The cell that Sirena was sitting in was dark and cold. She was even colder from the irons clapped around her wrists. Shivering and scared, she curled up on the floor, sobbing (though no tears came out, she'd been all cried out for about an hour now). Coughing, she reached for the blanket that had been brought to her. It was scratchy and thin, but the only thing that she could depend on for warmth at the moment. Wrapping it around her, she sighed, trying to ignore her throbbing arm; closing her eyes and singing softly.

Hush now, my baby

Be still love, don't cry.. Sleep as you're rocked by the stream

Sleep and remember my river lullaby so I'll be with you when you dream

Mama.. How long had it been since Sirena had seen her? Hours? A day, maybe? It had been such a long time since they'd thrown Sirena in the cell that she didn't even know how much time had passed. And it didn't help that the cell had no windows, so she didn't even know if it was day or night. "I miss you, Mama.." Sirena whispered. "And I miss everyone at the Carnival too. Especially Lucifer.." She hung her head, sniffling and hugging her legs to her so that she mimicked a turtle staying in its shell.

Earlier

Sirena ran along the streets of Heaven as usual, stopping at the elevator as she usually did nowadays, staring at the two circular buttons; glowing with white light before pressing the bottom one (which she could barely reach), bouncing on her heels excitedly. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she heard the 'ding' that had become a familiar sound to her these past couple of weeks. The doors opened and she ran straight in, pressing the '8' button, followed by 'close'.

As the elevator doors closed, they drowned out the 'click' of a camera around the corner.

Lucifer surveyed the Carnival with a wary eye, making sure that every detail was perfect for their guest. After all, it wasn't everyday a young lady turned six.

For the past 7 weeks, little Sirena visited the Carnival almost every day, had played with some of the Carnies, and had brightened up the otherwise gloomy place. Lucifer even found himself reading to the girl sometimes. And she was a born reader if he'd ever seen one.

Shakespeare was her favorite, of course. But he would read other things to her too. Aseop's Fables, Grimm's Fairy Tales; he'd even started reading more contemporary things to her such as Edgar Allen Poe and Mary Shelley(nothing too scary. She was still young, after all). She'd often ask questions when he read to her.. Not just about the story, but of other things as well. Lucifer knew that she'd never in a billion years ask God any of these things. She was afraid of Him. But she was never afraid of Lucifer, never afraid to ask of him for fear that she wouldn't get a straight answer. He told her on her first day there that if she wanted to come to him for anything, she shouldn't give it a second thought. And she never had.

The Carnival was decked out in silver and green- Sirena's favorite colors. Lucifer'd specifically ordered everyone to stop what they were doing for the day so that they could celebrate her birthday. He wanted his subjects to treat Sirena like she was a part of the family- because after all, she really was. Her father was one of the Carnies. Though he was still trying to figure out whom it was. To Lucifer, Sirena wasn't just a way to get to Heaven, she was a Carnie In Training. A sure-fire shoe-in. When the time came, Lucifer would invite Sirena to join the Carnival permenantly and of course she would say yes. What child wouldn't want to be a part of a circus?

But he'd worry about that later- what was important at that moment was to celebrate Sirena's birthday and make her feel welcome.

The 'ding' of the elevator signaled Sirena's return to the Carnival and the Ticket-Keeper was waiting for her, just as he always did. Sirena greeted him with her cheeriest smile as she ran out of the elevator to hug him. "Hi Ticket-Keeper! Did you miss me?" The old man let out a genuine laugh and returned the hug. "Of course I did, little girl. How are you? How's it feel to be six years old?"

"Much like being 5.. but with more presents. Speaking of, where's my party?"

The Ticket-Keeper raised an eyebrow and frowned, taking Sirena's hand. "Now now, dear. You aren't even supposed to know about the party. Who told you?"

"Scorpion." Came her reply. "He told me a couple of days ago."

The Ticket-Keeper should've known. "That wasn't very nice of him.. Lucifer was really wanting to keep it a surprise for you. Will you still try and act surprised?"

Sirena shrugged. "I dunno.. I miiiight, what's in it for me?"

She's been spending too much time around that boy.. He's been teaching her how to bargain. "How about I reveal one of your presents?"

