+1+

Her bare legs were smooth and just slightly parted. Carefully I lifted her skirt to just above her knees and slowly bent down, letting out a warm breath over her slightly tanned skin.

“Your hands”, she said

“Yes, sorry”

I reached into my pockets and pulled out a pair of thin heat resistance gloves. Then I removed  a pin from my sleeve and secured the front of the Angel’s dress. Quickly,  I went around the sides and back carefully pinning the extra white fabric.

Unlike the other Angels, Seraphina didn’t watch my work in the mirror. Instead she kept her eyes on the ground.

The Angel Mother , strolled around the main floor of her mansion, watching the Demon Brothers carefully with our pins and scissors so close to her delicate Angels. Gone were the paintings and workstations I has seen on my first visit. Now there were 50 mirrors evenly spaced, each with a small platform and an array of lights.

The Demon Brothers did not make eye contact with Mother. Instead they kept their eyes on the fabric, pins and hems of the Angel’s dress. This was careful tedious work and not the simple mending Mother had me do previously.

“Remember, boys”, The Angel Mother said, “We want classic. . . but perhaps modern.”

I blinked as a drop of sweat fell into my eyes. I quickly wiped my brow, wishing The Angel Mother would at least open a window. Many of us Brother’s were down to our undershirts in the sweltering heat of the Queen Anne’s.  

I could hear the hum of the heaters and the pulsing humidity, the Angels were not one bit affected. I think they turned the heat up on purpose to rile us.

Once the hems were pinned the Brothers stood and moved behind the Angels. We were a  quick lot and worked almost in unison. Which was unfortunate at this moment.

“Did you find anything”, I whispered to The Angel. My voice competing with the airy music Mother had playing over the speakers.

“Perhaps”, she said trying not to move her lips.

Talking would look suspicious. For Angel’s and Demons talking was simply not done unless absolutely necessary.

I took the extra fabric from around her shapeless waist and bound chest and pulled it back tight. She struggled a bit to breath.

“Tell me, what you’ve found.”

“Not here”, she said

“This evening. The Sweet Lane Bakery then ?”

“It is not so easy for me to disappear, Mother forbids Sisters to leave you know.”

The white fabric was pulled so taught over her already tightly bound body  I wondered if she would pass out.

Seraphina’s  eyes were now on the mirror, but instead of looking at her reflection she watched the bottle-blonde Angel whom was staring daggers at Bane who had forgotten his gloves.

“Prince ?”, The Angel Mother approached me, “Whatever are you doing here ? Surely you have better things to do than assist us Angels with our fittings ?.”

I bowed to her on one knee.

“I do not want others to think I am above my trade, Mother.”, I replied, “It’s shows a good example to the others. A man of the people”

“How is The Demon Father today ?”, she asked politely.

I was careful not to let my face fall. My hideous smile endured.

“Still in a coma.”

Mother smiled down at me then moved on to chastise Bane.

“What is her name”, I asked Seraphina quietly, “The blonde Angel you keep watching”

“Quiet, Demon.”

“Why so secretive.”

“I said quiet”, she whispered.

“Do you love her ?”

The Angel opened her mouth to speak then forced it back into it’s usual scowl.

“Formal, girls”, The Angel Mother shouted clapping her hands.

The Angels slipped out of the white summer dresses and the brothers pretended to look for pins or scissors, anything instead of watching Angels change dresses.

The Angel Mother generally requested  Brothers whom were not prone to gossip or idle chatter to tailor for the Angels. Generally it was two times a year and where every rumor we had about Angels came from.

I had persuaded Brother Able to let me take his place, it wasn’t difficult considering the clients.

The Angels had changed into long layers of soft chiffon dresses. The Angel Mother often let them attend one opera or theater event a year. Each year involved a new dress.

“I can’t keep sneaking around my Brothers either. They’ve noticed too much already. Tell me now or never.”, I said.

“I have an idea”, The Angel said.

I bent down on my knees again and pulled a pin out of my sleeve. When I reached for the hem of Seraphina’s gown she jerked her leg and jabbed her pointed heel into my shoulder.

I went off balance and as I fell  I heard the awful rip of chiffon. My shoulder darkened and  bruised instantly from her heel.

