The sound of a crackling fire breaks through the darkness. Sera awakens from the deepest, dreamless sleep of her life in an unfamiliar bedroom. Her hand flies immediately to her chest. Her pendant has returned to its rightful spot.
Confused, she takes a glance around. She’s lying in a huge four-poster mahogany bed. White linens drape across the top. Directly across from her is a fireplace with a huge stone mantle. Situated above the mantle is a three-pronged sword of some kind. It shines as the flicker of the fire reaches it. Beside the fire is a wall of bookshelves and another chair like the one in Jack’s coffee shop. Next to the bed, Sera finds her reflection in the mirror of a vanity desk. Geez, she looks… exhausted. From the wood exposed interior and the poignant smell of pine. She can only be in one place—Nate’s house.
As if reading her mind, the door opens. In walks Nate, shirtless, tall, perfect. He’s very well built—to put it mildly. His jeans hang low, exposing the curve of his hipbone. The image makes her bite her bottom lip. She barely notices the steaming cup of something between his hands because of his half-naked distraction. Then she notices that on his shoulder he has a bandage.
She sits up against the headboard, “You’re hurt.”
“I’m the one that should be asking if you’re okay.”
Sera rubs her forehead, “Yeah, what happened?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.” He takes a seat on the edge of the bed and hands her the cup.
“I don’t know,” she states taking the cup from him. “My body just reacted.”
Nate turns serious, “I’ve never seen someone use so much… power.”
“Never? But, I saw it in my dream.”
“What exactly do you dream about, Sera?”
“Just dream stuff. You’re there, usually.”
“I need specifics. Do you dream about Angels and Demons?”
“Yes, sometimes.”
“And what you did, you saw that in your dreams as well?”
“Yes. Nate, I think my dreams are more than they seem.”
“I was thinking the exact same thing.” His hand reaches for her open one. It’s still warm from the cup he was just holding. The touch warms Sera from the inside out. “Will you tell me about them?”
I nod, “Every night, since I was about eighteen, I’ve been having these vivid dreams. You have become like a reoccurring character in all of them.” Sera begins to blush as she tells him, “It came to the point where I would just begin to search the dream for you. At some point, I would always find you.”
That brings a smile to his face as well, “And, there were Demons?”
“Sometimes. In one they chased me, in others it was you with… wings.”
He flinches almost like she touched upon a subject she wasn’t supposed to. “I have something to tell you, Sera.”
“Wait, I’m not finished.”
He nods for her to continue. “These dreams showed me how to use that power. What can that mean?”
“The dreams showed you what to do?”
“Yes, only it was you glowing—not me.”
“I have to tell you,” he glances down at our hands, “I’ve never seen anyone in Heaven or Earth, do what you just did.”
“Seriously?” Sera pulls her hands back, alarmed.
“Yes.” His eyes are kind, allowing for her to pry farther.
“Could that be why Demons are attacking me?”
“Maybe, but I don’t see how they could know you even carried such powers when you didn’t know yourself.”
“True, only… that’s not the first time I’ve done something like that.”
“What do you mean?” His tone grows more serious.
“The night I came here, I told you I had an accident. It was more than that.” Her face shies away from his gaze, “I saw a deer, blacker than night and eyes redder than my hair. When I got out to check on it, it disappeared into thin air.” She lowers her eyes to the cup in her hand when his serious face becomes too much, “I was getting ready to leave when there was a car coming down the road, my body just reacted. I shielded myself from it, somehow.”
“And someone saw you do this?”
“I can’t say for sure, but I feel like people are watching me all the time.”
Nate turns toward the fire. “Sera, you need to trust your instincts. They are more advanced now. It may mean life or death.”
He takes a deep breath, “I have something to tell you now,” he begins hesitantly. “Since we are in the spirit of transparency, I feel like I have to tell you what has been going on with me this past week or so.” Sera’s breath catches in her throat as he continues. “Sera, I had been guarding you for months before. I would watch as you tossed and turned in your sleep. I would see things that you couldn’t. I knew there was something about you. I knew there was so much more to you. Only, I couldn’t put my finger on it. Angels, we aren’t used to feelings. I don’t know if being on Earth for so long made me more susceptible, but I started having romantic feelings for you.”
