“Soooo…you guys just had a chance meeting? And you begged someone who’s almost a total stranger to come help you because I didn’t answer the door?”

Caden shrugs, “Next time you go through something like this, let me know how you deal with the overbearing amount of stress and panic.”

“Fair.” Zoe says softly,

“My question is, why did you just freak out when you got here? My blood? I mean…”

Saige huffs out, she grabs her neck and tries to hide behind her shoulders, clearly embarrassed.

”Vampires, well we obviously need blood to survive. We can’t go without it more than a week without going a little crazy for it. I’m fone but uh, Caden’s blood is special. The blood of Blood Demons is, to us, when we smell a Blood Demon’s blood, it’s like smelling the sweetest most amazing thing ever. We smell it and suddenly we are addicted. We need it. And we become impossibly desperate for it. It’s the rarest but most valuable thing on the black market.”

Zoe and Caden look at each other, that sounds so much like going Full Demonic with no control. They both share the same thought.

”What?” Saige asks,

”It’s nothing, not important. So you might have killed him?” Zoe asks,

She nods, “I didn’t know he was hurt. But, yeah. Just thinking about it, I mean I-“

She looks at Caden and Zoe who give her cautious stares.

”S-sorry. I’m fine. I promise.”

”You better be.” Zoe says,

”So, what do we do now? Is it safe to stay here?”

”Probably not. But we don’t have many other choices.”

”I mean, I have friends we could go to? Why didn’t Helena attack Zoe though?”

”I didn’t get home that long ago. If she was in my apartment. You’d have to look for it, but she would let us know. I haven’t looked yet.”

They both stare at her. Zoe sighs, “I know. Reckta.”

She disappears out of the apartment. “You don’t know who she is?”

Caden shakes his head, “How would I know that Saige?”

She shrugs, “I’m not suggesting you hang out with Helena, just asking if you recognize her at all from campus or walking down the street or something.”

”No.”

”Well I have some fri-“

Saige turns her head fast. She bolts down the hall and into his bedroom, Caden is hot in her heels. A dark silhouetted male hovers over the angel, he looks at them and with a flick of his wrist he disappears, falling through a portal that closes fast behind him at lightning speed.

Saige sprints to the angel’s side, she shakes as if she’s having a seizure. She whines and grabs Saige’s arm.

”What did he do to her?”

Saige looks at her, and groans. “This is gonna freaking suck. Caden? I’ll be fine.”

“What are you-“

She bites down into the angel’s neck. The angel gasps and whines louder, tears roll from her cheeks as she closes her eyes tight and digs her nails into Saige’s shoulder.

Saiges pulls away and takes a stumbling step backward, letting the angel plop on the bed. Saige is now shaking hard whereas the angel is moaning but limp on the bed.

”What the heck just happened!?” Zoe shouts,

Saige’s eyes roll backward, her body jerks hard and she begins falling back, Caden hurries and grabs her. Zoe is bending over the angel, blood runs down her neck.

”What did she do!?”

”I-I uh-”

”J-just, take care of her.” Zoe says,

As he runs into the living room with Saige, Zoe bends over the angel girl, she’s way to weak! Zoe uses the spell once more to sprint to her apartment, she opens a drawer of her dresser, pulls out the syringes, tape, and tube and sprints back.

Caden holds Saige on her side against the floor. Not knowing what is happening exactly. She lightly struggles and groans, shaking. But after a few minutes, she slowly stops, she sighs and her rolled back eyes close. But she still breathes heavily.

Caden can’t do anything to help her. He sits there with her for a few minutes. He gets up and hurries to the bedroom and sees Zoe sitting on the window sill, above the angel. Zoe looks up at him.

”Is Saige okay?”

”I don’t know, she’s breathing.”

”I need a break.” Zoe mutters,

”Some guy came in, I’m guessing through a portal. He poisoned her or something.”

”Saige sucked it out?”

”I think so.”

Zoe shakes her head, “She’s got some guts.”

Caden looks a little closer, his eyes widen. “You’re giving her your blood?”

Zoe nods, “Don’t act like it’s a big thing. She needed it. I don’t need this much to live.”

Caden smirks, “You pretty amazing Zoe.”

”Don’t do that.” She says staring at the girl,

She holds her very slightly blood stained fingers in her hands. She looks up at him.

