Late at night, a city sleeps. In the back alleyways a few souls with wandering eyes are awake, if not alert. Streetlights cast lonely circles of light onto the pavement below them. A girl walks down the sidewalk alone. Her dark eyes are hidden behind glasses and obsidian curls fall into her face. As she walks her hands are in her pockets, and she stares at the ground. She seems lost in thought as she passes vagabonds on the corners, oblivious to their presence. Her name is Maricel, it means one lost to darkness. It is an appropriate fit for this girl who seems almost a shadow herself.

Someone shouts out and she turns her head to see a group running towards her. She runs. Down the street almost for an entire block until she ducks into and alley. A minute ahead of her pursuers she reaches the other side of the alley only to find it's a dead end. The alley is dark, the light broken years ago and forgotten. It is the type of place one would expect a Law and Order scene to unfold. She looks around her, almost in desperation. Seeing no fire escapes to climb nor any windows to jump through, it seems she is stuck. She can now hear her pursuers approaching. She glances towards the opening of the alley.

The group turns into the alley only to find it empty. Discarded newspapers flutter about in a lone breeze. Where did she go, they wonder. She went down this alley, and there is no escape. How did she get past them. Unknown to this group that did not mean Maricel well, she is high overhead now. She has unfurled her wings and flown to her own version of a sanctuary. Her wings are similar to the sky above her, black as night and yet seeming to reflect the stars. They are leathered and thin, like a bat's. Double jointed, she inherited them from her father. She does not like to be reminded.

On the horizon, the sky is a faintly lighter shade, hinting at the sunrise. The dawn of day approaches as she flies away from the sunlight, staying in the dark that is her comfort zone.

---

Deep in a forest still undiscovered by mankind resides a boy. Tall and sturdy, like a tree, he rarely strays into the world of man. Living alone, seemingly, in the wilderness by choice. His hair reaches past his shoulders and is a dark golden brown, nearly bronze. His skin the same color as the dirt beneath his bare feet. His eyes seem old as time itself, a foreign sight on the face of one so young.

This boy lives a simple life. He distances himself from the world. He was raised in a time where the earth was sacred, and holds firm to that belief. Birds sing above him as they fly about, all the colors of the spectrum. The leaves rustle in a slight breeze. He feels at home. A branch snaps. He glances towards the sound. A hunter, skin pale and covered in dirt. Not a hunter, but a poacher.

The boy is not happy. He does not allow poachers in his forest. The poacher has not yet seen the boy. Good. The boy moves around the poacher, more silent than a tree without a breeze to ruffle it. Soon he stands behind the poacher. The man has raised his gun, aiming at one of the magnificent birds overhead. The boy reaches out and grasps the barrel of the gun. He clenches his hand and the gun breaks. The poacher is so startled that he stumbles and falls. He looks up at the boy.

He asks who this boy is. How he could have broken the gun with his bare hands. The boy does not answer. His skin darkens a bit, to the color of damp earth and the smell of soil becomes overwhelming. He lifts his own set of wings, also leathered, but far more rough, like bark. They are a mottled green and brown, and would seem to camouflage the his surroundings. The poacher is speechless. The boy only tells the man to leave. Should he ever come back he will never leave alive. The poacher runs.

The boys name is Laurel, and he is the son on the forest. His father was a hunter, but he knew the laws of nature that poachers ignore. He is the balance that nature requires, and he will keep it that way.

---

In a skyscraper in the middle of a bustling city sits a boy. He seems to be barely out of his teens, yet he is the head of the company that owns the building. He is the mastermind behind each of their inventions and holds thousands of patents dating back to the first ones ever issued. He is hunched over a table with circuit boards and other pieces of machinery strewn about. In his hands he holds tools to piece together some new gadget. On his face sit goggles. His office is nearly made of nothing but windows. Everyone can see him working, but none can hear him. He's designed the room that way.

The boy is a genius, many have said. It is true. He can see the ways the circuits could connect to make it better, he can see how to improve anything with technology. He has ear-buds in and techno music blares loud enough to destroy his eardrums. He lightly nods his head in time with the music, his face a mask of concentration. He has drawn a small crowd, as happens often. He has finished the gadget and holds it up to examine it further.

It seems to be a watch. He pushes a button and a small hologram comes out. He speaks to it and the image changes to answer his question. He has made Siri a visual now. He strolls to the door to his office. As he leaves he tosses the watch onto the desk of the head of tech production. Figure out how to reproduce that, he says. He heads to the elevator.

Coming out on the roof, he walks to the edge and leans his arms on the railing that runs around the edge of the building. He has pushed the goggles up onto his head, pushing back his electric blue mow-hawk. The strip of blue is flanked by hair bleached blonde and cropped close to his head. Numerous piercings line his ears, as well, his eyebrow and tongue are pierced. Tattoos peek out underneath the edge of his t-shirt, which sports a graphic of some band.

His name is Nimbus. He is known by many names, most often Nim, Tric and Volt. He is an electric storm and has only found his calling once electricity was harnessed. It is his lifeblood, what he is. Knowing he is alone he lets his wings out. They almost mirror his eyes, but for the thin veins of pale almost yellow, almost blue white that faintly run through them. His wings are feathered, like a bird's, though are double jointed. He smiles as he feels the first raindrops of a storm.

---

In broad daylight a girl strolls down the street with multiple shopping bags dangling from her arms. She has on heels almost four inches in height and white rimmed sunglasses. Her hair, a light brown, is down and is slightly billowed by an unnoticed wind. As are her clothes, a skirt and loose top. Her entire outfit ranges in the tones of pastels. She is smiling and seems to be having a grand time spending money and seeming to all the world the rich girl.

Her name is Isobel, yet she prefers to be called Belle. She is oblivious to all others on the street, only conscious enough of them to avoid them. She looks down her nose at the, as she says, dirty urchins, and goes on her way. She makes it to her car, a silver convertible with the top already down. She throws the bags in the back seat and slides behind the wheel, turning the car on and pealing out of the parking space.

She flies down the road going well above the speed limit. She pays the numbers no mind, she only wishes to feel the wind in her face. And feel wind she does. A short while later she pulls up to a veritable mansion and climbs out of the car. Carrying the bags to the house and dropping them in what seems to be her bedroom she strolls out to a balcony overlooking the ocean. Her house is built into the side of a small cliff, on the coast. Featuring a balcony on each level that runs around the entirety of the house. She leans on the railing, relishing the feel of the sea breeze on her face.

Taking a breath she unfurls her wings. Feathered and white, they are the vision of an angel's. The white is not pure, they hold many shades of gray and are nearly translucent at the edges, as if the feathers themselves were hollow. The wind blows her hair back and she sighs contentedly.

---

Another girl, nearly half a world away, is almost elbow deep in dust and dirt. She is helping to restore an old library that has nearly fallen apart. Her long dark reddish brown hair is pulled back in a braid to keep it out of the way, though strands have escaped. Her clothes are as dust covered as the rest of her, making the purple of her shirt seem almost red and her jeans match the ground. She is sorting and stowing the books to that they are out of the way and protected while repairs to the building are underway. The town she is in is not advanced, it is remote, but she has found that it feels like home, and this is why she helps.

A satchel is slung across her body, in it are a few keepsakes she takes with her everywhere, for she has no true home. She roams and helps people wherever she lands. She is a source of inspiration and imagination to those around her, and loves to see smiles. Her name is Samara. Often she has been hassled for sharing a name with the ghost from The Ring, yet she holds true to her name. It means imagination, something she spreads like wildfire. Everywhere she goes she teaches people to think for themselves, along with anything else they may want to know. If she has the knowledge, she'll share it, but only if you ask.

Often going by Sam, she has traveled since she was first sentient. Her violet eyes have seen many sights that most mortals would kill for, or hide from. Yet she always wears a smile. A child and dog walk near her. The dog has a rope tied to it's collar, in lieu of a leash, which the child holds. The dog runs over to her and could almost be said to be smiling. The child is shocked, the dog does not like anybody, he says. Sam says that she has never met an animal who did not like her, a fact she is thankful for. The child also smiles, just being near her.

As the boy and the dog go on their way she slips into a nearby building, a church that had been abandoned years ago. Sunlight streams through the stained glass windows, some of the panes broken. It is bright in the church, but empty. That was what she hoped for. She opens her wings, stretching them to their fullest, a large smile upon her face. They are feathered, but far from what one would think an angel's to look like. Blocks of the feathers are hundreds of different colors, mimicking the glass around her. Transparent, the light streams through her feathers, throwing blocks of color to the floor, mingling with the light from the windows.

It is an inspiring sight, were one to behold it.

---

At a soup kitchen across the globe a boy dressed to kill seems to be slumming it. He looks completely out of place in his expensive garb, surrounded by the poor he is helping. An old woman scowls to herself. A young seemingly rich man such as this boy could never understand what these people go through on a daily basis, let alone sympathize. She believes he has no years on him, that his life has been nothing but easy and is only helping because he needs to for some school credit or another. She reaches the end of the line for food and the boy scoops soup into a bowl and hands it to her.

The cynical woman glances at his face as she grabs the bowl from him and her jaw goes slack. Though his face and body are very young, this boy's eyes are centuries old. The light gray-blue holds eons more than the woman could ever achieve. He asks if something is wrong, a kind smile on his face. She shakes her head no. He turns his smile to the next person in the line. He does not judge, he knows that they are not here of their own choosing, for the most part. A little girl, clinging to the arm of a woman worn down by life asks him if he is an angel, he's so nice and kind looking. He chuckles and tells her no, not quite.

He stays and doles out food for hours. The woman in charge tells him to go home, he's been there all day. He grudgingly accepts and leaves the line of still waiting people. As he leaves the building he sees a man sitting on a doorstep, too proud to go in the building. Calais, for that is the boy's name, drops a bill into the man's lap, telling him to buy himself a cup of coffee and warmer clothes if he is hell-bent on staying outside. The man gapes as he sees that the one in each corner of the bill is followed by two zeroes. Cal, for that is what most others call him, walks away feeling light as air.

He walks to an alley that is deserted and stretches his wings out, ready to head home. The little girl was close, he wasn't an angel, but the son of one.

---

In a bar on an island paradise, a couple of about twenty-five years of age buys a round of drinks for the entire bar. Both blonde, they bear slight resemblance to each other, most likely they are siblings. The boy, taller that the girl by a few inches, has a pile of bottles next to him on the bar-top and another in his hand. His eyes, however are alert. The girl has a cigarette dangling from her fingers ad a cloud of smoke surrounds her. They are the life of the party, so to speak.

