"Mommy! Mommy ! Can I do it ?" Athena yells from the door. I inwardly sigh and peek out the bathroom. Athena is jumping up and down in my bedroom doorway. It had been such a trial teaching Athena not to barge into my bedroom without knocking but it was still difficult getting her to use her "inside" voice.
“Okay, sweetie. Hold on”, I respond snapping the elastic band I’d sewn onto my yellow pencil skirt for good measure. I maneuver a satin cream colored halter top around my neck and slip on a dark teal blazer along with a pair of gold earrings and a yellow retro bauble necklace.
I pick up my work bag just as my 5am alarm clock goes off. Athena was such an early riser, I really hope that’s normal for a little girl. I could ask my boss, First Lady Bless, but I don’t want her thinking my children are sleep deprived. Callista starts fussing and I pick her up from where she is lounging on the bed. Once I have her secured to me in a bright yellow sling Athena and I pad down the hallway to get the rest of the girls up.
It takes an hour to get the four girls ready and herd them into the kitchen. I get them all settled with tabletop toys while I maneuver around the kitchen with my swollen belly and Callista's sling perched on top. 2 year-old Helena is already starting to talk and most of what she says is “No” to Hera who is still getting used to walking.
“I did it Mommy! I did the calendar !”, Athena announces putting the pink paint marker back on the fridge and sitting in her dad’s chair at the table.
“Good Job”, I tell her while getting the little girls into their high chairs. I eat standing up to keep Callista happy and for the first time really notice the calendar where Athena has drawn an “X” over today’s date. Each bright pink “X” marking a day since Leon had been on his mission. We’d gotten into the habit of doing it every time he left. Counting each day until he finally came home.
Seven.
Had Leon really been gone seven days?
He never went seven days without calling or sending message.
Leon’s work with SGI and Seraphina …it took him away from us. Because of my position with Lady Bless I couldn’t always know where Leon was going or what he was doing. Plausible deniability and all. Still. Leon never went more than five days without getting in contact.
I know this mission is different but I can’t shake my unease. I quickly scour the blogs and social media on my phone to see if I can find anything. There was nothing except a little article from when Paris and Seraphina landed. I’d been so busy assisting Lady Bless and her senior staffers with the Recycle Forward Campaign kick-off, attending PTA meetings, going doctor’s appointments and, working on my college classes that I hadn’t even noticed how much time passed.
“Athena, please be a big girl and watch your sisters while I make a call.”
I hurry to my bedroom and call Leon’s phone, putting the kitchen security camera on my TV.
Leon’s phone rings six times before going to voicemail.
“Leave a message”, he says in his gruff voice. My pregnancy hormones were out of control because that alone kind of turns me on.
“Leon…it’s been seven days. Call me Leon. I need to hear your voice.”
+++
Lady and Prime Minister Bless awkwardly hold hands while walking up and down the lawn for the second time while a camera man loops around them for a dynamic shot. The Morning Time America news producer was monitoring the shot and coaching Lady Bless not to look into the camera. The news station was trying to get some b-roll for a special they were running on Edwin Bless, the American war hero turned New Aeterna Prime Minister.
When the camera crew is done Bless takes pictures and shakes hands with everyone. He has been in office less than a year but he clearly has rhis e-electon in mind. I get up from the chair a PA had bought out for me and dash over the Blesses. moving swiftly so I don’t bump Callista still in her sling.
“Minister Bless”, I ask, “May I have a moment, sir? I know you are very busy.”
“Good Morning, Ms. Grigori. You can walk me to the car… if you’re up for it.”
“I am”, I involuntarily bring a hand to my belly. I purposely walk a little faster to keep his bodyguards out of earshot. Bless had hired ex-Secret Service agents to guard him because he knew all the New Aeterna Guards were in Paris’ pocket. I signal to Lady Bless that I will be right back. She had a meeting with a handful of spouses to put the finishing touches on the Peace Gala hosted by the American ambassador's wife.
“Have you picked a name yet?” Bless asks.
“I’m still thinking on it. Minister Bless, I’m worried about Leon. You remember him. Retired military captain….Paris’ bodyguard.”
“Mhmm”, he says. I know he doesn’t have a lot time so I cut to the chase.
“Leon went with Seraphina and Paris to Mexico… and it’s kind of odd we haven’t heard from them. Don’t you think it’s odd?”
Bless smiles.
“I just had a meeting with Paris a few days ago over the phone. He seemed like he could use a vacation. I’m sure they are just keeping a low profile.”
“What’s ‘a few days ago’?”
“A week I guess,” Bless says.
