Solstice LeCroix
Congresswoman Hart and Secretary Loren had been unusually quiet when I recapped
my conversation with Paris Prince to them. The pair had pulled up to our Humvee
in a sleek black SUV with diplomat plates a very handy siren installed. The
silence inside the car was unnerving as we raced the streets with the siren
blaring. The streets were as bad in
Manhattan as they were in Brooklyn. People just wanted to fight, to witness
something. Human nature was on display at its worst.
“. . . and now the pilot we hired is on the way to pick up Mr. Prince”, I finished.
“And then”, Secretary Loren asks.
“I don’t think we can legally talk about that”, I said.
“Like laws mean anything anymore”, Loren said looking out the window.
“What about his wife”, Hart asked.
“I’ll worry about her.”, was all I said, “He’s going to surrender at the military base. We should head there to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Loren and Hart shifted uncomfortably, we were all out of our league with this. Making policy and laws was one thing. Ushering a country out of its second regime was something else entirely. But it had to be done.
The driver turns the radio up, rumors about Paris Prince turning himself in are already being circulated. People are questioning his innocence, critics of New Aeterna smugly declare him to be as bad as Helios. New Aeterna officials are already fleeing fearing that might get implicated, numerous soldiers had gone AWOL and there was a mad scramble to figure out who was in charge.
The driver finally pulls up to Ft. Chelsea Piers, the front gates are armed with a dozen young soldiers. One of them starts yelling at us to turn away but he is practically a teenager. I move to get out and in a surprise move Ravi gets out the car and follows me. He was like my shadow now.
“Stay in the car”, I tell him.
“Those suits freak me out.” He said slamming the door, “Are you really going to kill Paris Prince and his wife? Is that how this ends”
“It’s not an ending, Ravi. It’s a beginning of a United States. You should want that. I think they’ve lived long enough.”
I hold my hands up as we approach the soldiers to show them I’m clean.
“My name is Solstice LeCroix” I shouted, “I’m here on behalf of. . . The Unification Party. I’m here to make sure the exchange runs smoothly.”
The kids seem confused, one of the soldiers makes a call into his radio and his cohorts have their hands on their weapons, which look like they’ve never been fired.
“That’s just a rumor, so you scum better get off military property”, one of the soldiers says.
“You’re . . . human, right? I ask, “What has Paris Prince or any Angel ever done for you ?”
The wind starts to pick up and I see our black helicopter taking off from the MI building.
“Got him”, Ravi mouths.
“Paris Prince saved us from . . . General Thantos”, the young finally solider says.
I try not to laugh.
“Well, before I go I’ll let you and your friends be the first to know that Helios Thantos is not—“
There is a crack in the sky. A low rumble. At first I pray that it’s just thunder, but Ravi and I turn our eyes up and see the helicopter in the distance. The skids are blazing and the helicopter spins madly in the sky before dropping out of sight, crashing somewhere uptown.
“What the hell . . .”
+1+
Leon Argos
“What the hell, Seraphina?”
I turned around a saw Seraphina wasn’t even there, she’d disappeared down the roof access door. I cursed again and was right on her heels. She moved down all 40 flights of steps without stopping, only tripping and stumbling down one flight. She jumped the railing at the last flight and ran into the lobby, which was full of confused soldiers and officers trying to keep order.
Sera ran around them and out the door so fast that they barley saw her. I caught up and I could hear her breathe starting to labor as she ran out of the building, down the street and sprinted for the main gates. She stumbled a little but kept running, she stopped at the gates and gripped them to keep herself up. Sweat was pouring down her face.
“O—open the fucking--gates”, she yelled to the security officer then took in a big breathe.
“Ma’am I—“
“Open the fucking gate.”
Terrified the man did as he was told, she wiped the sweat from her eyes and the minute the gate was open she slipped through and then she stopped dead in her tracks.
Standing on the other side of the gate was Solstice LeCroix, she blends into the night decked out in black leather. Her back is to us, her eyes are on the sky. Sensing us, Solstice turns and locks eyes with Sera.