It is well past midnight and the bartender yells last-call. The crowd is still ready to party, the siblings call out that the party moves to their place. They hand out directions and their address, as well as phone number to any who may get lost. The boy calls a few cabs for the less sober members of the crowd. They strut out the doors, the rest of the bar in their wake. The girl slides into the driver's seat of an orange and black Maserati, that looks brand new. The boy climbs into the passenger seat and they floor it, leaving skid marks as they fly towards their home.

It is made for partying. There is a stereo system that has at least one speaker in each room of the house, so that music can be heard everywhere. There are bars in numerous places all over the house. There is a large pool, despite the beach being less than a hundred yards away. In short, it reeks of money. The siblings glide out of the car and light up the house. It is ready for the coming party in seconds, and a moment later the first guests arrive. Far more people than those that had packed the bar show. More the merrier, the boy says.

The party last until after the sun rises, bodies lay slumped over any available surface, asleep and sure to have hangovers upon waking. The girl has a headache, which is strange. Soon it pounds in her skull so that it feels as if it really is splitting. She walks to her brother, looking drunk the way she walks, but she's had nothing to drink. The boy takes one look at his sister and yells that the party is over. The tone in his voice makes each of the partygoers scatter, even those sleeping are dragged to cars by their friends. Dad's coming she says.

Moments later a tall man, similar in looks to the boy appears seemingly out of nowhere. He is dressed entirely in black and has hair almost ivory, though it is not white by any standards. He smiles at the siblings who greet him in return. He tells the girl she can go lie down, and she leaves the room. Her headache subsides a little. A few minutes later her brother joins her. They both sigh in relief that the man in black is gone. They both, almost simultaneously, unveil their wings. The girl's are a deep scarlet and are aflame. The boy's are a dark aqua, like the ocean at night, and light moves on them as if the were underwater. Both sets are identical in shape and size.

They stare at nothing for a time. The girl's - who's name is Pho - headache finally leaves her. Her brother - who's name is Finn - notices and offers her a cigarette, which she gratefully lights.

---

In a college dorm room sit two girls, identical but for their eyes. They look around twenty-two years, and have strawberry hair and tan skin. One has eyes black as ink and wears her hair in a pony-tail. The other, with eyes of the palest blue, has her hair falling in waves about her shoulders. The sky is dark outside and they seem to have no other roommates.

The ponytail looks to her twin and begs, can she please let her wings out, Alex? Alex sighs and concedes. Leah happily throws out a pair of wings the color of lapis lazuli. They are double jointed and leathered, but have a section at the top that is feathered. They fade to white at the tips of the joints. Seeing her sister's wings out, Alex decided to unleash hers too. Wings almost identical to Leah's unfurl behind Alex. Where Leah's faded to white, Alex's fade to black.

Leah says how happy she is that the past few decades, nothing had needed their attention. Alex says she is glad that they hadn't had to run in the past century. Leah muses about how their dad is doing. Alex says that he is probably doing fine. She adds that she is also happy that they had not heard from their mother in a long time. Me too, says Leah. A knock sounds on their door and the two instantly retract their wings. Come in, calls Leah. A girl pokes her head in, she says there is someone downstairs asking for the two of them. The girl leaves them to their business.

Alex throws on a pair of shorts and the two head down the staircase until they reach the ground floor. Alex feels a sense of deepening anxiety at the thought of who is there to see them. As they reach the lobby the twins catch a glimpse of their visitor. Alex stops in her tracks, her expression says that she is not happy. Leah puts a smile on her face, and is less hesitant to greet their visitor.

A woman waits in the lobby. She stands tall on a pair of high-heeled boots. A pair of sunglasses lay perched on top of her head, and dark maroon curls fall down her back. She throws her arms wide upon seeing the twins. Girls, she cries, a smile on her face. Mommy's here!

2: Demons

What is she doing here? I walked forward, haltingly. Leah was already hugging her, a smile on her face. How can she be so welcoming to her? I can't force a smile at seeing her, nor do I want to. I don't care if she is my mother, I don't like her. Whenever she shows up all hell breaks loose, literally.

She turned to me. "There's my girl! Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Of course, mother. How long has it been?" My speech stiff and formal.

"A century give or take. I was in the area and felt you two so I decided to drop in and say hello." She smiled at me in a way that, I know, if I disobey her unspoken order that I'll pay for it later.

I placed a smile I neither felt, nor enjoyed, on my face. "It's nice of you to drop by. What brings you out?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. I was hungry, and my usual dinner was beginning to taste stale."

Inwardly I cringed. I hate that she is my mother. I don't know how dad could have ever seen something in her worth liking. Ever. From what I understand, she was the first to jump on the "let's leave heaven" bandwagon - and then stole the reins. I was trying to figure a way to get her as far from the IMs as possible, when Leah spoke up.

"It's so nice to see you mom! How long are you planning on staying topside?"

She waved her hand dismissively. "I don't know, I'll go back down when I feel like it. So, aren't you two going to show me to your room?"

"Sure!" Leah led her to the stairway, while I followed behind. The false smile fell from my face. The desk attendant looked up at me as I walked past.

"Alex, wait up a minute."

I gestured to Leah to continue on. I turned back to the attendant. "What's up, Marco?"

"That's your mom right?" I nodded. "Why don't you look more happy to see her?"

"Lets just say that I don't approve of my mom in general."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, if you want her gone, we can always get security down here in seconds."

That actually made me laugh. "Thanks, but I don't think that'll be necessary. 'Night." I waved at him as I went to the staircase and began walking up the two flights to our dorm room. I sighed. I was going to miss him, he'd almost become my friend. Entering our room I saw Leah showing around our guest. The smile she'd worn in the lobby had been replaced with a grimace upon seeing our "tiny hole in the wall" as I heard her call it upon my entry. "Mother, it is not that bad."

She snorted. "Please. I'd call it a dungeon, but for the fact that it's on the top floor." I held back my comment that she lived in the ultimate dungeon. She glanced around with distain. "I don't know how you live in a place this small. You should have a mansion by now, honestly."

"Oh, come on mom. It's actually really comfy. Look, there's enough room for all of us to have our wings out at once!" Leah threw out her wings as an added effect. She glanced at me and I obliged, thrusting out my own.

Our guest raised one brow and stretched out her own wings, which were larger than ours by a foot at least. Blood red bat wings, the joints ending with razor sharp talons that I knew from experience held poison. She was a far more imposing sight than either of us. It was a tight fit with all of our wings completely extended. "Really?"

Leah looked a bit dejected. "I didn't say there was room to move with them all out, just that we all could have them out."

She snorted again. "Next time be more specific."

Oh, how I wanted to scream at her. How dare she insult my sister, her daughter, like that. I wanted to smack her, yell until my face turned blue. But I couldn't. My fury burned silently inside me. She retracted her wings, and a moment later, Leah followed suit. I left mine out defiantly, though I pulled them close to my back. She narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

After more than 40,000 years of defiance and rebellion, she finally took the hint that I don't like her. I do respect her though, through fear of course. Fear is her favorite toy, and she's a master when it comes to using it. Somehow, I was still her favorite child. I have no idea how. Leah was always happy to see her, and actually still loved her. I have no clue how. I hate her, yet I am her favorite. That fact alone scares me.

She flicked her fingers and our T.V. came to life. A news program was playing. The reporter was on the other side of town and was saying that the police had found what seemed to be a mass murder. "The murderer seems to be a sadist, a psychopath. All we could get from the police on scene were that numerous body parts and organs were missing. Most of the bodies are unidentified as of now, supposedly the officials will have to rely on dental records. Stay tuned for..."

"Well, they do know how to flatter a girl." she flicked her fingers again, and the sound cut out, though the scene still played. "I particularly like how they've mixed it up by throwing sadist into the mix. I'm getting bored of being called a psychopath."

"You couldn't have been more discreet?"

"I thought you'd appreciate my subtlety. I could have done it in the open, in daylight, like I used to. Oh, those were the good old days." I stared at her. "Well, I wasn't big enough to eat them whole now, was I?"

No, you just decided to eat your favorite parts instead. "Thank you for not turning into Godzilla." I had to almost force the sentence from my mouth.

"You know I do not like that term. I've had far more flattering ones in the past. Godzilla is so... nerdy."

I sighed again. "Well, thanks mother. Now we have to leave again."

"You're welcome. This place is a dump." She got up and strolled to the door, ready to leave.

Before she did, I called out to her, without turning around. "Leave the staff and students alone."

"Oh, fine, but you're a killjoy... There was a hovel a few states over that smelled enticing though. Ta." She closed the door behind her.

I stared at the closed door for a while before saying to Leah, "Alright start packing."

---

My cigarette was down to a stub, now. God, I hated when my dad dropped by. I don't mind the guy in general, but every time he decides to drop in, I get this horrible freaking headache. I kinda know why. My dad usually draws girls to him, and, being his daughter, it's natural that I'm repelled. He knows I get the headaches, and I'm glad that he cares enough to let me leave the room. But... I still like it better when he leaves me alone.

Debris from the party still cluttered the floor and lawn. Music still wafted from the speakers. I got up and walked out to the lanai, stopping short of the actual thing. I hit a button on the inside wall, the button itself being discreet enough that no one would accidentally hit it thinking it might be a light switch or something. The music cut out and a voice wafted out of the speakers. "Yes, ma'am?"

"The party's over and our guest is gone. Get to work." I said into a small receiver set into the wall near the button.

"Yes, ma'am." I leaned against the wall, staring out across our yard towards the ocean. About ten people walked into my line of sight, carrying trash bags and those sticks that people use to get garbage when they're doing community service. I watched them clean up the mess and puffed out another cloud of smoke.

Over my shoulder I said, "What did Dad want?"

From behind me, Finn spoke up, sounding a bit sarcastic, as usual. "Oh, you know, the usual. How are we doing? How are our moms? Are we ready to join him in his conquest of the underworld and Earth in general? Same old, same old." I felt him shrug his shoulders. He moved into my line of sight and leaned against the opposite side of the opening. "You good now?"

"Yeah, my headache's gone. Which means he's long gone."

"I know."

