Enid and Hazel were in their respective starfighters. Enid was laughing as she started plotting the temporal portal’s destination. Not that there were many options, either random spot in the past, or Pluto Station at some undetermined point in the 29th century.

“I’m just saying that using my telekinesis using Sariel to hack cameras in a casino in Vegas to get back all the money blew partying for two weeks to refill your bank account was not a good use of our time.”

“We didn’t get caught.”

“I cannot believe you kept me here for two weeks so you could systematically hack every single movie company’s digital library and download all streaming platform’s movies. It is ridiculous.”

“Mom, just think of what we can do in the future with that? I will never run out of movies to watch. And! And I downloaded all the music libraries I could.”

“And how much space is left in Sariel’s datastore?”

“Erm, a tiny bit.”

Enid shook her head.

“Mom, why aren’t we going home?”

“Because I have a feeling, I need go somewhere else. Just go with me here.”

“Fine but if we end up running away from dinosaurs again, I will be very upset.”

Enid hit the holo-graphic button to start the wormhole generator up. The pair launched through it once it appeared and this time they were in clear blue skies. Apollo’s display was showing a settlement below. Enid started descending after turning on the cloak.

“I’m going to go scope things out. You guys’ discharge and find someplace discrete to land. Keep comm’s active.”

“No way I’m sitting in space for four hours while you get to poke around.”

“Fine, but we’re not going to land and risk lightning strikes. I’m using my armor’s wings.”

“Let’s do it.”

Apollo and Sariel switched to hover mode. Hazel and Enid lept out of the planes. They had their helmets on because they were at such a high altitude. Enid was planning on performing what was basically a HALO jump so there was less of a chance people would see them landing. She wasn’t so apt with her armor’s wings, and neither was Hazel so they did manage to land without killing themselves, but it also happened to be in an ungrace tangle on a church roof. They rolled down and fell fifty feet to the ground. They were mostly unharmed physically, though the same could not be said for their pride. The real problem was that they were observed standing up out of the bushes with their glowing turquoise-blue feathered energy wings were still extended. A handsome man with salt and pepper black hair and a thick beard. He was definitely Enid’s type. He had broad shoulders and she was fairly sure toned muscles under his chainmail and tunic. A priest and four nuns in medieval style habits rounded out their group. The nuns and priest were all crossing themselves and praying hail Mary’s in Latin. The man had hand on the hilt of his blade and started to approach. Enid’s Atlantean armor rippled and the formed armored plates. He drew his sword, likely due to the sudden movement on Enid’s armor.

“Die demon!”

He lunged at the pair. Enid raised her forearm and blocked the blow with her wrist plate. The armor rippled and sent a pulse of equal and opposite force through the blade sending it flying several feet. The broad sword sunk deep into the damp Earth and twanged as it wobbled there. He looked down at his bare hands and the short dark-haired woman before him. He became distracted by her enchanting green eyes. Enid spoke in the same language he had spoken, which would be something close to middle English. She tried to sound all divine and holier than thou art.

“Attempt to harm me again and you will feel my father’s wrath!”

The priest and nuns all fell prostate and were begging God’s forgiveness in Latin. Hazel for her part seemed more amused by the whole situation then anything. Enid gave her a warning glance and Hazel cleared her throat and tried to hide her mirth. Enid retracted her suits wings and glanced at the man who had attacked her before approaching the nuns and the priest.

“Father, sisters, please I did not mean to put fear in your hearts, only the brutes.”

The priest looked up at her then looked at the ground as if he believed he wasn’t worthy to meet her gaze, or it could have been the skintight body armor that left no part of her anatomy to the imagination. She figured the Atlanteans weren’t much for modesty. He spoke in Latin.

“Why has the Lord sent you? Does he seek to punish us as Sodem and Gomorrah? You will find safety and shelter here! Sir Arl was just trying to protect us. Please pray to the Lord to forgive us on our behalf!”

Enid blinked at him. She supposed her words and the whole feathered energy wings probably would make someone think the pair were angels. She decided to just go with it to simplify things, as descriptors went, angel was sure better than witch.

“Yes Father! We are angels sent from the Lord to cleanse this land of foulness. Evil has taken root here. We have come to burn it out! Ye who shelters demons shall reap his righteous wrath.”

She thought yadda yadda yadda, but really wasn’t sure where to go from there if she was being truthful. Hazel stepped forward she spoke in Latin.

“There are demons here! We will find them and destroy them. If you stand in our way you will be just as guilty as them and you will be thrown into the pits! If we fail in our task, then God will rain down holy fire and burn you and this land to ash!”

