CHAPTER ELEVEN

ROBIN

I remembered the first time Cassie made me scrambled eggs. She'd been hungover after a winery fair in Greece and hadn't quite woken up while at the helm of the stove. Thus she began throwing nearly every perishable our current host had in his kitchen, including eggs, tomatoes, onions, cheddar, sweet peppers, milk, and even honey. It was possibly the most delectable dish I'd had in a while; and we'd been in the presences of a senate member who had his own team of cooks at the time.

I remembered her laughing at the look on my face, surprised that I enjoyed the haphazard mixture as much as I did. And her laugh was contagious. Like a melody you couldn't get out of your head. The senate member dined with us right on the wooden slab in his kitchen. No servants around, no guards, no pretension. It was always like that with Cassie. If you put up a front she'd find a way to break to down, get behind the mask and kiss the creature lurking within as if it were a brother to her darkness.

No surprise, that being said, when I came back to the apartment, I found them in the kitchen sitting side by side on the island stools, laughing, and eating from the same plate. The scent of her now mastered scramble hung in the air with sweet tang and reminded me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast at Ishiah's. He shooed me out around ten so he could reign in his brothers before they went out on the streets with pitchforks and murder on their tongues. Now he was probably attempting to manage his bar as well, while I had to kill several hours at work and my favorite suit shop.

When Cal had dashed out of the restaurant yesterday, I shamefully hadn't picked up where he was heading. Niko told me to avoid my apartment for a while and, despite my gut telling me this would end as disastrously as the powdered wig revitalization of the 17th century, I adhered. I let Cal and Cassie meet again and seeing their faces now, I honestly wasn't sure if I cared what happened next. 'Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, yes?

They didn't even noticed when I slipped into the apartment, only looking up when I approached the kitchen. I draped my newest addition to my charcoal suit collection over one of the dining chairs and leaned against the island across from them. Cal was smiling, genuinely instead of the usual 'I'm giddy because I get to kill something' smile. And Cassie was nearly glowing. Perhaps I didn't give Cal enough credit in the bedroom department; he certainly seemed to satisfy Cassie's tastes. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"You would be disappointed if you weren't," Cassie countered and offered me a forkful of egg and diced tomato dipped in dressing. I leaned over the island to bite it off the fork and winked at her.

"To be honest I'm surprised Cal's still here. I figured Niko would have dragged you out by your hair by now." I picked a piece of green pepper off the plate.

Cal shot me a glare. "I'm not a child."

"Obviously," I teased. Cal continued scowling. The carefree smile was gone, but likewise I loved enticing that grumpy pout on the kid's face.

Cassie offered me her fork when I popped another piece of egg into my mouth. I wasn't about to decline; I missed her cooking almost as much as I missed her. When I started partaking in the breakfast delight, I kept an eye on the two of them. Cassie knocked her shoulder to Cal's, resting her forehead to his shoulder just briefly, before their eyes met and they smiled in that secret way. It was more adorable than Bonnie and Clyde; cute couple actually, sweet as hell to each other. I just hoped that Cassie and Cal didn't endure the same fate.

"I probably should go. Nik's still a little rattled after the Kin attack." I stifled a smile at the deep reluctance in Cal's tone. Cassie jutted her lower lip out in pleading reply, but Cal still got up from his seat. "Mostly I'm just going to punch Robin in the face if he keeps looking so smug." I chuckled, but held my tongue again. Cal should have been proud of me, not testy.

Caliban paused, both of us watching him, but Cassie was his focus. He leaned over his vacated chair and dropped a kiss to her mouth. "Thank you." It was said with more meaning than a 'thanks for the good time', and it forced me to shove another forkful of egg into my mouth to keep from commenting.

"Anytime," Cassie replied in a throaty whisper. Cal hesitated for another moment, tossed another glare at me, then tapped the island counter and headed out. "Later, little lamb," Cassie called after him and he attempted the callous over the shoulder wave.

The front door clipped shut and I shifted my gaze toward Cassie. She tried to keep a straight face of innocence, but I knew her better than that and she soon caved and showed me a bashful smile. "Stop looking at me like that."

"All night and all day. I had to go on a road trip with him, I know how difficult that should have been," I countered. "Details, give them now."

"No," Cassie scolded. She smacked at my arm across the island. "Though I will give you credit for not goading him on too much."