“You”, Seraphina starts, “This is all you.”
“You started it, bitch”
Sera gets a running start on Solstice, she grabs the smaller woman and throws her to the ground. Solstice jabs her heeled boot into Seraphina’s ankle, knocking her off balance. Solstice takes the chance to picks herself up and jabs her elbow into where Paris accidentally stabbed Seraphina. Then Solstice reaches for her gun but Seraphina knocks it out of her hand, it skids to my feet and I pick it up. Seraphina finally punches Solstice right in her face. Solstice backs up with her fist balled and elbow bent.
“It’s over”, Solstice shouts, “Can’t you see it’s all falling apart. New Aeterna is over. You lost.”
“I see more than you know”, Seraphina says
Before they can start fighting again, I pick up the gun and shoot Solstice in the shoulder. Solstice falls to her knees when the bullet makes contact, Seraphina starts running again and I’m right behind her. I know there are crowds in the streets and people shouting but all I can hear is a silent void and Sera’s breathing.
“Sera”, I shout, “What are you doing. Talk to me.”
“I’ve got to find him. I think . . . this way.” She says, “He can survive this. He’s not human. He can survive. I just have to. If he jumped I can. . .”
I pull off my shirt and vest, then push myself to catch up to her. I grab her by the arm and pull her flush against me. She immediately starts struggling against me.
“I’ve got a better idea."
I wrap both arms tight around her so she can’t move.
“Leon, wha—“
She stops when she feels her feet lift off the ground. She looks up as we rise
further into the sky. It’s dangerous, I know, but it’s out best shot to find
the crash. I feel her wrap her arms tighter around my neck. She looks over my
shoulder and surveys the city. From my vantage I see bright spots of fire and
throngs of people trying to make it through this night.
“There”, she says and I turn to see the black helicopter had landed underneath an abandoned highway. I go up as high as I can to better blend into the night, then keeping my course steady I set us down by the wreckage. The pilot had done a hell of a job trying to land, the whole thing was settled on its side.
We jog over to the wreckage, the pilot is missing and the front window is blown out from impact.
“It’s empty”, I tell her.
Sera continues to search around the wreckage. We don’t have
much time before someone else shows up. I jump down and search the tunnels and
brush near the highway underpass. I follow a trail of red human blood to an
overgrown section by a sewer entrance. I
follow the wet blood until I see two legs.
“Shit.”
I move through the weeds until I see the pilot passed out in the scruff. Paris is propped up against the wall, dark blood pouring out of his eyes and down his white shirt. I sit the pilot up, she’s alive but lost a lot of blood.
Paris opens his eyes and looks up at the full moon in the sky.
“Hold on, Boss.”
Sera had followed my trail and when she sees me she picks up her pace
“Did you find him?”
“Yeah”, I lead Sera back to Paris who is still looking at the sky.
“You”, He says to Seraphina, “I told you not do anything stupid.”
“I know how resilient Demons can be,” Sera moves to help him up.
“Sera. . . You have
to let me go.” Paris tells her.
“LeCroix was never going to turn you over to the U.N. She was going to kill you. I can’t explain it right now but she wants us both dead. We need to get you somewhere safe.” She says.
Paris looked over to me for council.
“Boss, I think we need to at least go somewhere and patch you up.”
Before he can respond Paris’ eyes roll in the back of his head and he passes out. Sera and I both pick him up.
“Where are we going?” I ask her.
“Someplace no one will think to look. And he’s not going to like it.”
+++
Solstice LeCroix
It has to be pure adrenaline that gets me across town. I don’t even think I just leave everyone behind. I hear Ravi shouting my name and feel my wounded starting to throb. I grab my gun with my good hand and threaten the first civilian driver I see at gunpoint. I only glance the gaggle of NADF soldiers chasing me on foot in the rear view mirror.
