Limbo – Date Unknown.

When Enid opened her eyes again the group were standing between the tree of life and knowledge. She had felt no resistance or pressure. It was like Limbo was her domain. The problem was everything was wrong here. The trees were dying. The garden was dead and decaying. The edges of it which would usually just boarder a dense and lush forest were now crackling lines of purple energy leading to the absolute void. She had seen it once before. Through the cracks of the pocket universe Eyre, Maria and herself had created just as it was about to disintegrate. She felt Matilda’s arms tighten around her neck.

“Mommy I’m scared.”

Enid followed her daughters eyes and they led her to what she assumed was Ezekiel’s angelic form. He would once have been a handsome his hair was falling out in chunks. His face was half-aged and his feathered wings were molted and falling about. His skin showed bits of decay. Enid covered Matilda’s eyes and offered her to Hazel.

“Take her.”

Hazel took Matilda and buried her face in her chest gently. She shook her head at her mother.

“This does not seem like paradise mom.”

Enid nodded and rushed to Ezekiel’s side falling to her knees she reached out to touch his cheek gently. When their flesh touched she felt a small spark of energy. His eyelids fluttered and she looked into his rainbow iris. Tears dripped down her cheeks. She’d grumbled about him often but he had been like a grandfather to her and when she’d needed him he would always come.

“Old man, what has happened to you?”

“I am glad I got to see you again in your true form mother. Before the end.”

Enid shook her head.

“Not the end. Never the end. You cranky old asshole. What happened to your lawn?”

“Mother, I tried to do my duty. I tried to protect your garden but…I could not. I am sorry.”

“Mother? My garden? You are not well.”

He coughed weakly and his eyes closed. She shook him gently.

“Ezekiel stay with me.”

His eyes opened again and after a few seconds focused on her.

“You built it for the boss. You built everything. Created me to protect it. I could not…stop it from falling apart.”

Enid looked at Helen.

“Helen, gather what fruit remains on the golden tree. Quickly. Eat one. Give one to Hazel, Safa and Eimaan. Help Matilda eat hers. The other two, bring to me.”

Helen nodded.

“Yes mother.”

Helen rushed towards the tree. Enid always appreciated how Helen would do exactly what she asked without question given a certain tone of voice. She looked back to Ezekiel and shifted her knees under his head and smiled at him.

“We will fix you up old man. Do not worry.”

“I cannot eat of the tree… it was forbidden.”

“By whom?”

“You. Only the boss can overrule it. If I eat it…I will be severed from this place and can no longer protect your creation.”

“This place is dying and I do not know how to stop it. So, either we sever you from it or you die with it Ezekiel and I do not like a universe were you do not exist. I need my cranky old angel to tell me I’m being a spoiled brat.”

Helen rushed over with two golden fruits.

“Helen now collect silver fruit, give one to everyone please any remaining pass to me.”

Enid slipped one into her pack the other she put to Ezekiel’s lips. He turned away.

“Eat. Doctor’s orders.”

He looked at her tears on his face.

“You made me to protect this place. I will have no purpose. Please mother do not take that from me.”

Enid’s tears dripped onto him healing patches of his flesh where they touched but the mending was temporary.

“Please Ezekiel. I really don’t understand what you’re talking about but I do know if you do not eat this fruit you will die. I cannot abide that.”

Enid put her hand on Ezekiel’s chest and tried to pass whatever vital energy she could to him. He looked stronger but still sickly. It seemed he was so attached to Limbo that she’d have to heal it to heal him.

“Please. If what you say is true and I am your mother do as your told and eat this fruit. A parent does not want to see their child die. We can set right whatever wrong is committed when you eat this fruit but we need time and you do not have any. Now eat!”

Enid put the fruit to his mouth again and he looked at her one last time before taking a bite. She moved it so he could eat it save the core, which she discarded. She transferred more energy to him and he looked much stronger but still sickly.

“Now, old man, what happened your garden?”

He his eyes fluttered open again.

“It is falling apart like everything else. Reality is breaking mother. Can’t you see? The tapestry is burning.”

His eyes closed and he would not reawaken. She had no familiarity with angelic physiology she pondered that maybe they would go into a healing sleep like vampires. Or maybe it was being severed from Limbo. At any rate the decay stopped progressing and the energy she had given him reversed it enough his wings were not molted at all. She’d sort out the rest later. She also feared if she transferred more energy to him she would lack the power to get them out of this decaying land. She looked down at him.

“If only I had gotten past my fear sooner. I am sorry Ezekiel. I failed you.”

