Title: Risen From The Ashes
Pairing: Olivia/Natalia Doris/Blake ?/?
Rating: MA for strong language, adult situations, violence, blood, drug use.
Slightly AU most invents remain the same with a few concentrated changes to the Otalia storyline.
Summary: A mysterious stranger comes to town and changes the lives of Olivia and Natalia forever.
Today was going to suck ass.
She knew this because it always did.
Phoenix stood stoic at the grimy window in her motel room at the Springfield Motor Inn and stared off into nothing. She took the last puff of her smoke, pulled out her lighter, and burned up the rest. She watched the embers die off in the ashes in the ashtray. Last night had gone as expected.
She'd arrived in Springfield at midnight as scheduled. She found the 24 hour storage facility she'd looked up online and stored her motorcycle. They charged by the month and she paid it knowing she would only need it for two weeks. Phoenix never flinched at the loss.
It was just money. And she didn't care.
After storing and covering the Ducati she set up her cameras within the unit. One in the left corner facing outside in and one in the far corner facing inside out. She went about the task of checking the audio visual signal.
She drilled two small holes into the concrete just under the door and screwed in the latch to her own lock. The one provided by the storage company would be for aesthetics only. Phoenix screwed the catch to the bottom of the door and closed it while still standing inside. She tested the mechanism.
"Aoi - Akai - Midoriiro."
(Blue - Red- Green.)
The lock de-activated.
"Shitsurishimasu."
(Good-bye.)
The lock activated.
Satisfied she walked out. Activated the lock, and then put on the lock given to her by the facility. She pocketed the key, put on her back pack and sea bag then left.
She walked through the town uninterested in what little sights it had to offer. She walked straight to the motel and spoke to the manager.
"I need a room - second floor - a lot of privacy." She didn't bother with pleasantries.
The manager eyed her; a little suspicious of her demeanor. She was surprised he didn't look at her the way most people did…
With lust in his eyes.
He suggested a room based on what she'd asked listing the pros and cons. She agreed to it.
"The cost is…"
Phoenix dropped two-thousand dollars on the counter.
"That'll do," he said amazed.
"There's more where that came from. Provided of course that I am never disturbed and the room next to mine remains unoccupied."
"Of course."
She nodded then gave the manager a lecherous grin.
"One more thing." Her voice was low and as seductive as a lover's caress. "Anyone comes asking - I was never here. You never saw me. Otherwise…" She reached forward and delicately fingered his collar than grabbed a fist full of the material before forcefully yanking the man towards her. His feet left the ground as he hung halfway over the counter. "You'll wish it were true." Her face was a hard mask of intimidation. Her voice so deep the man would later swear that she was possessed.
He nodded his head in a series of quick jerks. "Sure…sure no problem. Hell I've already forgotten you," He assured her.
She narrowed her eyes at him then stared. It felt like an eternity to the poor man who had broken out in a cold sweat.
"Good man." To him it sounded like she was merely stating a fact. She released the man and snatched up the room key. "For your trouble," She said dropping another two grand on the counter.
She walked out without offering him a second glance.
The manager was more than happy to see her go. He would have no problem doing just as she asked. After being trapped in the grip of her cold stare he knew what it was like to visit the bowels of hell.
He wasn't interested in a return trip.
Phoenix walked to her room pleased with the fact that it was at the end of the hall.
It left them only one angle to attack from.
She went inside, closed the door, and went about the task of securing the room.
Breaking out her tool kit she removed the doorknob and dead bolt replacing them with her own. She took the removed locks and dropped them into the creaky old drawer in the night stand next to the bed.
The room key soon followed.
She cleaned the room from top to bottom. It wasn't so bad compared to other places she had stayed but it still smelled too stale for her taste.
The bed was changed and everything was exchanged for linens of her own.