Callista nuzzles against me and I adjust the sling so she’s closer to my body heat.
“Still. Couldn’t we call the consulate there and have them checked on ?”
Bless stops and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“Ms. Grigori, Leon has been an exceptional contractor and has shown great personal integrity. I understand if you are concerned… but this isn’t really a state matter.”
“Right, sir”, I say, “It’s just when you think we should get concerned.”
He stops walking not expecting the retort. I know this trip was more than a vacation. I know this is about Helios. But I can’t tell Bless that. I refuse to betray Paris and tell Bless that Helios is still alive.
“Let them enjoy their vacation”, Bless suggest, “Give it a few days.”
“A few days ?" A sudden realization hits me, "You mean once the U.S ambassador leaves town. You must like that Paris’ has been on vacation while he's in visiting. I heard re-unifying with the U.S is on the agenda.”
Bless smiles and I’ve shown way too many cards.
“Ms. Grigori your job is to assist my wife with her affairs. Not mine. Lady Bless and I will be together for the rest of the day so I don’t think she’ll need her junior assistant. Why don’t you take the afternoon? I heard you have a test to take tomorrow in Econ 101.”
"I--"
"Please Ms. Grigori. I insist", He says with a smile that almost reaches his eyes.
“Sir.”, I respond knowing when I was being dismissed and put in my place.
+2+
“You are overacting, Aria”, Aurora settles down on a stool behind her oversized marble kitchen counter with a basket of shiny green apples.
“Leon calls”, I repeat sipping the sweet lavender vanilla tea she’d made from the community garden, “He always calls.”
“I think it’s odd how worried you are.” Aurora admits while deftly peeling and
slicing the apples.
“Aurora!” I scold her half-heartedly and pick up an apple to help, “He’s my boyfriend of course I'm worried.”
I do not miss the look Aurora shoots across the kitchen to Thea who is quietly shelling pecans at the kitchen table. Aurora’s open and airy kitchen is easily the biggest room in her apartment. The smell of peasant soup is coming from the two large soup pots on the double stove and oven, which Pathos built, is delightful and makes me hungry. The sliding glass door to the backyard is slightly ajar and I can hear the roar of laughter from the kids running around.
I get up and peek out the blinds to see Lavender and Sora, two middle school aged Angels, running around with my three girls. Lavender catches up to Athena and twirls her around. Hera and Helena are giggling and reaching to be picked up next. I step back knowing if the girls saw me they’d want all of my attention.
Still, I stood by the door for a few more moments and relish in the
laughter of the young ones for a spell. When Helios ruled us I honestly never thought
I’d hear laughter again. The communal
cluster of apartments that had been built on the remains of what had been Queen
Anne’s College (and what had been Helion City) finally felt like ours. Like home. It was our own little commune,
gated and secured from wary humans nestled in Brooklyn's Prospect park.
The commune consisted of four two-story garden-style apartments, built so the backs faced one another and opened onto a massive communal yard. My Sisters spent most of their time on the balconies and patios where they could easily live as one. Windows and doors were always open, meals were often colossal coordinated efforts by dozens of households.
We held our own small festivals celebrating our favorite modern and pagan holidays in the communal yard. Last summer the middle grade Angel girls started a soccer team. They invited a human team to practice in the yard with them and stay for a meal. It had been a rather lovely mix of humans and Angels. Our little commune was a place of new beginnings. Even Seraphina had hidden away here during the election not wanting to be in the spotlight. She mostly spent time with the younger teens teaching them how to put on make-up and do handstands.
We were free, we were together and we had a beautiful new generation.
I say “we” even though I chose to leave this little paradise.
I knew when I moved out of this little enclave I was depriving my girls of what they came from, but I needed to give my little (big) family a chance to grow in the wider world. Luckily I could always count on my sisters to provide daycare so my girls were never too far from family.
“Wasn’t Leon like…? Helios brother or something”, Aurora whispers popping up from her stool to add leafy kale picked from her garden to the two boiling soup pots.
“He was not”, I tell her chopping another apple, “That’s just a rumor”
“You know what I mean. Leon and Helios were really close. How in the world do you trust him? What if he killed Paris in Mexico? Or Seraphina. You know how Helions are. Maybe he's on the run.”
“Hey, your husband was a Helion too.” I say grabbing a new knife to cut up more kale for the salad
“Pathos wasn’t like the others, he tried to escape multiple times. He’s different. We were lucky.”