Hazel’s words led to the nuns to start wailing and praying fervently Enid looked at her and made a motion with her eyes and shoulders. Her meaning was clear, ‘you’re laying it on a bit thick aren’t you?’ Hazel blushed slightly.

“But ye who aid us will be exalted in the Heavens. The angels shall sing your praises. Fear not for Seraph! First daughter of God! Archangel of the Universe. Mistress of the infinite has interceded with the Lord on your behalf and has come to your aid.”

She kneeled beside her mother who turned to her and gave her daughter the dirtiest look. Hazel mouthed the word staff. Enid frowned at her and hidden from view of the gathered mortals she stuck her middle finger up at her daughter. Enid rolled her eyes turned to the humans reached her hands up and the energy staff appeared, and she slammed the end of it into the ground. At this the knight who had seemed to remain somewhat skeptical to this point fell to his knees and crossed himself. Enid waved her hand and the staff vanished. She found herself hoping the real Seraph wasn’t completely furious at her for imitating her or abusing her staff to impress the medieval bumpkins. The knight spoke.

“I am Sir Arl, Lord of Lincolnshire. I am at your service Seraph. Speak and I will make it so. If I must die because I struck a servant of the Lord, I will do so with faith in my heart.”

Enid looked down at him. She thought she’d recognized the Cathedral.

“Ah the brute speaks.”

“I am no brute.”

“You attacked an unarmed woman, if that is not the act of a brute then what was it? It certainly wasn’t the act of a godly or chivalrous knight!”

Sir Arl looked truly horrified at her words. If there was one thing she knew about a lot of the English knights of the period, living up to the example of Charlemagne was something they aspired and failing to do so ungracefully was social suicide among their compatriots. Not that Charlemagne was someone to look up too.

“Milady Archangel. I have wrong you greatly please let me provide whatever shelter and protection you require! I must make amends.”

Enid nodded.

“Perhaps you are more then a brute after all, Sir Knight. I accept your apology and welcome your kind offer of hospitality. Demons are vile and conniving foes. They hide from the light of the Lord, and we are beacons of it. We must don disguises and appear as if mortal women so they will be lulled into a false sense of security. Once they reveal themselves, we will strike and rid you of their pestilence.”

Hazel watched her mother, she was always in awe of how she could, with no sort of vampiric power manipulate people into doing her bidding and letting them think it was their idea. Her mother would never admit to her adeptness at such shady behavior. She always thought of herself as a straightforward kick people’s teeth in kind of woman. But she was a born ruler.

“You may call me Sarah and my partner is Hazel. We will need the ability to go where we will, so the guise of noblewomen would be preferable, servants while unseen are often at the whims of those around them.”

Enid walked over and pulled Sir Arl’s blade from the ground and offered it to him. He stood and took it from her.

“A good weapon, Sir Knight.”

He nodded.

“My sister had many dresses that will fit you Lady Sarah, but I fear we have no clothes for one such as your partner.”

Enid looked at Hazel.

“I have something that will work until something can be acquired.”

The knight looked to the nuns.

“Please, could you conceal and protect them in the convent?”

The priest spoke.

“Yes of course.”

He looked to the nuns.

“Please take them to your rooms.”

*****

Hazel was pacing back and forth to let the holo-web adapt the dress it was projecting to Hazel. The process if done properly would prevent clipping through the clothing. Luckily Hazel’s hair was shortish. Mostly still kept it close to the cut she became accustomed too from Norway, in armor she could easily be mistaken for a Viking raider. She spoke in modern English.

“I’m starting to regret the angel thing mom. It seems wrong.”

Enid quirked an eyebrow at her daughter.

“It is far better than witches or demons.”

“Well, you’re a vampire mom. And the way you’ve been acting lately I’m not sure you can restrain yourself from… doing what you do.”

Enid scoffed.

“Nonsense I’m in complete control of my impulses.”

“Really?”

Enid frowned at her daughter.

“I was on vacation. Sue me.”

“That was a bloodbath mom.”

“They were Pugmentia.”

“Mom, you killed fifteen vampires and drained them dry, I do not believe that was necessary.”

“They were breaching the covenants.”

