Narius has been gone for a few hours now. Sera slumbers peacefully on the couch as an uncomfortable and awkward Axar sits beside her, standing guard. He almost seems nervous to turn his back on me. Several times I snap up from my seat, just to watch him jump and try to predict my actions. He eventually grows tired of my toying with him and remains stoic, hovered beside his only ally. Finally, he severes the silence between us.
"Here we are. What do you want from us?" I grin as he fights the tremble in his voice to sound more in control. His hand squeezes Sera's as she remains sleeping for reassurance.
"How old are you, Axar?" I prop my feet on the table and recline lazily. Sitting forward with my elbows and my knees watching him was making him much too nervous, so I hope the change in my body language will help him to relax.
"I-I'm fourteen." I raise my brows. By his height and bravery I had figured him to be at least sixteen. He really is a child. No wonder Sera would go to such lengths to protect him. Generativity in a sense. Protecting and nurturing those younger than her so they might be more successful in life than she has turned out to be. She's trying to give him the head start she never had. Then she feeds from his joy. She craves happiness and affection so much that she will create it in others, just to feed from it so she may feel it too. I believe I'm starting to get an understanding of the woman who has managed to infatuate me.
"How old are you...?"
"Noxodius. You may call me Nox. I hadn't realized I never properly introduced myself. I expected that Sera had spoken of me to you. To answer your question, I have lost count of the years. I've long surpassed the age of most human's great great grandparents. When you have bountiful time, you do not count and cherish the years as mortals do." I smile at him and he gives a nervous chuckle. His mind tells me he's recalled a joke.
"She either called you 'Noxema' or 'the thing'. I'm sorry, but it's kind of funny. She never told me much about you or why she don't like you, but I guess that you've made her pretty mad!" A small bit of my pride is admittedly dented at her refusal to use my name. Names are a big deal among demons and their like. "So...so you must be really old! Have you seen lots of things like from history?"
"I did. She probably hates me. Yes, I was alive when the Titanic sank. I remember the Civil War. My brother remembers the Salem Witch trials." His jaw drops and I run a hand through my hair and laugh.
"Wooah. That's pretty cool. Sera...will Sera be okay?" He finally looks back to her, daring to break eye contact with me. He ghosts a finger across her jaw and looks to me. "Her jaw. It's better. It healed?" He whispers excitedly.
"Yes. We tend to heal quickly, even half breeds, which we suspect Sera is. Has she told you anything about her family? I'm particularly interested in her parents."
"She doesn't know her mom. Her dad is Samael. She told me a little about him. Mainly that he was never really a parent, and that he named her. She told you guys that too though." Samael. Samael. I make note to remember that name.
"Anything about her extended family?"
"No. I don't think she knows them. She never mentions anything about any of them, or even friends. Outside of her dad, or coworkers, I haven't heard her mention a single person." We stay silent as I think this over in my head.
"Nox?"
"Yes?"
"If I tell you something, will you swear to me never to tell Sera? I only tell you this, because it might be important to you too."
"I do not swear to those below me." I scoff at the child who has tried to wrangle me into secrecy. I do not like commitments or secrets. I like to gorge and live weightlessly, without responsibility or duties to others. Secrets and the like are too much work for me.
"Fine then." Axar says simply, and this time he props his feet up, hand still in Sera's. I try to read his thoughts, but I think he has caught on to me.
"I swear. Better? Now tell me." I fold quickly. I have no patience, and a viscious desire to be on the know. If it involves me, then I must know.
"Okay." He takes a deep breath. I notice how nervous he suddenly is. Whatever he has to say must be pretty big. "Sera...Sera has the aura of death too. Someone around her...but she knows so few people. Please don't tell her. I don't want her to worry. She has enough to deal with. I just want her happy, she deserves that much. She never had to do what she has done for me..."
"Can you not see who it is?"
"No. I...I can't. I don't know how. I try, I try so hard but I don't know anybody else who can help me or show me. I only recently learned what I even am." He runs a hand across his face, almost guilty.
"I see. I will try to find another who can help you decipher this. If you are hungry, you may go eat or do as you please here. No harm will come to Sera. She's of more value alive than dead, I promise." He narrows his eyes at me. He's tempted, his stomach has growled the whole time he has been here, and he keeps wetting his lips in thirst, but he has put her safety over his own needs. The fact that such a young boy still hesitates now is a testimony to both his loyalty to Sera and his distrust in me.
"Sera. Momma Sera." He shakes her awake and she sluggishly stirs. Limbs cracking as she stretches awkwardly and raises to him.
"Hmm?" She hums in question as her eyes flutter open.
"I'm going to go eat. Are you hungry? I wanted you to be awake while I was gone." He says sheepishly, and I know what he's implying. He wanted her awake to defend herself, should his gut instinct be wrong. His pride seeps out as she smiles at him still groggy and his heart thumps in response to her silent praise.