”What?”

He shakes his head and smiles, “Nothing-uh, I’ll make a call, get us out of here. I know someone.”

”K.”

He walks out and finds Saige still lying on the floor. He gently picks her up and sets her on the couch. He pulls his phone and dials a series of numbers.

“Hey. It’s Caden. I need some help….No. ha! Jerk, no. Really? We-hey Look something happened, it’s serious. I have some friends with me. I’ll explain in the morning, but, we’re okay right now but. We need to disappear for a little bit. It’s a long story. Yeah you could say that, very long day. Alright, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

After two hours, Zoe emerges from the bedroom with the girl, she lays her on the living room floor.

Zoe looks exhausted. “Any luck?”

”Yeah. There’s a guy I know, he’s chill. He’s down to help us tomorrow.”

”Tomorrow? At this rate, we might all be dead by then.”

Caden scoffs, “What a night. You alright?”

”Fine. She’s holding up. Saige looks okay.”

”It really screwed them both up.”

”She almost killed her, but it was a smart move.”

Zoe leans against the kitchen island with her arms crossed, watching them. “Are you okay? Are we, okay?”

Zoe closes her eyes and sighs, “Yeah. I know it wasn’t you.”

”So someone ended up drugging you?”

”Likely the same person tonight.”

”I should have cut you off the other night Zoe. I didn’t think anything of it.”

”You wouldn’t have. That’d be giving you too much credit.”

Caden can’t help but snort and smile. “Glad I can still provide amusement.”

She smiles softly, “I’m sorry. For, you know, getting…angry. Yelling at you and, yeah. That.”

”It’s understandable. And forgiven.”

Zoe looks like there’s something else she wants to say, but she doesn’t. She keeps her mouth closed. But her eyes search for something between looking at Saige and this mystery girl.

”How did they know she was here?”

”Followed you? Face identification? Wouldn’t take long, especially since you’re new to this world. Unless it was one of Helena’s people. I don’t know. But we need to leave.”

”Agreed.”

Caden takes a deep breath and exhales. “Why was she so low on blood? How did you know?”

Zoe’s blank expression turns into depression. “I’ve seen plenty of people bleed in my lifetime. Way more than enough. I could tell she was bleeding slowly, or in other words. Not enough blood.”

”Well shouldn’t she have been, dead? If she-I mean how much blood did she have?”

Zoe scoffs, “You really got a long way to go in your class. Angels can survive if there’s at least 2 pints of blood left in the body, that doesn’t account for failing organs.”

”How many do average people need?”

”Anyone who isn’t a demon, vampire or angel would die from anything around or more than 5 pints missing, they have around 10 on average. She has probably about 4.”

Caden stares at her, mortified. Zoe shakes her head. “She’ll be okay. She can still be conscious with 4. She’s taken a serious beating though.”

”I’m glad I met you.”

She gives him a look, as if correcting him for the complimentary behavior. Suddenly Saige bolts upright, gasping hard and slapping her hand to the carpeted floor.

”Hey! Hey it’s okay. Right here.” Caden says hurrying to her side,

She groans and clutches her chest with her free hand. “H-agh! What-where are we?”

”In the living room of my apartment, you okay?”

She nods, “Wow, that was awful.”

“How’s your head?” Zoe asks,

”It’s my chest actually, the poison went to my heart.”

”You could have died.”

”Well, it was the chance of me dying or certainty of her death.”

”I didn’t say it was dumb. Stupid maybe. But good thinking.”

Caden helps her to her feet, “Thanks. Why are we still here?”

“We couldn’t go anywhere with you both in the conditions you’re in.”

”I’m fine. How’s she holding up?”

”She’s steady for now. Right?” Caden asks,

Zoe nods, “Yeah she is. We have a place. But it needs to be tomorrow.”

”Why?”

”I have a friend. His roommates leave town tomorrow for a month long trip.”

”Okay so, what we just sit here and wait?!”

”They’re likely waiting for us out there anyway.”

”Okay great. So, so we are dead anyway.”

”No. We can do two things. Caden and I go out, they’ll probably come after us, we’ll taken them on. While we are, you sneak out with her and hide somewhere just in case.”

”In case you die. Second option?”

”We break the rules of Rules of Human Engagement.”

