A/N: For Warning and Disclaimer, refer to PROLOGUE

Chapter 4: Metamorphosis

Serph stepped into the living room hoping to find Argilla but was surprised to find no one. He frowned. During the past two weeks, he noticed that his wife had changed. She would often stare into space, become cold and distant. She would jump at the sound of his voice, confirming his suspicions that she was oblivious to everything and everyone around her.

He gritted in teeth in anger; something was not right and whatever it was, he was going to find out.

He walked into their bedroom and noticed her things lying about. Having a newfound curiosity in him, he fumbled through her belongings but found nothing suspicious. He frowned and sat on their bed; he thought back, searching within his memories to find something, anything. It was then that his eyes widened, "Heat…Who was she talking to that night?"

He remembered her squealing voice as she talked to this mysterious person; he remembered her frightened face when she saw that he found out that she had been talking to someone. In fact, he remembered that she denied having talked to someone. It didn't seem important at the time, so he let it pass. But now, he knew it had been a mistake on his part.

Another clue presented itself in his mind, 'Sera. She went to Sera's on the night of our anniversary. Maybe I could ask her if she knew anything.'

Serph suddenly felt insecure. He didn't know why, but for some reason he felt threatened; it was as if his wife's attention had been snatched away from him. He narrowed his eyes again; he now had a clearer picture of what was going on: she was having an affair.

He balled his fists in anger, 'I'm going to find out who it is…'

Despite his dead-end clues, he really didn't have anything concrete to pin on Argilla and knew that it was unfair of him to judge her too harshly too soon. No, he'd investigate first before drawing any conclusions.

He'd get the answers from Argilla herself. He would wait when she came home…

xxxxx

Argilla closed the door behind her as quietly as possible. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess as she only thought of what had transpired that afternoon. Heat was in love with her. He had been in love with her ever since when they were in college but he never said a word. Now, by some cruel joke of fate, they had done an act that was deemed immoral as their vulnerabilities and weaknesses were exposed out in the open and with only one another to rely upon.

'Heat…I…'

What troubled her was also what Heat had claimed. He claimed that she loved him back. Did she? 'Do I?' The more she pondered over the question, the more confused she was. 'No… he's a friend…then,' she furrowed her eyebrows, 'then why did I kiss him…?'

"Hey honey," a low voice spoke from the shadows. Argilla gasped in surprise, "Serph! I didn't know you were home…"

Serph smiled bitterly from the shadows, slowly emerging from it and walking towards her, "Well, I won't blame you. You haven't known how to do anything for the past fortnight anyway. So why should I expect anything of the sort from you?"

Argilla said nothing and cast her head down, her hands balling into fists, "Why do you always speak to me this way?!" she yelled, catching her husband off guard.

"Why do you always make me feel like I'm worthless? Why are you being like this? Why?" she couldn't control it anymore and she collapsed on a nearby chair, pouring out her tears. Serph remained where he stood and watched his wife sympathetically. But due to his male pride, he chose to remain unresponsive and totally unapologetic, "I don't have time for your ramblings woman."

With those words he proceeded to the bedroom but stopped midway, "Oh and by the way, we have been invited to a party for the inauguration of the newly elected officials of the city. The party is tomorrow at 8 PM. I'll be here by six, so be ready by then."

Argilla, by now, had silenced herself and sat on the chair, staring into space. Serph just hurt her feelings more everyday. She didn't know how much of this she could take. Her mind drifted to the events that had occurred only an hour prior. Heat. Heat had provided her with hope. If she chose him, she had more chances of being happy than staying with Serph. She immediately shook her head as soon as the thought came to mind. 'How could I even begin to consider Heat's offer? I love Serph…I wouldn't give up on him…But…'

There was always a 'but'.

