*Sera's POV*
I don't know why I did that, or how I lived. I have no real fear of death in honesty, I never have known why. I guess living your whole life in survival mode just readies you for it. You become comfortable, dare I say, with the idea that you will eventually die. Depressing yes, but I've come to terms with it. I expected it years ago.
Cars honk and strangers yell at me as my boots practically burn their rubber as I flee from the car of people who currently cause me nothing but suffering. I gave them both my heart. I gave them everything to try to get just a smidge of their love, and just like everyone else they betray me and use me. I was just a pet, a food source. I was just a temporary home and guardian. I gave Nox my virginity, my energy, my blood and tears. I gave him memories and raw bits ofAxar has remained silent and brooding since I got back in the car and we drove off. He keeps looking out the window, almost longing. Watching no doubt for Sera. I feel foolish now, knowing that I had orchestrated and created all this chaos. I have cost myself Sera for the moment. I have cost Axar his mother figure. Now I will have to take care of this damn child and scrounge for food again unless I feed from this sulking heap in the passenger's seat. I pushed too hard. Narius was right. I should have just lied the whole time, told her what she wanted to hear. I couldn't bring myself to say it though. I couldn't tell her I cared for her, or that we were together, and now I realize it was because it was true. We technically were together. In a round about way. I had taken her in and was willing to provide for her, and I have never done that bef
*Sera's POV* My mind is a barren wasteland. No decent ideas to entertain here as the horrifying man in the livingroom had reduced my brain to a blank flighty mess. I wanted to run straight out of this house, but after retreating to the guest room, I find the window protected by something invisible. Oh no. Shit! I shake my head and remember the ritual I had read earlier and I tiptoe back into Barima's room, the next over, to perform on her body. I need it pristine and wholesome as possible so she might settle into it when I am able to finish what I've started. While I do owe Barima for my actions, I am majorly uncomfortable having her in my body. It's an anxiety sufferer's nightmare. She can constantly survey me, and from inside my own being, it gives me 1984 vibes. She's my version of Big Brother. After finishing the
"Yeomorah. Come fourth. You have something that belongs to me. I will have it back." Nothing but silence, still. I was growing impatient, losing what tact I was naturally given. I scraped the wooden floor below me with extended claws. "SPEAK!" I snarled. Muffled cries and whimpers began to pick up, bouncing softly within the walls of the house. "Who are you to call me?" The deep creaky voice of Yeomorah drowned the whines that I heard earlier. "I am Noxodius. You-" "Rhetorical. I don't care who you are. You are worthless. What do you think that you need from me?" I could detect the sneer in his voice. "You have my Seraphine. I only want her b
*Sera's POV* I submit to the darkness that consumes my mind, relishing any relief from my scorching body. Suddenly I feel as if I'm weightless, I'm floating in water. My body doesn't belong to me anymore. As quick as relief came, it was over. I cry unabashedly, hands grasping at anything I can feel in my literal blind haste. I've never felt such horrendous suffering in all my life, and I've lived a dog's life as they say. "Awake." That ominous demonic voice speaks and my eyes fly open against my will. I look up at the face of the being who had found me in Barima's house. He grins, mouth bloodied and licks his lips to clean himself. "You are shit worthless, but aren't you delicious. I have checked your claims against your old master's word, it would seem that you are honest. Therefore you will get to live until I find out what you are. I have a bad case of morbid curi
*Sera's POV* I am underhanded in my attempts to remain under. I do everything short of biting him, and I continue to fight my own body's needs as I remain at the bottom of the deep tub. It burns. It all burns and hurts so bad. I suck in water like a beluga whale, trying to overflow my lungs, but I do not die. I don't understand. Why won't I die? I gurgle out in pain as I punch the tub with all of my pent up aggression. Water tunnels through the hole I splintered. As the water lowers, I whip the heavy drenched locks with a flick of my head and I crouch instinctively. Yeomorah reaches for me again and I leap out of the water over his head in a single bound, hitting the concrete floor. I don't know what overcomes me, or how I know to do this, but I climb the wall as I sputter the water from my lu
