Uriel lunged forward, floating above the ground. Miranda was barely able to turn his strike aside with her shield. 

Courtney prepared an arrow and tried aiming, but Miranda and Uriel were moving too quickly for her to follow very well. 

"What should I do?" she muttered. 

"Focus," Hermes said. "You're borrowing power from Artemis. You should be able to shoot an arrow unerringly. You just have to tap into it." 

Miranda ducked under a sword swing and swung upward in response. Uriel jumped back. He let out a start when an arrow came right for his chest. He swung his blade, slicing it in half. But Miranda's blade was following up with a strike towards his chest. 

She found herself slicing through empty monastic robes. "Where?" She asked, looking around. 

"Above you!" Sam shouted. 

Miranda and Courtney looked up. Uriel's blonde hair was flowing in the wind. White, feathery wings were flapping, keeping him aloft. 

He swooped down towards Miranda. She brought her blade up to block, but it was unnecessary. Courtney's arrows forced him back into the air. He spun around and dove for Courtney. Miranda tackled him from the side and brought him rolling to the ground. She brought her blade up, but was kicked away before she could bring it down. Courtney fired a volley of arrows, forcing Uriel back while Miranda recovered. 

Sam stepped between Courtney and Miranda. "Stay back," Miranda said. "Leave him to us." 

"It's okay," Sam said. "I can fight too, I think."

Uriel flew forward, sword outstretched. 

"Love's divine protection," Sam said,  holding up her wand. A shield enveloped the three. Uriel bounced back when he hit it. 

"We can't stay in here forever," Courtney said. 

"We won't have to," Miranda said. "I have an idea."

The three of them got into a huddle. They eventually broke free and Miranda left the shield.

Uriel swooped down at her instantly. Miranda blocked with her shield and swung with her sword. He flew up and away from her. He was between her and the shield. Two arrows came up, piercing his remiges and bringing him crashing to the ground. 

Miranda rushed forward, tackling him into the shield, which bounced him into the air. Several small holes formed in the shield, arrows flew out of them, piercing Uriel's body as he fell into the ground.

He pulled himself up. "I'll be back!" he declared, vanishing from sight. 

*****

"You're in a sorry state," Raziel said. "Honestly, you're pathetic." 

"Shut up!" Uriel said. "They just took me by surprise. Next time I'll..." 

"You'll nothing!" 

Uriel turned, his face pale. "My Lord, if I can have just one more..." 

"No," the voice was harsh. "I told you not to turn back, and yet here you are. You have committed an unforgivable offense." He waved his hand and Uriel screamed. His body turned a grainy white and he was still.

Raziel reached over and brushed against his unmoving body with his finger. "Salt?" 

"It is your time, Raziel," he said. "Let Uriel's fate serve as an example to you and do not fail me."