“Really Aurora”, I say. I end the conversation there since I knew Pathos was in the other room sleeping off his night shift at the NADF armory--where after 6 years he’d yet to be promoted to day shift. No one trusted former Helions even if they’d been pardoned by Paris Prince. It's not fair... but I can't say I blame them.
Thea moves from the kitchen table to the counter and sits next to me. She busies herself chopping pecans for the salad, if she’d chimed in about who to trust I’d have to make some sort of remark about her human boyfriend who practically lived here.
“I’m just saying …”, Aurora continues, “What do you really know about Leon. Plus you said he was into weird sex stuff.”
“That’s not what I said.” Flashing my eyes. There were somethings I wanted kept between me and Aurora. Luckily Thea wasn't one to gossip
I’d just asked some of the girls with love-matches with male Angels questions because I didn’t know if all male Angels preferred it on all fours, it was how we always did it unless I was too pregnant--then Leon got very creative. Plus, I never told them how obsessed he was with my breasts. It wasn’t a big deal. I’d just been curious.
I wasn’t judgey. After all I’d seen a lot during my tenure as a sex worker—something some of my sisters had a hard time grappling with. I’d never believed stories where sex workers said men just wanted to talk--but a lot of them did. Most wanted to see an “Angel vagina” which centuries ago Seraphina told me was just like a humans but better in every single way.
I knew my previous career bothered Leon too, even though no matter
who I was with I’d close my eyes and think about Leon. I'd think about all the times Leon would
shower with me and the way soapy water ran in rivulets down his thick muscles,
or the way his muscles flexed and his full ass tightened when he reached up to
wash is hair, his big cock with a slighy curve bobbing. The thought of Leon made me hot in
a way I’d never experienced before because I’d never been allowed to be alone
with a man in his prime. And Leon was as prime as you could get. Sure he was a
bit stocky and he wasn’t exactly handsome… but that voice and how strong he was. He was also loyal, loving and wanted a family more than anything in the world and I loved being the woman to give that to him. He was my gentle giant.
Leon felt like my prize after a lifetime of putting others first. Marrying elderly men for money, protecting my sisters from Anne’s wrath and later Helios’. Now I could focus on me. Get through school and be Lady’s Bless’ assistant until I could be her boss.
“Sweetie”, Aurora says snapping me from my dirty thoughts, “Look at yourself. He wants you barefoot and pregnant serving him cold beer and … chicken wings or something. Maybe you should reconsider coming back here.”
“I think I look pretty good”, I tell her running my hands over my baby bump, “And Leon doesn’t like chicken wings. They make his hands to big. I love Leon. We’re a family.”
“I’m just saying”, Aurora says, “Some people have said he and Helios were really close. You need to be careful around him”
“We shouldn’t be worrying about Helios anymore” I tell her.
“Because Helios is dead now”, Thea pipes up. There is a bit of silence after Thea speaks. It’s so rare to hear her voice unless she is angry and the certainty in her words make me feel guilty. Helios was not dead. Paris and his fucking mercy.
“Yeah”, I lie, “That too. I should head back. But I’m worried about Leon so if you hear anything around the yard please let me know.”
They both nod before returning to dinner prep. It’s too hard being around them knowing Helios is still alive. And If Leon and Seraphina don’t find him first…he could come back. I shudder thinking of the tiny room I was locked in and the shame I felt at being Helios wife.
I gather Callista from the living room where the other babies are napping then head out to the yard. I play one round of duck duck goose with some little ones to clear my head before gathering my girls and getting them into Leon’s magnificent SUV. There is just enough space for all four car seats (with room for plenty more) plus it had internet, leather seats and satellite radio. I can imagine us all driving upstate to watch the leaves change or up the coast with the trunk filled with beach toys.
“Aria?”
I know Elysia’s voice before I see her. Or at least her new voice.
She’d had a warm comforting voice like Aurora’s before the Regime. Her forced marriage
to Eos had turned her voice breathy and raspy. Aurora explained that her
trachea had been crushed during one of Eos rages, Eos had convinced Helios to
send her to a human hospital for treatment because he didn’t want to “break-in”
a new wife.
Elysia never left the commune and her PTSD made it difficult for her to work. Whenever she saw a man or one of the handful of pardoned Helions she would scatter and hide. This sometimes included her awful teenage son Eos II whom, in a way I as a mother still didn’t understand, she loved.
At fifteen Eos II was one of the first-generation of Angels born
during the regime. He’s taken after his father and by the time of the revolution
he’d already been brainwashed by Helios at just ten.
“Elysia”, I ask, “Is it Eos II? Has he run off again?”
She shakes her head and then nods.