“Bastard”, Seraphina shouted, “Look what you’ve done. Useless disgusting Demon. You’ve ruined my dress”

She kicked me back down again.

I was ready to reprimand her for insulting me in public, when I saw a flicker of challenge in her lifeless blue eyes.

Oh.

Well, then.

“Sister, I am sorry. My apologizes.”, I said through gritted teeth.

“Clumsy idiot”, she shouted, holding up the ripped end of her dress.

Everyone in the room was was now watching. The Angels probably surprised to see Seraphina care about clothes and the Demons amused at seeing their future Prince get reamed out by a hellish Angel.

“I shall fix it, My Sister”, I was on my knees, “Please.”

“No, it’s too late”, she stormed off down the hall in a flurry of chiffon “You ruined it. Now my dress won’t match my Sisters.”

I picked up my kit and machine and quickly ran after her.

“Please I can fix it.”

“Stay away from me.”, she shouted.

I gave The Angel Mother a pleading look and I continued to flee after Seraphina. We shouted obscenities at one another, I could hear a tense laughter from down the hall.

Ahead of me Seraphina picked up her dress and ran down the hall towards two double doors. I followed checking behind me to make sure we weren’t being followed.

On the other side of the doors was an expansive library. I shut and locked the doors behind me. The Angel was already  pushing a cart filled with old books and glass encased scrolls over to me.

“I can’t believe you lot still have these.”, I regarded the written text from Homeland.

“They are translations. We hand wrote them from scrolls during the Dark Ages.”

“If you would have waited a few more years the printing press would have been faster.”

She didn’t find my joke amusing and instead opened the books.  It took me a while to adjust to reading my native language. It was a book on origin stories, the closest thing we had to history.

“There are many  histories about how our species are connected. One which says Demons are nothing more than Fallen Angels.”

“How convenient”, I said. knowing parts of the mythos flowed over in the human world.

“That you Demons were created when a deceitful set of Angels lead by Lucifer The First betrayed their king and celebrated by drinking his blood. Upon consumption of the blood they became.. . Demons. Fallen Angels.”

Lucifer The First being an Angel is an ol’ wives tale. I knew this much.

The Angel stood in the middle of the expansive library, below her feet was an intricate mural of Homeland. It was pastoral (as I thought)  and the center of the mural had a large blooming tree, with white oblong shaped fruit on it.

“Is this the Angelfruit that the Snowfires are made of ?”

“Yes”, she stepped off the mural, “Life, consist of two essential things. Blood and water. The snowfire apple orchid is nurtured with Holy Water containing the Angel princess’s tears”

I looked over the books written in a language I understood but was dense in an Angel Dialect.

“So, it’s not just the blood. It’s the Holy water in the snowfire’s orchard mixed with Demon blood that’s causing the transformation ? How ?”

“Why would someone be so desperate to create Demons from humans ?”, The Angel asked.

I nodded my head, with no answer. Although I know what the Angel was really thinking was “why not create more Angels”.

“Hopefully we will find answers at The 5th Circle.”, I had told her of the information from Matthew Conners earlier.

I reached into my work kit and pulled out a pair of sharp scissors.

“I can’t fix your dress but. . .”

“I don’t care about the dress.”, she seethed at me.

“You don’t . . . but when your anger rose that blonde Angel could not take her eyes off you.”

“Her name is Hippolyta”, The Angel said putting the books and scrolls away, something like a faint blush on her skin.

I realized she was talking about the blonde angel.

“Hippolyta must think you are  gorgeous", I said.

Normally the Angel would never entertain such  a comment, but this time she did.

“Why is that, Demon.”

“Because you have an awful to non-existent personality.”

She shifted on her heels, her face broke for nearly half a second. Then her lips tightened again

Oh.

I realized I had mispoken. Hippolyta  did think Seraphina was gorgeous. .  . that was all she thought about her and she wanted more.

The Angel set another book open on the table.

“What of you and the human Isobel ? Is she distracting you from your destiny ?”,  

“She’s just helping. Nothing more.”

Don’t lie

I bowed my head knowing she was right. Casual dating was never a problem ; sex and affairs they were nothing.To fall in love ?  To leave the Brotherhood was to be banished.

