That night Isobel and I talked about Boston the way most people talked about whirlwind vacations. For us, that northern capital city would be a two day respite from the uncertainty, the unusual and ungodly that had infected our lives.
I’d let her talk me into going dancing for our date night. Which to her surprise was an activity I was quite adept to. I'd always devoured music and rhythm. To me it was just a natural expression. One that nowadays came infused with alcohol, which after the night I was having I decided to indulge.
Being close to her, feeling the curve of her next to me, I forgot about anything and anyone else from that evening. I don't know how things would end with Helios,or how we would survive in the coming years. I didn't know how our very strange existence would end.
I did know. I at least knew that I was in love with Isobel Charter and that made everything stand still.
We slipped back into St. Lilith’s just past midnight. The new instigated curfew was to make sure we all made it back alive.The bottom floor place was quiet except for the clacking of her shoes.
The doormat outside was turned around, my sign that Hippolyta had successfully escaped. This very much improved my mood. Whatever Callum and Dante might do in the morning was far from my mind.
“Paris”, Isobel said tracing my second smile, “I want you. . . please”
She said those words so slowly.
She pulled me down off my knees so I was on top of her, I couldn’t stop kissing her. She still smelled like her margarita and like me from when she’d borrowed my coat. I waited patiently for her to open her mouth to me, taking her bottom lip between my teeth. I kissed her down to her neck and the top of her breast.
Her hands ran underneath my shirt, over the soft skin there, finally working into my belt.
“Wait”, I breathed
“Paris”, she groaned frustrated.
“Just a few minutes, love. I promise.”
She smiled at the new term of endearment and sat up watching me.
I sat up and walked backwards to my bookshelf. I took my one of many copies Machiavelli’s The Prince, opening it to where the center had been cut out. I pulled out the small ring box and flipped it open to still see the small diamond ring nestled inside.
This ring had cost me most of the money I personally owned, which wasn’t saying much. I breathed out and shaking I turned back to Isobel and got to my knees. Fell really, she stood up instantly.
I watched her lips break into a steady smile, her eyes intently studying the ring. I felt a slight warmth in my heart fwatching her expression. This was one of the many times I’d expected to make her look this way.
“Isobel”, I whispered
“It's so beautiful”
“Thank you ?”, we both laugh at my questioning tone.
She took the ring out of the box and studied the facets closer. I playfully took it back.
“Will you marry me, Isobel ?”
“Are you sure?”, she asked.
“Yes “, I almost laughed, “Isobel where have you been this past year. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my exhaustively long life with you. I can only hope your life will be that long. You have stood by me through things most women wouldn't even dream of putting up. The strange, the macabre the unnatural. I wanted to wait until Boston. I just can't. I want you by my side Isobel. I want you to be my=--”
“I just-I.”, she took a moment, “Why did you lie about her.”
My head started reeling trying to figure out what she was talking about. At the moment there were very few “hers” involved in my life--
Her.
Her ?
Wait
“What ?”, I said aloud
“You lied to your brothers about Seraphina being in her bedroom then night you were supposed to kill her. But you never told me why. Why you didn't kill her ?”
“Why does that even matter Isobel ? You said it yourself I don’t particularly want to kill anyone, nor do I want to be on Helios shit list for killing his girlfriend.”
“Can we just forget this, Paris. Maybe do this whole thing again later ?”
“I was going to wait until Boston. . . I was, but ever since I almost drowned I had this clear moment where I knew this was the right thing.--”
“So do I. Just. . . not right now. Later.”
"I’m not asking you to marry me now . . .we can wait a few years. "
“Shit.”, she cursed
"Isobel?", I start
Her lips twist and she brings her hands to her face.
“Don’t cry, Isobel I'm sorry . . .I . . forget it.”
I put the ring back in the box and tossed it somewhere behind the bed.
“There”, I said “It’s gone. Forget it.”
“I can’t forget. . . it’s romantic and sweet I love you . . . it’s just. . .”
"What ?”
“You’re not human. I’m not human. . . and and I’ve been shot, kicked out of my neighborhood, and kidnapped twice, that’s just kind of a lot.”
“Nothing we can’t handle together."
She steps back from my embrace, her hands defensively inf ront of her.
“Paris. . . I don’t want to handle this. I don’t know if this is the kind of life I can commit to.”
She says the last part so quietly.
“I’ll keep you from danger--”
“You couldn’t protect your own Brothers . .. how can you make that promise ? I don’t fit in with Isaiah's daemons and I don’t fit in with your Brothers. I just need some…”
“Is, no”, I said
“It’s not like that, I swear.”, she starts looking for the ring, “I want this. I do. . . but I’m only 23.”
