+1+

“He has been very quiet lately.”

I kept my face buried in my book as Ashe paced in front of my bed. His blonde hair was still wet ,his shirt slung over his shoulder.

“No, tales from the lair of the bloodthirsty harpies ?” Ashe continued dramatically. “Come now Prince or did the harpie queen put your useless balls in a jar ?”

"Ashe", I said sternly.  Devil take him, he could at least pretend to respect me.

"I meant eyeballs.", he said.

A few nearby Brothers murmured a laugh.

Ashe had a cigarette in his mouth and he looked downright devilish, his slumped eyelids slightly quirked in amusement.

From beside me on the bed Jonathan laughed at Ashe’s lack of wit. He leaned against my shoulder quietly admiring Ashe as he puts out his cigarette and buttons his shirt.

Around us the 100 other Demon Brothers in the dormitory are waking up and moving about. Each in their own spheres of conversations, state of dress and Monday morning routines.

Breakfast usually consisted of whatever mixed easily with hot water; grits, oatmeal, porridge or grewl, so many of us  left early to take breakfast closer in the city.

“Come on now, Jona.” called Levit from the door. “We’re leaving for work.”

Jonathan jumps from the bed  join the group.

 Levit and Lysander worked in the Madison Avenue shop with Jonathan. He’s the youngest of us and though is also the son of The Demon King, he didn't quite have the respect.

“Bye, brother”, I say softly but he is already with Ashe whispering and kissing him good-bye.

Ashe straightens Jona’s Aeterna collar pin, using it as an excuse to bring him closer.

I think perhaps I am jealous.

Many of us are destined to never find a true mate, even if it be a lesser one.

Infatuation and curiosity had not completely escaped me over the years, yet it never went beyond a few months of unspoken words, simple pleasures and stolen kisses.

“You ready ?” Ashe asked while smoothing his eyebrows. “Damien is staying with Father today. He is running some new test.”

“I’ll be in later.”

“Later ?”

“The Van Husen wedding added another groomsman, a busy stockbroker type. I’m meeting him at his office for his fitting.”, I was careful to sound bored as I crafted my lie.

“Hmmm, the bride didn’t mention anything about it.”

I kept my mouth shut, I forgot how much  brides and bridesmaids loved to talk to Ashe. He shouldn’t have even been talking to them, but watching him count money at the shop was a conversation piece on it’s own. He outright refused to wear shades.

“I’ll be in later.” I said quietly.

He shrugs and opens his white cane, shouting to Bane and Isaiah about splitting a cab fare.

I waited as the rest of the Brothers slowly trickle out of the church. When it’s quiet I pull on an old cap and throw my leather bag over my shoulder.

On my way out I stop by Father’s open door, but don’t go in. He is sleeping soundly the machines still beeping. Brother Damien gives me a serious look from where he is jotting down notes.

Scrolls, old books and maps line Father's lavish suite. There are pictures of  all 500 of the original  Brothers and drawings of Brothers whom we lost before photography.

We had dwindled down to an somber 114

The largest item by the door was a great painting of  Lucifer The Demon King, his wife his sons and daughter. It felt wrong to have an image of my family when the other Brother’s barely had anything of theirs.

I looked at myself depicted in pigment. I was proud young and ready to reach an age where I could slay an Angel. So loyal. So young. So stupid.

+++

I took the train into  Midtown, tourist season was in full effect. The perfect place to blend into the crowd. I felt lost among the crowd of wide eyed tourist, shopping bags and cameras.

For a while I had just walked down the crowded streets getting lost in the jovial spirit. So many people in one city and they had no idea we were living right here with them. I stopped at the designated corner where I was to meet the Angel and waited at the end of the block with a coffee.

It was just past 10 am when I looked up from my phone and made out a white figure in the crowd of colorful tourist

The Angel was dressed similarly to the day before in her slim white suit. This time without a belt. That made me smile internally

“Brother--”, she started.

“You’re late, but I suppose Angels don’t have watches.”, it was the first insult I had used of my own creation.

She shifts her weight in a frustrated manner and looks around the busy street. I know that she must have snuck out of Queen Anne's. The Angel Mother would never allow her out on her own.

“How are we to find the human ?”, she asks.

“First, Angel if you are to be out in the human world you must have human identification, just in case.”

I reached into my bag and hand her a thin wallet with a fake driver’s licenses and metro card.

“Grigori ?”, she carefully pronounced the surname.

“Fallen Angels who loved human women, I found it appropriate.”

“How are we to find the human ?”, she asks again.

I push off the wall and we begin walking down the block towards the subway.

“Williamsburg. Ms. Charter works and lives there.”

