I stand in the doorway of my home, Axar behind me as I tear my way through. The house is wrecked, obvious signs of a struggle. I hardly talk the damage as I ascend the stairs, stooping at the top not to scratch my my horns on the ceiling. Death. It's overwhelming in here. I turn to Axar and have him close his eyes as I direct him up. I do not know what we will find, or see. All I know is that someone is dead. Barima's presence is strong here, Samael's is not. Barima is dead, I believe.
The first room I check is my own. I immediately spot Seraphine's body missing and I curse and search the room. I check the guest rooms and Barima's. Samael's too. Samael had packed his things. Barima had not. None of these rooms were disheveled like the main house. I lead Axar back down, allowing him to open his eyes and remain in the living area. Dining room is messy, but the kitchen is where it gets interesting. Blood. A trail of smeared blood trails back past and entertainment room, a mudroom and library. It leads into a guest bathroom.
I whip the door open, and I find what I suspected I would.
Barima's corpse is mangled and twisted, stuffed into the bathtub where her long limbs hang over. She loved Sera, she had bonded with her and no doubt was killed either fighting for Sera's body, or because whoever took her knew Barima would interfere. Her spirit has long departed, as Sera's had. Barima's eyes are still wide open and fixed in a stare. Just like last time when I had taken her body to throw in the marsh. I simply shut the door on her and walk back to the living area to join Axar.
"What happened? Where is everyone?" He asks with a wavering voice. I bite my lip a second before replying truthfully.
"Barima is dead. I believe Samael killed her and ran. He packed his things. He betrayed us. I believe he took Seraphine's body with him."
"Why would he do that? Why kill Barima? I thought they liked eachother..." He cuts off in sniffles.
"I don't know. Barima liked him, but Samael only likes Samael. I know someone who would know more than us though. Sera's mother. We contact Ivara, and then I send you to stay with my parents where you will be safe. Something is wrong here." He nods solemnly and rubs his eyes. I get to work summoning Ivara, who's spirit answers almost instantly.
"Noxodius! Itara! You have to go find It-"
"Who?" I arch a brow.
"ITARA! SERAPHINE!" She pleads.
"Itara?"
"Seraphine's name. Her given name. I never named her Seraphine. I managed to name her before he had taken her. Samael never knew her name."
"Why would you not tell me before?" I shout. This could all have been avoided, had I knew her true name.
"Because she was miserable. I could sense it. She is my child. I heard what her brother had told me, that you were not good to her, and I was not about to doom her to an eternity with a man who caused her grief. I know how that feels..."
"She was not miserable, if she was it was her own doing."
"It doesn't matter now. I was slain by Yeomorah and Lucien. They have her. Get her. Get her before they decide to destroy her entirely, or heaven forbid strike a deal with Ezekiel."
"Before I get her, may I know the truth? Samael killed Sera's friend Barima and packed his things. I have reason to believe he is in on whatever is going on with Yeomorah. I need to know the truth."
"He lied to me. Father pardoned my son, and I had no idea he would claim my second born. After birthing Itara, he attacked me and left me for dead. He struck a deal with my father but was unhappy with arrangement, and so he hid with her. We couldn't find her, nobody but me, and I was afraid to expose her to father should I get close to her. She told me that he told her I was going to sacrifice her. He blamed his misdeeds on me. He took my child from me." I can feel her agony as she bares her misery, her secret after all this time.
"I'll go get her, but I'll need help. Yeomorah is extremely powerful, and he has ample backup. Also, I should tell you that she no longer is powerful enough to sustain Ezekiel. Somehow her power was divided when she absorbed and brought Barima back." Her face relaxes.
"That's wonderful. I'll go with you, and I'll bring Alexavier. He is Sera-Ivara's older brother."
I waste no time in getting Axar to my parents' home. Ivara and Alexavier wait in my home for my return. I decide to go into the city to sate my hunger and try to reign myself in. My body remains jittery and restless. I need strength and focus. I stride, focused, across the sidewalks as I eye any potential victims. I am not picky tonight. Before I am finished, a half dozen will likely die. I trudge down a backstreet behind several local shops. In no time I have managed to kill two prostitutes and a drug dealer. I roam farther into the alleys and I make quick work of two officers. Body thrumming with blood and fear I feel ready to confront Yeomorah.
The three of us join my grandfather and we materialize outside Yeomorah's ancient home. It's giant, and looks like a prison from the outside. I rush the door and begin to beat it down. I will not risk phasing through this door though I could, as I know Yeomorah keeps plenty of other demons in his company. The door is opened and several men stare at us, expectantly.
"Noxodius and Nomias. We are here to see Yeomorah, on behalf of a deal."
"I was told to be expecting you. Follow me." We follow them through the giant foyer and take several turns, finally ending up in a long hallway.
My mouth waters in the hallway. Emotions hang in the air like heavy rain clouds, energy lingering around the cages beings in the cells. Some are lustful, driven mad by extended contact with demons and incubi. Others are suffering, fearful, and desperate. Although all this is an incubus' dream, I am completely locked on Seraphine. I could eat her alive. My chest tightens. Several frail hands reach for me as I pass through. Grandfather and I are unaffected, but Ivara and Alexavier are stunned. I watch Alexavier's face contort with guilt as he whispers comforts to those in the cells. Ivara simply disappears to avoid confrontation, I feel her following behind. We soon come go Yeomorah, who stands guarding a cell door as he eyes us. Samael and Lucien flanking him against the door.
