*Seraphine's POV*

I got my wish, he took me back 'home', at this dusty decrepit old prison. Be careful what you wish for. It's been a couple days, and I hardly speak to him unless I have to. Mainly when he drags me into the town to eat. He brought bottled water back last time, and a pack of breakfast biscuits that taste like sand.

I keep noting everything though, trying to stay at a distance that he can't read my mind. I'm afraid to sleep, afraid he'll mess with my head or discover I am onto him. I need help. I need the others. I need to tell them about his unusual behavior at times, about his eye. That red eye. It was like staring straight into Yeomorah's.

I am roaming the first floor, snooping through everything like a burglar. Searching for books, information, weapons, entertainment, a secret portal to get me the Hell out of here. Anything. I find antiques, old knickers...ew. I find disintegrating papers, old tapestries, old jewelry, men's and women's clothes. I wonder if these were Nox's or his female company's, previous owners, or intruders afterwards. Imaging Nox in some of these old, flamboyant get ups gets a rise out of me. I find old tea sets in the cupboard, and knives. Oh glorious knives. I picture his face as I spin around dramatically and jab the air like I'm jousting. On guard, you smug jackass. Which eye would like like to lose today? No. Which testicle. Yes. That's better.

"I prefer to keep them both." I jump and drop the old crusty knife and bust my my ass on the gross floor. My face contorts in embarrassment. I quickly save by faking a smile and jumping up with my pathetic old knife.

"On guard!" I jab at him and he easily evades. He grabs another knife from the drawer and comes after me.

"Stand down." He puts the knife towards my neck and I purposely trip and cut his arm.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry! Let me find a towel!" I put distance between us so I can mentally celebrate my stabbing him. It's the small things. I find an old table cloth in a cabinet. "Can an incubus get tetanus?"

"You aren't going to heal it?" Heal yourself.

"I forgot I can do that. Here." I quickly heal him and back away as if he were feral wildlife. Well, technically he is feral. "We need to go back." I need help. I need running water.

"I decide when we go back." I almost groan, but I'm afraid to push it.

"I know. I need to talk to someone though, about female things. I also worry that Yeomorah will come looking for us if we don't help get rid of Ezekiel. Nomias was kind enough to spare me with that deal, I owe him."

"Talk to me then. It's Nomias's problem, it was his deal."

"It's about...pregnancy. Do you know much about hybrid pregnancies?" His face draws up.

"No."

"Well, I'm worried. I've not felt great and I need to know what is normal or cause for concerns." He looks at my stomach warily. He steps forward and finally touches it.

"I suppose it would be better for you to speak to our mothers about these issues."

"Yes. If I die, again, I would be little use to you." He agrees. "Nox?"

"Yes, lover?" He winks as he leans his face down to mine.

"Can demons possess people too?"

"Definitely, darling." I shudder. There it is again.

"Could...could they possess you-or me?" I quickly add.

"A strong one could. Why the interest Sera?"

"I am concerned for you. You've not been yourself lately. You've said uncharacteristic things, you went through so much to get me back, only to deny us and threaten me. I remember what you said when I was dying. Something isn't right." I grab his hand for added effect. It was risky to tell him my suspicions, but I decided maybe if he knew be could be self aware of get aid in fixing the issue. "Noxodius, your eye the other night was red. Red." He raises his hands to pet my face and I relax a bit, but I don't fully trust our situation. His hands find my throat and he squeezes. I cry out in alarm and punch him in his chest, shocking him enough to let go.

"Strike me again, for no reason, and see what happens to you."

"You were strangling me!" I defend. "In case you've forgotten, I'm pregnant!"

"You think I am that ignorant? That I wouldn't know if I had?"

"My memories! Check my memories. You'll see. The eye. The choking. You'll see." I pull the slip I had found here aside and move my hair to expose my throat.

"I-I did." He looks almost nervous. "You weren't lying. Those prints are far too large to be yours. They wrap fully around..."

"Do you believe me now? I was afraid to bring it up, but I had to." He sighs.

"We'll go to grandfather's tonight. I'm going to see your memories there. I will not mess with your mind so long as you cooperate. If something happens and I act strangely, do not bring it up until I am normal again. Strong demons can possess me, but to do so at a distance requires a lot of strain. If it is Yeomorah, he won't be able to work his own form and mine at once. Only certain moments will he be able and for only so long a period. If I try to harm you, run. Run or defend yourself Seraphine." I don't know what to say, so I stay silent and nod.

"I meant what I said before, Sera. I do love you, though I am admittedly horrid at it. The child is mine, I've known all along but I let my own jealousy blind me. I have held it in since I wiped your memory last. The image of you kissing and feeding from Lucien is burned into my mind. But it went no farther. You were right, it is no worse than I've done. I don't deserve you, Alexavier is right, but I would kill before I gave you up. Nobody else can have you. You were made for me." He kisses me, and though I'm not certain, I go along. This is as close as I've had to a breakthrough with him, I don't dare jeopardize it.

