We’d returned to Sanctuary 73 under cover of night. The fleet had mostly dissipated, a few lone ships remaining hidden out in the mountains to take us away. Take us away.

“You understand why we have to leave?” Nep asked.

I nodded. The videos were circulating online already, of us killing Ecto, of the armada in the sky, of the angels descending. Though the demons that escaped had erased their tracks, we were not so potent in our abilities. The internet was bristling. First contact, the people thought. Hostile aliens, invading Vancouver. Laying low would be necessary for anyone staying here, but we had... further obligations. “We’ve been recalled.”

She sighed. “Yeah. I’d been doing this behind their backs. Keeping you here, that is. Sorry. Vespa wanted to keep things on the down low, and that went... poorly.” Nep smiled wryly. “It’s good though. Everything’s out in the open. You’ll be able to have proper introductory classes.”

“Classes?”

“Mhm. While we’ll probably be reassigned to new regions, you have to go through a little basic training first. It’ll be fun for a curious soul such as yourself. Seeing as you’re... well adjusted to being an angel.” She narrowed her eyes and glared at me, as if daring to me to disagree.

“Nep—”

“I did what I had to do, Quinn. This is just the beginning. Now pack your things.”

I noticed Sarah quietly slip Angelina’s growing chrysalis into her purse. Within it, Angelina’s embryonic form stirred, tiny arms and legs reforming within the liquid. I wondered if she was still conscious, in there, dreaming, perhaps. “Don’t worry,” Sarah said with a smile. “She’ll be fine. She might even be regenerating faster than expected.”

“You should focus on packing your own things,” said Heidi.

I headed down the stairs to my room, clearing off the shelves again, packing my bags. Outside the window, the castle of ice had dissolved as well, the final vestige of the storm gone as quickly as it had come. My gaze lingered on the portrait of my parents. Gone. Right. They’d... Vespa had sold them out. But I didn’t feel mad anymore. Not really. Maybe there was a little gnawing in my heart, but that wasn’t really anything. I mean... I still couldn’t do anything to help them, if they were out there, anyways. So why even bother to get mad. I carefully put the portrait in my bag. “Why, Vespa?” I asked aloud.

“Why what?”

“Why did you tell the demons where I lived. Who I was. You knew they’d do this, right?”

“As Nep did, I did what I had to do.”

“You had to? What part of this did you have to do?”

“Everything. As much as you had to kill Ecto. You had no other choice. Only you were allowed to. You had to be my host. There was no other way. You were chosen for this purpose.”

“And my parents?”

“They needed to be out of the way for you to learn, Quinn. There was no other way.”

“I don’t like that.”

“Neither do I.”

I took a deep breath. Who exactly was in control of the pigeons, anyways? What had kept them from stopping me, when they stopped Heidi and Sarah. It was as if fate was conspiring to make me do the deed. It felt transgressive. I just wanted to be myself. Was that too much to ask? When had it become about prophecies and purpose built into the genetic code of my body? “I’m upset at you, Vespa. Even if I understand.”

“That’s fine, but being upset won’t get you anywhere.”

“I know.” That’s what made it so frustrating. This room, too, as meagre as it was, was also being taken away. My few belongings carefully packed up now, it seemed as bare as it was when I’d arrived. Yet even this was something I wanted to hold on to. I snapped a few pictures on my phone before turning for the door.

“Leaving so soon?”

Of course.

Thea stood on the windowsill, folding her arms over her chest. “Don’t you want to talk to me?”

“You’re still around, then.”

“Of course. And you killed Ecto. Was it fun? Did you enjoy it? Your Imago was stained scarlet with ichor, dripping the stuff everywhere on the snow. You monster.”

“Oh, knock it off. I had to. He wouldn’t stop. You wanted to stop him, too. You want to bring peaceful liberation for the people, right? Not some torturous death.”

“I wouldn’t have killed him.”

“Then how would you have stopped him?”

“I stopped him exactly as I intended. You monster.” She laughing. I heard the flapping of wings. “You know, prophecy is a funny thing, isn’t it? You had to kill him. You really did have no choice. I suppose we’re all slaves to destiny.” A pigeon landed on her shoulder. Then another. “Did you figure it out already? That he was nobody? Oh, I let him have his free reign, but he’d long outlived his time.”

“You’re the one who controls it?”

“I’ll give you another chance to come with me, Quinn. You can make it so easy. I’ll show you everything.”

“Don’t do it.” Vespa buzzed, to no surprise.

I wanted to say yes, but my body refused. Vespa?

“She’s just controlling you. Don’t fall for it.”

“She’s just controlling you, Quinn. Don’t you see? You never had a choice. And you never will.” My body started morphing on its own, the chrysalis forming around me, my flesh and bones melting away, making room for hardened shells, pneumatic muscles. “The moment you accepted Vespa was the last choice you made.”

The blade materialized in my hands. “Get out of the way!”

She ignored me. “But don’t worry, I understand.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Angels and demons, both. We don’t have free will. Our bodies simply move as they must, obeying the genetic programming they’ve inherited from the dawn of time.” She fluttered back as I slashed forward. “So even though I don’t want to hurt anyone, soon I won’t have that option.” The mass of birds swirled around her.

“Vespa? What is going on?”

“It’s not me she’s talking about, Quinn. It’s the Imago. Having tasted the blood of a demon, its purpose is fully reawakened.” It felt so natural. So right. Wings roaring to life, blade steadied, flying towards her. My carapace bristled. The Imago wanted to kill her. To feel her ichor run all over its hands and feet. And I was along for the ride.

The pigeons blocked me. She ascended on her own, carried by the rest of the flock. “I wanted to be your friend, Quinn, but it looks like we won’t be able to. I guess we’ll both have to erase our destiny.”

Destiny. Wait. “Both?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? There’s a prophecy among the demons, too. That when Vespa’s host arises, the seventh time, the final demon will awaken true power. A seventh Calamity. True success and freedom for all life on earth.” She pointed to herself. “A war that sweeps across the whole world, to soak the earth in the blood of demons and angels, with the lives of all else lying in the balance. I wish there was a way around it, but already my body seems to be awakening. Maybe it’s because I let Host devour that angel, Angelina. She was delicious. I’m starting to want more.” She shook her head to clear her thoughts, drifting up into the sky. “Enjoy the flight to Mali, Quinn. I’ll see you there.”