+1+

Crying

A crying girl ?

The front door is open and I can hear the rain falling against the steps. I follow the stream of brothers rushing to the front door. Everyone is awake and filling two fold down the stairs talking in a flurry of tense emotions.

Whatever was happening, rumor had spread quick

“Back up”

“No--”

“We should”

“Is it-”

“Fuck”

“Holy shit”

“Kill--”

“Shut the fuck up--”

I push through the crowd to where Lysander is kneeling at the threshold of St. Liliths, balancing on his cane. The second thing I see is a tangle of blonde hair. I recognize the Angel Ariel sitting exhausted on the front steps. Her hair is wet and streaks of tears are running down her face.

I make my way to the front and notice Ariel is cradling someone in her arms. Irecognize the gold buttons and lapel of Seraphina’s white coat instantly.  Seraphina's face is buried in Ariel’s chest, her legs are bare and stained with blood and she is screaming into Ariel’s chest. That scream is filled with rage.

“What the hell is this? Bring them in.”, I order the gawking Brothers.

“We can’t”, Lysander says, “You know what happens to Angels who cross this threshold.  If they step foot in here Helios will kill them like he did the other one.”

I grab Lysander by his collar and jerk him forward, he winces on his wounded leg.

 “You know Seraphina has been on our side That doesn’t matter.”

I let Lysander go an wrap my arms around Seraphina and try to get her to stand, but she clings to Ariel.

“Ariel”, I say patiently, “You need to go home. I’ll take care of Sera.”

“No”, Ariel’s voice shakes, “No, you can’t take her. No--”

“Stop this, Ariel. Go back home. This is no place for you.” I scold her, “Go, Now”

“I’m not leaving. I can’t go back without Seraphina. I won’t be safe.”

“Listen to me”, I say to her, “If you come inside. If you cross here you might never go home. Never see your sisters, your home or set foot in Queen Anne’s again. You will be a target. If we Demons fall to Helios, Helios will not hesitate to kill you. Just like Hippolyta”

“I know”, Ariel's small voice broke “I saw what he did to Hippolyta. . . . I saw him kill Hippolyta . . . I don’t want to go back without Seraphina…I won’t feel safe.”

“Ariel”, I get her to look at me, “I can’t promise you will find much kindness here.“

Ariel's eyes spill over with tears, I hate giving such a young looking girl this ultimatum.

“Help me. . . . . with her”, Ariel says in a small voice. She whispers to Searphina and after a lot of prompting gets her to stand. The Brothers back up as the two Angels step in.

Sera’s hair is a curtain around her face and she is barely hanging on, her full weight crushing against me.  I set her down on the stairs. Her face is still resting in Ariel chest, her legs resting on mine, I pull her coat tight around her covering the dark red marks on her thighs.

The crowd on the upstairs landing parts and Callum leans over the balustrade

“If you let those Angels in here , they have to take the brand”, Callum’s cool voice says from the top railing , “We need them to prove they are no longer loyal to Helios. This could be a trap.”

Callum jumps down from the railing and lands on bended knees in front of the Angels. Ariel jumps in surprise and cowers into herself.

“Shut it with that shit and get Damien, she’s hurt.”, I try to stay calm but I know I’m visibly shaking. Callum always has to prove something.

I try to get Seraphina to look at me, but she jerks away at my touch and turns her face back to Ariel’s chest.

“This could all be a trick”, Callum says , “Helios could be pulling a Trojan horse. She could be double crossing us”

“Make them take the brand”, Dante’s goddam smug voice says. He smirks at Ariel, “Trust isn’t just given around here.”

Dante looked up at Callum for confirmation. Dante wasn't even a Demon he was a kid, he had no right to think he had sway over anything.

Some Brothers tensely nod in agreement with Dante and Callum. Lysander moves behind me, a silent show of support in my corner. Lysander is the only one.

“Devil TAKE ALL OF YOU”, I yell at them, “Is this what you are? Have some compassion, trust--.”

“Do it”

The voice is so small it barely registers, but makes everyone shut up.

“Do it”, Seraphina says again.

For the first time Seraphina raises her head to take in the Demon’s starting at her. They stiffen under her gaze and turn away. She turns to me last, and I fight to keep my expression complicit.

Her entire face had been mutilated. The skin around her eyes is dark and swollen, there are perfect black bruises like halos around over each one, her right eye is swollen shut.  Her lips are broken and blood stained, her front teeth are chipped. Her nose and cheeks are purplish red  raw, swollen and caked with blood. Her strong jaw and cheekbones are hidden under bruised flesh. 

I don’t really recognize her anymore.

“Well then”, Callum retreats to the fireplace to fetch the brand, “As the lady wishes”

“Sera”, I whisper just to her, “You have nothing to prove, you’ve already done enough to prove your loyalty. I’m going to take care of you, love. You’re safe here you don’t---”

“I don’t have anything else to lose, Demon”, she says.

The way she says Demon cuts me. The way she says it to me. I think for the smallest second she’s trying to hide our former relationship. . . but no. . .that doesn't make sense.

Callum returns with Dante at his heels. Dante is holding the Lux Aeterna brand fresh from the fire. Dante looks to Callum hoping for a sense of pride.