I turned my head to look at my little brother. "You okay?" Finn hated when dad dropped by. Partly because, when dad was here, he felt like a little kid. He got berated almost every time he came. I wish I could stay and help fend him off, but because of that freaking headache, I'm bedridden the whole time he's here. I feel bad about leaving Finn to the wolves though.

He shrugged again. "Yeah. He's gone isn't he?" He turned his eyes towards me. I'm not a fan of blue, warm colors are much more my style, but man, did my brother have gorgeous eyes. They were the exact color of the ocean at noon. He smirked, making his dimples appear.

A smile appeared on my face to match. I'll admit, I have a bit of a soft spot for my brother. That might be part of why dad starts in on him so often. He thinks that Finn is too mellow, and that I shouldn't have a soft spot at all. I disagree. I don't care if my dad is an all powerful demon, I can have a soft spot for my brother if I damned well want to. "You going to go see Arroyo today?"

"Yeah, you going to see Vuur?"

I nodded. "I promised her that I'd tell her whenever dad showed up." Finn's gaze drifted out towards the ocean and I knew he was thinking about her. "Go, I know you're feeling dry." He grinned at me again. When we're alone is the only time he acts younger than me. I chuckled softly as he sauntered out of the room.

About ten minutes later I saw him walking towards the beach, clad in his swim trunks and a waterproof bag in his hands. As his feet hit wet sand he took a running start and dove into the waves head-first. He did not resurface - not that I expected him to. A knock sounded on the door. "Come in." I didn't turn around until I heard whoever it was start cleaning.

I turned and saw that it was a Patupairehe girl. This one had fiery hair, which I appreciated. I'd seen her numerous times before, which means she's obviously been with us for a while. She dipped into a small curtsey. "Ma'am."

I smiled at her. "I'm leaving. Don't work too hard." I walked out into the hallway and turned towards my bedroom. As I walked in I shooed the Menehune cleaning it. The Patupairehe and Menehune were two races of creatures that my brother and I employed. We were eternal, and they were loosing their homes and lands to the IMs. Not to mention there was the possibility that the IMs would discover that they weren't humans. Menehune were natives to the islands, but Patupairehe migrated here when we did.

I changed into a new set of clothes and grabbed a small bag. As I left my room the same Menehune that I'd shooed earlier scurried back in to finish. I smiled and chuckled. The little guys were so loyal to us, and were super diligent. Both races hid when any IMs were over. When my dad was here too. The Menehune were more loyal to me just as the Patupairehe were more loyal to Finn. The Menehune thought my mom was Pele, so that was a lot of the reason they were loyal to me, but my brother and I were nice to them too, which was unheard of from demons. Then again, we weren't just demons.

I slipped outside and jumped into my car. Oh, how I loved my car. Black and orange Maserati, brand new, pimped to the max. I turned the key and the radio blared to life. I rolled down all my windows and floored it, heading up the mountain. As I drove up the zigzagging road I could feel the warmth beneath the slopes, even if the air was chill.

I reached the mouth and parked my car in the lot built and carved into the mountain. Locking the doors I grabbed my bag and began my trek around the mouth of the volcano. I had no trouble slipping past the few security guards that were there to keep people safely away from anything that could harm them. I wasn't people, and nothing here could harm me. I got to a small opening that no one would notice - probably because it was about a foot under the pool of lava.

I climbed down the inside of the caldera until I was just above the lava itself, and then stepped downwards. The lava pushed itself back as if there was a force field around me. I did that on purpose, I didn't want my clothes to burn off, and I needed my car keys intact. I slid into the opening and landed in an antechamber of sorts. The lava pooled over the opening, but didn't fall down through it. Gotta love mom's flair for the ostentatious. I walked towards where I knew my mom would be setting up shop. "Mom!"

A flame danced over to me, two tendrils flickering out as if arms offering a hug. "Pho! What brings you here?" I stepped closer, not quite into the hug.

"Mom, I like these clothes, I'd rather not have them turn to ashes."

Laughter floated out of the flame as it reformed itself into my mom's humanoid form. A woman a bit taller than me with long scarlet hair reaching almost to her calves. I stepped into the hug now. "Sorry, you know that it's easier to stay a flame."

"I know mom." I stood back a little, smiling at my mother, who smiled back at me. Our golden eyes, identical, stared at their mirrors.

"So what brings you down to see me?"

"You told me to tell you when dad came by." My smile faded. "He came by."

---

I was breathing hard, running for your life will do that to you. My wings beat a regular rhythm that was about a quarter the speed of my heartbeat. I was a few hours away from the city how, by human standards. I'd only been flying for about thirty minutes, give or take, but I'd be over New York soon, then I could find Cal and hide out at his place for a while. I hoped I didn't wake him up when I got there. He was definitely not nocturnal.

All of a sudden, a shadow slammed into me, and I went tumbling. I landed hard on a building. I think I may have even cracked a rib or two. Of course it was healed almost instantly, but it still hurt. What the hell? I controlled shadows, why was one attacking me? Another one rushed out of the darkness and knocked me off the top of the building and down into the alley below. Again, my bones were healed instantly, but ouch! I stood up and looked around for the reason the shadows were acting up so much.

Then a shiver raced down my spine. I froze, breath caught in my throat and not daring to move. Then a voice from my deepest nightmares wafted over to me. "Maricel." My name, why did he have to say my name. My body straightened against my will, then turned to face the man who spoke. Tall - over six feet, dressed in a black trench coat over a black suit. Though it was the dark still, he wore thick sunglasses. Yes, it was definitely who I'd thought it was.

"Yes father?" My blood felt frozen in my veins, my breath as if it no longer knew how to work. This is fear.

He took a few steps towards me. "Events are in motion. You will play a part."

No, please no. I've never wanted darkness, I've always feared it, because of him. I don't want to help him, but... I'm to scared to say no. I know what he'll do if I don't obey his commands... and that is a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone.

"When you are called I expect you to do as you're told. I will not tolerate any insubordination. Am I clear?"

"Yes father." Inside I am dying. Why was it him that was my father?

"You will not tell anyone about our conversation."

"Yes father." He says nothing more, simply slips into the darkness and disappears. My body is my own once more and I collapse to my knees. No tears come, not yet. My breath comes in ragged gasps. I feel as a mortal does when facing death. My encounter was not far off. After nearly ten minutes I finally pull myself up from the ground, using the wall to support myself, as my knees are still weak. I glance upwards at the lightening sky, now officially blue instead of black. I must go now or I'll have to travel on foot. I spread my wings. After a few feeble attempts, I manage to take off. I can't bring myself to go very fast at first, then my fear kicks back in and I am racing even faster than before.

Twenty-three minutes later the lights of New York city sparkled into my sight. I got as close to Cal's building as I could before dropping into an alley. Retracting my wings I tentatively stepped out into the sidewalk. Though it was early, the streets were already teaming with life. New York truly was the city that never slept. It took me five more minutes of walking to reach the front door of his building, an extravagant fortress where big bucks were spent hourly. He lived near the top, not the penthouse but close. I walked into the lobby and over to the front desk, waiting for the attendant to look up from his computer.

When he finally did, I was met with a grimace of disdain. I was used to it. In the old days it was because of my skin, now it was because of my clothes. What was wrong with them? I looked just like them, didn't I? "What do you want?" His tone was one that told me to leave and not return. I was not one to do as told by IMs.

"I am here to see Calais D'etorre."

He smirked at me, everything in his expression saying 'we'll see'. "Name?"

"Maricel Hyde."

He snorted, but picked up the phone. My keen ears could hear Cal's answer, as well as his further responses. "Mr. D'etorre, there is a girl here to see you." The way he said girl, he made it sound like I was a rat or something. "She says her name is Marisol Hyde."

"Maricel." I corrected under my breath. I was tired of IMs getting my name wrong.

The attendant's eyes widened and I knew he was a minute away from stammering and 'but... but'-ing. Cal had told him to send me up. He pulled his face together as he hung up the phone. "Mr. D'etorre said to send you up. Take the elevator to the twentieth floor, when the doors open turn right. His room number is 2045."

I smiled sweetly. "Thank you." I walked into the elevator, feeling the daggers his eyes threw at me once my back was turned. On the elevator ride up, the fear that my father's visit had instilled in me dissipated. A visit to see Cal did that to me. The doors dinged open and I turned right as instructed. As I walked my eyes raked the numbers until I saw 2045. My hand was poised to knock when the door swung open and Cal's smiling face looked out at me.

"Marcie!" The next thing I knew I was swept up in a hug that spun me around. When he set me down again I was met with the sweetest feeling I've ever felt in my many millennia spent on this planet. A kiss from an angel.

---

How did he get all the way here? Poachers didn't often brave my forest. The locals had legends about it's 'protector', some avenging forest god who smote any to harm the forest or it's creatures. They really weren't far off. I don't tolerate poachers and I rarely let them off with such a light warning. I was in a good mood though. Besides, he hadn't had a chance to do any damage.

The bird he'd targeted flew down and landed on my shoulder. I am as much a part of this forest as anything else you might find here. None of the creatures fear me. They know they are safe so long as I am near. I smiled and reached up to stroke it's crest. It chirped happily and fluttered back up into the treetops. "You're welcome."

I turned and headed deeper into the forest, farther from civilization. Looking around at my home, I felt at peace. Most IMs would find it lonely, if not creepy here, but to me it was paradise. That is, until poachers traipse through it. My mind went back to the man. I have traps set up for miles. Triggers, trip-wires, motion detectors. All to let me know when someone enters the forest. But... nothing. No traps went off. Did he avoid all of them? No, there's no way. Almost eighty percent of those traps are imperceptible by IMs. Ten percent are word of mouth from the animals. There's no way he avoided all of them. Without help, that is.

But who the hell would have helped an IM? I wracked my brain trying to figure out how he got through and came up with nothing. A little while later, I noticed a lot of the creatures heading deeper into the forest, like something was scaring them into running. What the hell. No one was this deep in the forest but Tochi and myself, and neither of us scared them like this. Without turning around, I started looking for whoever - or more likely, whatever - was scaring them. Nothing. I slowly began to turn, eyes raking the trees and ground alike.

Overhead a leaf drifted down towards the ground. Normally it would have been a common sight, but under the circumstances... I began to move my eyes up until they were where the leaf had fallen from. I could see... something. I don't know if it was a different color, a shape, movement, what. All I know is I saw something that allowed me to know that someone was there. And for them to hide that well, it could only be one person. "Lerajie. What are you doing here?"

