"Fractured crystal reflecting in on itself." China couldn't quite help a small chuckle. Not just souls, then. Not just the lifestream. Something connected to it, perhaps. It wasn't hard to imagine the Cleavers could be connected to the lifestream. Especially since Bliss appeared to be stuck within them. Still, it was at once strange and gratifying to hear her handiwork described in that way.

"Now?" China bit her lip, suddenly and wonderfully deep in thought. This wasn't like being called to an Archangel's aid. This was, once again, her choice. She liked that. "Oh, I don't see why not. Providing Renn didn't get bored enough to leave entirely, of course."

A hint of bitterness etched itself into her tone this time, but China thought she was well justified in that regard. Her library was her domain. She'd always been able to find whatever she needed within it without effort, be it a book or a person or her assistant. That magic might still exist, but it would be like fractured crystal, and it was cut off from her either way. Now, her library was just a library. A maze of shelves. Catalogued, fortunately, so business had been running as usual, but China still walked among the stacks every now and then, missing the feeling of being connected.

She nearly found herself glad Low was with them. China banished that feeling the instant it reared its ugly head. "He has a mobile, I dare to presume?"