Saige’s eyebrows shoot up like fireworks. “You want to lose them through a crowd?”

Zoe shrugs, Caden looks at them both. “Wait what? What’s the Rules of Human Engagement?”

”A law, unless we plan on turning a bunch of people into vampires or demons, it prevents us from showing who we really are to humans. And Zoe wants to just run into a massive crowd and blend in. Like it won’t send everyone into complete panic.”

”Any better ideas Saige? Toss em out!” Zoe spits,

”Can we at least hear the plan? You have a plan for it Zoe?”

”Are you serious Caden? Our worlds are on the brink of collision and probably, an all out war. You want to just say, ‘Screw it’.”

”Gah! Shut up Saige! We won’t start a war! Or reveal ourselves! Just shut up and listen! It’s easier than you think!”

Saige exhales invisible smoke out her nose as she glares at Zoe. “Let’s hear it, the genius plan.”

”I’ll hit you.”

”I won’t hold back this time.” Saige says,

”Both of you! Geez! Look, Zoe? No one wants to talk to an ass! Saige! We don’t have a lot of options here! Both of you suck it up, bottle your anger, kill each other later!”

Saige gets a look in her eyes, she’s ready to kill her, but she stays silent. She simply folds her arms and leans against the wall, waiting.

Zoe is busy glaring at Caden. “Don’t ever call me that again or you can deal with this crap on your own.” She says, spraying venom into the air,

”What’s the plan?” Caden asks softly, almost apologetically,

”….We wait, till 1 PM. Lunch rush. We make a run for the Grand Plex Mall. They’ll be following us, which is why, Caden and I will head out first, you wait maybe two seconds and head for Caden’s safe house. Caden, you and I go to the mall. We split up, not far, pick a store across from each other. We make sure we aren’t followed into the stores, if we are we work our way out, casually and we head for the safe house. No one finds out, we’ll pick big stores with places to hide.”

”If humans find out, we are all screwed either way.”

”We got this Saige. Can you think of any other options?”

Saige narrows her eyes at him, but she knows he’s being genuine and forces herself to swallow her frustration.

”No. Fine let’s do it.”

Caden picks up the angel and sets her on the couch. He shakes his head at himself for not doing it earlier.

“Can you shut up Zoe? I agreed to the plan. I’m being trusting. Maybe you should try it.”

”Really? How about trying to not be critical of people because of their race?”

Caden hangs his head and sighs.

Saige makes an awkward and confused face. “What the-when did I ever judge you for being a Blood Demon?”

”The moment you saw me. You looked at me like you were ready to kill me, and no. It wasn’t because Caden said he needed help and you didn’t know if I was attacking him or not. You know exactly who I am. I read it all over your face Saige. Which is the same reason why you just backed up rather than fight me when I tried to find out who you were earlier.”

Saige’s face turns dark with fury. “Want to see me fight? I’ll gladly throw you through the wall.”

They both are locked in deadly eye contact. Mentally tearing each other apart.

”You think they’ll get along? Me neither.” Caden says to the unconscious angel,

”No one was talking to you Caden!”

Her anger immediately disappears, she looms at him, aghast. She opens her mouth, but Zoe beats her too it.

”Hey! He didn’t do anything! You want to attack something? Come on! I’ll beat you into the ground.”

”Oh shut up! It was an acci-I didn’t mean to get mad at him- it’s you! You ever wonder why people are afraid of you Zoe? You push away everyone. You bite their freaking heads off when all they do is say ‘hi’ to you!”

”When we get to the safe house. I’m gonna beat you into the ground.”

”Can you guys not hate each other please?” Caden asks,

”Sounds good to me. I can’t wait to lay you out. Your head has been shoved up somewhere and someone needs to rip it out.”

Saige looks at Zoe’s shaking hand, Zoe is literally on the verge of beating her to death right here and now.

”I’m going for a walk.”

”Don’t bother.” Zoe growls,

She practically charges for the door and shuts it behind her. Saige shakes her head. “…I understand she’s one of you. But really? Really Caden? Her? Gah! I can’t wait to pound some humility in her.”

Caden doesn’t say anything, just stares at her. “She’s difficult. But she has reasons.”

“Ha! Haha! Oh I know! Oh wait how do you know? Did she trust you enough to tell you? Or did you have to ask everyone about the girl that people call a Walking Hell? She’s always been alone for a reason! No one likes her because she tears into them like they’re her dinner. Gah woman!”

