Chapter 6

The following morning, my eyes fluttered open to meet Patch's velvet black ones, causing me to smile almost automatically. I was lying on my belly and I could smell the enticing mint and spices. I felt glorious all over. My heart felt like it was swelling three times its size, my skin felt like it was glowing, and my body felt warm inside. It was the best morning I've ever waken up to.

"So beautiful," he muttered softly, gently placing his forehead against mine.

"You don't look too shabby yourself," I grinned back. I rolled on my back, letting the silk sheets slip around me. "I could lie here forever."

"Like I said before, you fit in them perfectly. I actually prefer you staying there as long as you like."

I shrugged. "Or I could just steal them and get this over with."

He chuckled. "Not if I prevent it."

I cuddled closer to him, letting his arms wrap around me securely. "I'm glad you're home."

"Glad to be back."

I was starting to drift off once again when he spoke. "Nora, there's something I want to tell you."

"Hmm?" I asked half-heartedly, my eyes still closed. "What is it?"

He took my hand and gently slid it to his back. Catching up, I opened my eyes and looked curiously at him before I touched his scars. "Want to know what happened during the trials?"

This definitely got my attention. I nodded before finally touching his scars. I was sucked into his memories, hooked by the waist. A blur of colors spun out of control around me. Then abruptly, everything stopped. I found myself standing in the middle of a circular courtroom, at least it looked official enough to be a courtroom. There were marble floors, handsome oak tables, and even a small area for the jury.

I froze as a door behind me opened, suddenly aware that every inch of my body was exposed. I slowly turned around to see Patch and Detective Basso walking towards the front of the courtroom. I knew I was in a memory but I still didn't like the feeling of walking in front of other people, Detective Basso, naked.

But I did feel a little tingly when I laid my eyes on Patch. He wasn't wearing his typical black shirt and dark jeans. He looked extremely sharp in his black suit and deep purple sleek tie. His dark hair was combed back.

"Remember what we talked about," Detective Basso whispered towards Patch. Patch kept his eyes locked in front, his expression was hard. It looked like he didn't hear him but he slowly nodded.

Another door opened and this time several people lined in. I watched them carefully. Each was breathtakingly beautiful, all with innocent faces. They were all wearing white robes that reached their ankles. I noticed when they moved, a flicker of glowing white-blue material flashed from their backs. They were angels. They all settled down the chairs in the jury corner, all looking at Patch and Detective Basso expectantly. A pair of them broke off the group and settled down on the table directly beside Patch's and Detective Basso. They were the prosecution.

A couple of angels wearing deep blue robes stood in front. They looked extremely identical, both with cherubim faces and light brown curly hair. They both had blue eyes and curved mouths.

"The high judge Delilah will preside today's trials. All rise!" they announced in unison in a surprisingly deep voice. As everyone straightened up, the door at the left of the judge's table opened again and this time an angel with long sweeping black hair entered. She wore the same white robes as the jury but two long, royal red lines ran from the base of her neck to the bottom of the robes. The judge faced us and recognition hit me. She was the angel Hank captured to get an archangel's necklace. Her purple eyes held Patch's gaze.

Once she was settled in, the rest of the courtroom sat back down. She ruffled some papers in her hands but she never broke her eye contact with Patch. "Very well," she began. "Case number 5923429, Jev versus the Legion of Angels. May the defendant please rise." Patch and Detective Basso stood up in unison. If this wasn't such a serious case, I would have pointed out that Basso and Patch looked extremely alike. "Jev, the Legion of Angels accuses you of several crimes including, but not limited to, arson, theft, libel, illegal incarceration of an angel, manipulation, blackmail, murder, seditious acts, treason, and violation of your duties as an Archangel and as a Guardian Angel. How do you plead?"

All eyes, including mine, turned to him. He looked calm and collected as he stared straightly. "Guilty, your honor."