“No…", She says, "I heard…I hear rumors. Eos II says….he says Eos is coming back for me, that he isn't dead. I don’t know if he’s being cruel or not. I took one of his video games so maybe he was just mad about that ?I don’t know. He just keeps saying it and he gets so angry…should I tell someone what he’s saying? I never did see Eos' body”
I look over to her
apartment. I can see Eos II smoking marijuana blend cigarettes while lounging on his mother’s deck blasting crude metal music with
a Helion symbol drawn on his shoulder
with a marker. The nerve.
From what I’d gathered
Eos had been a model Helion but was never allowed into Helios’ inner circle. He had
taken his anger and aggression out on Elysia . I’d heard
Eos hadn’t wanted to be paired off but he had forced Elysia to have as many
children as possible to please Helios. 7
in 10 years—and made it as painful and humiliating as possible.
Eos had been released from prison a few years ago and placed in
the halfway house. He’d blackmailed and used fear to get reformed Helions
and even Elysia to lie and say he was reformed.
“That boy is just being cruel”, I tell her, “If Eos was alive and came here he wouldn’t make it anywhere near you.”
“Yes. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I bothered you, Aria.”
“It’s okay. Do you want me to talk to him ?”
I look up in time to see Thea marching across the lawn to Eos II. Aurora leans out of her apartment seemingly to call Thea back inside.
Thea throws Eos II's Bluetooth speaker on the ground and it shatters, she points to Eos II’s Helion tattoo and begins to yell at him. Eos II smirks then he stands up, rears back and slaps Thea across the face. They start shouting and cursing at one another. In a flurry of movement some sisters begin pulling the young ones in, others are holding back Eos while some hold back Thea.
“Stay here”, I tell Elysia handing Callista to her
I jog over to the commotion and stand in between Thea and Eos II
“Thea, he’s not worth it. Go inside.”
Thea continues to shout at him—her well placed angry outburst and
general quiet nature had always reminded me of Seraphina. I’d once asked Thea
if they were related and she’d just shrugged.
“He does not know what that symbol represents”, Thea spits, and “He does not know the blood and pain. Wretched disrespectful child.”
Eos II laughs.
“You need to respect your elders”, I scold him
“The only elders I recognize are The Legion and the second coming of Helios Thantos”, he says and I’m speechless. No one talked like that. No one, "How dare you."
"Fuck you", he says
A sleepy Pathos is pushed out the apartment by Aurora. Pathos moves infront of me and quickly snatches Eos II up by the back of his neck.
“We’re going to have a conversation. You’re not going to act like a fucking punk”, Pathos says dragging him back into Elysia’s apartment, “You’re gonna Wipe that shit off your arm and apologize to Thea.”
I get everyone calmed down and Thea’s human boyfriend and her
daughter Poppy guide her to her apartment. I knew Eos II was just spewing radical bullshit...but still. Helios was still alive. As long as he was alive our way of life was in danger.
I really needed to talk to Leon.
+++
I get my girls resettled in the car and decide to take a selfie with them in their carseats and send it to Leon along with a text.
Mommy misses her co-pilot!
I’ll use the girls to guilt him into reaching out.
I give Athena my phone and we have a little sing along back home which is just the distraction I need. I stop at a drive-thru for dinner and share a box of chicken nuggets and fries with Athena, Helena and Hera while breastfeeding Callista. We also have some sliced cucumbers because I don’t want other moms judging me.
Helena has a mini breakdown when I tell her she can’t go outside to play and by the time I get her in the timeout corner I see I have four text messages. Lady Bless wants me to read over and fact check a speech she is giving at the gala and she is inviting me to a networking luncheon.
I also have a message from Leon. I start to tell the girls that Daddy sent a text but I read over it again
Daddy misses you.
The tone was…off. It didn’t seem like it was addressed the girls. Leon could have been typing fast, Leon hated texting because he said the buttons were too small.
Unless
Was he trying to flirt? Flirting was never Leon’s thing so I shouldn’t be shocked it came out awkward. Well…awkward sexting at least meant he was okay.
“Let’s get to bed”, I tell to the girls.
We spend the rest of the night taking showers and baths. I get them into bed and read two stories before saying goodnight.
“Does the baby have a name?” Athena asks hugging my belly.
“I don’t know she didn’t tell me”
She tilts her head in a way that makes her pigtails flop. It was cute but it was unnerving how much that head tilt reminded me of Seraphina. I had let Leon name Athena because I’d hadn’t told him about her until she was born. For one brief moment I thought he wanted to name her Seraphina. But instead he choose Athena… which was Seraphina’s middle name.