Cameras were set up all around the room in the same fashion the ones in the storage unit were. Afterwards Phoenix stepped outside and after being satisfied she wasn't being watched by any prying eyes set up cameras along the railing over looking the parking lot, manager's office, street, and short hallway that led to her room. She went inside and put a camera on the wall outside the bathroom window.
She set up her laptop on the small desk the room provided and checked the signals for her cameras. Seeing that everything was in working order she went to change.
Stripped down to nothing but her black sports bra and black work out shorts that were no longer than the boy shorts she wore underneath she went through a quick workout.
100 sit-ups.
100 push-ups on her knuckles.
100 curl-ups on the bar she'd put up over the doorway of the bathroom.
Afterwards she put her body through a series of stretches that would seriously injure most.
She checked the cameras.
Then she lit a few incense and sat in silence to meditate and calm her mind.
Checked the cameras.
Phoenix then had a smoke as she dressed for the day. It was four a.m.
No point in going to bed now.
She wouldn't fall asleep anyway. Instead she packed up her lap top - shoving it into her backpack, grabbed her sea bag, and left the room.
She left not a single item she owned and could stand losing behind.
Crossing the street she walked into the small wooded area beyond. Phoenix strapped on her tekagi-shuko (hand claws) then scaled the tallest strongest looking tree she could find. Stopping at a high branch she strapped her sea bag to it and made sure the built in alarm was on.
She took off her shuko and jumped down to the ground below.
Her feet made no sound. Even amongst the bracken and dry leaves.
She staked out a few places of interest that J had mentioned.
The Beacon. Company. Cedars Hospital. Towers. The Light House.
The Light House looked like it would make a great regrouping point should she have to make a quick escape. So she set up cameras there as well. She would monitor them to see how much traffic the place got to be sure.
It was now eight a.m. and she was starving. Figuring there was no point in trying to find anywhere else to eat than Company she left the motel. J was always rambling on about how much he missed and or wanted a Buzz Burger. Whatever the fuck that was.He had assured her that it was the best place in town to grab a quick bite without garnering too much suspicion.
She doubted it.
Springfield was a small town. A town (she knew from the totally whacked out and fucked up stories J had told her) where everyone knew everyone else and were always in each other's business. So it wasn't that much different than any other small craphole she had been to.
It was why she hated them.
No one knew how to keep their head down - shut the fuck up - and just mind their own damn business.
She'd stick out like a sore thumb.
She walked inside the restaurant not really caring about the décor or the people in it.
All that mattered was that she didn't smell any demons.
The food other people where eating looked halfway decent.
And that there was an empty booth in the back corner to her right that offered her the security of a wall to her back and a clear view of the restaurant.
She sat down and checked out the menu. Her mouth started watering. Not eating for so long was dangerous for her to do. Especially since she'd been expending so much energy lately. It didn't help that she'd been hanging tough with her good buddies Jack and Coke.
That was actually kind of funny.
She snorted then actively ignored the stares from the early morning patrons. A doughy looking guy with weird hair and an even weirder grin came over to stand near her table. She gave him a cursory glance.
Definitely NOT a threat.
But he could do with an undershirt. The man's nips could do serious damage to someone's retinas.
She noted that he didn't wear an apron or a Company logo shirt like the rest of the wait staff. He didn't have a pad or pen in his hand either. Which made him of no interest to her.
Sadly though she couldn't say the same for him. She felt a little skeevy just from the way he was hungrily eyeing what part of her body he could see after he managed to drag his eyes away from her breasts.
"Hi welcome to Company," he paused and smiled a little too eagerly at her. She returned her eyes to the menu.
Waffles sounded good.
She put down her menu and began to read her copy of The Wall Street Journal she'd brought with her.
"You know it's interesting; I've never seen you around here before." He commented not taking the none too subtle hint to leave her the fuck alone.
"Iieh amari omoshiro kunaides."
(No it's not very interesting.)
She smirked inwardly knowing his face would be even funnier looking with confusion. She never took her eyes off her paper.
"Uh right…well I'm Frank."
