“Now that is an ugly wig.” The violet haired woman behind me comments. She was about two heads shorter than me, and puts on a faux French accent despite being Russian.

“Is that any way to speak to your elders, Rose?” I said. I was camping out in an abandoned house changing my appearance when she decided to show up.

“You know it wasn’t that long ago I had my hundredth birthday. That makes me the elder to most people.” She said. “It’s not my fault that you just can’t die.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” I said, holding up the black bob cut wig. “You are right, thought, it is tacky. The things we do to be conspicuous.”

“Apparently the kid is just flaunting his blue hair.” She said. “It’s stylish now, so you might as well dump the wig.”

“Fair enough.” I say, tossing the wig at her. “I know you’re not here just for a fashion critique though.”

“I heard the traitor was here… and another San? I don’t know if I can handle two of them running around.”

“I don’t know what I saw yet.” I said. “Knowing Sabreal she’s probably trying to trick us.”

“She’s just digging her grave even deeper. If that woman thinks she can win after all this time she’s truly delusional. Doesn’t matter how many demons she throws around, it’s only a matter of time. What really interests me is what happens after she’s gone.” She said.

“And what happens after?” I said.

“I think you know.” Rose said, standing up. “It’s in our nature I think, when there’s a void without conflict, we simply create conflict. What’s practically the first thing that happened with out kind. The old man killed our creator. Guess what happened after that? Sabreal started her coup. Hell look at what happened to my parents, those rich aristocrats. When they got the guillotine, after the revolution, they just found more people to kill. I think conflict is in our nature sis.”

“And what’s your point?” I said.

“After Sabreal dies you think a bunch of scheming immortals are just going to twiddle their thumbs and sing kumbaya? They’re all busy making plans for what happens after that, and you can bet at least one of them is going to be the next Sabreal.”

“Not you though.” I said. “You’re too smart for that.”

“I’m glad we understand each other.” She said. “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not sentimental, I just like being on the winning side. What about you? Plan on being there with me?”

“I plan on figuring that part out when I get there.” I said, walking towards the door. “Be seeing you, Rose.”

“Au revoir old lady.” She said.

I walked the same path towards Grayson’s house. This time there was no need to rush so I took my time and walked at a steady pace. Rose’s words didn’t really bother me. She hadn’t told me anything I didn’t already know, it was an open secret that each Seraph conspired behind the others’ backs. I had even indulged in a big of it myself. I wasn’t worried too much about the future though, I had a feeling all those schemes would just blow up in their faces. Me? I didn’t really want anything except a good life for me and Blue. Beyond that? Nothing in this world really mattered.

I knocked on the new door that had been installed. A woman in her mid to late thirties with messy black hair and glasses opened the door. “You must be Theodora.” She said.

We’d worked out my cover story already. I was a friend he’d met from the Leigh LeBlanc community. I was 18, interested in demonology, going into Emory to study Theology, my hobbies is martial arts. “Hello miss, nice to meet you.” I said.

“Likewise.” She said. “Come in come in. I’m really sorry about the mess, we had our house broken into last week and we’re still getting the place fixed.”

“No kidding.” I said.

She led me through the house straight to the younger sister’s room. I thanked her for her hospitality and she left. When I entered the room I saw Grayson, the sister, Kish, who was too busy on the computer to notice me come in, and the girl that I saw just after I killed the demon that day.

She put her hands over her mouth.

“It’s okay Laura, she’s with us.” Grayson said. “I told you that was all a big misunderstanding.”

“Hello.” I said. “I guess we haven’t formally met, I’m Theodora.”

“Hey, I’m Laura. Sorry I’m just a bit high strung after what happened. It’s just… a lot to take in.”

“Grayson there’s something important we need to take care of.” I said. “It concerns…”

“It’ll have to wait.” Kish said. “We’re busy responding to an email from Leigh Leblanc themselves!

“What email?” I said.