Hazel just shook her head at her mother, got quiet and glanced at the door. Enid plastered a smile on her face and greeted the nun who appeared with a pair of servants. She assumed the servants had come from Arl’s home. One was in her forties. With no sunlight Enid’s heightened senses were in full effect and she could smell the illness on the woman. She guessed cancer of some type. She was not long for this world; She had a full wimple on. Her face was worn from a hard life. Her brown eyes looked upon with Enid and Hazel with some manner of fear. The other was teenage girl. Her long brown hair covered by a dingy cloth veil. She was still growing and was already slightly taller than Enid. Her brown eyes carried a curiosity that surprised Enid but when she caught a full glimpse of Enid and Hazel and she stumbled backwards almost dropping the basket of clothing she was carrying. The older woman yelled.

“Careful you ungainly child!”

The older of the two swatted at the girl but caught Enid in the side of the face. Enid’s enhanced reflexes had already steadied the girl. The nun who had been guiding the servants saw the slap and she gasped and immediately started crossing herself. She started praying for the woman’s soul in Latin. The older servant gasped when her hand hit Enid’s face. She fell to her knees.

“Forgive me milady!”

Enid’s flesh was so durable she felt the touch but none of the force of the blow. Her head didn’t even move. The woman’s hand on the other hand was red from the force of the blow. Enid was sure it would have knocked the teenage girl down and probably left a bruise. Enid looked at the servant who’s arm she was still holding from her attempt to steady her.

“Are you alright?”

The girl looked up at Enid in awe now met her gaze and suddenly realized what caused the reaction. The child was a seer, like her. She could see Hazel and Enid were not normal humans. Without a trained eye she wouldn’t be able to identify them as vampire and wolf-born. Enid released the girl’s arm. She turned the older woman.

“I am sure the pain in your hand is going to be more then enough punishment for your transgression.”

She looked to the nun who was still on her knees praying for forgiveness because one of his angels had been struck by woman. She was now reciting the story of Sodom and its sister city. Enid crouched down and took the nun’s hand she spoke in Latin.

“Sister. It was an accident. No harm will come to anyone here. The woman who struck me will die, but not by mine or God’s hand. She is ill. Come stand. Rejoice. You are exalted by our presence, not condemned. Stand.”

Enid stood up and offered her hand to the nun who looked up at her tears in her eyes. She took Enid’s hand. Enid pulled her up.

“Now if you’ll excuse me sister it is time for me to put something more modest on I tempt more people to sin.”

The nun crossed herself clutching her simple wooden cross to herself and walked-ran towards the church. Enid turned to the pair of servants.

“Thank you. You may place the basket on the table.”

The older woman seemed confused looking between the basket and Enid. The teenage girl put the basket where she was told. Enid could see the mark of a switch or a whip on her back. She struggled against the urge she had to flay the girl’s mother with her telekinesis. All the talk of forgiveness she had spoken to the nun about and every moment she was a vampire she was tempted to do whatever she felt like doing in the moment with her vast power. She pondered was it always like this before? She was mortal for so long it seemed like another life when she was vampire. Perhaps Hazel’s concerns were not unfounded. Enid had walked to the basket while she was fighting the urge to flex her vampiric muscles, she picked up the shoulders of the dress and glanced at the older woman.

“What is your name?”

“Erma, milady.”

“I will require your assistance.”

Hazel was sitting on a bed and the girl started trying to fix her hair because she was accustomed to helping nobles do everything for shitting to eating. Hazel grimaced. She just let the girl do whatever until the teenager’s hand hit her translator. She poked it again. Hazel stood up and crossed her arms.

“Do not touch that!”

The girl skittered away from Hazel. Hazel being who she was could be very intimidating. Her fairly laid-back demeanor notwithstanding she was a wolf-born and the animal was always close to the surface and the humans could sense it, more so when she lost her temper. Enid’s voice rang out in the room.

“Hazel Aurelius!”

Hazel blinked at her mother blushing.

“Apologize this instant.”

Hazel turned to the servant girl and looked at the floor sheepishly.

“Sorry I yelled at you. Just that is very sensitive, and you should not be poking at it, or anything people are wearing, it’s not cool.”

The girl seemed to have difficulty following Hazel’s wording but having the same gift Enid she could sense genuine regret in Hazel. Enid looked between the two. She assumed a portion of Hazel’s temper was being cooped up in the convent for several hours.

“You are dressed you can go outside Hazel. Take the girl with you.”

Hazel looked at her mother suspiciously she spoke in Russian.

“You’re not going to eat without me, are you?”

Enid narrowed her eyes at Hazel.

“No. I’m on holy ground.”

“That hasn’t stopped you before.”

Enid pointed at the door.

“Get your ass outside.”

Hazel frowned and grabbed her pack and stormed out of the room. The teenage serving girl rushed to keep up with her. She looked at Erma.

“So, are you to be my lady in waiting?”

“Yes, if it pleases you milady.”