Ugh. I'm over this town already.
"So des ka."
(Is that so?)
He may not have understood what she was saying but there was no mistaking the sarcastic tone of her voice.
"Right…well let me get someone to take your order"
"Ripana."
(Magnificent.)
Her voice sounded extremely bored.
He walked away and began to talk to a little cutie behind the counter. From the corner of her eye she noted that the girl was frowning at what Frank was saying. She returned her eyes back to the paper.
Two communications companies she'd been watching for some time now had announced their merger yesterday. Stock had skyrocketed and were now holding steady.
She'd just made 15 million dollars over night.
Whoop-de-fuckin-doo….wait a second…cutie? Goddamnit!
The girl walked over to her.
"Um…hi I'm Daisy. My Uncle Frank said that you didn't speak English very well. Uh…I'm sorry…did you need more time?"
She was nice enough and anxious in an adorable sort of way. Hopefully for her the genes didn't run to strong in that family.
Daisy watched nervously as the woman did what she could only describe as inspect her. Daisy bristled and returned the favor.
She had to admit the woman was gorgeous. Long dark brown hair - done up in a ponytail that flowed over her shoulders when she moved her head. Bright green eyes that were alive with an intelligence that would make most people squirm. A small mouth with full lips. No sign of wrinkles which was amazing to Daisy seeing as how it seemed the only facial expression the woman knew was a scowl. She looked like she smelled something not all that pleasant. Her smooth tan skin had no blemish in sight. And all that tight leather she was wearing left no mystery to the shape of her body.
Phoenix was amused by the girl's tenacity and by her inability to keep it up as she looked her over. Then like a switch had been flipped the girl named Daisy snapped back to attention and looked her straight in the eyes without wavering.
Phoenix was impressed. Very few people could pull that off.
"No. I know what I want to order," she answered Daisy's previous question.
"Um…o-kay. Why did you tell my uncle you didn't speak English?" Daisy was surprised by the woman's thick British accent.
"I didn't he just assumed that I couldn't speak English. Obviously I'm quite fluent," Phoenix said flippantly. "The man isn't very observant."
"Really? Because he's a detective on the SFPD," Daisy replied defensively.
Phoenix's scowl grew more pronounced as she inwardly chuckled.
"Well he certainly couldn't detect the fact that I was reading an American Newspaper," Phoenix replied waving said paper minimally. "Or perhaps he just thought I was merely looking at all of the pretty pictures."
"What can I get for you?" Daisy asked sweetly - trying to mask her annoyance and ready to change the subject. She needed the tips bad.
Phoenix simply studied her for a moment longer seeing right through her act. When Daisy seemed to become more and more annoyed by her silence Phoenix became inwardly more amused. Finally she answered.
"I'll have two orders of your scrambled eggs. Two of the large stack of waffles…blueberry. Six slices of bacon. Three of those Italian sausage patties. A large bowl of your mixed fruit. A large glass of water - no ice. A large glass of orange juice - no ice and keep the refills coming. Oh and add some cheddar cheese to those eggs."
Daisy stood their amazed.
"That's all. I'm trying to keep it a bit light this morning," Phoenix added as she removed her back pack and sat it on the set beside her. She never really had that much of an appetite in the morning. The amount of cocaine she snorted at night probably had something to do with that.
"You're not actually going to eat all that are you?" Daisy asked her eyes wide.
Phoenix simply stared at her scowl deepening even further.
"I ordered it didn't I?" she asked condescendingly.
Daisy turned and stalked away.
With her sensitive hearing Phoenix heard her mutter "Bitch" as she entered the kitchen.
"I would have respected her more if she had said it to my face," she commented to no one.
Quicker than she would have expected Daisy brought out her food and refilled her glasses then walked away without uttering a word.
Phoenix allowed herself to watch as Daisy chatted up other customers. Taking orders, and cleaning up spills Daisy worked efficiently and with a smile. Not common for a teenaged girl who worked at her family's restaurant.
