*Seraphine's POV*
I stare out the window of the dusty old bedroom. It's so dusty. Everything's dusty, it smells stagnant and I'm afraid to even lay on the stale bedding. I sit in the padded arm chair facing out, picking at a hole in the glass that I've secretly imagined jumping out a hundred times. In my dreams I landed safely, softly on the dead grass below and slithered away. If only.
I wonder if they are looking for me yet? They obviously have to know I was taken unwillingly here. What will they say when I return? I hope they aren't angry. I'd love to tell them the truth, but I have to lie. It's either lie, or be an empty shell. This butthole killed me. I have little doubt he wouldn't destroy my mind from the inside or hurt ke and this child. I'm in a lose lose situation here. This time I have to be selfish and do what is best for myself and this child. I need my mind. I need to retain what I know. What if I forget how to heal? If I forget Barima? If I weren't already starving again I'd feel nauseous.
As I expected, Nox got his feeding. He took his energy and a little blood. He got his love, much to my dismay. I've never felt so used or so much hatred of myself in my life. And I thought it was bad before. This is certainly Hell. Maybe Yeomorah destroyed my soul and Nox is my own personal Satan. Giant, horned, tailed, wings, claws, piss poor manners. The perfect Satan. I need to ask him about going back now, hours have passed, but I find I'm afraid too. His eyes. He has not been right since Yeomorah's. He's never been right, but he's not right. I can't explain it. He's a man possessed. I swear to you.
"Nox?" I ask, tentatively over my shoulder. My breath fogs the glass as I lean closer to it. Light rain passes the window.
"Hmmmm....?" He hums. I rub my arms to destroy the chills.
"I'm hungry, and cold. May we go back now? I'm sure they must be worried for us."
"Come here then. I can fix both of your troubles sweet Sera."
"I-I...um..." I frantically rack my brain for an argument. He notices my distress and rises from the dusty bed to retrieve me. Ugh. No. I hunch over as he draws closer and he tilts his head to study me.
"I won't hurt you. If anything I'll make you feel superb, wouldn't you agree?" No. He raises a brow. I quickly nod.
"It is dark outside now." I whisper.
"And?"
"Our deal. If we are going to start over, and mend our relationship, we have to be honest."
"A good start! Good girl. Now, what do you know about incubi?"
"They can teleport. Feed on blood, energy, emotions. Have two forms. Can heal themselves. Apparently, there's a hierarchy or like a caste system. They can manipulate minds, and possess bodies." He grins menacingly and I panic. Did I mess up?
"Are they honest Seraphine?"
"No. They...they manipulate. They are liars by nature."
"Then why did you think I would keep my word?" I suck my lip in to try to stop the pathetic quiver. I will not cry. Not for this jerk. He already thinks I'm weak and beneath him. I've allowed him to hurt me too much already. I take a breath and speak.
"You always tell me that a demon's name is everything. Humans, we have a saying too. A man's word is everything. He is only as good as his word. It's the measure of a man." He smiles.
"It's a good thing I'm not a human man." You are no man at all.
"How will I learn to trust you? When you do not follow through, when there's nothing to hang my hat on?"
"You'll learn to trust me like a dog, or a believer. You'll put your faith into me blindly, and know that while I might not always intervene or act in your favor that I am ultimately here and that there are consequences of questioning me." He finally drops me on the bed and I watch with a wrinkled nose as dust particles are illuminated in the moonlight of the window, lightly falling like snowflakes. This can't be healthy.
"So we aren't going back?" My stomach rumbles loudly and I sigh and face palm, not looking at the source of my issues, who slides in bed beside me. I wonder how many spiders were conceived on this mattress? I bet thirty people died on this thing. He bursts out in roaring laughter.
"Spiders? Dead people? Darling, you were a dead person." Darling. I cringe. Yeomorah's favorite term of false endearment.
"Darling?" I ask.
"Yes, lover?"
"You called me darling? Why? It's unusual for you."
