+1+

I didn’t recognize Helios at first.

For once he was completely alone. No guards, guns or entourage.

But he didn't look vulnerable.

Even though it was 50 degrees outside he was dressed simply in a gray leather jacket and dark jeans. His eyes covered by a dark pair of black aviators. Helios had sent a car for us--Isobel and I-- a slick white BMW that was so new it had the tags on.

I squeezed Isobel’s hand and we walked over to Helios. He was looking up at a new flag that was raised above Queen Anne’s. For a long time the three poles had held an American Flag a New York state flag and a Queen Anne’s college flag which in of itself was a terrible pink variation of the Lux Aeterna.

Now the Queen Anne's flag was gone, replaced by a white flag with the green SGI insiginia on it.

I heard Helios laugh.

“People”, He said not even looking at us, “Walk by and see this flag. They wonder to themselves what it means. . . what it’s for. But soon the entire world will fear this flag. This will be the symbol of my new city. . . New Aeterna. So many  of my men have already fallen for this what this flag stands for."

He smiled when he said the words then gestured for us to follow him through the outside gates and past the secure inner gates of Queen Anne's. He took us to his mansion where the bottom floor had been cleared out. I wondered where he was having his men stay now.

Helios slid off his jacket revealing a tight white crew shirt. He had a gray mourning band on his shoulder, he’s paused to make sure that I saw it. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and decide not to answer it.

“New Aeterna”, I said picking up from earlier, “I hope I’ll live to see it.”

“You might”, Helios said, “I wish things had been different between us Paris. I think we could have made quite the team. We are gods among human men. It could have been us versus the humans. We could have been great."

"I'm not looking to be a god. Peace is what I want. It's what Hmeju wanted. It's why we fled here. Times haven't always been ideal but we've managed."

“What do you want, Helios ?”, Isobel asked, “What’s this about.”

“It’s simple, Ms. Isobel.”, he says with a mocking smile, “Lies”

I bow my head as he continues. My phone starts to vibrate again, I don’t pick up

“My men are being murdered.”, Helios says

Murder ? That wasn’t what I was expecting.

“It’s not us”, Isobel says and I’m shocked she would eve speak up.

“Oh”,  Helios smiles, “I know. It’s Seraphina. She has a certain . . .flair.”

What the fuck. Fuck. I study Isobel’s eyes. She’s not the least bit surprised.

I start to speak but Helios continues

 “She is killing my men and I can’t have that. I want you to bring her to me and this time I’m going to give you a bit of motivation.”

Helios turned quickly and snatched up Isobel and pressed his forearm into her neck. His grasp on her so hard her shoes were almost off the floor.

“Helios, let her go.”

“I don’t think so”, Helios said, “When you bring Seraphina here and tell me who your informant is I’ll gladly let Ms. Charter go.”

My phone buzzes inappropriately  in my pocket. I use my Bluetooth to silence it. It starts to ring again but I’m to busy trying to fix what’s happening infront of me. This wasn’t Isobel’s fight, this wasn’t her her world. If there was anyone who could handle themselves against Helios. . .  perhaps it was Seraphina.

On the second floor landing I see two SGI watching the scene carefully. One of whom is Leon who looks particularly nervous. I can't turn on him. Sera would never forgive me if I did.

“What will you do to Seraphina if I bring her to you ?”, I offer

 “Rehabilite her. It shouldn’t be hard she’s easily manipulated”, Helios says softly, ”Seraphina was my best solider, my perfect other half.  Calliope can’t even begin to compare. I love her and want her back. ”

I swallow because I don’t think Helios is lying about his feelings about Seraphina. He just seemed to forget that he abused and tried to kill her. My phone goes off again.

“I’ll do it”, I finally say, “I'll give you Seraphina. . . just let me take Isobel with me—“

“Oh, no. Bring Seraphina to me or Isobel is going to be the first prisoner on the road to New Aeterna.”

“Paris”, Isobel pleas.

“Isobel, just hold on. I'll fix this. Helios, Don’t you lay a hand on Isobel. I'll bring Seraphina to you.”

“Good. you'll get yours when I get mine.”

