+++
"No"
Sera folds her arms and moves to sit on the edge of a chair. It wasn't me she was talking to, but to Paris Prince. The answer was for my benefit too.
The moment I saw Mr. Prince come back yesterday, I'd told him that I I wanted to go to Down River Academy. I told him I felt anxious with nothing to do, I told him I needed space from Seraphina and a distraction from all these changes.I told him these things, but none of them were actually true. I just wanted to experience a piece of Caden's life
"But Sera--", I whine.
"No", she says again turning to me, "What are you thinking anyway, Ariel ? Going to High school ? This isn't a vacation--we're exiled."
"Seraphina", that was Isobel's voice. She was standing behind The Prince's desk chair, one hand on his chair, "Think about it. If Helios or the SGI were to come here...Ariel might be safer spending most of the day in school. Also the school has good security and--"
"You don't get to speak. She's not your sister she's min--"
"Um", I start, "Seraphina you are not my sister. You're not even my guardian. I was just dragged into this, I don't even know why I asked your permission. I don't need it--"
Sera stands up so fast her chair falls back, she takes off her shades and looks right at me. I have a hard time looking at her, she didn't look like the Seraphina I'd known my whole life.
"Don't you ever talk to me like that. We are bound by more than blood, Sister. You respect me. Remember that, little one."
I will myself not to cry.
"Seraphina, I would feel safer spending the day at school. Who knows how long we will be exiled, I should learn real people things."
Seraphina's gaze turns to Paris and Isobel, like this was all their idea.
"Seraphina", Paris says in his calm elegant voice, "The daemons can protect her. They have faster reflexes, they can sense Angels and are just as invincible as us. Maybe more so. It might be good for her."
"I think she'll be fine.", Isobel adds "Paris has some pull at DRA so she won't be in any classes alone."
Seraphina stands up, still facing the couple. At least I think they are a couple . . . I'm not sure.
"No", she says and promptly walks away.
Isobel takes my arm and we follow Seraphina out into the hall. Isobel motions for Paris to stay behind.
"Sera", Isobel says when we are in the hall, "Do this for Ariel. . . or I'll tell everyone what you've been up to."
This stops her. She turns slowly.
"Excuse me?"
"You've been killing Angels. . . and I know Leon's been helping you. What would Paris think of that ? What about Aria ? "
Sera swallows. I didn't know what to think. My mind just wants to go blank.
"Leon has nothing to--"
"Paris and I met with Leon yesterday and he didn't even seemed concerned that some of his friends were missing. He barely mentioned Titus' disappearance. Paris told me you didn't see the faces of the men who attacked you. But I'm guessing Leon found that out for you. He's been telling you how to find them. . . hasn't he ?"
I struggle to stay silent
Sera turns to Isobel, towering above her.
"The way you walk around here", Sera says, "Like you're the fucking first lady. Let me tell you something Isobel. . . you don't belong here. You daemons are man-made godless creatures. You should all be slaughtered. You don't belong here. You never did and you never will."
Isobel blinks quickly, I really hope she doesn't cry in front of Seraphina. Sera quickly turns to me.
"Do whatever you want, Ariel. I don't care. If you want to waste time going to school go ahead."
"Thanks Sera", I kept in my excitement, "I really need this--"
"Don't thank me", she says looking over Isobel again.
I want to hug her but decide to think twice.
+1+
The next morning I'm a ball of nerves. I have to be up early and it is so comforting knowing I'm on a schedule. One that didn't involve following Seraphina around. Speaking of which she had already been up and gone before I woke up.
Jade, Dante and the others wouldn't be up until later. Jade let me borrow one of her school uniforms so I wouldn't feel awkward the first day. It's a simple uniform, just a white button up shirt, plum bowtie and jacket with a black skirt. There is also a
jumper option but I like the skirt. I take my time lining my eyes and putting on some dusty shimmery eye make-up.
I wish Caden could see me.
I jump when I heard a knock on the door.
"Yes", I say looking myself over in the mirror.
