"𝑰𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍."

♛

Dahlia stood at the threshold of Evan Darkwood's flat. He opened the door, his hair a mess and his shirt awry. There were piles of boxes behind him and the light of the room was dim. A smile broke over his face when he saw Dahlia.

"Hello, love." He pulled her in for a hug, Dahlia startled before laughing.

"Hello, Evan. I missed you, and it looks like I will keep missing you."

"I suppose so. I truly wish I could stay, but London is getting quite drab. I wish you the best, lovely, with your child and your husband. I assure you I no longer want to kill him." He said.

Dahlia smiled, leaning away from the hug and looking up at him, "I am disappointed you will not be there to see the baby. But I understand, I wish you the best on your travels. I came to give you this, that's all."

Dahlia handed him a small black box. Ariadne, who had been standing silently beside her, spoke up, "You best like it. She spent a lot of time on it."

Evan turned his bright smile on Dahlia's sister, "I love everything she does."

Dahlia's heart hurt. There was a time when she could have seen herself in love with Evan. He was a presence Dahlia could love for the rest of her life, even if her romantic love runs out, her love for him as a being never would. The Greeks had seven categories of love but even those words did not explain the kind of love Evan and Dahlia had, so she used the word closest to it.

Agape. What they had was agape, an unconditional, true kind of love.

Evan opened the box to reveal a small book with letters Dahlia had written him over the years but had never sent it. There was a flower pressed against each page that represented the emotion of each letter.

There had been a million things she had wanted to say to him over the years, but she had decided to just let him live. While it wasn't the end, she did not think she would be seeing too much of her beloved friend from now on. It was a feeling she did not like, but such was life.

He looked at Dahlia, "I love you, Dahlia. Never forget that." The way he said it made Dahlia realize that he had the feeling too. They wouldn't be contacting each other much from here on out. It wasn't goodbye, but it was so close to it that it hurt.

"I love you too, Evan." Dahlia pulled away.

Ariadne stepped forward and held out her hand, "Thank you, Evan, for everything. You have shown us the most kindness. A brother I never had."

Evan shook his head, "Never thank me, Ari."

"Goodbye, Ev." Dahlia said, stepping out of his flat and into the snow. Evan only smiled sadly.

Dahlia and Ariande walked away hand in hand, they got separate carriages. Dahlia's to her flat and Ariadne's to Anna's flat.

As Dahlia walked to her door she noticed a set of carnations at the doorstep with a note. She picked them up and closed the door behind her. She started the fireplace for some heat and took off her coat.

She sat on the futon, a blanket over her legs and opened the note.

Dahlia,

As I said earlier, I wish to make small steps to achieving my forgiveness. These flowers better hot have wilted while you were away or I shall have a word with the flower keeper.

In case you did not realize, these are carnations, my love. Though to be honest, I thought they were roses but once I realized they were carnations I thought, "Well, that depicts us utterly," and simply had to get them.

Had we been living under the same roof yet, I would have given them to you along with a kiss, but the fact that you are reading this letter is solace enough for me.

Sweet dreams, my darling, and tell yourself I love you for I cannot currently.

Yours utterly,

Matthew

Dahlia smiled, despite herself. Matthew tended to do that to her. She went into her room and pulled out her chest. She put the note in a small section of space before returning to tend to the flowers. Trimming, clipping and watering.

She was getting quite bored.

There was a knock at her door. Dahlia was getting tired of all the knocking. She had half a mind to put a sign outside that said "COME RIGHT IN."

She went to open the door and almost shut it again at the sight of blonde hair and green eyes.

Matthew propped afoot at the door as if expecting it. "Dahlia, I ask for only ten minutes."

Dahlia grumbled and kept the door open. It was cold and snowing, she was mad and heartbroken, not a monster.

Matthew came in, his blonde hair tousled. The tip of his nose was a bit red and his cheeks had an innocent rosy tinge to them. He looked so vulnerable and innocent, Dahlia's heart throbbed in her chest. But his eyes, they were hollow and wounded, it set Dahlia off.

His eyes wandered to the flowers she had been tending too. A smile graced his lips and when they reached his eyes, Dahlia felt such immense relief and such happiness she could have kissed him right there.

It was pregnancy. It had been making her do all sorts of out-of-book things lately.