"I try, but in all seriousness, you spent twenty four hours with him," I raised my eyebrows in question. I'd been in these clothes for twenty four hours...well, in them for probably twelve, and I was itching to change out of them. I showered at Ishiah's, but the wrinkles forming at the arms and around my waist were driving me crazy. I didn't want to leave Cassie though, not when I thought I might be able to get something out of her.

"I did. And it was nice. We talked, we had sex, and we ate. That was the extent of it."

I wrinkled my nose. "Spoiled sport."

"Pervert." Cassie rolled her eyes and slid off the bar stool right after insulting me. Though it wasn't much of an insult when it was partially true and eagerly accepted. She rounded the island and pulled me away from my leaned position over it. "Stop fidgeting, you'll make the wrinkles worse." She tugged off my leather belt and yanked my shirt out of the pant waist line. I held up my arms as she smoothed the shirt over my hips, trying not to grab her and take her to the counter; a trained reaction when I female ripped my shirt out of my pants. She didn't take anything else off though and gave me a warning look when she caught my expression. "Not an invitation."

"Are you and Cal exclusive now?"

"No, but I believe you and my uncle are." I frowned. That was a terse tone, one where her lineage could be subtly heard like slashing daggers in the musical treble of her voice. I caught her arm before she walked away from me and turned her about, holding both her shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

Cassie's full lips pressed together in a pout of contained tears. "You didn't tell him everything." I shook my head; I'd been wondering the whole time if I should, but thought exposing the truth would make it spread and therefore get Castiella killed. Of course the picture I painted became something Cal could never resist, so I supposed I thwarted that part of Ishiah's plan up.

"He told me everything," Cassie whispered on. Her dark eyes flickered up to mine, the scent of Hawthorne flower and sex were still clinging to her. "He really told me everything he's been through, all his thoughts no matter how vile or malevolent. He told me because he trusts me and knows I'll understand, but I can't even tell him..." She rubbed at her lashes before the tears could form enough to slip down. I felt my heart ache for her. For Cal too. He told Niko and myself what he could, what he deemed not too insane, but to tell Cassie everything was a huge psychological step.

"Are you in love with him, Cas?"

She let off a small laugh, then it turned into a little whimper and she covered her face. "I don't know. I'm just so scared I'll lose him if I tell him the truth."

"Are you kidding?" I started to argue, but the house phone interrupted me. I was tempted to plow on and tell her she was being as hard-headed and moronic as the Prussian soldiers I met back in 1800. Drowning woes and insecurities in local pubs, they feared danger before it struck. Just like Cassie was denying that sometimes impending danger wasn't inevitable. Of course in the Prussian soldiers case it was inevitable and united they fell. The Holy Alliance was a silly idea anyway; religion never ruled in peace. Right, I gave up on Cassie shortly after that. Woke up in a Russian inn, alone and with the distinct sensation of someone watching gone.

Instead of lecturing her on this and many other things, I picked up the phone after the second ring. "Yeah?"

"Get Cassie out of there," Cal's breathy and panicked voice ordered. I straightened, argument with Cassie lost.

"Cal, what's going on?" He was running I could hear the thump and vibrations of footfalls over the line and the staccato of his breathing. He paused in an alley of some sort, because the footsteps stopped and there was a minute echo.

"Ishiah couldn't stop them this time. The peris figured out where she is; they're coming for her." He paused to take in a few breaths. "I distracted them, but they saw me come out of the apartment—"

"Distracted them? Cal, are the Cheris brothers after you right now?" Cassie rushed up next to me to grab the phone, but I pushed her away and blocked the receiver.

"I called Niko first," Caliban assured me. "I have reinforcements on the way."

"Zeus' multi-species harem, Cal you can't do this!" I cried out. Cassie tried for the phone again and, when I wouldn't give it, she dashed across the room. "Cassie, wait! Shit, Cal hide!"

"Stop Cassie," he answered, knowing she was on a rampage to get to him without seeing. I slammed the phone down and ran after Castiella. Only quick enough to watch her sail on black peppered white wings off my balcony.

"Damn it!" I slammed my palm to the iron railing, then spun back into the apartment. I needed my swords and didn't care if I had my coat to hide it. I managed to grab it on my way out the door, mostly because my cell phone was still in the pocket and I needed that. I took off down the stairs, leaping down several flights and leaving my neighbors looking at me like I was a lunatic.