“It’s a joke, sweetie”, I explain, “But I think we are going to name her Persephone.”
I turn the security camera feed on in my room and get a head start on fact-checking the speech. I look over at my phone and realize Leon had sent me another text.
I miss you. Send me a picture
I type back
The girls are sleeping. I’ll send you one in the morning. Is everything okay? How is the mission?
The next message comes after a few moments
Everything is fine. I just can’t talk at the moment.
I put my phone on the charger. Maybe we could spend all night texting like teenagers in love did, so I type back.
I’m going to study for one hours than I have to go to bed.
Are you lonely?
We have five daughters. I will never be lonely
Are you horny?
Oh, Leon was far from smooth. I actually look around my empty bedroom before typing back.
A little
Show me.
Wow. Okay Leon was getting better at this. I thought about it. It wasn’t like I was going to do something too risqué.
I reach over the nightstand and put some lipstick on and lay down on Leon’s pillow, I tuck the strap of my tank top in so it just looks like I was topless. I take some photos with the camera held high and find a sensual smile. It was tasteful, ample cleavage with nothing hanging out. I nervously press send and wait for a response.
Mmmm
He sends back.
Fuck.
I reach for the multi-use sex toy in my nightstand. Leon was never usually that good at expressing how attractive he found me. Usually it was speechless nodding, awkward pointing or sometimes even a thank you. I closed my eyes imagine Leon making that sound or that he was watching me when my phone beeps again.
One more.
It had been exhilarating but I knew with my job and visibility I couldn’t risk going overboard in case I was hacked.
I’m too tired, Leon.
I type rubbing off the lipstick. He quickly responds
I want to see you leaking tits
What the? He must have been drunk or high. Or maybe it was Seraphina fucking around? Then he sends another text
Daddy’s thirsty. I want to fuck and suckle you with my fingers up your pretty ass while my baby is growing inside you.
I drop the phone on the floor and put away my vibrator. I couldn’t figure out if I was angry, confused or being taken. I delete the message, I’m not at all comfortable by his words.
I’m going to bed Leon. you had better be drunk. That was TO FAR.
I begin to press the send button when the house goes dark.
+3+
I hold back a curse and look out the window and see every single house has gone dark. I dial 4-1-1, power outages weren’t unusual in New Aeterna with all the new infrastructure but I hate having the security cameras out.
Tap tap tap
i jerk my head to the bedroom window and see a flash of movement. I slowly turn on my phone's flaslight and grab Leon’s gun from underneath the bed. Guns technically weren't illegal in New Aeterna and only given under special permits that I didn’t have. I flash my phone's flashlight and recognize the face in the window. I’d seen it when I went to visit my sisters but I can't imagine him being here.
“Adonis?” His names comes to me.
“Let me in”, he whispers.
“Why should I?” Adonis had been a former Helion. He’d been loyal
for years before defecting at the last minute. He could be like Eos, faking redemption to escape death.
“Aria", he whispers, " I think Leon’s been compromised. He cloned your phone before he left. I’ve been monitoring your texts.”
“What?”
“Leon’s been compromised. Let me in.”
Fuck. I knew it. I knew something wasn’t right. I tightened my grip on the gun and one-handedly opened the window. He hurriedly climbs in, sweeping his flashlight across the bedroom.
“Tell me what's going on”, I demand.
“I think you already know”, he says looking at the gun. “Seraphina and Leon went after Helios. Leon asked me to watch you just in case Helios sent someone after you---“
“Well, you suck at it.”
He sweeps past me and starts opening drawers and pulls a suitcase out of my closet.
“I’m actually doing my job”, he says, “You were compromised a few days ago. Two men have been watching the house for days.Tonight they made a move, not to mention those text don't seem like they came from Leon.”
“Wait…what?”
He sighs and I realize he’s throwing handfuls of clothes and shoes into the suitcase. “A group of men have been following you. They haven't done shit but five minutes ago they broke into your neighbor’s house. They are going through the backyard to get to you and the girls. I think they had guns. Bigger guns.”
He nods his head at Leon’s gun still in my hand.
“What?”, I say again.
He sighs and continues rummaging around the room,“I cut the power to give us time, but the neighborhood generators are going to kick in about four minutes. We got to get out of here.”
He picks up the suitcase and storms into the hallway.
I have work tomorrow. I have a class, the girls have daycare. What the hell? Get out of here?
“Hey”, Adonis snaps his fingers in my face, “Let’s go.”
I try to think sensibly.
“I’m calling the police.” I decide.