"You got my carnations," he said quietly. Dahlia nodded, returning to trimming them. "It was quite hard to miss, Matthew, they were at my doorstep."

"You read my letter?"

Dahlia nodded, not daring to look up. Matthew was in front of her, on the other side of the counter. He took the knife from her hand and set it beside the flowers. He put a finger under her chin and Dahlia shivered. His touch, no matter how small, always felt like coming home.

And for the past week weeks, Dahlia had been able to go wherever she had wanted, just not home.

"I could give you your kiss now," he whispered, greek fire burning in his eyes. His gaze was so intense Dahlia could have started a whole fire with it.

Everything in Dahlia said to push him away but he was so close. If she leaned over the counter, she could have kissed him.

She looked at him and gently pulled herself away from him before she did anything foolish like kissing Matthew Fairchild on the lips one day after his return from his trip to Paris with his best friend's wife.

"I shall put it on the record of all the kisses you owe me," she said, smiling to defuse the tension.

Matthew smiled at her sadly. Dahlia was probably going to get disowned by Ariadne for this. She leaned over the counter and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Matthew hissed as if he'd been burned as Dahlia pulled away.

But there was some peace in the war behind his eyes. He tipped his head, "Good night my love."

With that, he was gone leaving Dahlia contemplating her decisions.

♛

Dahlia had had a horrible round of nausea that morning leading her to sit by her sink for over two hours that morning. She had been late to Chiswick House and only arrived after all the others. Ariadne and Anna were waiting for her, worry written all over her sister's face as Dahlia stepped out of the carriage, a little dizzy.

Dahlia spotted a few figures in the distance where James, Jesse, and Lucie seemed to have gone to look at the gardens.

Cordelia arrived moments later. Dahlia was steadying herself with Anna bracing her. Ariadne had asked her a multitude of questions already: Have you eaten? Was your morning sickness worse than yesterday? We should call a Silent Brother.

Dahlia shook her head, drawing a healing irazte on her arm. "I will be alright, didi, don't fuss."

Anna glanced around with a languid blue gaze. "I believe that's all of us," she said. She wore a Norfolk hunting jacket over a pair of trousers tucked into boots; around her neck was a brightly patterned silk scarf, tucked into the collar of her shirt. Below it dangled the ruby necklace she always wore, which detected the presence of demons. On anyone else the combination would have been odd; on Anna, it was dashing.

Cordelia said, "What about Matthew?" and saw James glance quickly away. Dahlia's teeth started chattering at the randomest of moments, her shawl did not seem to be enough.

"He hasn't come," said Ariadne. "He's doing a favour for me today, I'm afraid."

Dahlia shot her a questioning glance. Ariadne replied with a look that clearly said: Afterwards.

"I daresay six of us should be more than enough," James said. "I would suggest we divide into two equal groups."

"Capital," said Anna. "Cordelia, would you be kind enough to join Ariadne, Dahlia and I?"

Anna was being kind, drawing Cordelia away from any potentially awkward interaction with James.

"Of course," Cordelia said. Dahlia decided it was a good chance to clear the air with her.

"Jesse," said Ariadne, and Jesse looked surprised. She hesitated. "I just wanted to make sure—I mean, we all know it's for the greater good, but are you all right with us, you know... ransacking your house?"

Jesse looked at the sky. James said, in some surprise, "Do you mind?"

"It's not that," Jesse said. "I was only going to say—you might as well look through my house, because I've been in all of yours."

"Scandalous!" Dahlia said, delighted. "But why?"

"Nothing indecent," Jesse said. "I've never looked in on any of you in the bath, or anything like that. It's just, ghosts, we tend to drift about. We don't really obey property laws. I obey them now, of course," he added, "and I am perfectly fine with you pillaging this wretched pile. I can't imagine I'd ever want to live here, even if I do inherit it. Given that I'm Jeremy Blackthorn these days, who knows who will end up with it? I'd say it ought to go back to the Lightwoods, but I doubt you want to be cursed with the place."

"Do you think there are likely to be any demons or such about?" Lucie said curiously.

"It seems unlikely," said James, "given how many times the Enclave has been over this place. I suppose one can never be entirely sure."

"Not where my mother is concerned," said Jesse. "I can think of a few places she might have hidden things—I'd suggest Anna, Ariadne, Dahlia, and Cordelia search inside, and the rest of us take the gardens and greenhouse area. When we're finished, we can meet back on these steps."

James nodded. His dark gold eyes scanned the horizon. "Hard to imagine your mother enjoyed living here, with the place in this state," he said.

"She liked it like this," said Jesse. "She's the one who smashed all the mirrors and stopped the clocks. It was a reminder to her every time she set foot here that she was a victim, and your families were to blame."

"Some people like being miserable," said Lucie, staring off above Cordelia's head. "Some people won't do things that would make them, and other people, happy, just because."

"Lucie," said Anna, "I have no idea what you're on about. What are we meant to be looking for?"

"Anything that looks off—disturbed dust on the floor, pictures hanging oddly, any hint of demonic activity that might activate your necklace," said Jesse.

Those who had watches—James, Anna—checked them to set the time, and they were off.

♛

"I don't even know how to apologize to you, Dahlia." Cordelia started the second they were alone, Dahlia's sister and Anna had gone ahead of them. Dahlia looked at Cordelia, her face contemplating. 

"It is unforgivable, I truly do not know what was going on through my head. He was your husband no less than James is mine. It was out of line for me to do such a thing. I can only hope to one day have your forgiveness."

Dahlia shook her head, "It is not your fault alone, Cordelia. Matthew should have known better. He was my husband, he is my husband. I just want you to know, you have always had his attention. Every time you walked into the room, you lit up his face. It was foolish of me to think he would choose me. I have no ill will harboured against you, Daisy. Only I wished you could have considered the situation in a more level-headed manner." 

Cordelia seemed to protest, "I may have lit up his face, but Dahlia-" sh broke off when they heard someone cry out.

They ran out into the corridor and up a flight of stairs, following the sound of the cry and burst into a large ballroom, where the remains of a massive chandelier, easily eight feet across, lay in the middle of the room where it had crashed to the ground at some point. It looked like a massive, jewelled spider that had lost a fight with a much larger spider.

Ariadne, in the centre of the room, shot Dahlia a guilty look. "Oh, bother," she said. "I didn't mean to make you come running."

"Ariadne may have thought it was a real spider," Anna said. "A real, giant spider."

Anna meant to be teasing, Dahlia knew, but the tone of her voice was... fond. Fonder than either Anna or Ariadne were aware of, she suspected. They were both smiling as Ariadne teased Anna about whether the spider chandelier might look nice in her flat, and perhaps even make a friend for Percival the stuffed snake. 

Cordelia went to examine the rest of the room. There were broken floorboards aplenty, each of which she tested to see if it was loose and perhaps hiding something beneath it. Having made herself sneeze several times by disturbing the dust, she went over to a window to catch her breath.

A moment later Anna joined her.

Ariadne motioned Dahlia over, "How are you holding up?"

Dahlia shrugged. "It isn't too bad, Brother Enoch is to examine me later to know if the baby is doing well. I think I am at five weeks now."

"I think you would want Matthew there to hear the heartbeats, Dahlia."

Dahlia shook her head, "No, didi, his state of mind-"

"It does not matter, he is its father. It is only fair to him, no my darling?"

"I feel like knowing he has a baby would only lead him to drink more. He never handles pressure too well."

"Or maybe he would stop. You know him almost as well as James knows him, you know he would never hurt you or this child, at least not on purpose."

Dahlia shook her head. "Alright, I shall tell him at the Christmas party."

Ariadne nodded, "Good idea."

Ariadne shrieked a moment later, reeling back from the dumbwaiter, which had begun to tremble and rattle within the wall. "Demon!" she cried. "Look out!" 

Something the size of a small dog explode from the dumbwaiter, shattering it—and a good portion of the wall— apart. The demon had a ratlike face, with long yellow teeth. It was covered in scales and too many skinny limbs, whipping around in a fury, each one tipped with a hooked claw. A Gamigin demon, Dahlia thought, though she'd never seen one in person before.

Ariadne drew a blade from her belt, but it was too fast. One of its skinny limbs shot out, the hook at the end of its claw sinking into the back of Ariadne's jacket. It flung her away; she skidded across the dusty floor as Dahlia screamed, "Didi!"

And Anna sprang into motion, racing across the room, her whip suddenly in her hand. The demon was crouched over Ariadne, its yellow- toothed mouth opening wide. She screamed as black demon saliva spattered her neck and face. Then Anna was there, her whip arcing through the air, a wire of golden flame. 

With a shriek, the demon sprang away. Anna dropped to her knees— Ariadne was convulsing on the floor—and the demon, hissing, shot across the floor toward Cordelia. 

Dahlia drew her chakras and threw them at the demon, hitting it's back. It shrieked. 

Cordelia ran toward the demon where it crouched on the floor. "Who is rising? Tell me!"

"Cordelia! Are you mental?" Dahlia yelled. 

The demon looked up at Cordelia—and went limp. Its fanged mouth trembling, it cringed away from her, covering its body with some of its legs. "Paladin," it rasped. "Oh, forgive me. Thine is the power, thine and thy Lady's. Forgive me. I did not know—" 

A sharp crack sounded. Something punched into the demon's body. The demon spasmed, legs curling in. Then it melted away into smoke. 

Dahlia decided James would handle the situation and ran to Ariadne. 

"What's happening?" Dahlia asked, drawing her stele. Anna shook her head, "The demon's saliva hit her face."

She sported red welts on the left side of her face, where the demon's acid saliva had touched her. There was a freshly applied healing rune on her throat. 

Dahlia sighed deeply, which turned out to be an awful idea as the stench of ichor made her want to vomit once more. If Dahlia vomited again, she would fall at the feet of the Angel himself and ask him to strike her.

A crash came from downstairs, and a shout. Lucie, Dahlia thought, and a moment later they were all bolting down the steps toward the main floor of the house. 

Cordelia, James, Anna, Dahlia, and Ariadne raced back downstairs, only to find Jesse and Lucie in the parlor. More specifically, Lucie was in the parlor: Jesse was halfway up the fireplace, getting covered in soot.

"What happened?" James demanded. "What was that crash?"

Lucie, also streaked with soot, said, "Something fell out of the fireplace into the grate. Jesse?" she called. "Jesse, did you get them?" 

A moment later Jesse emerged, the top half of his body nearly caked with soot. He looked as if it had been raining black paint on him. In one hand he held a dirty mirror; in the other, what seemed to be a book with a leather cord wrapped around its binding, which held a number of loose papers.

"Notes," he said, coughing. "My mother's notes and bits of old diaries. I remembered seeing her peering up the chimney with this"—he held up the mirror, which James realized was not dirty so much as made of a shiny, reflective black material—"and I realized, she had a hiding place up there you could only see if you shone the mirror up the chimney. Some kind of magical signal beacon. That's why the Enclave didn't find it."

"Does it do anything else?" Anna asked, peering at the mirror curiously. "Besides pointing the way to the chimney hiding place?"

"Might I see it?" James asked, and with a shrug, Jesse handed it over.

"Belial," he said, and everyone seemed to jump.  "I—cannot tell you what the mirror does; I've no idea. But I would swear on my life that Belial gave it to Tatiana. I can feel his touch on it."

"Alright, James knowing Belial's touch aside, it looks just like the pithos," Dahlia observed.

 "Belial's stele-thingy that he used to steal runes from his victims' bodies. Maybe Belial gave Tatiana a whole vanity set?"  Lucie said.

"Try touching it yourself, Luce," Anna suggested, and after a moment, Lucie reached out her hand and skated it across the mirror's surface.

This time, there was a flicker from within the mirror, like a dancing flame. It was faint, but it continued to glow as long as Lucie was touching it.

She drew her hand back, biting her lip. "Indeed," she said, her voice subdued. "It has Belial's aura."

"I doubt it was just a gift," said Cordelia. "I don't think Belial would have given it to Tatiana unless it had some darker purpose."

"More than just looking up chimneys," Dahlia agreed.

"We should bring the book and the mirror back to the Institute," Jesse said. "Have a closer look at both. And I'll start trying to decipher my mother's notes; they are written in a sort of code, but not a complicated one."

James nodded. "And I agree about returning to the Institute. It's warded, for one thing, and I would also rather we not remain at Chiswick after dark, all things considered. Who knows what else might be roaming the grounds?" 

♛