On the street, I flipped out my cell, jamming my thumb down on three. Maybe they would never be the first on speed dial, but I wasn't crazy enough not to have Niko's number at the ready. And right then, he was probably the only one to know Caliban's location other than the peris who were about to kill him. "Where is he?"

I didn't wait for the standard greetings when the click of the connection hit and Niko didn't wait for me to finish my sentence. "Six blocks south, eight west." Damn it, he was putting out some Auphe speed there; maybe his morning runs did have some affect on his pert lazy ass. I snapped the phone closed and focused on eating the significant space between us. It was near rush hour now so taking the car would just put me into the hands of the traffic gods and they were some right nasty bastards. And what the hell were the peris thinking? This wasn't the super-powers side of town. I lived among the humans, I liked living among the humans, because this epic fighting shit usually didn't occur!

I pounded down the pavement faster. Niko had a peg on Cal's location with the cell phone GPS, but that didn't mean he was anywhere near his brother. I'd heard the stories Cal had told me the last time little brother was thought to be dead. I didn't want to be witness to the second show as impressive as it might be.

I skidded on the sidewalk at the sixth block, grabbing a pedestrian light pole to swing around and hurdle a trashcan. Gasps of those in awe followed me, but now wasn't the time to grant them more reason to worship my skills. My friend was in trouble, my best friend was diving in to her death to rescue him, and all the while all I could think was how much easier this would have all been if I'd just told them everything. If I'd just let Cassie tell them—

"Gamoto." The curse slipped from my lips right before I was thrown against the nearest surface, which happened to be the uncomfortable side of a crumbling brick wall, by a shadow that had been looming in the alley. "Hello, Izra. Taking a walk?"

The massive male narrowed molten gold eyes and lifted me off my shoes; vintage Bruno Magli and now ruined from the run. Izrahiah tilted his head to one side, baring teeth that one would expect to be jagged to match the death glare on his sharp face. What came from his mouth was perian, not a language I'd bothered to learn more than a few key phrases in and dare I say, I doubted he'd appreciate me asking if he and the misses would like join me at my hotel room. The language was quite beautiful, sounding Latin in origin with Spanish inflection and the added harmonies of subtle bird chirps. Of course Latin probably came from their language and not the other way around.

I waited for him to finish repeating himself. He shook me once, but hadn't decided to cut off my airways yet. "Sorry, could you repeat the question in one of the hundreds of languages I do know?"

"Where is she?" he snarled. I kicked at his lung, wedging my toe just under his ribcage enough to have him stumble back and release me. My sword was unsheathed and parallel in front of me in the next second.

"Don't know. She's a little like the wind sometimes. You never know where it's going."

Izrahiah ruffled his wings then swept them forward to box my ears. I dodged backward into the brick wall, flinching when it clipped my skull. Parrying his broadsword let me pivot into the alley though, facing him without my back to the wall. He swung his blade down in a swift arch, much swifter than one should wield a broadsword one-handed, but not quick enough to catch me. Surviving for thousands of years made me master of many things and agility was top of the list.

I ducked, spun and kicked at one leg to trip him. Izra didn't even flinch, thick leg firmly in place like a damn tree root. He plunged the sword down on me as I gathered my legs after the abrupt recoil. Missed, though it created impressive sparks against the pavement. I backpedaled a few graceful steps, assessing his movements as he lumbered towards me with his wings flexing. I knew from experience larger creatures were all brute strength and little flexibility. I just needed to force him to strike me with all this strength and he wouldn't be able to recover quickly enough to parry my attack.

I rolled my shoulders, ready to enter the fray again, when I caught a glimpse of something slipping into the alley behind Izra. I shifted on my feet, relief washing over me. Time for some distracting conversation. "Izra, you realize what a bad idea this is? She decimated an army in the Braquez clan."

"If she wants you and her new mate to survive, she will surrender her life."

Anger blazed through me. I did not appreciate becoming collateral damage. "That is laughable. You think for a moment I believe you would allow Caliban to live? The only reason he survived without you trying to kill him before was because you didn't know he existed. But now that you know he's the last male Auphe, he's dead the moment you can get through Cassie and his brother. Which is quite near impossible. And use me as bait? Hah, let's see you try."