He turns on me quick and I drop my phone. He’d turned so swiftly, his expression harsh and controlled in the way Helios trained his men, his Helions to be. Adonis would always be one of them.
“By the time they get here you will be dead or worse.", Adonis says, "Three minutes. Let’s go”
“I’m not trusting a Helion I barley know.” I say raising the gun again.
“Trust Leon then. Two minutes.”
Leon.
I grab a duffle bag and throw in my prenatal vitamins and a handful of clothes I can actually wear, then run into the girl’s room with Adonis right behind me. He begins to not so delicately scoop up the three older girls while I throw clothes, diapers, wipes and whatever toys I see into the duffel before picking up Callista and the car keys
“Get in the back and strap them in”, Adonis orders once we are in the garage. He carefully deposits the sleepy girls in the car. They were getting fussy and starting to wake, “Keep them quiet.”
I reluctantly give Adonis the car keys, before I can even close the door he starts the car and backs out the garage and floors it down the street without the headlights on. It's pitch black in the neighborhood, I open my mouth to scold him when the first gunshots ring out and ping against the car
“Drive”, I order instead and he guns it.
I manage to wrangle the girls into their car seats, making the awful decision to go smallest to biggest.
The lights in the neighborhood click on and as I strap Athena into her car seat I see two men running after the car. They yell at each other before jumping in to a white BMW and following us.
When Adonis hits the next turn they are right on our tail in the BMW. I double check that the girls are all strapped in and secure myself in the first row.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Border”, he says.
“The U.S Border? They won’t let us in the U.S without documents or paperwork.”
He runs a red light and gets on the deserted I-84 turnpike that leads to the George Washington Bridge border. Two years ago the borders had been wide open but that was before the Unification Party riots and Paris’s fall from grace.
“Government officials get 24 hours auto-visas”, he says, “You’re covered.”
“What about you”, I remind him, “They won’t let you out the country.”
“Yeah I know--Shit”, he looks out the back window, the BMW speeds up and rams into the back of the SUV. I can see the men inside loading weapons. The men looked human with raw sun damaged skin and long unruly hair.
“Close your eyes, it’s okay.” I tell the girls draping a blanket over the seats like a little blanket fort. I reach into the duffel bag and pull out Leon’s gun again.
“Open the window.” I say checking to make sure the gun is loaded. I’d only gone to the shooting range once with Leon. I hadn’t used a gun in self-defense in…centuries. Either way I felt like I knew enough to cause some damage.
“No fucking way”, Adonis says going wide-eyed when he sees I have the gun.
“I think I can do this. I just want to slow them down. I can shoot out the tires from a moving car, right? That’s a thing?”
“Fuck”, He says as the BMW rams us again, “Just…get into the passenger seat first. And watch for the blow back.”
With a hand over my swollen belly I climb over the center console and into the passenger seat, calmly reminding the girls to keep their eyes closed under the blankets. I hear Athena sniffling and force it out of my mind for right now.
I run through the things Leon had told me about shooting. Adonis and I share a glance before I ease the window down and stick the gun out. I apply just the right amount of pressure to the trigger, the blow back is powerful but I kept applying pressure and squeezing off rounds.
“Stop”, Adonis snaps, “Open your eyes. You keep hitting our car.”
I hadn’t even realized I was closing my eyes after each round.
“I’m trying”, I snap back.
“Shit. You drive”, He says not hiding his frustration.
I just stare at him. I was way to pregnant to manage that kind of switch and he knew it.
“Fuck”, he says.
Adonis slams on the breaks, the girls cry out from being jolted in their seats. The BMW, not anticipating our sudden stop, zooms in front of us.
Adonis uses the moment to get out of the car, he reaches into a
leg holster and pulls out two pistols. With one in each hand he waits for the
BMW to turn back around and come for us. The BMW does a sharp three-point turn
and as soon as they are in range Adonis squeezes out shot after shot in a
perfect rhythm. I take the opportunity to jump out the car and into the
driver’s seat. I throw the car in reverse driving backwards
away from Adonis and his fire.
“Don’t look”, I tell the girls, “It’s okay. Just don’t look.”
Adonis whips his head around and notices me rolling the car backwards. He shoots two more times before dropping the guns and running towards the SUV. I slow down enough for him to jump into the passenger seat.
“Did you—“
“I injured them. Drive”, he says. I put the car in drive and punch the gas, as we drive past the BMW I see one of the men is on the phone with blood pouring out of his mouth. The other man is clearly dead.
“Drive”, Adonis says again.
There is a thick silence and I look in the backseat to see all of the girls are quiet and wide-eyed. Only Athena’s eyes are still closed tight. Her little hand trying to over Hera and Helena’s.