"We're outside, we need to leave soon", it takes me a moment to recognize The Prince's voice. He sounds so tired.
I pick up the book bag I'd borrowed from Isobel and make my way out. I can't control my smile. It wasn't just getting to see and learn more about Caden's life, but that I'd be around humans, with real human problems.
Mr. Prince is outside by a black SUV, which when I looked at it closer I realize it has bullet holes in it. Years ago I wouldn't have been able to recognize one but Helios and his men had taken a liking to using anything for target practice.
The Prince is wearing his usual form fitting wool coat with overlapping collars and so many with shiny buttons, he has on tight leather gloves and black scarf. His eyes focus on me and his expression softens, he smiles and his mouth parts just a little. I blush instantly at the attention.
Then I realize he isn't looking at me, there is someone behind me.
I turn to see Seraphina, or at least a version of her. She's wearing white pants, gold heels and white wool cape. She has on dark shades and her sleek undercut has a slight wave to it. She doesn't have make up on except her lips are shiny pink.
"What's going on ?", I ask.
"I just need Sera here for authenticity. It'd be kind of strange if I just showed up randomly with an underage girl. Especially one as. . . um. . . . sheltered as you."
For some reason I laugh nervously at that.
"Uh ...here", Paris says handing out two small folios, "Augustine had some documents made up for you."
I open up the folio see a New Hampshire driver's license, a birth certificate and social security card. The birthdate says I'm sixteen.
Sixteen
I'd always loved the thought of just being sixteen and not just feeling sixteen. Sera gets into the driver seat and Mr. Prince reluctantly hands over the keys. I wonder where Isobel is but I assume she is still asleep.We drive in complete silence, I kept my eyes to the window watching as the scenery changed. We drove up past a quaint looking downtown then down a winding hill lined with trees. The school seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was a series of stone gray Gothic buildings with pointed turrets.
Once we park I realize my body is moving automatically and I just follow Sera and Mr. Prince out of the car . When I see the mass of students in the courtyard my stomach started to turn but I couldn't turn back now.
+++
"Once again", the Headmaster says to Mr. Prince when we were inside his plush office, "I'm so sorry to hear about Harry. We did golf sometimes you know."
"He did enjoy being outdoors", Mr. Prince answers at the mention of Harry his eyes unfocused, "Anyway, as you know Harry dedicated his life to taking in and reform men who'd lost their path."
The man nods extensively, his eyes going to Sera who hadn't taken her shades off. Her hands were wrapped around a thermos advertising the Demon's tailor shops.
"Well", The Prince continued, "One of Harry's last will and testaments was for me-- as his successor-- to grow his life's mission by taking in women as well. Miss. Grigori here has practically raised her younger sister Ariel. They were orphaned young, with no education and she is just out of a controlling and harmful relationship. I think they are just the kind of people Harry would help."
The man nods in understanding and reaches to shake my hand-- welcoming me. Me. To Down River Academy. Just like that he prints out a class schedule for me.
Mr. Prince continues, " But due to the circumstances it's best we not keep a record of her. . . incase someone where to show up looking for her."
"I think we can manage.", The headmaster agrees
+2+
In he main office, Sera loses her decorum and shoves Paris very hard, he lost his balance but kept upright.
"Watch it", he said to her aware of the secretary pretending not to notice
"Don't use me like that", she said, "Ever. You didn't tell me you were going to say such things--"
"We'll talk about it in the car", he whispered.
"No. I'm walking back.", she throws the car keys at his feet
"Sera--"
"Take care of yourself", Sera said to me. She pulled me close to hug me but I realized she was putting something in my bag.
She turns to leave the building. Mr. Prince doesn't follow her.
"Uh, well. . . ", he starts looking slightly uncomfortable, "I came through for you."
"Thank you", I said
"Ariel, I hate to put you in this position but . . . if the daemons reveal something or if they are up to something on the side. . . you'll let me know right ? If any of them mention Isaiah you''ll tell me won't you ?"
"Um, yes of course", I said instantly. He wanted me to spy on them. Was this what this was all about ?