Her eyes move along the crowd as she speaks.

“How is it you came by this information, so quickly ?”

“Facebook.”

The Angel starts walking faster but I step in front of her.

“Stay two steps behind me Angel. Remember, as future Prince you are watching my back now.”

She hissed under her breath, waits two steps  and follows.

+2+

The crowd rushed around me and a few cursed as I stood on the subway steps watching the Angel attempt to exit the subway. After a few moments of what I assume was confusion, several men stopped their busy commute to help her through the turnstile.

I jogged up the rest of the stairs and listened for her footsteps behind me. She hadn't said a word since we left Midtown for Brooklyn.

“Here” ,  I peered into the window.

Sweet Lane Bakery was nestled into a line new shops just opening for the day.  It was just off a major avenue and the street was quiet, the bakery didn't open untill noon.Through the window I could see Isobel Charter cleaning behind the counter.

I knocked on the glass.

Isobel was slipping on a lilac apron, her mouth moving but with no one to talk to. Her arms started moving and I realized she was dancing.

The Angel shoved me out the way and rattled the glass with her fist. Isobel jumped and yelped a very loud and audible--

“No.”

“No, no, no no no no”, Isobel went on , “I don’t want any trouble. I haven’t said anything to anyone, I have a new thesis topic and I--”

“Open the door. I won’t hurt you.” I said as sweetly as I could.

Isobel gestured behind me with wide eyes. Behind me the Angel folded her arms.

“We won’t hurt you. I need your help. . . please.”

Isobel still hesitated so I offered her a reassuring smile, which was probably more grotesque that not smiling.  Carefully she unlocked the door.

“You’re lucky it’s just me opening today. What do you want ?” she asked

“I need your photographs of Queen Anne’s College. All of them.”

“Why--”

“It does not concern you, human.” Seraphina interjected.

“She means to say we wouldn’t want to burden you wit-”,

“Just tell me I’m not crazy.”, Isobel began to bargain. She reaches into a book bag on the counter and pulls out my collar pin. The chipped one I’d lost in the Vietnam War.

“You are not.”, was all I offered, “I’ll explain everything in time. We need to see the photos you took of the campys”

Not willing to wait she brought back out the printout of Brother Isaiah's painting of the Demon boys feasting on the Angel.

“. . .And this ?”, she looked at me expectantly., “Is this what you are.”

I looked at the picture and wished I could shake my head.

“That is inconsequential. The past. We are lost children who have wondered this world for a very long time in secret and want to keep it that way. Please, help us Isobel. Can we see the photos”

She fiddled with her hands on the table. I was suddenly reminded of our first meeting when I had held her now fiddling hand.

“I-I have the photos on my laptop.”

Isobel  disappeared to do her work while I  instructed Seraphina on how to navigate through the computer’s picture gallery. Because the Angel knew the grounds better, I told her to look for anything unusual in the photos.Isobel had captured photos from all angles of the campus. She focused mostly on the gate and the engraved Aeterna mark on the gates, brick and cut into the courtyard. A few of the images even appeared to have been taken from a tree.

“Um, Seraphina ?”

The Angel’s eyes went up sharply when she heard the human use her name. Isobel was slowly approaching with a white cupcake topped with a berry.

“How do you know my name ?”, The Angel demanded.

With her other hand Isobel dropped a bundle on the table. It made a loud noise and opened to reveal Seraphina’s gold blades engraved with her name. They had been left behind during our hasty exit from the history building.

“Peace offering”, Isobel explained, “I’ll give you this cupcake and your scary knives if you promise not to kill me.”

The Angel dropped her eyes back to the computer screen as if the conversation and cupcake wasn’t worth her precious time.

I followed Isobel back up to the counter, quietly contemplating what to say next.

“I won’t let her hurt you.”, I said

Isobel eyed me suspiciously and started idly wiping down the counter.

“You know, you never answered my question. What are you ?”

“Well, I’m a tailor”

She laughed, clearly not what she wanted to hear.

“Really, I am.”

I slid one of my business cards across the counter. She picked it up skeptically and studied the name.

“Are you an Angel?”, she was very blunt. I liked that.

Her eyes were looking for something Glorious or Heavenly in me. She wouldn’t find it here. Not with my hideous smile

“No. Never”, my anger almost got the best of me, “My Brothers and I are. . . simple creatures lost in this world after a long battle with . . ..”

“You’re a demon ?”, she said now realizing that if not one than the other., “And she’s a . . .”

"But you already knew that", I gestured to the cupcake.

"What it's Angel food cake. .  I though it'd be funny."

I looked back to where the Angel was inspecting her daggers.