A murmur echoed throughout the room. This wasn't the answer everyone was expecting. I felt my insides fell to the bottom of the floor. What was he doing? What was he thinking? Why would he do such a thing? Then a sudden panic grip over me. Was he going to be sent to hell soon? Was that why he was back, so he could spend what little time we have together?

"Ah, you do know how to make a girl's job more difficult," Delilah commented, a hint of smile on her face. "Very well. This court hereby proclaims you guilty of all charges. We will move on to punishments then."

Detective Basso stood up quickly, facing the judge. "Your honor, I would like to propose a solution."

Her eyes shifted from Patch to Basso. "I don't think you are in the place to do so."

"That may be but since my client had pled guilty, I feel like the punishment should be suggested-"

"-by the presiding judge. This is still an official hearing Basso," Delilah cut him off. "Now, by law, any angel who pleads guilty in front of the Legion and his peers will not be sent to hell."

My eyes widened as relief swept over me. It suddenly all made sense. If Patch pled "not guilty" a trial would probably have commenced and he might be found guilty and thrown in hell. If he was found guilty, then he would have been gone from me forever. I couldn't help smiling. Trust Patch to find a way back to me.

"However, it does state that the Legion will have to assign the guilty party a mission to solve a crisis the Legion is facing right now. The guilty party will have two choices: take this mission or go for the easy way out and be sent to hell."

"My client will take the mission, your honor," Basso replied, his face blank but his hands were tangling and untangling in record speed. On the other hand, Patch looked merely bored with his hands casually in his pockets and his eyes never leaving the judge.

"Very well, this court is adjourned. You will be informed of the details of your punishment within this month," she said with finality as she struck a small hammer against her table. As if on cue, the jury of angels stood up and started filing back through the door they entered.

Patch and Basso remained seated however, discussing in low whispers what was going to happen now but I was jerked back towards the present. I suddenly felt the sheets around me. Patch was lying still beside me, watching my face with apprehension and awe.

"What did you see Angel?" he murmured softly.

"You pled guilty," I replied him blankly.

"You must understand why I did it," he answered, uncomfortably.

It took me a few seconds to answer but I eventually nodded. "I understand why though it scares me how easy you can take that risk, how easy you can say yes to hell."

He shook his head. "It wasn't easy. If Basso didn't guarantee me with his own one-way ticket to hell, I wouldn't have agreed to it. I would have fought for you. But I found out that only a minority of the Legion of Angels, the jury you saw, believed I should be pardoned. A lot of them still thinks I should have been sent to hell because my crimes were just too…heinous and too many to say."

This made my insides crumble. "So it wasn't just a chance. There was a high probability you'd be sent to hell if you defended your case."

He nodded. "On the other hand, if I didn't attend, I would have been hunted down by the Avenging Angels and you would have been placed in danger as well. I couldn't have that. They were pinning me down. Basso found a way to turn it around. Besides, I think it's time to finally step up to my crimes. Though I am hoping Delilah would lay it easy on me."

"Do you know what kind of punishment you'll have?" I asked, searching his eyes.

He shook his head. "Apparently I'm doing everything first. I was the first one to prove the Book of Enoch was true, I was the first fallen to get my wings back, I was the first angel to have his wings ripped by the Nephilim, I was the first fallen to negotiate with Archangels to kill a Nephil, I'm the first fallen to walk out of hell without their help, and I was the first fallen angel to plead guilty and avoid hell all in all."

"Wow, that is a lot of first," I commented with a smile, noticing the uneasiness in his face.

He shook his head again. "And that's the reason why I have a painted target on my back. But Basso did warn me that these punishments were probably not going to be easy at all. They are going to find a punishment that will equal an eternity in hell."

"Can't you think of anything?" I asked, wondering myself. He was silent for a few seconds when something suddenly seem to dawn on him. I noticed his hold on me tightened.

"You."

"What?"

"They're going to take you."

I frowned. "What do you mean 'take me'?"

He suddenly jumped out of the bed, grabbed his clothes littered on the bed, and tugged them on. "The only punishment equivalent to hell for me is not having you."