"The last male Auphe?" Izra echoed. His wings arched up, not in rage, but a form of shock. "The Auphe are that far into extinction?"

I lowered my sword just slightly. He hadn't known? Well, I supposed we never really put it in the news letter, but I figured some rumors would have flown out to the peris by now. Maybe I could reason with him yet. "No, Izrahiah. The Auphe are dead. Castiella and Caliban have finished the task you and the peris could never complete. All the Auphe are dead. So you see there is no reason—"

"There is every reason," Izrahiah spat back, literally; a little spittle almost hit the helm of my slacks. "Not all the Auphe are dead. The end of that blasphemous race is at my sons' fingertips. I will see it end tonight."

"Blasphemous?" It was an odd word for a peri to choose; they were not the angels the lore claimed them to be and they never liked being associated with the Lord and God and all those overstated capital lettered nouns. Sometimes though, just sometimes, one of them would get god-fever and think they were the know all, end all. I was not the slighted bit surprised the great Izrahiah turned out to be one of them. "Izra—"

"Stop speaking to me with familiarity, filthy goat!" His white blond hair kicked up when he pressed his wings abruptly against the current. I had to shield my face when the dust swirled around me. "You sully my son. Taint him with your defiling thoughts. Befriend and hide the traitor that murdered our kin, Ishiah's kin. You are filth. Worth no words, not even the consideration I give you now."

"Consideration?" I laughed. "What con—"

"Leave," Izra barked. He slashed his glinting sword through the empty air before him and pointed the tip toward the way I'd come without looking. I could hear the muffled shots of a silenced gun just six more blocks away at my back and watched the figure slink down the wall of the alley toward us. "Show me the self-preservation your cowardly kind is so well known for."

"See, that's the thing," I countered. I smirked and leaned back on the soles of my damaged shoes. "I'm a changed puck. Which is why this ragtag team of misfits gets along so well. A half Auphe with a compassionate soul, a human who could slice out the heart of any creature of the night before it even caught his scent, a vampire who downs pills instead of the blood of her human lover, a monogamous puck who loves a good fight, and a peri, who behind closed doors, loves a good drink and a good time. We aren't like ourkind. And that's where every one of you makes your mistakes."

"No mistakes," Izrahiah argued. But he did make a mistake and I smiled as the shadow approached within blade distance behind him. The little light filtering in from between the buildings caught the pale highlights in his long blond braid. His trench coat didn't even flap against his legs. I was never so happy to see his sexy body prowl toward me. Well, before Ishiah I would have preferred it to be a different kind of prowl and with much less clothing. "I have never made a mistake."

"I highly doubt that," Niko corrected. Izrahiah spun to slice him down, but his blade had already over shot it. The human lunged, with one hand clamped around Izrhiah's armed wrist and the other driving a katana home. I followed Niko's lead, vaulting at Izrahiah as well. The massive male, with his gold laden wings stretched high and voice bellowing with ferocity, fell when Niko and my swords crossed within him. A jolt and then he stilled and tumbled to the alley grime. One of us had gotten the heart. Niko wrenched his blade back out with an impressive spurt of blood. I had to brace my foot to the trunk-sized torso in order to pull mine free.

Correction, we'd both gotten his heart. In a heap of muscle, girth, and feathers the biggest peri I'd ever known was dead at my feet. "Why did I ever fear him? I could have done that myself."

"You could have," Niko agreed, wiping his blade on his black jeans. "Why didn't you?" He shoved at my chest to get me out of the way and was off as fast as the bullets that were still softly pinging off the building walls. I doubted the humans could hear that, but if any of them saw something the cops would come soon. Or the Vigil, and either way Cal didn't want to remain. I stared down at the man who had me avoiding Ishiah for decades at a time. The bastard that threatened and bullied his own granddaughter to the point that she hid for centuries. A being I feared just because he breathed intimidation down my neck. How silly of me.

I kicked him in his slack face, then spun and sprinted after Niko. There were still four more to go and I needed to try and keep those assholes alive. Niko would slaughter them if they hurt Caliban, and I loathed them, but they were Ishiah's only family...