She gently put his head down, stood up. Helen offered her three silver fruits. She looked at the women who had pulled close to her and were looking at Ezekiel. Enid took the fruit and put them in her bag.

“You have all eaten the fruit of life and knowledge. I shared them with you freely. Now we need to get out of here it is not stable.”

Enid leaned down and scooped the broken angel into her arms.

“Touch my wings. Our next stop is my Cathedral in Narfardshire. Be on your best behavior.

*****

Narfordshire – 16th Century

Enid extended her wings and once all of the assembled had at least one hand touching her. She closed her eyes and focused on the cathedral in the sixteenth century. The archbishop at the time was a good man, an honest and decent man. When she opened her eyes there were standing by the alter and Enid swore under her breath because they had arrived in the midst of the easter vigil. She hefted Ezekiel and looked at the archbishop and the assembled faithful. The archbishop stumbled backwards down the dais from the altar. Everyone in the room crossed themselves.

“Please finish the vigil your excellency.”

She motioned for the group to move out of the way. Helen who despite Enid’s best efforts was quite dedicated to her Christian beliefs followed all of the proper protocols for such as occasion as they waited. Many glances were cast at the motley crew that had appeared so suddenly. When the vigil was over many rushed out. Some stayed. Some were dragged out. The Archbishop approached Enid.

“Why have you come?”

Enid looked down at Ezekiel.

“I am tasked by the Lord to set many things right but my brother has taken ill. I can not protect him and complete my mission. I would ask that you grant sanctuary to him. And my two mortal charges.”

She looked to Safa and Eimaan. The archbishop wiped some sweat from his brow as he looked down at Ezekiel.

“I do not understand. Why here and not by the Lord?”

“It is a… difficult thing to explain your excellency. Just know that out of all time and space you are the man I trust with this task. Saint Sarah has told me you are a good and decent man. A man of great faith. Also, there is a healing spring here that can mend his wounds. He is Ezekiel. Guardian of Paradise. Protector of Humanity. As for the mortals. They are from a time in the past and suffered greatly at the hands of demons and men who falsely spoke for God. They are Muslim but Allah is just another name for God. They do not need to be converted for they are already strong in faith. They do need to be protected. Would you do this for me?”

“I will! I will! I am humbled and honored. Please follow me I have a place for them.”

He motioned for them to follow. He took them to the rectory and Enid placed Ezekiel in the bed. She looked back and turned and hugged both Safa and Eimann.

“You will be safe here my friends. Safa please, make sure Ezekiel is cared for.”

Safa clutched onto Enid’s hand and nodded.

“Thank you, child. Know this, you will have a long and blessed life. Disease will never touch you.”

Safa grabbed Enid around the waist and hugged her tightly.

“Thank you.”

Safa released Enid who motioned for her daughters to gather close.

“Come on girls. I have some things loose ends to tie up.”

Hazel perked up.

“Are we going home?”

“Sorry, no. The future is too unstable. You’re going to the mall so you three can eat. Then we’ll take care of our next demon.”

“That won’t be weird, an angel showing up in a mall?”

“Nah, it will be fine. Trust me.”

New Jersey – 1985 – December 23rd

Hazel shook her head. Enid pulled a holo-web out of her pack and put it on. She picked up Matilda. Helen and Hazel touched her arms and she decided to skip limbo this time and just skirt its boundary. They appeared in a woman’s bathroom at the same mall in New Jersey they had visited before. A mother and daughter were washing their hands and Enid motioned to them and to Helen who nodded. While Helen was adjusting their memories Enid kneeled down at put Matilda down.

“Hon, mom’s gotta go do some things. But I will come back. Just do what your big sisters tell you. You can have anything you want just tell Hazel and she’ll take care of it.”

She hugged Matilda and kissed the tip of her nose. Matilda pouted.

“Don’t pout you’re going to have so much fun. You will even get to see Santa.”

“Santa?”

“You’ll see.”

Enid stood up and reached into her pack and took out a credit card from the era. She forgot what name was even on it she offered it to Hazel.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Just get whatever you guys want. And take her to see Santa and get a picture please.”

“Seriously mom?”

“I brought you here at Christmas because you guys need a vacation. You’ve been working hard. We all have.”

“I want to see Miles.”

“We do not know what state the future is in. Do you really want to be erased the next time a demon warps reality in the past?”

“What’s to stop them from doing it here?”

“This time is stable. Its everything past 2027 that is not.”

“When you killed the Black Son.”

“Yes, when we killed Cronos. And now is stable for now. I will go to the future though and I will get translators and I will check on Miles.”

“Bring him back!”

“He’s mortal. You saw what happened to the demons who tried to traverse time they went insane.”