I drive as fast as I can, following the Angel in the sky. It was unreal. Unreal. There were maybe three or four official photos of Angels with their wings exposed and the pictures didn’t do them justice.
I waited with the lights off while Seraphina and Leon Argos search the helicopter crash. He very well could have survived that crash.
They find the pilot first and I curse under my breath. I hear them talking and I know they’ve found Paris Prince. I stay in the dark as they half carry half drag the supposed king out into the street. Argos starts hot wiring a car and Seraphina settles on the pavement holding on to her husband.
When they get into the stolen car I wait a few seconds and follow.
+2+
Leon Argos
Paris stirs and shakes his head. I’d managed to wipe the blood form his face. His right eye is swollen and he probably burst a few cataracts. He sits up and reaches for his head.
“Fuck”, he says, “Fuck where are—“
He looks at the black and white tile underneath his hands, then his eyes move up to the historically preserved stone archways and vaulted ceiling. The place has a cold sterile feel, like it hasn’t been updated since the 70’s. The places smells like rotten plants and mold.
“No”
“Calm down”, I say but he’s already trying to stand up
“St. Lilith’s”, he says, “Why would you bring me here. Why would you—“
“We had to go north. Rioting wasn’t so bad Uptown”
The old church has been Paris’ home for decades. It was well hidden in a nice area of Riverdale. It was just a couple of miles from the Manhattan and had been untouched for years.
“No one knows about this place”, Seraphina says stepping out of the shadows, “They won’t think to look for you here. Callum is going to come for you and we’re getting you to Canada until …”
“Until what Seraphina? The UN isn’t going to forget about this. The Unification Party isn’t going to forget about this. I’m not going to be a fugitive again .What the hell were you thinking? I mean did you . . . did you throw a fucking grenade at me”
“I needed time, Paris. I haven’t told you everything, Paris—“
“Seraphina this isn’t just about you. It’s about the entire country. I can’t be selfish.”
“You’re my husband I can be as selfish as I want to.”
He’s either shamed or shocked into silence. Paris looks around, keeping his arms close around himself. I help him stand up and he seems startled by the sound his shoes makes on the tile floor. His left arm was twisted and the way he limps probably means he’d banged up his ankle.
“I haven’t been back here in years.”
He limps down the halls, turning and orienting himself with this place. I follow, trying to keep myself as innocuous as possible but he seems to want to talk.
“Last time I was here was . . . fifteen years ago. Helios sent his death squad after us Demons. . . I wonder . . . what he did with bodies.”
I know the sick answer to this but I don’t answer. He continues to carefully walk around the old church, like the world isn’t burning outside.“I remember that day Helios came for us. Sera was there and we . . . we…we ran”
He pushed against a rotting door that lead to some sort of private room. The place was frozen in time from all those years ago. Clothes are still in the closet, books on the shelves. The bed was unmade and a sewing kit is sprawled on the desk. There are bullet casings all over the floor. Paris moves across the private bedroom to where there is another door that leads to the outside
“We ran through here”, he said, “I was holding her hand and… it was raining. We just ran into the woods. I was so disoriented and I just . . . I slipped. I felt her hands slip out of mine and she was gone and I felt someone drag me backwards into the darkness. I just screamed her name over and over again. I thought I’d never see her again. I’d never have the chance to get on my knee and ask her to marry me—“
“LEON”, Seraphina shouts from the hall and I hear a gun shot
I run back to the main hall and see Seraphina tackling a figure clad in all black leather. Solstice LeCroix has two knives in her hands and Seraphina pinned to the ground. The woman has gone fucking mad. She lifts one knife up to stab Sera in the face but Seraphina grabs her by her thin wrist and throws the woman off her.
LeCroix doesn’t let up, she picks up a gun she’d abandoned on the floor and she launches for Seraphina again. The women struggle on the floor. Solstice tries to get a few hits in, but Seraphina manages to wrap her arm around LeCroix's neck in a tight choke hold. She pulls LeCroix to stand, pressing hard on LeCroix’s neck and squeezing. LeCroix kicks her legs out, her boots scraping up the floor. Solstice struggles trying to throw Sera off balance
“We . . . are. . . Paris. . . Luc. ”, Solstice chokes out
“Shut up”, Sera says to LeCroix, “Don’t you say a word to him.”