“Let’s brand Blondie first”, Dante points to Ariel

“No”, Sera orders, “She is just a child.”

“Please she’s no older than me--”, Dante starts

“I said no.”, The venom is back in her voice.

Dante seems too afraid to argue and Ariel is shaking out of fear.

"Just you, then", Callum says

Callum steps over to Seraphina and I am more disgusted with him than I have ever been before. He forces the Seraphina face down into the stone steps, she slips an arm out of her coat . It slips to far down for a second,  those bruises seem cover her chest down to her stomach.

Callum holds her bare shoulder down as Dante approaches with the brand.

“Don’t touch her, you miserable bastard.”, I shoot at Callum and he lets go of her shoulder.

“Do it, child”, Seraphina says to Dante

I let out a harsh noise as the hot gold meets her delicate cold skin, she lets out a tired hiss scraping the stairs with her clipped nails and biting her broken lips. For a while she just breathes through the pain, Dante is holding the brand to long; either on purpose or maybe he’s to afraid to lift it away.

“You”, Sera says looking up the stairs.

Dante’s hand is shaking when he pulls the brand away. He is  look to me for some type of guidance or redemption but he won’t be getting it.

“You”, Sera says again but I think she has gone mad, “You did this. You traitor. You--”

She presses her palms hard into the stone and pulls herself to her barefeet and charges up the stairs, she has a small sleek knife in her hand.

Her target is obvious. Her target doesn’t even have to time to get away when she uses her last bit of energy to knock him to the ground.

Traitor ?

When she raises her hand to strike a flurry of Brothers grab her and haul her away from him.

Him

Jona

My brother ?

“You bastard”, she yells at Jona, “You traitor. You did this. You’ve been working with Helios this whole time. It was you. You. . you. . told him. . . you did this to me. . . you did this . ."

Her accusations turn into inaudible loud screams as the Brothers hold her back. Jona just stands there bored as she screams at him. She manages to break Del's wrist trying to get them to let her go and drives the small blade into another Brother's cheek. A few more join in and manage to get her down on the stairs, but she refuses to calm down.

“Let her go”, I demand my brothers and they back away, “She’s traumatized. Someone go and fucking get Damien”

The Brother’s don’t heed my warning and Lysander hobbles down to the infirmary.  Still screaming Seraphina collapses on the stairs out of exhaustion. Ariel scrambles up the steps to sit with her.

I look between Seraphina and Jona and it all clicked.

“Jona ?”, I look up at him, “You didn’t. Tell me you haven't been working with Helios.”

“Well, now we know where we all stand.”

“Where exactly  do you stand, traitor ?”

“Not with you.”, he says cooly Then to everyone, "None of you should. If you are tired of hiding out . . . tired of working a meaningless job living a meaningless existence then join me. . . join Helios and we can all be Princes in New Aeterna or you can be buried beneath it."

The others part as he makes his way down the step, slowing down slightly as he passes the Angels on the steps. He steps on Sera’s hand but she doesn’t react, she's quiet now. Too quiet.

“Jona”, I say as he passes me. No one makes to stop him. Callum seems to want to but holds back, Jona and Callum had been so close recently, Callum couldn't seem to warp his head around the betrayal.

I turn and follow Jona out the door, beyond the ears of the others until it is just the two of us.

“Jona, what is this ? Why ?”

“Paris, I’m tired of being your little brother. I’m tired of standing idle as you make stupid decision after stupid decision. Helios has a plan for the future, a great one. I did what I had to do to become apart of it. Get back the title and power that was stolen from us”

“I’m your Brother--”

“You've been my brother for a long time, but. . . things come to an end.”

“How long, Jona. How long have you been selling us out ?”

“At the bakery when Helios and I were alone he tried to sway me. He told me I was a scorned second son, that I deserved better. I shook it off as him being manipulative. Then after the explosions at the shops I started to reconsider. I mean Paris you weren’t doing anything to stop him, you were being to safe. I thought I could negotiate better with Helios, so I went to see him alone"

"You talked to him. . . without me ? "

"I tried to, but he wouldn't listen to me. Then we blew up his cars and suddenly he wanted to talk to me. I thought I wanted to negotiate with Helios but I found I wanted to join him. So, I became his secret weapon. The way he talks, Paris. The way he commands. It was exactly what I wanted in a leader. I was a good brother, though. I kept your disgusting affair a secret because I knew Helios would kill you for it. I loved you and I didn't want you dead."

“You didn’t keep it a secret”, I manage through gritted teeth.

“I tried. But it was getting harder and harder listening to him praise that Angel when I was doing just as much work. I  needed a better place in Helios’ future. I needed her place. When she broke up with you I figured it was time."

My mind went through everything that happened after we blew up Helios' cars.  How Helios suddenly knew about how profitable the business was.  When Sera and I followed Helios to Long Island, Jona must have been the shooter in the back seat, the good marksmen who didn’t hit me . . . because it was my own brother. Fuck,  the location of Callum’s operations knowing about Callum's attack. To think I'd been worried about Callum corrupting Jona.

“You’re a coward.”, I spit, “ You only kept Seraphina's secret so you could gather evidence to use against her. Damn it you even put that camera in my room. Damn it, Jona."