Hazel sighed and nodded then she blinked.

“Why didn’t Olga go insane?”

“My theory? She went forward and not backwards.”

“Theory? Don’t you know mom?”

“No touching Seraphs full knowledge is like drowning in an ocean of knowledge and being pulled apart in infinite directions. Same with her full power. So no I’m not going to open myself up to that insanity again.”

Enid stood up.

“I do know that we have several more tears to fix and more fronts are opening up in this…I guess war. But I made promises. Promises I will keep… Helen get them out of here and hold the door closed.”

She looked at Hazel.

“Record a message for him. I will get him to record one for you and move them around… okay?”

Hazel frowned.

“Its not great…but okay.”

*****

1984 – October 31, 11:59 pm – Crypt of Pope Pius I

Enid had used the holo-web so her arrival in the next location would be hidden. Once she’d reverted to her vampiric form the holo-web vanished with her true form. She sighed and walked into the crypt she knew Sextus was occupying right now. She hadn’t know where he’d decided to leave the world before but when she honed in on him on the night she had no trouble finding him. She guess the Vatican was as close to where he could find to be with her dead adoptive mother…or so he thought. He was staring at a worn drawing of Aurelia, lost in through. She touched his shoulders gently.

“Dad.”

He looked up at her, blood tears on his face.

“You came.”

“I promised I would.”

She leaned down and hugged him tightly. He wrapped his hands around her forearms.

“How?”

“That is very long story, dad. We can talk about it another night.”

She released him and leaned up against the crypt of pope who knows.

“The Vatican dad? Really? You choose to spend eternity sleeping here? Of all places.”

“This is the spot your mother died in. It is a place you should show more respect to.”

She heard anger in his voice. Probably wouldn’t be the least of it once she told him the truth. She knew eventually he’d realize the truth. But in the short term he was going to be pissed. She would be.

“So, dad…”

Enid couldn’t meet his eyes. Funny that she was literally a goddess but realizing how disappointed and angry her adoptive father was going to be tied her tongue up.

“I know that look daughter. Enid Kura Aurelius what have you done?”

Enid stood up and turned away from him and leaned on the sarcophagus. She closed her eyes.

“Well it is what Hazel did, if I’m being honest…No I allowed it. Its on me.”

“Mom is alive.”

He spun her around. For a mortal it would have seemed like it was too fast to be real but both of them shared the time altering power and so it all happened in slow motion for her.

“What did you say?”

He was leaning over her.

“Mom is alive. She has been…safe in a… Lucius is guarding her… She is on the verge of death but I stabilized her I couldn’t…fix her. Not without a fruit and Limbo…its broken. It is so hard to explain.”

“And you and her let me think she was dead. I remember now! You were there. You were injured by a demon. Hazel gave me her amulet… how?”

“Well, it technically wasn’t her amulet it was… Tiamat’s. And now its Eyre’s…I haven’t really told her that yet.”

Enid winced.

“How could you? Do you know how much I suffered?”

“Yes. It was one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make but if you didn’t… let me inherit your mantle I would have failed to kill Cronos and then the world would have ended…again. I have to break…I had to break the cycle.”

“What are you talking about? How do you know his real name?”

“It is a really long story dad. One I am not equipped to tell you right now and you’re not equipped to listen too. I know how much it hurt you, but it was that or every living thing in this universe. Which is a number far more then you realize. It is the same choice you would have made. The kind of choices you taught me to make. The reason you chose me as your successor.”

He grabbed her armor and lifted her by it. Anger in his eyes but then he slowly lowered her down and collapsed on his knees.

“You’re telling me now so I don’t end it… aren’t you?”

“You’re dead to the world now. Cronos thinks he has you out of his hair. Eyre thinks you’re gone. You are…officially dead. Now I can take you to mother. You can go to sleep and wake when I have fixed everything you and mother can live happily ever after. I created at…bubble universe that will not be affected by timeline changes.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I didn’t know I was doing that but… dad. You told Hazel about my true origins…mostly. I know the truth. Just..”

Enid held up one finger and let her true form loose. Sextus looked up at her.

“But…you’re still you.”

“Only because I refuse too not be me. Now take my hand dad.”

Enid offered her hand to him. He wrapped his hand around hers and she closed her eyes. They appeared in the sacred pool chamber. He looked around himself and saw Aurelia. She smiled, reached into her pack and offered the last golden fruit to him.

“I saved this for mom. I figured it was the only thing that would fix her. It’s the last one dad. Tree is dead. Limbo is dying. I really screwed up.”

