After purgatory

IIII

She'd been at St. Claire for almost two weeks, walking through the gardens becoming one of her frequent things to do. Eyes seemed to follow her back to St. Claire, she wondered if Seth had followed her in the trees. Right up until she reached her well lit room she thought of his eyes. Such clarity was in them, perhaps the surety that she lacked. Angelique jumped when Pandora entered.
"Pandora!" She cried as she swung herself off of Andrew's wheelchair.
Andrew was flustered as she did so, his flushed cheeks saying enough.
"Oh! Sorry." Pandora quickly turned away, pacing down the halls. The halls were empty, people either in their rooms or dining. The open archways of the halls allowed cool air to bleed in.
She turned around to make sure Angelique was not running after her, but as she rounded the corner a solid figure met her and as she stumbled back she came to find a familiar pair of eyes met hers. "Oh, Gabriel," she muttered, "S-sorry." She said, quickly snapping out of her daze. He looked handsome that night, in his casual clothes he looked less inhuman, though still too good to be true. The blue shirt he wore was far to body tight for her sanity and the kind, boyish smile on his face would make any girl--or boy--falter. His hands were outstretched slightly, as if he wasn't sure if she was able to stand. "Pandora, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" He said, genuine worry clear.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Still, his hands didn't shift. "Really." She assured. Gabriel's hands then moved to scratch the back of his neck, an action she found very attractive. "So, how are you finding St. Claire?" He asked, starting into a slow stroll beside her. "Good, strict and extremely intense, but good." She replied. "Yes, it took me a while to get used to it all too. But at the end of the day, we're angels, we have expectations, I guess." He said, a slur to his words. Pandora breathed in and exhaled. "Why can't angels and demons mix?" She asked. He seemed taken aback by the question, unprepared.
"Well, there needs to be a balance. Light and darkness."
"But why'd they have to be so segregated?" She asked, only making him more uncomfortable.
"Why do you ask such questions, Pandora? Theres nothing to it, it's just the way it is." He replied, his tone firming. She'd stopped walking by this point, so, he turned to her, leaning over her slightly. Then she realised she'd never actually asked a question that could easily explain why he reacted in such a discomforted manner,
"Who's son are you, Gabriel?" He leaned back slightly, his brows slightly furrowed and his jaw twitching. His hands became fists, not a sign of violence but more frustration.
"Take a wild guess." He hissed.
There was only anger towards his father in that moment, but soon it became fuzzy as he said, "Don't act like you didn't know. That's the only reason anyone cares about me. Gabriel D'Angelo Gabriel." Gabriel's voice was stone cold by this point, but she refused to retreat. He was Gabriel junior... or something.
"That's not true. I didn't even think twice about your name, actually." His dark eyes met her own and his jaw squared, his body turning to loom over her again. "And who's your father, Pandora? Why exactly, are you so valued around here?" After his unsteadiness became clear, it dawned on Pandora. He was drunk. Or tipsy at the least, so she pushed him away gently, giving her space enough to continue walking, but before she turned the next corner, leaving the almost-translucent Angel in the hall, she clenched her jaw and shot,
"I'll give Lucifer and Aphrodite your fathers regards."
Pandora didn't spare another minute to look at Gabriel's son.

***
Once again, she found herself in the gardens. This time she did not stroll or smile, replaced by a running, weeping Pandora. The night sky twinkled down, illuminating the white and red roses, as if her father's fire and mothers stars had awoke them. Branches and gravel crunched beneath her steps as she ran through the maze, running in no direction, to no St. Claire.
To no angel.
It all seemed to rush into her then: the death of Liz, her new life, the disapproval she would always face, the confusion she felt... the choice she'd have to make. Angels or demons? Purity or self-gain? Eventually, her legs carried her no more, her lungs failing her, the last of her tears streaming.
Her long hair fell around her shoulders as she fell to the floor, knees collapsing beneath a trees shade.
All she could hear was the sound of her breathing--and the footsteps that matched the boots in front of her.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet the towering figure of a demon. Her favourite one so far.
"La fille de la lumiére et de l'ombre." Seth mused, perching himself on a nearby rock. He wore a black long sleeved t-shirt that only made his eyes seem even more bright in the blue midnight. She began to wipe away her tears as Seth chuckled, "The girl of light and shadow." He explained.
Pandora did not say anything, only wrapped arms around her knees, staring up at the demonic beauty.
He stared back at her from his spot on the large stone, looking every bit the dark prince he was. Dark Prince, she thought. A perfectly fitting name.
"Le prince nior. What a lovely phrase. The dark prince." She scrambled back, slightly. "How did you hear that?"
Her breath sped up again.
Seth only chuckled that cruel laugh.
"I'm a demon, darling. There's many things I can do." He grinned, wildly.
She didn't return his humour for once;he noticed, of course. Seth's expression shifted, becoming serious as his brows furrowed. His silver rings clanged as he pushed himself off of the rock. "Pandora," he said, crouching down to her level, "are you alright?"
She hung her head, squeezing her knees even tighter. "My only parent figure is dead, I've lost all my friends, I've been shoved into some alternate world, I don't fit in with angels or demons," she snuffled and glanced at him quickly, "and I'm talking to Hades' son!" Pandora looked up at the sky, partly to drain her coming tears, partly to clear her mind. Seth was still staring at her though, his breathing was easy and deep, his jaw twitching.
"You don't have to fit in, Pandora." He said. She looked at him, head cocked, "And why should i follow your advice? You're a demon who hangs out in gardens." Pandora pushed herself off the ground and began to walk away, but she'd forgotten--she was talking to a demon. With a swift action, she was up against a tree, again. His arms locked her in, his face switched to a look of dangerous humour.
"Oh, angel," he leaned closer to her ear, his eyes turning the colour of the red roses, "never speak to me like that."
He quickly spun away from her, his arms crossed behind his back and his strides long. "Don't forget you're the daughter of Satan, love. You're no better than me." This time, he stared up at the sky. "I'm sorry." Her voice came out quietly, not weak but weary.
Seth stopped and turned, staring right through her. "Why are you with the angels if you're a half-cast, Fille d'ombre lumière?"
"I'm gonna need you to stop calling me things in French, Seth." She smiled.
Seth took two steps forward,
"Why don't you come to my Saint Claire? The red rose side? After all, you are half demon." He said.
Pandora brows furrowed and her eyes strayed. A wild, victorious grin spread across Seth's lips.