Saige paces the floor and finally sits down next to him. “Why her man? Hasn’t she even slightly torn into you?”

Caden nods, “Yeah. She has. I had this friend. We didn’t start as friends. His name was TJ, man he was a complete jerk. Everyone hated him. He was the definition of how you describe Zoe. And man he hated me. More than anything. He didn’t have anyone, everyone knew his dad left when he was young and his mom lived at bars and dealer’s homes. I had a lot. I got lucky in life.” He says smiling,

Saige stares at him, a slight frown, wondering where this is going.

”I kept being nice to him. It took a while but he stopped being cold towards me, he stopped bullying me, trying to get me to stop being nice to him. He came up to me one day and thanked me. He told me how his life had been hard. He had no idea how to be friends with people and with everything he went through, he pushed everyone away. Who would want to be friends with someone like him? Basically what he said to me.”

”You think Zoe is like that?” Saige asks,

”Maybe a little, TJ was desperate for friends, but didn’t think he was worthy of them. If you look at Zoe. I have no idea what she’s faced. But it’s clear she’s seen some serious crap, she’s been through worse probably and maybe even been betrayed, I don’t know. But it’s clear because of all that, she’s terrified, loathes the idea of trusting people. She was cold to me, but almost immediately started to let me in. I think she’s very very desperate or rather really, on a very deep level, misses having friends. Which is why she let me in so easily. She’s cold and hard to deal with Saige. But I have never seen someone tryst that fast when they clearly are so afraid to.”

”Good for you. It’s different here.”

Caden nods and speaks before she can, “I’m not expecting that to fix the problem Saige. Not even slightly. But I hope it can provide some kind of start for you guys.”

”You got a good heart Caden. But I’m not ready for that. We’re gonna fight and I’m gonna lay her out.”

”Just don’t kill each other okay? And don’t die. You both are actually kinda cool to me.”

She forces a smile, “You should’ve just left it at ‘don’t kill each other’.”

She gets to her feet and walks to the kitchen and looks in the fridge. Zoe soon returns and they wait mostly in silence until the next morning.

“Are you ready?” Caden asks,

Saige nods, “Be careful.”

He looks at Zoe. “Reckta.” They say simultaneously,

They sprint out the door, Caden hot on her heels, they run as fast as they can. They make it to the mall. Zoe splits off, Caden runs around the mall once more and dives into a Dovavan store and slides to a stop in the boys section. It’s empty. But he hears a commotion near the entrance, the one he caused.

He drops his black jacket onto an empty hangar and pulls the hood of his red shirt, onto his head. He puts his hands into his pockets and walks toward the front entrance. The tiny mumbling crowd has dispersed. He walks out of the sports store and looks across the way at the other store. He is trying to look as natural as possible. He walks through the mall towards one of the exits, he turns a corner. Suddenly she is beside him.

”I like it. You look cute.” Zoe says to him,

Her voice is so happy, it almost totally throws him off. He smiles at her, whoever followed them are probably listening to everyone.

”3 o’clock.” She mumbles,

Caden looks up at a store and then lets his eyes shift. A man in a white t-shirt. Sitting on a bench ‘people watching.’

“Made him.” He whispers back,

“We got everything? I can’t wait to see Lincoln's face.”

”Little brat. I’m getting him back for scaring the crap out of me a week ago.”

They walk around the mall, they finally see a couple heading out and start to follow them. Zoe looks down at her phone. “Saige is here. Brown Rav 4.”

They see a guy near the entrance/exit of the clothing store. “We need more people.” Zoe says,

They abandon the idea of following the couple, and look at shirts while they wait for a group of five at the cashier’s desk to finish checking out.

“We can’t look at shirts forever.” She mutters to him.

“Got any ideas to by time? Instead of looking like we are trying to waste time?” He asks, frustration in his voice,

Zoe rolls her eyes, she grabs Caden’s shoulders, turns him and yanks him close and in by the collar of his shirt. She presses her lips against his.

He shakes a little from the surprise, but she has her hand on the back of his neck, keeping him from pulling away. Her lips are soft and warm, their smell of cherries fills his nose.

She pulls away and smiles at him. He stares for a moment but smiles. “Come on babe. Let’s go home.”

