"Me?" I snap in disbelief. "Explain." She turns on her heel without a single word. I watch her natural sway as she strides away from me. I sigh. My veins bubbled beneath my skin at her proximity, and as she leaves the feeling of distress creeps back in. What is wrong with me? Her disappointment, her distance, it bothers me on a subconscious level that even I don't comprehend.           "Sera, why?" I try again. She gives in and rewards me with a response.           "Because you are a giant lie. You are a black hole in my already imploding universe. I was doing the best I could with the life I was dealt, it was rough but I managed. Then you came along, and showered me with phony affection and like a fool I would grovel for it. Then I find out it was all fabricated, just so you could use me. The only 'love' I had ever felt, and it was

       I roam through her mind, going through the moments she spent away from me. Morbid curiosity on my behalf, I just want to see what she did while away from me. How she felt. It was depressing, uneventful, so I snort the mission to focus on my task at hand.       If her mind were a file cabinet, imagine focusing and thumbing through thousands and thousands of files. Trying to go back to find the perfect bits and pieces of memory. I'm quite efficient though, having had decades of practice, and in no time I am weaving moments together. Creating the perfect tapestry to present to her. Instead of erasing the memory of my fuck up, I simply plan to lie about it's meaning. To explain later.                  If I erase the memory, Axar's presence here will go unexplained. She'll ask questions. I'll lose credibility with him that I need

    I protectively stalked my food source through the house as Barima pulled her along to a sitting area. The entire time she looked to me smugly as she pulled the awkward and humble Seraphine along. I narrowed my eyes to her in warning. She'll be sensing her own death if she tries what I think she thinking. Sera sat down beside her own the sofa, Axar flying to them to sit on the other side of his new mom. Sera introduced them both and smiled, but I could feel the suspicion flare in her as she observed this woman.       "Nox, please join us." She grins mischievously as she motions me to sit on the sofa across from them. "So, might I ask what brings you all here?"       "Yes. We have a little banhee here who is having some issues trying to hone his skills. I was hoping to ask for your help."       "Ahh. I se

Sera wobbled out, Axar hanging across her shoulder, into the bright mid day sun. The sun's rays creating dimension in her jewel colored maneuver as it captures the light with her movement. After I had disposed of the unbearable Barima, I ransacked her room for a blouse I wanted for Sera. I discarded Seraphine's bloody sweater afterwards. It took quite a bit of coercion to get Sera into the now dead woman's clothes. The idea of it making her more remorseful.As she donned her cloak of shame, and her new pouty demeanor, I worked on Axar in his dream world. Twisting thoughts and snipping things to fit just right. I need his outburst and tantrum to be perfect when he wakes. I want Sera helpless, isolated and weak. I need to break her down just enough to relent to me. I want her to want me again, to depend on me. I have to regain her trust.She lays Axar softly onto the backseat, teetering a little as his body messes with the balance of hers. I

     Axar has remained silent and brooding since I got back in the car and we drove off. He keeps looking out the window, almost longing. Watching no doubt for Sera. I feel foolish now, knowing that I had orchestrated and created all this chaos. I have cost myself Sera for the moment. I have cost Axar his mother figure. Now I will have to take care of this damn child and scrounge for food again unless I feed from this sulking heap in the passenger's seat.      I pushed too hard. Narius was right. I should have just lied the whole time, told her what she wanted to hear. I couldn't bring myself to say it though. I couldn't tell her I cared for her, or that we were together, and now I realize it was because it was true. We technically were together. In a round about way. I had taken her in and was willing to provide for her, and I have never done that bef