I shook my head, trying to ignore the fear starting to rumble inside me. "They're not going to take me. They can't. I'm the one who defeated Dante. I think we deserve some break, don't you?"

"You don't know what they're capable of. You'll need to go. I need you to stay somewhere they won't think to find you. At least that will delay them a little bit. I will come and find you after I talk to Basso. Don't go to Vee. It's better if she doesn't get involved into this, though I'm afraid she will be, eventually."

"What?"

"They will go to her first but if Vee is with her family, I doubt they will harm her, even if she is Nephil. But they will be expecting your presence. I would tell you to go to Delphic but since there's only one fallen beside me now, that's the least safest place to be. The Archangels could walk in without seeing any resistance." He handed me my clothes before cupping my face gently. "I promise you nothing will happen to you or to Vee or to anyone you care for. I won't let them hurt you to get to me."

I swallowed, the lump on my throat returning. "What about you? Where are you going? How are you going to contact Basso?"

He smiled. "Pepper is going to help me with everything. He is fallen now. He had his trial after mine and he was found guilty on all his charges. Basso asked the court if, as punishment, they can assign Pepper to me."

I frowned. The last time we asked Pepper to do something for us, Patch had ended up in the fiery pits of hell. Trusting him was a mistake and that probably still holds true today. Besides, we probably were the reason why he can't return to heaven any longer. We asked him to steal the feathers, a one way ticket to being fallen. I have a feeling he'll be stabbing us in the back pretty soon. "I don't like it. I don't trust him."

He nodded. "Yeah, I don't either, especially not with you. But he's the best we have for now. Just go. Go to one of your classmates' houses. Maybe you can stay with one of the Nephlim members of your dad's society."

Yeah that would be likely. "Okay. Be safe."

He pecked me on the lips. "You too, Angel."

I was driving towards the familiar route to the library. The sun was slowly rising, sending orange streaks in the purple sky. I didn't know who I can go to that the Archangels wouldn't think of looking so I decided the library would be a safe haven until Patch calls. Though of course, I highly doubt the library would be able to give me any real protection. I slowed to a stop in front of the library's underground parking lot. Yeah, because dark corners was the most advisable place to go to when you're trying not to get abducted. I sighed, briefly looking at my rearview mirror to make sure no one was behind me. When I was clear, I drove back to the street.

I parked in front of Enzo's, silently thanking the owner in my mind for opening at six in the morning. I pulled open the door and the barista behind the corner looked up in surprise. Okay, I guess no one in their right mind would come in this early, even if they are a loyal customer. I settled down in one of the corner tables where I can spy the door.

I took my eyes briefly away from the door to check out what I wanted for breakfast when the bell signaled another customer coming in. I shifted my gaze towards the new customer and saw Seth walking confidently towards me. He was wearing a gray hoodie and black sweatpants paired with gray sneakers.

"Grey, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" he greeted as he settled in the chair directly mine. He folded his hands together and placed it gently on the table, barely an inch away from mine. I drew back and looked at the menu again, feigning interest.

"I usually eat breakfast here," I answered, pointing at the menu written on chalkboard behind the counter.

"This early? On a Saturday?"

I managed to squeeze out a gritted smile and a shrug. "I am an early bird, what can I say? What about you? Working out so early. Olympics are three years away. No need to be training so early."

It was his turn to shrug. "Well, you can never be too prepared right?" He flashed me a million dollar smile. "And I always prepare for anything that might challenge me. Go for the gold, right?"

I rolled my eyes, knowing he had some kind of hidden message in there somewhere but I didn't really want to decipher it. "You come at Enzo's at freakishly early hours all the time?"

He shook his head. "No. Do you?"

"Yes," I lied, smiling again.

He saw right through it. "Then why haven't you ordered? Are you waiting for someone? Meeting someone here, perhaps? The boyfriend, maybe?"