“Paris,  I bet if the Prince Brothers show up with that whore's body Helios will let you join the cause. If we just agree to serve under him for just a while, help him fund his venture for just a bit. . . he will grant us our own part of New Aeterna

“You’ve gone mad. He's never going to do that.”

“You don't know Helios like I do. He helps those who carry his vision. My time here is done, Paris. I won’t stand by watching you dig a hole is in your pacifism.  You’re running us into the ground  and everything has been shot to hell since father died. Then you walk around repeating our real father's mistake, by fooling around with Angels. You're as good as dead now."

I clinch my fist at my sides.

“I love her. ”

“Sure you do ", he said, "You love her a lot. I made sure Helios and all the SGI saw that."

He causally turns his phone towards me and I’m assaulted with a birds’ eye view of my bedroom. It’s the night Sera and I  left The Spindle together. I watch her push me on my bed, I watch her take my tie off and wrap it around my wrist. I close my eyes when I remember what comes next.

If Jona had been recording Sera and I---then he had a lot to show Helios. Yet he showed Helios that night. The one where she came to my space, where she teased me, kissed me and had me pleasure her. It looked like she was in control, as if it were her idea. .

I slap the phone out of Jona's hand.

“That’s enough Jona. Are you just easily swayed by Helios' pretty face ?  You think you could take her place after Helios killed her ? Maybe take her place in his heart?

“Watch your mouth. Paris, this is our chance to be kings. This is our birthright. To have power."

“Power isn’t something you can just take. You will never be king of anything. You are useless to me now, Brother. Go see if your new leader will take you in as his own. ”

“I truly do hope you will come to your senses and join us. New Aeterna will rise and I want you to be there with me.”

"You are a fool."

"Helios is a wise man, he sees my worth. It's not to late to turn yourself over to him. If you don't you won't survive long enough to see him lay siege to the city. "

"Let's hope if doesn't get that far."

He brushes passes me and out toward the street. He hesitates before stepping into the rain , with nothing on his back but the clothes he is wearing.

+++

Damien and a few others get Seraphina situated in the infirmary. I can hear her putting up a fight down the hall, Damien manages to give her a sedative and restrain her so he can examine her. Ariel stays with her the whole time. When Damien finishes he hooks Seraphina up to an IV. 

My mind is still reeling from the betrayal and for five small seconds I realize I must be feeling what Helios did when he learned about Sera’s betrayal. The second emotion that grabs me is grief. My brother is gone and things will never be the same.

I look through the clear window that looks into the infirmary. A simple room with six beds and Damien's desk pushed in the corner next to a bathroom. Limited medical equipment is pushed into the corners.  The sedative has taken over and Searphina is asleep.  Damien steps out into the hall and shakes his head.

“Helios did this”, I say to Damien, “Look how he treats his most trusted associate... how will he treat us if we lose this battle”

Damien just lights up a joint, he has a welt on his cheek and scratch marks near his eyes.

"She hit Lysander and he is disabled. I had to give that bitch two fucking sedatives and clean up after she pissed herself--"

"Damien", he was trying my nerves.

“You know I don’t know anything about Angels.. I don’t know what I can do for her.”

“You can get a heart and help me think of how we get back at that bastard for everything he has done."

“I saw the way you looked at her, Brother. I knew  you had a thing for her.”

I push Damien so hard up against the wall he almost swallows his joint, Damien shrugs me off and blows smoke in my face. I try not to cough and make my way back upstairs.

“Look at her. . .she. . . .   and they beat the shit out of her”, I yell.

“Yeah, that’s probably what caused the miscarriage.”, Damien says to my back

I freeze and turn on my heels to were Damien is smirking, I try very hard not to take it personally that man has no tact.

“What ?”.

Shit.

No wonder Helios had proposed to her. Fuck. No wonder she broke up with me.

“How do you know?”

“I Googled it”

“Damien.”

“Eh, also she was rambling before I put her out and all the blood . . .I sort of put two and two together. She’ll be fine the thing is all out of her system--”

I pushed him against the wall again, the joint burns his tongue and he holds in a scream.

“Damien, don’t you say another goddam word, you insensitive bastard”

“What’s your problem. ?”, he shoved me. hard, "Don't forget she stood there and did nothing while Helios slaughtered our brothers. They didn't deserve to die. She's not innocent and you're the only one acting like she is. She got exactly what she had coming to her.Get your fucking head on straight Paris."

I shove him back towards the infirmary

"Do something to help her."

“Look, there is nothing I can do. You better watch it or the others will put the pieces together. Colluding is one thing, fucking her is one thing. . . but I don’t think anyone wants to hear their Prince is in love with that Angel before this war is done.”

He sidesteps me and heads upstairs.

I run my hand through my hair and look back over to the infirmary window. Ariel was now huddled in a plastic chair by Seraphina’s bedside, she'd probably heard Damien and I. I open the door and Ariel stands when I enter, her nerves are shot and I realize just how young she is, or looks anyway,

"Do you have to strap her down like that ?", Ariel asked. Looking where Seraphina's arms and legs were handcuffed to the bed.

