+1+

Seraphina pressed her slipper covered foot onto the humans back and poised the gun to her head.

“I should have killed you when I--”

“No, no”, Isobel tried to face Seraphina, “I came for help. I need your help now.”

At the last statement Isobel's faces me.The human stared wide eyed at me, her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She looked like she hadn't slept, the sadness in her eyes made it hard for me to believe that this is the same inquisitive girl we’d visited earlier today.

“Liar.” Seraphina cocks the gun.

“Wait. Look at her”, I instructed The Angel, “She’s not here to harm us.”

The Angel tossed her gun aside and pinned the human down on her back. She ran her hands over the humans body and once she is satisfied, the Angel stands  and turns back to the school looking around for other movement.

“Isobel”, I asked, “What do you mean you came for my help.”

Isobel sat up on the sidewalk and slowly breathed in and out. I find a place on the pavement across from her.

“When I came home this evening. . . Hannah was dead.”

I try not to look confused. The name meant nothing to me.

“Who is Hannah ?”

“My best friend, we are friends from back home. . . she was just lying on the bathroom floor.. . dead and she had like a ton of those fancy white apples in her bag. There was also a stamp. . . that eternal thing on her wrist.”

“Aeterna ?”

“Yeah, and I remembered you two were talking about apples at the shop and I just put two and two together.”

“You seem to be good at that.”

She forced a smile. I wasn’t even being clever but I think she wanted a reason to try and smile. Then she was serious again.

“Did that apple kill her ? Did you or--her or something not normal kill her ?”

I could barely make out her words because her voice cracked as she fought back tears.

“Honestly, I don’t know. But I intend to find out what has been happening with the snowfires. Please, Isobel you can’t tell anyone about any of this. We need to handle this problem . . . internally.” , my voice was shakey, I was afraid I'd offend her.

Isobel used the end of her shirt to wipe away her tears, I noticed she had the Lux Aeterna tattooed on her stomach. She really had been obsessed with the symbol.

“Hannah is dead.”, she said matter-of-factly, “I have no one else to tell. She was all I--I--”

“Isobel, I’m sorry.”, I said.

I was.

I was sorry because this whole endeavor became so real I couldn’t stand it.

“Look”, The Angel shouted breaking the silence.

Two blocks back near the entrance of Queen Anne’s a red hooded figure pushed itself out from underneath the gate.

The figure moved quickly, too quick.  The Angel and I left Isobel and ran after the red hooded figure for 7 blocks. I nearly passed out on the 7th and I expected The Angel to pass me but she stopped behind me.

I started to run again.

“Back down, Demon”, she shouted to me.

“Angel don’t--”

I covered my ears as 5 shots were unloaded  from behind me. The hooded figure arched as the bullet made contact. . . then kept moving.

It was still alive.

Impossible.

The Angel was reloading again while catching her breath.  The magazine was filled with solid white gold bullets. From behind me I could see Isobel Charter coming up towards us

“I heard shots. . .is anyone  hurt ?” Isobel asked

“No.  I--”

Isobel and I  both looked as the Angel dragged the  red hooded figure out of the shadows and onto the pavement. Using my foot I turned the body over

It was a human.

A kid, maybe 16 or 17

“You stupid bitch”, my tone was deceptively calm as I turned to the Angel, “You monster, you killed a human child.”

Isobel’s hands went to her mouth and she looked at Seraphina the way I always did, as a cruel cold creature. The Angel shrugged off my comment dismissively.

“I fired 7 human bullets into him and he kept moving. The four white gold ones killed him. He’s not human.”

Not a hint of regret in the Angel's voice. Not a hint of anything in her voice.

The Angel stood over the body and turned the boy on his belly. She pulled back the boys hood and two strong pronounced horns grew from his head.

Devil take it.

“No”, I gasped, “A Demon ? It can’t be.”

“No”, The Angel inspected the body, “This is something else.”