"No. Just wanted to weigh my breakfast options really well today. You never know something life-changing might happen today, right? It is better to be prepared with a good healthy breakfast. How about you? If you don't go at Enzo's this early, why are you here? Are you following me?"

He leaned back in his chair and gave me a wink. "As a matter of fact, I did. I know of a girl who completely ditched me last night because she got wind that her oh-so-precious and oh-so-mysterious boyfriend is back. So how did it go?"

Better than I'm willing to share with you. I poked my lower lip out in a noncommittal gesture. "It's all right."

"So he's back?"

I nodded.

"When will I meet this Mr…?"

"Patch."

"Weird name though I must say I have heard weirder. Anyways, when will I meet Mr. Patch?"

I made a face. "One, that's not too weird. Two, he's busy at this current moment so I highly doubt you'll be shaking hands anytime soon."

"Okay, I know when someone doesn't want to face fierce competition," he smirked.

I perched my elbow on the table and entwined my fingers together before resting my head on top. "You are cocky, aren't you?"

"Let's just say I'm doing my best to impress the girl I set my eyes upon," he replied, grinning. "Speaking of which, since you bailed on me the last time, I believe you owe me another date."

I sighed audibly. "Fine. But I drive." I stood up and started for the door, trying to look as casual as I could. Why didn't I think of this before? Not a lot of people knew Seth so I highly doubt the Archangels would find me that quickly. Vee and I are investigating him so I can interrogate him while avoiding the Archangels. It's like hitting two birds with one stone. Good thing I brought the Fiat. If he was planning on kidnapping me, at least I have a chance to get away.

"Right now? Don't guys usually set up dates?"

I shrugged as I headed for the door. "Well you're new so I doubt you know all the good spots here."

I had my hand on my car's door when he pushed his body against it. "Do you mind if we head towards my house first? I'm all sweaty and disgusting."

I bit my lip. Okay, maybe I was doing sleuthing for Vee and keeping safe from the Archangels for Patch but going to his house was not a good idea. I was thinking of going somewhere public with him so neither he nor the Archangels can swoop down and kidnap me. But going to his house was stupid and dangerous. I would be avoiding the Archangels but it was almost guaranteed that Seth's gang would be waiting for me at his house.

"I'm sorry. I really don't go to guys' houses," I told him, when he sensed my hesitation.

He shrugged again and smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "That's fine. I could jog back there anyways but it's a couple of miles' trip away from here and I'm not really willing to run in the cold again."

I sighed. I knew it was better to follow my judgment but then I was risking having him be suspicious. "Fine, get in. I'm driving."

We were silent throughout the drive except when he gives me directions. I turned towards one of the main roads, relieved he didn't live too far from civilization.

"Just tell me where to turn," I reminded him as we passed by a neighborhood lined with particularly nice houses.

"You've got about two more miles," he told me, looking straight ahead.

Two miles? My stomach sank. The nice neighborhood was about to end and the next house will be at least several miles apart. So much for getting help from his neighbors. I need to find a way to ditch him but get information first. Well, if I'm doing my sleuthing, might as well make it as convincing as I could. "So, I realized I never asked you where you were from."

"I'm from La Push, a Quileute reservation near Forks, Washington," he replied shortly, obvious he didn't want to reveal a lot.

"Oh, Washington? What made you move? Did your parents get a new job or something?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "Actually my mom's still in Forks. She lives with her new husband now."

"So you don't like the husband?"

"Oh, no. I mean, Charlie's great and all."

I waited for him to say something else but when he remained silent, I asked, "But?"

"But what?"

"You said Charlie was great and all but…?"

"Oh, there's no buts. I like him for my mom. She deserves to be happy after losing my dad."

I glanced at him, surprised that he had that in common with me. He seemed sad and brooding at the mention of his father. "Yeah, I know how you feel," I told him, giving him a small smile.

"What do you mean?"

"I lost my father more than a year ago. He was…killed. My mom started dating another guy again but unlike your mother, she was a bit more unfortunate. The guy wasn't good for her at all."