"Yes, It's temporary. Ariel, You’ve done a good thing bringing her here."

Ariel just concentrates on brushing Sera’s tangled hair. I can’t stand to look at Seraphina's  face, my eyes are always drawn to the dark rings around her eyes. In the silence that follows, I suddenly realize Ariel didn't bring Seraphina here on her own. There had to have been a third person involved.

“Are they  like him ? That . . . Dante boy ?”, Ariel asks.

“Like who ?”

“Caden Kellers.”

I remembered how Ariel had told me about her mischief with Caden last year. They'd had a little romance together and I’d used her guilt over letting a human in to help us blow up the Snowfire Orchard.

"You're a brave girl, Ariel."

"No", she shook her head, "I'm not. Because I'm so scared. I don't want to be here. Sera and I don't get along anymore and I. . ."

"I'll be here for you", I told her, not wanting her to cry, "I promise."

 +2+

 

“I’m so sorry”, are the first words I say when I find Seraphina with her eyes open. Seraphina tries to pry the handcuffs off the bed's railing with no success. She twist and turns, jerking her hands and ankles up trying to snap the cuffs.

"Sera, just listen. Calm down, Please"

She give up and looks up at the ceiling.

"I need to . . . take a shower".

"Sera. . I saw the marks on your legs and I. . ."

"Stop", she says softly, but I don't

 "Sera, you can still go to a hospital and report this, they can make records and tak -'

She scoffs

"None of that will matter in New Aeterna", she says the last word as if it is inevitable.

"That's not happening", I remind her, "He won't get that far--

"Shut up", her voice was even, "And let me go. I need to disappear before he finds me."

"You can't let him get away with this"

"You have no idea what you are talking about. Please, let me take a fucking shower so I can leave. Please."

"Is that truly how you want to handle this ? You want to pretend like this didn't happen."

She says nothing. It's less than 5 minutes before I give in.  I find the keys and start with her wrist, taking it slow encase she tries to run.

“ I'm sorry Helios took something I can’t give give you. It hurts me, Seraphina."

She looks down and shifts uncomfortably. She must have known I'd find out.

"I. . . barley knew. It was barley anything to me."

“Is this why you left me ? I would have taken care of you."

Silence

“I”m sorry, that was selfish of me.”, I realize

She moves to sit up.

“ Seraphina. What happened ?"

"You know what happened.", she replies

"I want to hear your story from you"

She swallowed hard now freed from the handcuffs.

“Your brother betrayed us for a place in Helios’ new world. I gather he told Helios about how I’d been deceiving him this entire time. Helios ordered me to be hanged until death for my transgression. He sent Titus and four others to drag me out of bed and carry out the execution quietly. I was to be hanged in the middle of the night with no public audience. Helios didn’t want anyone knowing about his lack of judgment in lovers.

They treated me just like Ares, first an ambush then a white gold embedded rope around  my wrist.Titus was in charge of getting me to the noose. Titus had this smile on his face. Titus had been right about me all along. Before they took me to Helios to be hanged  his compatriots to lock my bedroom door and there was this silent understanding between him and the others.

I killed one of them trying to get away, but the other four were so strong and I - I should have. I could have but I--. . ."

“You don’t need to justify anything. This is not your fault.”

Silence and a blink. No, blinking away a tear. Not a tear. An almost tear.

"Afterward, they bought me to Helios for my execution. Helios could tell what they did. He wasn’t happy about it, they'd broken one of his rules, but it didn’t matter because I was about to die.

We were alone and Helios said he loved me, but I was to forgone into temptation and a filthy traitor. Leon came in while Helios was still beating me, Helios' anger is unquenchable he just couldn't stop hitting me.

Leon was good. His expression never broke and he was quick on his feet., He made up a report that Demons had been spotted near the gates.

When Helios was distracted Leon helped me escape and that damn idiot had to get Ariel involved. I wish Leon would have let me die. I‘d rather die than live with this-the-. . “

“Sera ?”

“Shame”, she finds the words,

I kept my elbows on the  bed my head turned down. There had been a tired smile on her face when she talked about Leon. Reverence.

“We can’t stay here”, she says, “Helios will be looking for us. Jona has probably already told him I’m here.”

“Where will you go ?

“Away.  I need to get Ariel into hiding. Mother banished some sisters a few decades go . . . maybe I can locate them.”

“No, you’ll stay here.  You are in no condition and you aren’t one to runaway from a fight.”

“I have to think of Ariel. She’s in as much danger as I am.”

“You’re safe. We will hide you. You’ve done us a great service.”

“You may hide me, but will they ?”, she pointed outside, “I’m not an informant anymore. I’m not useful. Helios will kill me if he finds me. The storm is coming Paris. It's coming after me”

I let her words hang there, I almost want to agree then I look at her ruined face again.

“You can’t leave. Seraphina. I can’t leave you like this.-I’ll talk to them . You aren’t going anywhere."

+3+

Seraphina

The shower is  cold and smells like disinfectant and the ill.  Raziel is sharp in my hands, she easily cuts through wet hair that  falls and washes down the drain with the sweat, semen and blood.  A  sturdy razor cleans up the sides. I keep my neck low as the hot shower beats down on me.  I wash and scrub until I am raw.