"Shit," Niko hissed out and I halted behind him. It was around the last bend, hidden away between an old condemned bakery and a consignment shop; the slaughter of the Cheris clan leaders. The blood congealed in a perfect circle, spraying out like a ring on fire, and on either side of the line were the scattering of body parts, entrails, various shades of blond hair in tuffs and scalp-capped dreads, and heavy chucks of feathers and wings. Like macabre confetti. Dead center knelt Caliban, breathing heavy, eyes wide and gun aimed directly at his brother and I. They were gray though, no sign that he'd lost it, or broke the inhibitor on his brain.

"Cal..." Niko called, lowering his blade to comfort his brother. It took me a moment to realize the body in his arms wasn't in pieces. Red-stained layers of blond hair cascaded over Cal's supporting arm, keeping her head from lolling in unconsciousness. She still had her charcoal kissed wings bent awkwardly beneath her, still had her chest rising and falling at the healthy rate of sleep. And Cal held her protectively, despite what he'd just seen, despite the horrors that just revealed themselves, so I let him. I scanned the sphere of dismembered peris around them, picking out a distinguishable head or torso here and there. I frowned.

"We're missing one," I told Niko. The human had crossed over the gore and stooped next to Cal. Two pairs of gray eyes flickers up to me. "Joel. I don't see him here."

"Ran with four bullets in him. Went to get their father," Cal answered. He lowered his gun, but didn't drop it even when he used to the barrel to help readjust Cassie in his arms. His tone bled harsh at his next words, gaze narrowed upon me. "Why didn't you tell us? Why did you keep this a secret? Of all—" he cut himself off, shook his head. "I just shut it without thinking and she went down."

I started to speak, started to apologize –which was something I didn't normally do– but stopped when the beating of wings sounded overhead. Joel was still out there, alone and only going to find his father dead, but he was still out there. And a vengeful peri was like a woman scorned. Niko shot to his feet, clutching his katana and setting sights above the rise of the buildings. Cal shifted Cassie in his arms, reloading his weapon around her body as it rested against his chest.

There was a solid thump of a landing in the shadows of the alleyway behind us and Niko was at my side, defending his brother and our fallen friend. My stomach plummeted when the tall figure stepped into the light of the dead end; I wished for a bloodbath at that moment instead of my lover approaching with wide gold eyes.

"Ishiah." I started forward. Niko remained at the ready, as did Caliban, probably assuming the peri would turn on them now that his family lay bloody on the pavement. I knew better. I touched a hand to Ishiah's sword arm. Sliding my fingers down, I disarmed him and took care in slipping the weapon into its sheath on his belt. "I'm sorry, Ishiah. I was too late to stop it—"

"Is she alive?" His tone was sharp to hide his sorrow, but my comrades took it as a threat and I almost feel Cal's finger tighten on the trigger. Ishiah's gaze was trained on the center of the dismal circle, face expressionless. His jaw clenched, but didn't make any move to go to her. Not that I blamed him; Cal probably would have shot him a few times. After seeing Joel dash off with several holes in him, Cal knew it wouldn't kill Ishiah. And while, I wasn't positive Caliban wouldn't try to kill Ishiah, I knew he wouldn't make the attempt without damned good reason. "Get out of here."

"Ish—"

His eyes darted to me and gave a stern glare. "I followed the sirens here. The Vigil is on the way. Get her out of here."

"Cal, start toward the alley," Niko ordered. He slipped his katana under his coat. "We can't walk around with her like that. I'll get us a cab...or something." He breezed passed Ishiah and I, with only a brief clasp of his hand to Ishiah's shoulder –an obvious apology– before he disappeared into the shadows.

I rushed over to help Cal get Cassie situated in his arms without the gun going off. She didn't look injured other than a slash to her upper arm from a sword tip and the few blood splashes that were painted over her didn't seem to be hers. Cal continued to bestow a rather scathing glare upon me as he lifted her, cradled in his arms. "I got her."

"Cal—"

"I got her. Ish needs you more right now," he countered sharply. Gun now holstered, he carried Cassie away from me. If it were anyone else, anyone other than him or Niko, I would have taken her away. Fought them by the skin of my teeth, scooped her up, and ran. But it was Caliban and by the fierce look in his eyes, he wasn't about to let her go and he wasn't about to let anyone else touch her. Good. Maybe the lies wouldn't destroy them.