I nodded in agreement. At this age most Demons were dark haired with clearer skin and finer jaws. This boy had bright red hair and ashen sallow skin. He was something else entirely.

“Down River Academy ”, Isobel said from behind me, “His hoodie.”

On the chest of his red hoodie was the symbol of a fleur de lis crest with a rearing mustang in the center. Below it in curved letters it read :

Down River Academy

I knew the school. It was an exclusive boarding academy in Riverdale. The Brothers tailored the school  uniforms for the students every other year. It was only a few miles from St. Lilith’s.

I reached into the boy’s pockets and fished out an wallet. Inside was a student ID.

Caden Kellers, Senior, 18

Behind it was a fake driver’s license and a real one with an east New Jersey address on it.

“Look”, Isobel pointed to the dead boy’s wrist. On it was the smeared inky mark of the Lux Aeterna.“Hannah had a stamp just like that when I found her. "

I traced where the human-demon’s horns met his skull, it was no illusion.Half human and half Demon ? This was a crime against nature. And how ?A car drives past and I realized this could cause a scene.

“Angel, take the body to Red Hook. Leave it somewhere noticeable. It’ll look like he was looking for drugs and was. . . shot”

I looked at the beautiful horns one last time. How did a human boy end up with such things ?

“Remove the horns and .  . . and give me that damn gun.”

“Careful, my dear soft Prince.”, she taunted.

Reluctantly The Angel handed the heavy gun to me, it was still cold from her icy touch. She pulled out one of her smaller daggers and I turn as she begins to remove the horns.I take a few steps over to Isobel and swallowed hard. She was trying not to cry or maybe not to scream. Her expression asked one question.

“Come on “, I offer, “ I’ll take you home”

+2+

“Is that why you saved my Dad ?”, Isobel spoke asked as if she hadn't just heard me vomiting,“Because he reminded you of yourself during your country's war ?”

“I suppose. I don’t know. Was it worth it ? Was your father a good man ?”

She put on a pair of shades and considered my question.

“He was. He was a fisherman. My mom wasn’t really apart of my life after a while,  so he raised me all by himself in San Costa. He was good.”

“I am glad.”, I said.

Small talk. This was good. I stopped walking fearing I was going to be sick again. Then recovered

“Sorry”, I apologized for my lack of decorum.

“Is this why Sera calls you soft ?”, she asked. Not in a condescending way. It was just a question.

“Who is Sera--- Oh, the Angel. No.”, I tried to hide how much I loathed this subject.

“Why ?”

“My friend A--. . . it's . .. uh  . A nickname carried over for centuries. . . . “

“Because your voice is so quiet ?”, she guessed.

“No. . . well that and. . . ”, I said though I should have just lied.

“Why”

I took off my cap and ran my head through my hair. Perhaps a bit of self-deprecating humor was what we  needed right now.

“Well. . . everyone thinks I’m impotent.”, I allowed myself the accepting smirk I dawned when the other  Brothers teased me.

“Woah, why ?  I mean. . . that’s none of my . . . .”

I put my hands in my pockets and walked a little ahead of her. I thought she was funny when she was flustered. Not funny . . . cute.

“Because I’m a virgin”, I said simply.

“That’s, um shocking ?”, it was more of a question.

“Can we change the subject, please ?”, I asked even though I had technically  bought it up.

The subject soon changed to nothing and the quiet silence allowed me to reflect on tonight’s incident

Something wrong was happening in the human world. Something wrong but hopeful ? Could the  Demon race prosper again. How ? What kind of magic was this ? Was magic even a real thing . . . I guess I wasn't one to judge what did and didn't exist.

As we crossed the street a hypnotic beat rattled through the ground. Up ahead sewers steamed and multi-colored lights reflected out of windows.A large block of  Brooklyn lofts lit up the streets a few blocks ahead. Sparde groups of spirited late nighters roamed the streets.. Screaming, laughing and smoking. It was so lively. Was this really Williamsburg ?

