Standing before the mirror in my bedroom, I let my gaze roam over the expanse of wings that were spread out behind me. Even after all this time it felt strange knowing these huge things were a part of me. It was odder still because they had changed. What had caused the change? The bright colours were almost offensive to my eyes in my glum mood. And yet they were mesmerising.

Two sharp knocks on my door startled my from my thoughts.

"Are you ready yet Miss Holmes?"

I turned my head as the owner of the firm commanding voice stepped into the room. She was a small woman but she more than made up for her slight stature with her commanding presence.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

I smiled and shook my head. "It's not a problem Ms Bridger."

I stroked a hand over the wings on my back, removing a feather that had come loose on my wing. It was scarlet red with the barest hint of orange on the very tip. Threads of gold, so small they were difficult to see, gave the feather a slight sparkle.

Closing my eyes, I willed my wings to slide back under the skin of my back until it was impossible to tell that they had ever been there in the first place.

"Besides, I thought I told you to call me Savannah. Miss Holmes is too formal."

 I spoke softly, watching the woman in the mirror as I slid the peplum top over my head. Its bright red colour reminded me briefly of my first day at Satani Media. I had worn red that day and my life had change irrevocably. That day felt like it had happened in another life.

"And I told you that I am your employee not your best friend. " The prim woman pushed her glasses up her nose and then looked over at me, assessing me through her thick glass. I tried not to squirm under the penetrating gaze. "It is better to keep things formal. It will allow me to do my job properly. I don't want to cause a disservice to you or your friends."

My feeling weren't hurt by the petite blonde's single minded focus. She was the best in the business – the best PR that money could buy – and Lucius had definitely given her a lot of money. I expected a high class snob to come with the high price tag but Ms Francesca Bridger was a whole world away from that.

Reaching up the woman pulled a pen from the back of her head where it had been pinned in her but before she opened her diary. Should I say my diary? The woman now organised my every move. I could almost hear Lucius' voice again as it crackled over the phone line from the other side of the world. 'You're a public figure now. You need someone to guide you through it all and to organise it all.'

It was only with pure willpower that I stopped myself from rolling my eyes.

"You're due at a local shelter in an hour to speak to those affected by the events in London." Ms Bridger reeled off, her finger moving down the page as her flitted from side to side as she read. "At four thirty, you are due at BBC Radio 1 studios for an interview. Then, at eight this evening, you are due to have dinner with the Prime Minister and a few other MPs and officials. Security will be tight on that event, they will say it's because you are meeting with the PM but be under no illusions Miss Holmes. These people fear you."

I nodded my head.

"I am well aware of how people look at me Ms Bridger." I replied, as my hands patted down my clothes. Finally happy with my look, I met her gaze as offered her a weary smile. "Sometimes I am far too aware of it."

We stood there for a few more moments in companionable silence.

Then the beeping of her phone drew us both back into the presence.

"The car is outside." She advised, her fingers moving rapidly over the screen of her handset before she tucked it back into the pocket of her suit jacket.

I took one last lingering glance at myself in the mirror and then nodded. "Let's go."

***

Traffic delayed our arrival at the shelter but even that and the damp weather had done nothing to dissuade the crowds from gathering outside of the main entrance of the building. Police were attempted to control the crowds. There were far too many civilians and there were not enough men in uniforms to keep the situation in control and it didn't take a genius to predict that this situation was going to get out of hand.

"Is there another way in?" I asked, turned to look at the woman beside me.

Ms Bridger was already typing away on her phone, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. Still she spoke to me.

"No. Besides, if we use another entrance it will defeat the whole point of you being here today." She glanced up briefly, her eyes peering out through the glass for a few seconds as a frown formed on her brow. "Security teams are already on their way. We will be okay getting into the building and we will have an escort to get you back out again.  Louis? Can you come around and open Miss Holmes' door?"

My driver, another perk of my new status, slid from the car without a word. I drew in a deep breath and let the air hiss out between my clenched teeth. And then my door was being opened.

The crowd was loud. In the car, I had been able to tune it out but without the barrier between me and the general public I felt like a fish out of water. I slid easily from the car, glad that I had managed to get my prim and proper PR guru to agree to trousers even if they still continued to veto the jeans.

"Smile, Miss Holmes." The blond hissed in my ear, her own smile plastered on to her severe features.  "Try to act like you want to be here."

My lips curled up into a smile. The crowd went wild in response, their hands reaching towards me while their voices called out my name.

So this was what it was like to be famous?

Waving my hand at the waiting crowds, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other. It was harder than I thought it would be.

Inside the building, all of the members of staff were waiting there to greet us - greet me. Stepping forwards, I stretched out a hand and offered it to each of the people in turn. We all offered pleasantries until I reached the last person on the end of the line.

The man before me was short. His body was thick with muscle that could only come from spending copious amounts of time in the gym. He was an intimidating man even if I had to look down at him in order to meet his gaze.

"This is Mr Stavros, he runs the Shelter here."  My helpful assistant prompted from my side.

I held out my hand and took his hand in mine. His grip was hard, his fingers clumsily crushing mine. For a moment I thought it might have been intentional but the man was oblivious to the effects of his strong grasp as he grinned up at me with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Miss Holmes, it's an honour to meet you." His voice squeaked in his excitement. I couldn't resist smiling back at him.

"It's an honour to meet you. There aren't many good Samaritans left in the world so it's great to witness one of the few that remain." I offered him a genuine smile before taking in the room around me.  "It's an amazing thing that you are doing here. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."

I turned back in to Mr Stavros allowing my respect to show clearly upon my face. I wasn't sure what the man saw on my features as several emotions flitted across his face in the space of a blink. They were there and gone before I could fully register what those expressions meant.