I turn around and look at Paris coming into the hall, he looks just as confused as I do. What was with this chick? Solstice’s body goes limp and Sera throws her aside like a ragdoll
“We need to find somewhere else.” Seraphina says.
“What was she saying’, Paris asks.
“I’ll tell you later”
Paris nods but he looks uneasy. I lead the way out with Paris behind me. Seraphina hesitates for a moment, taking one last look at the old church and running her hand along one of the walls. In that moment I don’t know what makes me turn around. I don’t know what kind of sick luck makes me see Solstice LeCroix’s last stand
Solstice had pulled herself up to her knees, tears of rage running down her cheeks. All at once Solstice says something that I can’t hear or understand but it makes Paris turn. Seraphina goes stiff and turns just in time to see a white gold bullet sail from Solstice LeCroix’s gun and toward her fast beating heart.
My body reacts on instinct and I barrel my way back to Seraphina and push her behind me. I hear Seraphina scream and the sting of the bullet piercing my skin is like fire. My body is suddenly all liquid and I feel myself become undone. I hit the floor uncontrolled, my shoulder cracks but I can’t feel it.
Solstice’s eyes had gone wide realizing I’d taken the bullet meant for Seraphina. Solstice LeCroix drops the gun and it all happens in slow motion. Seraphina lunges for Solstice, I don’t know where Sera found the strength to lift the woman off the floor and throw her against the wall. The back of Solstice’s skull rams against the stone, her body falling in a heap against the wall. Seraphina kneels down next to me, streaks of water running down her cheeks.
“You idiot”, she said, “What the hell was that. What the hell Leon, you don’ take a bullet for me. Ever. You fucking idiot.”
“I—“, I can’t talk because the pain is brutal. My legs are on fire and my vision is going in an out. Looking up at Seraphina I realize how much time has passed since I first met her. I remember the first words I ever said to her.
“You ever fly before?”
She’d folded her arms willing away her anxiety.
“No. I don’t. . . I mean my wings are-“
“I meant on a plane”, I’d said taking the coach seat next to her.
She’d closed her eyes, slightly mortified and shook it off. Then Helios had sauntered up and told me to change seats. And I did. Cause I always did what I was told.
I’m jolted back to the present and Seraphina tears off my shirt. She pauses when she sees where the bullet had gotten caught up in my bullet-proof vest. Her eyes travel back up to me.
“You . . . you’re wearing a bulletproof vest? You’re wearing a bulletproof vest. You’re—“
“I know I ain’t bullet proof sweetheart.” I tell her
She wipes her eyes, then rips off the vest and the bullet is dug 1/12 inch into my hard muscle, she digs it out with her pointy nails and I’m pretty sure if her husband wasn’t there she’d kiss me on the mouth.
That’s when I notice the scene happening behind Seraphina.
Paris is on his knees in front of Solstice LeCroix. Her eyes are still open and the bitch is still breathing. Her back is up against the wall and I start wonder why she’s not getting up, then I see she’s impaled by an exposed tarnished pipe.
Paris has his hand on Solstice’s cheek, he’s brushing back her hair and tears are streaming out of his black eyes. I sit up some more and I see it.
Solstice LeCroix’s shirt is stained with dark black Demon blood. Right where the white gold pipe sticking out the wall had impaled her.
“What the hell? She’s a . . . a Demon?” I ask but Sera doesn’t answer.
LeCroix gasps, trying to reserve her final breaths.
“Did you know, Sera”, Paris asks pressing the back of his hand to LeCroix’s face. The woman’s eyes flicker to him and she frowns.
