WITHOUT

Struck.

Celeste sat, kept folding/unfolding her hands.    She felt well rested, but knew she was in serious trouble (Waves of wanting to run for the hills, kept raising in her stomach)     Her and Astraea wouldn't be running, wouldn't be disappearing.....Wouldn't be going anywhere.    They would never be able to hide.    They were presently awaiting their "Judgment Day" date.

They would no longer be working within the Collection Centre.  Amara thought their "new" place was very fitting, seeing as they worked so well together - They could remain that way.    And, their abilities to hold secrets was noted too, their new positions would reflect that!

Amara also wouldn't tell them where they were being taken. He just kept smiling at them. Celeste felt sick to her stomach.

"....Celeste.   Do you think, the boy and his friends will ever forgive us?      We're messed up so outrageously.    I don't, think I can forgive us.   No...Not even a bit!.."      Astraea wiped her eyes, blew her nose....Sniffed, stared with red eyes at her friend.

"No, Astraea. No one is going forgive us for a very, very...Looooong time.     We became pompous, arrogant.....Even our kind look down on us.     The girl, the witch - Has stopped eating.    That other little girl-creature has gone plain nuts.    The dog-boy is the only thing useable of the lot.     And, our lost-baby winged-wonder boy!     Well, we screwed up on a grand scale there!    Bloody think for once Astraea!      Celeste paused, took a moment to calm her voice.     "He. Is beyond anything we, they - Have ever had to deal with!    He is kept separate, he's had an influence on the others of his kind!.."

Celeste looked at her tearful friend a minute, Astraea was truly sorry.    Both of them had tried to buff their way out of what had happened, had said it was all lies (They hadn't done a thing!    Humans lie.  No one had been threatened!)      Ethan was a "runaway-baby".  The Archangel Council didn't believe either of them for a minute - They were immediately sentenced to the White Building (To await further orders)

I was locked in a room.   I stopped eating. Simple.     I was too on edge, my magic had stopped (They had made my cell anti-magic)    I was positive at first - I could fight this.      But, once where ever the hell this place is - I started to feel sudden fear.    

It's not comforting at all!

EB, was put into a cage.    She raged like nothing ever seen before.     Hector was beaten within an inch of his life - He fell into line.    He may have faired better, once they made him feel he had no choices.    He was at their mercy.      I'm guessing,  he understood "The Rules" better than all of us.

Ethan watched all that was happening.     EB was making a great distraction. Hector was able to access everything (After the beating - He was treated reasonably, but thought of as "dumb")        I was Ethan's biggest concern, he could feel me (But, I was growing weak)    What the hell was I playing at?!       Ethan vowed to get to me, and shake the living shit out of me (Then smother me in kisses)    Then....Maybe give me another small shake!

He saw the Others, the ones most like him, of his age.   They tore at his heart.     They were broken/beaten, walking shadows of who they should be.      They were severely scarred (Their wings damaged beyond salvation)     He saw the children (They still had life)  But, it was slowly being stripped from them.

They kept him hungry, he hadn't slept in days.....They watched him. He was often shown to other Archangels, made to stand on platforms. There was often much discussion around him, he picked up comments....He needed to be seen by a certain someone. This "someone" was of importance, appeared to have a higher authority to his fellow peers.