“Where is the car ?”, Isobel asks rushing to catch her breath.
“Dammit--I thought she parked--get down. Run !”
Isobel grabs my hand and we run down North street keeping our heads low. They are on the roof. Helios has a sniper on the fucking roof. North street is vacant having been blocked off for road work. We take it and navigate around missing sidewalks and potholes. Isobel gets her orange high heel caught in a small pothole, I move to steady her before she falls over her floor length chiffon dress.
We duck behind a dump truck as bullets rattle off the side like rain. Isobel screams burying her face into my dinner jacket. I hadn't had time to grab my coat from coat check.
Silence
“I think they stopped. Let's go”, I whisper to her.
“It’s to risky. I can't Paris. . . I can't--”
“We have to move. I’m sorry. Don't let go of my hand.”
Isobel nods and grips my hand tighter. I wish I didn’t have to make her, but we couldn't risk staying still. She turns to face me her lips grazing mine in the process.
“Okay.” she says holding back the fear in her voice, “Let’s go”
We get up and run to Worth St.The street has a light crowd some people curse at us, but we don't stop running. A part of me hopes Helios won't shoot in a crowd. We need to get as close to the bridge and out of Brooklyn as fast as we possibly can.
Suddenly something ricochets off my left shoe and I know it's a bullet. It had been silent but quick, they must be at close range.
“Fuck”, I screamed and try to keep upright, “We need to get out the crowd.”
We duck down another backstreet, walking behind a warehouse being renovated into apartments. It's quiet and I take the time to catch my breath.
That bullet that hit my shoe had sheared my skin. It hurt like hell. . . which meant it was made of white gold. It was one of Callums' stolen bullets. The SGI were shooting to kill now, they had a right though. I was breaking their rules. I shouldn't have been in Brooklyn. Isobel slows down, her heels go soft against the sidewalk. I take off my suit jacket and put it over her shoulders.
“I’m sorry Isobel, I”m so sorry. I didn’t think this would--”
“It’s okay”, Isobel says holding up the end of her long gown, “Where the hell is she ? How do we get back ? How could she do this to us--are you hurt ?”
“No, I’m fine”, I lie.
Up ahead the figure of a well built man catches my eye. He stands out against all the skinny artist in this area. He keeps walking towards us, gracefully looking from side to side at the intersection, waiting for the walk signal. He's baiting us.
Isobel starts to turn back, but I hold her still. The last thing we want is to turn our back on this man. We take one step back as he shows off his shiny silver pistol.
He raises it and starts to cross over to us when a black SUV speeds around the corner, jumps the sidewalk and slams into him hard enough to send him into the alley between us. His gun spins away from him and he shakily reaches for his ear piece.
The black SUV backs out onto the street and I hear the doors click open. Isobel and I jump into the backseat, before we can close the door the SUV pulls off and we collide together.
“Where were you, Seraphina”, I yell at her, “You were supposed to stay put. No matter what.”
She ignores me and and turns down the next street, driving one handed with a cup of coffee in her other hand. Sera doesn’t keep her eyes on the road, to busy looking at the roofs as we pull into an alley. Or at least I assume. I can’t see her eyes underneath her dark shades.
“What are you doing. . . we need to get out of here. Get on the interstate. This was Jona. He must of told Helios I would be here.”
The car jerks as she makes a sudden stop and backs up into an alley, Seraphina's coffee tumbles out of her hand and onto the passenger seat. She tilts her head down as an unmarked white BMW drives past us.
Seraphina taps the steering wheel looking out the mirrors, I can’t see or read anything under her dark shades, a black hooded sweatshirt covers her cropped hair, loose black cargos, and old Doc Martins cover everything else.
She reaches for the gun in the glove compartment and makes sure it has all its rounds.
“Are you really going to need that ?”, Isobel asks
As if to answer, something slams onto the roof of the car. There is a tense moment of silence as we wonder what the hell that sound was .Seraphina tilts her shades up and gives us a warning look. I still can't look at the dark miscolored skin encircling her eyes. I guess that really wasn't going to heal.