'He keeps hurting me…maybe,' she began to sob again, 'maybe, he just doesn't love me anymore…'

xxxxx

Serph sat on their bed with his laptop, working on the Embryon Project simulation when he found himself unable to concentrate. It was Argilla; she always distracted him. Even from their bedroom, he could hear her quaint sobs. He had hurt her. Again. He ran a hand through his silver hair, 'God…what the hell is wrong with me? I don't want to see her like this…then why do I say all those things to her?'

His thoughts then wandered to his suspicions and he sighed, 'If she really is having an affair…I suppose I am to blame. She came seeking in another man, what I couldn't provide for her.'

Serph broke from his reverie when a window from his program flashed, 'Not this again. Because of this project, I haven't any time for Argilla. It's…tearing us apart.'

But then, a nagging voice filled his head, 'But she betrayed you…you should do something about it instead of hiding behind your books and projects like a sissy!'

Serph shook his head, 'I don't know that for sure.'

'Then why don't you ask Sera if she knows anything,' the voice asked.

Serph's eyes immediately went to the phone, but just as he was about to reach for it, Argilla knocked on his door gently, "Serph," she said in a melancholy voice, "I'm going grocery shopping, there's something I forgot to buy. I'll be back in an hour."

"Alright." he said curtly.

Argilla sighed, 'Will we be like this forever?'

As soon a she closed the front door, the nagging voice inside Serph's head resurfaced, 'Now's your chance! Ask Sera!'

Serph was beginning to feel annoyed now, "No. I don't think I want to. I'm not in the mood right now. Just go away and leave me."

'You were supposed to ask her about this 'Heat!'' the voice yelled.

"That's right," Serph mentally agreed, "hmm…It seems I had forgotten."

'You're such a weakling!' the voice thundered. Serph grinned, 'If I am so, then so are you." He shook his head and laughed as the voice disappeared. "This project is driving me insane!"

When he stopped laughing, he knew that the voice, up to a certain extent, had a point. He had to find out what has been going on with his wife. He was going to find out; and soon. Without further delays, he reached for the phone and dialed Sera's number. Serph sat there, growing quite impatient with every second that no one picked up. He slammed the phone exasperatedly before picking it up and dialing the number once again. Again, no one had picked up.

Argilla was lucky tonight. Sera wasn't home. Serph shrugged his shoulders off, if he couldn't find out tonight, there was always tomorrow.

xxxxx

Argilla's eyes went through the aisles of canned goods emptily. She rubbed her eyes and blinked several times as she found herself unable to shake the vision that presented itself to her. She didn't see goods in front of her; instead she saw Heat's face. The entire aisle was that of Heat's face. Growling in annoyance, she shifted over to the parallel aisle only to discover Serph's image.

Argilla's mind was in turmoil. It was pretty obvious of what the vision was trying to convey. It was asking her to choose.

'You just can't make a choice just like that…' she thought sadly. Serph and Heat were very special to her. They were both special but in a different light. Serph was her better half and her soul mate; while Heat was her "buddy" and her confidante. She shook her head and closed her eyes, 'No…Serph is everything to me…he's not just my better half; he's my teacher, my friend…my lover…but what of Heat? I…he's…oh I don't know!'

Argilla then thought about the kiss and she quivered and bit her bottom lip guiltily. She had enjoyed the kiss with Heat. She had enjoyed and had initiated another, more passionate kiss. She was a disgrace. She was a fallen angel.

"Miss, are you alright?" a voice asked.

"W-what?" Argilla asked confusedly, turning around to meet the person behind her.

The sales clerk looked on worriedly at her, "I just wanted to ask if you were alright. I noticed that you've been standing there for the past fifteen minutes. Is there something wrong? Would you like some assistance?"

Argilla smiled gratefully, "Oh! I didn't realize. I apologize; I must have dozed off. Anyway, thank you," she hastily said and grabbed the nearest object her hand could reach, "I'll be going now."

She dashed through the store and was walking towards her car when her cell phone rang. She ignored it and it persisted to ring. She walked hurriedly towards her car, annoyed that the phone had not yet ceased ringing. When she finally reached her car, she grabbed her phone to see that it was Heat who was calling.