“I remember when this used to be a sweater factory”, I said.

“Yeah, well I’m sure living conditions are worse now.”, Her heart wasn’t in it when she said it.

She leaned against the front door. She still seemed shaken.

“So”, she pushed off the door, “Are we going to New Jersey or Down River Academy first ?”

“Excuse me ?”, I slowly took in what she was saying, “Isobel this isn’t really something for you to be involved in. It's between Angels and Demons.”

“Why not ? I need to know what happened to Hannah. She was the closest thing to family I had left. I need answers.”

“Did you not see that thing tonight ? If Hannah and that boy had the same markings...they could be connected."

“Yeah, well that thing would have gotten away from you to if you didn’t have GI Jane Barbie with you. You need help, Paris. I can help”

I turned and walked around in circles, involving a human wasn’t part of the plan. Involving the Angel wasn’t apart of the plan.

“Look”, Isobel continued, “I minored in criminal justice plus people aren’t exactly going to open up to Mr. Tall quiet and handsome and Brunette Kill Bill . . Me ? I’m great with people, they open up to me.”

“Says who ?”

“You told me your story didn’t you,?”, she was quiet after that last point and relying on wide sad earnest eyes. Yet all I could think was that she had just called me handsome.

“Why don’t you let me walk you up”, I said changing the subject and hoping perhaps the dead girl had something in her room that could help.

Isobel shook her head and turned to the keypad.

“No, my other roommate Eric is in there and  I don’t want to have to make up some lie about you or whatever the hell  happened  tonight.”.

“Isobel, I am sorry about your frie--Hannah. I will find answers for you.”

“Oh”, she said, “We will.”

I waited a bit while she went inside. Turning back to the street I realized It was going to a be a long walk home.

+++

Ashe had already heard me by the time I rounded the corner to St. Lilith’s front doors. He was giggling to himself and quietly opening the door.

He was drunk.

What the hell was he doing out this late ?

“Prince”, he exclaimed, “I thought I put you to bed hours ago”

“I could say the same”, I hoped he hadn’t been following me. No. He seemed to drunk for that.

“You know how it is”, he had gone down to a slight whisper, “Had to get some damn privacy.”

I stood in front of him. He was always so unreadable without his eyes. It was so rare nowadays to see him without my little brother clinging to his side.

“Ashe, what have you been up to ?”, I was as stern as I could muster.

“It’s my business, Prince. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Father’s not dead yet.”

He slipped through the door and I followed him up the stairs, Ashe had already started pulling off his clothes as he went and collapsed onto his bed.I took a long hot shower, trying to scrub off the image of that thing that had been Caden Kellers. A human . . . with full Demon horns ? How beautiful and scary it was at the same time.

I felt my way in the dark over to my bed but I found it wasn’t empty. Jonathan was sleeping in it clutching my pillow.

“Jona”, I whispered climbing in next to him. He had always been small, yet half my body was still off the bed.

“Paris”, he said, “I was scared. I saw Mama and Pa . . . You were gone . . .  .”

Jona started shaking and I knew he was having the nightmares again, even after all these years.

He still clung to that moment when he was a child and witnessed the night our lives as pampered princes ended. When our parents were brutally murdered in front of us.

I had grabbed him from my hiding place in the cabinet (as the limerick goes) and together we hid in the hollow of a fallen tree swaddled next to one another.Jona and I had stayed in that tree hollow for 4  days hiding from the Angel soldiers. He had wanted to eat and take a piss, but I wouldn’t let him leave. He cried for days but I stayed silent.

“Brother”, he had kept asking me, “Why is your smile bleeding ?”

I kissed the top of my brother’s head, he was still visibly shaking and somehow the other Brothers had since gotten used to his cries in the middle of the night.

“I’m sorry, brother”, I said so quietly not even he could hear.

He jerked against me again and I could feel my shirt dampening with his tears.