She interlocks her arm with his and pulls him into the aisle and toward the entrance with the group right behind them. They walk out and across the parking lot to the car.

”If you ever tell anyone I kissed you. I’ll break your nose.”

”That’s not exactly what I meant when I asked if you had any suggestions.”

”I didn’t see you coming up with anything.”

”Sorry you had to do that.”

She gives him a frustrated look. “Just get in the car.”

They walk up and climb into the vehicle. “You guys okay?” Saige asks,

”We’re good. No one found out either.”

Saige starts the car and they pull away. “Glad you guys are okay.”

”I’m tired.” Zoe says,

”Do you guys…actually sleep?”

”We can.” Caden says,

”The angel woke up before we left. But she wants to talk to you Caden.”

The drive to the studio apartment doesn’t take long. They walk up two flights of stairs and knock on the door. The door opens, Caden smiles.

”Tony.”

”Hey buddy. Come in. You guys okay?”

”Yeah.”

“She’s on the couch, she wanted to wait for all of you to be here.”

They walk in and see her in an oversized sweater and grey pj bottoms, she smiles softly at them. She has bandaids on her cheeks and chin which seem to only make her black and purple bruises more profound.

”Hi.” She says,

It’s not as bad as last night, but it’s still pretty hoarse. “You okay?” Caden asks,

She nods, she looks so tired. Tony locks the door and they all sit on the couch or on chairs in an awkward circle.

”What’s your name?”

”Casey Sharp.” She says,

“Why were you there Casey?” Caden asks,

”A demon, she had a blindfold on, she abducted me off the street.”

”Helena.” Zoe says,

”Mhm. She was taking my blood, I don’t know why. But she would beat me, then have people take a few pints of blood from me two times a week.”

”Helena’s stealing angel blood?” Tony asks,

”Why?” Saige asks rhetorically,

”Angel blood is pretty crazy. If you mix it with the right stuff, it can go a long way. But why she needs it…” Zoe shakes her head,

“You have any idea what it was for? How long were you there?”

”Maybe, a few months. I-I can’t be sure. But They were careful not to say anything around me. I just got beat every day, and they took blood a few times a week then beat me again. I’m sorry I can’t help more.”

”It’s okay. Helena’s smart, she’s evil. She wouldn’t just leave information to chance.”

”But she did with you?” Tony asks,

”No. It was an accident. Uh-come on, I’ll tell you what happened, can you guys? Try to figure out stuff with her family?”

”Yeah.” Zoe says,

They walk into the next room leaving the three girls. “Do you remember where you live exactly?” Saige asks,

She nods, she reaches into the head hole of her sweater and pulls out a piece of paper.

”My throat still hurts.”

Zoe takes it from her and unfolds it. “1650 Southward Lane, New York. Parents: Sally and Tim Sharp. Kidnapped on January 30th 2029.”

”I’ll get to work on finding them.” Saige says,

Zoe smiles almost drowsily at Casey. Saige walks to a computer on a desk on the far side of the apartment.

”How do you feel?”

Casey shrugs, “Better than I’ve been for the last few months.”

”Oh yeah, it’s August right now. But we are going to get you back to your family.”

”Thank you guys.” She says,

Tears begin streaming down her cheeks, she huffs out and begins to cry and sob.

”Hey, it’s okay. Don’t worry it’ll be okay.”

She covers her face with her hand as she cries. Zoe grabs her and gently pulls her into a hug. “Shhh. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

Casey finally quiets down and sighs shakily. She hugs Zoe back. “Thank you.” She whispers,

Zoe scoffs, “I did nothing.”

”You’ve done plenty. I’m sorry. For what you have been through.”

Zoe pulls away and stares at her. Casey bows her head a little. “I can read people’s feelings through physical contact. I never do it but-“

”Don’t. Don’t do it again.”

Casey nods, “I’m sorry. You helped me and look like you have had some rough experiences. I wanted to comfort you.”

“I have dealt with a lot. But you’re mistaken if you think I’m weak.”

Casey frowns. “No. No. I meant it like, you’re probably the strongest one here. I admire your drive and strength. That’s why I cried. They broke me…so many times.”

Zoe closes her eyes and sighs. “I’m sorry Casey.”

”How do you keep it? You’re strength? You seem so…unbreakable.”