"Stay in the car, Seraphina", I whisper
She cocks the gun and opens the car door. I give Isobel a silent gesture to stay and then follow Seraphina out . Sera is standing infront of the car looking up with the gun pointed up, her hand. . . it's shaking.
Standing back I see an SGI standing on the roof of the car. He doesn’t look armed, they are studying each other beneath their respected shades.
“Searphina”, The male Angel says and I recognize his voice, ”I barely recognized you.”
Seraphina takes off her shades and tosses them aside to get a better look at the Angel. Fuck. How could she let herself get recognized. She should have stayed in the car.
“Don’t shoot him”, I say to Seraphina.
The Angel smiles not even acknowledging me.
“What do you want ?" I ask the Angel, “Tell Helios this was my mistake. Me being in Brooklyn is just business I--”
“I think you know you’re in the wrong here.”, The Angel says, “This is Helios’s territory. You being here is against Helios' law. We have a right to kill you.”
“If it weren’t for Jona you’d have no idea I was here. I just--”
The SUV's tires screeched and the car jerks forward causing the Angel to tumble off the roof and smack into the cold asphalt. Isobel rolls down the driver’s seat window and sticks her head out. She'd climbed through from the backseat.
“Let’s go.”, she says
Seraphina doesn’t hesitate to open the trunk and lifts the unconscious Angel over her shoulder and into the trunk of the SUV. His shades fall off and I recognize him.
“What are you doing. We do not take prisoners.”, I tell her, "Especially not him."
Seraphina ignores me, then I recall that the Angel had recognized her. For all Helios' knew she was supposed to be gone. We had to take this Angel so Helios wouldn't find out she was still in the city.
Seraphina pulls Isobel out of the driver’s seat, barley giving Isobel a chance to hop back into the backseat before taking off. Seraphina tears out of the alley and down the street. At one point the the car is riddled with gunshots and I can hear people outside screaming. The bulletproof windows crack and Isobel and I are are hovered over each other on the floor.
I can hear horns blaring as Seraphina dodged oncoming cars, she makes a quick turn on to the the expressway, clipping the back of the car on a guard rail. Once we make it out of Brooklyn I let myself relax.
“You should have let me drive”, Isobel says to Seraphin, “I’ve been driving in this city for five years. I know all the shortcuts.”
“Isobel”, I say, “It’s done. We are fine.”
Isobel settles further into my side, I hadn’t even realized I’d had my arm around her. I catch Seraphina’s glance in the mirror as she takes the 125th street exit towards the Hudson River.
“It’s too soon to exit.”, I say from the backseat. Riverdale is another 12 exits up. She takes the Harlem exit anyway. Fine, we are still allowed there. I have no idea where she is going but I’m glad I’m alive.
“You idiot”, Isobel says to me but she only half means it, “Was it really worth it ? ”
“At least we made it out alive.”
Seraphina comes to a stop at 12th avenue and drives towards the Hudson River.
“We need to get back to St. Liliths”. I tell Seraphina, I’m not quite ready to order her to do anything.
She ignores me and stops the car and parks under a deserted overpass. A chain linked fence separates us from the Hudson. I can already smell it. Sera pulls off her sweatshirt revealing an faded black muscle tee underneath.
“Sera”, I start, “Stop ignoring me. Take us home.”
She reaches to pull up her hair but drops her hand when remembers her hair is gone. She gets out the car and opens the trunk dragging out our prisoner and slamming him hard against the concrete paving.
“Sera, we can question him when we get back. Where are the keys we need to get back.”
She doesn’t listen, instead she opens the white gold knife she had when she arrived, the name Raziel is engraved on it. She slices the Angel's t-shirt open, exposing his thick tanned muscles to the cool December air. The prisoner shakes his head slowly becoming conscious.
I get out the car and slam the door, Isobel follows suit.