"Maybeeee.. But if you tell me two, I'll probably forget we even had this conversation.." An angelic expression crossed Sirena's features and she grinned innocently at the Ticket-Keeper. He sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "Very well, my dear." But just as he was about to tell her what she was getting, one of the Woe-Maidens snuck up on them and lifted Sirena onto her shoulders. "Happy birthday, brat!" She shrieked. Sirena squealed in glee as the Woe-Maidens ran into the tent set up for her party. Ticket-Keeper breathed a sigh of relief as the females retreated with the little girl. Saved by the crazies..

A Little While Later..

"Just a bit farther, child.. You've almost got it." The Twin hissed as Sirena scaled the rocky wall, eyeing her present which was sitting on the ledge. She was so close to the thing, she could taste it. Just a couple of feet further and she'd have it!

This birthday was by far the best she'd had in her short 6 years of life. No one else in Heaven would've thought of having a scavenger hunt for her presents, let alone making it an obstacle course as well! Or having cake and ice cream be the reward for all her hard work when she finished! Birthdays in Heaven weren't really celebrated, except for Sirena's (which she didn't really understand), but she was learning to not ask questions and just go with it. To be a good Angel of the Lord, just like her Mama and the Agent.

Sirena's birthdays in Heaven were celebrated with cake and ice cream, and lots of presents and singing. She usually had a great time.. but in Hell, she was having an even better time. From the moment when she'd gone down the elevator for the first time all those weeks ago, she started having the best time of her short six years of existance! The Carnies were nice to her and spent time with her and she'd come to like a lot of them, even the really scary ones like the Doll and the Magician. Scorpion was her favorite. He was going to teach her how to throw knives when she was older. She couldn't wait.

Sirena looked up at the wall, seeing that her present was just within reach. Almost there.. She thought, reaching for it while making sure that she was balanced on the ledge of the wall. Closer.. closer.. Her hands were just barely touching the present when she felt her foot slip and then, just before she knew it: down, down, down! 5- 10- 15 feet to the ground. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was open and forming an 'O' shape, silently screaming, scared that she was going to splat like an egg breaking when she fell into something solid. Sirena opened her eyes and found them staring into dark brown orbs. The Scorpion grinned, setting the girl down and kneeling to her level.

"You might wanna watch it next time, sweet pea. You almost got back into Heaven- permenantly."

Sirena turned back around, studying the rock wall and the red-wrapped box that had fallen with her for a minute. Scorpion raised an eyebrow before speaking up again. "You okay, kiddo?" Sirena nodded before looking over at the Ticket-Keeper, who had been watching the whole thing and whose eyes were now on Sirena.

"Can I try again?" This was met with cheers of encouragement from the Carnies and earned smiles from the Ticket-Keeper and Lucifer himself, who was watching from afar. The Ticket-Keeper nodded. "As many times as you want, dear. It's your day after all." The little girl grinned and turned back to the wall, eyes narrowed in determination. This time, I'll make it up to the ledge and back down without falling. She thought as she raced back. Nothing could or would stop her.. She was invincible.

Meanwhile..

God stared at the photographs in disbelief as the Agent looked at the Watchword defensively. "You're kidding."

The old man shook his head. "I saw her going down.. She hasn't come back up yet, as far as I can tell." The Agent turned back to God. "I'll get the Translators, we'll go down and get her right away, sir." The young man started to leave when God spoke. "No. If we start sending people down, it'll be an act of war. We aren't ready for that. Not by a long shot." The Creator dismissed the Watchword and leaned back in His chair, thinking. The Agent stood by loyally, watching God and awaiting further commands as usual. He could see the anger in God's eyes. Finally, He spoke again. "Her birthday party starts soon, correct?"

The Agent nodded. "Yes sir."

"Cancel it. I have a different surprise in mind for young Sirena. A lesson that she won't soon forget." His smile was hollow and the Agent felt a pang of sympathy for her. God only smiled like that when His Wrath was about to be wrought.

"Yes sir." The Agent bowed and started walking away towards the speakeasy. As he left, his eye caught Amelia running down the street to the elevator, late for work. He couldn't recall ever feeling more sorry for the woman. Whatever was about to befall her daughter would not be pleasant.