Zoe bites her cheek. “It’s practice Casey. Don’t feel bad for becoming vulnerable. It’s expected.”

”Hey Casey? Is this them?” Saige asks,

Zoe helps her to her feet and helps her walk over to the computer. Casey looks at the picture of an adult couple on a social media platform and begins to cry again. She nods.

”Th-that’s them.” She mutters,

She smiles and cries harder. “You’re going home Casey.” Saige says softly,

It even makes the corner of Zoe’s mouth curl. “We’ll get you to them. But there’s something I personally need you to do first.”

”Zoe.”

”It’s okay. What is it?” Casey asks,

”I know someone. A wizard. I’m a very skeptical, I have my reasons. I want all of us, including me, to, I guess you could say take a truth test.”

”Zoe are you serious right now?” Saige asks,

”I trusted people before, this time around, I need proof.”

”I get it.”

”I don’t. I think we’ve proved ourselves. Or did you forget the part where I almost died saving her, as did Caden. And Casey, she almost died saving Caden.”

“I remember talking to her, not you. But you want to trust me? You want me to trust you? This is the way to do it. I won’t doubt anymore unless you give me a reason to.”

”Hey. It’s okay. It’ll be quick.” Casey says,

Though her voice is worn, Saige can tell she’s pretty timid and soft spoken by nature. Caden and Tony emerge from the bedroom.

”Alright, Tony’s up to speed-“

”Zoe wants us tested, by what, magic? A truth test you called it?”

”What is your problem? You have no idea what I’ve been through let alone seen.”

”You know what I don’t like? You, acting like you are the biggest baddest of us all, like you are the only one who’s worthy of trust yet you have none for us. You aren’t the only one who’s seen hell Zoe!”

“Really? I thought you were a little wuss ever since I laid eyes on you.”

Saige swings at her, Zoe grabs her arm and spins under it, elbowing her in the sternum.

”Hey-hey whoa!” Caden and Tony jump at them, and rip them off each other. Tony grabs Zoe and Caden grabs Saige. Zoe grabs him and tries to throw Tony but he throws her onto the ground.

”Get off!” Saige shouts,

”Calm down! Calm down!” He begs,

Saige tries to just Barrel through him, but Caden uses her momentum against her and his own body to push her to the ground. He calls out his spell and wrestles her.

Zoe hits Tony hard in the stomach, he slides back across the floor. Casey holds her hands up and creates a see through, golden dome around Zoe. She barrels into it and smacks against the ground.

Caden pins Saige down. “Enough! Enough! Saige! Look at me!”

She glares at him and growls. “Get off Caden! I’m gonna rip her head off!”

“Stop! Saige calm down! Slow breathes!”

She growls again through her teeth. She forces her head back against the floor and stares at him, breathing heavily. He can feel her hated for Zoe just from her eyes.

”Let me go Casey now!” Zoe spits,

”Zoe stop!” Casey shouts,

Zoe looks at her, the innocence and desperate plea in her eyes. Zoe stops, her fists resting against the dome shield. Saige pushes against Caden again but he holds her fast.

She finally yells in frustration but relaxes. “Saige.”

She has relaxed but she still has the look of a murderer on her face. Do they really hate each other that much!?

”I’m…I’m fine.” She mumbles,

”You sure?”

She nods, “Get the heck off me.”

Caden slowly does as asked, she hurries to her feet. “Guys, you-“

”Shut up, Tony!” Zoe says,

Caden frowns, “Maybe you guys should hit each other.”

“What?!” Casey asks,

”Come on. Hit each other but don’t, don’t break anything. That includes bones, just get it out, once.”

They look at each other. “I’d be willing to go to the safe house. It might not be safe anymore.”

”You have a freaking safe house?! When we were stuck in that apartment and Casey almost died?!”

”Whoa whoa. I knew about it too! I wasn’t sure if we were compromised either. If we left it might have been easier for them to get to us.” Caden says,

”So you both just decided to keep us in the dark?!”

”I’m sorry. We shouldn’t have.”

”Now isn’t the time to be turning on each other.” Tony says,

”Come on. Beat each other up and then call it square.” Caden says,

Saige and Zoe stare at each other. “Fine. You win. I’ll back off. If I win, you get off my back!” Zoe says,

”Deal.”