The prisoner braces himself then jumps up, he has a gun on his ankle and rams the side of into Seraphina’s face drawing blood. Seraphina falls back into the trunk.
"Bitch", he snaps. He reaches down with both hands to choke her. She grabs for his hands and when she starts to gasp for breath he kisses her open mouth.
"Fucking Bastard", I yell
Isobel holds me back from helping her but I shove Isobel off. The Angel sees me coming and takes off hand Sera' throat to reach for his gun and shoots at me. He misses.
He doesn't notice Seraphina reaching for the tire iron laying in the trunk, she grabs it and hits the gun out of his hand and then aims for his face, bringing it hard across his eyes. He falls facedown in the ground and tries to drag himself to the river. Seraphina watches him try and escape for a few moments before kicking him down and turning him on his back. A stream of thick blood runs from her nose and drips on his bare chest.
“Seraphina”, I yell at her, "Put him back in the car."
She tosses the tire iron and straddles the Angel looking him up and down.
“Look at me”, she says to the Angel. Her voice is deep,rough and soothing at the same time.
He spits at her.
She grabs the base of his throat with one hand forcing him to focus on her.
"What did you say", she says
"Nothing", he rasp
"What did you say to me", she squeezes his throat harder. He makes a chocking sound and she brings her knife to just under his eyes.
Something clicks for him. He smiles.
"I said", there is a bravado to his voice and he laughts at the memory, "I told you . . . I wanted you to look me in the eye while I was fucking you."
“Well, Titus”, she says, “I want you to look me in the eye while I’m killing you--”
I barley hear the words and I realize what she is going to do.
“Seraphina no--”
She stabs the Angel in the heart. The man gasps, he is still alive but he doesn’t scream. Rumor has it Helios taught them to never scream while in pain.
“Bitch”, he gasps, "You fucking loved it--
Then she starts to twist the knife, very very slowly. There is a slight gurgle as blood runs free from his heart. Titus' eyes go wide and he turns to me, he's still fucking alive.
"You. . . idiot", Titus says looking at me, "She. . .don't trust . . . She's lying. . .she's a liar. . . Don't. . . trust. . . her. . .she lying---
Sera immediately pulls the knife out of Titus’ chest and stabs him again and again. Then something snaps in her and blind rage takes over and she pushes the knife in his flesh over and over again. she’s not even aiming for his heart anymore. Blood pours out of him as his heart tries to beat. She hits a vein and is sprayed with his blood.
It all happens in less than 30 seconds and she is still looking for places to hurt him, his red blood is spattered across the pavement. Isobel is screaming at me to do something, her eyes buried in her hands.I start to feel nausea welling up in me.
“Paris, stop her”, Isobel pleas.
“I. . I”
When Seraphina lifts the knife again I take her wrist and pry the knife out of her blood soaked hand. She doesn’t put up a fight and stills, realizing what she has done. The knife is so slicked with blood it slips out my hand. She turns Titus' body over. She tears off the rest of his shirt, revealing pure white wings bound at his back. They looked strong and assured fastened to his back as naturally as an arm.
She turns on her heels and looks at Isobel.
“Don’t look”, I tell Isobel
Sera pulls another knife out the sheath on her right arm, this one is a bit longer. Much sharper. Seraphina’s pure blue eyes catch mine. I know what she has to do. I put a hand on Isobel's back and take her to the car.
“What is she doing ? “ Isobel asks.
“Making sure the Hudson isn’t discovered carrying Angels.”
A few moments later I look back to where Seraphina lifts Titus mutilated body rolling it into the Hudson River. She throws a trash bag into the trunk. The bag clunks with the remains of Titus’ wings.
I don’t want to confront Seraphina about this horrid display in front of Isobel, so I just get in the car. No one daring to say a word.
Sera takes off her blood stained shirt, I catch a glimpse of where her back and chest are still wrapped in bandages before putting her sweatshirt back on. She wipes away the blood on her face with antiseptic wipe and puts a pair of shades back on.