He spoke from his hiding spot, not yet choosing to fully reveal himself. "I've brought a message."

"Yes?"

He was silent for a moment and I almost thought that he'd left. He always was indecisive. But, finally, he spoke. "The others are planning something." The sentence brought a small flicker of anxiety, but I'd removed myself from the world, and so what happened to it really did not matter to me. "They want al of us with children to call them to arms. I don't quite agree."

"With the plan or with the order?"

"Both." He now dropped from the branches and landed, cat-like, on the ground. Long black hair over brown skin the same color as my own. He had not changed since our last encounter. Looking up at me he dove back into his response. "Laurel, they want us to use our children as weapons. I refuse."

"So why are you even here then?"

"To warn you. Get your friends together, all of them. Tell the dark ones to not listen, tell the light ones what's going on. I can't deviate, but you al can. All of you, fighting together, are a formidable force."

"Do my 'friends' include the twins?"

"God, yes. You should call them first!"

"Fine... so, what is this plan of theirs?"

---

"Everything's packed up, Alex."

It had taken us less than ten minutes since Lilith's departure to pack up all our belongings. The ones that held importance, that is. "Alright, let's go." We walked to the window and threw it open. It was still late at night, so no one would see us flying. "The door's unlocked?"

"Yep, and the key's are taped to the inside of it."

"Good." I took one last look around the room that had been our home for the past year, almost two. I sighed and leapt out the window, unfurling my wings as I did so. Two thunderous down-strokes later I was high above the campus. Leah hovered up beside me, looking out at the school that had started feeling like home.

"So... where do we go now?"

I pondered it for a moment. "We haven't been to the islands in a while. What do you say? Should we visit Finn and Pho?"

3: Angels

    I cast a longing glance at the campus far below.  I was going to miss it.  I really didn't see why we had to leave again, but I trust Alex.  I knew she didn't want to leave either... but we were.  We've never been able to stay anywhere for more than a few years, rarely past five.  we can change our looks a little, to make it seem like we age physically, but we can only fudge it so far.  We'd only been here two years, though.  Why did we have to leave, just because mom made a spectacle on the other side of town?

    It wasn't like it used to be.  Back then, if mom showed up, I understood, IM's minds instantly went to the supernatural... but now they thought of more mundane explanations first.  They wouldn't figure us out... would they?  We've told people in the past, sure, but only when they needed us as we really were.  No one had really needed us in more than half a millennia.  We've just been bouncing around all this time.  Sometimes well go to school, now.  Like we'd been doing, but a lot of the time we get jobs of some sort wherever we're at and live like the IMs.  I like it.  Until we have to leave, that is.

    I really hate that we can't stay anywhere for very long.  It sucks.  Just when I really feel like I have friends, we have to leave.  Usually it's when people start asking why we still look so young, or why we keep to ourselves.  A few times it's been about money, but those have been rare.  And then there's the times we have to run.  When mom comes, when we're found out... when we screw up.  When I screw up.

    Alex must have noticed my expression, because she looked over to me just then.  "I know."  She looked forwards again and shook her head.  "Why does she always have to show up when we feel at home?  I don't even know why she still tries, we've always said no, why would our answer change?"

    I didn't say anything.  I mean, I like mom... sort of.  She's my mom, I have to love her, right?  But... she doesn't like me.  Alex is her favorite and I know why.  They're more alike than Alex cares to realize.  I've only seen Alex mad, really and truly mad, a few times in our very long shared life and it's about as scary as seeing mom mad.  It takes a lot to get Alex mad though.

    I stared at her from my spot a little behind her.  I could almost see the anger rolling off her.  That's the one good thing about mom coming in person, when Alex is mad at mom, her anger stays inside.  I sighed so quietly that Alex wouldn't even have heard it.  Why were our lives so complicated?

---

    "What are you doing here?"  When my phone had rang this morning and the doorman said there was a girl downstairs, I had no clue who would be here to see me so early in the morning.  The sun had only just come up, so I was barely awake.  Then he said her name, and then her voice wafted through the phone.  As soon as I heard her voice a smile lit my face and still hadn't disappeared.  As soon as I hung up the phone I stood at my door waiting.  I heard the elevator doors open and heard her walking down the hall towards my door.  When I knew she was outside, I couldn't wait any more.  I threw open the door, calling her name and grabbing her in a hug.  I even kissed her.

    I mean, come on, I haven't seen my girlfriend in over a decade.  I think I'm entitled to an over-enthusiastic welcome.  When we finally came up for air I'd asked her what she was doing here.  "Not that I'm not happy to see you."

    She giggled - how I loved that laugh - and said, "Well I can see that.  I missed my boyfriend, is that a crime?"

    "Not when I missed you just as much."  I bent in to kiss her again.  Her smile made her even more beautiful.  We went into my room, which was actually multiple rooms.  My suite had a living room/kitchen mix, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and balcony access.  It wasn't the penthouse, but it was very roomy.  When she wasn't paying attention, I noticed that her smile didn't quite fill her eyes.  "Hey."

    "Hm?"  She glanced over at me, a small smile still on her face.

    "What's the matter?  There's something on your mind."  The smile faded completely from her eyes then.  Oh I wished I could take those words back.  Anything to keep her smiling.

    "Oh...  It's nothing.  Just something I saw on my way here, it's no big deal."  She smiled again, this time it reached her eyes.

    She's hiding something.  For her to be hiding something from me meant that it was a big deal.  Her dad?  No, he hadn't been topside in thousands of years.  But, no one else scared her like that.  Marcie wasn't the type of girl to fight, she was the type to run and hide - preferably in the dark.  She rarely came to see me just because she missed me.  She was usually scared.

    I don't mind.  She's my Marcie, and I don't care why she comes so long as she's here.  I smiled at her, hiding my own doubts and fears.  Sometimes, you just have to be strong for two, instead of one.

---

    Marcie was fast asleep upstairs.  I shook my head.  Having a nocturnal girlfriend is weird.  I was heading downtown, in a private car, of course.  Sometimes I feel a little guilty for spending money, but I give enough away that I'm not nearly as rich as I would be.  I spend enough time working for free that the money I've saved up over centuries comes in handy.  So what if I have a weakness for nice things?  I'm an angel's kid, not God himself.  And it's not like I saw my dad that often anyway.  Ha!  Once every two thousand years is me being lucky!  Come to think of it, I hadn't seen mom in a while either.  More often than I'd seen Marcie, but not often.

    I shook my head.  I'd have to worry about that later, right now my car was pulling up in front of the building.  Getting out of the car, part of me wanted to laugh, and part of me was awestruck.  Nim really did have a flair for the ostentatious.  The building soared over a hundred stories into the skyline of New York.  Each and every side was covered in windows in a way that it was always catching the light, no matter the time of day.  And at night?  Oh, his building could put the Times Square Christmas Tree to shame - and has, come to think of it.  It didn't matter that I'd seen it hundreds of times before, seeing it always got me.  Under my breath, I said, "Nim you really are a genius."  Shaking my head again I strolled into the building heading straight to the receptionist's desk.

    She looked up as I got close and met me with a genuine smile.  "Hello, Mr. D'etorre!"

    "Hi, Valerie.  What have I told you?  Call me Cal."  She smiled at me in a patronizing way.  She wouldn't be calling me anything but 'Mr. D'etorre' for a while.

    "I'll just see where Mr. Epps is at the moment.  Go ahead and sit if you'd like, this might take a bit."  I chuckled, but decided to stay standing at the desk.  After dialing number after number, asking if anyone knew where he was, she finally got solid information from the head of tech production.  Letting out a relieved breath, she smiled up at me.  "It seems Mr. Epps has taken a detour to the roof."

    "Thanks!"  I slapped the palm of my hand on the desk and strode towards the elevator.

    I heard one of the new girls ask Valerie who I was.  Her jaw dropped as Valerie told her I was the best friend of her boss.  I chuckled as The doors closed between myself and the lobby.

---

    An IM might be worried about being electrocuted, weighed down by metal and electronics as I was.  But the coming storm only made me feel at peace.  The only thing making me even a bit unhappy was that the rain would mess up my hair.  Oh well.  At the moment it was only sprinkling, the rain not yet in full.  In the distance, lightning cracked across the sky and thunder rumbled overhead.  I still had my ear-buds in, my music almost background noise, even though it was about fifty decibels above what was deemed safe for IMs.  I heard the door to the roof open behind me, but, thinking it was only one of my employees coming to find me I didn't bother to turn around.

    "Looks like there's a storm coming."  The familiar voice came from behind me.

    I turned around now.  "Cal?"  Sure enough, there was my best friend.  Clad in a white dress shirt and khaki trousers, and his glasses perched perfectly on his nose.  We looked like we lived on opposite sides of town, no one would ever think we even knew each other, let alone that we were best friends.  "Dude what're you doin' here?"  I met him in a handshake/hug.

    "I can't visit my best friend at his building?"

    "Well, yeah, but you don't normally come out when it's gonna storm."

    The look on his face turned serious.  "Actually, We need to talk.  I think we've got a problem."  Just then the rain started coming down.  It didn't bother me at all, in fact it felt good.  Cal looked like a wet dog in seconds, though.  "Can we go inside?"

    "Yeah, sure."  Things must be serious if he was asking me inside on a day like today.  We walked to the door and he stepped inside, while I stayed just outside the door.  Leaving it open so we could talk, Cal sat down on the top step, taking his glasses off and trying to shake the water off of them.  "What's up?"

    "Marcie showed up this morning."  He put his glasses back on a squinted through them.  They weren't dry by any means.

    I shrugged.  "So?  Your girlfriend showed up, what's wrong with that?"

    "You know Marcie.  She comes running when she's scared."

    "Well, what scaring her then?"

    "That just it.  She won't tell me.  That means it's something big."

    I was starting to catch his drift.  "You don't think...?"

    "Her dad?"  I nodded.  "I think so."

    "But he hasn't been topside in - "

    "A few thousand years, I know.  That's what I thought too."  He shook his head.  "But the more I think about it...  He's the only one who could have scared her that much."

    "If he's topside..."

    "Then shit's about to hit the fan."

    That was a major understatement.

---

    "Sam!  Sam!"  The voice belonged to one of the local kids.  I'd learned their language the day I came, and had been trying to teach them English for the past few weeks.  The kids had taken a liking to me, and many had begun to follow me around.

