*Seraphine's POV*
Dad cackles with amusement which makes me raise my brows in question. What the fuck is so funny? I'm exhausted, my head is pounding and I'm utterly confused. Nox keeps eyeing me strangely. I feel like I'm under a microscope.
"This is fucking perfect! Ha! Two birds with one stone." Nox seems frustrated as he quickly adds.
"Please elaborate."
"They were halved. An exchange of powers. Now you have two pieces of Seraphine. Technically Barima became part of Seraphine once absorbed. That's why her body didn't want to expel her. Now we have two nephilim-human-succubi-banshees. Plus sides are one, Seraphine should be easier for you to control now. And now she's basically useless to Ezekiel. She's only half her former self now."
"Controlled? I don't think so. Useless to who? I'm sorry, but who is Ezekiel?" I blurt before anybody else can reply to him. Nox eyes me nervously, Axar chews his lip, and Barima has yet to let go of my hand. She squeezes reassuringly. I never expected such gratitude and compassion from a woman I wronged so intensely.
"Ezekiel is your grandfather, mother's side." Samael says simply.
"What would he want with me?"
"To use you. Your mother wanted to give you to him to kill, basically." He shrugged.
"Why didn't you hand me over? You've always hated me. You would've been free of having to deal with me."
"You're master said the same thing." I didn't think twice before I punched him in the face.
He moved to swing on me and Barima dove on him. She was ferocious as she pummeled him. I caught him getting ready to retaliate and I pinned his arm. Nox and Axar immediately broke us all up, standing protectively in front of us. When did he and Noxodius discuss this? Where was I? How did those two even find one another? Too many missing pieces to the puzzle that's stumped me all day. Barima held me protectively, as I stared at her in awe.
"You're right. I should've let her have you. She cried and grabbed at your little legs with bloody hands and I beat her unconscious. I took you far, far away from her. She hasn't laid eyes on you since. She never loved you either."
"Then why are you here? What business have you and Noxodius?"
"I'm here to make sure you stay. You are safe here, out of my hair and unobtainable to your mother." Who even is my mother? I know he won't tell me, so I don't ask. I'll find out on my own.
"You don't get to decide where I stay, or where I don't."
"You're right. Your master does."
"Mother is lucky to have rid herself of the burden of you. As terrible a father you are, you must be ten times as bad a lover. You know she has upgraded." I smile at him. Barima snickers. Axar dances a little in mockery. Nox shoots me a look.
"Sera, Barima, Axar to the car. We'll catch up." I'm so freaking sick of being told what to do. I open my mouth to protest, but Barima grabs my hand and leads me away as Axar brings up the rear. Everyone is strange. So strange. Why is Barima so chummy all of a sudden? Why is everyone insisting I stay here? Don't I have a job? I did. Was I or was I not in an accident? Why do I feel so terrible? I don't mind Barima's affevtion, but all else is troubling. Nothing makes sense.
"You alright mama?" Axar pokes his head over my seat and onto my shoulder.
"I'm okay, just so tired. My head really hurts. Did I get hurt? I can't remember things I feel like, but I can't prove it. I'm losing my mind. I'm sorry Barima. Did I tell you I was sorry? Nox says I did but I don't know..." I try to steady my voice.
"You did. All is forgiven. You made things right and now I'm even better. I thank you for it. For what you've done. Your companionship. Maybe now we can figure this Banhee stuff out with Axar, and this succubi stuff with each other." I smile weakly at her.
"I'd like that."
"Me too! Now I have mommy Sera to help and I have Bari!"
"Bari? It sounds like I'm a dude!" Barima whines.
"You're a beautiful dude." I add. Her face flushes and her eyes glint deviously.
"You think so?"
"I know so. Look at you!" I gesture and she flips her hair. Axar giggles.
"Nox is going to be so jealous."
"You gonna rat on us kid?" Barima winks at him and he grins.
"No miss Bari!" We silence our laughter as Noxodius and father come into view and enter the car.
"You aren't going to stay at your home Barima?" Nox asks.
"No. I'd like to make amends too, and help Axar and Sera as we figure this out together. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay with you all."
"You're already in here, I ssd suppose I can deal. There's plenty of spare rooms."
"I don't need an entire room to myself, I'd hate to impose. I can room with Sera..."
"Yes! My room is right beside Axar's, I think."
"No! Seraphine rooms with me. Her things are there. If she moves rooms, she forfeits it."
"What is your problem? Why are you like this?"
"You could room with me, Barima. "
"Shut up you stupid hoe!" I scream at dad.
"My problem is that you are mine, Seraphine. You roomed with me last night, you'll continue to do so. Repercussions for disobedience will be losing access to all your belongings in my room, and they are all there. Choice is yours."
"It's alright Sera. I didn't know, I'll room alone then in a room close by." Her hand squeezes between the seat and door to pat my shoulder. I pat her hand to let her know I understand what she's silently saying. Nox and Samael exchange looks in the mirror. Axar is pulled into Barima's side as she tensely assesses the tension in the car. Soon, everyone relaxes and I curl into the door. My head hurts so bad that my own pulse makes me wince. Nox rubs my leg as I look put the window, lost in my thoughts. What's wrong with me?