He holds me for a while, as we stand. He has one large hand on my belly in concentration. He hums in satisfaction, as he feeds from me. I can tell by his eyes. He watches my throat and I sigh and nod, expecting him to feed, but he instead heals the bruises.

"Before we return to them, I'd like to have one more trip out." He grins and dips me back.

"Do you want me to wear sweats or this crazy old ancient slip? Since you were controlling my clothing previously." I retort.

"You wear the sweats. They cover more. Since you are my property nobody gets to see you." I catch his sarcasm.

"Since you are mine, nobody gets to see you either. It works both ways. You're going to start helping me try to find Barima too." He rolls his eyes.

We dress and set out to leave this dilapidated prison, Nox with a protective arm over me. It reminds me of the day he made me leave the a pool apartment, and we walked the street likely looking like a legitimate couple. I wish I could go back to that state of naivety, before I knew what I now do and endured what I have. My heart settles in my stomach as I think about how this almost feels like a funeral for some reason. Like this rare moment between the two of us could be the last of it's kind.

"It won't be, and should it be, remember me this way." My eyes burn as I clutch his arm. It's just getting dark out, and we decide to walk to majority of the way. Enjoying the colors of the sky and the sounds of nature. I watch squirrels leap in the foliage overhead and birds move in their nest. I can feel Nox's own inner turmoil and inhibitions, and though it shouldn't, it pains me. I grab a wild rose off the vine as we pass it and I stop him so I can reach his horns and tuck it onto his head.

"Perfection." I muse. Copying the tone in which he would always say it to me. He breathes deeply against my neck amd repeats.

"Perfection indeed." He kisses my forehead and stands, leading us to the king end of the drive, where we stop our trek on foot. We appear outside the bar, which confuses me until I understand what he's implying. Hunting together, yet again. No killing. Just feeding, impassive feeding. Absorbing energy as we pass. We dance together as a cover to weave among the couples and take our fill. I have no clue what I'm doing, but Nox is agile and fluid on his feet. He makes me look good.

We leave for a little mom and pop restuarant up the street, and I introduce Nox to biscuits and gravy. I found it hard to believe he had never eaten biscuits with gravy. He seemingly enjoyed it though, and as he finished I dipped my thumb in some gravy and wiped his forehead.

"Simbaaa!" He stares at me in utter confusion until I explain.

Noxodius looks surreal, in the dim streetlight as he strides along side me, my hand in his as he pulls me towards shops ahead. Inside we grabs a few clothes for a change later, and some snacks I've been craving. I grab a locket and a burgundy sweater for Nox, and another locket for Barima. I grab a handheld game for Axar, and an instax camera and I set out to find Nox again.

I am silent as I sneak up on him. I find him in the baby aisle, delicately holding up clothes and blankets. He is somber though, and he caresses each item thoughtfully. I notice he's chosen only neutral colors, and the softest materials. He has an armload of things which he quickly covers as I approach. I notice how he fixes his face free of emotion. Something is not right. We check out and I take out the camera, snapping photos of us as we stand before the building. Nox makes faces and holds me for some, in others kissing my head. In the last he asks to kiss my belly before we appear in Nomias's home.

We stand now in the kitchen, an astonished Axar watching us with spoon poised by his mouth. I smile at him and offer him his things and he hugs me gleefully and gives Nox a thumbs up. Alexavier only scowls at Nox as he approaches me to confirm that I am fine. He then yells to our mother and Nomias that we have returned.

"You two seem to have patched things up. Polite of you to warn us before you vanished." Nomias scolds.

"It is my doing. I took her unwillingly from here, I knew she wouldn't hear me out here. I needed her to have to communicate with me. I've apologized."

"I didn't know you had it in you." Nomias snorts.

"Me either." Alexavier gripes.

"I third the motion." Nox retorts, causing brows to raise. My mother hangs off me, looking me over. "There is something major that we need to discuss. I-well Seraphine, has discovered that I am possibly possessed. This is backed by my attacking her earlier, and not remembering it. I tried to deny, but there were physical prints of my hands. She has memories of several other events too. I intend to look over them with you tonight, grandfather. I need to know how to solve this." He looks to me. "Sera, go up to your room to shower and rest. I'll be up shortly so we can talk before I look into your memories." He hugs me before directing me to leave, leaving no room for discussion. Alexavier remains with them. Mom and Axar follow me.

The room that is 'mine' is now ten times as immaculate. I sit the stuff I got down and walk to the second bed where Barima sits. I grab her locket and I take a photo of Axar and myself, using my nails to cut them small enough to place into her locket. I tuck it around her neck and clasp it, then touch her face gently.

Mom and Axar have moved into the nursery, which nearly overwhelms me. I can't imagine what this all had to costs, and now my debt to Nomias will follow me through seven life times. The three of us sit on my bed and I begin to tell them what I've seen and suspect. I tell them about Nox's baffling behavior today and as I do my stomach twists. Something is not right.

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* Anybody have any suspicions or theories of their own? We are getting closer to big things. 🙃💚