1 / 2 / 3 / 4 - Next

The goodnight not-quite-kiss — Ella tells Leon she had a good time, and they should do it again. They look as if they're about to kiss, but then he gets shy, so she just goes off to bed. Well done, Ella: he's going to think you're different, and special, and pure or something. Whatever.

The next day, in class — Leon's wearing a puppy-dog grin, and Roxanne can't stand the idea of him and Ella being an item. As Ella slides into her seat, Thelma shows up to ask what's going on. Ella says Leon's not ready yet. Thelma is her usual amused (and amusing) self as Jez saunters in to talk about STDs.

No, I simply can't — After classes, Roxanne shows up at Jez's house, but I am so bored of this. Already. (All right, I'll give her a few points for asking him whether it's wrong to fantasize about people in pain, and then to ask whether he's not at all dubious about the crucifixion. She's quite the virtuoso, and a decidedly un-virtuous one at that.)

Medenham Hall grounds — Ella's sitting on a bench, polishing a dagger. Leon shows up, and she manages to flirt with him just enough to get him to chase her a bit. Thelma watches them from the window, looking doubtful and wistful.

Ella's room — Thelma's got her tools. No, not those tools — she's trying to break open the little secret stash where Ella stored the stone. Clever girl.

A second date — Ella continues to impress Leon, but he also thinks she's "a bit of a weird one." Ella seems to be a bit concerned, but she might just be trying to make him think so. And then Leon wants to talk about families, and they get sappy and serious.

Result — Thelma's all grunty and wiggly and covered with soot — she's managed to get the stone out of Ella's fireplace. Interpret that however you like.

After the date — Ella and Leon finally kiss. I say "finally" as if I wanted it to happen, which I completely did not.

Church — Thelma shows Azazeal the stone, but refuses to give it to him until she's seen Cassie. We're all wondering the same thing, I'm sure: is it really going to be Cassie, or some sort of shape-shifting Nephilim?

The trap — Leon and Ella are getting hot and heavy when she stops him. He doesn't understand why she's running hot and cold, and slams the door behind him as he goes.

Temptation — Thelma's in love — we all knew that, right? So the mere prospect of seeing Cassie again is enough to make her turn over the stone to a very receptive Azazeal. This can't be good.

He tells her to focus her thoughts on Cassie, which I don't think was ever a problem for her. Thelma waits on a bench. The moon is full, and so is Thelma's heart.

And then Cassie is there, taking Thelma's hand, and holding her close, and telling her not to blame herself. I didn't expect it to be quite this sweet, so I'll let it speak for itself.

Thelma: "I don't want to stay here anymore. There's nothing left for me without you... I'm going to find a way to die properly. To be with you."
Cassie: "It's not meant to be that way."
Thelma: "It's what I want."
Cassie: "There's a reason you're still here. Ella needs you, Thelma."

And then Cassie sees Azazeal watching, and says she has to go. But first she says this:

Cassie: "I'll always be with you. I do love you."
Thelma: "I love you too."
Cassie: "When things get hard, and you don't know what to do, remember this. It's my final gift."

And then they kiss. It's not passionate or hungry or any such thing, but it's sincere and loving, and you can't do much better than that. And something else is happening: some sort of vapor-y thing is passing between them as they move apart.

Thelma: "Knew that was worth waiting for."
Cassie: "In more ways than you'll know. You'll understand when the time is right."

They share a last embrace, and stupid Azazeal nearly ruins the moment by looking on with his tear-streaked face. Whatever. Still, I'm kinda happy for Thelma, and I think it might very well have been worth it, no matter what happens with the stone and space and time and whatever else. And I think Thelma agrees.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 - Next