it, giving the illusion that heaven itself had descended to rest on mortal stone. The Spire of Ascension. One of the Goddess's primary strongholds on Earth. The place where her loyalist forces coordinated, where purification rituals were conducted, where Baptized were brought to have their transformations stripped away.Where the Forsaken had decided to make their stand."Final count." Maya's voice was steady through the communication network. Essence-based, untraceable by conventional means, vulnerable to divine detection but necessary for coordination. "All councils reporting status.""Cascadian forces in position. Two hundred forty-three combat-capable angels and mortals. Ready to breach northern approach." Cassiel's response was clipped. Professional. Hiding whatever doubts she had about

They came at dawn, carrying white flags.Not surrender flags—negotiation banners. The universal signal that what followed should be discussion rather than violence. Maya watched them approach the hidden shelter through surveillance wards, counting heads and assessing threat level.Twelve humans. No visible weapons. No essence signatures suggesting Baptism or transformation. Just mortals who'd somehow tracked the resistance's location and decided conversation was worth the risk of approaching beings who'd been branded terrorists by half the world's governments."Let them in?" Eli's question held skepticism. "Could be trap. Could be surveillance for follow-up strike. Could be—""Could be exactly what it looks like." Maya's interruption was tired. "Mortals trying to navigate impossible situation. We claim to fight for their choice. Might as well hear what they're choosing."The delegates were escorted underground. Through passages that shifted daily, past wards that would erase hostile i