After a long while of soaking in the warm water, I finally stood and dried off. I quickly changed into some clean clothes and left the bathroom to see Maria was back, rummaging through some bags. I glanced over to Finny, who just looked back at me and shrugged.

"Maria?" I asked. "What are you doing?"

She jumped, startled at the sound of her name. She turned to face me as she sighed in relief. "Oh, Selena! Don't scare me like that!"

I stared at her, confused. "How did I scare you? You knew I was in here."

"Yes, but you can't just sneak up on people the way you did."

"Sorry," I whispered, even more confused. I went over to the other side of the room and sat beside Finny.

"No, it's alright, dear," Maria smiled, then continued digging through the bags.

"So what are you doing?" I asked again.

She looked over to me for just a moment before returning to the bags. "I was searching for my hairpin. I thought I might have accidentally left it behind, but it appears I have lost it. Oh well, I should really be returning to your father." She then walked over and patted my shoulder. "You have no idea how much I want this to work out, Selena."

I smiled at her, and she returned it before leaving the room.

"Well, that wasn't awkward at all, "Finny commented.

I nodded. "She's never acted that way before."

"It must be the pressure she's under. If this doesn't work, Sebastian might go crazy on her like he does to us back at the manor." He smiled sheepishly.

I laughed at his joke, then all became silent as we both turned to watch the trees swaying in the wind as the sunset spread orange across the sky.

*

Third Person POV:

The sky was scarlet and orange as Sebastian waited outside the diner he and Maria were supposed to meet this mystery scientist. Sebastian looked down at his pocket watch. It had been five minutes since Maria had claimed she'd left behind an essential piece of her outfit and raced back to the hotel to retrieve it, claiming it would take her not less than ten minutes to do so and return.

He glanced up at the busy Boston streets. Humans of all ages were running from store to store, some happily, others frantically, carrying armfuls of shopping bags and boxes. The winter holidays were swiftly approaching, and it seemed everyone was hurrying to buy gifts for their loved ones.

It made Sebastian curious as to what he would buy for Selena. He hadn't celebrated winter holidays before meeting Angelica, and she had been the one to decide they should celebrate Christmas as a family once their daughter was in their lives. Every year since then, he had bought Selena a Christmas gift. He had thought about her as the holiday passed the two years they were apart, and had almost bought her something out of habit his first holiday away from her. He began to wonder what he should do.

"Sebastian?"

Maria's voice sounded slightly concerned as it pulled the demon from his thoughts. He looked to her, then down at the pocket watch in his gloved hand. Nine minutes, fourteen seconds.

"You made it," he said, trying to sound impressed and make her forget he was so distracted.

Maria stood a bit taller, taking the bait and forgetting Sebastian's momentary absentmindedness. She pulled her dress back slightly to show off her three inch heels. "I know how to work these shoes," she said confidently.

Sebastian looked down at the shoes then back to her, fortunately able to keep a straight face.

"Please," he said, "everyone wears shoes like that."

Maria crossed her arms in an overdramatic pout.

The demon sighed. "So who is this man we're meeting?"

Maria pulled herself up beside him. "His name is Christopher. He is well known for discovering a few different avian creatures and a couple of different theories. He's very intelligent and perceptive in conversations. I've worked with him a couple times in the past while I was... uhh..."

Hunting my daughter, Sebastian finished the thought. He didn't question or give the slightest gesture to make Maria know he knew what she meant. He simply said, "Well, we are late. Shall we?" He gestured toward the doors to the diner.

"Certainly," Maria answered, leading the way inside.

They slowly approached a circular table with a man sitting in one of three chairs placed around it. He appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, and was wearing black framed glasses with thick frames. He had dark brown hair, pale skin, and was dressed rather casually for such a fancy restaurant. He was swirling a wine glass in his right hand as he perused the menu.

He glanced up as he noticed Maria and Sebastian walking toward him. He placed the wine glass and menu on the table and stood to greet them.

Sebastian watched as the man hugged Maria, seemingly excited to see her. He turned to Sebastian and gave him a firm handshake, one which Sebastian almost hesitated to accept. They all took their seats and the two newest members of the party ordered their refreshments.

"So, Maria, what exactly have you heard about this discovery from ten years ago?" Christopher asked, sipping his wine.

"We've heard a bit, actually," she answered. "An angel was found and hunted down by vicious scientists, and the body was taken somewhere to be preserved by the only surviving carriage of a devastating crash. It was taken to somewhere in this city's outskirts, but we've had no luck in finding it."

Christopher set his glass on the table and leaned in toward his guests. "Your story has a few small errors. Would you like for me to correct them?"

Maria eagerly nodded.

Setting back and lifting his glass, Christopher began to tell his story.

*

Selena had fallen into a deep sleep next to Finny. They both lay on the bed, and Finny couldn't help but watch the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed slowly and steadily.

He soon sat up, careful not to wake the girl beside him, and looked out the window. It had gotten dark out, and the moon was nowhere to be seen. After a moment, he stood and walked over to the window to close the drapes.

A movement in the bushes made him stop short. He peered out into the night, but couldn't see anything in the darkness. Closing the curtains, he looked back over to Selena.

She looked so peaceful in sleep. Her face wasn't painted with expressions of pain, depression, or discomfort like it was when she was awake. Her wings were folded to her back, but Finny could see a couple of ruffled dark feathers poking their way out of the slits in the back of her dress. She wasn't tense or stressed while sleeping. She seemed at ease, which relieved Finny greatly.

He was soon startled from his thoughts by a commotion in the hallway. Quietly walking over to the door, he listened careful to hear what was going on.

"I promise you," someone was yelling desperately, "there are no scientists here!"

"Maybe not," came a deep voice, "but their precious subject is somewhere in this building! And you had better tell us where before we blow your head sky high!"

Finny quietly locked the door before backing away and going back to the window to peek through the curtains. There were people outside with lanterns searching the grounds. He and Selena were trapped.

A knocking came on the door, then, stirring Selena. She rubbed her eyes and sat up as the door was knocked to the ground, revealing men dressed in black and pointing guns in front of them.

Finny saw the fear in Selena's eyes before he even turned to look at her. It was yet another expression she seemed to constantly wear. An expression he wanted to help rid her of forever.

"Found you," the man in front said, then lunged at her.