FloraFanS: Thank you so much for your review. Sorry it took so long to update.

aligarria: Gracias! Espero que te guste este capítulo.

Chapter Four

Helia knew Aisha had to be a strong woman. He had no idea how she did it. Despite having a flash bomb explode in her face, she hardly received any burns. Unfortunately, she did lose something. Aisha Layla could no longer see. The Black princess didn't let any tears fall. She just accepted it. Helia didn't bother saying anything to her. He couldn't say that she'd be okay or that her sight would return. Nothing was certain and he wasn't a liar. He couldn't say that they'd get the men responsible. The system was flawed. Even if it wasn't, what forensics did they have? How did the Wizards manage to slip a flash bomb in Aisha's purse without her knowing? Riven was beating himself over it. Even though Aisha Layla wasn't his favorite person, he never wished her harm. He couldn't believe that he wasn't quicker. He did manage to grab and throw the bag, Riven's hand and forearm had second degree burns on them. Riven luckily had his eyes closed while he did this. It made him feel like a coward. Surprisingly, Aisha didn't agree with that conclusion. She knew it was his quick reflexes that kept her from being incinerated. She was a beautiful person inside and outward. It seemed befitting that she kept her beauty, but would she ever be able to see that?

Timmy entered Aisha's room with a brief knock. "Hello Ms. Andros, um do you mind if I borrow Officer Helia from you."

"By all means. I try not to make it a habit to be surrounded by cops. It would make me more comfortable." She looked as if she were talking to the wall. Helia wondered if their presence prevented her from processing her situation. She turned to him. Her blue-gray eyes didn't meet his dark ones, but even without her sight she could locate him. There was no emotion in her face as she commanded him, "Go."

Helia got up and went to the door. Whatever Timmy had to say it must have been important. He didn't know why else he would tear him away from a victim. Helia closed the door and looked to make sure they were alone. "What is it?"

"The attack on Aisha wasn't an accident." Timmy announced.

"Of course it's not." Flash bombs don't appear in purses at random. They're placed. Helia thought about Riven's mistrust of Flora before things went bad. Helia's stomach began to ache. She was the only other person known to be in the Layla mansion with Aisha. He thought of those lively green eyes and pretty smile. He felt like he already knew the answer to this question. "You don't think Flora-"

"No" Timmy answered quickly. He could tell Helia had something for Flora. He didn't want to put Helia off, but he too didn't have trust in Flora. Things were a little too conveniently and he didn't believe in coincidences. The only reason he didn't believe Flora placed the bomb in Aisha's purse was the type made would have left a residue on Flora's hands. Flora was clean. "We still don't have any leads on the person who set the flash bomb."

"So what have you found?"

"Others! Well other people. There was a rash of flash bomb attacks in a few precincts not too far away from ours. They seem isolated. But when I looked into each incident the blasts seems to decrease in intensity. It's almost as if they did it to make sure Ms. Layla would be temporarily out of the way."

"Seems a little too caring to be the Wizards of the Black Circle."

"Anagan is Flora's boyfriend. He probably doesn't want to chase her away by killing her friend."

"Maybe," Helia said thinking about Timmy's theory. It had been a while since he'd seen Flora. She was moved to another location. He promised her that he'd stay by her side. He didn't like that he wasn't able to keep his promise. Helia couldn't help, but think of that terrified expression she made. She was probably terrified. She was alone in an new environment with a new identity. She'd have to live that lie forever. Flora was so used to living lies. It seemed unfair that she'd never gotten to see what true freedom was. She sacrificed her happiness and well being to be with Anagan. Now she was doing the same to put him away. He wondered if Flora would have been happier if Miele hadn't gotten cause with drugs. Helia decided to visit his partner again and get Flora out of his mind.

Buried in paperwork, Helia wished he were somewhere else. They were too busy dealing with the aftermath of a meth lab explosion. Three manufacturers were dead from the blast inside their camper. Several people around the camper were injured. He hated his job when this happened. He tried desperately to remember why the job was worth it. Surprisingly, Flora wasn't on his mind. Helia didn't give the Italian mixed woman any thought after she disappeared in protective custody. He didn't even think of the promise he made her. Instead he focused on a past successful sting operation. Lilo, lenusha, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were recovered that day; sixteen arrests were made. It was a good victory. As good as that win was, he knew that faction was only replaced soon after. It seemed like a never ending battle, the war on drugs; however, Helia was willing to fight. He always hated to see what addiction and drug money did to a community. The suffering kept him going.

"Hey Helia" Helia looked up to see Brandon above his desk. "How would you react if I told you we can take a break?"

Helia smiled. "I'd be very grateful. What's going on?"

"I have an informant. Her name is Lucy. She says she has information."

"...just like that? Why?"

Brandon laughed a little. "No not suddenly. She's been doing this for years. At first she did it because she just wanted to keep getting high without the police harassing her about it, but her habit caused her only friend to get hurt. ...Her dealer was looking for Luc because she stole from him; the girl hid Lucy, she didn't even spill when she was on the ground being kicked. I was first on the scene." Brandon realized he was going on a tangent. "I think she does it to make amends now."

"N.A.?" Amends usually meant narcotics anonymous. A former addict once sent him flowers to apologize for biting him during an arrest.

"She's going on three years."