It took me an hour to get to the point. To swallow my pride. The words I have yet to say still lodged in my throat like a large stone. I can hear my grandfather's impatience as he waits for me to explain what I need. Easier said than done when I'm really not sure how to word any of this."Yeomorah has my pet. My favorite food source. I would find another, but without her I am weakened. I simply cannot fathom to feed from others now that I have had her. I wouldn't trouble you if it were avoidable. I had planned to bring her to you, as I don't think she is fully human. She...she smells human. Looks human, but she feeds. She has no family history known to us, but she has cambion tendencies. She also is completely opposite to a cambion in tendency. Physical strength far greater than one as well. No ability to tap into this on demand. You might be interested to study her as well-"
*Sera's POV*I huddle naked in the far corner of the barren concrete cell. Barima coos and tries to comfort me, but I'm beyond comfort. I'm mortified. I don't understand what I've done to deserve all this. I can't help this. I never asked for any of this, I only asked to be left alone. Now I am facing punishment for simply existing, speaking and having no control of myself. My mind wanders to Nox. He did this to me! He brought me into this side of the world. He promised to teach me control, but he was never going to. He only wanted to hold me captive, just as I am here. If I could go back to that day I'd have called in work and stayed home. Safe and tucked into my worn covers in my budget friendly slum, safe from him. Perhaps I was never meant for this world, in any shape or form. I've fought so hard. So fucking hard just
*Sera's POV* I cannot see now. I cannot hear. This is it! I have finally died. I am free. No more hurting, no more miserable existence to tie me down. Dense, lush darkness surrounds me and while it's a tad chilly, I am comfortable. In my mind I laugh. I almost wish I could see, that I could project above myself to see their faces when they find me gone. The game is over. Finished. I won. My body is heavy as lead, and remains stuck fast to the floor, but in my mind I roam. I concentrate on this feeling until I can move outside my body now. Like a ghost I move, standing before myself. I kneel and smooth my hair down. It worked, I can move things. I ease my body over until it's free of the urine, tears and blood. I leap up and smack the sprinkler head do that it rains down, rinsing infuriates down the drain. I pass through the doo
It is summer again, the months have flown by since Seraphine so valiantly pushed our son into the world. The sun beams overhead and a gentle breeze whistles through the branches of lush trees. Noxodion is shaded at his mother's breasts, having pulled up to nurse. I watch our boy as he feeds on wobbly legs, like a little fawn. His hands clutching Sera's blouse and his favorite lock of hair. A grey checked blanket is spread beneath us, and a basket of foods Seraphine I repaired sits opened from our lunch. I had suggested a picnic to lighten her mood. She has been down hearted all morning since Axar went to stay the week Ezekiel. He's becoming quite smitten with females, and he begged me in private for a week away from mama Sera's watchful eye. Seraphine is still not completely trusting of Ezekiel alone with the kids, and her nerves have been frayed every since. She believes he is pulling away, and worries he feels left out
The past couple months have flown by. After leaving Ezekiel's home, we came back to mine with the agreement we would visit him weekly. I wasn't sure he was going to miss most, Seraphine or Axar. Or even me. He has gotten noticeably closer to me the past few weeks, even coming to visit us instead and helping with the nursery. Often he would mess with Axar and swat a nail straight through the wall with his hand. Seraphine continues struggling to adjust to her limitations. She often becomes aggressive after being denied the ability to mop for the third time in a day or being told not to raise the furniture up to check beneath it. She has removed every speck of dirt or lint that could have existed here. She's also removed half the food, constantly starving and never quite full enough. Her stomach has doubled now and she's quite uncomfortable.Several times we have taken her into the city to
Behind Ezekiel's massive palace, lies a huge and intricate garden. We had followed him outside and through the labyrinth of pebble and stone paths. The flowers, having died this season, were replaced with greenery and shrubs that are winter hardy. Beside me, Seraphine pulls Axar into her body and rubs his arms to keep him warm. "You're a great mother, Seraphine." I lean to the side to whisper, careful not to drop Samael. She stops to look up at me, nearly yanking Axar over. I use my free hand to raise her chin and I lean down to give her a chaste kiss. "Never again will I ever doubt you. I'll spend the rest of my life to make this up to you." Her eyes are swollen and her face pale from grief and exhaustion, still the smile she gives me might be the most beautiful sight I've ever bore witness too.  
