As the days went on Isobel's followers continued to treat her like a queen, as well as insist on calling Alastor the Shepherd's consort. They surrounded her everywhere she went whether she was in the hotel or out in the city. They began to wear gray hooded cloaks. Kali said this was a uniform to encourage unity, while the drab color also reminded them all that they were below and not nearly as vibrant as the Shepherd herself. Not that Isobel ever wore color. Soon Kali informed all followers that the color black was strictly off limits all together, thus making Isobel a black dot in a sea of smoke.

The increased activity and attention worked well to isolate her. And her friends began to fear that she was beginning to drink her own kool aid, as it were. They all agreed that someone should sit her down and speak some sense into her, but no one could get close enough to have a private conversation. The only time her followers would back off was late at night or if Lucifer happened to show up. They all knew that if the Shepherd and the King of Hell wished to pass any time together, they were to give them space. Kali knew now that she could not push Alastor out with another man, but maybe if she could just make an opening, Isobel's eye would settle on someone far more deserving of her attention.

The original residents of the hotel, the ones that took her in, sheltered, and befriended her now felt like the person they knew was slipping away. Isobel, too, could feel that things had changed. Her friends looked at her differently and more often than not she was surrounded by doting strangers. She also was aware that it was probably her fault.

Looking back on her life, every burned bridge, every forgotten friend, was her doing. She didn't want to continue the pattern, so she began to go out of her way to make it up to them all. She tried to find time to spend with them. She wanted to simply hang out like before, late at night watching terrible TV and complaining about the woes of the day. She missed the night spent singing at the club, having a drink with Angel, and a dance with Alastor. But as each day passed it was harder and harder to dismiss her followers. Kali made sure of it.

Alastor, himself, could also feel his grasp over her faltering. With every soul she gained, her power and confidence grew, and more came every day. Kali and the others were masters at recruitment and there was never a shortage of scared wayward souls newly transplanted to Hell just looking for a little reassurance. With every passing day he became more and more aware of a decision looming in the distance, an action that must be taken.

He was reminded of that night in the storm, watching Isobel's face light up with each lightning crash. It was the night that he predicted her becoming a formidable ally. There had been another prediction, one he had not let himself think about, but now it was too obvious to ignore.

His decision to act came suddenly one night. He happened to glance over at her while she was sitting at the small writing desk. She sat, legs crossed and somewhat hunched over, writing. The red robe had fallen off her shoulder and her dark hair was swept to one side exposing her long elegant neck. He stepped up behind her running his fingers down the length of it. He could feel her pulse thump out a steady rhythm, the warmth of her blood running just below the surface. With one swift movement it would be done. So fast she would not be able to react or cry out. The threat could be eliminated before it could be realized.

With her untimely end her followers would need a new shepherd. Someone with strength enough to guide and guard them. What better choice than the grieving consort, the one closest to her in all ways. Kali would probably give him some trouble, but she would be easy enough to dispose of. In fact, he was looking forward to that part.

He placed his hand at the bend where her neck and shoulder met. His long finger stretched out over soft skin. Then Isobel's hand rose up to meet his, interlacing her small fingers. She had barely realized she had done it. It was almost instinct. An affectionate touch in response to a perceived affectionate touch.

He hesitated.

This new sense of sentimentality did not sit well with him. He knew it didn't matter how he felt, whatever that may be. Emotions were distractions from what must be done. And yet, he hesitated. He sighed, relaxing the tension in his hand and running a thumb up the back of her neck. He could feel every tiny vertebrae.

Finally she turned her attention to him, her green eyes vibrant and full of energy. She smiled a warm charming smile, an inviting smile.

One more day, he thought. One more and then it will be done.

"Perhaps tomorrow you and I should go for a walk," he said.

"Anywhere in particular?"

"No, it just occurred to me that it has been a while since you and I went walking together."

"I would very much like that," she said. She held his gaze for a moment before grabbing her phone. "I just need to let Kali know."

She plunked out a text message as Alastor grimaced behind her. She barely hit send before he took the annoying device from her hands and placed it far from her reach.

"Tonight I would like your full attention," he said as he took her hands, pulling her to her feet.

"Of course," she said, somewhat confused, yet curious.

One hand weaved its way into her hair while the other loosened the knot holding the robe close. His arm wound around her body lifting her off her feet and she wrapped both arms and legs around him. She held him behind his large fuzzy ears and kissed him. As she did he kept his eyes open wanting to take in as much as possible. This time tomorrow it would all be over.

One more night with her.

One more day and then it would be done.

The next day they set out accompanied by a large group of gray cloaked followers. Isobel had protested, but Kali insisted it was for their protection. As if Alastor would ever need to be protected by these simple sinners. He could wipe them out in one fell swoop. But though he did not like the added company, he would not put up a fight. There would be no arguments that day, no anger. He would be cheerful and doting as he counted down the hours. Isobel laced a hand through his arm, a comfort he would miss.

As they walked Kali tried to distract and monopolize Isobel's attention, however she was mostly ignored as Isobel only had eyes and ears for Alastor that day. She hung on his every word acting more the role of consort than he. She was making up for the past days and weeks. Trying her best to atone for his wounded pride and neglect of their arrangement. She had given herself to him, not the other way around, but she had lately failed to hold up her end of the bargain.

They had been out for most of the day before they turned their feet back toward the hotel. It was later in the afternoon, the day was almost over. Alastor was torn by both wanting this day to be done, the act to be done, and not wanting it to end at all. Sentimentality again. He hid his inner turmoil behind the smile on his face as they walked on.

Isobel suddenly stopped and stared up at the sky.