“Is this because of Helios ? You can’t escape him, you need to be here.”
“Maybe I can’t escape him here. But I can in Florida. I know you can’t exactly leave right now. I wanted to wait and talk about this but---”
“Isobel."
She had been waiting. . . she'd been waiting to talk to me about Florida ? No. She'd been waiting to break up with me.
“I just need some space. I have friends and neighbors there. It’s still my home, my Dad’s house is there. Believe me, I want to ask you to come but I know you can't.”
"What the hell was all that before Isobel ? The way you were all over me ?"
"Paris", she says wiping her eyes, "I just wanted to have a special memory with you before this shitstorm. So you'd know I'd be coming back."
"Really ? That's how you want to leave me ?"
"Paris, I just--"
"I don't want you to leave, Is."
I was quiet. I tried not to move, not to think. I would not cry in front of Isobel. She reached behind her neck, brushing her hair out the way and unclasped the sapphire necklace and set it in my hands.
"Keep it", I said
"No, I want you to keep it safe for me."
I walked to the door that lead to the inside of St. Lilith's. I needed space, my bed was still empty upstairs in the dorms. Maybe we would have clearer heads in the morning.
“It just doesn’t make sense Paris”, she said
“What ?”, my back was still to her and I was facing the hallway.
“You've been in wars, so you have killed people. Not only did she blind your best friend, but she let Helios blow up those shops, she kidnapped us and tried to drown you and you just. . . let her get away with it
I made the mistake of turning to fast, to defensive.
“Okay, first I was a mechanic in the military, so I never technically killed anyone. Ashe provoked her and we have no proof --”
"Now you're making excuses for her.”
"No", I said quickly, "By no means am I making excuses for that murderous bitch."
"Paris, this is so stupid . . .but she's like twice as tall as you and like 200 pounds. . ."
". . . I--what ?"
"Last year", Isobel said, "Last year you carried her out of the cavern before it collapsed. I mean how ?"
"I didn't carry her. I half dragged, half pulled --"
"Up a flight of stairs ? You really really wanted to save her ? Why ?"
“I owed her. She saved you. Isobel are you turning down my proposal because of Seraphina ?
“No.”
“No ?”
I slumped against the door frame. To late for that.
"So do I, Is. Truly."
I remembered the words the Angel had said to me. That Isobel and I were meant to be together. That fate had seen to it. Fuck fate. . . I would see to it.
“I hope", she said, “I hope you’re right. For now I think this might be good-bye."
+2+
Ariel
What was she doing ?
Why did Seraphina have to be so strange ?
I had been looking out my window thinking of the dust of red curls on Caden’s chest when I noticed Seraphina in the courtyard. It was almost 1am and the sleeping pills Callopie had given me weren't working, my thoughts constantly wandering to Caden.
I looked back out the window and she was still outside. Seraphina was out past the official curfew for everyone, including SGI. Not to mention she'd need to switch shifts with Titus at 5am. She was still in the same place watching the gate. She is dressed for bed in a sleeveless white nightdress that goes down to her bare feet.
Concerned and itching at the chance to practice sneaking outI tip toe over to the window, open it slowly ,then grab on to the trellis and make my way down. I stick to the shadows, hoping maybe I can sneak up on her.
“Seraphina, dear ?”
I follow the voice and see Hippolyta opening one of the back gates. I hold back a squawk of surprise.
I’m so happy I could cry. I hold my hands to my mouth so I don't scream from glee. Hippolyta's arms are bandaged and she looks like she had been through an ordeal. She had done it, Seraphina had done it !
Seraphina gets up from her kneeling position and runs across the yard to Hippolyta.They embrace in seconds, Seraphina pulls back to kiss Hippolyta, who gives Seraphina an apologetic smile in return.
"Thank you thank you", she says to Seraphina then laughs, "Oh, God Seraphina. Thank you."
"You should go before Helios wakes, Sister"
She hands Hippplyta a packed duffel, this makes me pause. . . was Hippolyta leaving ?
Hippolyta tugs on Seraphina's arm and looks down.
" I know I'm supposed to. . .but, I don't want to go Seraphina, I don't know anyone outside these gates. Maybe we can talk to Helios. "
"Hippolyta, you knew how this would go.", Seraphina doesn't look like she wants her to go either.
"You should come with me, at least. We can get Ariel and leave right now."