What  would I do if I ever lost Jona ? I would do anything to bring him justice, just as I would for my parents.

That was how I realized there would be no getting rid of Isobel Charter.

+3+

“P-p-paris”, Ashe sang my name from the front of the shop. He said it again with an old french accent.

I ignored him, listening intently to a fight between Bane and Isaiah about this afternoons’ music selection. Everyone had instantly voted out my "indie bullshit" but I had other things on my mind.

“Fucking, Tomas Tallis. You fucking serious ?”, Bane made his point.

“I am”, Isaiah said and put in whatever record, CD, cassette, A-track or mp3 player kept a collection of Tudor music.

“PRINCE !”, Ashe said gallantly sliding into the workroom.

“I’m busy”, I didn’t look up from the delicate skirt I was sewing or speak for fear of swallowing the pins in  my mouth.

“Prince, your 'Van Husen Groomsmen' and 'mysterious late night' are here.”, Ashe said grandly.

At first I thought he was speaking in code, then I realized he was calling out my lies. I spit out the pins in my mouth and headed to the front of the store.

Isobel Charter was leaning against the front counter looking around expectantly. I let out a sigh glad that it wasn't the Angel. That would have been harder to explain.

I went  back into the workroom and turned to find Ashe smiling in my direction.

What the hell was she doing here?

“What did she say to you, Ashe ?”, I asked.

“She waltzed in here asked for Paris Prince and I obliged. Why ? Who is she ? Is she pretty ? It's been ages since a girl has noticed you.”

I noticed Bane and Isaiah picking up on the conversation. I didn’t need them interfering or gossiping. My Brothers still had no knowledge of my orders from Mother to find out why the snowfire apples where being found in the bodies of dead people.

“No one”, I said , “I’ll get rid of her then I’m taking lunch”

Out front Isobel was still leaning on the counter. She looked like she was in a rush and kept looking at her watch. Without a word  I quickly guided her out of the shop.As the door closed I could hear the Brothers laughing and snickering behind my back.

I noticed Isobel  is dressed in a  more professional manner than before, in a pair of  black slacks and a short sleeve black sweater. Her hair is twisted up elegantly.

“What are you doing here ? How did you find me ?”, I asked.

“You gave me your business card, remember ?”

"I've got to stop doing that", I said more to myself.

“Wow, you weren’t lying. You really are a tailor.”

She pulled out the pins that were tucked in my sleeve.

“I hardly lie.”

Hardly.

Isobel turned down the street and looked at me like she expected me to follow.

“I wanted to invite you out for lunch,” she said suggestively

“And by lunch you mean.--”

She waved a pair of silver car keys infront of me.

“I mean we’re going to Jersey. To Caden Kellers family home.”

“Iso--”

“No. Don’t try to stop me. We are going to get answers. For Hannah for Caden Kellers and anyone else who died because of those apples. I’m going with or without you.”, she stood her ground, "I just thought I'd offer the courtesy."

Had it not been a week  ago that The Angel Mother had tasked me with fixing this problem yet everyone else was taking the lead. Maybe I needed to step up.Isobel leans against a a Silver Jetta with Florida license plates, twirling the key ring on her finger. This is where are paths either cross or diverge.

"What do you say Prince ? Are you coming ?"

Reluctantly I get in the car.

+++

Caden Keller's family home was possibly the most opulent estate I’d seen in years. It wasn’t a cookie cutter mansion, it was the stately house of old money. He was certainly DRA material.The security guard had let us through the gateswhen we said we were here about Caden. Isobel tensed in her seat and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. This boy’s parents had no idea he was dead.

Mrs. Kellers was a frail older woman, her eyes lined with worry. She was more than willing to open the door when her son’s name was mentioned.

“A-are you with the police”, she asked.

I gave Isobel a look that meant “prove yourself”.

“Mrs. Kellers. We are looking into what happened to your son. We want answers. . . just like you. We’re sort of . . . private contractors.”, Isobel freely touches the woman's hand and she leads us inside.