"I'm sorry," he said and sounded like it too.

"It's fine. I mean, it's really getting better. So, back to you. What made you move here?"

"Business," he replied shortly, his tone suddenly turning icy.

I was hitting something and he knew it. "What kind of business?"

"I really don't want to talk about it."

"Does it have anything to do with the guys that attacked me that night?" I tried to keep my tone cool and controlled but I was shaking. "You're friends with them, right? They were from your reservation, right? What did they want from me?"

"They didn't want anything from you. You were just something they were going to play with that night," he said, his voice uneven.

"You're lying," I said. Even if I didn't hear it in his voice, I could feel it emitting from his skin like heat. I suddenly swerved the car to the shoulder of the road. We were surrounded by trees once more, the line of houses far behind us. I took the keys of the ignition.

"We're not going anywhere until you tell me the truth about your gang and why they attacked me."

"I told you, you were just some victim they saw!" his voice boomed in my small car. "What makes you think there's something special about you that they want."

"And I told you I think that's a pile of crap!" I shouted back, my temper getting the better of me.

"Believe what you want to believe," he said, clicking out the seatbelt and letting it slide back into place. He opened the door and started heading out. "I'm out of here."

Not knowing what else to do, I reached out for his mind to mind-trick him. But what I found there was completely surprising. His mind was nothing like any other mind I have entered before, human, Nephilim, or fallen angel. It was wild, uncontrolled with animalistic instincts. Despite my surprise, I unraveled his defenses and he yielded. However, everything was still wild and unorganized.

"Come back in the car," I commanded, speaking both in his mind and out of my mouth. Obediently, he went back inside and closed the door, his face blank.

"You will tell me everything: what your gang wants from me and why."

He shook his head. "I can't."

I frowned. He was under my control. There was no way he could resist me. I firmly gripped his mind again. "You will tell me everything."

Once again he shook his head. "I really can't. I can't tell you why either. Would you just get out of my head?!"

Out of frustration I forced myself deeper inside his mind, prying every corner. "You will tell me!"

I had a glimpse of some of his memories, faces and places flashing before my eyes. He was a young boy, playing with a girl a few years older than he was. The memories shifted again and I was standing in front of a beach. Seth was watching several boys down the shore, hanging out. I could feel his desire to join them. He stepped forward as if to approach them but turned back around and headed towards the forest.

The scene shifted again. This time, I was in a cozy living room. A younger Seth stood by the coffee table a few feet from me with an agonized expression on his face. He held his hands together so tightly his knuckles were turning white. He lifted his eyes when we heard a young woman, a few years older than I was, entering with a man in a wheel chair and Dante's doppelganger.

"Billy, is my dad okay?" Seth asked anxiously, his tortured face searching the man's eyes.

The man in the wheelchair looked away and Dante's doppelganger reached out to touch the man's shoulder. "I'm really sorry, Leah, Seth."

"No!" the woman shrieked, bursting to tears. "No! No! This isn't happening!"

"I'm so sorry," the man in the wheelchair told them again over the woman's cries.

The woman collapsed on the floor and Seth automatically went to her and wrapped his arms around her. She hid her face in his chest and wept audibly. Seth looked at the two men, his own face stained with tears.

"Was it our fault?"

Dante's doppelganger bent down and gently touched Seth's arm. "It wasn't. No one wanted this to happen to your dad."

"But we caused this. He wouldn't have gotten a heart attack if…"

Dante's doppelganger shook his head. "No. What happened to your dad will never be your fault."

"I don't want to be this," the woman murmured, emerging from Seth's chest. "I don't want to have this curse!"

"Leah!" the man in the wheelchair warned her. "Do not speak that way! Our ancestors did not think of this as a curse! This had protected us from the Cold Ones! Never forget that!"

The woman glared at him through her tears. "This is the reason why my father is dead! This is the reason why my family is now broken! This is the reason why Seth will never have a father figure in his life! This is the reason why my mother will be alone for the rest of her life! And this is the reason why the only man I have ever loved is gone from me! TELL ME HOW THIS ISN'T A CURSE!"