Sera loses all feeling in her fingers. Holy crap. She places the coffee cup on the nightstand beside her before she does something embarrassing.
“I didn’t know what it was at first. Seeing you with that Jack guy, it just made me feel angry,” Nate admits, glancing down for a millisecond before his eyes meet hers—bright blue and deeper than she’s ever seen them. “I’ve never felt so many emotions before, conflicted, jealous, angry, confused, guilty. Angels don’t feel any of these. I had no idea how to handle them all. I needed some space to get my thoughts in order when you were involved in that accident. You were lying there in a pool of blood, and I just didn’t know what to do. When I saw my finger was bleeding, I just reacted. I wasn’t thinking about the repercussions.” He’s on his feet now pacing back and forth as he recites the rest.
“After I tucked you into bed, I was summoned to the Throne Room. You see, it’s against the law what I did. I went too far in trying to save you. I didn’t even know it was possible for Angels to bleed. But, it happened, and I had to accept the consequences.”
He’s struggling for words now, his pace staggering, “Um, well. What I wanted you to know is… Well, the reason you can see me now is…” his fingers glide through his hair. “I was excused from Heaven. I… I’m considered one of the Fallen now. That’s why you can suddenly see me. That’s why I decided to come back here. I was just trying to make sure you were okay. I couldn’t leave you like that. And in the sake of full honestly, I wanted to see if I stood a chance with you.” Once he finishes, he comes to sit back beside her on the bed.
Sera sits there staring at the flames of the fire before her. Of all the things she pictured in her head, how was this not one of them?
“I feel guilty.” She finally says.
“Don’t,” he responds. “I don’t want you to feel that way, that’s not why I told you. You want answers, and I want to give them to you. No more secrets.”
“No more secrets,” she reiterates. “I get it now. I get why you did what you did.” It seems like a lifetime ago when she was actually mad at him for keeping secrets.
“I know this must sound crazy to you because to you, we just met, but, I have known everything about you for months now, and I just couldn’t bear to watch you deteriorate in my arms like that. I… I love you Seraphina. I would do anything to protect you.”
He takes her hand in his once more. Bringing it to his lips, he kisses the top of her hand.
It’s her turn to reach for him; her fingers graze his jawline. Those blue eyes of his close, relishing her touch. She has known him for months now too, hasn’t she? Her instinct takes over once more. The breath she was about to take gets caught in her throat when leans forward.
Her lips touch his. His eyes open surprised, but Nate doesn’t dare move. Sera slips her hand from his to bring it to the other side of his face pulling him closer.
The vial at her throat pulses again filling the room with its light. Oh no—not this again.
Only when she opens her eyes again Nate’s lips are still pressed firmly against hers. He pulls away softly. His eyes widen further as he takes in the vial shimmering down to a slight glow.
“I don’t understand,” Sera mutters, shaking her head. Her fingers cup the vial around her throat instinctively.
“I… I know what it is. I know what’s in that vial.” A soft smile is spreading across his face as he points to her chest.
“What?”
“Of course. It all makes sense… but how?” his hand filters through his dark hair again.
“I’m lost. You have to fill me in here, Nate. Why didn’t it harm you?”
“Because it can see I meant you no harm.”
“It can see? You act like it’s living,” she scoffs.
“It was…”
“Okay, you’re going to have to explain.”
“It’s Angel Dust.”
“Wha—” Her mouth hangs open.
“When Angel’s die we turn to dust, the particles return to Heaven reinforcing what you Secs call the Pearly Gates for protection.”
“What?” She mutters again. “Secs?”
“Oh, um Seculars, people on the secular plane. Humans. The question is why didn’t this return?” The question was rhetorical because he continues. “For it to be so protective of you, it means an Angel died to protect you. Their dust continues to do so.”