Turning away from me Seraphina looks at her husband, “I. . . Thought . . . maybe her. I wasn’t sure.” she said, “I mean I was but I. . . “
I suddenly thought about Seraphina in the library, how she’d been pouring over those books of maps. How maybe she was trying to find proof of . . . of what?
“Who are you”, Paris asked LeCroix in a soothing voice, “How did you get here.”
LeCroix shakes her head
“Years ago. Centuries”, She said and her American accent shifted into something a lot like Paris’, “I don’t remember . . . there was an old woman with me for a while . . . then I was alone. ...”
“No”, Paris said softly smoothing back her hair, “You’ve never been alone.”
“I”, LeCroix took a choked breath, “I survived alone. I thought I was . . . the only one. Then Helios came to power and . . . I realized the bastards were here. Those vile savage winged monsters were here.”
“Dear, God”, Paris said to himself.
“And you”, she said touching Paris’ scars, “I saw you on the news the day The Regime ended. I knew what you were. I just knew. You were the Demon Prince. You . . . survived.”
“Why didn’t you find me?”
Solstice’s dark eyes rolled over to Seraphina and then back to Paris
“Her. Them. You. You’re a disgrace to your kind Prince”, she said a stream of dark blood coming out of her mouth. , “You showed mercy to those vile heathens who slaughtered our people. You married one. You masquerade as one. You hid what you truly are. You’re a trader to your kind. You were our savior and you failed. You will never be a true King. Paris Prince. You will be cursed for the rest of your days”
+++
Solstice LeCroix
Justice.
I’ve always had a strong sense of justice
When I close my eyes I have nightmares of a faraway place riddled with injustice and suffering. I see corpses and smell smoke in the air. I see a crumbling empire and bloodthirsty winged creatures.
I am compelled by justice. I am a loner to survive
I found companionship . . . almost kinship with Giuliani and his followers. They hated Supernaturals. I hated Angels. No matter how many human soldiers died, how many human families were separated, how may atrocities that resulted from Helios Thantos
I will always hate Angels more than the humans
I will always hate New Aeterna more than the humans
They burned my home, destroyed my memories, haunted my nightmares and now they get a Promise land? I think not.
Justice bought me to Giuliani’s door, and his death proved how evil they are... Savage Angels. Murderers. Monsters
Angels are beautiful vicious killers. It’s their nature. . . I think
I have a story to tell, I have so much I want to know. I have so many questions but I don’t—
+++
Paris presses his ear to LeCroix’s silent chest. He closes her eyes with the tips of his fingers.
“I didn’t mean to”, Seraphina looks down at the pipe sticking out of LeCroix, “I just reacted I didn’t mean to. . .”
“Who is she”, he whispers and Sera and I are silent, “Is she—“
“Paris”, Sera said carefully, “We need to fi—“
“Who is she, Sera?”
“I don’t know”, Sera was talking fast, “I was in her hotel room earlier this month. I . . . touched her and her skin was so . . . hot just like yours. I don’t think an Angel has ever touched her so she didn’t seem to realize that –“
“. . . She could be my sister. “, Paris said running his hand over LeCroix’s face, “I had a sister back home. At least I think I did. Yes. We just . . . maybe we can do some test?”
Sera knelt down next to him, “Paris . . . no one can know about her. The world can barely handle Angels let alone Demons. We have to make her disappear.”
“But she could be my sister”, He was rambling now, “I mean she looks---There could be more. Or maybe the Tempest—Yes, the Tempest. Maybe she knows about it or we can—I just . . . need—well—if. .. “
“Paris we have to make her disappear”, Sera repeats, “If anyone finds out what she is . . . the humans could turn on us even more for keeping Demons from them. “
Paris looked to me, pathetically lying on the floor trying to recover. I nod my head in agreement with Seraphina. Humans weren’t ready for the whole truth. At least not yet.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry”, He said the last words to the dead Solstice LeCroix.
. . or whoever she was.