He bit his hand and put it to Aurelia’s mouth. Her mother started drinking the blood as a reflex. He then put the golden fruit her lips and leaned down and whispered.

“Eat.”

Her mother took a bite and another, her eyes never opened. She could sense her body mending itself even now.

“Sleep now dad. I will return when it is safe for you to rise.”

“You said Lucius was here.”

Enid pointed at the soul blade.

“He is. Cronos stole his body. I… he… we bound him to the soul blade. He is dormant at the moment and I wish him to stay that way. I can only imagine the endless days and nights here…guarding a sleeping vampire.”

“Do you not need him to hunt your prey?”

Enid shook her head and formed the staff of the universe.

“I have a new weapon. That I now know was forged from the core of a magnetar and forged in the fires of a supernova. Seraph’s skill at weapon forging makes me feel like I’m playing with playdough.”

“I… will need time to forgive you. I know you made the right decision but I have suffered greatly because of it.”

Enid nodded.

“I know dad. I know. Rest. When you wake you will be with your grandchildren.”

“What about my children?”

“Maria will be there, I am sure.”

“And you?”

“I don’t know dad, I’m barely getting through these battles. I can’t make a promise to be there. But Hazel will be. I promise you that.”

Sextus put his hands on Enid’s angelic cheeks and pulled her head down. He kissed her forehead.

“You will get through this daughter.”

He turned back to Aurelia and laid beside her wrapping his arm around her. He became motionless letting the long sleep take him. Enid walked to the two starfighters after a few lingering moments looking to her adoptive parents. She touched Sariel first willing her fixed. She did the same with Apollo. She left their cores asleep but when they woke, they would be fully functional restored from the EMP pulse. She effectively turned back their timelines, so they were as they were just before the left for the past the first time. She looked to her father and mother one last time before tapping her holo-web and vanishing into a different time with a crack as air rushed into fill the void of her leaving.

*****

29th Century – The Menagerie

Enid collapsed exhausted on the glacier. She’d lost count of how many times and different ways she tried to stop Miko from dying. Every time things just got worse. After several minutes staring at the remnants of the ship where this time everyone died. Even her. She stood up and shifted into her angelic form. She lept into the air. She clutched a vial in her hand. She pushed past the speed of light once she was out of the atmosphere. As she had predicted the vacuum of space did her no harm. The laws of reality seemed to hold no sway over this form but as she used more and more of her abilities she felt herself fading into the vastness of her true self. She was glad to be back in her vampiric form when she stepped out of the air lock of the reformed Menagerie. A squad of guards approached her and she quirked an eyebrow at them. They lowered their weapons very quickly when they recognized Enid Aurelius.

“I’m here to see my genetic granddaughter.”

Enid was led to Hope’s desk. She was still very young looking. Albert was currently awaiting trial for his crimes, she was the next best thing. Enid put the vial of blood down in front of Hope.

“I need a clone. Two years, seven months old.”

Hope took the vial and looked up at Enid.

“I really did not expect to ever see you again, Mrs. Aurelius. I thought… you were dead.”

“I am. I’m a vampire.”

“No the news said you all died…”

“The news was wrong. I need it quickly.”

“Rushing the aging process of a clone is…fatal.”

“It doesn’t need to be alive.”

Hope put the vial down as if it burned her.

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I really cannot explain that too you. Call it doner tissue.”

“But the organs will fail, especially-”

Enid frowned.

“Hope. My daughter died today. I am going to go back and time, leave a dead clone, so she looks like she died and then save her life.”

“Time travel? The effects on-”

“For normal humans the effects are crippling. Multiple versions of themselves existing in the same mind. Or gruesome death. But the clone doesn’t need to be alive. It just needs to be good enough to pass a genetic test.”

Hope picked the vial up.

“And you can do this? Just fix things.”

“I’ve already messed them up this time. Only Miko was supposed to die…and well the ship that killed her… I spared you, and your grandfather. This is all I ask in return.”

Hope frowned but nodded.

“I will do this for you. Are you sure? You made your feelings on clones very… clear.”

“Clones of me that I had no choice in. This is to save a child’s life.”

“You and grandfather are more alike than you admit.”

Enid sighed and collapsed in the chair.

“She will be ready in sixteen hours.”

“I will wait for it.”

Hope nodded and walked out of the room.

*****

Germany – 80 AD – Winter Wolves lands.

Enid kneeled before Miko who was looking around the sealed sacred pool chamber. Enid quirked her head to the side wondering what was going on in her daughter’s eyes. The girl had always been so far ahead of where she should be mentally for her age.

“Miko, you’ll go to sleep and when you wake your family will be here. Hazel included.”