Isobel rest her head on my shoulder as we get back on the expressway. In the rear view mirror Isobel and I look like a handsome couple. Isobel in a formal dark orange scalloped neck dress, me in a matching bow tie. Well, it had been the Van Housen wedding.
I’m still in shock from my near death experience, even with my ex-girlfriend comfortably in my arms, relying on an unstable Angel I'm not sure I can trust to get us back safely. Despite the fact that there is more at stake here I know I’m still in love with her.
The unstable one, not my ex.
I think
I don’t know
It’s really not fucking important.
This is my life now.
+++
“What the hell was I supposed to do ?”, I argue a few minutes later now
relieved of my bow tie and vest.
“Um, not go”, Lysander says. His voice echoes across the empty basement dining hall, “ I told you not to go to the Van Housen wedding.”
“The Van Housens have been our client for years. What am I supposed to say “I’m sorry I we can't attend your daughters’ wedding Mr. Van Housen, you see we have this supernatural war going on between Angels so you’ll have to move your daughters' 5 million dollar wedding out of Brooklyn. Because by-the-by your friendly tailors are Demons.”
“Something like that”, Ashe offers.
“The Van Housens stood by us even after our PR nightmare. We can’t break ties with our biggest client, not right now when Helios is only keeping us alive for our profits. Even with Helios taking a percentage this will be a nice profit for us. Wouldn’t you like to get paid again. Eat real food. Besides I spent a year making that wedding dress.”
“Was it worth almost getting shot at ?”, Lysander asked leaning on his cane, “Was it worth almost getting yourself and Isobel shot? Helios is not playing anymore.”
I held up the crumpled check with Mr. Van Housen’s signature. Van Housen had thrown in a little extra because my date was so charming. It was enough for us to make it through the winter with a few luxuries.
“Are we even going to talk about it.”, Isobel pipes up from the corner.
Isobel is sitting between Lysander and I. Ashe and Callum are next to him. We are in a circle in the empty dining hall. When I'd walked in all disheveled and with bullet holes in the SUV. Ashe, Callum and Lysander demanded an explanation.
Seraphina is standing in the back of the dining room staring into a plastic coffee mug, she is close enough to hear but doesn't bother acknowledging that Isobel is talking about her.
“I’ll talk to her.”, Is what I say
. What I meant to say was “Let it go, please”
“What ?”, Callums says, “What did she do now ?”
“Nothing. Serephina just wasn’t at the rendezvous spot."
Isobels shifts clearly unhappy that I wasn't telling the full truth but Isobel agreed not to contradict me in public. My fake engagnement to Isobel had been to protect Seraphina from Helios. What I hadn't counted on was everyone (except those in this room) believing it too. The Brotherhood liked Isobel, she wasn't the first human to find comradere with us and probably not the last. She was a positive energy and everyone needed that right now. So we played along.
“How convenient”, Callum says suspiciously
Seraphina shifts a little, listening to us bicker about her.
“Look”, I say standing up, “It’s over. I broke ties with the Van Housen’s. We officially have no more ties to Brooklyn clients. Besides the only reason the SGI knew about me going to that wedding was because Jona told them. End of story.”
“End of story ?”, said Lysander, “Today was just a taste of what Helios will do once he has his army. It won’t just be us, it will be anyone who doesn’t obey him. Humans, daemons, anyone.”
“Then I guess we have our work cut of for us . In the mean time let’s keep morale up. Let’s meet about this tomorrow Callum needs to finish lunch and I need some fucking pain killers”
We break off in different directions. Isobel heads off to change out of her dress, and I wait for Sera to leave and fall into pace beside her. I keep up even though I'm limping.
The Van Housens were one of the wealthiest families in Brooklyn. They’d been in New York high society since the Industrial Revolution. Father had struck up quite the business relationship with the family. Tailoring and supplying suits and dresses as needed, especially weddings. The Van Housen women were all gorgeous and married lavishly and often. We’d cycled in and out as liaisons to the family. If they ever noticed anything suspicious. . . they never said.