When I glance in the shiny faucet surface there is nothing pretty about what looks back at me. The not-pretty reflected doesn’t feel anything. Has lost everything. Her past , her present and her future. Her precious future.  I look and I look for Seraphina in that shiny surface and I do not see her.

They should have just let her hang like Ares, she would have been dead hours ago but Titus wouldn't have that, Titus wanted her to pay for everything she'd done.

Titus gave the silent order. She decided they were all going to die before touching her. She reached out for flesh and found it, chocking an unlucky SGI to death.. it felt so good. They tied her hands after that and clipped her long nails before burying her face down in the soft bed she used to find comfort in.

Slut, doesn't wear panties.

She can’t throw the weight  of one of them from her back, she can’t breathe. It's Anead. . . maybe ? One of the heavier ones. He pulls her hair and is eager to teach her her place because she’s a traitor, she’s not a person anymore just a --

Fucking traitorous  bitch . . ..

She's not slim or soft woman, it's more effort to force her. She refused to beg or cry because that's what they wanted. They taunted and tease her, because her cunt isn't  pretty enough for them, but better than the cock they'd joked she had.

Nice ass, though.

A little wet too

"Fuck you"

I start screaming now. . . because she wouldn’t. She  couldn't just give them the satisfaction. You stupid bitch, you just wouldn't cry, you just wouldn't beg, no matter how hard they held you down, shoved themselves in you, humiliated and came in and on you.

Fuck

You and your fucking pride.

There are too many voices, to many hands.

I slam into the tiled shower wall for her idiocy , her recklessness. Then again for what I have to live with because of her.

Blood drips down from the new wound on my head. I think she gets the point. I think she knows she failed. They were right about me. Right about you--Right about her. Everyone was.

She’s a stupid slow cold manipulative bitch. She’s a killer, a dyke,a home wrecker, murder, sinner--

Why didn’t they just kill her ?

I can't wash all of this fucking dirt off.

I slam her into the tile shower again, this time sliding on the cold shower floor to--

Are you going to cry now ?

Are you really going to cry now?

She saw Titus and Titus’ blue eyes. Titus had stood in her shadow long enough.  Titus was. . .last. He'd turned her to face him, the other faces were blurs, but she could hear them laughing.

Fuck me. Titus asked.

He was messing with her

Fuck me like you did him

He had to be messing with her.  How had she ever done this act willingly?

Titus leaned in. . . to kiss her ? She'd had a weapon though. Her teeth. She bit his face . He raised a hand to strike her . . . but didn't. That wasn't his place.  His place was where his disgusting fingers were.

You just had to be better than him

You just had to take his spot as Alpha.

You just has to take his pretty girls

You just had to out run him

You just had to out work him.

Now you wait until he's done with you, focus on the blurred faces. Who are they--

I should have

No

But

No

It’s over

. . .It hurts

It’s over

It’ll never be over.

You let them drag you to Hell. To Helios. You let him kick your pretty face in and you just couldn't let Helios beat you to death. Seraphina, you died somewhere between the first hit (Hit me again,  I fucking dare you Helios) and the one that made you black out.

I hate you, you know. I hate you more than any of them ever did. I hate you Seraphina for failing. That's what you get for being pretty. For being a whore, that's what you fucking get, Seraphina.

Well, you are not that Seraphina anymore.

I’m not that Seraphina anymore.

And it’s too bad

That Searphina was the nice one.

+4+

When Sera finally staggers of the bathroom, what she had done to herself catches me off guard. She’d cut off all of her long beautiful hair to slicked back crew cut that was shaved close on the sides. Her features are hardened and the dark rings around her eyes gave them an ugly depth.

I'd watched her sitting on the shower floor with her knees curled in so I couldn't see the extent of her bruises, she was staring at her reflection in the faucet, the water was still running and blended seamlessly with her tears. She was mumbling to herself and had slammed her head against the shower wall twice. I'd wanted to intervene but decided to stay back.

“Sera I--”

“He’s mine”, she says sitting on the bed. Her voice scratchy and dry, I reached to pour her some water.

“What”

“Helios is mine.”

“Sera don’t think about him--”

“When this is over I get to slaughter Helios”, she reaches  a hand out as if she could see him. I pull back the sheets of the bed and  prompt her to lay down.

“Sera rest--”

“Promise me, Demon. Promise me that much. ”

“Anything. . . it’s yours”, I lie through my teeth. I don't think killing is going to help her now, "Damien's willing to give you more morphine. It will put you to sleep for a bit."

"Ariel and I need to leave--"

"It's been barley been three hours. You need to rest." She doesn't protest and lays down. I pull the cover around her, her eyes dart to find Ariel who is sleeping on on the floor.

"How far along were you ?", I ask grabbing an extra blanket

"It's over", she says , "Don't ever bring it up again. Ever. Just give me the morphine"

I follow the instructions Damien left me ( "It's a needle. You can use one needle you can use any needle", were his exact words.) and give her the morphine. She keeps her eyes on mine the whole time, like she needs something to anchor on to.

I wonder how long I can stay here before it seems odd. Or does everyone already know about us ?

"I still love you, Sera. I'm going to protect you."