I hate that the only way I can get out of here is for me to turn around and walk with my back to Helios. I turn deliberately and pick up my stride as I reach the door.

“Oh, Paris”, Helios shouts, “Happy New Year.”

Outside the two SGI who had driven me here, hustle me into the white BMW. I glance at my phone  and see I have 26 missed calls from St. Lilth's. I wait patiently until we reach 118^th street and asks to be let out of the car.

The men seem glad not to have to finish the drive to Riverdale and barley stop the car in time for me to tumble out.

“Hello”

“Paris ?”,  It’s Seraphina. Shit it’s Seraphina

“Sera, Helios has Isobel. Fuck.  I can't believe you killed his men. I mean Titus was one thing but seriously what the hell, Sera. What the fuck.  What the fuck. I need to get her out and the only thing Helios wants is you. I know you're scared Sera but you can take Helios. Please Isobel won't survive in there--”

 “Shut up Paris. I'm not going back there. Listen to me.  Ariel and that terrible boy are gone. They’ve been missing since last night.”

“What ?”

“Carey was covering for them that’s why he wanted to go out. They were supposed to be back at midnight and they haven’t checked in and aren't answering calls."

“I—where did they go ?”

“Some party where Isaiah recruits daemons. I told you that boy was trouble I---“

“Seraphina, please now is not the time. Calm down I’m calling a car.”

“Don't tell me--”

I sigh because I know that’s not what she wants to hear.

“I. . . it’s going to be fine Sera. It’s going to be okay.”

+2+

Ariel

It’s bright. . . so bright.

I’m blinded by the pretty pale yellow light filtering in from the open floor to ceiling windows in the loft. I peel myself off the floor and stand up.  The party was certainly over.

“Ew”, I say the minute I see what’s infront of me.

I step over a boy who is passed out in his own vomit. The loft had lost its festive feel and now looked like the plague had hit it. A sea of hungover people in pretty dresses, tight shirts and numerical sunglasses were passed out on the floor. The smell was deafening and a few moans could be heard from those who were conscious.

I scan the room and find Paul in his usual position sitting at a table with his head down. I frown when I see a girl sleeping off her hangover next to him, their hands touching. Probably accidentally . . . but still.

“Paul”, I whisper shaking him.

“Mrhgn”, He says or something like that.

He shakes himself awake and I have to help lead him out into the hallway.  In the hall the basket of LSD blotters had been abandoned and we could be alone  His shirt is unbuttoned and I can see the bit of hair on his chest. I can smell a sweet, clove and spicy scent. Is that him ? It makes my mouth water.

“What are we going to do ? We messed up, big time. What are we going to tell the others ? We got to drunk to do our job. What was I thinking drinking and taking those awful drugs.”

“No”, Paul says, “This is good. This is how it works.  They probably want to see who sticks around and those are the ones who they will recruit.”

“Just stop.",  I said. We missed Leslie choosing recruits. We shouldn't have drank so much. Let’s get some apple cider and go home—er the church or whatever

 “. . . Did you say apple cider ?”

“I just. . . really want something gingery and cinammony. I can smell it. . . I think maybe someone is baking cookies.”

I titter down the hall in my party shoes and look out the window. We are on the fourth floor so it must be a street vendor. I can smell that strong apple spice flavor.

“We should get back inside”, Paul says but I’m already heading down the stairs. I have a few dollars and it wouldn’t take long to grab a cider and come back.

“Hey”, Paul calls and follows me, “Where are you going ?”

“I can smell the cider.”

“They don’t sell cider on the street anymore, it’s not the 1900s”

I clunk down three flights and pull open an emergency door which leads to a dirty alley. The smell is coming from there. My face lights up when I see a light snow has started to fall. Infront of me a man throwing out his trash looks my party outfit up and down.

The delicious smell gets stronger

“Is that you. . .”, I asked the man.

“I’ll be whoever you want me too”, he says and gives a gruff laugh

I step closer to him

“Ariel”, Paul opens the door and yells to me.

The man smiles and just like with Paul last night I lean in to kiss the strange man. I swear I leaned in to kiss him but instead I bite him. Right near his neck where I could smell the sweet apple spice on him. Whatever was beneath his skin was sweet, hot and delicious. It made me feel warm. What was he ?

