Epilogue - Six Months Later

It's funny how you can settle into things as time goes on.

I thought about that as I stood by the window and watched the snowfall. The city that stretched out before me was quickly becoming a blanket of white, the lights of the tall buildings twinkling with it. It was surreal and beautiful, a serene scene compared to all the turmoil within my mind.

It had been six months since we'd left Baton Rouge and come up to Manhattan. In that time, I had been working hard on adjusting to my new life. It wasn't easy to do, especially after all of the things that had happened, but somehow, I'd managed to allow myself to move on some. Maybe it was me finding the strength inside of me. Maybe it was just me saying that I had to go on.

I'd been living with Zane in a high-rise apartment overlooking Manhattan and its skyscrapers since we came there. The apartment was very spacious and beautiful. From the moment I'd walked in there, I'd absolutely loved it. This was the kind of home I'd always dreamed of having before, and as hard as it was for me to admit it, Zane was the kind of guy I'd always dreamed of living with. He was sweet and kind to me, never imposing at all.

I shook my head as I thought about that and of how things had gone on since that horrible night back in June. Even now, we still didn't know whether Chris had lived or died. Although Saffron and Will seemed convinced that Chris was alive, no one had seen any sign to confirm it. Jade had disappeared when he'd taken him, and there had been no contact whatsoever from him.

While I still hoped that Chris had lived and would return to me, I felt it all becoming weaker and weaker. Perhaps it was all the trauma, but I wanted to move on a little from all the things that had happened down in Baton Rouge. With Will and Zane, I found that I was finally starting to do so. They offered me friendship and protection.

And Zane offered me just a bit more.

A part of me still wondered if I'd made the right choice the month before, but at the same time, I found that it was silly to question it so much. With the way things were looking now, I was never getting Chris back. Besides, a part of me had begun to form a real attachment to Zane in the time we'd spent together. I had thought perhaps I'd be able to form it more with Will, but he'd been disappearing a lot on me since we'd come to Manhattan. Coupled with that, I ended up turning to Zane more and more for companionship.

The feeling of someone standing near me made me look away from the falling snow. Saffron stood in the semi darkness, looking out as well.

"Hey." I said quietly.

It felt wrong to disturb the comfortable silence that had fallen over the darkened room. I also didn't feel worried about him being there. Saffron had made it his habit in the last six months to drop by whenever he felt like it.

"Good evening. It looks like I'm finally able to catch you alone. It's been rather difficult lately." Saffron commented.

"You're complaining? I thought you said that you liked Zane being around me." I noted.

"I do, but there are things that I don't need him to hear. After all, he is his son, and I don't feel like any information being relayed back at this time."

I watched him as he spoke. In the dim light, his hair and clothing looked darker than ever, although his pale complexion almost glowed. It was odd for me to take him in now. Even though I knew what he was and had even seen him show his true colors, Saffron could still appear as a human being. The Fallen really were great deceivers.

"What's going on? It must be important if you wanted to talk to me in private like this." I finally said.

Saffron nodded, turning to face me, "Very much so. It concerns those Seraphim leaders."

"So, Kinsley's actually getting ready to do something now?" I asked.

It was strange for me to think about that. I hadn't heard from Kinsley Martell since that initial talk we'd had, and I'd begun to wonder if maybe he'd just been blowing a bunch of white smoke.

"Yes. In fact, he's been working pretty hard on this in the last six months. According to my sources, he's already approached the higher counsel and put in requests to review the hunts of the past as well as the histories of the remaining Fallen Children on the mortal plane. For now, it seems that this has stopped Judiel dead in his tracks. However, it's also not stopping him from taking his own offensive. He's working just as hard to let the hunt resume." Saffron explained.

I didn't doubt that one. From what I'd gotten to see, Judiel absolutely despised us. But his words about Kinsley had gotten my attention.

"He was serious about all of this then. They might not hunt us anymore." I surmised.

"Well darling, I wouldn't count too much on it right now. Kinsley will have a long road ahead of him with this, especially if those other two decide that they don't agree with him. For now, it's better for you to remain as you are and guard yourself against what may come. Orders or not, I don't look for Judiel to sit by and let this all be." Saffron warned me.

He was probably right. After all I'd seen and heard about this angel, I didn't look for him to give up either.

"So, what now? Do I just continue staying here with Zane and hiding?" I asked him.

Saffron smiled, "Actually, I'm thinking that we'll be making our own moves soon enough. But for the time being, it's better for you to remain here with Zane. At this point, I don't believe you'll be seeing much of Wilhelm for a while."

"What do you mean? Did something happen to Will?"

"It's nothing for you to worry about. It's simply because of who he is. Lucifer wasn't too keen on me trying to keep him under thumb, so he's ordered him away for a while on other matters. But I wouldn't worry about it. We still have Zane Hedel, and I shouldn't have any issues keeping him with us for now. Not to mention that you'll keep him reeled in perfectly." Saffron responded.

I sighed, "You're making me give up on Chris after all."

"I said no such thing, but it also never hurts to keep others close. For now, I want you to remain here until you hear otherwise, and do not mention any of this to Zane. What he doesn't know may benefit us." Saffron ordered.

"Okay then."

I watched as the shadows wrapped around him and he disappeared.

I stood there and stared at where Saffron had been, thinking over his words. It really didn't surprise me that he wouldn't want Zane to know any of what he'd told me. I was starting to understand that Zane really didn't believe that we could be saved. He'd admitted to me that part of it was from his own traumatic upbringing and subsequent life so far. Zane had seen so much death and destruction that it was becoming difficult for him to see any light within his life. Sometimes it made me worry about him. Beneath that friendly smile and those pretty green eyes was a man who was suffering inside. I was sure of it. I just wished I knew how to help him.

Turning away from the window, I heard the front door opening. It looked like Zane had finally gotten home. I was grateful for that. I had been starting to worry with the way the snow was coming down.

But walking into the foyer, I was surprised to find him looking down as he held his scarf.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, feeling uneasy. It wasn't like him to look so pensive coming home.

Zane let out a long breath, looking back at me, and his words would be the start of everything again for all of us.

"Our redemption has finally begun."