"Leah, calm yourself," Dante's doppelganger told her gently but there was firmness in his voice like it was a command. "You need to control this. You need to control your anger."

Seth's grip on her tightened. "Please Leah, don't. Not now."

"Let go of me, Seth," she hissed, her body was shaking. "Let go of me or we all know this isn't going to end well."

Hesitantly, Seth let go off her. She stood up and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her. Dante's doppelganger looked at the man in the wheelchair before following her out.

The man approached Seth. "Sam will straighten things out. He'll help you. The others will help you too, including Jacob. You and your sister have nothing to worry about."

I waited for the scene to shift but nothing solidified. I was flying through different memories but I couldn't see any of them. I could only barely make out shapes and shadows and they told me nothing. Was it possible that Seth was blocking me out of his memories? With no answer coming to me, I withdrew myself and was slammed back in the car.

Frustrated and tired, I turned to him. "Get out." Without any protest, he opened my door and stepped out.

I stepped on the gas, making a u-turn in a foolishly high speed. When I was clear, I sped off. I drove around for about an hour to clear my thoughts. It was definitely certain that Seth was not human but he couldn't be Nephilim either. I knew no Nephilim, even when they were young, whose minds were as animalistic as his. At the same time, no Nephilim, even highly trained with centuries of experience, can block me as solidly as he did. What I didn't understand the most was why I couldn't access to the memories I was sure held answers to his identity and what he and his gang wants from me. I am not arrogant but I am confident with my skills in brainwashing and mind invasion. After all, I did trick Patch into thinking I did something I really didn't. I was also able to invade Dante's body and forced him to kill himself. But maybe I wasn't really good. Perhaps I was just lucky. But another thought had struck me, one more terrifying than my other thoughts.

What if Seth and his gang were a different type of Nephilim? What if they're a new generation of Nephilim, one stronger than any of us are? It was possible that they were some kind of mutation. Fallen angels do not age nor their bodies change into something different. But what if they mated with humans that had some kind of mutation in their genes? Okay, the probability of that wouldn't be high at all. And it's even more unlikely that these "mutated" Nephilim find their way to each other. Even if they are "mutated", what could they possibly want from me?

I slowed down in front of my house, entering the driveway. Drops of rain were beginning to fall when I had left Seth stranded on the street in the middle of nowhere. But now, it was raining buckets. I shielded my face with no success until I got to the porch.

I sensed the intruder a millisecond before I stepped inside the living room. I was thrown off into the air, hit by something very similar to a baseball bat. I flew against the wall of the stairs before hitting back to the uneven steps. I felt the air escape my lungs and my head threatened to burst. I tasted the iron taste of blood in my mouth.

"Where are they?!" a woman screamed at me as she grabbed me by the collar and lifted me with incredible strength. I knew who it was right away and I quickly flung my shields up.

I spat the blood out of my mouth, meaning to spit at her face but thinking better. "You know you've gotten low when you attack the heir of your leader's secret society in the dark."

"You're no heir," Lisa hissed as her grip in my throat tightened. "You're nothing but a treacherous disappointment. You tarnished the Black Hand's good name and insulted the Nephilim race as a whole! Now where are they?!"

Okay, I was seriously running out of patience. I let my guard down and assaulted her mind mercilessly, her defenses too weak. I tricked her into thinking her skin was on fire, every inch of her burning to ashes. She immediately dropped me as she thrashed about, screaming.

"What part of 'I don't know' don't you understand?" I growled, angrily. She covered her ears as my words echoed in her head deafeningly. "Have you even cared about the other soldiers that have died for your stupid secret society?! And if you're so worried about their safety, why don't you disperse your own private army to look for them instead of looking for them on me?! Didn't I tell you, my involvement with your society and with Hank's family ended once the war was over?! Didn't I tell you to leave me alone and let me have my life?! You have your peace and your freedom, isn't that enough?!"