I can hear the man screaming but it don’t understand why. I’m mean I do but I don’t—

I’m suddenly thrown backwards into a pile of trash. Paul stands between me and the man with his hands out.

“Run”, Paul yells to the man, “Run, she’s fucking high. Run”

“Damn kids”, he yells and runs back into his building, “Motherfucking bath salts.”

Paul leans down next to me and helps me up. I move to quickly adjust the tiny dress. He inspects a cut on my lip.

“Sorry. I didn't mean to push you”, he says, “I just reacted.”

“P-paul”, I urge myself not cry, “What am I ? What did I do ?.  . . Did I bit that guy. What the. . . what am I ? What am I ?”

“Honestly… I don’t know.”

+++

Paul and I head back upstairs in silence. When we get to the fourth floor, Paul leans against the door.

“I’m a daemon. .  aren’t I ?”, I finally sad the words.

“No.”

“No ?”

“No. I mean daemons are originally humans. . . you’re an Angel. So that makes you something else.”

“Okay”, he’s right, “Let’s see. What’s a normal daemon like ?”

“Um, well. bloodthirst.”

“Check”, I say

“Only killed by white gold.”

“That’s always been true. So Check.”

“Strength.”

I reach down and try to pick up Paul. He doesn’t feel heavy but I feel like I could if I really tried

“What’s it like ”, Paul said, “I mean you drank from a human.”

“It was odd. I’m still thinking about it, that guy smelled so good. Is this how you feel all the time living in St. Lilth’s.”

 “Yeah, it’s torture. I hate it.”

“So. . . how did this happen ?”

Paul thinks on it for a while, then he picks up the basket that was holding the LSD blotters.

“The synthetic Angel element Isaiah created must have been in these.”, Paul tosses the empty basket

“Okay, so the next step would have been death. I don’t remember dying.”

Paul paces and then snaps his fingers.

 “. . . The jungle juice must have poisoned. No way that many people stay and get hungover. I think you died last night. I think the whole party did.”

“I guess that’s fast and clean.They aren't too selective”, my words trail off and I drop against Paul's chest and his hand moves to my hair, the gesture does nothing for me. I'm so angry at him.

“Sorry”

“I’m not an Angel anymore. I’m a monster”

“Hey”, he sound faux offended, “We’re monsters.”

That doesn't make me smile.  We separate and straighten up when we hear someone coming up the stairs.

“It’s Leslie”, Paul's whispers, "We can still do this. Let's go."

 We both hurry back into the loft and try to act as hungover and confused as everyone else. We get in the back of the room and Paul puts on his red glasses and hides behind me. I try to look as hungover and tired as everyone else

Leslie walks in with some familiar looking SGI behind her. Paul puts on his glasses and I try to keep my head down.

“How is everyone”, Leslie says, “Hungry ?”

A few nod, some still seem really confused, a few girls are crying.

“It’s Agamemnon and Oberon”, I whisper to Paul, "They are SGI. He might recognize me"

“Don’t be afraid”, Leslie says, “You are no longer just our special guest. You’re our new recruits. You have been chosen to join something bigger than yourselves. We have a lot of information for you.”

The SGI men move to the front of the door and over to the window. They each have big guns in their hands. I catch a glint of white gold ammunition.

“If anyone is going to be a problem”, Leslie says, “We will take care of you now”

 

+3+

Four try to escape.

Four are killed on site. The guns are so quiet it's unnerving.

Paul and I stay in the back and keep as inconspicuous as possible.

We are all lined up and handed gray sweatsuits. Everyone is made to strip and change right there in the loft, I hesitate and look at Paul. The wing remnants from my back could be seen if I undress. I can’t move. I don’t want to do this. I want to be an Angel again. I fight back tears because this new thing, this blood lust is never never never going to go away

Fuck Paul.

This is all his fault.

“We gotta blend in”, he says

Paul notices me not moving, he eyes Leslie and the guards as they shout for us to hurry. Paul takes the sweatshirt and zips it over my dress. Then he reaches under the sweatshirt and tugs my dress down to my hips. I put the pants on under my dress and then pull the dress off. It's then that people start murmuring about missing cell phones.