    I smiled at the boy who'd called to me.  "What is it?"  I asked in his language, as most of them were still rusty with English.

    "A plane!  There's a plane outside!  The man who came out of it is asking for you."

    I scrunched my eyebrows together.  Who would be here looking for me... in a plane?  "Show me."  The boy took my hand and lead me out of my tent and across the village towards a bi-plane with a very familiar silhouette standing next to it.  What's he doing here?  I looked down at the boy again.  "Thank you."  He smiled and waved at me as he ran off.  I walked towards the man.

    As I got close he looked up, half smiling.  "Long time, no see."  He spoke in English, not knowing the local language.

    "You can say that again.  How long's it been?"  I replied also in English.  After a few centuries and a few thousand languages, you learn to flip flop between them quite easily.

    "About fifty years, give or take."

    "What're you doing here?  You all know that I work solo."

    "We've got a problem.  An us kind of a problem."

    "Alright..."  I glanced at the plane behind him.  "What's with the death-trap?"

    He sighed in a very exasperated manner.  "Come-on, Sam!  They are not that bad, and you know it!"

    "Nim, I don't care how much you trust these things, I don't!"

    "Well, you're gonna have to today."

    I actually laughed at that.  "Who are you kidding?  I would not ride in that thing if my life depended on it!"  My philosophy has always been; if it's urgent, I'll fly, if not, I'll walk.

    "It's the middle of the day, broad daylight.  You can't fly now, and we need to go.  Get.  In."

    "I'll wait 'til dark then."

    Nim looked me dead in the eye.  "We can't wait, Sam.  We need to round up everybody and find the twins, a.s.a.p."

    I was suspicious now.  "Why?"

    His response was three words and three words only.  Words that sent chills down my spine.  "Mephistopheles is topside."

    After a moment in which all my darkest nightmares threatened to bubble to the surface I managed to compose myself.  "Give me five minutes."  I turned and ran off to gather my things.  I found the village elder on my way back and told him that I had to leave with the stranger.

    "When will you return?"

    "Soon."  I ran off without another word.

    As I came close to Nim, he said, "You made it in four."

    I didn't reply as I was finding the nerve to step into the plane.  Something I'd never before done.  Half an hour later we were in the air.  My hands were clenched so tight around the edges of the cockpit that I'm sure I left dents.  "Where are we going?"  I had to yell to be heard over the engine.

    "New York!"

---

    Today is a wonderful day.  I'd spent the day shopping, being pampered, and generally having the same day I'd had for the past hundred or so years.  Once I got home, I'd gone out to the balcony, and I was relishing the feel on the wind in my wings.  I live a charmed life.  Being the child of an angel definitely has it's perks.  I have money to burn, I have little to no cares in the world, and other creatures bow to me and my lineage.  I have it made.  At the moment I was basking in the sheer joy of being me when my peace was shattered by a knock on my door.

    Sighing angrily, I tucked my wings in.  "What?"

    One of my servants poked their head out of the door.  "Mistress, there is someone here to see you."

    "Tell them to go away!"

    "I have tried, Mistress, they refuse.  They say that the matter is urgent."

    I sighed again.  "Fine, tell them I'll be out shortly."

    "Yes, Mistress."

    Who the hell would be here to see me!  I don't like social interaction outside of shopping.  So what is people have called me a heartless bitch?  I prefer the phrase noble born and raised well.  I stalked into my foyer fuming at the insolence.  Who would dare drop in on me unannounced - and at such a time!  When I saw the figure in my foyer, I stopped dead in my tracks.  I didn't bother to hide the disgust in my voice as I addressed the intruder.  "What are you doing in my house?"

    He looked up at me from his position just inside my front doors.  "It's not like I want to be here, Isobel."

    "Then why are you?"  It gave me immense pleasure that he had to crane his neck to see me, perched as I was at the top of the steps.

    "I'm here because we've got problems.  You're just the closest."

    "I'm flattered that you thought to include me in your plans."

    "No you're not."

    I smiled at him as I began to descend the stairs.  "You're right, I'm not."  My smile vanished as I reached the bottom most step, where I lingered, reluctant to stand at the same level as a filthy barbarian such as him.  "Now get the hell out of my house."

    "Sorry, can't do that.  Look, all I need you to do, is contact the twins, so I can go tell them what's going on."

    I sighed.  "I hate to admit it, but... I can't.  I don't know where they are."

    He laughed at me then.  How dare he laugh at me, in my own house!  "Ahh, so even the great Angel of the Winds can't find them."

    I snarled at him.  "I can still do better than the Demon of the Woods can't I?  Or else why would you have come to me for help?"

    He smirked, having gotten on my nerves as he'd hoped.  "Like I said, you were the closest.  I'd rather leave you out of it entirely, but we'll need all of us for this one."

    "And what might 'this one' be?"

    "It's the big one."

---

    We'd been flying for hours.  My shoulders were sore from the sheer speed we flew at for the first hour or so, and then maintaining this particular clip for the last few.  I was tired, I was hungry, and I was irritated.  "Alex, are we there yet?"

    She sighed up ahead of me.  "No.  We should be there in ten minutes or so."

    "What if they're not home?"

    "There should be someone there to let us in."

    "The Menehune?"

    "Or the Patupairehe.  Either way, we should be able to crash once we get there."

    We flew onwards for a few moments before I brought up a subject we'd almost worn down.  "Why do we always have to run when Mom shows up?"

    My sister sighed.  "Because...  Mom brings trouble.  And I'd rather not repeat past events."  This conversation was over with those simple words.  After a few moments, she glanced back at me.  "Sorry."

    I didn't respond.

4: Foes

   Shit.  Why'd I have to open my big mouth?  Or, rather, why couldn't I keep some words in.  Years of rebelling against Lilith has made it nearly impossible for me to still my tongue.  "Sorry."  I didn't mean to bring that up, Leah already beats herself up about it enough as it is.  I can't ever let her live it down, can I?  Cursing myself, I swore for the millionth time that I wouldn't mention any of those events again.  I knew it was an empty promise.  I wouldn't be keeping it.

    I hope she forgets once we get there.  Not the events, no she'll never forget them.  Neither will I.  No, I just hope she forgets that I brought it up.  Man, me and my big mouth.

---

    I had no idea where I was.  All I know is that it was somewhere in the dark.  Normally, I'd feel right at home - after all, I am darkness, but...  For some reason... I was scared.  I never get scared simply because it's dark.  There was something here.  Or someone.  Then, a laugh that seemed to come from all around me, from the shadows themselves.  My heart sped up, my breath coming in ragged gasps - when it came at all.  Fear is an all too common sensation for me.

    "Maricel..."  I whipped my head around, trying to pinpoint where the voice came from.  I wanted to call out, feign bravery, but I was too scared even for that.  An area of the darkness lightened, and I noticed a figure.  I became even more scared until I saw that it was Cal.

    "Cal!"  I raced towards his smiling face and open arms.  As I neared him the laugh came again and Cal fell to the ground.  I stopped dead in my tracks.  "What..."  Behind where he'd been standing were all of my friends; Alex, Pho, Nim, Leah, Laurel, Finn, Sam, even Belle.  One by one, they all dropped like flies.  The laugh again, making the darkness foreboding instead of the usual comfort I gain from it.  "What... What's going on?"  My friends' fallen bodies lay slumped on the ground, lifeless.  "What happened to them?"  The laughter became all the more menacing.  It did not secede, but rather grew stronger, 'til it seemed to come from the very air, then from inside my skull.  "Stop it!"  I clapped my hands over my ears, but I could still hear the laugh.  "What did you do to them!"

    The laughter trailed off.  "I did nothing.  You did."  A mirror appeared, out of nowhere, and the laugh started again.  My hands still pressed over my ears I glanced at the mirror.  The figure staring back was not me.  It looked like me, yes, but that's where the similarities ended.  This creature had an evil grin on her face, and her eyes burned with a black fire... like hell itself.  The cold look on her face was what scared me the most though.  The laugh still resonated in the air, but the girl in the mirror opened her mouth to speak.  Though the laughter was incredibly loud, I heard her as if she was beside me.

    "That was a lot of fun.  They get on my nerves, you know."  She smiled at me and my spine froze.  "Why don't you just give up and turn into the real you.  Namely - me.  You know it's coming."

    "Stop it!"  I screamed at it, the thing in the mirror.  That's not me.  That's not me.  That's not me.  I repeated the sentence in my mind over and over, but it did nothing to drown out the laughter and her voice.

    She tsk-ed at me from the mirror, but I looked away.  "Why do you insist on deluding yourself?  You know it'll happen eventually.  One day, you're gonna look just... like... this."  On her last word a hand seized my chin and I was forced to stare into the face of the girl, now out of the mirror and inches from my eyes.  Her laugh bubbled out and mingled with the other.

    I felt like my head was gonna explode.  I was scared, hyperventilating and with my heart beating a mile a minute.  I didn't know what to do.  The laughter was screaming in my ears.  Even though my eyes were closed, I could still see my friends' lifeless bodies.  Curling into a ball, my hands still over my ears and my eyes squeezed shut, I did the one thing I could think to do.  I screamed.

---

    I woke screaming.  Sitting bolt upright in the bed in Cal's spare room with sunlight peeking through the miniscule gap in the curtains.  My cheeks were caked with dried tears and I realized I must have been crying while I slept.  I ran a shaking hand over my face, my breathing so weak you'd think I wasn't breathing at all.  The door flew open just then and Cal rushed in.

    "Marcie!  What's wrong, are you okay?"  He looked so worried for me that I couldn't help but smile.

    "I'm fine."  My voice was a little hoarse.

    "No you're not.  You just screamed a second ago and ever since you got here this morning you've been scared.  You know you can tell me anything...  What's the matter?"  He walked over and sat down next to me on the bed, putting his arm protectively around my shoulder.

    I snuggled in closer to him.  How was I gonna tell him about my Dad coming up?  He'd ordered me not to tell anyone about it.  That included Cal.  I don't want to and I don't like it, but when he gives an order, I have to follow it... especially when he uses my name.  I have no choice in the matter.  I couldn't tell Cal even if I wasn't too scared to.  "I had a nightmare."

    "What happened?"  God, I love him.  Why is it so hard?  Why can't we just live a semi-normal life, be happy, and not have our parents butting in, getting in the way?  "What made you scream?"