I tricked her into thinking her mind was being compressed. She screamed and shouted as she grabbed her head blindly. I felt her mind closing in on itself slowly but I could feel the pain it caused her. I wondered if I did crush her mind, would she still be alive? I haven't really explored my powers in full but I was willing to give it a go.

"Angel," Patch's voice called out to me and immediately, my attack on Lisa's mind stopped. I turned instinctively where I heard his voice. He was standing beside me, his hand gripping my hand tightly. His eyes were serious, staring at me intently.

My eyes widened as I realized what I had done, as if I was waking up from a trance. I looked over at Lisa just in time to see her turn over and retched. She looked up, her eyes flaring with anger and her brow was thick with sweat. Her blouse was damp with vile and sweat.

"You," she hissed at Patch and me. "You will pay for this! The both of you!"

Patch turned his eyes on her. "None of the society members know what you have been doing. Do you honestly think attacking the person who killed Dante will sit well with them? You know exactly why Susanna and Marcie had to escape to Italy. All of the higher ups except you voted for their exile. You know the members felt displeased that Marcie foolishly betrayed the Nephilim race by burning every single fallen angel feather. They told you not to go looking for them."

I frowned, still a bit dazed at my actions to say anything. How did Patch know that Marcie and Susanna were exiled? I wasn't even aware of it. But then, I really didn't actively participated in the post-war conferences that the council of the Black Hand's society had.

"Get out," he ordered, his voice was calm but the air was suddenly filled with electricity. Lisa's eyes widened with fear, staring at him before rushing out of the door. We stood there in silence for a few seconds. I realized I was holding my breath and let it go slowly. This broke the silence as he moved towards the vile on the floor.

"I'll clean this up," he said silently as he disappeared to the kitchen to get the mop. I forced my eyes close and controlled my chest that felt like there were dozens of horses stomping on it. I sat down at the bottom steps, going through any possible injuries. My head was still throbbing but it was slowly fading away. I watched as the purple bruises in my right arm fade with every calming breath.

I heard Patch return with the mop and a bucket of water. Without a word, he started cleaning up the mess Lisa had left. I knew there was something he wanted to say. I sighed and stood up, walking towards the entrance of the living room, and leaning against the wall. I watched him as he mopped, the lines of muscle slightly showing as he pushed the mop around.

"Tell me what I did wrong," I muttered, crossing my arms.

I heard an audible sigh escape from his lips. He looked up at me, leaning on the other side of the wall. "You shouldn't have attacked her."

"It wasn't unprovoked," I reasoned, frowning. "She attacked me first. I was defending myself."

"But if this gets to the Nephilim world, we'll be in trouble."

"What, are they going to target me again?"

"No. Probably not. But they will be more reluctant to help us when we need them. I was hoping we'd get as much allies as we can. If they find out you used your mind tricks against Lisa Martin, someone with a high rank in their society, they wouldn't be pleased."

"But she attacked me first," I protested again. "She's the one who went in my house and blind-sided me. And like you said, even if she goes to the council to tell them I attacked her when she was just getting information about Marcie and Susanna, they wouldn't look at her with favor."

He nodded. "But they will lose their trust in you. I don't want to overestimate their appreciation for what we've done. Nephilim lives were still lost and their blood was still spilled." He sighed again. "I want you to open the lines of communication between you and the council. Take part in some of their meetings even though it's irrelevant to you now. Keep Lisa on her toes."

Patch leaned the mop on the wall before straightening up. "Basso contacted me tonight and told me not to worry for now. The Legion still haven't decided on a punishment but he guaranteed your safety. I need to go." He approached me and kissed me on the forehead as he passed by. Something within the conversation bothered me but I wasn't sure until he was almost out of the door.

"Patch," I called after him. He turned, his hand on the door handle. "What do you mean you were hoping we'd get as much allies as we can?"

"I'm not sure myself, yet," he answered before leaving. "But I feel like something big is going to happen."