“But who?”
“Well, that is the question, isn’t it?”
“Just when I feel like I’m finally starting to get answers, ten more questions pop up.”
“We will find your answers.”
She breathes, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Nate pulls her closer, “There is nothing to be afraid of. After what I just saw, people should be afraid of you.”
Sera finally smiles. “Okay.” Finally allowing herself a moment of relaxation, she withdraws slightly leaning back into the headboard of the huge bed. Her common sense is telling her this is crazy, she only just met this guy. These dreams they are happening for a reason, and there must be a reason Nate is a part of them. Those strange gut feelings are telling her that they were to prepare her for this, for Nate.
Scooting out of the covers, she pulls closer to him on the bed once again grabbing his hand in hers. “I know this sounds crazy, but I feel like I have known you forever.”
His face forms a smile now, one that reaches his eyes. He puts his arm around her bringing her close to him, the smell of pine tickling her nose, drawing her closer into the nape of his neck. She can feel how magical this moment is. That instinctual feeling inside of her is telling her that this is all she’s ever wanted… and more.
Becoming overwhelmed with a new range of feelings, she opens her eyes to focus on something else, anything else. In front of her is a clock on the wall; her eyes focus on the time, half past eleven in the evening.
Her brain finally kicks in, and she jumps to her feet. “Oh my God. I have to go. I need to get home.”
“Why?” He looks around alarmed.
“My parents, they are going to kill me. What am I supposed to even tell them? They already think I’m doing drugs.” She stumbles around throwing on a shoe.
Not having a response, Nate grows quiet watching her slip on her other shoe. “You know Sera, I can’t protect you twenty-four seven if you’re still living at home.”
She whips around to face him in complete shock while hunched over tying her shoe. “I’m sorry, I think I just blanked out for a second. What did you say?”
“You can’t stay at home. Something is after you. I don’t know who, and I don’t know why, but wherever you are, you’re in danger. If you are living at home, they are in danger, too. Plus, I’ve never seen someone harbor so much power before. We don’t know what you are capable of. You are going to need some help honing your skills.”
As much as she hates to admit it, she knows Nate’s right. “So what do you suppose I do?” She finally looks him in the eye.
“Move in with me.” He shrugs nonchalantly like it is the simplest decision in the world.
“What? Are you crazy?” she blurts out, “I mean what would I tell my parents? What would people think? How? Where would I…?”
“Sera,” his calm voice cuts through her stammering. “This is the only way I can protect you.” His eyes explore hers and plead.
“I know… I just, I just never really thought about it before now. This is all happening so fast.”
He drops his head, “I know.” He releases a sigh before beginning again, “I want you to know that I made this home for you. This,” he points about the room, “This is your room. I designed it exactly how you would like it.” He reaches out tipping her face up to look into his, “It’s always been yours. I’ve always been yours.”
He finishes with a kiss on her forehead, and Sera glances away. He knew she wouldn’t be able to stay with her family being part whatever-the-hell she is now. Deep down she knows she truly can’t either. A possession was as close as her front lawn only a few short hours ago.
Leaning back, looking into Nate’s deep blue eyes she states, “I’ll think about it.”
*
Agreeing to think about moving in with him was all she had to say, before Nate agreed to drive her home. His sleek black car pulls down her dead end street. He hadn’t even pulled into the driveway before he began lecturing her about how important it was that she moves in with him and begin training. Her eyes catch his gaze and she sits staring into those gorgeous blue eyes as he continues rambling on. Something in his eyes, she feels as though she can see into his soul. She can feel all of his emotions. It causes a shiver to tickle through her. Sera leans forward over the center console pressing her lips gently to his before pulling away.
“I said I would think about it, Nate. Goodnight.”
The look of surprise on his face made her smile all the way to her door. She digs her keys out of her pocket twisting slightly when she catches sight of her father’s truck in the gravel driveway completely restored to its original state. Actually, there is no sign of the struggle that occurred only a few hours earlier. How is that possible? She makes a mental note to ask Nate later. Her fingers turn the key in the lock and with a calming breath, she enters her house.