"Don't ask questions. Now, what should we talk about?" I gape at him as the light catches one of his eyes, painting all but the iris red. I am careful with my thoughts, aware that this close he can read them. I refocus, and carefully select a topic.
"Can we talk about self defense? I want to learn..." I lose my nerve.
"Why? You'll have me."
"What if I need to defend you? Or the baby? I'm tired of being weak." I decide to appeal to his ego, as you would any narcissist. "What if others think I am not good enough? I would embarrass you. I need to be on a level, worthy enough for an incubi royal. Yet I am a useless half breed."
"Don't be so harsh. Catching and holding my attention is a skill. That alone will intrigue many. If you insist though, we might go over light things."
We spend several hours, talking about techniques and Nox wrestling me and demonstrating. He gropes and plays as he gets the best of me, and he taunts me when I become frustrated. He gruffly refused when I mentioned mind reading and teleporting. I knew better than ask, but leave it to me to press my luck.
"I learned how to heal others. Not just myself now." I say, desperate to get the conversation back to a lighter note. The heavy air of his anger weighing on me. "Thank you for teaching me to heal." When all else fails, flattery and thankfulness will save you. I hope.
"Really? A useful skill you acquired there." He slices his stomach with a claw, never flinching. "Show me. I've never healed another. I knew we could, but never tried."
"I know..." You let me die. You never tried. I know.
"I'm sorry." I focus like I did before, with my hand over his stomach, just below his belly button over his cut. The skin knits itself back together and his brows raise. "Excellent work." He leans up to catch my face in his hands, and kisses my forehead. I ignore my racing heart. Desperation for love is not love. It's not nice. It's not affection. It's manipulation, tune it out. My stomach growls again.
"Seraphine. Would you like to eat?" I don't get my hopes up. If there's food in this house it's fossilized.
"There can't be food here."
"There's not, and I don't want to lose energy by feeding you that way. If you will behave I will take you into the town. It is small, like the one Samael said you grew up in. There's likely businesses now. You'll eat there, then we will hunt together."
"I'd rather not hunt."
"I'd rather not erase your mind, I like you having a personality. I will miss it when you are a mindless imbecile depending on me for everything until you relearn the world, but it won't come to that will it?" I shake my head furiously.
"No. I just don't want to kill."
"I wouldn't make you."
"Is it safe to go out? Everyone wants to either kidnap or kill me it seems."
"You've been in my mind. You've seen what I do. You are safe in my company, so long as you don't step on my toes." My mouth is dry. I have a terrible feeling about this. I don't dare object again though as I shake dust off my clothes, well more like lounge wear, and tie my shoes. Nox nudges my rump with his knee to urge me along.
"We'll walk a little bit, then teleport." He states as he wraps a large arm over my shoulders. My head level with his armpit and I make faces when he isn't looking. Not that he stinks, I'm just pissed that even in his human guise he is still larger than me.
"Because you are a half breed. Let's hope you don't make our child so small."
"Not like I could help that."
"Of course not, you are quite helpless." I feel blood on my tongue as I bite back my snide remarks. I fail.
"Useless, but irreplaceable. You seem to be keen on keeping me. Maybe because I saved your life."
"Loyalty is a factor. Also you are foolish enough to keep me amused."
"Foolish, but at least I don't lie."
"Look at this house." He turns me around as we step outside and I stare at the drab building before me. "Architecture is marvelous. The best for it's era. It's withstood the test of time."
"Oh definitely. Why, its almost as old as you." I sneer.
"Not quite." I squint, trying to recall how old he once said he was. I've been silently cross examining him. We walk about a mile, my hand in his as he pulls me about. He packs me over a puddle and dips me playfully before the woods around us and the dirt path vanish and become a small rest area by a city sign. I tremble with anxiety as I think about this hunting. I want to go back. I am on internal peril. I do not notice as he packs me into a gas station that has a restaurant inside.