"I thought I felt something," she said. "Like a drop." She reached up to her head and felt wetness on her finger tips. And then the sound, the unmistakable pat, pat, pat of oncoming rain. She had never been caught in a rain storm while in Hell. They happened so infrequently and she remembered Angel's words, it wasn't strictly water falling from the sky. She held out a hand to catch a few more drops. As they hit and splattered on her palm, a strange tingling ran over her skin. It was somehow familiar. Was this acid rain?

Kali made a sound of pain next to her and Isobel watched as a drop landed on the little goat's head. A trail of steam rose from the point of impact like the smoke of a very small fire. Kali covered the spot and winced. Isobel then looked around. The other followers were suffering the same. It didn't matter if the drops hit them on clothes or bare skin, each time it burned. But it didn't make sense. She was feeling the drops too, but they did not sting her skin.

Isobel looked down at her hands again, and then up at Alastor, who was now beginning to feel it too. A fat drop hit him on the side of the face where it sizzled and spat like hot oil. Used to the feeling of pain more than most, he brushed it away confused. His eyes met Isobel's as she gasped finally understanding the familiar sensation in her hands. It was the same she had felt in the church.

"Oh, my god," she grabbed Alastor by the lapels, a frantic urgency invading her expression. "It's holy water." Another drop and pop and sizzle, then another. They were coming faster now. A loud crash of thunder split the sky foretelling an imminent downpour. "You've got to get out of here. Find cover, something."

She pushed him toward the nearest building. It had a large awning, perhaps it could shelter some of them from the rain. He stumbled back a few steps, not quite computing what was happening and still all the while being pelted by searing drops of water. Isobel turned back to the others on the street, mostly her flock but some bystanders as well.

"Everyone run!" she yelled. "Find shelter or the rain will burn you."

Another crack of thunder, louder this time, and the sky opened. The rain began to fall in sheets. All of the voices became screams and cries as the sinners' skin blistered and crackled under the deluge.

Chaos erupted on the street. Trying anything to escape, the sinners ran in all directions, knocking each other down and pushing one another out of the way. It was every man for themselves, fighting over the limited sheltered areas. Isobel stood at the center of the mass hysteria. She was soaking wet, but the rain still did not hurt. She tried to direct people toward safe areas, but it was a losing battle. They were beyond listening. She frantically looked over her shoulder and found Alastor among the throng. He had for once listened and stood under the awning. He was safe. Next to him Kali stood as well along with many of the cloaked followers. Isobel released a sigh of relief and smiled as one of her followers ran up to her.

Alastor watched as Isobel's smile fell. A look of confusion and desperation darkened her eyes. He took a step forward, but stopped himself. Slowly she pulled her eyes away from his and looked down at her own stomach. The figure in the follower's cloak stepped away revealing an angelic spear sunk deep into Isobel's right side. Red mixed with the holy water as it ran down her leg.

Isobel's shaking hands grabbed onto the spear shaft, red now washing over them. Her eyes ran down the shaft to the other set of hands holding the other end, up their arms, and found a round pleasant face, crowned by perfectly placed silver curls.

"You," Isobel breathed as Enki pulled down her hood. Miraculously, the water never touched her.

"I told you," she almost sounded like she was on the verge of tears. "You had no idea what I could do. Especially now that I'm banished, on the run. My own kind hunting me down for punishment." She angrily shook the spear causing Isobel to gasp in pain. "You should have killed me when you had the chance, because you may have destroyed my life, but I'm going to take yours. And then you can come back as a cockroach or some other wretched thing to be stomped out." Isobel's knees gave out and she slumped to the ground.

"You thought you were so strong, but in the end you're just as weak as you've always been. Unable to stand on your own. And now no one can save you. Not even Lucifer can walk through holy water."

With a yank, Enki pulled the spear free. A gush of blood escaping the wound. Isobel fell back, her head hitting the ground as her hair pooled around her in the water, a black halo. Kali screamed from the awning and lunged, but Alastor put out an arm to hold her back.

"Don't be a fool," he said. The rain still streamed down. Any one that ventured out would surely not make it back alive. Kali clawed at his arm trying to break through, but her strength was no match for his, and she could only watch as Enki lifted the spear over her head.

"You tried so hard, but in the end you are nothing." Enki brought the spear down crossing the original wound making a perfect X in Isobel's mortal flesh. She stood there over Isobel as she coughed blood. The rain suddenly stopped. But the spectators stood frozen in stunned silence. All except Kali who continued to wail.

Alastor finally released her and she fell to the floor, tears streaming down her face. She looked up at him with horror in her eyes, a look under different circumstances he would have relished.

"It should have been you," Kali said, every word filled with anguish.

He took a step back. Others in the crowd instantly moved to fill the empty place he left. Another step back, and then another. He turned and began to move through the crowd as quickly as possible. Isobel, laying on the pavement, watched as two red deer ears retreated, leaving her. Enki bent over her as she produced what looked like a glass orb from her cloak.

"And now just in case anyone had plans of rushing in to save you. This one's worse. It's a typhoon. It'll make sure no one will stick around." Enki opened a portal and just before she stepped through, she tossed the orb into the sky. At its zenith it broke open with a crash of thunder and a shock of lightning. The torrential rain started again and a mighty wind kicked up, throwing the holy water sideways. There was nowhere left safe in the area and all ran for their lives. Several of the followers had to bodily carry Kali from the area as she refused to move.

Isobel didn't notice any of that though. She couldn't feel the rain on her face. She couldn't hear the screams. She couldn't even feel the spear in her side any more. All senses had failed her except one. All she could see was Alastor disappearing into the crowd before her eyes closed and she fell into darkness.