    I snuggled in closer and shook my head, but told him anyway.  "My dad's voice was coming from everywhere and he hurt you guys.  Then there was an evil me, she said that I was gonna be her eventually..."  Tears started streaming down my face again.

    Cal pulled me in close to him.  He wrapped his arms around me in a way that made it seem like me could protect me from the outside world.  "It's okay, it was just a nightmare.  I'm here, and I'm fine.  And you're still the Marcie I know and love."  Eventually, my tears stopped.  Cal and I stayed that way for a while, sitting there with me wrapped in his arms.  We only stopped when there was a knock on his front door.  He looked at me apologetically.  "Come on, no more hiding.  Okay?"  He spoke as If I were a little kid who needed comforting.  Maybe I was.  We walked into his living room and I sat down on his couch while he went to answer the door.

    "Who is it?"  My voice was almost lifeless.  My gaze was caught on the view outside his windows.  It was on the night edge of sunset, the event itself about to finish up.  Along the horizon, the sky blazed with the most beautiful spectrum of light.  My focus was drawn upwards, to where the sky was already an almost inky blue, save for the stars dotting the vastness.  It felt like home.  This darkness, the kind that comes with night, that is what is familiar and safe.  Not the cold and lonely darkness of my nightmare.

---

    "What did that bastard want this time?"  My mom had already gone into a rant about him.  Every time I bring my dad up in a conversation with her she goes of on a rant about how much she hates him.  You know, I don't get it, if she hates him so much, then why did she ever sleep with him.  "Ooh, he really burns me up!"  Mom turned back into a flame then - well, bonfire would be a better word.  My mom and I both have volcanic tempers, another thing we have in common.

    "Mom, cool down.  It was just his usual spiel about how he wants me and Finn to join him.  No big deal."  I shrugged.

    "It is a big deal Phoena!"  Her head snapped towards me.  The flames reformed into my mom's human form once again.  "You think you know your father, but you don't.  He's dangerous."

    "So am I!"  My own temper flared up then, and the surrounding flames grew infinitely bigger.  I managed to calm myself enough that the fires weren't out of control any more.  "All demons are, hell all immortals are!  Make any of 'em mad and they're all dangerous."

    "Yes, we are.  But Pharzuph is in a completely different league.  The top tiers of both heaven and hell are the most powerful beings alive.  Your father, as well as the parents of most of your friends, are more powerful than even you and your brother combined."

    "Most?  So who isn't?"

    My mom sighed.  "Don't tell them I've been gossiping behind their backs, but Chiaro, nice as she may be, can't fight for anything.  Alma is too much of a pacifist, as are Samandiriel and Cupra.  Lerajie is too indecisive for his own good, that's what landed him in hell in the first place.  Tenebrae... well, she was once an incredible fighter, but that was a long time ago."  My mom looked sad for a moment.  She used to be friends with Tenebrae, but... times change.  "And we both know that Arroyo is too much like a child to be any help in a fight."

    "She's not that bad mom."  My mom and Arroyo have an... interesting relationship.  They're polar opposites, but they have to be civil towards each other.  I've seen them share moments of laughter before, but fire and water usually don't mix.  Because of my soft spot for Finn, I take personal offense when his mom is bad-mouthed, even when it's my mom doing the mouthing.

    "I know, I know, sorry.  But, you have to admit, I'm right."

    "Mom, you all have your flaws."

    "I don't."

    I raised one eyebrow.  "Gossip.  Temper.  Pride."  I ticked them off on my fingers as I listed my mom's imperfections.  All of which she'd displayed in the past ten minutes.

    "Hey, I'm your mother, watch your mouth."

    "I wouldn't be your daughter if I did."

---

    "You don't seriously mean that the demons are gathering."  He didn't say anything.  A small trickle of fear began to fester in my stomach.  I refuse to acknowledge that any of those underlings scare me, but the truth is... they're my only fear.  That's just one of the numerous reasons that I detest 'Laurel Archer'.  That, and he's my polar opposite.  In our case, opposites most definitely do not attract.  "And on who's authority do you have this knowledge?"

    He shrugged nonchalantly.  "Lerajie came and told me." I scrunched my nose in disgust, I couldn't help it.  I've never quite mastered the physical appearance of my emotions.  "Look, the way he was acting, I don't doubt it.  And he's the best contact we have down there."

    "Fine, what's our next step."  My next step was to get him out of my house.  He was tracking mud and dirt onto my immaculate floor.  I snapped my fingers and one of my servants appeared.

    "Yes, Mistress?"

    "Clean up this... mess."  I gestured towards the grime now covering my previously sparkling floor.

    "Right away, Mistress."  The girl curtseyed and set about cleaning the offending space.

    Laurel was staring as me with an odd expression on is face.  "What?"

    He rolled his eyes - I'm sure specifically to irritate me - and sighed.  "You haven't changed at all from the last time I saw you."

    I smiled.  "I'll take that as a compliment."

    Under his breath, he said, "It wasn't."

    "What was that?"  I'd heard him perfectly, but I just wanted him to pluck up the nerve to say it to my face.

    He shook his head and sighed again.  "Nothing.  Let's just get to work tracking down the others.  I know that Nim's in New York, and Cal's bound to be near him.  Pho and Finn should still be in Hawaii.  It's Maricel, Sam and the twins that we need to find."

    I scrunched my nose again.  "Do we really need Maricel?  All she'd do is stand there, shaking in her boots - literally!"

    "Yes, we do.  We need all of us, as I've already said."  His teeth were gritted, which made my quite happy.  I was getting to him.

    "Fine, Nimbus shouldn't be too hard to get a hold of.  I mean, his company practically is the lights of New York.  Cal should have some idea where Maricel is.  You know, I don't know what he sees in her, I mean - "

    "Focus."

    "Oh, fine.  Where was I?  Oh yes, He should know where she is, or at least have a clue.  Samara should be in some third world country, lately I think it's been Africa.  But... like I said, I have no inkling as to where the twins are."

    He ran a hand over his face.  "Shit.  Can't you find out?"

    "I can, but it'll take time.  Unless they've made contact with any of the others in the past decade, then it'll take a while."

    "Fine let's get to work, I'll call Nim and them, and then I'll try to get a hold of Finn and Pho, you start looking for Sam and the twins.  Deal?"

    "Fine."  Sure, give me all the hard work.

    "Fine... Where's your phone?"

---

    Finally.  The island was in sight.  We flew as close to the shore as we dared before landing in a secluded spot.  "Why aren't we just flying to their house?"

    "If we just land there, the Patupairehe and the Menehune might make a fuss, and I'd rather avoid that.  We're gonna find a cab that'll take us there."

    "Okay."  We started walking along the beach until we came to a road.  From there it was only a few minutes until we got into town.  "My shoulders are sore, and now my feet hurt.  Can we please just hurry up and find a cab?"

    "Hold on, we gotta get closer to down-town or there'll be no cab."  Leah sighed.  When we got to down-town, we immediately started searching for a cab.  While I was looking a sign caught my eye.  'Angels are among us'.  I snorted.

    "What?"  I pointed at the sign.  "Can we go listen?  It says it starts in half an hour."

    "I thought you were tired."

    "I am, but you know I like listening to these guys talk about us.  You do to, you just like laughing when they get stuff wrong."

    "Yeah, you're right about that."  I stared at the sign for a few moments.  "Alright, lets go."  Leah squealed happily, which made me smile.  At least she forgot.  She was right, I did love listening to these speakers.  It was downright laughable the way they jumped to conclusions and made stuff up.  Though those doomsday sign holders I love talking to, they actually have some inkling of what's really going on, unlike the rest of the IMs on the planet.  Though spending so much time with the IMs makes me forget what being around immortals is really like.

    We got to the ticket counter and I forked over the money.  We walked into the assembly hall and took our seats.  There weren't that many people in the audience.  Go figure.  "So what do you think they're gonna say?"

    "I don't know, probably the same old spiel about how they've found evidence that some angel or another really came here and blah, blah, blah.  You know, the stuff that ends up being total nonsense."

    Leah shrugged.  "Probably, but they might have some real stuff, too.  So you think the speaker's gonna be a guy or a girl?"

    "No idea.  Nowadays it's a toss up."

    "Ain't that the truth."

5: Friends

   Being back in the water was totally ace.  Pho was right, I was feeling dry.  There's nothing like diving under the waves and staying there for hours on end.  I'd already been swimming for a good ten minutes and Mom's place was still a ways to go.  I could have slipped into a current, but where was the fun in that?  No, I'd rather swim there and enjoy the trip.  More time to cool off from him.

    I hate when my dad shows up.  He should know by now that neither of us want him around!  And to have the nerve to try and order us around like that!  I was still pissed, regardless of what I'd told my sister.  I have no clue as to how she still thinks he's an okay guy.  I mean, come on, whenever he's near her she gets a crippling headache.  I guess I've got to admit that that's one big reason why I hate him showing up.  I hate seeing my sister weak like that.  Pho's a strong person.  She's had my back over the years and I've done likewise for her, but she's managed to get us out of scrapes more often than I'd care to count...  Of course, she's the one who got us into most of those scrapes, but still.

    I don't like seeing the one person who's always been strong, no matter what, be crippled like that.  Those headaches of hers are going to be a huge hindrance if we ever have to fight him... which might be soon.  I hadn't told her this, but dad's visit hadn't been only his usual spiel.  He'd said that the Fallen - what he insists on calling himself and the others - the Fallen were making a stand.  That things had been set into motion.

    "I expect you and Pho to stand at my side in the coming battle.  It's only right that you follow your duty as my children and follow my orders."  I couldn't believe he had the nerve to say that to my face!  Had Pho been in the room, he wouldn't have been so much of an ass-hole, but he always was to me.  Of course I'd told him no.  There's no way we'd follow any orders of his.  We may be demons but we're not evil.  He is.  I always feel totally hammered after he leaves.  Going to see my mom is the best way to get over one of his "visits".  This one might have been different though.  He'd acted different this time, more... confident that we'd cave.  That worries me.  I shook my head.  It's no use getting myself worked up, I just need to forget it and go with the flow.

    "Hi, Finn."  The sing-song voice came from behind me, immediately followed by a giggle.  I turned my head to find a trio of mermaids - teens by the looks of them - following in my wake.

    "Hey, girls."  I flashed them my smile and all three of them immediately giggled.  Mentally I rolled my eyes.  The mermaids, especially the teens, fawned over me any time I dropped by.  I swear between them and the teen Patupairehe, I never get a moment's peace.  But hey, at least I humor them.  "What's up?"