“You are quite the baker”, I said trying to change the subject and focusing on the display.

“This is a day job, I’m as much of a baker as you are a tailor. I just pull them out of the freezer. . . crap, don’t tell anyone.”

"I. . . I really am a tailor", I clarify reasons I don't even know.

Isobel smiled and despite how indifferent I wanted to be I smile a bit with my eyes.

“I’d like to learn more about your work at the college. See what you’ve found”, so it can't happen again. I think to myself.

“Sure, It’s just a small part of a thesis on repeating symbology in European history”, she explained, "Robert Langdon would be proud."

She pours me a cup of coffee and sets it down along with the collar pin her father had stolen off me years ago.

“I guess I should give this back”, she says.

“We call it The Lux Aternea”, I said indicating the engraving, “It’s yours." I pushed the chipped pin back across the counter.

“Thank you”, her fingers trailing mine as she took it, “Tell me about your home. What’s the culture like ? No let’s start with the main form of industry--.”

“It’s not worth remembering.”

“What about the collar pins ? Why do you wear them ?”Isobel reached for a pen and paper

“They are a symbol of tension filled understanding. I’ve already said to much--”

“Demon”, the Angel called from the corner. Then softer, “I’ve found something.”

Isobel took in a breath at the word “demon” as it came from the Angel’s mouth. I turned on my heels to where Seraphina was intently watching us.

“Please refrain from using that term in the company of humans, Sister.” I spoke down to her.

Isobel followed me back to the table, a small bounce in her step.

The Angel pointed to a set of images taken of the gate. They were dated over the past three months. Each one showing bit by bit as a lower section of the gate disappeared.

In the far background of one recent  photo a red blurry shape passed through the hole in the gate and to the street.

“Looks like someone’s been sneaking into the Angel sanctuary”, I said, “It must be how they poison the apples.”

“Apples. What do apples have to do--”, Isobel began.

“This will not stand.”The Angel picked up her dagger and slammed the point deep into the table.

Isobel jumped and tried to pull it out.

“The manager is going to kill me. Why is she allowed to carry around knives ? ”

“Protection . . .from horny demons.”, The Angel said cutting her eyes at me.

The Angel pulled up the dagger easily and placed it back in her suit jacket.

“I’d rather --.”

I cut myself off not wanting to finish that particular insult around a human girl.

The Angel glared at me and continued outside. I gave Isobel a nod of thanks and followed The Angel outside.

“Where are you going, Sister ?”

“To find and dispose of whomever is trespassing on Angel grounds.” she made it sound so simple.

“Patience”, I said, “ Whomever this is clearly sneaks in at night and out in the day.  We’ll hideout at Queen Anne’s tonight and a set a trap for them.”

She thought about it for a second.

"Fine. Tonight. Let's get this over with."

In a sudden change of heart the Angel shoves me into the alley, pushing me hard against the rough brick wall.

Her sharp pointed blade at my chin.

“You placate to much to the humans curiosity. Her part is done, less your eternal softness is getting the better of you, Prince.”

“Never, Sister”, I manage. My pulse jumping at how close she came to slitting my throat, “If you’ll excuse me I’m late for work.”

I turned to the street and stopped a cab closing the door before the Angel could catch up.

+++

“. . . Then The  Angel Mother agreed in the event of Father’s death I would be next in line as leader and that she would recognize my Princehood.”

I finished telling the story of my time  in The Angel’s lair. Or at least the parts I wanted to tell.  I did not tell my Brothers about the snowfire apple quest the Angel Mother had sent me on or the Angel helping me.With the tale done I concentrated on fixing a  complicated beading on a bridesmaid dress, while the other Brother’s murmured in silence around me.

We had dinner at  the shop while I caught up on work I had missed while running my “errand” that morning. Wedding season was getting closer and the shop was towering with bridal gowns and designer tuxedos.Ashe, Bane and Isaiah had stayed late at the shop just to learn more about my trip.

“What are they like ?”,

“Vapid, indulgent, vain”, I said, “Just as we always suspected.”

“I say this calls for celebration !”, Ashe shouted, “We drink to our future Prince. Taking his rightful place after all these years. I knew being friends with this soft son of a bitch would be worth it. First we get our Prince---”

“Then we vanquish the Angels--”

“Take their land and gold.”

“Become Kings of this fair city.”

They fell into a fit of laughter and even I had to smile at the idea. If the Angels were gone it would mean my family had not died in vain. We Demons would be the true victors.

Bane found Isaiah’s liquor stash in the supply closet and soon work was all but forgotten. I pretended to drink and slurred a little but I’d have to be sharp for tonight.We were are a happy handsome drunken group as we poured ourselves out of the train station and into the streets of Riverdale and into the old church.