The sweatshirts says LI Juvenile Detention on the back. We are lined up and escorted down the stairs and into a giant yellow bus. I keep my face turned away when I pass the SGI guards. Paul does the same.

We sit together on the bus but don’t talk. All around us I hear people talking about having odd cravings. It turns out blood smells different to everyone. When anyone get to rowdy or tries to get answers they get a gun in their face.

I start crying, wishing I could reach out to Seraphina. I know if she knew where I was she’d come and get me. This was all Paul's fault. We are driven out of the city and the further we go the less our chance of getting out is.

The bus screeches to a halt and we are all lead out. I see a huge chain link fence and something beyond it smells vile. I squint at the sign.

Long Island Public Works,

 Closed 2006. Refer to King’s Place facility

“It’s . . . an abandoned junkyard”, Paul whispers, but I’m over listening to him.

Leslie opens a huge cooler and that sweet delicious scent hits me again. My mouth waters and It takes everything in my power not to move. The others are not so resilient and rush to the cooler grabbing blood bags and devouring them

If they are freaked out about being turned into monsters, it’s quickly overpowered by their vampiric cravings. Leslie seems pleased with herself and addresses the devouring crowd.

“You’ll stay here for inspection. When The Doctor arrives he will approve you for service. Then we’ll present those of you who meet our high standards to our leader, Helios. I promise if you behave we’ll get you what it is you are craving plus we’ll give you power, money and freedom.

There is some quiet conversation. This offer appeals to some of the kids from the rougher neighborhoods. One girl even said it’d be liking joining a gang but not having to kill someone. No one seems to know what’s really happened to them though.

Paul comes up to me with a blood packet. I turn away from him

“Here”, he said, “It’s not my type”

I say nothing

“I’m more of a B positive kind of guy.”

I turn away from him. I watch as the SGI guards grab two kids trying to climb the fence and drag them behind a trash pile.

“What”, he says.

I ignore him

“What”, he repeats.

“Get away from me”

“What ?”

“Look at this mess you got us into. No one has any idea where we are. And The Doctor is probably Isaiah. He’ll recognize you, kill you and I’ll be alone to face Helios.”

“I’ll come up with a plan”

“Fuck you, Paul”, I finally said it, “Fuck you and your plan. You should have left me alone. I only got involved with you to learn more about Caden. I loved Caden. If he knew you got me involved he would—“

“Laugh”, Paul said

“No.”

“Fuck Caden”

“Caden loved me.”

“No. He didn’t”

“Yes, he—“

“Ariel. No. Caden’t didn’t love you. He was doing his job.”

“That’s how it started bu t—“

Paul stood up and threw the bag to the ground.

“Fuck it. Last year when Isaiah started creating Daemons he knew he needed those weird white apples to do it.  The orchard was under Queen Anne’s campus and he needed someone to charm an Angel to get inside. Caden was supposed to just watch and get intel so someone more. . handsome could do the job of tricking an Angel. Instead he met you and you thought he was the best thing ever

“And we feel in love.”

“No. You were in love. He was playing you the whole time. He’d come back and tell us all the silly things you said and how you didn’t know what a phone was. He was so happy that a beautiful girl was into him. He and the other guys would like steal fucking lines from Twilight to use on you.”

“I read that book, he never—“

“The movie”, he clarified, “He even told us how he got into your pants. I felt bad for you, I thought you sounded kinda cool. I mean really cool and cute and shit. And I was right. Look, Caden was my best friend. But he was a jerk.  The worst part is he died never telling you the truth.”

I felt hot behind the eyes and the tears started falling before I could even think about it. I’d sat in our spot and thought about him. I talked to his picture everyday. I mourned him and loved and I’d never really known him at all.

“I’m so. . . embarrassed. All those daemons at the lunch table, they knew didn’t they.”

“Yeah.”

“At least I’ll die knowing the truth.”

“Yeah”, he said softly, “I wish I’d told you sooner. Cause. . ..”

“What ?”