I'm surprised they have food at this hour. I wiggle my way down as a couple customers give me strange looks. Normally I'd die of embarrassment, but I have little fucks left to give. I'm hungry and tired. I want to eat and get this over. I ask him for two pepperoni rolls and he orders six. We sit at a little table on the far end of the gas station away from the shelves as we finish our food. I ended up with three of the large rolls. The warm food makes me even sleepier and I nod off here and there.
"Are you ready to leave? Do you need more food?" He pulls me to his side and lays my head onto his shoulder.
"Ok. Can I have a drink before we leave?" I was too paranoid to ask earlier, but now that he's offering.
"You may." He stands and guides me to the store part once again and we stand before the drinks. He opens the cooler and grabs raspberry lemon lime soda. That's something I would have picked. "I know. I watched you eye one down at your work while you drank sink water on your break." I look down at my shoes. "If you weren't pregnant lover, you could have the wine now." We check out and walk outside. I admire the graceful monster beside me as we walk the street along the few business fronts. There is a small population, mostly home and tucked away. I secretly pray nobody is outside and that the streets are empty.
Fate is a fickle mistress, of course there had to be a small bar with people smoking by the door. Loitering in the little, poorly lit parking lot. I can practically smell the booze and lust from here. Nox is razor focused, and alert. He notices every movement ahead and tracks the people as they go to and fro. Calculating. Reading the emotions and body language no doubt to find his preferred victims. Our victims. He's going to make me do this.
"Are you paying attention? I expect you to hunt with me. Now, go lure one. Chose wisely, you will be judged."
"And you won't kill them?"
"Not if you cooperate." I chug the last of the soda before tossing it into a bin on the sidewalk.
I am extremely aware of my poor dress, so I step out of sight for a minute to tuck my shirt like a crop top and pull the snug sweats lower on my hips. I roll a pant leg up and use the useless drawstring of the sweats to tie my hair up in a ponytail with a little bow. Not the best, but I'm going for athletic as a save here. I don't want to be suspicious. Nox rolls his eyes as I emerge. According to the front glass of a closed shop, I didn't look too bad. I build a slow jog as I approach the bar, watching to see which person would be most receptive.
I scent arousal and a whirlwind of strong emotions coming from a large drunken man hot boxing cigarettes and throwing the butts into the landscaping by the door. He is alone. Obviously horny, and has plenty of emotional baggage to feed from. He would be easy to lure. People seem to be avoiding him too, so nobody would likely seek him out to interrupt. Here we go. Fuck. Fuck. Fuckity fuck. Good thinking on that faux jogging, it gives a good cover for my racing heart, sweaty palms and stutter I have while interacting with strangers. I stride up near him and stop, pretending to catch my breath and stretch. I feel his eyes roaming my body and he breaks the ice for me.
"Hello there." I smile at him and look up through my lashes as he speaks to me.
"Hello sir. Enjoying this hectic weather?" He gives slow uncoordinated laugh.
"Sir? I like the sound of that. No, baby. I hate colder weather."
"Me too. I like sunshine and warmth." I chime.
"Well, you've certainly made me warmer." I lean on the building, letting the shirt ride higher as I eye him, how i hope is seductively and not like a drooling bulldog trying to retrieve a treet from a crack in the sofa.
"Really?" I pur. My voice comes out smooth and slightly husky. I've amazed myself. "Would you like me to help warm you up?"
"Yes ma'am. You can start with these freezing hands." He slides his hands up the shirt and I have to force myself to stay in character. His hands are now nestled under my breasts and he grins. "So warm. Better than any mittens I ever owned." Ugh.
"Somebody will see us." I whisper and grabs his wrists so I can walk backwards.
He gladly follows and I lead him behind the building. I'm not quite sure what to do now, and he's all over me. So I run my hands in his hair and giggle and keep him distracted as best I can without reciprocating the groping or kissing him. I think he's too far inebriated to care. I look desperately for Nox, only to find him under a street light with another woman all over him. I thought he was going to help me do this? Wtf do I do now? I never even wanted to do this. I'd have certainly picked someone else.