The current Van Housen Bride was a spoiled self involved girl who was more than ready to drop 700,000 on a handmade wedding dress. My first problem was delivering the dress, my second was that the Van Hosuen patriarch had invited me to the wedding out of gratitude. Well, he’d invited Hmjeu (Harry) and I’d inherited the invitation.
When I’d decided I was going to risk
going to the Van Housen wedding I’d wanted to take Seraphina with me. With
enough make up to cover her bruises and scars, she would make a good
impression on the Van Housens and lethal enough to protect me if SGI found out.
She said 'no' immediately, and when I go to persistent she threatened to slit
my throat.. For some reason I thought if she saw herself dressed up again--
maybe it would lift her spirits. Callum was the next obvious choice to take as
my plus one but the Van Housens were uber conservative.
Isobel volunteered to go with me and that was that. I was a little ashamed of how normal it felt to act as a couple with her. Like no time had passed. Because Seraphina was supposed to be protecting me and because she knew how SGI patrolled Brooklyn she drove us.
Now I felt like an idiot remembering how I laughed over something with Isobel. Miss. Van Housen’s 700,000 dollar wedding dress in the back seat. How was I allowed to laugh like that when the Angel I loved was quietly going through hell ?
“You can’t do that Sera. .. you can’t keep killing people”, I finally manage to say
She stops mid stride and turns to me. I keep my voice low encase anyone is listening. Up close the evidence of Helios' brutality was clear and ever present. The burst veins around her eyes hadn't healed in 2 weeks leaving permanent dark rings and fury around them. Two of her teeth had been knocked out and her nose never quite set the same. Nothing could hide behind her tapered haircut. I started to think that was intentional.
“That was brutal, Seraphina", I continue, "You practically mutilated Titus' body. How am I supposed to get anyone to trust you if you do things like that ? I can't keep Isobel at bay forever”
Seraphina looks down the hall. She says nothing so I continue.
“Believe me, I wanted that monster dead. But not at the hands of you losing your soul. That was uncalled for. You are better than that, Seraphina.”
“Fuck you.", she swallows the words, trying to hold back the tears in her voice.
It's the first words she's said to me in 3 days. No one could hold their tongue like her
“I’m so sorry Sera, but you can’t just murder all of them. Did killing Titus change anything ? Do you feel better. Was it worth it”
“What is this ?”, she seems confused , "Do you believe him ? What Titus said ? You think I made it up."
"No", I answer automatically, "I'm on your side Sera, but you won’t find peace like this. Titus will never answer for what he did. He’s just dead.”
“I don’t regret it. Don't you dare try to make me.”
“It’s wrong. Murder is wrong"
“Titus”, she had a hard time with is name, “ And his compatriots They were so . . . coordinated. Like they’d done it before. Maybe Titus is just dead or maybe I saved one of my sisters from one of them.”
How could I argue with that ?
“Noble”, I said pensively, “Protecting your sister while you're not even there. But you're going to lose your fucking soul this way. If you do this again, Sera . . . I may be forced to put you and Ariel out.”
"I don't care."
"Sera--"
"We're done here"
Seraphina removes the shades clipped to her sweatshirt and puts them back on. She walks down the hall to her room while humming. It’s that stupid limerick that I hate, but it sounds so beautiful coming from her. The Smiling Prince.
Suddenly I remember something that gives me chills. The shades she was wearing weren’t hers, she'd thrown hers off in the alley.
They were Titus’
-2-
After Helios’ left that day there was the question of what to do next with two fugitive Angels. Our meager living arrangements barley worked for us, let alone two women who didn't want to be there.
I’d offered Ariel and Seraphina my own bedroom saying I could stay in the dorms upstairs, but one look at the door that lead to the outside and Sera had shaken her head no. She barley spoken then except for a screaming match when Isobel tried to talk to her.
The final solution had been to convert the “small chapel” where we had first signed Helios' agreement into a room. Convert was a strong word. It was just cleared of the antique table and chairs then furnished with two cots from and old emergency shelter; pillows and blankets
Ariel had cried upon first sight. Sera said nothing.