"Thank you, but I will eat later. May I have a hug?" He beams eagerly and hugs her. She smiles at him through thick lashes framing her obsidian eyes as she feeds without realization. He sighs happily. He feels accomplishment at being able to feed her and return the favor of her feeding and sheltering him. I push this idea for a moment and I realize this greatly benefits me. My pet has a pet. She feeds from him, and in theory I should be able to feed from her in larger increments. I just have to focus on keeping her food source content. He reluctantly breaks away and leaves her.
"Why am I here? I want to leave." She immediately addresses the elephant in the room the moment the child is out of range.
"Because, I need to tell you what you are. It's not safe for you to be walking the mortal world without understanding the threat that you pose." She tilts her head.
"I'm one of those mortals. And I am a threat? That's hilarious! I don't bother anyone. You are the threat." She scoffs in disbelief as she watches me with scornful eyes.
"You are not a mortal! You just fed off a kid. You feed from energy. You siphone positivity out of people like a joy swiping thief. You crave it, and they know. They know. Why do you think that hag was so hateful after you helped her back into her chair? Her mind rejects you naturally. It's how animals respond to danger on a subconsciously level. Show a mouse a snake. Your entire life has been a waste because you've tried to fight your own nature as well as that of others. You could have killed that girl you attacked. What if you go home and lose control? Did you even know you were going to fight her? No. No you did not, because you have no control over it." She looks at me with watery eyes.
"And what would you have me do then?"
"Stay here, with me. I will help you and Axar. He and I have talked while you were sleeping and healing yourself, yes, your jaw is better." I watch as she runs her thumb along her jaw in shock, eyes wide.
"I don't want to stay here. Why can you not just teach me the shit at my own place? Oh, and what is the catch with me stay here? I want honesty. No more lies and manipulation. No more 'your doctor said you bumped your head blah blaah'." Her eyes cut like knives. Against all will, I drop my head in submission. Guilt and humility are new to me, but she has humbled me today.
"I expect no payment..."
"Of course!" She dramatically thumps her forehead and smiles in faux apology. "How could I forget? You already took far beyond a month of payment from me. Should we call it worth six months expense? Just how fucking long did you think you would keep me here, master?" It's my turn to tilt my head. Is she speaking to me this way? Her evolution isn't lost on me, I have recognized her journey from meek to increasingly brazen. I quickly move to extinguish her fire and defend myself.
"What I did, what I said was wrong. I'll admit, but it was in good intention..."
"Good intention? Lying, manipulating, using me, and trying to keep me as a 'pet'? What you did was just as bad as drugging someone or taking advantage of them while they are unconscious or intoxicated!"
"Are you calling me a predator in my own home?"
"If the shoe fits!" She counters. "If you don't like it, I would gladly leave."
"You can't leave me! I mean, you can't leave here yet. It's not safe."
"I can. I did. I will. So go ahead and tell me whatever I need to know, or set up a day a week for us to meet in public and teach me."
"Why can you not just stay here? I fed you well, you had nicer things, a better home. No bills. Why can't you see that I'm trying to help you. That I need you here. I can teach you self control."
"Says the man with none. I don't care about nicer things, or an easier life. I care about respect, consent, and principles and I can see now that you are only trying to use me once again."
"I can't argue that I did before, but it's different now. Why can't you just relent? Trust me. Axar trusts me now."
"How so? How is this any different at all. I can't just relent. Axar is a child. A kind hearted child who forgives easily. You!" She points at me. "You are a lying, manipulative Hell spawn trying to siphone whatever blood that you may. You just want someone to live here so you can suck the life right out of them. Tell me, have you ever had a willing partner in your life or has it all been manipulation, smoke and mirrors? I can't stay here because of you. I can't stand to look at you. I've been betrayed plenty, but yours cuts me to the bone. So no, I will not trust you or stay here. Faith in you has led me to the biggest mistake of my life, and I'll be going home now." She leaps up to go find Axar and I grab her hand to stop her. Every fiber, every cell of my being aches at the thought of her absence.
"I'll fix it, whatever it is. Just one week, for your own safety and those around you. I can manipulate you to stay, but I'm trying to convince you of your own will. Tell me the mistake." She looks at me with glassy eyes, and rips her arm away.
"You. It's you."
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I got to break character here and laugh at myself for a moment. I was starting this chapter early this morning(my daughter runs me out of bed at 6am even on my days off work ð) and I decided to start typing while I roam through the kitchen for food, Pooh Bear style. My husband and I run a auto detailing shop. Like Acacia, I do work there! Lol almost all my characters borrow bits and pieces from my life and each story has Easter eggs. I'm working with little experience here so I stick to what I know. 𤣠Long story short, we are closed all weekend but a customer forgot and stopped by the house to be certain we were closed. I could see him approach through the blinds my daughter broke, and when I went to run before he could see me in my undies I caught my hip on a kitchen chair and broke it. ð¤¦ââï¸ð All I could think was this is my karma for writing the scene yesterday where Sera broke her chair while fleeing mid panic.