I watch from a distance as Ezekiel and Axar ease her onto the floor from her feet. Her sides heave and she seems injured and tired. She will live though, unlike my brother. I can't understand how this all happened, and I find it even more ludicrous that she would have me believe that Samael came to her aid. I want to go to her even still, but the look of grief across my parent's faces snuffs the idea. Still, I need to address her. I have to call her on her misdeeds.I excuse myself from my family, and I make my way over to her. Axar and Ezekiel have been healed by her hands save for Ezekiel's deeper wounds. The two work in tandem on Seraphine's now. I notice with her hiked top that her sides and stomach are bruised and welted. She appears to have a gash on her throat. Her arm is bruised and swollen. Her face is swollen."Seraphine." She looks up to me with vulnerability in her eyes. I'm certain to mask mine. I look blankly down on
*Seraphine's POV * I can hardly believe my eyes as Samael steps before me, blocking me from view and harm. Grief practically emanates from his pores. That's when it clicks. Mom. Despite all of his sins against her, he still loved my mother. But he has never loved me, has he? Why start now? He could never stand to be near me, and over the years I had stopped trying to make him bond with me. I don't quite know what to say to him, how to thank him or if I should, so I just hug him from behind. His arms shoot up in defense, and he stiffens for a moment to glance back at me. He reaches across his opposite shoulder to tap my head. "Ivara loved you. She always did, even before she knew you." He stalls for a second, knowing that we are safe with Narius charging. He will have their attention for a moment. "You are an alright kid." I squeeze
*Seraphine's POV* I scream, startled. The flesh across my shoulders searing as it tears away. I was so close, so close to this giant man who had set his sights on Axar. I fight to fling whoever us on my back away, desperate to reach Axar in time. He's just a child, not even old enough to drive! He shouldn't be here. This man has an ominous, sinister vibe about him that he commanded the room just by entering it. I don't have to guess what his intentions towards Axar are. Free of the pest on my back I leap onto this man's shoulders and I hit him with everything in me, as quickly as I can. I can feel myself being pried away from him as I let lose with as much force as I can muster, fluttering the man to turn to me. It's a horrible situation I find myself in, but in that moment I see Axar run for Alexavier. He was pale as a ghost as he made his d
In no time at all, Nomias enters the room, taking a seat near Yeomorah and lazily crosses his legs. He looks quite pleased with himself, especially as he gazes over at Seraphine who still is acting her part perfectly. She even evades his eye contact in faux shame. Fast behind him enter Narius and Livienne. She raises her chin to snub Seraphine as she goes to the traitors' side of the large room. "Nomias, please, can you elaborate on this strange situation? I was under the impression you'd all arrive together or have the decency to contact me at the very least." "I had intended to arrive tonight, with everyone together, but this little mutt decided to attack my grandson's mate. After her despicable actions, she ran like she always does to avoid confrontation. I thought after all my hospitality and training her, she'd both be more courageous and respectful." Livienne
Dawn settles above us now, casting an angelic glow across Seraphine's features. Soft amber light catches her emerald hair and creatures littke golden streaks. Perfection. Absolutely otherworldly. Even in her pajama pants and hoodie she looks ravishing. I can't help sigh in content as we walk together, bellies full of human food and bodies full of energy. Mine coming alive since feeding from Sera. I'm also admittedly a little full of myself. Now that the initial panic of Sera leaving me has been resolved, I let myself feel smug at her blatant display of jealousy earlier. We are both nervous for what will soon transpire. Now though, I understand how much my words had stung her. If I were on my own right now, I'd be a mad man. Having her at my side and knowing that she believes in me is what keeps me motivated. I only hope that my jabs earlier didn't take the wind from her
*Seraphine's POV*I stare down at him in disbelief. Why was it so damn hard for him to believe me? After his little speeches lately I thought we were past this. Still, he cannot seem to trust me or see my value. Still, I had predicted this. Livienne never thought to block her mind from me during our hallway encounter where we were partially alone. So I decided to go with it, but to give her more fight than she bargained for."You are always worthy. Always have been. Always will be." He holds my foot around my ankle and caresses my leg. I look up and blow a tendril of hair out of my face. It's hard to stomp him like I had planned on doing. My emotions and hormones are all over, conflicting one another as I stare down at him."All that talk earlier. All that praise, and it was all fabricated. That hurts. I really thought that you meant it.""I mean everything I say.""You're actions and word