Our voices quieted as we passed Father’s closed door.

“I think I’ll sit with Father for a while”, I called to the others.

They didn’t  offer to join me.

I stayed by Father's bedside only a few minutes before slipping back into the night. In St. Lilith’s shadows I traded my work shoes for dark sneakers and reached for a bag I’d hidden in the bushes earlier.

It was nearly 10pm when I arrived back at  Queen Anne’s College. I found the break in the gate  that the saboteur created and inspected it. It was as if someone had sawed into the bottom of the gate removing one bar at a time.

Not many people knew the gates were made of real white gold. Perhaps it was just a simple thief at work ?

I slipped in and climbed the largest tree infront of the gate. The branches were strong and sloping. Once I was high enough I leaned against a curving branch. The sloping tree reminded me of the ones in Homeland.

+3+

I had a perfect view of the Angel’s dormitory. They were a flutter of long ruffling nightgowns as they huddled around each other. Sharing books, laughing, whispering , touching, caressing and kissing.

In the corners a few of them poured over modern human magazines, books and listened to the radio. All things Mother didn’t like.

The Angel Seraphina  walked in close behind the bottle-blonde Angel. Her expression was blank as usual,  but her lips and cheeks were flush, clothes wrinkled.The moment they stepped through the door the blonde turned away from Seraphina and shrugged off her hand.After a few moment of standing alone by the door, The Angel Seraphina lay alone on her made bed. She pretended to sleep but her eyes always flickered to the blonde who seemed to command the room of sheltered Angels with her charm.

By 11 all the lights are out and the Angels slept. Seraphina quietly steps out of bed, in an odd gesture she takes the time to pull the blankets over Ariel who sleeps soundly in the bed next to hers.She steps onto the balcony and grabbing on to the siding she expertly climbs her way down the building, Jumping the last few feet and landing perfectly.

She has certainly done that before.

It takes her a while to climb up the tree in her slippers to join me. Without so much as a greeting I toss her one of my old black t-shirts and black jogging pants.

I close my eyes when she slips the nightgown over her head and open my eyes when I think she is dressed.
She blends into the night.

Now dressed in black I can better consider how she would fit into the Brotherhood. If I were to even honor such a request. It would be interesting though.

She would need a Demon name though and backstory.

“What, Demon ?”, she notices me regarding her.

“I was thinking of a fine demon name for you, future Brother”

“You mock me.”

“Don’t you want to join the Demon Brotherhood ?”

Her back is to me as she speaks.

“I know I do not belong among the Legion or the humans. During his visits The Demon Father spoke of the wild unbound nature of the Demons. How you fought, worked and prospered. How even your women were trained warriors.”

“Lot of good that did them”, I remarked.

The Angel slid back against the tree. She was talkative tonight, then again she did smell like wine and sex.

“Before the Transgression, rumor has it that The Angel King sent The Seraphic Guard, our greatest male warriors to rise and fly east. . .They were to  return with new wondrous weapons so we could defeat you nasty Demons.

They never returned, though. The Angel Mother believes The Seraphic Guard found their way to this land and one day we will be reunited and Angels will prosper again. That is why she insist on being so  . . . traditional. All we are ever doing. . . is waiting.”

“How unfortunate for your back, Angel.”

I hear the distinct sound of a magazine clip being loaded and a gun  safety being removed. I made to apologize when the Angel lowered a small silver gun to her lips.

The gun was a modern Lucian pistol.

One of the designer pistols the Brotherhood had manufactured before completely shutting down. Only Father would have had one. Only Father could have given it to her.

She pointed the gun at the gate.

A soft swishing noise came from the other side of the gate. A hooded figure expertly slid through the opening and into the campus.

My face pulled into a taught burning smile.

I’d done it. I’d found the saboteur. I was already patting myself on the back.

The Angel launched herself from the tree and shot once, the noise caught the figure off guard and it pulled itself back out gate and into the streets of Brooklyn.

“Damn it”, I hissed at her. Surely she would wake someone up. . . then again it was Brooklyn.

I crawled through the gate and followed the figure down the street.  After a few blocks I lost my sight on the figure and fell back unable to run anymore.

I was jolted aside as the Angel charged passed me.

At the next intersection the Angel reached for the hooded figure and they both slammed into the pavement. The two wrestled and I caught up, out of breath.

“You owe me answers”, I said to the figure.

Pulling the figure up Seraphina pulls off the hood and shoves the person to my feet.

I bite my lip as the Angel pressed her gun to the saboteurs neck.

Devil take it.

It was Isobel Charter