The first two days of school were daunting, but it was nice to be on a schedule again. The daemons took a public bus into town and we walked to DRA from there. They were fascinating people. Jade for one cursed more than most of the SGI combined and she had these amazing tattoos. Dante was for the most part very quiet in class, but he had this way of always saying the right thing at the right time

Outside of school Dante pretend like our chalkboard conversation hadn't happened. He was always with either with Callum or (like he was in class) sleeping. I thought he'd forgotten all about me getting involved in the resistance. It actually felt like he'd forgotten about me all together.

Then he passed me a note in first period. Honestly, i didn't know what was happening when he shoved the folded paper in my hand. I thought he was trying to give me a paper cut. I was going to save it for later but he prompted me to open it in the middle of lecture.

Tonight. 11pm. Front Door SL.

I stole a glance at him and gave a very slight nod. I was in.

 

+1+

That evening I watched Seraphina sleep. Every time I moved I was afraid she would wake up and realize I was sneaking out. I actually kind of wished she would wake up and stop me. I wasn't sure why I wanted to do this, but why did I have to sit around and wait for everyone else to do something ?

Dante had asked to help Callum in the kitchen that day and had taken the opportunity to switch all the coffee to decaf. Sera had been beyond irritable all evening and asleep since 9pm.

I left a note for her with vague details that I'd gone to a party with some kids from school, just incase she woke up. It was a bit of wishful thinking on my part.  Except for the other daemons I hadn't met many new people. There was never time between classes like there was in books and I spent lunch in the library learning how to use a computer.

Holding my shoes I step into the hallway and inch toward the front door. I'd borrowed a pair of tight dark jeans and one of Isobel's t-shirts with writing on them.

Dante was right where he said he’d be, leaning against the front door of St. Lilth's He looked kind of plain in a black button up shirt and light wash jeans. He wore heavy boots and had his ankles crossed casually.

“Fuck, you actually showed up”, he says pushing off the wall.

“This is important to me, Dante”

“What ?”

“What ?”, I said innocently, his bewildered expression was funny to me.

“Why did you say my name like that ? All slow ?”

“I don’t know. . . I guess I think it sounds silly. I mean Dante ? What's so intimidating about Italian poetry. I mean I understand the um. . . Hell thing. . . but really ?--"

"What", he said and there was that bewildered expression of his again, "What Hell thing ?"

"Dante ?. . he's a poet. I'll tell you later. What's the plan for tonight ? I'm ready to help."

“There is no plan exactly. Tonight I just want to show you something. See if you can handle it."

“Okay”, I said unsure.

We walked to the subway station in silence. I kept an eye out for any SGI who might be spying, but I doubt they’d recognize me like this. They also shouldn't be this far uptown, but you never know.

“Where are we going ?”

“South Bronx”

“ What ? This time of night ?”

“Yeah, trust me. This isn't a trap. . . It'll be fine. I promise."

He buys me a Metrocard and I follow him onto a  4 train headed for the Bronx. The train is empty and I sit while Dante leans against a pole. We get off several stops down and come up on a bunch of high rise buildings. There are a few homeless people and arguing couples on the street but other than that it is quiet. This part of the city looked different from the last time I’d seen it. I hadn’t left Brooklyn in. . . decades.

"I don't like this", I stick close to the subway exit, "We should go back."

"We aren't going far", He takes my hand and pulls me along. I still expect his skin to feel hot like the Demons but his is tepid. I stick close to Dante as we head down a block, there are a few open storefronts but we walk right past them.

“Look”

Dante points into a jewelry store window. There is a gorgeous gold chain necklace with a single shining blue sapphire on it.

“It’s pretty.”

“You want to try it on ?”

“What ? They’re closed—“

Before I can finish Dante steals down an alley and I follow, not wanting to be on the street alone. He is on his knees feeling the bottom of the door. I hear the clang of metal tools and he starts fiddling with the door's locks.

“Dante”, I whisper, “What are you doing ? We could get caught-”

“I thought you wanted to try it on.”

“Stop”, I'm whispering now.

I hear a click and the door swings open.

“It’s cool”,  he says, “Most places in this neighborhood. . . they can’t afford real security, cameras are fake.”

