*Sera's POV*

I am underhanded in my attempts to remain under. I do everything short of biting him, and I continue to fight my own body's needs as I remain at the bottom of the deep tub. It burns. It all burns and hurts so bad. I suck in water like a beluga whale, trying to overflow my lungs, but I do not die. I don't understand. Why won't I die? I gurgle out in pain as I punch the tub with all of my pent up aggression. Water tunnels through the hole I splintered. As the water lowers, I whip the heavy drenched locks with a flick of my head and I crouch instinctively. Yeomorah reaches for me again and I leap out of the water over his head in a single bound, hitting the concrete floor.

I don't know what overcomes me, or how I know to do this, but I climb the wall as I sputter the water from my lungs, body heaving as I contract to expel scorching liquid. I move fluid as a spider, as I battle whatever has overthrown me for control of my body. I'm on the ceiling now, looking down at curious faces, wet hair dripping onto those below me.

"Get down." Yeomorah demands through gritted teeth. As if I even know how. What the Hell are you doing Seraphine? First you try to drown now you climb the walls? This isn't helping! I can't do a single thing about it. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up! I need to concentrate. I need to figure this out...no. No. I'm moving again. Stop!

I open my mouth to respond to his command but all that comes out is some weird guttural whines and a gurgling snarl. I can't speak. I slink across the ceiling out the door and across the ceiling of the hall, upside down and naked to the world with my hair hanging below like vines around my head. Where are we going? Stop! Oh shit. You can't make it stop? You really can't? Why are we not going to the exit? I don't know Barima. I don't know, and I'm freaking out.

Several men leap up to try to pull from the ceiling on to pull back slashed or empty handed. My skin hurts so bad when I move, but I can't slow. The blisters are smoothing and pale pink now. I dig my nails into the ceiling and try to stop myself so I can turn for the exit. We're going the wrong way. My body jerks around and I cry out in strange sounds as I fight my own body. Is this what Nox meant when he said that I was dangerous? Yeomorah walks almost bored below me as I struggle.

"Hello up there." He smirks up at me. "You look ravishing on the ceiling. Yes. You do. What a view. Can you speak to me? Quite the reaction you had to the holy water and sacred salts." Fuck off. Fuck off! I yell, but only those broken primal tips and whines escape.

"Seraphine. Seraphine!" He yells. I can't see him though, because whatever I am contorts itself and scuttles through the vent of to get caught by my sizable bottom and hips. I cringe inwardly as it pops my hips out and they fall slack, body moving like a serpent and guided by my upper body as I dislocate and twist to only God knows where. STOP!! I cry harder. I energe from the vent and I stalk the ceing above a woman in the kitchen? Is this a kitchen? She was preparing food and nipped her fingers. Blood oozes from the sides of the bandage she's trying to replace. Blood. No. No! I finally rip my hands free of the ceiling, but I can't get my feet loose.

The woman notices a shadow and looks up to me in sheer terror. Injured hand covering her mouth. I lick my lips. Blood. The taste of Barima's in my mouth. My body cramps and pulses with an unfamiliar ache. She smells good. My head tilts at her. She smells real good. I mouth for her to run and she sticky nods before she runs dress billowing behind her. I slash and pry at my own feet, trying to get down since I cannot will myself forward or back. I catch the scent if the dropped bandage and my body springs free finally, flipping as we descend so that I land on fours.

I gag and curse myself as I resist putting the bandage in my mouth. A demon opens the door and approaches me with unease. I pop my head up to watch him, once again without control. I crouch forward on my hands and push my bottom up as I watch him. His eyes travel my body and little sparks dance along my skin. Arousal. Not blood, but I want it. I need it. I need something. I'm so hungry? I launch myself onto him, clutching tightly as he falls to his back with us on his chest. I sit up over his crotch and he almost moans, red eyes locking with mine.