"Hello?" she said; her voice unsure.

"What's wrong Argi?" Heat asked, concerned.

"Oh…it's nothing…w-what can I do for you Heat?"

"What can I do for you? Gimme a break Argi! I just wanted to know how you were feeling…is all."

"I-I'm fine…"

"You don't sound fine. Did something happen with you and Serph?" he asked, his voice gruff with exasperation. Argilla, unsure of what to say, "Listen Heat, I'm out right now…I'll call you when I get home. Okay?"

She could tell that Heat was hesitating as he was silent. Finally he spoke, "Don't bother. I just want to talk to you tomorrow; during lunch. Would that be alright?"

"Of course…alright. It's fine with me." she hastily replied.

"Great. I'll see you then…Goodnight Argi." Heat whispered and continued, his voice suddenly unsure, "I…"

'Please don't say it…please don't say it…' Argilla repeated mentally.

"I love you…"

He said it. She didn't have the chance to respond as he severed the connection too quickly. She knew why; she knew Heat's actuations. He did it because he was afraid of her response, both if she had said something or if she didn't at all. He was trying to avoid that because it would be deemed as rejection on his part. And rejection, she knew, after his great effort to confess to her, was not something he needed at the moment.

"Take care Heat…" she said aloud, to no one particularly.

xxxxx

Argilla stepped into the house trying to avoid making any noises. Serph had a keen sense of hearing and even the slightest noise would rouse him. Serph had been harsh lately, and being woken up from sleep would spell disaster for Argilla. She took the grocery paper bags and set them on the kitchen counter. She brought the canned goods out and began setting them in their appropriate cupboards when a low voice startled her, "What took you so long?"

She stiffened at his voice, "Serph…! I thought you were asleep."

"As you can see, I am not asleep." he drawled, "So, what took you so long?"

"I…I'm sorry. I forgot my shopping list and I had to do the entire shopping from memory."

Serph, his mind surging with images of Argilla having an affair, advanced towards her, towering over her, "I ask you again, are you hiding something from me?"

Argilla shook her head vigorously, "No…! I'm not!"

Serph put his hands on either side of Argilla on the counter, trapping her, "You better not be. Because I'll find out."

She said nothing, frozen with nervousness at his proximity. Serph leaned his face closer to hers and she could feel his breath on her ear. He gently pressed himself against her and sensuously nipped at her ear, earning him a moan from her, "Serph…"

His hands latched themselves on her waist as he trailed hot kisses on her jaw line, seeking her lips. Argilla felt her blood rush through her veins and her heart-rate climb with her husband's ministrations. It was happening all over again. He would take her tonight; he would take her without her consent and discard her the morning after so much as a used item.

Serph had found her lips at last and he forced them open with his persuasive tongue and his demanding teeth. Her hands clutched his shirt as he plundered her mouth, trying to speak. Her words came muffled and incoherent as he had his lips connected to hers. "S…er..p…" she managed to utter as she pushed him away gently, turning her head sideways. He however was relentless as he took her protest as an opportunity to gain access to her neck. He grinned when he saw that the marks he had left were still present, visible and quite fresh.

He would just add more, won't he?

His hands began to roam through her body, finding themselves underneath her blouse, massaging her plump breast.

"Serph…please!" she pleaded, her voice coming out as a shrill cry as he bit her and grabbed her flesh non-too-gently.

She pushed him again suddenly and it caught him off guard and off of her. He glared at her, "What was that for?"

"Serph," she began, her face cast down as if she was ashamed, "not tonight…I'm not ready…"

He sneered at her, "Since when do you have to be ready Argilla?"

"Please…I…" she came up to him and cupped his face with her warm hand, "I just can't…okay?"