Phoenix sniffed her food and after being satisfied the girl hadn't spit in it or done anything else to it she tucked in; scarfing it down in record time. Daisy came by for another refill eyes wide at the sight. She still said nothing and walked away.
Minutes later she came back with the bill and left again.
Without even looking at the bill Phoenix pulled out two bills and shoved them into the check folio. As she walked out she past Daisy.
"Keep the change," she practically growled.
Daisy shook her head and went to bus the table. She looked in the folio not expecting much of a tip and saw two crisp hundred dollar bills inside.
The bill had only been thirty dollars.
Her next stop was a place called Cross Creek. She had checked it out last night and left quickly not liking the feel of the place. Her senses were on high alert when she was there. Something about the feeling was familiar but she couldn't place it.
Now she was back and still feeling apprehensive about it.
No one was home which would make the first part easier. She picked the lock and shook her head at the lack of a home security system. It wouldn't have kept her out…but still. She set up her laptop on the kitchen counter over looking the living room.
"Let's see what you've been up to Winslow."
She started her Net Program and pinpointed the location of the fourteen cameras that were set up around the house and property.
"I knew it. J is going to be so fucking pissed."
Phoenix disabled all the cameras, removed them, and then threw the now useless technology in an empty box she had found near the stables. All she had left to do was wait.
She put her laptop away and sat on the couch snacking on a few granola bars as she waited. Forty-five minutes later she heard a key in the lock. From the footsteps she heard she knew there was only one person and the footfalls gave way to the fact the person was carrying something a little heavy.
He nose told her two people had entered the house.
Mrs. O'Neil and the baby.
Reva wasn't expecting company. So when she walked in carrying Colin in his car seat and saw a leather clad stranger sitting comfortably on her sofa she was surprised to say the least. She didn't allow that surprise to show. Instead she walked in, sat Colin's seat on the floor and looked at the stranger.
Phoenix was becoming more and more impressed with this town's occupants…well at least its female populace. Mrs. O'Neil was obviously a tough old broad.
The women must run this town.
"Hello Mrs. O'Neil."
"Well…" Reva waited hands on her hips. "Who the hell are you?"
"A friend."
"Of whose?"
Phoenix smirked a little and arched her eyebrow at Reva's bluntness.
The move reminded Reva of Olivia - green eyes and all. She resisted the urge to bound over and smack that damn smirk off the woman's face. But she wasn't Olivia (after all she was British) and she didn't know how dangerous she was yet.
"Smart woman," Phoenix stated. She saw how Reva was eying her wondering how dangerous she was. "Extremely," she stated answering the unasked question. "But luckily for you the answer to your previous question is that I am a friend of a mutual friend. Although he's not so much a friend of yours as he is something else."
"Meaning?"
"Why don't you have a seat?" Phoenix offered gesturing towards the couch across from her.
"Why sure thanks for offering," Reva turned on the sarcasm.
The hell does this woman think she is? Offering me a seat in my own damn house.
Phoenix merely arched her eyebrow higher.
"Fine." Reva sat.
Phoenix removed the first envelope from her backpack and threw it onto the coffee table between them. It landed with a loud slap. She then picked up the box she'd put the cameras in and dumped its contents on the table next to the envelope.
"What's all this crap?" Reva picked through some of the wiring while eying the envelope.
"These are cameras that were transmitting an A/V signal to what is at this point an undisclosed location. They were set up by Edmond Winslow…he's been watching you."
Reva's face contorted with rage. "Are you fucking kidding me? I'm going to kill that smug bastard."
"No need…that's my job," Phoenix stated coolly.
"Why? What's in it for you?" Reva asked intrigued by the woman's confident and cool demeanor.
"Open the envelope."
Reva wearily did as instructed after noting that her name was written on front of it. They hand writing looked vaguely familiar.
"Read the letter first. I don't know what it says. He wouldn't tell me. And frankly I don't really care."
Reva frowned at the woman then pulled out the pages of the letter. The first sentence was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
"Jonathan." She whispered shakily. She eagerly read the letter. Jonathan wrote about how he and Sarah were safe at the moment. Safer than they had ever been and how they had Phoenix to thank for that. He went on to assure her that they would be home soon after his best friend had finished her work. It would take her two weeks then finally they would be free from running. He went on to tell her a little more about Phoenix - how they met - and a vague description of her character. He told Reva how Phoenix was hard and could be difficult but that she could trust her.
Reva eyed Phoenix again seeing her in a new light then dug into the rest of the envelope revealing pictures of her son and grand-daughter. There were also drawings Sarah had made for her and a small cell phone. Reva clutched the pictures to her chest.
"So you're the one he left her with when he came back here before?"
"Yes."
"He must trust you a whole hell of a lot."
"I suppose." She cleared her throat. "The cell phone can only receive calls and only from one number. Your designated time is between two and five on Mondays and Wednesdays. If he can he'll call you within that time frame. No one is to know you have that phone and should any voice be heard through the line other than your own it will self-destruct."
Reva looked startled.
"It won't explode…just stop working."
"That sounds better."
"I'll be in town for two weeks making it safe for them to come back. Do not try to find or contact me. If you need to speak to me for any reason or I you I'll come find you."
Phoenix got up and walked past Reva but stopped to look down at a sleeping Colin.
"Cute kid."
"Thank you. For everything."
Phoenix didn't respond.
"J said that your husband is ex FBI and CIA. You can tell him about this but no one else. Ever! You see me around town you don't know me. Your husband will know how to dispose of the cameras."
Phoenix made her way towards the door.
"Wait!" Reva stood and walked to her. "What about Alan?"
"Alan?"
"Alan Spaulding?" Reva hedged.
Phoenix smirked and tilted her head.
"Ah yes, Mr. Spaulding…what about him?" she asked conspiratorially and put on her black aviator sun glasses.
With that she left; leaving Reva smiling devilishly in her wake.
The next stop was a large house in need of some serious work. She guessed the owners knew that with all the construction equipment around. The construction crew was gone.
She waltzed right on into the house and quietly followed the sounds coming from the kitchen. Its occupants didn't even notice her as she leaned against the door frame.
"I'm just happy the hot water works now," they young woman Phoenix figured was Elizabeth Spaulding said as she bit into an apple. She settled herself on to the man's lap.
"Yeah. Can you imagine all the hot and steamy showers we can have together now?" A man Phoenix figured was Bill Lewis. J had mentioned him.
"Oh yeah." Phoenix rolled her eye as they began to kiss.
She cleared her throat.
"HOLY SHIT!" Bill exclaimed as Lizzie jumped from his lap.
Phoenix paid no attention to their histrionics. "Elizabeth Spaulding?"
"Um…it's Lewis now. Who are you?"
"This guy your husband?"
"Yeah. That's me Bill Lewis."
Phoenix nodded. "I need to speak to you."
Phoenix gave Lizzie her envelope in the same fashion she had Reva. Lizzie cried and squealed with delight. Then she bum rushed Phoenix with an unexpected hug. She stood rigid and uncomfortable arms locked to her sides then cleared her throat.
"That's quite enough of that," she said extracting herself form Lizzie's grip.
Bill thanked her and shook her hand. "You have no idea how much this means to my wife."
"I think I do," Phoenix vaguely replied. She told Lizzie her designated phone time. In between two and five Tuesday and Thursday. "I understand that Alan Spaulding is your grandfather?"
"Unfortunately," Lizzie groused.
"Be that as it may he's still your family. Do you object to my handling him?"
"Are you going to kill him?"
"That decision will be left entirely to him."
With that Phoenix left.
There was on more person to visit.
On her way to find Olivia Spencer she crossed over to Main Street and heard screaming.
"EMMA! EMMA STOP!"
She turned in the middle of the cross walk seeing a small girl run into the street.
"Fuck!" There was a car headed straight for her. And even if it stopped on time the F-150 behind it could collide with it and force it forward into the little girl. "Goddamnit!"
Phoenix ran full-tilt down the middle of the street. As she got closer she saw two women and a young man charge after the girl but they would be too late.
Digging just a little bit deeper Phoenix hurtled towards the girl legs pumping so fast she was almost a blur. She reached the girl two seconds after seeing her jump the curb.
"NO!" She heard voices scream.
She scooped her up and jumped into the air tucking the screaming child's body close and curling herself into a tight ball flipping over the car that hadn't managed to stop yet. On her way down she was pleased to see the driver of the F-150 swerve to his right narrowly missing the car in front of it. It freed up space for her to land sideways behind the car. It would be a tight fit and she'd end up getting nicked by the trucks front end. Probably on her left leg but she could deal with that.
Landing she felt the flesh of her left leg cut open but it wasn't so bad. She'd had MUCH worse. Quickly she checked the crying child and was satisfied to see not a scratch on her.
"Hey Emma."
Emma looked up at her in awe.
"Where are your wings?"
"Wings?"
"Aren't you an Angel?"
Phoenix chuckled. "No definitely not an Angel. Besides they don't have wings. Cherubim and Seraphim do but not Angels." Phoenix heard people approaching from the opposite side of the truck. She decided to keep the girl preoccupied and her mind off of the fact that she should be dead by now. "In fact Seraphim have six wings. A set to cover their eyes, a set to cover their mouths, and a set to cover their bodies. On the front and back of all six wings they have thousands of eyes. Cherubim only have four wings though. But they are very, very beautiful."
"Cool!" Emma's eyes shined in amazement.
"Very Cool."
No need to tell the kid she'd just described to her what the most famous fallen of all looked like before he went ape shit and became Satan.
"EMMA! EMMA!"
"Come on kid." Phoenix rose with Emma still safely in her grasp and hopped over the space in between the front of the truck and back of the car.
"Oh God!" the Latina woman exclaimed.
"Is she okay?" was the frantic question from the other woman.
Phoenix noted that the young man stood back; silent and shaking. He had guilt etched all over his face.
"It's okay. The little one is alright," Phoenix assured; her accent thicker than usual.
Emma looked at her funny.
Phoenix simply winked at her.
"Thank you!" both women said over and over again as she sat Emma down and they fussed over her.
Phoenix groaned realizing a crowd had gathered.
I don't need this shit right now.
Both drivers rushed towards them.
"I'm so sorry she came out of nowhere."
"That SHIT was AWESOME! Did you see how she just flipped over the car?"
Phoenix shook her head then pinched the bridge of her nose.
Fucking moron.
"Look seeing as how no one was hurt and no damage was done to any of your vehicles let's just write it off and move along."
"Yeah definitely." The car driver replied looking fearfully at Emma. Not only had he almost killed a kid. But THAT kid? No way did he want to be around if and when any Spauldings showed up.
He ran to his car and drove away.
The truck owner was still telling anyone who would listen how cool what had just happen was.
"I mean it was amazing. It was like BAM! All of a sudden she was just there."
Phoenix rolled her eyes and watched as a red headed woman approached who she guessed were the girl's mothers.
Apparently this town digs the alt. lifestyle.
It was surprising to say the least.
"I can take her over to Company if you'd like - get a sundae in her while you talk to them," the read head said.
"Thanks Blake." the two women said still kissing and hugging all over the little girl. Phoenix felt a twinge in her gut from the sight and frowned.
The young man still stood away from them.
Before the woman named Blake could take Emma away Phoenix approached.
"Just one minute." She said surprising everyone. "Mind if I have a word with the little one?'
"No not at all," the other green-eyed woman said smiling at her.
Phoenix squatted to Emma's level and moved a stray hair from her eyes.
"That was pretty scary huh?"
