There was something faintly ironic about China being entrusted with the secret of Archangels - not that there was any choice in the matter - and Bliss being kept in the dark. Bliss, who was meant to be a champion for the Council of Elders and for all things good, while China was regularly ignored by both sides of conflicts because of how untrustworthy her neutrality could be. She knew. Bliss didn't.

She might have laughed, if she were so inclined. But in the end, China decided that the subject of the interesting turn her life had taken should wait for another time. "That makes two of us," she informed him coolly. She was the very picture of grace and elegance, except perhaps to the people who knew her well - in this case, only Bliss, and only if he was paying attention. In reality, she was just as tense as Ravel seemed to be, and just as wary. "Not to skip the small talk, Bliss, but how are you feeling?"

Any murderous inclinations at the moment? went entirely without saying. The last memory she had of Bliss was when he saved her life at Aranmore Farm - distracting Gruesome Krav to give her a chance to escape from the sorcerer's onslaught. The heroic deed made about as much sense to China now as it did back then, and did not help to alleviate any of her worries.