I was careful not to get too comfortable while Isobel had graciously accepted tea and gently coerced the woman into talking about Caden.

“He went missing a few months ago.”, Mrs. Kellers began, “At first we thought he was at school. He-he. . .sometimes used drugs, but he has it under control. . . he had gone to rehab. and finished.  I know some new kids got him started  on drugs again I just didn't want to deal with it...

Mrs. Kellers started crying and I studied the pictures of Caden Kellers from a baby to a young adult. There was certainly nothing Supernatural in him. How did he get those horns ?

“Do you think we can look in his room ?”, Isobel asked, “It might help.”

Mrs. Kellers agreed and a well dressed maid let us upstairs. Boxes from Down River Academy are piled on the floor. Otherwise his room was pristine and unlived in. He must have spent a lot of time boarded at school. I kept my eyes peeled for something inhuman, maybe an item from Homeland ? What could a human teenager have to make him into . . .that thing ? Isobel opened a notebook that had several sketches of apples, shot glasses and morbid looking girls. One page included several crude sketches of the Lux Aeterna. Nothing in the images looked familiar.

“What the hell ?”

Isobel had opened the lid to an aluminum SIGG bottle,  she handed it to me and  I could see the contents were a dark inky black. The smell sickened me and Isobel saw the effect it had on me and put the lid back on.

“What’s wrong, Paris ?”

“That’s Demon blood. ”

Isobel studied the contents of the bottle and put the lid back on. She swallowed hard.

“Your blood is black ?”

“Yours is red.”, I commented back, “We’ll need to take that.”

Isobel grimaced and slid the bottle into her bag. We searched the rest of the room and boxes but nothing else stood out.

Mrs. Kellers voice echoed from downstairs.

“. . . well they are still here I can . .. yes, Detective Rainer”

Shit. She was talking to the police.

Quietly Isobel and I began looking for a way out of the room. I went to the window and assessed the distance.We were 3 stories up with nothing but an uncomfortable flowerbed below.

"You first", Isobel said.

I slid open the window, brace myself and jump from the second floor landing. I landed unscathed in a flower bed of azaleas. Isobel tosses her bag down then places a leg over the sill.

“I’m going to break something”, she said

“I’ll catch you.”

She closed her eyes and lets herself fall.I moved in time to catch and settle her on the ground. We run and jump into her Jetta then speed off the grounds before the guard has time to realize that anything is wrong.

“Do you think . . . maybe someone is trying to make more Demons with that stuff ?”, Isobel asked.She was driving down the turnpike at record speed.

Make more demons ? It sounded wonderful but was impossible.

“It can’t be this simple”, I said, “You can’t make Demons. We are born like humans.”

She slipped on her shades and thought about this.

“What about a half-Demon half-human,” , she asked

“Impossible”, I said, “ We can’t reproduce with humans. Not for lack of trying.”

She put both hands on the steering wheel. I realized that may have made my dear Brothers look bad.

“What about a  female Demon and male human ? Or a male Angel and A female human ?”

“That’s like breeding a Cracken with a dinosaur”

“How does that work ?”

“For starters neither of those things exist”

Anymore. I wanted to add on but didn’t. The joke didn’t have the same tone as it did when Brother Bael said it.

Isobel pulled her shades up and her eyes kept going to me, she wanted to ask me a another question but was waiting until I seemed willing to answer.

“What ?”, I said, “I know you want to ask me something.”

“What about an female Angel and a male Demon.”

“Honestly ? To answer your question ...no. That’s the problem with Angels; we can't breed with them.  they contribute little to society and are so gregarious. The thought is vile and impossible. If Demons and Angels could reproduce I’d have more siblings running around.”

“More ?, You have siblings ?”, Is what she took from my rant. Or maybe what she chose to take.

“I have a brother.” I said regrettably

“That’s nice.”