    The brunette in the middle spoke to me, it wasn't hard to guess that she was the leader of the trio.  "Oh, nothing.  We just saw you coming and thought we'd accompany you to your mother's."

    "If that's alright with you of course."  The blonde to her right interrupted.  I had a feeling that she was the sidekick.

    I shrugged.  "It's fine with me."

    They squealed at my response.  Again, I mentally rolled my eyes.  Good news was, I was almost to Arroyo's, then they'd have to leave me alone.  The last of the trio was staring at me.  She was a little familiar, so I knew I'd met her before.  She was more fish-like than her friends, with her scales covering most of her body and no hair whatsoever.  Her bright green eyes were trained on my arms as I swam onwards.  She noticed that I'd noticed her staring and averted her gaze, rather than voice the question on her mind.  I knew what it would have been.

    People have been asking me the same thing for as long as I can remember.  It didn't matter if they were IMs or not.  Everyone wants to know how you got your scars.  The bigger they are, the more people want to know.  Mine were plenty big, covering the outer edge of both my forearms and a little onto my right hand.  Most people aren't stupid enough to ask in public, but those that do, when Pho's around, well... Lets just say that they're out cold for a while.  It's not even because she's protective of me, it's because she doesn't like remembering how they happened.  I've told people before, so I really don't care.  If Pho's around... yeah, just don't.

    If the fish-girl had plucked up the courage to ask, I might have told her.  Since she shied away, she get's left in the dark.  I have no problem with sharing information, but only if you outright ask me for it.  I'm not going to go blabbing my personal business to the world.  I'm not stupid.

    The other two girls were blabbing away about stupid stuff they thought I cared about.  Superficial complements about me that I was almost insulted by.  You know, general ditz talk.  I almost wished that the fish girl would ask about my scars just to shut the other two up.  Finally Arroyo's house came into sight and I breathed a sigh of relief.  Figuratively of course.

    Nestled within the coral reefs crisscrossing the span between the islands of Molokai, Lanai and Maui was my mother's home.  In fact, the reefs we're her home.  The insides of most of them were somewhat hollow, just thick enough that the IMs wouldn't realize that they weren't.  The entrance was well hidden, no IM would ever find it in a million years, trust me.  I've brought buddies here to go diving, gone so far as to bring them right up to the place, not one of them found it.  It makes me loose a little faith in the human race.

    I swam down to the entrance with the girls in tow.  I turned to face them waving as I did.  "Well, this is where we part.  Goodbye ladies."  I flashed them my smile.  The lead brunette looked like she was trying her hardest not to pout as she said goodbye.  Her blonde friend couldn't even make herself say anything, she just desolately looked away.  Inside I was urging them to just leave.  The two with hair began swimming away, while the other one lingered.  "Something on your mind?"  She was staring at my arms again.  She opened her mouth to say something before psyching herself out and flashing an apologetic smile.  "Hey, what's your name anyway?  I've seen you before, haven't I?"

    She nodded.  "A few years ago."  Her voice was soft and melodic, like you'd think a mermaid's would be.  Her friends had sounded like teenage humans.  "You came to visit Arroyo.  I'd stopped by with my older sister.  I was only a guppy at the time."  I remembered the visit vaguely.  Her sister had been fishlike like her, scales bright green and eyes a violet color.  She'd had a sail erupting from her back that she had pierced, and I remembered commenting on it.  If I recalled correctly, the girl had been hovering behind her older sister like a lost puppy.

    I nodded.  "I remember.  Green scales?"  She nodded in confirmation.  Her eyes slid back to my scars.  Just ask already if you're gonna!  "What?"  Like I don't already know.

    She opened and closed her mouth again.  She shook her head.  "Nothing."  She turned to leave, swimming after her friends.

    After she was out of earshot, I said, under my breath, "Suit yourself."  I turned and dove through the entrance and found myself in my mom's antechamber.  "Mom?"  The current rushed past me and a woman came gliding around the bend.  Small and skinny with eyes taking up most of her face, she looked a little like an alien.

    "Finn!  There's my boy!"  She swam up to me and hugged me.  Were we standing on solid ground, she'd have come up to my chest, she was so small.  As it was, buoyed by the water, she was able to come up to my eye level.  She kissed my cheek before releasing me.  "How've you been doing?"

    "I've been fine."  She turned and started drifting down the hall, I followed, riding the current now.

    She glanced over at me.  "You're lying."  When I didn't respond she took that as a que to continue speaking.  "Your father dropped by didn't he?"

    I grimaced, reminded of him.  "Eugh, I hate when he drops by."

    She smiled reassuringly at me, reaching her arm around my shoulders as she did.  "I know.  Did he just ask the usual?"

    "Yeah, sort of."  She raised her eyebrows questionably.  "He was more confident this time, and he said that they were starting things."

    Her eyebrows scrunched together in concern.  "That's not good news."  She stared off in the distance, in her own little world for a moment.  "You said no?"

    "Of course!"

    She nodded again.  "Good.  What did Pho think?"

    I looked away, wincing.  "I hadn't told her that part yet.  I just told her that he said the usual."

    She looked at me in a patronizing way.  "Finn."  I don't mind when my mom does this, she's actually been there enough to have earned the right.  "You need to tell your sister.  If only so she knows all the details."  My mom glanced towards the main island.  "Vuur is going to be pissed at me when she finds out I knew before her."

    "Don't worry about Vuur.  Pho can handle her mom."  I hate our moms' rivalry.  It's stupid.  If Pho and I can get along fine, then they should be able to as well.

    She smiled at me again.  "I know."  She leaned over and kissed my forehead.  My mom was the real mushy, lovey type.  I don't mind... when we're in private that is.  Whenever she ventures out with me it's embarrassing as all get out!

    "So how have you been doing since my last visit?"  Changing the subject from my dad was fairly easy with my mom, she didn't like talking about him either.

    "You mean a month ago?  Well, I pranced around on Maui for a little while, bought a few new bathing suits."  Bathing suits were almost exclusively what my mom wore.  Living in the water like she did, it's not unexpected.  Some I prefer not to see her in though... I mean, come on, she's my mom.  "I met a few tourists that were eager to take surfing lessons."  My mom, when she was on land, masqueraded as a surf shop owner, complete with lessons.  It's how she payed for her thousands of bathing suits.  "And some of the Mermaids and Nereids dropped by."

    "I saw three on my way here.  Mermaids."

    "Oh?  Did any of them interest you?"

    I rolled my eyes.  "Mom, you don't need to play matchmaker for me.  And no, none of them did.  The two leads were just as superficial as most of the teen tourists we get tromping around, and the other one was too shy and soft spoken."  I was a little biased.  Hanging out with Pho all the time made quiet girls look boring.

    My mom shrugged.  "Well, what're you going to do?"

    "So what happened with the tourists?"

---

    After flying towards the sunset for a while, the lights of New York started showing up.  I quickly landed us at the strip and hopped out.  After we landed Sam just sat there for a minute staring straight ahead.  "We're on the ground now."  She blinked, like she was just waking up, and looked around before prying her hands off the sides of the cockpit.  Damn, the girl left dents!  She haltingly climbed out, unsteady on her feet.  She glanced around at the city for a minute in silence before abruptly dropping to the ground.  She had her ear to the pavement and her eyes closed, looking like she was trying to hug the damn thing.  I rolled my eyes.  "Why is flying in a plane so much different than flying with your wings?"

    Without moving and with her eyes still closed she responded in an irritated tone.  "I have control with my wings, I was meant to fly, as are all things born with wings.  Man was not meant to fly, so they have no wings.  Their creations only give me unease."

    "Technically, I gave them the designs for the first planes, so."

    She looked up at me without moving.  "You also told Ben to fly his kite in the middle of a storm, setting a bad example as always."

    I smiled smugly.  That was one of my favorite memories, the day Ben came out into the rain with me.  We had a blast!  Literally.  "And look how much the IMs appreciate it."  She rolled her eyes at me and finally stood up, having reconnected with the ground long enough.  "Would you like to fly from here, or are you good with riding in a car?"

    "Haven't you tortured me enough with the plane?  I'm not getting in a car, thank you very much."  She berated me with her hands on her hips and her eyebrow cocked.  This is one of the reasons I like her.  Arguing with spirit is electrifying.

    I shrugged.  "Have it your way."  I glanced around, making sure the strip was empty for the moment before throwing out my wings.  Sam did likewise.  I've always loved her wings, the way light catches them, man.  For a girl that stubborn and so plain in looks to have wings that beautiful...  Oh great, now I sound like a sap.  "You're gonna have to hover over me, or your wings will draw too much attention."

    "They will not, it's sunset, they'll blend right in."  Without another word she took off, rocketing into the sky.

    I launched after her, climbing with every down-stroke.  I came alongside her matching her speed and smiling at her.  "You have no clue where you're going, do you?"

    "No."

    "Then why are you in the lead?"

    "Because you're too slow."

    I laughed and shook my head.  "Follow me."  I darted forward, towards Cal's block.  About two minutes later we landed nearby in an alley.  We strode out onto the sidewalk, me in the lead.  Though she wouldn't admit it, I knew she was as amazed by the lights lining the street as any tourist.  I caught her gazing around in awe when she thought I wasn't looking.  "A bit different from mud huts isn't it?"

    She sneered at me.  "There's noting wrong with mud huts, I seem to recall you living in them too a few eons ago."

    I raised my hands defensively.  "Alright, alright.  I concede!"  She laughed along with me as we came up to Cal's building.  We went past the front desk with a passing wave.  I was a regular enough visitor that we weren't questioned.  However, due to Sam's complete inability to trust anything relying on electricity, we had to take the stairs.  I groaned in protest, but she started up anyway.  "But Cal lives on the 20th floor!"

    "I don't care.  You got me in a plane, which is something I thought I'd never do.  You're not getting me in an elevator in the same day."  I sighed.

    "Why are you always so difficult?"

    "I prefer to rely on my own power than become a lazy slob like most IMs who rely on electricity."

    I shook my head again.  "You realize that statement is highly offensive to me."

    "Like I said, I don't care."  I rolled my eyes at her again, but smiled.

    "I'm not in as good shape as you are, slow down!"  I was out of breath already, and we were only on the eighth floor.  Maybe she had a point about relying on electronics.