He seems impressed with himself and a full teeth smile lingers on his face. I'm kind of impressed to but I don't offer him a return smile.

I just follow the rush of adrenaline and walk in. The shop is tiny but packed to the brim with stuff. There are all sorts of junk on the walls and floor. Every corner is jammed with mismatched items and price tags. The outside display made the store look elegant, The display was a lie.

“What is this ?”

“Pawn shop”, he says picking up the necklace from the window display, “May I ?”

Unlike Caden I realize that I’m nearly 2 inches taller than Dante. I bend at the knee and he slips it around my neck, it feels cool and heavy.

"Wanna see ?", he asks

I look around for a mirror but can't find one in all the junk. Dante waves his phone at me and I reluctantly let him take a picture of me. My reaction is to stand straight, but I relax and place an awkward hand on my hip. I don't hear the camera click but he puts his phone away without showing me the picture.

“Okay, we should. . . put it back”, I finally say

I put the necklace back and when I turn around Dante is stuffing rings and earrings into a bag.

“Dante ?”, I whisper, “What are you doing ? ”

“Stopping Helios”

“You’re stealing --jewlery”

“It’s white gold.”

“So ? You can't steal that”

“You know how this goes, Ariel.  This is how we make the ammunition to stop Helios. White gold is the only material that can kill Angels."

“You’ve been stealing white gold. . . . to make bullets. ”

“No. . . I mean not the first time. Helios took our first batch and he’s into our money now. Paris can’t give us the money we need so we’re being resourceful. . . okay.”

“Does The Prince know about this?"

"No, he can't know. He's got to many fucking morals."

“Why . . . are you trusting me ?”

“You want Helios gone don’t you ? You want to do right by Caden ? Your sister seems to be able to handle herself so I figured you could to—“

“I’m nothing like Seraphna”, I tell him, “You don't  want me—“

“I need you”, he says, “Jade and the others didn't lose someone like we did, they aren't that invested. Look we can’t let Helios make more daemons. We need to find out where he gets his supply of recruits and stop him.”

“What do you mean ?”

He set the bag down.

“last time Isaiah recruited kids from DRA parties to make Daemons. He's bound to do it again. He'd have an insider sniff out the poor, desperate and lonely. If we can get ourselves invited to one of these parties we might be able to connect it back to Isaiah. The thing is Isaiah knows all our faces but he doesn't know yours. At least not as well. You're the new girl in school so no one will suspect you of being up to something”

“How do I get invited ? No one at school even notices me.”

“That's good. A mystery. You just sit there and be pretty. Trust me. . .you’ll get invited. The big parties happen around New Year's Eve. I you can do it.

"I'm supposed to do this alone ?"

"I'll. . . stick close by."

I stand awkwardly while Dante continues to load up his book bag. I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. If this what Caden would want me to do.

“Did Caden ever talk about me ?”, I ask

“Yeah, he didn’t use your name but.. . yeah”

Dante slings the bag over his shoulder and turns to face me. He opens his mouth to speak but thinks better of it. I know I should move as he slips closer to me, but I don't want to. I know Dante is going to kiss me and I should move, but I don't want to. I'm pretty sure I realized he was going to kiss me before he did

My eyes stay open and I can see his super long lashes. I used to like kissing Caden and getting my hands caught in his wild red hair, but Dante’s hear was shaved, so I put my hands on his arms. Dante’s arm felt different. They felt hard and bulgy. Dante leaned into me until my back was against the wall.

“Sorry”, he said pulling away.

“No, it’s fine", I said waiting for that tingling feeling in my hands to pass, "We should go. I  don't want to get caught."

"Right"

"Is this why you sleep in class all the time ? You spend the night burglarizing innocent people"

"The way I see it, these people would thank me if they knew what we were saving them from."

---

We made it back with no one noticing and had even continued kissing in the empty subway car. Something about being with a boy at night made me feel safe and daring.

Paul had taken the sapphire from the shop when I wasn't looking.  I didn't know he'd done it until I found it resting on my pillow the next morning. I wore it to school over my uniform just to make sure he saw it.

+++

Why, yes Ariel switched to Dante's real name at the end.