I release my tongue and I lap at his throat and face as he lies flat and pliable to me. Head extended, letting me know that I can take what I need. I don't hesitate as I dig in, teeth sinking into his flesh as he moans and fists my hair. I drink slowly, somehow, my body relaxing. I rub myself along his body, my hand finding his hair as I press into his scalp lightly. What a rush! Oh my. Waves of ecstasy ride over me as I absorb his lust. You're, no, we're feeding. You feel a high from his emotions. Is this how incubi and succubi feel each feed? Wow. No wonder it's so hard to control. Barima rambles as we continue to suckle at his throat. I pull back, more coordinated now, before I can drink too much.

"Starving girl. We like the blood don't we?" He whispers huskily as he bites a fresh gash into his bottom lip. He sits up against me and holds my behind as I dart for the blood on his lips. My tongue find his and I bite it too, greedily gulping the coppery liquid and his moans. I sigh and I rip myself away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"Why be sorry? It's what we are, what we do. I enjoyed myself. I know that you did too. Is that what scares you?" He towers above me as he stands and I'm suddenly aware of my nudity. He pulls my hands away and at my sides. "Be comfortable in your skin. You are perfection. Do not deny yourself of pride and sustenance."

"I have to go. I have to escape. I am not meant to be here. I couldn't stop myself." I blurt as I try to dart past him. He catches me with ease.

"Calm yourself. Father will be here any moment and you are going to need to be able to think on your feet should you avoid worse punishment. I will do what I can for you, but you've got to stay put and calm." His dad? Well shit. Agreed Barima. Agreed.

"No! I got to leave before he gets here. He's going to kill me. He said so himself once he figures out what thing I am. I don't even know what I am. Two weeks ago I was human. Starving and working a shitty job, living in a shanty ass apartment. Now I'm so freak who climbs ceilings, eats people and molest strangers." I can't stop the words or tears from flying out.

I look up when I feel a presence to find Yeomorah approaching us. I turn to run for it and this man grabs me and pulls me into his side while I huff and struggle. "Calm." He warns. His soothing tone from earlier now venomous. I do not push my only ally here.

"I see you have found the newest addition here." He eyes my bare frame smugly as I cringe.

"I have. I was actually wanting to talk to you about it."

"Really? Why?"

"I like this one. It is interesting.  I'm running short on women on my wing and I'd like to take her. She already responds well to me." He boasted. I glared daggers through him. He can shit and fall back in it. Amen. Barima chimed.

"How so?"

"I managed to both calm her, and get her to feed." He turned his neck to show the healing marks of my teeth. Yeomorah's eyes were like ice as he observed me with unreable emotions. Now he sees. You told him straight up that daddy dearest was going to kill you.

"So now you feel entitled to her?"

"I think I might be able to get her to work with us better. So far your approach of harrassment and trying to kill her via holy water bath has utterly failed. What incentives does she have to obey when she realizes either way that the outcome is death? She's unique. A cut above the others and obviously resilient. Why kill her?"

"She might not die after all. It depends on what she is and how useful she can be. Her previous master has contacted me, he wishes to bargain for her back. Depending on what I can use from him or what he offers, keeping her worth in mind, she might be leaving. I intend to get my money's worth while she's here. Whether she stays or goes, I will benefit along the way."

"I have no fucking master. I do not wish to stay here nor go back where I obviously was not wanted. How about you bargain with him and then accidentally lose me after you get what you want? It's a win win for all of us. You get whatever you wanted from him. I get to be free. He gets screwed over, which is long overdue karma for him." I counter. It is only seconds until my head is smacked around with malicious force.

"Speak only when you are spoken to."

"Since you can't refrain from harming her, I'm taking her with me. This way she will survive until you workout your deal."

"She's due for punishment. She's spoken, disrespected, and struck me multiple times. She also tried to kill herself, which is destruction of my property."

"You're mad at me for trying to kill myself, while you were trying to kill me?" I interrupt, bewildered by the level of stupidity.

"She has a point."

"She has a punishment too. Move her back to her cell. I want an example made of her. I want all the others to hear what awaits them."

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*Yes, I had to with the song. Lol I was typing about her diving under and this popped into my head and it's been stuck there all day. 🤣