It was more of a “you’re lucky”. And I was. Only 12 set of real brothers still existed in the Brotherhood.

“Pull off here”, I indicated the Riverdale exit.

+4+

She honked her horn and hopped over two lanes quickly. For a transplant Isobel sure as hell drove like a New Yorker.

I directed her to turn just a block away from the train and down a paved path with a “No Trespassing sign”.

“What are we doing here ?”, she asked.

“I want to show you something.”

Her expression melted to one of amazement when she saw the Lux Aternea engraved into the facade of St. Lilith’s . The building was hidden behind a grove of frail trees. It wasn’t hidden per say but just not drawing attention. . . unlike Queen Anne’s.

“How did I not know this was here ? I’ve been all over this city.”

“Most don’t. There are no public records of it.”

I led her inside, her eyes scanning the vast empty space of the bottom floor. She looked down at the imprint of shoes that had been worn in the ground after years of The Walking Ritual.

I had an odd sense of deja vu as she stood where a week ago I had met the Angel.

She followed me and I stopped just as we reached the corridor.

“You may want to close your eyes”

“What ? No.”

“The images down this corridor aren’t pleasant.”

“I’m fin--”

“It’s been a rough day for you, yes ? Just please.”

She pulled her shades up and closed her eyes, then reached out her hand for mine.

I decided to take her elbow and slowly lead her down the corridor.  Even I avoided the images that told our story in rich gory detail. Lovely oil on vellum.

When I am Prince, I decide,  these will be the first things to go.

“Open”, I said once we reached the other side.

I had moved to stand next to the painting of The Demon Royal Family. Of my family. She ran a hand of the smooth surface and the slight signature of the Demon who had painted the image.

“Holy fuck”, she whispered then put her hands to her mouth,”Oops. crap. I just cursed in a church”

“It’s not really a church. It just looks like one. I certainly hope it doesn’t count with the things that go on in these walls.”

She shrugged of her embarrassment and focused on the painting.

“People really looked like this where you are from ?”

“I think so.Perhaps that’s how we looked compared to humans. I don't’ really remember but we were different. We were great.”

She studied the image closely and realized why this painting was here.

“So . .  Prince isn’t just your last name ?”

“Inside joke ?” I offered.

“You’re a Prince ?”

“Give or take. I officially rule nothing until I solve this macabre mystery or The Demon Father passes.”

Silence followed my last words and I could hear the slight echo off the walls.

“Why did you bring me here ?”, she asked

“Hannah’s funeral was today, wasn't’ it ?”, I looked back over her all black attire.

She nodded once in confirmation and put her shades back on.

“When I saw you all in black today, it reminded me of why we Brothers only wear black. Because we are still in mourning. Are forever in mourning. I thought you might enjoy seeing a bit of secret history.”

“Secret”, she touched the painting’s glass, “How can you stand it year after year.”

“We just do. It’s easy to accept that nothing is going to change when you take it day by day.”

“Nothing is going to change.”, Isobel echoed and I realized these were not the best words to use around someone in mourning. She put her shades back on and turned away from me.

"Shit." I heard the front door open.

I guided Isobel down the hall from Father's chambers. She stayed close to the shadows untill we reached the  back door of the church.

"What ?", she said self-conscious, "Am I . . .not allowed to be here ?"

"There are no rules against it. . . but Brothers have a way of talking and we should keep our investigation secret."

I leave Isobel in the backyard and take a look around the front of St. Lilith's. When it looks clear I quickly lead Isobel to her car.

"Thank you", she whispered into my ear before getting into her car.

I still felt the chill of her breath on my ear as she drove away. Deciding today hadn't been a waste I turn to go back inside.

Brother Damien is standing by the door, I don't know what he saw or what he thinks--but he watches the car silver Jetta disappear.

"Shouldn't you be at work, Brother." He says.

"Don't concern yourself with my daily activities. . . how is Father ?"

"He's dying, Prince. I suggest you get your affairs in order. Tides are changing."