I assume I'm supposed to feed, so while the man desperately grinds I turn my attention to feeding. His lust keeps building and as I absorb all this energy something hits me. My hand is in his hair, and I begin to pickup pieces of thoughts and activities from his day. My hand tingles from this and I'm pretty impressed with myself. I cannot let Nox know this. It would likely result in punishment. I am content, distracted from the clothed molestation undergoing my body as I pick up this man's mind. This is incredible! I see him work, I see him argue with his boss. I see him watch me. I hear his thoughts as he watched me, and my blood runs cold. This man was going to hurt me, I realize. He was going to force himself had I not responded positively to his ice breaker. I try to push the man back without hurting him as he tries to lean me into the building and pull my sweats down.
"Um...we really need to slow down. I got much too excited, but we can't...um...go farther. I'm...erm...ugh...well...ON MY PERIOD!" Perfect. "Yes, and I couldn't do anything."
"I'll find you plenty of things to do. Now, take your bra off."
"No. I said I wanted to go no farther. I actually have to be heading home." He grabs me roughly and pins me between him and the building.
"I was going to let you by with other things, ya know? But, now that I see you aren't going to give it up, I'll just take it." He says coolly. I have no doubt that he would be the same sober. The glimpse into his mind has shown me he is an unpleasant person. I look to see Nox preoccupied with the woman, he has not even noticed the predicament I'm in. I need help. My hatred of him only grows. I lock my legs around this man's torso, high enough he can't bother me or pry me lose. As he greedily tries to lower my bottom, I bite his neck. I know we can drink blood, but I don't know how to purposely do it. I gulp quickly as I bite, and I already know I have done this wrong. The taste of blood though must have changed me, as I notice my tongue lulls out and the man's eyes grow wide.
I smirk with my teeth displayed and I lick the blood on my mouth. I decide to lick his face and I wrap my arms around his neck. He tries to get away and I hold him tighter. I'll teach you a lesson, David.
"Now that I see you aren't going to give it up, I'll just take what I need David." He yells in fright and I bite him again just for effects. I absorb his terror and let him push me away so I can chase him. I taunt him again, filling just close enough to lick at and scratch at him as he whines and pleads. I herd him like a sheep, directing him into the path of Nox and his new squeeze. I'm delighted as he slams into the girl who was on her knees before Nox. As he scurries away I pounce on the girl and bite her throat, stifling her cries with my hand. I gulp hastily as she tries to fight me. I stand above her and I kick her away.
"Get out of my way, human. Stay in school, go to church, don't touch things that aren't yours." She opens her mouth and I growl and extend my claws in warning.
I see her eyes are blown, and I know that she is intent on Nox. She scowls in rage. Incubi and succubi literally can drive their victims mad with lust. I believe she is too far gone. He's ruined her fragile mind. She jumps up to her feet to lunge for me. I simply tackle her to the pavement and drink her dry of blood as she beats my body to be free. I am killing her! Stop. No. She wants to fight me? He wants to force me to feed like some experiment? Fine. I'll surpass his expectations. If he wants to accuse me of betrayal with Lucien, then he has no right to be fornicating with others. He could feed on energy as well. It's time he gets an ultimatum too. How's this for hunting? I test her throat and fling her away.
"Thought you didn't want to kill?"
"I changed my mind. Why should I be ashamed of what I am? You do whatever you want without remorse. Why should I feel bad? You were fornicating with this woman just after you accused me of betraying you and being a whore? I lured that man, who tried to sleep with me and I refused, and I thought you were going to help me. I fed from his emotions and sent him away. Does this count as you betraying me too? Or is this a double standard? I hunted. We hunted. Now take me home so I can sleep!" I hope that I sound intimidating. He grins widely.
"I knew I would get you to kill. All it took was a little jealousy. You are even more delectable when you are green with envy." He tricked me. I don't even realize I have punched him in his jaw.
"TAKE ME BACK! I WANT TO GO BACK NOW!"