Her eyelids  are heavy and she closes her eyes in acknowledgement.

My phone buzzes and I reach for it, not taking my eyes from her.

“Paris.” the voice on the phone says

I let a silence hang there for as long as I can, then turn to talk into the phone.

“Isobel.”, I finally say and look at my phone to double check.

“. . . hello, Paris", She stops short. She'd been talking and I hadn’t been listening to a word she’d said

“Now is not a good time."

"I know but it's about the um. . . blood."

"What"

"Paris don't make this whole me craving your blood this odder than it has to be.", she said with a laugh, "I mean not just your blood  but--um. . . so"

My eyes go to the cooler of blood Damien keeps on stock for the damiens. I bit back a laugh thinking of going to the post office today to mail some to Isobel.

"Isobel, I'll call you back."

"I'll be quick. Just open the door."

"What ?"

"Open the door. . . I'm outside."

 

Behind Isobel Charter, Ashe stands obscured in the shadows. I can’t read her expression and knowing how much Ashe liked Isobel he probably told her everything. I couldn't blame him, there was no point in secrets now.

I hadn’t had the nerve to leave Sera’s side when Isobel called. Instead I'd waited for the drugs to make Sera fall asleep. I wanted to stay until Ariel work up, but by then Ashe had let Isobel in to the infirmary hallway. I saw her through the window and walked out to greet them.

Nothing has changed about Isobel, but the tinge of excitement and possibility I felt around her was gone. All I could manage was guilt and shame for how I’d let things end. Her long black hair was freshly cut in layers, she was wearing a bit more make up than I remembered, her clothes looked new.

“I, um can’t say anything”, Isobel said

“Isobel.”, I greeted her, "It's good to see you but this is not a good time. New York isn't safe."

She gets closer to the window, her eyes not sure where to focus. Seraphina looked peaceful in her drug induced sleep, her relaxed expression seemed ill fit on her bruised face.

“I have things I want to say to you, Paris. Things I can’t say with her. . . like that. I would sound so. . ."

“I”ll give you one free pass.”

"How can you say that ?", she seemed at a lost, "Ashe said--"

"She was beautiful and over one thousand years old, I doubt this is the first time that has happened to her."

Isobel swallowed and shook her head.

"How can you be so cold ?", she asked, "What happened to you, Paris ?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just trying not to feel guilty", I said because talking to Isobel came so easy to me, "Because I know this is my fault."

"You look like you haven't slept in days . . . Have you lost weight ? Paris, I'm worried about you."

Before I can respond we are interrupted

"Paris", Lysander's voice came from the hall. Isobel stepped aside as he waved a note card in his hand. Lysander did a quick double take before landing back on me.

"What ?", I snapped.

“It's a message. It says Helios is on his way over here.  It came via bike messenger just a few minutes ago. I don’t know who warned us.”

I look back to the infirmary. Our inside contact was here. Which meant someone else was on our side.

“Leon”, I realize, “Leon bought them here. Sera said he was defecting on the inside. Shit. We have to hide Sera and Ariel. And I need to address the Brotherhood they can't tell Helios she is here. "

“I’ll get everyone.”, Ashe says

“Isobel, I’m sorry. We can talk later.”, I gave her a poliete smile.

She drops an overnight bag I didn't realize she was carrying and  grabs my arm pulling me to a stop.

“What can I do to help.”, Isobel asks

 She doesn't miss a beat, Isobel never did when it really mattered. Isobel and I never did either when we worked together. I think for a few moments.

"Take Ariel and Seraphina to that secret passage where I put that stuff when we cleaned out Father’s office.”

“Okay”

"Then get as far away as you possibly can"

"Wait--Paris--"

"What"

"I'm not leaving. . . I think I can help with Helios. He thinks you are hiding Sera becuase you were. . . involved."

"Yes. . .but"

"I have an idea. I hate it, but it might work."

+++

I get Lysander to call everyone together and try to come up with a speech in my head. I need to impart to the Brotherhood how important it is Helios not know Seraphina is here. I just don't know how.  It’s not long before I hear Sereaphina screaming from the hallway. Lysander and I run to see what the problem is.

“No”, she says, “They will sell us out. I can’t go back. Get off me.”

Ariel and Isobel are trying to pull Seraphina away a door that leads outside. Without her hair the fear in her eyes is on full display. At full strength she probably could have pushed them away.

“Sera”, I call to her , “Helios is on the way here. We have to hide you.”

“No, we’ll go”, She pulls Ariel closer.“ I won’t be sold out by your Brothers. I can’t. . . I can’t face him now. Ariel and I need to run”

“You’re to weak to go anywhere. We can hide you in St. Liliths. There are places Jona doesn’t know about. . . “

“Your Brotherhood is  going to sell me out”, she says, “You’re signing my death warrant. I can’t go back there. I can’t. Don’t you dare send me back there.”

I turn to Lysander and whisper to him.

"Get Damien to sedate her.", Lysander nods and moves to follow my orders

Sera manages to break free from Isobel and she drags Ariel with her to the exit. Isobel tries to hold her back again, and I’m to afraid to touch her.