". . . I want to. . .but I can't, Hippolyta. I can't just leave."
Hippolyta lets out a sigh, but doesn't seemed surprised.
"I knew you'd say that. I told him you would."
"Him ?"
"Oh, Seraphina. He's so . . . kind . . . but sad I think."
Seraphina seems confused , and at the silence I start to run to join the reunion then halt halfway and duck into a overgrown bush, thorns prickling my skin.
“It’s a miracle”, Helios strolls over to them in his standard gray SGI shirt and pants, “Where have you been, Hippolyta ?”
“She ran away”, Seraphina says thinking quick, “Now she’s back.”
Helios watched Hippolya who nods holding up the duffel bag as proof.
“Don’t lie to me”, he says looking at her arms, “ Hippolyta whatever has happened you can trust me.”
Hippolyta hesitates and then she tells him everything.
“It was awful !” Hyppolita drops to her knees and Helios catches her, “They kidnapped me and they were doing experiments. I'm sorry Seraphina but Helios should know. They are trying to make monsters--
“What”, Helios said but not like most people say what. he said it with authority.
“The Demons, they are so awful and I want them all gone.--”
“What were you doing in Demon territory ?”
Helios wraps his arms tighter around her, her chin snuggled on his shoulder.
“I well. . . I was just exploring. I got turned around, it was an accident, I swear. Helios, dear they are so savage. Just awful. Oh, but the prince he is --”
Hippolyta gasped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
Helios held her close and whispered something to her, he cradled her for a while then pushes her away. Hippolyta stumbles back into Seraphina’s arms, a bright red spot growing on her shirt right over her heart.
Helios wipes his knife off in the grass. He had stabbed her. . .right through her heart.
“No”, Seraphina's voice wavered then she screamed, “No, no no no. Helios why.”
Seraphina took a cloth from the duffel and pressed it tightly over Hippolyta's wound. She leans down to Hippolyta's mouth where she is trying to say something.
“No Angel is ever to set foot in Demon territory. They are poison, they are filth. Associating with them and empathy will not be tolerated. That is my law and she knew it. ”, Helios says.
“ It was an accident. They let her go”, Seraphina's voice fought to keep composure.
“It doesn’t matter. My rules are firm. Look at her, Seraphina Look at her.”
Seraphina tears her eyes from Helios and looks to where Hipppoyta had gone still in her arms. She brushed back her hair and felt hopelessly for a pulse. I'd never seen someone look so ...empty. She was dead.
No. no no no.
“Helios you killed her--”, her voice wavers but she doesn't cry, she never cries, "You bastard you--"
“No.Seraphina”, he said wisely, “Not me. The Demons did this. They tempted her into forbidden land, they kidnapped her. They did this Seraphina, not me.Them. This is why they are the enemy. This is why they must go. They they must be eradicated from this land. She was dead long before she came here. It was them, not me Seraphina.”
Her eyes went hard with understanding.
“They did this Seraphina. This is what Demons do. Even the soft spoken Prince. . . he wanted this to happen. They deserve to pay, let this be your fuel. I need you here with me Seraphina. I need you right here by my side giving them what the deserve.”
Seraphina sat in the grass cradling Hippolyta and watched her still form, hoping for some type of miracle.
It was me
No Helios, not the Demons, no even Hippolyta's.
It was my fault.
That should have been me lying dead . . .not Hippolyta
“Seraphina”, Helios almost coos to her. He pulls her away from Hippolyta.
Seraphina stares blankly at him and he shoves something shiny and gold into her hands. She looks at it confused, it's a small shiny gold object and it takes a while for her to identify it.
“A bullet ?”, she manages.
“It’s made of pure white gold”, he whispered into her ear, “This is dangerous to our kind. Both and Angel and Demon alike"
Seraphina shivers
“These are of Demon creation. It was in the Princes pocket the day you threw him in the poo. They are making weapons, Seraphina. With that Prince at the helm they are going to come after us . . . all of us.”
He has her tiny gold pistol in his hands. Carefully, he takes her hands and guides her through putting the single bullet in. She looks up at him confused.
“They did this. He did this”, Helios whispers.
He gets down on his knees and joins her on the ground. She looks up at him, her eyes are clear with understanding.
"When I give you the order. You are to kill Paris Prince with this bullet. Do you understand ?"
"Yes", her voice breaks
"Look at me, Seraphina. Do not be a slave to your emotions. She is gone all the remains is what lies ahead. Do not feel, my Nephilim. You are stronger than that. "
He grabs both her wrist and they stand to their feet. Her eyes are glassy, but she doesn't cry. . . she never cries.