Helia wasn't sure how he felt about this. Why didn't they get this Lucy woman help before her friend got hurt? Keeping an addict, a lawbreaker, from getting help because of the information she has seemed very unethical. He didn't say anything though. He followed Brandon to meet the omniscient Lucy. He didn't have to wonder why Brandon was doing this. He felt bad for Helia since Riven was gone. Brandon already had a partner, Timmy. He could tell their patterns were different that his and Riven's. Brandon talked or joked the entire time. Riven would only talk if he had something of substance to say. He missed Riven.

Brandon and Helia arrived to Lucy's apartment. A thin woman with stringy green hair opened the door before Brandon could knock. "Hi..."

"Hey Lucy. What's going on?"

Lucy rubbed her arms. "If I tell you this, I don't want to stay here anymore."

Brandon frowned. He looked very concerned. Helia was intrigued. "It depends what you know." Helia was not as friendly with informants as Brandon seemed to be.

"What if I told you that the entire neighborhood knows where Flora Naturleza is?"

This sounded like a trap. "How?"

"They followed some baby faced cop. Jerry? Jared? Yeah, Jared..."

Helia looked to Brandon. "I think we should go."

Lucy was scared. Were they really about to leave? "Wait, I told you what you want to know. I can't stay here!"

Brandon touched her shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll be back. First we have to verify-"

"Brandon!" Helia was shocked Brandon was telling her so much. He wonder why he found this woman so trustworthy. Brandon said nothing more and went with Brandon to do some research on Lucy's claim. It didn't take long to find out she was telling the truth. Many knew where she was; few knew the cop who was with her. Everyone knew the Wizards were planning on getting her.

At first Helia wasn't the one assigned to protect Flora, but Helia's connections paid off. On his own Helia was not able to convinced Sky to make it possible for him to be with Flora. Nobody in his squad agreed to the arrangement. It was against protocol and was unethical. Helia obviously had gotten too close to Flora. His sense as a cop would dull and he'd be likely to go against the badge if it came to it for her. He was proving that already. Plus the idea of the two of them alone and secluded was a brewing pot of potential trouble. Unfortunately Helia's connections made it possible for him to do as he wanted. Despite the logic of his squad and protocol, it was allowed. Sky told Helia he'd have to face a review board for his conduct. Helia wasn't worried.

When Flora saw Helia, she ran to him and gave him a hug. "Thank you."

"I promised you I would." Flora nodded, she felt much better now that we was there.

The Next Morning...

Helia woke up and checked Flora's room to see if she was still asleep. He found the bed neatly made, but she wasn't there. Helia could hear her voice travel. It sounded as if she was talking to someone.

"Sí, mamá, este lugar es muy seguro... Sólo hay una policía... Helia... ¿Te acuerdas de él? Mamá... Mamá, no llores. Es curioso, ¿no? No te preocupes. Terminará pronto-"

Helia's eyes widened. Flora was talking to someone over the phone. "Flora, hang up." Flora looked as if she didn't understand. Helia couldn't think of the Italian equivalent so started to gesticulate. "Ciao. Ciao."

"Ciao Mamá..."

Helia walked over to the phone and looked at the number. It wasn't American. He looked at Flora with disappointment and anger. "What were you thinking?!" Remembering her confusion earlier, he said "Che cosa stavi pensando?!"

She flinched. "Era solo mia madre. Era meno di un minuto."

"That doesn't matter Flora. If the Wizards of the Black Circle are bugging your mother's phone they already have our location. It takes that long on television." The color drained out of Flora's face. Her green eyes shimmered. Helia softened. He touched her shoulder. "I don't think they are, but you can't call Rosa again. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I-I just missed my family. She helps console me." She looked Helia in his eyes. "I'm scared."

"I know." Helia wiped the tears from her face. "I'll get you through this. Just please trust me."

"I do." Flora touched his hand and looked into his eyes. He saw that most of the swelling had gone down. One of her eyes were dark, but he was sure it looked worse than it actually was. She healed fast. Maybe she wasn't as regal as Aisha, but she was definitely strong. The way she was healing, he didn't think he would scar. How fortunate. He was sure that she'd look beautiful even with a blemish. She was embarrassed by his touch. "I must look a mess."

"No, you're very beautiful Flora. You're healing well."

"Are you still mad at me?"

"We'll have to move again Flora, but no, I'm not."

"I won't call anyone this time." Flora's eyes began to shine from curiosity. "Have you heard an update on Aisha?"

Helia stepped away from her. He didn't know what to tell her. The last he saw, Aisha was still blind. He didn't know if there would be a change in that status. She didn't know anything about her friend. Just so she wouldn't worry, he said "Aisha is fine. She's strong."

"I know. All my friends are."

"How'd you meet your friends?"

"School. I went to Alfea College." Helia was impressed. Alfea was a really prestigious school. "I didn't finish unfortunately."

"It's still amazing that you went. I went to a place called Red Fountain, but I went to an art school first."

"I think my father went to Red Fountain."

Helia frowned. "I thought your dad was the neighborhood pusher."

Flora nodded. "Yes." Helia didn't question her. Flora's english wasn't the best. maybe she thought he was talking about something else. Maybe he'd speak to her in Italian the remainder of their stay. Helia shrugged, he shouldn't think that Flora was changing her story. What did she have to hide?

(A/N) Me and updating...

Next Chapter: The Specialists get a tip about the Wizard's Suppliers.