He instinctively leaned on her touch and closed his eyes, sighing, when she slowly removed her hand from him. Without opening his eyes, he grabbed her hand, tightly squeezing it, "Why are you running from me Argilla? You're hiding something from me."

She squealed, "Serph…it hurts…! I'm not hiding anything!"

He opened and narrowed his eyes to slits and leaned his face closer to hers, their faces almost touching, "You're hiding something…or is it someone?"

Argilla was frozen with fear, 'He knows…'

Serph gripped her arms tightly and pulled her to him, "I'll find out who it is and when I do, he's finished." He threatened and glared at her still, "And as for you, I'll make sure that your life becomes a living hell."

Her eyes widened with fright and he continued, "And don't think about leaving me Argilla. Or did you forget about who spends for Sera's Master's Degree; or your mother's life-support systems."

Argilla knew that she has lost; money was power. And he had both. Satisfied that he had seen terror in her eyes, he kissed her again; harshly. She whimpered and moaned into his mouth and he deepened the kiss still.

He pulled back and saw that she was out of breath, "Now will you give me what I want Argilla?"

What he didn't expect was for her speak, "Serph…I love you…I love all of you…" she sobbed. His heart warmed at what she spoke of and she continued, "What has happened to the man I married?" she cried, her sight of him blurring as fresh tears impaired her vision. "You aren't like this Serph…Please come back…!"

Serph took steps backwards; she was right. He wasn't like this before. Flashes and images of them being happy flowed through his mind. He had changed. She quickly ran passed him and dashed for the bedroom. Serph stood where he was and stared into space.

xxxxx

Argilla sobbed in their bed, huddling herself in a fetal position. Serph had really changed. The Serph that she knew before would never raise his voice or his hand on her; the Serph she knew would never threaten her or her family. The man with whom she shared that bed was completely different from the man that she had married. But she knew that he was right; up to a certain extent.

She couldn't leave him. No, she wouldn't leave him even if she could. She didn't want to. She meant what she said to him moments before; she loved him. She loved all of him and she wouldn't give up. She would get him back.

But what of Heat? Again, the question replayed itself on her mind and heart and again she could find no answer. Heat was right; she did feel something for him. But, the real question was, what was Argilla going to do about it? Pack up and leave with him? Divorce Serph?

No, she couldn't.

Her train of thought was interrupted as she felt him enter the room. His weight sunk on the bed and she dared not move. She felt him press himself against her and for but a moment, she feared that he would finish what he had started in the kitchen. She was surprised however when he did no such thing. He buried his face on the crook of her neck and gently kissed it.

Argilla forced herself to relax as his muscular arms encircled her tiny frame. It felt so right; so gentle, like the way it used to be. She gave a sigh of contentment and she heard him whisper.

"I'm sorry Argilla," he whispered, thinking that she was asleep, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I love you."

Argilla felt her eyes water and her lips quiver as she tugged them upward for a small smile. For the first time in months, she slept peacefully.

xxxxx

Argilla woke to the same warmth that she had felt the night before. She moaned and looked at the clock; it was seven in the morning! She had woken up late! She attempted to spring out of the bed only to be prevented by a strong arm wrapped around her waist. Serph.

'But! He'll be late for work!' she panicked.

She slowly tried to pry his fingers from her body but he clung on. She sighed and said with a low voice, "Serph…"

"Hn…" was his reply.

"Serph…you're going to be late for work. It's seven AM."

Serph slowly opened his eyes and removed his arm from her body, granting her permission to move. Just as she was rising from their bed, he caught her wrist in his hand and looked directly into her eyes, "I'm not going to work today." he deadpanned.

Argilla blinked in confusion, "What? Why?"

Her hand immediately went to his forehead to feel as if he were having a fever, "No, you don't have a fever…What's wrong? Are you feeing alright?"

Seeing her eyes filled with so much love and concern brought a genuine smile upon Serph's lips. Truly, he hasn't felt like this in a while, "Argilla, you're always too worried about me. