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AELLA AND I RETREATED to a high-rise so that we could see the street and the surrounding areas. Hans said that Sig may not resurrect in the exact spot he died, so we had to be able to see everything around us. While Keegan wanted to stay, there was much to be done in the dark hours. He alone could stop the police from doing any more harm. Using my phone, he found that his father had arrived at the gates and was already laying the groundwork that would get the rest of the Deviant Class out without incident. Alewar took him back to Grigori, leaving us to watch for Sig. I had sent Hans to Sam’s to get Sig clothes. It didn’t take him long to return.
“I’m sorry that this all happened. Sig was my fault, I let Greisen poison me.”
“Nonsense, child. Did you know what was happening? That you two were connected?” Hans asked straightly.
She shook her head no.
“Then you cannot be blamed. It’s your bond, your love that will make his resurrection possible.” Hans put his arm around her. “You are a brave young woman to love with your whole heart. To dedicate yourself to so many.”
“You know about that?”
“I heard you telling Keegan. It is an honorable sacrifice to make. You will live long and you will love for eternity.”
I smiled, sitting on the blacktop roof watching the EMS trucks pack up as they had nothing to do. There were no people affected by the explosion. Not that they could find, there was nothing left of my Siggy. The police taped off the entire area and then they too eventually left. Aella sat down next to me, leaning against me to keep upright. Hours went by and soon the darkness began to give way to dawn.
Just as the first rays of light hit the street Hans began to sit forward. “There, just off the corner of the Coffee house, Twitchez.”
I looked down at the ground as Aella stood up, unfurling her wings, grabbing the clothes and making ready to dive. “Give it a moment, he did say large ball of flames.”
“Dragon, immune.” She dove off the high-rise, headed for the flash of light that began to flicker and grow. It started off small then suddenly, as she hit, it rushed up like a great wall, encircling her and swallowing her whole.
“Aella!” I shouted, but Hans held me back from being stupid and almost falling off the roof.
“Watch.”
The circle of fire seemed to breathe as it lowered and raised, then finally fell, revealing Aella and in her arms, a body that couldn’t be anyone except Siegfried Rembrandt.