Damien takes his time coming up the stairs, Seraphina doesn't even register him until he jabs the needle into her arm.  She falls slowly to her knees and I catch her while she gets her bearings, but she is still trying to protest

I’m sorry”, I say, “I’m sorry.”

I take the time to not consider my surroundings and for just a second hold Sera in my arms. Her eyes barley make contact before Isobel and Ariel are standing her up and she’s out of my grasp again.

“Hide them”, I say to Isobel.

+++

I can feel the blank eyes on me, already I can tell who is on my side and who isn't. Callum looks very skeptical. I take a breath and start.

“Helios is going to arrive in a few moments. You all are aware of the events of the nights--Of our visitors. I’ll keep it simple but you all know why Helios is coming. I can beg each of you to turn a blind eye, but it's your choice to make. However Seraphihna has been loyal to us. . . her hatred of Helios runs just as deep as ours, deeper now even. If we let him win this, if we give her up to him then we are setting a  a precedent that what Helios Thantos wants. . . he gets. Helios will destroy this place, this world we call home if we don’t resist. This is the first step. I urge you all to take this step.

Some nod in agreement others look unconvinced.

Callum walks away shaking his head.

 

+5+

When Helios' fleet of white Hummers pull up I'm a little shocked. I figured he'd just bring Titus and Leon but I was wrong.  20 SGI pile out of cars, tey are all dressed in gray and white camouflage with AK-47s slung across tier shoulders. Four of them are huddled around one passenger. When they come inside I see that it's Jona they are protecting.

 Lysander and I are there to greet Helios. I hadn't wanted him there but Lysander wanted to look the man who disabled him in the eye. I'd told the other Brothers to stay out of their way, to just let it happen for now. We were ultimately going to win this.

Helios reaches to take my hand and I’m forced to look at the scraped skin on his knuckles. Helios Thantos never did his own dirty work. He never shot anyone or lifted a body. Until it came to her, he always made exceptions for her. I didn't take his hand.

Helios gave one order to his men.

"Find her"

They all dispersed around St. Lilith's, they were so calculated that I gathered they had seen a map of the building. My eyes shifted to Jona still under guard by four SGI. They went on a rampage looting and turning over every corner of the St.Lilith’s. Drawers and closets were overturned, doors ripped open and the kitchen was in shambles.

No eye left their guns, which I hoped but doubted were empty.

After an hour he finds nothing.

“Call a meeting.” Helios snaps to me, "I want to talk to all of you."

I oblige calling all the Brothers to the dining hall, all the tables are pushed aside except one. Helios does a swift jump and stands on a table. His dirty boots leaving streaks on the surface.

“I have it under strict confidence that you all are hiding a fugitive. Let me make this very very clear. If you are harboring a woman I consider to be a criminal you will all be punished. Tell me where she is and you can be spared. I'll find a place for you in New Aeterna.”

“She’s gone.”, I say, "She said something about finding banished Sisters."

“You’re lying", he said

"Yeah, well so are you."

Titus opens up a knife and before I can register what’s happening, he slices open both sides of my scar. Blood rushes to the surface and blood drips down my face. It cuts so deep, I can’t talk without opening it. This had  happened to me twice before. Isaiah or Jona must have told him that trick to shut me up.

"Learn some respect", Titus said through gritted teeth

I hold my lips together and keep my wound sealed. Jona nods to Helios and he goes through the crowd, stopping in front of Callum.

Leon follows hims flanked by Titus. A brand new pitch black Alpha tattoo on his shoulder. Titus' arms are scratched and bruised, with tiny indents, upon closer realization I realize there are teeth marks. A few marks are on his cheek and chin. He looks like he is wearing the marks with pride. Titus smirks at me.

“You”, Leon says to Callum, “Callum?”

“What.”

Callums arms are folded and his stance is aggressive.

“Has my Angel been here ?”

Callum shifts his eyes to me.

“Yes"

An audible shift goes through the room.

“Where is she”, Helios asks

“I--we turned her away.”, Callum says

“You what ?“

“He’s lying”, Jonah starts but Helios holds up his hand to silence him and Callum finishes.

“Angels don’t belong here.”, Callum continues “ If she could turn on you what’s stopping her from turning on us  She’s dangerous so we convinced Paris to turn her away. It's not our business what you do with your lover."

Helios turned back to Jona and raised an eyebrow. Helios turned to Dante now.

“Seraphina. . . where is she.”

“Like Callum said, she not’s here.”, Dante responds.

Helios backs up and turns to me, my mouth is still bleeding so I can't speak to him.

“I know you had feeling for her”, he mocks me, “You wouldn't just lt her go--”

“Don’t be ridiculous”, Isobel makes her way through the crowd, “He doesn't have feelings for her. He only bothered with her to to piss you off.”

Helios laughs.

“Something tells me you aren't emotionless.”

“Oh, he’s not”  Isobel said, “He is in love. . . just not with her.”

Isobel shows up beside me and puts a hand over my arm. The hand on my arm is wearing the engagement ring I bought her all those months ago. Helios studies this.

“He’s lying”, Jona says from his circle of guards, “He’s lying Helios he--”

Helios holds up his hand again.

“Forget it she can’t hide from me forever.”