+3+
Sera and I are sitting on the front steps of St. Lilith’s when the sun rises. In the light it’s an impressive building but far past its prime. Paris finally staggers out of the old place. I expect him to be holding a keepsake but he has nothing but one of the bottle of vodka he’d found in an old storage room. He takes a drink and surveys the old church one last time.
He puts a monogrammed handkerchief into the half-empty vodka bottle and lights it with a match. He one handedly tosses the bottle into the window, after a few minutes the fire begins to catch. He strikes the rest of the matches in quick succession tossing them it inside the old church.
He lights and tosses the matches one after the other until the old church is blazing in glory. When he finally turns to face us he looks centuries older. Sera had watched us warp LeCroix’s body in old blankets, but walked out when we started dousing the place in alcohol. It burned quick leaving everything in the church to ashes.
For the first time Seraphina and I follow Paris’ lead as he walks towards the main road. Paris keeps to the sidewalk and continues up the street toward the Riverdale Diner. It’s nearly 5 am in the morning and the restaurant is empty. The waitress turns when we enter but freezes and drops the tray she is holding
On the news I see the Unfication party has been subdued, martial law has been declared in New Aeterna, clips of uniformed officers subduing civilians briefly play, then the allegations against Paris Prince play on a loop. There is still a warrant out for his arrest from the United Nations. The waitress looks back and forth between us and the screen.
Paris leans down and picks up the tray the woman had dropped and holds it out to her.
“May I borrow you phone.”
+++
The only saving grace about Paris Prince’s arrest is that the media arrives too late to catch it. When the blue United Nations Peacekeeping Forces caravan rolls up to the diner, only the stunned waitress (who was kind enough to offer us some hot tea) is a witness to his graceful exit. An officer steps up, rambling off the allegations against Paris Prince
Corruption
Embezzlement
Bribery
Sabotage
Trade Violation
Tax Evasion
The list went on and on.
He makes small talk with the United Nations officer who is cuffing him. He takes a moment to observe the scenery around him; the old diner and the smell of distant smoke before disappearing into the car Seraphina wraps her hand in mine. For a minute we don’t know what to do.
A New Aeterna military escort pulls up behind the caravan. Callum climbs out the driver seat, Ares is with him and there is something dark about them.
“What’s it like back there?” I ask Callum. Seraphina is in some sort of daze, just now realizing her husband didn’t kiss her good-bye and considering the crimes he committed, he might never kiss her again.
Callum clears his throat.
“Around midnight the UN Forces agreed to call a six hour cease fire on their search for Paris in order to ally with the NADF to suppress the Unification Party and rioters. We caught a few of their leaders, that kid Ravi got away again. . . but thousands more were arrested for rioting and violence. There was confusion, missions weren’t made clear, there were minimal deaths and we looked like fuck ups... and. . . .”
“What is it, Callum?”
Ares steps forward
“You better come with us.”
+4+
Seraphina one handedly lifts the metal door that leads to the underground cellar at the Riker’s Island Military Complex. She hesitates a little bit before entering. We take the metal steps down into the small underground vestibule. The retina scanner is smashed and lights are hanging from the ceilings; blood and feathers are smeared all over the walls.
Adonis, the Angel we’d promoted to guarding Helios last week is now laying facedown on one side of the floor . . . his wing on the other, dried red blood coats his back. He turns his head when he hears us. Seraphina steps over him and to where the door to Helios Thantos’ cell is wrenched open. The man himself is nowhere to be seen
“No”, Seraphina says
“A prison riot broke out during the uprising. There was a ton of chaos”, Callum explains stepping over Adonis. “Things got out of hand. I’m not sure how or who…no one knew he was here except us.”
“No”, Seraphina flips over the metal table divider in Helios’s cell, “Fuck. NO. Paris is going to jail while that man is. . .” She turns back to look at Adonis who is still on the floor gasping in pain. Then her eyes go up to what’s written on the walls in Adonis’ blood.
“What the hell is that?”
I follow her eyes. Written in blood in big choppy letters is the words
T-H-E
L-E-G-I-O-N
W-I-L-L
R-I-S-E