So I stayed back, tip-toeing back around the circle of drying blood. For once I said nothing, for once I didn't force my touch upon him. I waited and stood before Ishiah. He finally let his eyes fall to the victims and obvious aggressors of this battle. He pursed his lips, then looked at me. "I knew it would come to this, but it doesn't make it easier."

"It never does," I agreed. He hooked my palm with a finger, then intertwined our fingers. I stepped closer, slipped my other hand around his waist, and kissed to his tense jaw. "I'm sorry, Ishiah."

"My father. Did he try to kill you or Niko?" I dropped my forehead to his shoulder, guilty for my hasty attack. Granted, Izrahiah might have let me go out of respect for his son's 'infatuation', but he would have never let Cassie or Cal live through the night. I had to stop him, hoping that I would get there before Cassie had to shed the blood of her brethren. When I didn't readily answer, Ishiah sighed and ran his free hand over my jaw and into my curly hair. He gripped it a little roughly, but I didn't complain. I also didn't make any 'inappropriate comments', as Ishiah called them, it just didn't seem like the right moment.

Ishiah kissed me and braced his forehead to mine, eyes closed, but wings still exposed and rocking on his back with anxiousness. I caressed one curve of white-gold feathers and used our intertwined hands to push his chin up and kiss him again. "I'm sorry."

"Stop it," Ishiah breathed out. "You aren't guilty, you don't need to apologize. You were defending the lives of your friends, just like Castiella was defending her own life. You both won the privilege of living tonight. I'm not going to hold that against you."

The sirens were drawing closer and I began wondering if we should have swept up the shell casings or tried to find the stray bullets left over from Cal's gun. Glancing around, I realized there weren't any to sweep up nor were there bullet holes in the building walls; I'd really underestimated Caliban's marksmanship and intelligence. It seemed most of those bullets were still inside the dead or fled peris. "We should go too," I told Ishiah. I didn't want to be caught up in the next peris war and the Androma clan, which held territory here, would have more than a few ruffled feathers finding out the heads of the Cheris clan were dismembered. The Androma were even less of a match for Cassie, but where there was a clan in need there was an army of mixed peris at your door.

Ishiah bowed his head with his eyes closed, possibly saying a prayer for his fallen brothers or possibly just apologizing and saying goodbye. Either way, I started to leave. Giving him that peace alone. It was the few steps I took into the darkened alley closest to me that allowed the panicked voice of Niko to reverberate over the sirens. I paused and strained my ears to listen. If it was another fight I needed to be prepared. Ishiah came up beside me on silent feet and we hesitated only a moment longer.

"Cal!" I darted down the alley with Ishiah on my heels. I could hear Niko's words now. They weren't those of a swordsman mid-battle, but of an anxious brother searching. Cal was missing and with Cal was Cassie. Damn it, I wasn't willing to lose either of them, let alone both. I kicked off the street light when I plowed into the street with a little more power than necessary and nearly knocked Niko down. We grabbed each other's upper arms to steady; Niko knew it was me before I'd even breached the alley way, I was sure.

The streets weren't vacant, no, there were many more bodies than expected after a gun fight. Of course, human curiosity was a death-dealer and there were plenty of them rubber-necking as they passed the scene. There was little blood on Niko, even less on myself, but we were still armed and the blades were not hidden as well as our usual consideration provided.

"I can't find Cal," Niko breathed out. He waved off the taxi he'd previous hailed when the cabby cursed at him for taking too long. The yellow vehicle sped out into traffic with the eagerness of one who probably didn't want the authorities to see him. "I got the cab and went back for him, but he was gone. Cassie and Cal are gone."

"His cell?" I asked. Niko held up the phone in hand, which had me assume it was Caliban's otherwise Niko would already have a hit on his location.

"Did you see anything on the street?" Niko gave Ishiah a scathing glare and motion to the commotion behind us. I turned my gaze upon the roads, watching people peek around corners, cars move out of the way for the ambulance and police cars. And something caught my attention. It was not even that subtle. A large black van swerved between two cop cars and the police didn't even bat an eye. They let it go, even if it looked like it was fleeing a crime scene. And on the back right next to the plate number was a familiar symbol in stark white.

"Niko," I snapped, smacking his arm so he stopped arguing with my boyfriend. The overprotective human followed my fixed gaze and probably didn't need me to reiterate what we both knew. "The Vigil." Those bastards caught the last Auphe.