"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, why doesn't Mr Stavros show us what his shelter is all about?"

My ever helpful assistant showed only cool professionalism as she stared at the man. I frowned at her frosty attitude but I wiped the expression off of my face as soon as it appeared. The eyes boring into the side of my face were an all too present reminder that we were not alone.

"Of course, follow me this way." Mr Stavros replied, his geniality unaffected by Ms Bridger's attitude. "We're prepping for lunch at the moment. We currently feed two hundred people here and our street team hand out sandwiches in the city centre too. We're funded entirely on donations so we try to make our resources stretch as far as possible."

I nodded my head, feeling respect well deep within me.

The small man pushed open the door and loud chatter spilled through the doorway.

Leading our group forwards, I took in the surroundings and tried not to feel the sorrow that welled up within me. There were so many people here and it was clear to see that each had been affected by the attack by the Horsemen in some way or another. Many had physical signs, scars and still healing wounds, showing the trauma they had suffered.  Others appeared to be emotionally affected – tired eyes and a world-weariness that clung to them like a second skin.

And yet they were laughing.

There were no cries of discontent or people moping in the corners. The people were chatting amiably and smiling at one another as they laid the tables and set up for the next meal. In the far corner an older man with greying hair was perched upon a chair telling stories. Children sat around his feet, their attention held raptly as he weaved his story for them.

"You are doing a good thing here Mr Stavros," I murmured, noting the place was clean with no litter on the floor and all of the surfaces gleaming despite the fact that there were so many people crammed into the space.

"I am doing what any person would do."

Looking at the man beside me, I shook my head.

"I think you are overestimating people. I was human once." Despite the subject matter we were discussing, I found my lips lifting in a smile as I watched a woman cradling a baby to her chest. "It is only those who have a good heart who would give so generously to strangers." I spoke softly, trying not to draw too much attention.

It was a wasted effort.

At first there were only a few quick glances from the room's occupants but then a person would do a double take. The second stare would linger. One by one, I was drawing the eyes in the room.

Muted whispers broke out in the room. I shuffled from foot to foot and tried my best to keep my face clear of any panic.  

A man abruptly stood from the table.

My heart jolted in my chest.

I had met a number of deadly foes within the last few years but this man still made me want to back away. He was huge. Taller than Lucius by a good few inches, his frame was roped with thick muscles. It was face that was the most intimidating. Cool dark eyes were overshadowed by a heavy set brow and a scar on his cheek which brutalised his features.

Without even paying attention to my actions, I sought out my blade. I could feel its presence, just waiting to be called forth at the earliest opportunity. My eyes were trained solely on the man, watching his every twitch and expression.

He lifted his hands slowly.

And then he clapped.

I blinked.  Turning my head to the side, I glanced at Ms Bridger but her nose was almost glued to her phone. Her fingers were moving over the screen with dizzying speed.

Turning my head back to the man, my heart struggled to return to its normal rhythm and my wings begged to be free in my state of agitation.

The clapping grew louder and louder as more people joined in. It was overwhelming. Eventually it became so loud I could not even hear my thundering heart.

Bewilderment must have been obvious from my expression because Mr Stavros clapped me on the shoulder and gave a hearty chuckle. I stumbled from the unexpected gesture.

"They love you Miss Holmes. You are their hero."

Opening and closing my mouth, I glanced at each and every face that was staring at me. There were no signs of hate, distrust or animosity.

In that moment I felt nothing but hope. Despite how horribly things had gone and how much I had been counselled about the way the world is changing, these people were my hope of a brighter future.

For the first time since Times Square, I felt something settle within my soul. I felt calm and ready to take on this new role I had been given to play.

My heart only hoped that the feeling would last.

Heat radiated from my face as I blushed. I held out both hands and waved them a few times to gain their attention. It took another few moments for the claps to fade away into silence. But then I had the eye of every person in the room on me.

I shot a glance at Ms Bridger at my side, but she just nodded her head encouragingly.

Gulping loudly, I offered a shaky smile at the people before me.

"Hi." I choked the word out. Clenching my hands at my sides, I tried to find my inner steel. "Thank you for the welcome. It's the first time that has ever happened to me."

Some of the gathered people chuckled, breaking some of the tension lingering in the air.

"I came here to visit today because I wanted to see you all. I was in London on the day that your life changed – the day that the entire world changed really. And yet, I cannot understand the situation that you find yourselves in today. You've lost your homes, your livelihoods and maybe even a loved one." I tried to meet as many stares as I could while I spoke. "It is why I will be meeting with the Prime Minister today to advocate for you all. I will be requesting further support for those of you that have been affected by the events in London.  I will make sure you are not forgotten."

There was another round of raucous clapping.

"After discussing it with the CEO, Satani Media have agreed to donate the first five hundred thousand pounds. I know this won't make up for the trauma you have suffered through, but Mr Satani and I hope that it can be a first step into rebuilding your lives."

I rubbed the back of my neck and struggled not to fidget any further.

My cheeks were stained red with a blush as another round of clapping broke out in the room. It took longer for it to fade away too. My heart continued to pound even after the group returned back to their lunch time duties, the children once more enthralled before the story teller.

A hand on my arm startled me. I glanced down at the man beside me.

"We appreciate everything you are doing for us." He nodded his head at a small girl as she wandered past us. "The least we can do is to provide you Lunch."

I could almost feel Ms Bridger getting ready to protest. We were on a schedule that we could not deviate from. It was why I smiled down at the shorter man and offered his the biggest smile I could muster.

"We would  love to stay for lunch."