"If by chance you want emotions, if you want to feel something. If you want a small respite from nothingness. . .then that's what you have me for."
She nods slowly her cheek is next to his but she is looking past him,searching for the emptiness that usual fills her eyes. Instead her eyes find me. I meet her blank expression and I want rage or anger, but she looks away.
"If you want to feel . . then take me to your bed my beautiful lady Angel."
Seraphina's lips tighten, she is still grasping the gun behind his back, her hand shakes a little and
for a split second it looks like she is pointing it at his back. At his words she steps away and take his hands into hers, leading him back to the mansion.
Hippolyta is still staring blankly a few feet away. Out of the shadows Leon appears. He says a silent prayer of her body and then heaves her over his broad shoulders.
I feel sick and run back to my room. My lips shake uncontrollably but crying wasn't a luxury one had in a crowded household. I buried my face in my pillows and tried to breathe.
---
There was nothing. Hippolyta was just gone. Her accumulation of items was gone, her bed gone in the middle of the afternoon. A few thought maybe she had gone on her own, some thought she might have met a girl and runaway.
No one thought she was dead and I liked it that way.
I spent all day looking for Seraphina and found her in the SGI Gym. She was alone, her eyes glazed over and vacant while she lifted herself over the bar affixed to a door. She was strong and elegant, not easily broken. Not ever broken.
“Seraphina”
She let go of the bar, dropped to her feet and stood over me. She placed a hand under my chin, then slaps me hard across the face. my whole body prickled and I cried on instinct.
“Selfish little Angel”, she spat, “Learn your actions have consequences.”
‘
“I’m sorry”, I cried, " I'm sorry. . . I. . . I just loved him and I "
"Get the hell away from me", she says not looking at me.
She reached up for the bar again and it was like I wasn’t there.
+3+
Get yourself the fuck together.
I tipped the glass taking a slow sip. Almost immediately I spit the burning liquid into the grass. Heaving for air I find the courage to take another shot. It burned on the way down, right through my nose.
“Fuck”
I tried to savor the taste of the whiskey deciding that, as appropriate as taking shots seemed, I couldn't stomach it.
I shook the bottle of whiskey I had found underneath Lysander’s bed. I felt bad taking a vice from a wheelchair bound man with second degree burns, but after my first two attempts at hard swigs. I felt much better about it, I drink to that. . . again and again.
I considered taking another mouthful when I hear a low laugh from behind me, I screwed the lid back on the whiskey to see Damien slither from around the corner, his phone pointed towards me.
“Okay, one more time. For the camera."
“Fuck-off”
“Oh, so its true.”
“What does a man have to do around here to have a few secrets”
“Not have his girlfriend asks his friends to help her pack as much stuff in her tiny Jetta as possible..”
“Did I . . . sleep through it ?”
I looked at Damien’s phone and realized it was 3pm. I’d slept all day. She hadn't even said good-bye.
“Eh, she’ll be back."
“You think ?”
“She kind of needs our blood to live ? Remember.”
I pushed my hands into my face. We hadn’t even had the awkward conversation. Damien knocked his hand against my head and I was drunk enough it didn't hurt.
God, were breakups always so swift. Had Isobel been planning this ? How much of her stuff had she really unpacked anyway. Was I that blind.
I took the whiskey bottle with both hands and downed the rest. As expected It burned at the back of my throat and came up right through my nose, and I officially couldn't taste anything anymore.
"Callum has been fuming all day."
"Has he ?", I tried to appear innocent.
"While you were getting your heart broken our guest escaped.."
"Did she ? How ?" I was glad at least one thing went my way.
"She cut her way out. . . somehow. She probably took something while I was taking her blood. . . but I don't know."
"You don't seem that put out"
"Eh, it was to much extra work for me. . but Callum thinks you did something. He's adding it to his list. I'd tread carefully around him."
"You can tell Callum I'll tread wherever the hell I want. . . not that I'm admitting anything."
"Oh", Damien says with little enthusiasm, "You really are drunk aren't you."
I shook the empty bottle most and handed it to Damien.
“I've had a shitty week, so please go fuck off.”
“No more Parisobel ?”, he mused, “I was really hoping that would be the name of your first child.”
“First of all we don’t even know if daemons and Demons can procreate--”
“And whose fault is that ?”
“And second. . . she didn’t break up with me for no reason. She wouldn’t have if it weren’t for SGI. When this is all over we'll be together again. I'm actually glad she isn’t here. She is safe.”
