In no time at all, Nomias enters the room, taking a seat near Yeomorah and lazily crosses his legs. He looks quite pleased with himself, especially as he gazes over at Seraphine who still is acting her part perfectly. She even evades his eye contact in faux shame. Fast behind him enter Narius and Livienne. She raises her chin to snub Seraphine as she goes to the traitors' side of the large room.
"Nomias, please, can you elaborate on this strange situation? I was under the impression you'd all arrive together or have the decency to contact me at the very least."
"I had intended to arrive tonight, with everyone together, but this little mutt decided to attack my grandson's mate. After her despicable actions, she ran like she always does to avoid confrontation. I thought after all my hospitality and training her, she'd both be more courageous and respectful." Livienne is smug as she sneers. Seraphine is probably livid at his words, but manages to keep her emotions in check and her act going. Her dedication not to break character at the moment is impressive.
"I would have killed her, had she not been pregnant and had Nox not come running to save her." Livienne defends. Sera sniffles and looks up.
"I'm so sorry Livienne. Really. Do you know how to heal? Have you tried healing your face?" She asks, voice laced with a mocking guilt that sounds so innocent but set's Livienne's ego ablaze.
No question about it, she had already tried to heal her face. It's one thing to heal from other demon attacks, but Nephilims are physically in a league of their own. Nomias stands to stare down Seraphine, and Sera tilts her head and trembles. I do not miss that she held his eyes. She looks down afterwards to the folded hands in her lap, hiding her dilated eyes behind the silky green curtain of hair. Did she just get Nomias? What is she doing?
"Do you still wish to carry out our deal for her, Nomias? You know how pissed I get when people back out on me." Yeomorah's creaky voice is heavy with boredom and suspicion towards Nomias. Nomias throws his hands up.
"Of course. She might not be entirely worth it, but my great grandson is. This is why I brought Ezekiel here, to extend an olive branch. I would never cross you, my old friend."
"Actually Nomias, you never quite told me why I needed to accompany you here." Ezekiel clears his throat. I stifle a chuckle at Nomias's flustered face. He never thought how to explain this part. Common sense really, considering Ezekiel wasn't supposed to be in our our plan. We were only told to bring him. Ezekiel is taking full advantage of playing dumb, just like we had discussed.
"You see, Ezekiel, being your grand daughter, I thought you might want to assist me in bargaining for her life and freedom here. She's very much in love with my grandson Noxodius, and though she can never be accepted into the family, we owe it to her unborn child to bargain for her. This child is special."
"Then I want it. It's only fair. I work out a deal with Yeomorah, for you to spare the woman. You give her to Noxodius and I get the child upon it's birth. We both know I've seen better days, Nomias. I need this special child." Ezekiel provokes.
"The child is the only reason I'm doing this!" Nomias snarls.
"Then why am I here? What's in this for me? That bastard's father and whore cursed my family." He thrust a giant finger at Yeomorah. "I'm weak now. I'm a dying man. I've better things to do. I have family and things I enjoy. I do not know this girl, pardoning her from here to hand her to your grandson all sounds like it benefits your family. What's in this for me?" Nomias exchanges a look with Yeomorah, who comes to save him.
"That's where I come in, Ezekiel. Perhaps our families do not get along, but I'm willing to bargain. I will need something from you though."
"What would that be?" Ezekiel deadpans.
"We'll come to that later. Now, Samael, take Seraphine to that cage. I have to be certain until everything is worked out that she doesn't run or lover boy here doesn't try to steal her."
"No. Samael, you are too rough. I've seen your handiwork before. Now, Livienne, would you do the honors. It's only fitting." Nomias's eyes are dilated, but not red as they are with a typical demon's possession. Turned from Yeomorah, his possession is undetectable for now until she retreats into his mind to let him be for a moment.
"Gladly!" Livienne chirps. She jumps to her heels, snatching Seraphine's arm roughly trying to pull her up. At first, Seraphine resists, slightly embarrassing Livienne.
"Easy! Please. I'm not feeling well." Sera whines, suddenly standing and catching Livienne off guard.
She nearly falls back from the force she had been tugging Seraphine with. She saves herself, teetering on her heels as she steps before Seraphine and leads her to the large cage. As she shuffles her around to push her in, I notice Seraphine stares her down defiantly. Livienne, being taller, quickly straightens to her full height to intimidate. Her eyes never leaving Sera's. Perfect. Having gotten into her, Sera gives her what she wants and let's her win and the guards assist in locking her inside this cage. I can feel Seraphine's fear and thoughts about the cage. She occassionally opens her mind, purposely thinking about thoughts that sell her actions, making herself seem all the more believable. Good girl.
Livienne takes a seat next to Lucien, completely ignoring Narius. Lucien almost disregards her, watching Seraphine through the front bars of the cage. The sight of it makes me ill. Seeing her in there and fearing that she's cramped twists my gut in unfamiliar ways. It doesn't ease even though i know she can get out easily, though they don't realize it. It definitely is taking some growing accustomed to loving someone. The suffering humans in the hallway cells never made me bat an eye, but an acting Seraphine portraying a pitiful weakling in that cage still rattles me. Nomias seems alarmed, before he sets his jaw in his signature display of anger. He glowers at Livienne.
"What's going on here?" Nobody speaks. "Who stuck Seraphine in the cell?" Livienne's head tilts.
"I did. You asked me too instead of Samael."
"I did no such thing." Livienne grins.
"But you did. You said it was only fitting. After what that bitch did, she deserves it. Do you have a problem with it, Nomias?" Seraphine is curled up in the cage, her face conveniently blocked by her position. She's about to set it off. My adrenaline pumps, distracting from my nerves as my body prepares for fight.