He smiles then reaches down to pick up the keys and walks out. I suddenly realize that I am alone. Whatever happens next is all up to me, I'd never had so much freedom jut to be. I peer down at my class schedule. My first class in Homeroom English in BRMB HALL 293 . Good, I liked English.
I stare at the stream of kids moving around me. They are all so organized and seem to have places to be.Who do I talk to ? Is it weird to ask adults for help ? Should I look for Jade ?
I study the signs and room number around me very carefully. I realize I'm already in Bramble Hall and that I need to be on the second floor. A bell rings while I'm trying to find 93. I walk confidently into the room , it's full of desks and chairs just like I'd seen in picture books.
The students all stare at me and I stare right back. Everyone looks so different, I'd seen all sort of people the few times I was out of Queen Anne's, but never all in one place. . . looking at me. I quickly take the only empty seat in the back. A blonde woman who must be the teacher quirks her eyes at me.
"I'm. . . new", I said a little to loudly.
She sighs and her eyes go back to a list she is holding and she calls out names. I wait patiently for mine. Once I hear it it will finally seem real.
"Grigori, Ariel"
"Here", I said with to much enthusiasm.
I listen to the other human names, some are new to me and the ones I like I write down for some silly reason.
"Paul, McCalloguh", the teacher says. Then again, "McCalloguh, Paul. . . PAUL"
All eyes suddenly swivel to me. . . not to me, to the boy sitting next to me with his head down. He chest slowly rising and falling. He's alseep.
I reach over and tap the sleeping boy, which makes everyone else laugh. Paul groans and lifts his head, when his eyes open I make a loud and embarrassingly "Oh"
Paul McCallogh is Dante.
"Here", he says sleepily and puts his head back down.
+++
School was actually tedious. The excitement of seeing new students and learning about new things wore off pretty quick. For one I came in right in the middle of the year. I was constantly struggling to understand and no one wanted to catch me up. I was in all classes with the kids from St. Lillths, which was mostly Dante. Jade and I had Earth Science together, a topic Anne had forbidden along with any other science or Sex Ed.
I couldn't find the cafeteria during meal time, so I took the time to explore the school. It was just like Caden had described it. Old, antique, large. . . fancy.
I also found Caden's locker
Not because I knew his locker number, but because when I walked by it was open. There were battery operated Christmas lights around it and Caden's school picture was on the highest shelf. It was in a heavy silver frame. Below it were letters tapped to the doors and trophies on the bottom shelves. I looked at them. I never knew he played chess or did lacrosse.
It was a memorial.
I hadn't even realized the tears had fallen until I got close enough to see the picture. His spray of freckles and curly red hair, that smile. That sweet sweet smile. I reached for the picture, it was so familiar to me. A color version of the one I'd had on my nightstand.
"What are you doing ?"
I spun to see Dante behind me. He had his bag over one shoulder and two shirts buttons on his uniform undone. No tie.
"I just wanted to--"
"What ?", he said
"I left mine", I blurted out and burst into tears, "I had a picture of Caden but I didn't have time to take anything that night we left. I just wanted. . . I just."
"Whoa", he shook his head. He clearly wasn't expecting all of that, "You can't take that one. Just . . .copy the yearbook or something."
"Oh", I said, "I'll. . . do that."
We looked at Caden's memorial in silence. I wondered if this was his thing. If he came here for lunch everyday. Jade said they were best friends. Maybe he ate lunch here. . . or slept here. He slept a lot. In the two classes we had together he was sleeping.
"More are coming you know", Dante said
"What ?"
He motioned for me to follow him down the hall, where another locker was open. This time a picture of a girl with dark skin and a pleasant smile. There were letters and Christmas lights around her locker too.
"Leslie Vernie", he introduced, "She went missing last week along with a girl from public school. Mark Wetecker hasn't been in class for two days . . .he's probably next."
"What's happening to them", I asked
"Police think it's a kidnapper. I know it's Helios"
I blanched a little. While I was at DRA I'd hoped to forget about him and the mess he caused. Helios was Seraphina and The Prince's problem. Not mine.