“So you’re blaming Helios for the break up ? How drunk are you ?"
“We did not break up, break up. It’s just a break”.I smiled to myself, “On the contrary, Damien. I now have a reason to win this damn war. I"m ready to fight. I'm so fucking ready.”
“Great you can tell Helios yourself. He called for you. He said he wants to show you something.”
"What ?", I said, "Helios sent for me ?"
"Why the hell else do you think I'm even talking to you ? Your phone kept going off."
“I hate that he thinks he can fucking call me whenhefuckingwants”
Damien reaches to help me up, my vision was getting. . . blurry.
“I’ll. . . uh get us a cab. He seemed pretty adamant.”
“No”, I said standing straight. Which was really really hard, “I’m going alone. I’m going to tell Helios he’d better watch the fuck out. Him and his army and his fucking. . . his fucking hair.”
“His. . . hair ?”, Damien said. He had his phone facing me again, “Tell me more about his hair.”
I slapped the phone out of his hand and he waited outside to make sure I got in the right cab. I rolled down the window and peered back out at Damien before the cab pulled out.
“Wait. Where am I going ?”
“His office. . . apparently. He said you’ll need this if you want to avoid being killed on site. Grants you access as a guest to his . . . territory.”, he used quote marks for the last part.
He tossed me a silver pin with the SGI insignia on it. looks like a pretentious fraternity pin, which for some reason makes me laugh.
It takes me the entire cab ride just to pin the damn thing on. I realize that as long as I do Helios bidding and wear his little pins I will always be Helio's little bitch. Not anymore, it's time I took something from him.
I’d seen dirt roads and squat buildings transform into tall gleaming towers for a large portion of my life. I’d watch buildings rise. . .and some fall. In all my life I’d never been in them.
This particular building stood at 77 floors, it was made of glass so shiny it was blue with the reflection of the sky. The atrium was a wide span of white, silver and chrome. I watched the flickering digital display as it invited visitors to find their destination
I typed in Seraph Guard Infinte. Nothing. I typed in SGI and the logo popped up. It prompted for my name then the screen blinked out to show my live image.
I looked awful.
My hair was slightly disheveled and I was still wearing my slacks and vest from two days ago.
The screen flashed and an ID printed with that sorry image on it. SGI was on the penthouse floor of course. I rode the clear elevator to the top floor (no one got in with me) , where I came to a chrome sliding door with a keypad . I press the intercom and looked up at the camera in the corner.
The compression gave and the door clicked open.
Behind the door was a wide gauntlet of a lobby with white tile floors, floor to ceiling windows and at the very end was a white slightly illuminated bar and chairs.
Walking in a straight line proved to be difficult, but I kept my pace swaggerish.
Off to the side was a twisting stair case that led to a office upstairs. Standing guard at the stairs was Leon. Having traded in his gray sweats for a tailored Gucci gray suit, shiny black shoes and perfect triple Windsor knotted gray tie.
On the other side is Sera, in a bright straight leg white suit and silk blouse. Her hair is loose and voluminous, her make up is just slightly overly done. Unlike Leon she is sitting with her ankles cross.
Neither of them makes a motion under their dark shades.
“I'm here to see Helios”, I look between them. They don't move.
“I love this”, I or maybe the whiskey says, “How Helios dresses you two up like dolls to fit his whims.”
“And you”, I continue now only regarding Seraphina, “You look very sexy, like a sexy version of Helios for lesbians Dolce and Gabanna should honestly pay you."
“I think”, says Leon into a clear ear piece, “He’s. . . drunk”
Leon turns to Seraphina for confirmation but she does nothing. Maybe she is rolling her eyes under those shades.
“Definitely, drunk”, Leon says again, “Can we get this over with.”
She does nothing, but Leon sweeps his jacket back slightly to show he is armed. It’s pointless gesture. . . I know they both are.
The door upstairs opens and Seraphina gracefully stands as Helios and two other men come down the stairs. They are talking in a slavic language I can’t identity. Suddenly I feel as if I’m the only one who doesn’t have anything to do, even though I really want to vomit.
Helios says something to the man, he smiles and says something to Seraphina. She responds in whatever language they are speaking.
Helios wander over to the bar and grabs a glass of water.
One of the men talking to Seraphina takes her hand and kisses it. Whatever they are saying he seems to have switched to flirting. She makes a last comment and the men turn to leave.
“Now”, Helios says in English
And as Helios reaches to take another sip of water, two loud bangs ricochet off the empty space. I cover my head as something warm splashes on the side of my face. The gunshots momentarily shocking the drunk out of me.
