Narius and I get plenty of looks as we walk the street together. Women double take and sneak peeks at us as we stride in sync. Our brotherhood is obvious, we share a similar build, sunkissed skin, and similar facial features. Though my eyes are a light green, where his are hazel. My hair is also a shade darker. Narius is always clean shaven, and well groomed down to the beds of his nails. Metrosexual as he is, he always goes impeccably dressed, soaking in all of the attention he can gather. I prefer a short jawline beard or stubble, and casual dress. I like to melt into the crowd.
"Up ahead! There." I gesture towards her apartment complex and Narius groans.
"We have to go in there?" I shoot him a look.
"I'm certain you'll survive. We have endured worse." He huffs in disdain, but follows me. Once into the halls of the complex we disappear to walk undetected. We make our way to Sera's door and we listen to the sounds inside.
Being that it is early morning, and still dewy outside, the pair are still asleep. We quietly let ourselves in. A bundle of Sera's belongings are neatly stacked on the couch, and scissors sit on the bathroom counter, with a few errant nutmeg curls in the trash can. The boy sleeps in the biggest pajamas no doubt that Sera had, and she sleeps in hers beside him sharing the only bed and bedding she has. The tall lanky kid has tucked himself into the fetal position, curled under Seraphine's neck and against her belly. He smells fragrant and his hair is more golden and and has a neat, more refined shape with bouncier curls. She cut his hair and had him bathe. The house exudes nothing but appreciation and hope.
Sera holds to him as a mother would. In the kitchen I can see that she fixed the best of wh as t she could to feed him. Narius slinks around, smelling and touching objects and stealing curious glances at the pair. He approaches Sera and touches her head. His eyes widen and he looks her over and touches her head once more.
"Cambion. She is a cambion, but she smells human. She has vital signs where many do not. Perhaps she is only partial? Does she realize she's not human? I mean, this is my only guess. I will watch her with you today, to see if she shows signs of anything else." He watches her intently as she softly snores. "The maternal bond with this Banhee is odd too. Typically we either use them or eat them. I haven't seen a male one in years though. Livienne would love him."
"I don't believe she has any clue. When she attacked that girl I was telling you about, she was just as surprised as I. I don't think she realized that she had bruised me last night either. If she isn't a human, then why doesn't she feed? Why doesn't she understand or feel anything unnatural like her powers?"
"You did say she was loner type. That she had no known friends and she had trouble socializing. Humans are fight or flight beings when they recognize a threat. Even though she doesn't realize it, they could be treating her differently based on the body's subconscious reaction to her. The old woman who mistreated her for only helping. Her manager who despised her. Her boyfriend who cheated and was obviously abusive. Her father who you said in memories neglected her. The church that wouldn't let her come in when she was homeless after leaving home. You said she mentioned to you that she felt ignored by God. Perhaps somewhere inside of her, deeply suppressed, she knows she doesn't belong." I had never thought of it, but now it makes sense. Such a humble girl should never have such trouble. She bothers nobody, only helps and yet people love to lash out at her. She could likely sway them, if she knew how, but she has no clue of her abilities let alone how to use them.
"That all makes sense. She is quite humble and well mannered, and even those she helps turn on her. Do you think this longing to belong could be why she bonded to me quickly and was so eager to please?"
"I could see that being a factor. In her memories that you've seen, do you recall anything significant about her parents?"
"Mother was absent. Father abusive and negligent. I think he could be the incubus or cambion. He always stayed in female company and would kiss her forehead after neglect or abuse. Now that I think about it, it was the perfect cover for his feeding. He was absorbing that energy from her. She also seemed to fear him most the time."
"So you think she got it from his side? I wonder if grandfather could trace her lineage?" Narius states in thought as we watch the pair wake and move about the house. Both of them seem to sense us, but aren't experienced enough to actually confirm their suspicions.
She fixes the last of the ramen in the pantry for him, not eating herself and she continues to clean and roam about. She places more items neatly on the couch. Reading her mind, I now understand what she is doing. She intends to sell these things, to get food and necessities for the boy. She retrieves his clean clothes from the small stackable dryer and brings them to him once he has eaten.
He gleefully runs to the room to change and bounces on his heels stepping out. His socks are fixed, shoe soles are glued. His jeans have artfully placed patches behind the tears which were trimmed and are now disguised in a teen friendly look. They look as if they were bought this way. His shirt is sewn and while not as easily a save as his jeans, his now cleaned coat hides it all. He is fresh as a daisy, and with his clean clothes and preened hair, he looks like a new child.
"Thank you mommy Sera!" He cries as he runs to her. He bends down and they embrace.
"Narius!" I whisper urgently. He looks to me and I gesture to the pair. Axar has pulled Sera tightly into him and won't release her. Her beautiful ocean eyes become solid black as she hums lightly in response.
"Shit! He's feeding her. She doesn't even realize what she's doing, but she is feeding. Feeding from his happiness?" Typically most incubi or sucubi, even cambions, are dark. Sera gravitates towards positive emotions. Axar smiles down at her. He's never had such care, or any semblance of love. He is an orphan, why I don't know, but I can tell by his thoughts and gratitude.
"You are always welcome. Now follow me! It is time to go get you some goodies." She starts to gather the items into grocery bags she's recycled and he eagerly helps carry the bags, watching her for acceptance and praise like a small child. For his age, the boy seems so meek and young at heart. My grudge against him dwindles little by little as I see that he was never competition.
We follow them as she stops by several pawn and clothing shops, selling all the items including her older phone. She has so little already? Why would she give half of her possessions up just to do for another? I didn't realize I had spoken this out loud until my brother speaks up.
"Love. Love makes us behave strangely." I thought I was the one she had loved? I thought I was the one. Can you 'love' more than one person? I roll this idea around in my mind as she exits the pawn and pockets the cash, having even sold her purse now. The boy looks slightly guilty, but she grabs his hand to comfort him and he releases a relieved sigh.
They enter several thrift stores, until they emerge with several bags of clothing and shoes. They cross the street to a discount bakery. Once inside she only looks at the clearanced goods, and I know she'll freeze them when they return home. Once outside she spots an elderly homeless lady sitting on a bench with a stack of papers. She hands her a roll from the bag and a dollar for a paper. The woman smiles and hugs her in earnest. Sera holds her a touch too long and her eyes darken once more.
"She's feeding again!" Narius notes.
She plucks coupons from the paper and carefully calculated and figures the lowest priced items at the grocery and the pair head home. We rush ahead of them, unseen, to enter before they do. We will lay in wait to ambush them. My heart races as the thought of bringing her back with me. Nothing I have consumed has sated me in her absence. The restlessness in my body almost dissipates as I anticipate her arrival.
"Have you decided yet what you intend to do with the boy?" Narius once again inquires. I roll my eyes. Banshees and banhees are a hot commodity among our kind. We can either feed off the constant anguish and fears, or we can use them to sense death in those around us.
"He is the one, the one she has bonded with now. I think I will keep him with her until I can get her under control again. Then, you may take him to your previous Livienne as a peace offering."
"How did-?"
"Because she never let's you leave her sight, and she'll be furious when you return. You always bring her some gift when you leave here." He grins.
"Correct. She'd much rather have the pair though. So, if you are adamant that you no longer desire the girl, I would be willing to wait until after you feed to return with her too."
"No. Tell Livienne she can have him in a week. The cambion is off limits." The front door cracks and I shudder in anticipation, unable to contain myself.