"and Isaiah", Dante continued, "It's how Isaiah works. He lures kids in like a creppy pedo. First with drugs and alcohol then he promises you the ultimate high and he turns you. Once you are turned . . he gets you to bring in others. They are going to build a whole army like this. If you don't fall into line. . . you die"
"Like Caden"
Dante smirks at me
"You are so sheltered", he laughs, "Your tranny sister didn't tell you any of this."
"No", Of course I also never asked, "And Seraphina is a girl,."
"I know", he laughts, "Jona made sure of that. . . ."
He takes out his smart phone and somehow pulls up a very very inappropriate video of Seraphina on top of a man I can't recognize. I drop my bag and gathering all the energy I have and slug Dante right in the face. My wrist throbs from making contact.
. . it's a good thing I have two hands.
+++
I don't get expelled, but I do get punished.
Mr. Prince with his smooth talking convinced the headmaster that I was having issues due to my "traumatic childhood" and that I shouldn't be expelled.
So, on my first day of school I have to stay after and wash all the Blackboards in Bramble Hall . . . with Dante. After I hit him we had tussled on the floor for a bit, he was just trying to restrain me, but it looked bad so they punished him for good measure. I'd broken Dante's phone in the middle of our short lived fight, and neither one of us wanted to explain what started our fight.
The Blackboards in Bramble hall were large, they went around the whole room which was good because he could start on one side and I could be on the other.
"Why do you go by Dante", I asked standing on my toes to erase the top of a math problem.
"Paul's a human name. . . I'm not human", he says simply.
He puts down his eraser and sits at the teacher's desk. He puts his head down and covers his ears.
"Hey", I shout, "You have to help this is mostly your fault. You've been sleeping in class all day"
"I'm tired", he mumbled from the desk
"Why ?"
He lets out an over exaggerated sigh.
"You are so fucking sheltered."
"What"
He pops his head up and puts his feet on the desk.
"I'm helping Callum. We are making weapons to go after Helios with . . .again. Most of the guys who were helping were captured and ensanguinated so it's mostly me and him."
"ensanguinated ?"
"I think Demon blood is part of the recipe to make daemons or some shit"
"Ew"
"Yeah."
"Oh", that seemed like a reasonable excuse for Dante to be tired, "Why even put up with school, then."
"Because I'm still a nobody kid from Newark", he said, "In the off chance the world doesn't end, a fancy high school diploma might be helpful. I don't want to become a tailor."
"Why not ?", I asked, "It's noble"
He sighed and picked back up the eraser
"You wanna help ?", he asks quietly
"Help you get a degree ?"
"No", he said , "No, I mean help Callum and I. You must hate Helios just as much as everyone else. Look what he did to your sister."
"Seraphian's not my real sister", I corrected him, "But I don't think taking Helios down is my place."
"Why not?", he questioned, " You don't want to stand on the sidelines do you ? The sooner we get rid of him the sooner you get to go home. Look you slugged me pretty good, so you are a lot tougher than you look."
"I don't look tough ?"
"I mean you do now. That cute fiesty redhead thing."
Cute
Did a boy just call me cute. A boy who wasn't Caden.
"Okay", I decide, "I'll help, but Seraphina can't find out."
"No problem", He said, "She scares the shit out of me."
"What do I do ?", I ask, "Get a brand . . . a gun--"
"Whoa. . . we'll take it slow. We can start tomorrow night. Can you sneak out ?"
"I think so."
"Cool"
"Cool", I say back because I have nothing else to say.
He gets up from the desk and holds his hand out to me. I realize he wants to shake on it. When I take his hand he doesn't shrink back like most humans do. They think our skin is cold. Holding his hand is like holding Caden's. It felt just right.
Author's Note
At this point no one except Paris and Seraphina know that Seraphina killed Caden Kellers.
Also I only wanted to write Bellum III so I could do this scene with Dante during role call. . . so serial over ?