Miko nodded and reached up wrapping her arms around her mother’s neck. Enid set Miko down and pushed her daughter’s bangs behind her ears. Enid helped Miko into the statis pod and smiled at her.

“Good night, Miko, sleep tight.”

Miko grabbed Enid’s hand as she tried to pull it back.

“Momma. You turned your back on mercy.”

Enid nodded.

“I am sorry.”

“Momma, I will keep Matilda safe. Bye momma. I’ll miss you.”

“You wake up and it will be like you never slept hon.”

Miko shook her head.

“I tried to warn you momma. I love you momma.”

Enid leaned down and kissed Miko’s forehead. Miko hugged her tightly. Enid let her clutch onto for a while before pulling back and sealing the statis pod. She kissed her hand and pressed it against the pod. Miko did the same.

*****

New Jersey – 1985 – December 23rd

Enid changed into a better set of clothes to suit winter in New Jersey. Most of her 80’s looks left her looking like a cross between a punk, a goth and a metal head. She’d stuck with her vampire self this time. Her changes were becoming more fluid but she could sense that her angelic form had its limits and pushing past them would quickly force her into mortal form and not vampire. Like say for instance summoning a sun.

Enid washed her hands and put her contacts back in and blinked a few times until the HUD became clear. She flicked her hair a few times. She felt so much better as a vampire than anything else, but she’d been a vampire the longest in her life so of course it felt right. She left the washroom and tapped into Hazel’s video feed; They were at the food court eating pizza. Of course, they were. She sighed as sun streaming through the skylights forced her back into mortality. She slid into the seat beside Matilda who went to hug her Enid held her back.

“Hugs after you clean your fingers and face hon.”

Matilda quickly wiped her fingers and face and glomped onto Enid. Hazel looked at Enid who did look quite exhausted by now.

“Yesh, mom, what’d you do?”

“Miko’s safe. Took me a thousand and one tries but…she’s safe.”

Hazel blinked at her Helen looked between the two. It took about ten seconds for Hazel to be hugging Enid tightly.

“I can’t believe it! What about Amee?”

“Temporal shields. Can’t mess with them without breaking more. Miko…it happened on the glacier.”

“I’m sorry Mom.”

“I passed your message to Miles. I already sent his return message to you.”

Hazel squeezed Enid again who groaned.

“Mortal, mortal. Ouch.”

Hazel kissed Enid’s cheek.

“Mom you’re amazing.”

“Can I get you to record that so I can play it back to you when you’re mad at me?”

Helen laughed. Hazel glared at Helen.

“Well at least I have a boyfriend!”

Helen frowned slightly. She had never had the chance before Enid turned her but if her mother hadn’t she’d still be with Robert. Hazel bounded off. Helen looked at Enid.

“Where too next mother?”

Enid shrugged.

“To drop Matilda off somewhere safe. Here.”

Enid offered a holo-tablet and translator to Helen.

“The small little thing goes behind your ear. The other on your wrist.”

Helen put them on. Enid switched to modern English.

“Do you understand me dear?”

Helen blinked at her adoptive mother.

“Yes! This is so…”

“Amazing I know.”

Helen picked at the translator.

“Feels weird.”

“Not as weird as these are going to feel.”

Enid slid a small container towards Helen.

“Those go in your eyes.”

Helen blinked at Enid who moved towards her and put them in for Helen.

“It gets easier hon.”

Helen blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the information flow that started streaming into her vision.

“What… am I seeing? Is this magic? Like the armor?”

Enid shook her head.

“No, just information provided by your holo-tablet.”

Matilda was looking between them.

“Momma do I get one?”

Enid nodded. She put a translator behind Matilda’s ear and slipped a much smaller, children’s holo-tablet around her wrist. Matilda scratched at both a few times but let it go.

“No contacts yet hon. When you’re older.”

*****

Unknown Beach, Unknown Time.

Hazel was still frowning at Enid when they arrived on the sandy beach. Enid expected the pair wouldn’t be talking for a few hours. Hazel was pretty stubborn and set in her ways. Helen hadn’t voiced any concerns either way on the leaving of Miko and Matilda in the statis pods. Hazel suddenly pointed at horizon over the ocean. Enid zoomed her contact vision into the ship Hazel was point at, it was flying pirate colors she was intimately familiar with.

“Well, this will be interesting.”

Hazel looked at her mother. Anger forgotten for the moment.

“Is that a pirate ship?”

“Yes, it is. We’re near Port Royal. End of the 17th century. She is the Red Terror.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because she’s my ship.”

Both of her daughters looked at their mother and blinked in disbelief.