"Noxodius! You took longer than I expected. I don't have to guess the nature of your visit, you've come for your bitch I assume." He grins wickedly. Suddenly he cries out and grabs his head with a growl. A fistful of clear white hair litters the slab concrete floor. I watch a dainty hand with green nails duck back through the bars as he turns to snatch for it, in vain. That's her cell!
"Sera..." I mumble subconsciously as I smile at the long hairs lying on the floor.
"Yes, and in the flesh. They could go home with you, if you play your cards right."
"They? Have you Barima's spirit too?" He cackles.
"No...but she's not alone in there. She has something of yours Noxodius."
"I've no time for your troll under the bridge riddles bullshit! Just say it."
"Fine, dumbass. In layman's terms, she is pregnant." My jaw drops.
"Pregnant?" My chest burns and I clench my fists. This can't be. Did she have any signs? Did she hide this from me? I recall her memory I wiped of her feeding from Lucien when she was captive here, her mind was fuzzy. I remember her drinking the blood from his lips and writhing, drunk on the blood of demon royalty. My blood boils as I look at her in that cell. She looks at me with a pleading look, but I question if her innocence is legit. Yeomorah has yearned for her for some reason, could it be because she carries his grandson? Is this child mine? Uncertainty swirls in my mind.
"Seraphine." I say flatly to her. She nears the door, keeping distance between her and the men by the door as she tries to tiptoe to see over the larger bodies. "Why did you betray me?"
"What does that even mean? I betrayed nobody. Why did you kill me? You never tried to save me. You put me down like a dog."
"Because, you are one." I scold. Her eyes pool as she turns away from the door and out of my sight. For some reason this hurts more than if she had argued or insulted me. I can sense her inner turmoil and confusion. It must be hard for her to comprehend that she cannot manipulate the master manipulator.
"Keep your forked tongue off her!" Ivara yells at me. "If there is a dog here it is you." She points at Samael. "When you lie with dogs you get fleas. Be mindful the company you keep. Do not blame you daughter for your failures." I could kill her all over again, but I remain silent.
"Are you here to deal or not?" Yeomorah demands.
"It depends, is that bastard mine-" I barely finish the sentence before I'm on the floor with my head ringing. I see Ivara trying to pry Alexavier off me. He's damn near immovable, with his nephilim strength. Finally I shove him off me and he kicks my ribcage as he leaps back on Ivara's command, giving me room to stand with my bruised ego.
"How old are you exactly?" He huffs at me.
"None of your goddamn business imbecile."
"Doesn't matter, you could live out the your days and never make a single mistake, and you still couldn't atone your sins against my sister. You don't deserve her." I shake myself off and stand with my back to him as insult. I focus entirely on Yeomorah.
"What is your interest in Seraphine?"
"Simply put, she is intriguing. A demon that acts not like a demon. A mashup of creatures that you do not commonly see. Her soul interests me most though. Something so pure and gentle, yet ferocious when she has to be. Imagine taking her soul into my body and gaining all that wasted power. Tell me, Noxodius, did you enjoy killing her?"
"How-"
"I sat it up. I needed to wound her enough that you'd feel obligated to end her. You obviously weren't dedicated enough to heal or mend her, so I knew you'd kill them. I done you a favor honestly, I saved your child when I stole her body. How did you not notice she carried your child?"
"Because it's not my child."
"Then who's is it?" He sneers. I look to Lucien.
"It's his." Lucien and Yeomorah burst in amusement.
"That's hilarious, and it could have been mine, but she came to and scuttled away after that steamy little kiss. Fortunately for you, it went no farther. " Lucien shrugs.
"I don't believe you." Lucien smirks and turns to Yeomorah.
"Fine, don't. Father, I will take her after all. Beat that child out of her and have her on my wing in an hour. I'll have her new cell ready." Yeomorah nods.
"Until next time, Noxodius. Follow the guards, they'll show you out." Alexavier and Ivara start to protest and before I can speak, grandfather does.
"Nox might not recognize a good investment, but I do. For your friend, Morah, what could you do for me?" Yeomorah raises a brow at him.
"You want her? You don't even approve of halfbreeds."
"Promising, young, too inexperienced and oblivious to use her abilities against me. If feeding from her and fucking her can make a tight ass like Nox beg and snivel then surely she will satisfy me."
"She's yours then."
"For?"
"Ah. You know me too well. The catch. Ah, yes. The catch is..." He winks at Ivara. "I want Ezekiel."
"Done."
"Take her with you. Had it been Nox, he would have had to wait till he had Ezekiel at my door. Ha! As if he could have. Nomias, do not let me down. I put trust in you. I will see you in two weeks." They shake hands and Yeomorah unlocks the cell.
I eagerly bound forward, only to be blocked by grandfather as he gingerly brings Sera off the floor into his arms. Her family cages him in as they calm and whisper to her as we exit. I keep space between us, as my mind races. I know deep down that what I seen in her mind is true, that she merely fed, as I do with countless beings. I still can't however, wrap my mind around her child being mine. She had to have betrayed me, and she will pay for it.