“Holy shit”, A voice. I realize is mine says.
I hear a chocked sound and see one of the men is dead with a bullet in his head and the other is still alive and clutching his leg. He is trying to crawl to safety.
I turn a round to see Leon and Helios staring at Seraphina. She still has a gun in her hands but it’s pointed down.
“You. . . missed ?”, Helios asked
Infront of me the man is dragging himself away. I don’t help him, but I’m kind of rooting for him. Leon gives her a stern look. She slips her shades to the op of her head and for a second her eyes flash to me, she pulls the trigger again. The man stops dead in his tracks.
“You never miss" Helios says.
“Mmm’”, I realize I'm saying because I know there is a stranger's blood on my face,
I look back at the men and my stomach turns, Leon thrust a chrome trash bin into my hands and I throw up immediately.
They just listen as I cough up my liquid breakfast and lunch.
“I hate dealing with criminals”, Helios says to know one in particular, “Governments, revolutions, hell even terrorist. . . at least they have some decorum. Criminals. . . eh. It’s kill that person kill this person. Its just so very uncouth, but I intend to make this city my home so we will make do.
He takes a picture of the bodies and taps out a quick text.
Mission Accomplished
I imagine it says.
Then Helios nods to Leon who removes his suit jacket and shirt and lugs the bodies over his shoulder and through a back door.
I look up at Helios then at Seraphina. And I almost lose my stomach again. Almost.
“Helios...you wanted something . . .”, my voice was a whisper, “Now that you’ve waived your metaphorically dick around ?”
The last bit of sarcasm was to hide my terror. There was something on my face. Something warm and hot and wet. I only hoped it was blood.
Helios turned at my words and smiled.
“I was hoping perhaps now you’d given thought to signing my exit agreement. I’d hate for someone to put a hit out on you. My men and lady can be quite effective”
I wanted to talk some more but the ichor on my face was dripping into the shiny black creases of my scars. A shiver went through my whole body. I didn't want to picture my body being slung over Leon's shoulders.
“Clean him up”, Helios said studying the contents of a mini bar pushed in the corner, “Can’t have him leave like that.”
I didn’t move and kept my eyes on Helios when I hear Sera's approaching footsteps. I met her eyes as a cold antiseptic wipe touches my face, pressing deep into my scars.
With her shades lifted I was hit with something that made me a little unsteady on my feet. Something I never realized before that had been starting me in the face for months
“Hey” I whispered then turn to to see if Helios could hear. He gave no sign of it, “I think I’d like to steal a kiss from you. It'd be quite honorable now. . .of course I'm also very very drunk”
If she heard me she didn’t react. I’d expected to be slapped or for her to tell Helios that I was flirting with her. . . I just felt a little reckless.
Helios saunters back over, with a clipboard and the agreement written in his artistic partnership. I imagine it took him hours to craft such a long document by hand.
“I’d really hate for someone to put a hit on you”, he said, “Truly.”
“That’s the thing about you Helios. You never do your own dirty work do you ? Leon is your messenger boy. She's beaten me up twice. You ? You keep your hands clean.”
He shoved the papers into me, throwing me off balance.
"Shut up and sign the damn agreement, Paris", He is all venom now. Someone doesn't like being called out.
Seraphina has a ink pen pointed tip first at me, a bit of black ink seeps off the tip. I take the pen from her and the agreement in the other hand.
I start from the top and when I finish I sign my full name. Including my real name. . . the name I inherited from my father.
Then name was proper but what wasn’t proper was what I had scribbled across Helio’s artful contract in big thick messy letters. It was stupid and juvenile, but got the point across.
The ink still dripped as Seraphins squints to get a look at what’s I'd written.
FUCKING NO.YOU BASTARD
Signed. Lucifer "Paris" Prince The Second
Then I’d left. I’d stolen his fancy pen and left.
What I didn't know was that was Helios giving me one last chance. He had no other way to threaten or convince me. When I said no it was then and there he decided to get rid of me.
I didn’t know that when I left the building, feeling better than I had in hours that Helios and Seraphina had stood there in silence for a long time.
Helios had eventually turned to Seraphina and given her an order.
“You’re new job, my darling”, he said, “Is to assassinate Paris Prince, that’s an order. The order."
Her mouth slowly melted into that cold, closed mouth smile she only gave to Helios. Much like with every negotiation, argument and promise between Seraphina and Helios is was sealed with a kiss. I was a dead man.
Chapter 11