"You want to join her in there? She is carrying my great grandchild. No matter if I despise her, her well being is detrimental to his development. Let her out."
"I told Samael to put her there. There she remains until we work out the final details of our deal." Yeomorah barks. Livienne gets up from her current perch and goes to his side.
"That man is unhinged! I don't feel safe even sitting near him."
"He won't bother you here, girl. Go to Narius." Yeomorah waves her off. She walks past everyone to the door.
"I'm starving. Have fun with your little circus here." She tips her chin and struts out past the guards. A few minutes pass before Yeomorah redirects the conversation.
"Now, Nomias-" Deep yells from the hallway steal our attention.
Guards peer out and those close to the exit go running to the commotion. I hear shouts and orders, along with Livienne's voice as she nags and squeals at the guards. Yeomorah snaps up from his seat, obviously furious at the commotion interrupting him. He walks straight to Livienne as she enters the room. 'She' shocks them by slapping his face. Seraphine has orchestrated the spark, ignited the situation. It's up to all of us now to ensure that Ezekiel destroys Yeomorah.
"Your petty guards are insufferable! I am mated to royalty! I will not be harassed." He grabs the sides of her head as Livienne stares at him in utter confusion as Seraphine drops her hold on her. Narius is on Yeomorah in seconds and the two tumble about the concrete floors.
Guards charge towards the two to apprehend Narius, but Seraphine and Axar scream in unison. The sound detonating overhead lights and the barred glass window. The weaker guards are knocked to the floor and others slowed, covering their ears as they advance. Our group was unaffected, as we knew what was likely to go down. Nomias tries in vain to separate Narius and Yeomorah. Ezekiel, however simply smirks as he watches them fight. His eyes sharp as a bird of prey, letting Yeomorah take damage and noticing which spots he will be weakest.
Seraphine stands in the cage and inhales sharply, as she starts another round of screaming. Axar takes the corner opposite side of the room and they screech even louder, again, holding the guards off. Ezekiel lowers his shoulders with a crazed grin and spears Yeomorah as he hovered above my brother. Yeomorah's broad back slams the wall, splintering the stone as he prepares to strike back. Narius is still gaping for air and stunned when Lucien comes for him. I intercept, catching his hands and pushing him back into Seraphine's cage.
Behind me, a wave of energies ripple. Agony, anger, the confusion of the dying. Our family making quick work of slaughtering the attled guards recovering from the screams. Such forceful screams of banshee would have killed mere humans. I force his face into the bars and Seraphine pulls closer to him. She stuns with a mesmerizing almost shy smile and he watches her, baffled. He suddenly tries to shut his eyes but I run my hand over his head so my fingers can find the flesh below his brows and pull up, forcing his eyes open. Sera's hands hold his face still, and her obsidian eyes gleam. Feeding. It requires great energy to keep possession going.
"Smart, smart girl." I whispers to her. She nods and motions us back, I drag Lucien back, and she opens the door quickly.
"I'm going to have him shove at you and run. I need him close to Yeomorah. I can use him there, and try to get Yeomorah while he's distracted." She whispers back to me.
"I love you. Careful, Sera." With her outside the cage now, I worry I won't be able to focus.
"I love you, Nox." She slinks away to guard herself while she maneuvers Lucien. As promised, he gives me a believable shove and flees. He goes towards Nomias who is still trying to salvage the situation, and he catches him square in his jaw. Alexavier and Ivara stand tall near Axar, Akexavier striking guards who approach as Ivara materializes here and there to deflect blows for him. It is hard for a spirit to continually make physical contact, and so she has to be selective. My parents are keeping stronger demons back from assisting Yeomorah with Narius.
From the corner of my eye as I prepare to launch myself into the war between the big behemoths, Yeomorah and Ezekiel, I notice movement at the door and I stop dead in my tracks. My blood cold as ice. Asmodeus. Ezekiel said he had killed him! He should be fucking dead! Yet here he stands. His eyes search the room and fall on Ezekiel, they flick over to Ivara's flickering form and Alexavier, then to my horror they lazily roll over to Seraphine. She squares her stance and her eyes never leave his feet, knowing better than to hold his stare. Ezekiel now is on defense, his presence enough to distract from Yeomorah and cost him precious seconds that he barely recovers from.
He moves quickly, spastic yet menacing. The signature gait of the demon royalty, designed to confuse and strike fear. When he sets his sights on Axar, all my phobias come alive. We are going to die. Not just me, but all of us. Axar's tall, lithe body trembles as he looks up quickly at the legend himself. It almost happens in slow motion, my feet locked to the ground. I scream her name but she doesn't acknowledge me. As Asmodeus rushes towards Axar, Seraphine lunges to intercept.
My feet move on sheer instinct, my mind no longer present. In this moment, I don't fear my own death. I fear my sweet Seraphine's, my son's, my...well...Axar. I picture the nursery at grandfather's, Seraphine's sleeping form with her round belly rising each breath. The way the sun catches her hair, and how her hips sway when she bounces along beside me when she's happy. I see her in her apartment that first night, doing her makeup in that velvet dress. Her eyes half lidded as she softly patted pink on the rounds of her cheeks. I see the determination in her face as she prepared to fight me to defend that boy the time I had threatened to kill him.
I launch myself at the monstrous man, holding nothing back. I do not want to die, no. But if I must go, I'll go out on top. I'll go out protecting those I love, and when our son old enough to speak he'll hang off his mother's legs begging to hear the story again. The story of how his father gave his very life, the most precious thing to our selfish breed, to save he and his mother.
"Mama!!" I can hear it. I sink my claws into any flesh I can and begin to hope for the best.