The lights are all extinguished. Her parents must be asleep already. Thank God. Carefully, she climbs the steps and slips into her bedroom.
She flicks the light on and begins to change out of her dirty work clothes and into sweatpants and a tank top before collapsing into the seat of her little vanity desk to remove her makeup. She blinks. Her reflection… it looks different. She comes closer to examine it. Her breath is causing condensation on the surface of the mirror when the face staring back at her begins to change, darken. In her reflection, eyes turn deep red, her hair black as night, the complexion white as a ghost and her cheeks sink in slightly. She pulls back in revulsion. Her reflected face begins to distort and twirl. Black swirling smoke is spiraling in the mirror in front of her until all she can see is a pair of beady red eyes.
The gut feeling comes again, followed along with that smell of garbage and burnt skin. It’s so dense that she can barely breathe. The thought comes to her, Sera is in the presence of something wholly demonic.
“Seraphina,” the voice calls to her. It’s deep, just like the voice of the possessed woman earlier. “Seraphina,” it repeats again, the way he mentions her name draws her closer, begging to be trusted.
“Yes,” she finally responds but hesitantly.
“Will you join me?”
“Join who?”
His laugh echoes in the small room around her before he responds, “You are well aware of who I am.”
“I want to hear it from you.”
“You do not make demands of me.”
“Then what is it you want from me?”
“Join me.”
“Why? Why do you need me?”
“With you at my side, there will be nothing out of your reach. You will become the most powerful human on the planet. I can make the world bow at your feet, I can make you invincible.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, why do you need me?”
“You possess a power this world has never known. Only I can unlock it for you.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you will be eliminated!” His tone sends a shiver down her spine, her senses going haywire around her. Goosebumps have sprouted all up and down her arms.
If Sera is such a powerful ally, then this is bigger than she ever could have imagined. Anna had warned her it would be as easy as good vs. evil. She decided in that very moment, whatever happens, she would never turn dark.
“I’m sorry, Lucifer,” she emphasizes his name, “but I’m going to decline.”
“You are making a grave mistake.”
“You see, I don’t think so. I think you need me. That means you wouldn’t hurt me.”
More dark laughing, “You are wrong, I can’t kill you, but I can harm you all I like.”
Sera gasps.
“Seraphina, you have made a terrible mistake. Everything you love will be obliterated until you come crawling back to me on your knees.”
“No, you don’t understand.” She slams her palms down on the desk. “The old Sera is dead. You have no idea who I am or what I am capable of.”
“You will regret this!” the voice in the mirror shrills before foaming back into the black smoke and disappearing. It vanishes, revealing Sera’s real reflection angrily staring back at her.
Trying to process what had just happened, she turns away from the mirror and climbs into bed. Staring up at the ceiling above her, she can’t seem to believe just how complicated her life has become. The alarm clock beside her flashes midnight. Just one week ago, she lay in the same position, depressed, lost, and human. Now, she’s not exactly human anymore, powerful and exuberant. What a difference one week can make.
She had always felt as though she were waiting for something to begin, and now it turns out, she was right.
Maybe Jack was right; maybe this was God’s plan all along. He could have reassigned Nate, on purpose. Knowing how he would’ve come to feel about her. The dreams of hers were all a plan to help her understand. This is all part of Sera’s destiny.
Then the next thought hits her, she’s going to have to move in with Nate now. It has become her only option. Lucifer knows where she lives, he will come for her, and he just threatened all that she loves. Plus, she needs to learn all that she is now capable of.
Scared out of her mind, she makes the decision to move into Nate’s house—her house, their house. The thought causes her to smile. All the feelings from earlier reemerge and a warm feeling enters her heart. He built that house for her. He knows all there is to know about her. All her secrets, all her pain, and yet he gave up everything he knew… for her. Truly amazed, she finally allows herself to cry. Because even though her life is crazy and constantly under attack, she feels as though her life finally has meaning.