"They were connected in as much as they both marked the end of the world," Re-l said, "but Awakening had more to do with Vincent. He was what awoke." Her mouth twisted. "I'd say the gun was coincidence, but then Proxy One engineered me, so it would probably be a lie."

She let his final statement sink in. Was it even reasonable to believe him? But if his world held magic, then real gods were not so implausible. She couldn't judge anything on her own standards. There was only one conclusion she could come to.

"You're as bad as he was," she said. "You'd think angels would have better faces."