Enid could hear the slight tone of resentment in her voice. As if Enid had insulted her sensibilities in some fashion.

“Are you aware of who I am and why I am here?”

“No milady.”

“I am of the Heavens. You will see and hear things around me that you will not understand.”

Enid shook her head, and her short wavy black hair became a long mass of black hair the blue streak vanished. Erma gasped and crossed herself.

“I assure you; All the fury of Heaven will fall upon you if you share anything you see or hear with anyone else. I am here on a mission for God and anything that interferes with that mission will be dealt with very harshly. Do you understand, Erma?”

Erma swallowed hard.

“I tell you this, so you understand who you serve. And so, you can measure my words by that merit. You should not strike your daughter.”

Enid removed her armor revealing her scarred body. Most were thousands of years old, save for the death’s kisses left by the arrows of the Black Son’s assassins in Narfordshire. More then a few were rewards from her father for disobedience.

“You might say I have a different perspective on such behavior. Curiosity should be encouraged not beaten out of children. It doesn’t work anyway.”

Erma gasped when she saw the scars from the many lashings Enid’s father had left on her pale skin. Enid started pulling on the undergarments of the time. Erma assisted her with the other dress which was complicated enough it would require assistance to tie off. Erma reached into the basked and started to unfold a wimple. Enid shook her head.

“I will not be wearing that. Men who cannot take a woman’s hair uncovered should be castrated so they no longer feel temptation, if they find hair so provocative.”

Erma folded the wimple back up and placed it into the basket.

“Of course, Milady.”

Enid looked up at the woman.

“I sense I am insulting you deeply in some fashion. Speak freely. I am no more a noblewoman then you are.”

“You are a child. How do you know about such things as castrations? You are obviously an insolent brat, or you would not have received such lashings. Why do you think you can ignore the requirement for your hair to be covered?”

Enid smiled at her and looked around the room. She found spied a metal pitcher and reached out her hand. She closed her fist and it turned into a small ball of steel as if it were aluminum foil. Not that Erma would know what aluminum foil was.

“Because all of the rules repressing women were created by men. No man has dominion over me.”

Erma picked up the small ball of twisted metal and looked at Enid.

“What are you?”

Enid reached out her hand and summoned the Staff of the Universe to it. Erma dropped the ball and fell to her knees and crossed herself.

“I did not know! Forgive me.”

Enid waved her hand and the staff vanished.

“I showed you that so that you would never question my origin, or my mission here.”

“I understand…. What do I call you? I do not know…”

Erma was starting to hyperventilate. Enid put her hand on her shoulder.

“Be calm. Milady will suffice. I know you are quite sick.”

Erma was snapped out of her panic and she looked down at Enid.

“You can see that?”

“Yes. I want you to understand that it is not God’s doing. It is just… life. It is natural and thus beyond my power to heal. While I am here, I want you to relax. I can tend to most of my needs on my own. I am not accustomed to servants tending to me. I want you to enjoy these last months as well as you can.”

“You cannot tell the Lord, he will not let me work, he will send me away… Helen…”

“Helen will not want for a protector. She is a very special girl. The things you have beaten her for, they were because she has a gift from God. I will let no harm come to her and should she wish it, I will exalt her as I was in service to a greater cause.”

Erma was crushed by Enid’s words which had not quite been Enid’s intention. She frowned.

“You could not have known. I have seen so many misunderstood by their parents and their fellow humans. One had her face pushed into a fire to burn the evil out of her, but there was no evil, just the light of the truth. Come, my companion is the impatient type. She may be hunting our target without me and while she is skilled, she is young and rash.”

Enid motioned for Erma to come with her. The pair walked out of the convent a few nuns crossed themselves as Enid passed saying small prayers of gratitude. When they reached the church yard she could see a waiting carriage, not that she was sure the term she should use in the 12th century. It was well appointed for the period, and she was sure it was a sign the Arl was now lowly Lord. Though he went by sir. He was either wealthy or had a well-connected family. Hazel was petting one of the horse’s flanks gently. Another servant waited to open the door for the noblewomen he was expecting. He did so as Enid approached. Hazel noticed and got in, Enid joined her shortly afterwards. Helen and Erma were looking ready to walk towards the keep, which Enid could see in the distance. She looked out.

“You’ll ride with us ladies.”

Erma looked hesitant but Helen having been curious what the other half looked like for much of her life jumped at the chance and got in. Erma shook her head.

“Thank you, milady but I have tasks in town that require my attention for Sir Arl.”

