Before I would have taken Sara to Mike’s. Now? I had no place to take her that was safe but my place.

“So, why…why did she do it?”

I kept next to her on the bus. “You’ve gotten involved in something you don’t want to be involved in.”

“There really was an angel.”

I had no answer to that other than. “Yes, and be glad there was. She was helpful.”

“What do I do?”

“What you do is let me send somebody who can look after themselves to get your stuff and get out of town.”

“…college.”

“She won’t let you go. You need to move now. I’ll deal with her and then you can come back.”

Her shoulders straightened. She looked up at me. “No. I want to help.”

I considered that. “I don’t know. You don’t know how.”

“I can’t fight, but I can…I know there’s something I can do. There has to be. I won’t…I won’t let her get away with this.”

I thought for a moment, then. “Okay. I’ll talk to Thea about a safehouse. What’s your major?”

“Computer science.”

“Aha. You can do some of the research with my girlfriend, then.”

“Girlfriend?” She squeaked out incredulously. “You’re gay?”

“What, I don’t look it?” I couldn’t help but tease. “Bi, actually. Don’t worry. I won’t try anything with you.”

“How do I know?”

“I’m dating a black belt,” I told her with some amusement. “That’s how you know.”

She laughed. “But I bet…”

I considered. “Depends on if she caught me by surprise. Point is, I’m taken, so you don’t need to worry.”

“I’m not at all interested in girls,” she told me thoughtfully. “I’m not really that interested in boys when I’m not getting money for it.”

“Then let’s get you somewhere you don’t need to do that for money.” I felt quite protective towards her. And older, somehow.

Then again, I was.

“Are you an angel?”

I shook my head. “Far from it. But we’re on the same side and I’m not going to let her kill you. Especially as it would be kind of my responsibility.”

“Because you talked to me?”

“Yeah. That’s why she did it.” It wasn’t my fault, I knew that, but I couldn’t help but feel just a little bit as if…

“It’s not your fault. She’s psycho.”

“She’s a demon.” The words were out of my mouth before I thought them.

“Oh, so that’s why there was an angel?”

I shook my head. “The angel was there to protect you.”