“I really like you. “

Before I could respond we both turned and looked as gray hummer drove up. Leslie started forcing us all into lines. Paul and I scrambled to the back. Isaiah stepped out the car, followed by The Demon Prince’s brother. Isaiah’s hair was slicked back and blonde. He had on tinted glasses and he looked pale. Leslie sauntered up and kissed Isaiah on the mouth.

“Traitors”, Paul whispered.

“You’re one to talk.”, I said. He could have told me about Caden thousands of times.

Paul bit back his words. There was a chance they wouldn’t recognize me with my red hair, but Paul knew them both to well. There was no hiding for him..

“Ariel, I’m sorry”, He whispers into my neck, “I wish we could have known each other better.”

“Wha--

Paul kicks at the guard behind him, slamming his foot into his crotch. When the guard bends over Paul elbows the guard in the nose and reaches for the guard’s loaded gun. Then Paul charged for the traitors . . . ready to kill.

+++

“Get the fuck out of my face, Sweetheart”

“I thought you ddin’t care. Thought that boy meant nothing to you”

“Shut the fuck up.”

I walked right in the middle of Sera and Callum in a screaming match. They were at either sides of a table. Lysander was just sitting there letting them fight. I’m surprised a punch hadn’t been thrown yet.

“What the hell, guys.”, I snap, “What the fuck is going on. Do we know anything ?”

“Dante’s phone was last seen in The Village—we can’t go there. It’s Angel territory.”, Ashe says.

“I’ll go”, Sera says, “I don’t care about territories.”

“You”, I  said zeroing in on her, “Are sitting the fuck down.  Helios took Isobel because of you.  you’ve been killing his men. What the hell were you thinking?”

“I didn’t kill them”, she said decidedly.

“They just ran into your knife ?”

“Sure”, she says with a glare.

“Seraphina I care about, but I need you to turn yourself into Helios, Isobel won’t last long in there. We will find a way to break you out later.”

"No", she says and turns back to Callum.

“I’ll go to where Dante's  phone was last”, Says Callum, “See what I can find.”

“Let me go with him”, Sera says with a sneer, “Just to find out what happened to Ariel. I’ll come back and we will deal with Isobel.” 

“Sera—“

“It’s fine”, she turns to Callum, “Let’s go.”

 

+++

 

Callum and Sera make it back from their reconnaissance mission in to downtown in one piece and I can only hope their relationship is better for it.

 “What did you find ?”, I asked.

“It’s an apartment building. A loft”, Callum said first, “ There was a bag of phones in the trash, including Paul's. One of the neighbors said there was a big party on the fourth floor last night. Kids coming and going, drugs. The kind of things Isaiah does to recruit. One of the neighbors swear--this is so fucked up--s that he was bitten by a girl, or as he said a vampire.”

“Where are they now ?”, I asked

Sera takes out a sweatshirt and turns it over. The words LI Detention scrawled on the back.

“Long Island”, I said, “Of Course”

“What does that mean.” Callum asks.

“Sera and I followed Helios to Long Island. We never found out what he was up to. I guess that’s were he has been keeping Isaiah.

Callum glances at Sera when he says her name but she is to busy pacing the room, ringing her hands..

“These creatures can’t survive.”, Callums says looking away from her, "They could destroy the human race."

“ Relax Callum. They’re kids. Just like the other Daemons.”, I sit down and try to wrap my head around this

“No", Callum slams his hand against the tabe,  "Those daemons have a limited blood supply. These Daemons have the entire human population. Who knows what could happen."

"They can't live. None of them", Sera says from the back of the room, "And they have Ariel. We cannot just stand here waiting."

“Sera, you know how I feel about death.”

“They’re already dead”, she says.

“There’s no way we have enough bullets to take out the SGI and those creatures”. Callums offers.

"We don't need them", Sera said coming to stand next to Callum, "Get your Brotherhood together because I'm going after Ariel and we are going after Helios."

"How", Callum asks folding her arms

“We're going to take a page out of Helios Thanto's book.”, Sera says then somberly, "But it could destroy life as we know it."

“What do you mean ?”, I ask leaning in.

“We’re going to blow the fucking place up. “

+++

 A/N : So. . . remember when Helios blew up the tailor shops in Part 1 ? It's coming back to bite him.