I hold myself back, as Seraphine enters first quickly putting away perishable items and separating her breads out to freeze. Her ability to survive on next to nothing, and her ingenuity still amaze me just as much as her contentment with it. She often looks right at me, or rather through me but redirects her gaze. How can she not know what she is? Does she not feel the superiority to humans around her? The powers that lies dormant within her body? She keeps some food out and begins to make a lunch with what she has. Axar watches excitedly, and helps whenever he can. Sera glances up in my direction once more.
"You two." She points. "Do you intend to speak or stay for dinner?" My jaw hangs agape and Narius quirks a brow at her.
"You can see us?" He asks.
"Yes. Noxodius, and you whoever you are. It's customary among mortals to introduce yourself while in another's home." Narius glares and I stifle a laugh. Axar takes a moment to understand what's going on.
"I am Narius." He materializes and I do the same and flank him as he reaches to shake her hand.
"Seraphine. Nice to meet you." They shake and I can see him trying to get a read on her.
"Seraphine because you are seraphic?" He winks at her. She tilts her head in confusion and Axar pulls his newly acquired 'mother' back from Narius.
"I do not know. You'd have to ask my father." She replies.
"He named you?"
"Yes. He didn't for a long time, he once said, but he finally decided on this when I was nearing two. He had originally planned to give me up for adoption..." She becomes uncomfortable and doesn't finish.
"It's a beautiful name, and fitting. An interesting concept too! Typically a mother names her children, with only input from the father."
"I don't know where my mom is. I never knew her." The room is silent at this revelation, as we already have a good hunch of why she never knew her. If her mother is mortal as I expect, she either died or went mad after prolonged contact with Sera's father.
"Seraphine." I redirect her attention to me. She raises her chin in defiance as she reluctantly acknowledges me.
"Noxema?" Narius loses it and cackles loudly. Axar also smiles a wry smile.
"I see your humor has returned. Do you realize what you are Sera?"
"Other than crazy, no." She dismisses me with a wave of hand.
"We believe you are cambion, Sera. You shouldn't see the things you are capable of. Or be able do the things you have. You aren't human." I try. She looks at me like I had grown another head.
"What even is that? Is that what Axar is too?" She inquires.
"No. He is a Banhee." Axar nods.
"I found out just months ago. I...well...I thought I was cursed or a bringer of death. Everyone around me dies. I didn't understand. I was finally adopted by a nice family, and their daughter was sickly. I left them an apology note and ran away. I couldn't live if I made her sickly or caused her death." He looks down in guilt. "I met a gypsy lady who lives under the bridge just outside of town. She knew what I was and told me that I never caused any of this, only that I can sense it."
"Did you know what I was?"
"I knew you weren't normal either. At the park, you helped a man who tripped and when he thanked you, you held his arm for a moment. Your eyes were really black. I didn't understand why, but you never seemed aggressive so I thought you would be safe to come too."
"Why such hostility towards me then? Did you know what I was?" I challenge him, not completely buying it.
"You were hostile. You were a threat to my only friend. Also you have the aura of death. I didn't understand why, I thought it was because you intended to kill one of us."
"Do I still have it?" Narius studies us both with curious eyes.
"Y-yes sir. You or someone around you will die." Me? I stare at him, unable to respond. Narius speaks up.
"Do you both mind to come with us? We would gladly answer questions for you."
"Do it here. I do not want to be around him any longer than necessary." I grab for her and Axar shrieks and moves to block. His scream causes my head to throb and I loose balance, giving Sera an opportunity to leap onto me. Narius goes for Axar who shrieks even more violently and Narius blindly reaches for him while trying to cover his ears. He nose dribbles blood. Sera pulls me up and shoves me hard into the kitchen table and she tackles Narius away from the shrieking Axar. Narius punches and she cries out.
"Mom!" Axar launches himself onto Narius's back and he releases a guttural wail that causes Narius to fall limp onto the floor. I see red as I lunge for that little screaming menace. Seraphine slams into me midair and thrown into the wall. Her eyes are black now and her lips roll to reveal a set of teeth that mirror my own. Axar watches from behind her, she will not dare let him pass her body. I remember the taste of her and I can't refrain from desperately snatching for her again.
"Seraphine..." I do not realize I've called to her until I recieve a snarl in reply.
"Leave. Leave us be." I reach for her and she tackles me again. I'm nearly helpless as I lock arms with her and try to force her up and away. "Sera."
"Shut up and go away. Just leave me alone..." She cuts off as Narius is now conscious and strangling her. She gurgles and thrashes around livid, and Axar does everything in his power to try to thwart him. I snatch the boy away from my brother and I struggle to pin him. Banhees and shees are typically not nearly as physically strong as us, but he is in complete panic and his survival instinct is at peak. I have to remind myself not to kill him, but I do feed from his fear as I force him down to the floor. He whimpers and tries to reach for her and I grab his free arm.
"Axar, stop. She will be fine, but only if you comply with me. You will comply right?" I love eyes with him and he forgets to look away. He goes limp beneath me and I will him to stand as I release him. I am over Narius in seconds. Sera's jaw is undoubtedly broken and she lies still below him, color ashen. He sees me and releases her throat. A growl escapes her throat and she slashes at Narius. It isn't until the copper scent fills the air that I realize she has claws. She stares at her hands in horror. She looks up to the calm, controlled Axar and she runs stumbling into the already fragile furniture and breaking a kitchen chair in her haste.
She rolls and screams on the floor and slashes her own limps trying to get his blood off of her. Her eyes are pitch black and souless as she screams. I revoke my hold over Axar and let him run to comfort her. She sobs and holds onto him protectively, watching us with anxiety. No doubt dreading our response to her outburst. Narius shivers with bloodlust and he stares her down.
"She fucking fed from me. From me!" Narius shouts. She did? Negative energy?
"Let's just go. Just go with them. See what they want, and we will leave." Axar tries to soothe her. He pulls her up and wipes her down with a hand towel hanging on the wall. He looks to me and I understand. I step beside them, and focus to teleport them all back with me. I typically do not do this, especially with 'passengers' as it drains energy fast.
We finally appear in my living room. I go straight for Sera and I seize her combative arms as I pull her towards me to feed. She's faded out herself, her strength has dwindled. My body practically purs with the feeling of her blood and transgressions filling us. Relief washes over me like a holy wayer, exorcising the demons of my ravenous and tense being.
Narius continues to glare at her and she is too exhausted to pay him any mind. I send Axar to the kitchen for water and some of the food I had recebtly purchased for her. He drags her to the couch and helps her to regain her composure. Her jaw should heal soon, but as for right now it's agonizing just trying to sip water.
"What the fuck was that?" Narius whispers as we sit across the room for the troublesome duo. "Succubi are typically stronger than us, but this is not a full blood succubus. It doesn't even know how to tap into or use it's abilities, and yet it nearly beat our asses. Now creepy kid claims you have the aura of death?"
"I have no idea, but I intend to keep her from figuring out how to use any of them." I can't let her get away again. I have to clip her wings.