“I’m not in love with her or anything. We’ve just met”, I said.

Don’t lie.

The Angel bent over at the waist and lifted up her chiffon skirts. Startled I moved back. She ran her hands under thigh and tossed one of her daggers at me.

I surprised myself by catching it.

“You will need this to protect her. Fate is on you side Demon.”, she chose her words carefully, “Angels have a  sense when it comes to  true love. It is unshakeable”

“Truly ?”, I asked.

"Do you not see it, Prince ? Do you not feel it when you are with her ? Why she keeps showing up . She is fated to be your true love. You can not escape fate."

I stilled at her words thinking about the kiss I'd first shared with Isobel. It certainly wasn't tolerable, it wasn't like any kiss I'd ever had with a human. It was different. . .

"A Demon Prince. . .fated to fall in love with a human ? Madness truly."

She shakes her head.

"How long have you sensed this ?", I asked her.

"Since the moment she touched your arm outside the gates. She knew you."

"Know one knows me", I said reflexively

"Father always told me you were destined to change things.Perhaps your fate with the Isobel Charter will save us all."

Such a statement.

It concerned me how close and cavalier Father had been with this Angel.

“I suppose cupid was an Angel.”, I said 

“The myths must come from somewhere.”, she explained, "Ask any Angel and she will tell you. Isobel Charter and Paris Prince are at the peril of Fate."

“Now”, I put my gloved hands on the bodice of the dress and ripped away the torn chiffon, “Let me do my job.”

I stepped out of the library and into the main hall where the Angels were now being fitted for white skirt suits.

“Angel Mother”, I called up to where The Angel Mother was standing on the second floor overseeing the Demon Brother and Angels.

She smiled down at me with a chin dip of acknowledgement.

“Angel Mother’, I proclaimed so loud all the Demons and Angels in the room turned towards my voice, “I hope you don’t mind I made a few adjustments to your selection ”

“Adjustments ?”

I nodded

I stepped back into the library and taking Seraphina’s hand leading her back to her mirror and platform.

I had cut the base of the dress short showing off most of her long legs, then I’d carefully removed the front layers of chiffon, creating a layered  flowing train in the back. I walked around the long way, past Bane and The Angel Hippolyta, whom smiledSeraphina.

The Angel Mother made her way down and inspected the gown.

“You are very quick on your feet, Prince”, The Angel Mother said, “And talented.”

“Thank you", I said.

Hippolyta stepped off her platform, crushing Bane’s hand in the process and admired Seraphina from all sides. She stepped onto the platform and lightly touchd her lips to Seraphina’s, from where I stood I caught the quick slip of her tongue.

“You look lovely, Sister”, Hippolyta said.

“Thank you, Sister”, Seraphina replied.

Hippolyta stepped down and returned to where Bane kneeled nursing the hand she had stepped on.

+2+

The Fifth Circle was off the grid

Literally

It was off the NYC street grid and occupied the docks overlooking the East River. Outside it smelled like garbage and mud. The back of the club led out to the old docks chained off by city ordinance.

If I recalled correctly at one point The Fifth Circle may have been a fishing warehouse, but now was gutted and reconstructed into a modern circular building with open windows, pounding music and a long line.

The club attracted those from all walks of life. NYU students, touring internationals, those less wealthy and those with more money than they could count.

Isobel had her arm looped around mine, I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off of her since she came out of her apartment in just a pair of white shorts and shimmery gold top. She teetered in her heels and had a small gold bag with her slim camera slung over her shoulder.

I wanted to think I was happy to see her out of black.

“Looks packed”, she said watching the club, “How are we going to find anything useful ?”

“Divide and conquer”, I said looking at my watch.

“I don’t know how far I can get in my heels.”, she said clinging to me for support.

“Oh, no. I’m not letting you out of my sight dressed like that. We are sticking together.”

“Shut up”, she said trying not to laugh and kissed me.

Don’t lie

I kissed her back, glad for one moment not be thinking about half human-demons, dead roommates and the fact that this shouldn't feel so right. It never felt this right. If this was fate it felt damn good.

She pulled away first, the heat that radiated off of me had already started melting her plum lipstick.