I hadn’t been able to sleep that first night. I kept wondering if I’d made the right choice. Maybe it had been selfish of me not to let Sera and Ariel run. I just wanted to keep Seraphina close. Now I wasn't so sure about that anymore.
I used to take these walks around St. Lilth’s in the middle of the night with my head phones in. I would quietly step out my room trying not to wake Isobel asleep on my (new) chaise lounge in the corner. I had turned a corner in the hallway one night and my foot hit something solid.
I looked down to see I had tripped over Seraphina. She was sitting outside the door of her new room. Her long legs outstretched, her head down. I was still getting used to her being there, I kept catching myself not recognizing her with her rough features and hair cut. She'd also dyed her hair slightly darker shade and wore whatever dark loose clothes that would fit. Only Callum's clothes came close to fitting her.
“What are you doing out here “, I whispered.
“Protecting her”, she said. Staring at the room were Ariel was sleeping. Sera had a paper cup of instant coffee next to her.
“Ariel’s fine. You need to sleep,”
“I’m all she has Paris. I have to protect her.”, she rubbed her tired red eyes with her palms
“You’re both safe here.”
“Don’t be such a fool, I don’t trust any of you. I hear what your Brothers say, I know what they think of me. They hate me.”
It was true. Most of the Brothers weren't fond of her. To them she was still a murderer, Helio's third, Helio's whore. She'd helped Helios blow up the shops and admitted to such. I knew if it hadn't been for Hippolyta's death, Sera might have never turned on Helios. The Brothers mostly agreed to let her stay because it was better she be on our side than Helios'.
At the behest of others, Damien (not that he needed much convincing) gave her sugar pills instead of painkillers, he did all her stitches with a needle and thread when he had adhesive ones. He'd administered several uncomfortable physical exams, never telling her that they weren't alone and that the mirror in the infirmary was two-way.
All of this I heard in passing and through rumors. I'd urged my brothers that we all had a common enemy now and to have some "God damn fucking decency" I don't know if that worked. Now they just ignored her and she ignored the things Callum did to her food and coffee.
For the first week she spent every night in the hallway. Some nights when I found her sitting in the hall she'd be crying as quietly as possible. Ariel told me that Seraphina had never cried a day in her life. Ariel was really really wrong . They way she did it so quietly, trying to hold as much in as possible made the weight of it ten fold. I didn't know watching someone cry could hurt so much.
“Sera”, I had called her name softly. He red eyes focused on me.
"Fuck", she looked pissed at being caught.
"Sera. . . it's okay."
“No it's not he--”, she was chocked
up.
“I know”, I held her hands, “He is going pay, they are all going to pay. I promise.”
She snatched her hands back. I realized that's how Seraphina was. She didn't cry over what had been done to her. The loss of innocence, that's what got her.
“I’m going to kill him. He's going to suffer.”, she seethed taking a sip of her cold coffee. She then stopped and spit out a ladybug.
“No”, I said as more of a statement “I'm sure there is a fate worse than death for Helios Thantos. You know Sera . . . I think the others would be easier on you if you showed this kind of emotion in front of them".
"Fuck you"
"I'm just trying to make things easier for you"
"If you wanted to make things easier you should have let me run."
"Go ahead", I said, "leave now. you have no I.D, no help, no money. What's your plan Sera ? You need us. I can protect you."
“There is nothing else in the world you can protect me from. I’ve bared it all. If you want someone to protect then protect your precious little fiancee--””
“Please”, I said, “Stop trying to pawn me off on Isobel. Stop thinking you are so far gone that you don't deserve love. I love you Sera. Stop pushing me away. ”
"I want to make my own choices on who I love. We were destined to be together. We were. . . now it's over and we move on. I want to move on from all this as soon as Helios gone"
"I don't want that.", I admitted, "Things will be different when Helios is gone. I was lazy after Hmjeu died but real change is coming to our way of life. . . because now I have something to fight for--"
"Don't"
"You", I finished.