"Yeah," Emma replied voice small and looking down at her shoes.
Phoenix gently lifted her chin. "The thing is Emma although I'm sure everyone is happy that you're alright; you shouldn't have run out into the street like that. I'm sure you're moms taught you better."
"Yes."
Olivia and Natalia stood amazed at how gentle this woman was being with their daughter while explaining how dangerous what she had done was.
"And I heard them calling after you to stop. You must always listen to your mother Emma. Even if you don't understand why she's telling you to do something…" Phoenix buried the emotion that threatened to show and cleared her throat. "The repercussions for not doing so could be much more terrible than you can imagine. Understand?"
"Yes." Emma nodded.
"Okay. Can I have a hug then?" Emma smiled and hugged her. Phoenix held her tightly for a moment and closed her eyes tight forcing the tears away.
Blake smiled at Phoenix and led the little girl away.
The young man walked up to the two women - said a quiet and shaky "I'm so sorry." on the back of a sob and ran away.
Both women shook their heads at his departure.
"Thank you again. I have no idea how you did it but you saved our little girl."
Phoenix brushed off the thanks. "It was nothing. I'm just glad no one got hurt."
"Except for you! Look at your leg," the Latina woman exclaimed.
SHIT!
Both women started yammering about going to the hospital.
Fuck that!
Never trust doctors. Hospitals aren't safe.
"No really it's nothing I assure you."
They didn't listen but luckily for Phoenix they were distracted and turned their attention towards someone talking to them. It was for a split second. When they turned back around Phoenix was gone.
"Where the hell did she just go?" Olivia looked around confused.
"Um…I'm…not sure," Natalia answered.
They ignored the enthusiastic truck driver as he hopped in his truck still gushing over the woman's acrobatics and drove away.
They walked into Company and headed straight towards Emma who was seated with Blake.
They checked her over again. Blake left them alone for a moment.
"I'm sorry Mommy - Ma. I should 'a listened when you said stop." She started to cry again.
"It's okay sweetie. We'll talk about everything later," Natalia told her.
Emma knew that the talk would involve Rafe.
"But that lady was so cool." Emma beamed quickly finding a new hero. "Ma did you know that Angels don't have wings? Only Cellophane and Cheerybums do!"
Both of her mommies laughed.
"It's Seraphim and Cherubim honey. I did know that actually it's in the Bible." Natalia told her caught off guard with her daughter's abrupt change of subject.
Olivia looked completely lost.
"Yeah and Seraphim have six wings that cover their eyes, and mouth and body. They have eyes all over their wings. Are they like flies' eyes?"
"Eww!" Olivia grimaced.
Natalia laughed. "No honey their eyes aren't like flies…they're much prettier."
"Yeah that's what she said."
" Who said sweetie?" Olivia asked.
"That lady."
Olivia and Natalia exchanged looks.
"She was interesting," Natalia mused.
"What you going all gooey over that James Bond accent?" Olivia teased.
"No." Natalia laughed.
Emma laughed too.
"What's so funny Bean?"
"She was playing a joke on you Mommy…she didn't have an accent."
Phoenix jumped out of the bed of the parked truck and walked around to the front. She pulled out one of her special wipes and cleaned her blood off of the side of the grill. She the wipe on fire and watched as it quickly burned up.
Slamming into her motel room she dropped her sea bag on the bed and removed her ruined leathers.
"Just great." She frowned at her once favorite pair of leather pants.
She'd gotten them in Paris.
She went about the task of stitching up the large gash on her leg with tiny stitches and the procession of a practiced surgeon. She covered the wound in a special poultice and wrapped up her leg.
She had missed her window to meet with Ms. Spencer so now she was behind schedule.
A kid almost died on her dime.
Her favorite pants were ruined.
And she brought a lot of attention to herself.
She knew today was going to suck ass.
Phoenix wondered over to the desk preparing for another night of drinking whiskey and snorting coke.
Happy Fucking Birthday!