Feeling a bit better I let my arm settle around her waist and watched as the line continued to grow.

“Finally”, I said

Isobel looked up at me then turned around to see  the Angel approaching. She was wearing the Angel’s standard white sheath dress and feathered cloak.

It looked so uniform and reminded me of the boys in their DRA uniforms.

“This is the Fifth circle .” The Angel said taking in the club

“Expecting something from Dante ?”, I remarked, “You may want to lose your cloak, Sister.”

She jerked away when I reached to unclasp the collar pin holding the cloak around her neck and she shoved her knee into my stomach.

“Sera”, Isobel still shocked out how violent she could be.

“How dare you touch me, filthy Demon”, she said as I recovered.

I decided to ignore her violent outburst. I didn’t know what we would find and I needed the vicious Angel on my side

The promoters at the front entrance scanned the crowd and gestured for the Angel to come to the front.The Angel hesitated and Isobel took the Angel’s cold hand and followed her over to the promoter.

“We’re together”, Isobel explained leaning her head next to the Angel’s shoulder.

The Angel nervously brushed  her hair back when the man looked her up and down. Not so good with a man she couldn’t stab.

The promoter smiled and pressed a cold dark stamp to our hands. It was a 5 with a circle on it.

“We’re in the right place.” said Isobel looking at the stamp that was identical to the one Caden and the blonde girl had.

Inside the Fifth Circle was a hypnotic blur of bodies and music. Themix of vice and excitement that was almost palatable.

Isobel was shaking out her hand.

“Oh my God”, she said, “Sera you are. . . so cold. my hand feels numb.”

The Angel rolled her shoulders as if trying to shake off the nickname.

“I am always cold.”, The Angel replied tightening her cloak.

“I’ll warm it up for you”, I took Isobel’s cold hand into mine.”Seraphina look around. Isobel and I are going to try getting into the VIP lounge.”

I gave the Angel my watch and set a place to meet up in an hour. In a matter of seconds she disappeared into the crowd.

Even though I knew this was about the snowfires apples and the murderers I still stopped to buy Isobel a drink. Something sweet and bubbly much like her personality.

“There”, Isobel pointed to the second floor clutching her drink.

A handful of smaller salons sat on the upper floor. Each with their own security. The one Isobel had pointed to featured the Lux Aeterna  projected on the door.

The line for that VIP room is short, bouncers quickly turning people away.The man at the door glanced over at  Isobel and kept a close eye on me as we approached.

“Name ?”, He asked

“I’m a friend of Hannah Lauren”, Isobel said, “She told me about this place. I thought she might be here tonight ?”

I’d told her to sound friendly but not like she knew Hannah well enough to know that she was dead.

“Hannah Lauren ?”, the man said

“Yeah, she said this was the place to go if you were looking for a little bit. . . more ?”

“Something. . . great”, I echoed myself and Matthew Conner.

The man smiled at this statement and stepped aside.

Not before stamping our hands with the Lux Aternea.

This was it. This was where Caden Kellers, Hannah Lauren, the blonde girl and countless other had been before they died.

The room must have been sound proof because a high octane techno beat filled the room blocking off the noise from inside.

It was easy to see why this room was so selective.Everyone  had clearly been hand selected for their startling youth and beauty. Every dancing and huddled body was tall and elegant. Long hair, cut jaws and pronounced cheekbones.

Then there was the apples

Snowfire apples.

Piles of white apples decorated the lounge. Stacked in tall clear vases, arranged into neat pyramids and spilling out of solid white gold baskets. The bar overflowed with snowfire Martini’s and Mojitos.  

“Where did they all come from ? I thought they weren’t being distributed.”, Isobel picked one up.

“The Angel Mother stopped distributing them weeks ago. These must be what Caden Kellers was stealing from Queen Anne’s.”

“Holy crap”, Isobel turned to face the door

“What ?”

She took a quick look behind her and tried to look unfazed.

“They are doing drugs in here. I mean like hardcore. I could get into trouble if the school found out. We could go to jail.”

“Calm down”, I said she was being sensible, “No one--”

“Never tell a woman to calm down”, she said, “let’s mingle for a bit and then get out of here.”