She laughed. Fuck, the laught always did me in.
"If you think you get to 'have me' when this is over you are incredibly mistaken, sweet prince. How many times do you need to hear that."
"I can dream can't I ?", I gave her a smile which she took the time to study
Sometimes I’d just sit with her in silence. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to listen, I'd read that listening was important but she never told me anything. I knew she liked to read so I bought her the only books I could find in Father's things. A few Eric Vances and James Pattersons. She'd confessed to having read them already when Father had visited Brooklyn but kept the books anyway.
At the end of the first week I was both
relived and saddened to see Seraphina not sitting in the hall at night anymore.
Instead Ariel was there in Seraphina's spot. I don't think Ariel thought this exile would last this long, not that she ever let it show. I realize that by being so young and having no memories of our savage past she naturally had more optimism.
“Ariel”, I greeted her.
“I was waiting for you. I heard you
out here with her all those other nights.”, Ariel said
“Not you too. You’re safe here. Go to sleep."
“I will. I just want you to know Seraphina's sleeping. . .”, Ariel opened the door.
Sera's tall figure was slumped against the cot, curling in. An half full coffee mug by her hand. She was fully dressed in a black long sleeve shirt, pants and boots. Her mouth was slightly open her hands by her side. She looked so peaceful and I wished she would stay that way forever.
"Well", I said to Ariel picking up the mug, "Decaf will do that to you."
+3+
Until today I'd also become a professional at avoiding being alone with Isobel. The Van Housen wedding had been the most time we spent together since Isobel came back.
Isobel's lied to Helis about our engagement to protect me. If Helios knew how I felt about Sera. about how serious our relationship was he would have never believed that I'd let her go.
Isobel has settled nicely back into St. Lilith's. Things were awkward and there was a lot unsaid. I knew If Searphina had died last year in that cave, there would be no question, Helios or not, that Isobel and I would have been together. Married maybe. I would have been happy with Isobel. . .but one day I would have realized I wasn't in love with Isobel.
“So, you know have a drawer full of women’s underwear ?”, Isobel said opening one of my dresser drawers.
I almost fell off my desk chair. I'd been staring at the Van Housen's six digit check in my office, while Isobel changed out of her gown. I rolled my chair over to the door where Isobel had changed into gym clothes. She had a drawer open on the dresser I'd inherited from Father. I'd never had enough clothes to fill a dresser so I'd never used it. Almost.
“What ? Oh. . . that’s not what
you think. . . I didn't like. . .ask for ...she just...left. . fuck.", Did I just
say that ?
“You really went from zero to 60 with her didn't’ you ?”, I don’t know if she amazed at my prowess or disappointed.
“I was in a really bad place. We both were. Isobel, I was heartbroken and she's a gorgeous woman . . .”
"That's what Ashe figured. . it was just . . . um physical”
"Well . . . maybe ?"
"Maybe ?"
“No”, I said. admitted really, “ I was in a bad place. You broke my heart. . . but what I had with Sera was interesting It wasn’t perfect but we had fun, I loved her and I think I've felt that way for a long time”
“To soon to say things like that round
me, Paris. I just want to slap you for sleeping with her. I mean I wasn't gone
that long. I mean we never--“
“Isobel… I honestly thought I loved her. Besides you are the one who left me.”
“Hello ? My life was in danger. Why do you keep saying loved ? Do you still love her or is Ashe right and you are just just cycling though us.”
"It's not our biggest concern. If it makes you feel any better I can't even think about touching her without getting disgusted with myself. She is never going to be the same. The relationship you are jealous of is gone."
"So why are you letting her get away with murder ? She killed someone. Ashe, Lysander and Callum should know."
"Titus attacked her, it was self defense."
"Keep telling yourself that.", she said. Fuck. She sounded hurt, "She's going to disappoint you Paris. I just want you to know that I'm here for you and for this fight."
