"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 back."
"Piss in one hand, wish in another. See which gets full quicker." I growl at this.
"Sera is mine. My food source, my pet. What business do you have with her? I'm willing to deal." I try to different approach, trying to hide my preference for her. If he knows she has value to me he will use that against me.
"I only wanted the same with her. Shameful though, she is a piss poor pet. Disobedient and rash. A pure mutt." He insults.
"She requires lots of training. She has only just cane into her powers and she lacks knowledge and control."
"Complicated way of explaining that she is a indignant imbecile."
"I can take her off your hands."
"No. Why would I barter with you? I could kill you with ease. You are nothing. The fact that you continue to try for her tells me that she's got something worthwhile, some purpose. What is it that you want her for, Noxodius?"
"Blood and energy."
"Then find another. They all have that." I curl my lip in rage. Yeomorah is know for lust, violence and his ability to trip people up. He is truly a descendant of Asmodeus. "What is it that you really want her for? Do not lie to me. She has lied to me enough."
"What would she have to lie to you about?" I ask curiously, trying to distract him from his question.
"She claims not to know what she is. Refuses to tell me. Her mind has no clues. She has somehow blocked it from me." I laugh.
"She thought she was human until I began to notice signs. She even smells human. I have no idea her lineage. She truly doesn't know. As for blocking you, she cannot. She has no use of her abilities outside of physical strength. She only feeds by accidental contact. She can't even purposely feed."
"So she is an imbecile. I should have known when she couldn't comprehend native tongue. Or even take tongue. Worthless." My skin burns at thought of this bastard's tongue anywhere on Sera. I can't help but wonder what he has done or intends to with her.
"Exactly. I'm only trying to trace her lineage. My grandfather needs to see her in person in order to tell precisely what she is."
"I could bring her..." I could ambush him once he's here.
"That would work." Where's the catch?
"What's in it for me though if I do? "
"What are you wanting?"
"I'm not certain yet. That depends on what she is." I take my fingers through my hair in frustration. I know that Yeomorah senses my anxiety and is milking it. He no doubt is loving having me grovel and try to battle wits with him. I reluctantly huff.
"Deal." It's a huge risk. I have to take it. I hear nothing else from him, so I transfer back to my home after I grab Sera's get away luggage by the door. I'm defeated and stressed. I have nothing else to go off or on.
"Brother! I was starting to worry." Narius greets. I do not miss Livienne to his right on the sofa. She narrows her eyes and flips her caramel hair. It must be tough for her not to be center of attention at the moment. Poor pitiful thing. I grin at her with all the spite I can muster.
"It is all under control. I only need to contact grandfather. I'll need him to meet with us to discuss her species. I'll catch Yeomorah off guard, and I'll escape with her." He laughs.
"You're willing to fight with and deceive demonic royalty for a misfit being you claim is only your pet." Narius blurts.
"Are we really going to call on grandfather for no more than this?" Livienne sneers. "He wouldn't even allow a half breed on his furniture." I've had enough.
"Nonsense. How can you say such a thing? He has fed you from his table, and sat you on his chairs during gatherings for decades now."
"She is not a half breed." Narius growls.
"Whatever she is, it's not impressive."
"Can't be happy for your own brother that he has found his mate? A beautiful one at that. Jealousy doesn't suit you Noxodius." Livienne giggles playfully at this. I decide to destroy her. She seems the perfect outlet for my rage, especially after the years of cheap shots I've endured from her.
"Something funny Livienne? Because I remember something truly funny. Hilarious even."
"Really? Then speak. Let's hear it." She faux yawns and rest her head on her hand.
"Remember when Narius was away with father and we fucked in his bed? How you said you had craved me? Do you remember when you conceived your son how you summoned me crying and tried to get me to run away with you and claim him instead?" Her face pales and Narius flushes. "I've seen every inch of you, down to your very asshole. Unimpressive. I'd never envy him his claim to you. Why do you think I turned you away? You were a fling Livienne. Is that why you hate me? You initiated it, you got what you wanted, I've no patience with your better than thou shit. You weren't better than me when you were crying my name, begging for me to entertain you in the bedroom you claimed Narius left you bored in."
"I'll kill you! I'll kill your little whore of the week too!" She screeches as she lunges for me. Narius catches her in midair and slams her back harshly. "Let me go Narius!" She snarls as she swings at him.
"Your wish is my command. You are released. Let go. When we get home, get your things and take up new residence." He looks to me. "My own brother would betray me? I shouldn't be surprised. This girl that you had, she was your mate wasn't she? Have fun on your own prying her from Yeomorah." With that he yanks Livienne's arm and the two disappear.
I stare into space now. Alone. Is Seraphine my mate? Is this why I can't give her up? Is this how her taste and touch soothes me in ways no other can? No. I wouldn't have to guess. I'd know if she were mine. I wouldn't be paired with a half breed. Not with my bloodline. Then why can't I just wash my hands of her if she's only a glorified food source? Instead I'm willing to risk harm and I've even pushed my own brother away with my snide spill earlier to defend her from Livienne's forked tongue.
"Nox?" I nearly jump at Axar's voice as he nears me. "You okay?" He asks softly. He is still rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Yes." He wraps his arms around my back and squeezes me.
"Here. It makes me feel better when Sera would give me hugs. Is that lady gone?" He looks around nosily.
"She is gone. It is only us."
"Sera always told me to tell her if someone makes me feel weird, but she's not here. That Lily lady really creeps me out. She was going to try to take me with her. She kept promising me games and nice things. She also asked to feed from me and Narius made her stop." He collects a breath. "Oh and she yelled at me because I asked about mommy Sera." The last part makes me raise a brow. Barima was obviously jealous at my involvement with Sera, it seems as if Livienne is too. Considering Livienne's concieted nature, I shouldn't be surprised. She only vied so hard for me because I was forbidden fruit, that and I was the one man she couldn't have. I beat her at her own game, I used her before she could use me and unlike all the others I didn't pine for her. I knew she was a garbage being from the very beginning.
"For now on, until Sera can relieve me of you, you are not to be left alone. I wouldn't put past Livienne to try to get at me through you. You stay near me." I'll clear his mind when I feed.
"Okay. Can I sleep with you?"
"It's almost morning, and I don't sleep..." His eyes water. I sigh. "But you can sleep in the floor or foot of my bed. Do not dare try to cozy to me as you do Sera."
"You mean cuddle?"
"I don't care what the human term for such thing is, I won't have it. Now go to my room. I'll be there shortly."
"I'm hungry."
"Then go eat. Did Sera spoonfeed you or did you nurse from the tit? Your fourteen. Go eat." He scurries away and I groan, turning on my heel quickly to prepare to contact grandfather. Contact the old bastard, set up a day, arrange to have Yeomorah meet, figure out what on Earth he wants, get Sera back. Get Axar out of my hair. I am weakened, drained, and restless. My body does it's shakes, but I focus through it to contact grandfather. Something within me is not right. I am not well without Sera and for the first time in my long life, I'm starting to experience a legitimate fear for my being and for another as well.