I awake as I feel myself moving, I stretch a little only to be scolded by Nox. Barima glares at him as we enter. Axar keeps stealing glances to check on me and I wink to him so he knows I'm ok. He shows Barima ger room and Axar and Samael remain in the living area watching tv. I tell Barima I will give her her wallet back so she might get whatever she needs since she didn't pack anything. Nox says that I took her wallet, but why would I do such a thing?
We enter his room and he eases me onto the edge of the bed. He leans over me, in his true form. His head doesn't have to stoop here like it did in my apartment, but he brushes the high ceilings with tips of his horns. His onyx eyes find mine and he grins to reveal his glistening teeth. His tongue flicks out as he bends down to my level and catches my collarbone. I begin to feel exposed and nervous. I've never initiated anything with him, and to be honest I only remember one of our sexual escapades and I was under the impression it was a dream. I clench my knees tightly and go stiff as he tries to lay me back.
"No. I am not well." I push his hands back so I can sit up but he forces me back. "Nox! Please. I am not well. I'm weak and tired. I'm hurting. I don't want to do this." He only stares at me and nudges me again. I feel tears roll as I try to get his attention.
"Why do you deny me? Why won't you let me have you?" He holds my face.
"I don't feel right. I'm hurting. My head hurts. I feel tired and weak. I-I swear I think I've got amnesia. Something's not right. I feel like I can't remember something...like something is missing..."
"I can make you feel better if you'd trust me." He licks my face and I shut my eyes. "Seraphine. Look at me." I can't though. I'm scared too. I know that sentence never ends well. I have little memory, but before most things cut out it is as always that line that lingers. With my eyes shut I feel about his body until I find his arms and I wrap myself in them to sob. He coos to me and I have no doubt that he's feeding. It's all he does. All he is. He feeds and feeds, like an addict he can never get his fill. I'm too desperate for comfort to care. Barima and Axar are too far away to console me, and I'm puzzled and scared. I hope somehow if I hold him I will gain his sympathy. I hate to admit, but maybe his love. He'd do better if he loved me, right? "Seraphine..." He purs into my hair as I fight to slow my shaking body.
"What's wrong with me?" He puts his forehead to mine so I can look into his eyes. I look down, to nervous to hold his stare.
"Nothing. You are perfect. Absolutely perfect, but you are tired and stressed. You need to trust me and let me help you. I know what's missing Sera..."
"Wh-what?" My shoulders slump and I sigh. I already know what's missing. Home. I feel like I'm out of place. I need to be home, I can feel it.
"Me. I'm your missing piece. You are the other half of me, and likewise. You can't live without me. I love you Sera. I know you love me too. I remember the way you looked at me on your birthday. Nobody has ever looked at me that way. Or held me that way. You adored me just like this." He gestures to his horns and body. "I'm hungry Sera. I'm weak too, I suffer without you. You're the only one that can sate me."
"You love me?" I whisper, hoarse from my cry. He nods against me.
"Do you want to see something lover? Do you want to see what your love prevents?" I nod because I don't trust my voice, even though I'm reluctant to see. He wraps our hands together and I finally hold his stare. He places his head to mine again, and I can see inside his mind. What unfolds before me is nothing short of a nightmare. I see men drained and left for dead, people deceived and lured. I watch as women die in his bed, the one he sleeps in. That I slept on. I watch friends kill one another in frenzy to get his attention. I watch bones snap, dislocate, I watch as he torments his victims to milk energy to pad the blood he'll drain too. So much death. Lifeless bodies slung and dumped with no regard. I see him tell a sickly man with no home that he was God. God!
I scream and try to push away from him, but his tongue finds my mouth and he kisses me. I feel vomit rising, and I pray I keep it down as his tongue violates my mouth. His claws sink into my shoulders and I whine. I try to force my mouth shut but it's no use. I slam into his chest which rocks him back enough to withdraw his tongue. Immediately I sprint for the door and turn the handle.
"Let me explain. You have to understand..."
"You killed those people with the same you kiss me with. Some in the bed you expect me to lie in..."
"I'd die if I didn't. I have to feed, but they were never enough. You calm me, you starve off the hunger and lust so I can be free. Without you, more will die. I've never loved anything before. Let me have you. Let me have you or I will go feed. Only the high of absorbing traumatic death can offer anything close to what you give me." I slide down the door and look up at him. He reaches a claws hand for me, and I shudder as he takes it. I let him pull me up and I look into his eyes as they soften.
"Now that I see why I must stay here, I need to know what is wrong with me. Can you be honest with me? I know now that I can't leave."
"No." He lifts me up and places me back on the bed. I stare up at the ceiling begging a God I have always been ignored by for courage. He massages my legs and feet as he shakes me out of my jeans. My ass plops back onto the mattress. "Look at me Seraphine. "