Enid nodded and the carriage started on its way. Helen who Enid was starting to understand was ever curious was looking all over the carriage and poking the padded seats. Enid glanced at Hazel who shrugged at her. Though Enid could tell her daughter was afraid Enid only invited them along so she could eat in the darkness of the Carriage. Enid pushed the curtains aside so light shone in after giving her daughter a nasty look. She glanced at Helen and then to Hazel. She spoke in Atlantean.

“I don’t drink from children. I never have.”

It took Hazel several seconds to translate it, her translator had no information on Atlantean, and she was rusty from disuse, it had been a long while since she’d had to use it. She responded in the same language.

“Well, your standards have been slipping mom.”

Helen looked between the two as they spoke in this foreign language. Enid knew her gift would be giving her insight to the feelings behind the words. She would know there was friction between the pair. Enid looked at her.

“Ask your question, if it something we are willing to answer, it will be answered, if it’s not, it will not be. A curious mind shows intelligence. It should be fostered, not punished.”

Hazel glanced at her mother. She admitted to herself her mother had rarely refused to answer a question and never did she punish her for asking. It was her mother’s way with her children. Even when she was a child no topic was off limits. She pondered why her mother was being so open with the child and watched the conversation move forward between the two with open ears.

“What language was that?”

“A dead language spoken by the first people God created.”

“Are you arguing?”

Enid nodded.

“Yes, Hazel is my daughter. Parents and children do not always see eye to eye. She is upset with some of my recent behavior. I think she is too young to be judging me.”

Helen blinked at Enid’s candor. She had never experienced an adult who didn’t scold her and tell her children should be seen and not heard. Life as a servant girl with an abusive mother did not lend itself to inquisitive minds.

“What are you?”

“I have no idea what I am. I thought I knew but much has changed. All I know is I have a task that must be completed, or all is lost. Did that answer your question sufficiently?”

“Why are you sad?”

Enid glanced at her. She was resistant to answer the question, but she had opened herself up to it. The girl’s gift was strong. Maybe even stronger than Enid’s.

“I was married to a woman; Such things are allowed where we’re from. We were to have a child, but she was killed by people in a false belief that God wanted it done. We were to have a child and I gave it up to come back and do the task that has been given me by God.”

Helen blinked at Enid as her words made no sense.

“How? A child… man and woman?”

“Do you recall the story from the Holy Scripture about Abraham and his wife?”

Helen nodded transfixed by this mysterious being whom she sensed to be something very powerful yet, now seemed just as human as her. Her gift noticing the difference between Enid in darkness and in the sun.

“God allowed Sarah to have a child at ninety years old. It teaches us that, if God is wills it, any union can have issue. Ours involved quite a bit of intervention.”

Helen nodded. Hazel for her part was rolling her eyes at her mother’s scripture quoting. She muttered in Russian.

“Why not quote the Book of the Shadows to her?”

Enid gave her daughter a look that spoke volumes, it left little room for interpretation. Shut up and be silent was the feeling she was trying to intone.

“Does she hate me? What did she say?”

“Sometimes I think she dislikes everyone, but currently no, her ire is directed at me. She referred to the next testament of the bible which has not been given to humans yet.”

Helen blinked at Enid.

“You have read it?”

“Yes. But I will not tell you of it yet. You are not ready.”

Helen looked disappointed at Enid’s response. She nodded in acceptance.

“Are you going to hurt my mother?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I have this feeling; She will be gone soon. She does not mean to be so cruel to me. It is all she knows. Nor did she intend to strike you at all.”

“As I told her, she is very sick and it is natural, not of God or Evil, it is the natural cycle of life and death, so I have no power to undo it. I do not agree with her harming you as she does. I suffered much the same when I was mortal child. We have scars that match young one. But I do not mean her or you harm. Neither of you are of Hell.”

Helen’s eyes started to form a line of moisture at the bottom. Enid leaned forward and touched her hands.

“Child, you will not be alone. I will adopt you myself if need be.”

Helen blinked at her.

“What about your mission?”

“We are immortal. A few years here and there are meaningless unless I’m told to be elsewhere.”

She glanced at Hazel who did not seem pleased by her mother’s words. The carriage arrived at the Arl’s keep. Enid had been right. He was no minor lord. It was fortified and well-manned. England had not been her stomping ground for the most part unless she was summoned. She’d never seen this castle before, likely buried under the modern Lincolnshire in the twenty-first century. The doors to the carriage opened and the pair walked towards their new temporary home. To the people from the time, it would seem like heaven to live within its walls. To the pair of time travelers, it seemed like they would be roughing it.