---

    "Suck it up, buttercup!"  I picked up the speed, sprinting up the stairs now.  Nim was puffing away behind me, barely keeping up.  It's not very ladylike, but I was enjoying this!  I laughed at him.  "What's the matter?  I thought the great Mr. Epps can do anything?"  I called back over my shoulder at him while I was still running up the stairs.  I was a bit out of breath too, but that was only because I'd been used to two story houses at the most.  Not nearly as bad as Nim though.

    "I... can."  He panted out his words.  "But... I don't... go to... the... gym!"  He stopped on the landing for the 17th floor.  "Okay, okay.  Wait up a second!"  He doubled over, resting his hands on his knees, panting for breath.

    I lightly hopped back down the steps I'd already covered to stand on the landing with him.  "Man, you really need to start exercising."  I crossed my arms at him, shaking my head in minor disappointment.

    He glared up at me from where crouched.  "Yeah, well.  You need to stop living in the dark ages."  He reached out his right arm and grasped the handrail, straightening up a little.  "Can we at least walk the rest of the way?"

    "Alright."  We slowly started climbing the stairs again, only three floors to go.  "So what've you been doing these past few years?"

    "Few meaning the past five decades since I saw you last?"  I nodded.  He shrugged.  "Well, that company I started is a multi-million-dollar organization now.  I've officially got most of the patents for my designs under my name now."

    "Even the one's Edison stole?"

    He nodded.  "Yeah, I got the ones that were Tesla's put under his name too."  He shook his head.  "Tom really screwed up things.  I can't believe it's taken me this long to get it all sorted out.  You know, I've got my guys working on re-creating Nik's ball-lightning experiment?"

    "That was the one time I enjoyed seeing a science experiment."

    "Yeah, well, if they can pull it off, any funds generated, I'm gonna use to build his tower."

    "You miss him don't you?"  Nikola had been one of Nim's good friends back when he'd been alive.

    He shrugged again.  "A little, I mean I've had almost a hundred years to get over him."

    "Yeah, but you're not over him.  The way you're trying so hard to see all of his theories proven?"

    "So what?  He was my friend.  I can't help him out?"

    "You did that with Leo too."

    He laughed once.  "Leo made his own shit happen, he didn't need any help.  I seem to remember you helping Raph out often enough."

    "That's another point entirely."   We've all played favorites over the years.

    "Is it?  Is it really?"  We reached the 20th floor and exited the stairwell.

    "Which way?"  I looked up and down the hallway.  The cream and gold wallpaper and wood chair-rail were obviously expensive.  And if the lights were any indication, I'd say that no one who lived in this building made minimum wage.

    "Right."  We turned to the right and Nim knocked on Cal's door.

    "Knocking are we?  Nice to know you have manners."

    "For your information, I usually knock.  And Maricel's here, so of course I'm gonna knock."

    "Usually?"

    "Ha, ha."  The doorknob turned and our conversation was cut off.

    The door opened to reveal a slightly haggard light angel who I hadn't seen in seventy years.  "Hey, Cal.  It's been a while, hasn't it?"

    He smiled at me.  "Sam, it's good to see you."  He moved aside and Nim and I stepped into his living room.

    I let out a low whistle.  "Nice place you've got here."  He just shrugged as a response.  He moved over to his couch where I finally noticed the shadow sitting on it, staring out the window like her soul was missing.  I went and sat on the other side of her, setting my hand on her shoulder.  "Hey there, girly."  She slowly turned her head to look at me.  Poor girl.  Her cheeks were tearstained, her eyes bloodshot behind her glasses.  I offered her a weak smile.  "Nightmare?"

    She nodded.  I gave her a hug, god knows she needed one.  I looked over her head at Cal.  "You and Nim go work on strategy, I got her."

    "Thanks."  He got up off of the couch and retreated with Nim to the other side of the apartment.

    Their whispered debate floated over us, just soft enough to be abstract.  We sat how we were for a minute or so before Maricel spoke.  "Sam."  She mumbled it into my shoulder.  "What are you doing here?  I'm happy and all, but why?"

    "Maricel, you've never been the best at keeping secrets.  We know your dad's come up."  She stiffened against me.  Whether from fear of her father or from being caught, I didn't know.  "From what I can guess, he gave you an order to not tell anyone about it."  She pulled back to look me in the eye.  "It's a good thing that Cal knows you so well.  We're calling in the cavalry now, I was just the first one flown in."  I shuddered involuntarily as I remembered the flight over.

    "What's the matter?"

    "Don't ask me how, but Nim got me in a plane.  That's how we got here."

    Her eyes widened.  "You rode in a plane!  Sam you hate planes!"

    "I know."  I shuddered again.  "I'm not keen on reliving the experience any time soon."

---

    The lights dimmed in the auditorium and the spotlights kicked on.  "I suppose that means it's starting then."

    "I suppose that you suppose right."  Alex and I were near the back of the auditorium, behind the other listeners.  Alex leaned over to me.  "20 bucks says they quit after ten minutes."

    "30 says they last the whole time."

    "You're on."

    A woman in her early to mid thirties walked onto the stage, clutching a stack of papers, no doubt her notes and speech.  She stepped to the podium and stared out at the few assembled listeners.  Before she began speaking she cleared her throat.  "Thank you all for coming.  By the fact that you are here, I am going to assume that most of you, if not all, are Christians.  If any of you aren't, I would like to ask you now, to please hold all religious arguments until the seminar has concluded."  She took a moment to glance at her notes.  "With that out of the way, I would like to welcome you all.  My name is Dr. Angelique Bennett."

    Alex leaned towards me again.  "Well, what do you know.  An angel's giving a talk about angels."  I snickered.

    Dr. Bennett glanced towards us before returning to her notes again.  "One thing I wish to point out before we begin, to prove that I am as unbiased as possible.  I, myself, am agnostic.  Meaning I do not believe any religion holds more merit over another, nor do I believe that there is nothing.  This being the case, I can look at our data and results scientifically, as opposed to religiously."  There were a few murmurs and outraged looks at her declaration.  None from my sister and I, but they were there just the same.

    Alex leaned over again.  "Well, this just got interesting."  She leaned back in her chair, getting comfortable, and brought her left hand up to her mouth, something she did when she was intent on something.  I realized she was actually enjoying this so far.  Nearly every one of these talks we'd been to had been done by Christians.  She was right, this was interesting.

    Dr. Bennett picked up a small remote, or clicker by the looks of it, and gestured to someone in the control booth.  A projector screen lowered itself behind her and we could hear the projector itself kick on.  She pushed the button on her clicker and an image appeared of what you'd expect an angel to look like.  White feathered wings, blonde hair, blue eyes, glowing, wrapped in a toga and a halo to top it off.  "This is the popular depiction of an angel, and has been since the first mention of them.  Though of late they've been depicted as females more often than males."  She clicked it again and the image changed to an ordinary person, albeit well dressed.  "My associates and I have come to believe that they generally appear more like this.  As ordinary humans, and only return to this more divine form when need calls."

    Alex sat up straighter.  I knew what was going through her mind.  This lady was on to something.  Another click and the image changed again to show a picture of the Gutenberg Bible.  "Though agnostic, I have read the bible.  And it says that angels are beings that aren't and never have been humans.  This means our departed loved ones have not been given wings."  I smirked.  Finally someone bothers to get their facts straight.  Alex did the same beside me.  "My team has done extensive research to find, not only possible, but probable evidence that angels have, in fact, visited the earth."

    Another image appeared and Alex sat forward, looking like she wanted to stand up.  I put my hand on her shoulder to calm her down, but I was feeling the same.  The image was of a woodblock carving of a winged woman with flaming hair.  We'd seen the carving in person when it was new.  I looked at Alex.  The woman in the carving was me.  Dr. Bennett shuffled her papers.  "This carving was done by a little known artist in the middle ages from what is now Hungary.  It is titled 'Alisa', and we can only assume that this Alisa is the winged woman here."

    The next slide was even worse.  This one was a sketch from an amateur French artist who never amounted to anything.  Alex and I had made sure of that.  It was a drawing of a gallows with two winged, flame haired women, bearing horns.  It was Alex and me, at an event that I prefer to forget, to be completely honest.  "This slide shows a small-town French courtroom artist.  It is of a would be execution of a convicted witch.  In the notes we found accompanying the drawing it states that one of these two women, presumably the one on the left, was accused of witchcraft and was judged and sentenced all at once.  As her execution was beginning, her sister drew attention to the rear of the crowd where she had transformed into the creature we see here.  She then flew to the platform and 'incinerated' the rope.  The accused sister then transformed as well.  The two then reportedly destroyed the gallows and flew off."

    I felt the blood drain from my face.  I couldn't stop looking at the picture, even though I wasn't seeing it anymore.  I was seeing the noose around my next, Alex standing at the back of the crowd, transforming.  I'd called out to her, I didn't want her being hurt too, but she just flew next to me and looked me in the eye.  I knew that it was okay, then, to show myself.  So I had, and we'd left.  We hadn't been back to France since.  I don't think I was breathing in that moment.  "How... how did she find these?"

    Next to me, Alex had a determined look on her face.  "I don't know, but I'm gonna find out."  Alex stood up and addressed Dr. Bennett.  "How do we know these aren't any more than the works of superstitious zealots?  This last piece could simply be the church trying to back up their claims.  Besides, you said so yourself, the documents say that these were witches, not angels.  How does this fit your research?"  Thank you Alex.  I don't know what I'd do without my sister, I really don't.  She always figures a way out of tough situations.

    "Miss..."

    "Deuce."

    "Miss Deuce.  You should have let me continue.  My team believes that the townsfolk had discovered an angel living among them, and falsely accused them of witchcraft.  The 'sister' was obviously another angel, who was helping their fellow being escape persecution.  Now, please sit and hold all further questions until the appropriated time."  She stared Alex down until my sister finally sat stiffly.  Dr. Bennett pressed her button again.  This time I almost fainted.  It was a carving of a battle scene.  There were mythical creatures everywhere, both on the ground and in the air.  Also in the air were ten winged people.

    "Alex... we - we buried that."

    "I know."

    I couldn't deal with this.  If I saw one more picture of either of us or our friends, I wasn't going to be conscious anymore.  "I gotta get out of here, Alex.  I'll be in the hallway."  I got up and walked out of the auditorium without waiting for an answer, I couldn't.  I'd started to cry, and I didn't want her to see.