“It’s okay, sweeties.” I tell them even though I'm shaking, “It’s over. We’re fine. It was a little car accident is all.”
I force a smile and hope the girls don't notice Adonis slightly shaking.
It’s a twenty minute drive down the desolate interstate until we reach the George Washington Bridge border. I’d found a soothing radio station that had lulled the girls to sleep. Luckily I’d kept my travel documents in the glove compartment, before we reach the border Adonis jumps in the back and I cover him with blankets.
The border guards are shocked to see anyone out this late. New Aeterna wasn’t the party capital it used to be before the Unification Party riots.
On the radios I could hear border patrol reporting gunshots. I hoped they couldn’t see the bullet holes in the SUV at night.
“Papers?” the young guard asks.
I give him my official documents.
“I’m planning a breakfast meeting for Lady Bless in Secaucus. I need to get an early start”
He looks at his watch. It’s just passed midnight and he gives me a once over because he knows I'm not human. He peeks into
the back and notices the girls. They were too young to need documents but they
were in their pajamas with toys and blankets on the floor. I pray he doesn't see Adonis' underneath the blankets.
“I had to bring them…their father is really scaring me right now. We left so quickly”
The guard nods knowingly.
He hands me a 24 hour Visa and I drive into the U.S for the first time in 15 years. I have no idea where I’m going and just pull off on a quiet state road in New Jersey. Adonis pops up from the back and climbs into the passenger seat.
While he’s studying a map I jump out of the car and take Athena and myself into the woods to pee.
"Where are we going, Mommy ?" Athena asks, "Why is Poppy's daddy here ?"
"He just needs our help is all." I say with a smile.
She gets quiet after that and I am so worried because she is never this
quiet. I feel the adrenaline leave my
body as I head back to the car and change diapers as needed. I'd only grabbed 13 diapers so I'd have to ration.
We were stranded in the states on the run from who…Helios?
“You okay?” Adonis asks handing me a water bottle from Leon’s stash in the trunk. He leans against the car, his eyes on the dark sky above.
“Was that Helios?” I ask taking a fussy Callista from the backseat to feed her.
“I’m assuming so. Which is why we got to move. Get you into hiding.”
“Why does he want me now. After all these year”, I ask holding
back my tears. Memories threatening to come to the surface.
Adonis doesn't even look at me when he responds.
“I’m guessing because Leon and Seraphina did the one thing that could threaten Helios.”
“They found him”, I say coming to the same realization. He was really still alive.
“Adonis—“
“I go by Adam”, he says as if a more human name will make him less of a Helion.
“I only have a 24-hour VISA. If I don’t come back in 24 hours the government is going to come for me.”
“Well, I’m guessing if you go back to New Aeterna Helios will send more men to find you.”
He takes in our surroundings and crosses over to where a small auto shop is nestled on the quiet winding rural state road. I follow him with the girls close around me.
“Tell me everything you know, Adonis.”
He squats down and starts removing the plates for a car that looks similar to Leon’s.
“Helios, Seraphina and …Paris”, he says Paris’ name with disgust all not-so-reformed Helions did, “Went to Mexico to look for Helios because some of the teenage Helions were in contact with their fathers who all happened to be Helions who faked their deaths the night of Unification party riots. Eos Troy, Tiberius.”
“Oh, God”, I think on this. Eos is alive? I felt goosebumps realizing this explained Eos II’s cockiness, “You just let them get away with faking their deaths.”
“I didn't blame them. It's fucked up being treated like a second class citizen. Even the actual reformed Helions get treated like shit unless you are close friends with Paris fucking Prince like Leon. You don’t seem shocked Helios is alive”, Adonis says
“Leon told me.”
“He’s so fucking whipped.”
Adonis finishes replacing the license plate and inspects the dings on the car.
“Leon must love you ladies.”
“Why?”
“The damn car is bulletproof.”
+++
“Someone might recognize me”, I say looking into the office of the motel. We’d driven until we needed gas and ended up in a quiet upstate New York town.
“Humans won’t recognize you. It’s fine”
“I’m a dictator’s wife”, I tell him, “Plus I’ve been on camera with Lady Bless.”
“Fuck”, he says rubbing his tired eyes, “I'll go in but I’m taking this.”
He expertly unhooks Callista’s car seat, I take Callista out of it and drape a blanket on top. He heads to the motel office to check in. There is something aggressive in his limp and the way he mutters to himself that makes me almost abandon him.