We broke apart and Isobel stood near the bar. I wondered as far as I could, while still keeping an eye on her. Something wasn’t right about this place

I started inspecting a snowfire apple for authenticity when a woman bumped into me.

“Your eyes”, was the first thing she said, “Are so. . . dark”

“Well, they want to match my heart”, I recalled how many times I’d heard Ashe say such a thing. Back when he had eyes that is .

“Who told you about this place ?”, she asked clearly drunk

“Hannah Lauren. You know her ?”

“No. I’m pretty new . I certainly hope the high they promise is as good as they say.”

She laughed at her own comment.

“So do I”

High

Addicts

Drug Addicts.

I looked at the arms and gestures of the beautiful dancers. They were here to indulge in some type of party drug ? It couldn’t be the apples they were here for the taking.

It was something more.

The lights dimmed and everyone applauded. I hurried to find Isobel in the dark and took her hand. The lights came back on and there was a flurry of excitement in the air.

Two sickly looking, pale  and bleary eyed  servers had appeared in the middle of the room,  carrying silver trays filled with tiny shot glasses. Each one had a serving of something dark, black and liquid.

Demon blood.

Isobel grimaced and took my arm.

The party goers rushed the sickly looking servers, suddenly the civilized elegant people became a mob as they reached for and poured down the liquid.

They were drinking Demon’s blood, they were addicted to it.

It stained their teeth and lips and they smiled and delighted in the high it created when mixed with the aphrodisiac effect of the snowfire apples.

The servers tucked the empty trays under their arms and surveyed the crowd. They whispered to one of the taller more gallant men in the room. They seemed to promise him something. . . perhaps a bigger high ? What ever it was the gallant man followed them out to the club.

Isobel and I trailed behind them as they went back out into the main dance floor. They moved easily around the crowded bar and to the back of the club.

“This can’t be good.”, Isobel said.

We waited a few moments before slipping out the back. The smell of the Dumpsters and the murky East River was strong. We watched as the strange servers walked the gallant man over to the dock and offered him more Demon’s blood. He took it greedily

“Our benefactors for tonight would like to extend an ultimate high.”, The servers said in unison.

Isobel had pulled out her camera and began taping the exchange.

“I’m game”, The gallant man answered.

The servers stepped aside as a man in a crisp burgundy suit stepped partially out of the shadows and extended a hand to the gallant man. The gallant man extended his arm and in a  swift motion the man in the suit shoved a white gold blade into the gallant man’s unprotected side.

The burgundy suited man pulled out the blade and wiped it off on one of the servers dish clothes. The servers helped the gallant man on to the floor where the threesome watched the gallant man die  in a pool of his own blood.

Isobels hand shook, I held it still hoping to capture the face of the man in the suit.

I kept expecting them to kick the gallant man’s body into the river but they just waited.

There

It

Was

The gallant man’s dead body let out a ragged breath. Then another. He grunted and the servers helped him up. He breathed again.

He was alive again. Reanimated

“Welcome”, the man in the black suit said.

“Wha. . .”, The gallant man tried to speak.

“I’m here to offer you the greatest high of your life, Brother. A place among the Order of The Morning Star. Rise Brother and accept my gracious offer or true death awaits you.”

That voice. I knew that voice.

The gallant man studied the suited man. The gallant man looked at the fatal wound he had been given and up at the suited man again.

“Yes.”

The suited man laughed and stepped into the light. His face hit me like a knife to my back.

Isobel tried to stop me as I  stood and charged on shaky legs towards the scene playing out in front of me.

“B-brother”, I said. suddenly feeling more entitled and righteous that I ever had., “What is this blasphemy ?”

The suited man was no longer the suited man. He was the Demon I’d grown up with.

The suited man was Brother Isaiah.

Isaiah turned towards his sick and twisted new creature and gave him one command.

“Kill the prince.”

A/N

Hmm, so I was  SHOCKED when some of you picked up on Brother Isaiah and started liking him.  I mean really suprised I didn't think he would stand out at all. So, I felt bad knowing this was going to happen. I mean he hardly had any speaking lines and I was giving him as much background "noise" as the others to keep you guessing. I'm just . . . yeah.

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