"Isobel this thing with Helios isn't your fight. You can leave again."
Earlier Isobel had sat painfully still while Ashe, Lysander and I explained Helio's plan create an army of blood-sucking daemons to defend him as he separated the island of Manhattan and turned it into his own sovereign nation, New Aeterna. A regime ruled by Helios.
"It is now. I love this city and I don't want Helios ruining it", she said simply, "Come on we should go down to lunch."
Isobel holds her hand out to me and we head out. I didn't like deceiving my Brothers but the fewer people who knew the better. It was a wasn't just that Seraphina was an Angel. She'd been Helio's Angel.Besides, Isobel had proven herself. Isobel was likeable and she encourage morale. We needed that when we were running on fumes. It felt oddly natural. Isobel was young (by my standards anyway) she was so confident. . .optimistic. She'd been the girl who came from small town Florida and made it in the big city, who made friends everywhere she went, the kind of girl who studied remnants of the past in the present.
I smiled to myself
The kind of girl who owns a car in New York City.
We walked together in virtual silence.
When I entered the basement cafeteria I saw Seraphina stirring her coffee with a fork, even though there is a spoon in her mouth. Her eyes are red and glazed over and her hair is wet. She sat at a table she'd pushed against the back wall and no one looked twice at her.
"I should talk to her--", Isobel starts
"No you don't have to----"
Isobel breathes, "I have to try"
Isobel squeezes my hand and slips away to Sera's table. I
can already see Sera putting her defenses up. I turn back to the table
with Ashe and Callum. There appears to be some sort of lumpy broth on the menu.
"Are you going to tell us what really happened today ?", Ashe asks, "What did she do ? Lysander said Isobel looked shaken."
"Nothing", I said
"You need to stop defending her--"
"I don't want to hear this bickering shit", Callum cuts in "Helios is going to fucking come after us and kill us when he realizes we aren't that profitable. Maybe if we turn her in Helios will trust us and let us join him."
"He'll let you join, but not as an equal", I say, "Besides do you want to be responsible for what Helios does once he has Seraphina ?"
"Killher ? Like you were supposed to do?", Callum gets up to leave.
"Paris", Ashe says watching Callum leave, "How do you think this ends ? If Helios wins. If New Aeterna rises Helios will kill us, if we get Helios. . .we have to kill every SGI we can find. . . including her. So stop protecting her."
"I should--I should check on Isobel.", I turn to where Isobel is sitting next to Seraphina. I quietly move over to the pair.
"Look Sera, ", Isobel was saying, "I want to be your fri--"
"Shut up", she cuts in holding her hand to her head.
"I'm trying to help you", Isobel went on , "Even though I---"
"Shut up--"
"I-"
"Leave me the fuck alone. I have a fucking migraine."
"Seraphina", I said then realized it
sounded like I was scolding her. That made her look up at me.
"What", she snapped and stood up.
"I didn't thank you for getting us out of Brooklyn alive", Sera shifted her weight as I continued "But The Brotherhood needs more. I know things have been hard. . . but when we all meet tomorrow to come up with a plan, you can't stand in the back looking pissed off. You're going to help . The sooner we take down Helios the sooner you can continue your personal vendettas."
"I can't help you--", she starts
"You can, Sera. You know Helios. You now how he operates. You are fearless. You have a vendetta. I'm sorry I didn't do this earlier but Sera I'm asking you. . . I'm asking you to get some sleep and fucking help us. Please."
She looks past me and over to where Ashe is, then her bruised eyes glide back to me and then to Isobel.
"How can I say no to such a pretty face", she says with no emotion into her coffee.
"Hers or mine ?", I say with a bit of humor
"Also", Isobel adds, "I want you to teach me to . . .shoot or whatever to defend myself and I won't tell anyone about what you did to that Angel."
"Fine. will you leave me the fuck alone now ?"
"Never", I tell her with a half smile.
She comes from around the table and slips around Isobel and shoves me out the way.
"Got to hell", I hear her murmur on her way out the door.
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