“She probably can’t walk straight anyway.”, Titus gives as an aside to Helios

I clench my teeth, blood streaming from my mouth.

"One last time. . .tell me where she is or everyone dies", Helios warned. He grabbed a gun from one of the men closest to him.

There was a long silence and Helios seemed to weigh his options, he drops the gun to the floor.

"You get to live today", He says to me, " and tomorrow. You do your little job for me and make some money for me. You will stay on your alloted side of town and cause no trouble. Find her and bring her to me before the end of winter and maybe. . . just maybe I can find a place for you in New Aeterna. One wrong move by you--by any of you--and you are all dead."

Helios turns to leave, his men and Jona along with him. Helios stops when he passes by me and eyes Isobel and I.

"Congratulations on the wedding, I'll be keeping an eye out of an invitation."

I let out a breath when the last gun is out of my home. I fall down my knees instantly with my hands plastered over my cut smile.

“Damien”, I say through clenched teeth

He rushes over with antispetic, a needle and stitches. Isobel steps out the way and for a while no one knows what to do. Damien starts suturing a side, while I do the other. Isobel grimaces, but I just barely catch it my eyes on Callum.

The kitchen and mess hall we were standing in was renovated every ten years. The floors were occasionally refurbished, but hadn't been changed in almost a century. During the last renovation the contractors unearthed a former coldbox in the floor. I'd been doing the books then and Hmeju and I decided it was to expensive to fill, so we just covered it. It was completely forgotten until now.

It was a small space and both of the Angels could barley fit in it.Callum lifted the covering from the floor to help them out of the hiding place. Ariel went out first and Seraphina hesitated before taking Callum's hand and coming up. Callum steps back and tries to look past her and she tries hard to look past him.

“I hope you can prove yourself worth saving, Miss Grigori”, Lysander says cutting the silence, a slight of humor in his voice.

She narrows her eyes at me. She has to stay here now, Helios had searched St. Lilith's, he wouldn't think to look for her here again.

"I want their blood", she responded, "I want all their blood."

I feel Isobel take my hand, her fingers intertwine with mine.

Seraphina steps away with Ariel, she looks confused for a moment before Lysander directs her to the infirmary. Everyone slowly disperses until it's just Isobel and I.

"You didn't have to do that", I told her

"I did."

"Helios thinks we are getting married."

"Then", she says a little unsure, "I guess I'm sticking around until he's gone."

+6+

Seraphina is determined the next day. Which is technically the first day of our new arrangements. She passes Isobel and I in the hallway with Ariel at her heels. I don’t know what she is doing but we quietly follow the Angels o the end of the hall. Seraphina and Ariel stop in front of the only original stain glass window in the old church. I take a few steps back and Isobel follows suit.

Sera sets a white votive candle on the edge of the window and turns to Ariel who has Damien's lighter in her hands. Ariel lights the candle and the wick catches instantly, the flame snaps to life.

The Angels stand next to each other, Sera’s arm is around Ariel’s shoulder, the younger girl leaning next to her.

“What’s going on ”, Isobel asks. We had been trying to work out our new fake engagement all morning. It was mostly awkward silences and me filling her in on New Aeterna.

“The souls of Angels find peace by candlelight””, I say verbatim.

Sera places a dome over the candle and carefully watches the flame, when she is sure it’s safe she turns to leave. Isobel gives my hand a comforting squeeze and goes to acquaint herself with Ariel.

“Sera”, I take her hand as she passes me. It's so cold I almost drop it. Her swollen eyes is bandaged but there is no looking pass anything else.

“Demon.”

“Please don't call me that Seraphina. Please, I love you”

Sera looked over to where Isobel was pretending to chat with Ariel her eyes sliding  over to us.

“She is the answer to your broken heart.”, Seraphina says returning Isobel's gaze

“Sera, the fates have seen to us.”

“If you loved me, you would have chosen me first. After we kissed you chose Isobel, not me. You choose her, you wanted to make her your wife. Don’t let the fates make your future, I damn well won’t. Don’t let her get away again, Paris.”

“Even if I  make it out of this alive, it will be worthless if I don't have you.”

“You will make it out alive”, she says. “I’ll protect my Prince with my life. My only will now is to to protect your life so you can bring our people together. Just like Hmjeu always believed you would. I'm going to become exactly what Hmjeu wanted me to be."

"That's not what you want--"

"It's all I have to want now. To protect my Prince", she gives a slight bow

Then protect me from a broken heart.

I want to say, but I can’t. I look at her cut hair and bruised face and it feels to soon. Too selfish. If she wants to protect me, if she thinks she can protect me, she’ll have to be by my side to do it and that’s a start

She puts on a pair of dark shades and slowly backs away and disappears hall. I turn back to where Ariel and Isobel are talking. Isobel is still wearing the engagement ring. Isobel offers me a half smile. I cautiously return it, my scars still sting from where Titus cut me.

That smile felt like the beginning of something. Like the renewal of something.

Do you think you can save the world Paris Prince ?

Do you think you can beat him ?

Better yet.

Do you love her?

Do you ?

Don’t lie.

+++

THE END

FINAL CHAPTERS COMING SOON.

 

So, I have nothing to explain . . .