The motel isn’t ideal but it’s a place to rest. I feel better once I have the girls showered and tucked into bed. The entire time Adonis paces while typing furiously on a secure SGI mobile satellite phone.
"I've tried all the SGI secure lines. I'm getting shit. It's like Leon dropped off the face of the earth."
“What’s the plan?” I ask him because I was over this waiting bullshit, “Should we reach out to Callum? Or Isobel?”
“A demon and a human? No way.” Adonis keeps typing, “I gotta go track Leon down myself. Look, I’ve paid up the week. You and girls will have to move every few days in case more of Helios’ men come for you. I'm guessing Helios wants you as collateral.”
I sit up on the bed.
“I’m not sitting still. I’m going with you.”
He laughs and it’s a harsh sound.
“I’m not taking a pregnant woman and babies into what could turn into a warzone.”
“If Leon is in trouble I’m going to get him and bring him home."
“You can’t—“
“Don’t tell me what I can’t do”, I seethe. Imitating Helios’ venom and the easy decisiveness I’d always admired in Sera.
“It’s not…safe”, he says looking at the girls, “I’ve got three…you know.”
“Thea ?”, I say as if I hadn’t made it my business to find out which Helions Helios had given my Sisters to.
“Yeah. I...I ...I didn’t force her or anything.” he says defensively but I knew Helios’ psychological abuse and mind-games was a type of force. Adonis puts the phone away and watches the girls sleeping for a moment.
“Well
figure something out. I’m not staying behind.” I tell him.
“This is my mistake. I need to fix it, okay”, he snaps then lowers his voice, “I was supposed to be guarding Helios’ underground cell the day he broke out. God, I fucking loved that job. I liked that he was locked up and under my control for a change. I just can’t go after him with four babies.”
“We can talk about this in the morning, Adonis but I’m not staying behind. I may have an idea.”
“Aria...”
“That’s enough. let’s take turns keeping watch”, I suggest to change the subject. That’s what I felt Leon would do, “Then we’re going to find them and bring them home.”
A/N
Aria and Adonis are going to have a little 3 part arc within this story.
So, the full circle for my New Aeterna verse is getting fuller. I started writing Little Rebellions because in order to write about the female Angels I had to get an idea of what they went through. It started off as an exercise. I already knew Adonis (from his bit part in QC) had been a loyal Helion who’d become disaffected, so I wrote Little Rebellions with the mission of telling Adonis’ story and gathering some insight into the Regime for my personal use. According to my Little Rebellions A/N I had planned to tell the rest of his arc here so…I plan REALLY far ahead.
Also Elysia, Eos and Eos II are in the first section of Little Rebellions.
Eos, our former roommate, always caught my attention. His son had just turned seven and was at the head of his class of eldest boys. Father and son had the same steely gaze and disciplined manner. The woman Eos was paired with sat very still next to him. She was very pregnant and staring at the napkin in her hand. After several second she started crying. Eos’ son stared at his mother but a firm grunt from Eos had him looking away.
The woman started sobbing and holding her belly. Eos began whispering to her and everyone looked away
… On the way back to the dorms, Jorgen and I found Eos’ sons on the steps of the dining hall with his little sisters. He watches them pick blades of grass.
“Curfew is in 10 minutes”, Jorgen tells the children.
“Sir”, the boys says obediently, bowing his head to simple foot soldiers like ourselves.
Eos comes out from around back the building, dragging the woman behind him. She was still crying and doubled over. We bowed our heads to Eos…
Also this chapter of Rogue serves up some of the background of Eos II from Arrow who starts a (domestic terrorist) group called The New Legion made of young Angel men who are tired of being treated poorly by the system and yearn for the glory days of their fathers.
House leader, Eos II is in the center of a group of boys. They are playing cards and betting with quarters. Trying to look like old-timers. They look like posers.
Eos II makes his way to us again. He’s in in all gray and I see he has a new tattoo that says “Helion” in stylish script. That’s bold. That’s fucking bold.
Btw Arrow is also the first appearance
of Sera’s facial scars from chapter 4. I was surprised no one asked how she got them. Did I mention this already ?
“Not a hint of recognition crossed the lightened scars on her face.”
Muse: Isn’t that a spoiler?
Lils: Not really. I was wishy-washy about Arrow being cannon
but Sera’s scars, Eos II and Adonis’ bit part in Arrow
are the big reasons I wrote Rogue. GRAND UNIFYING VISION. Take that Sweet Prince.
Muse: Isn’t that another spoiler? Also you aren't laying out framework for that YA sequel you want to write.
Lils : I just get so many ideas and set things down to pick up later.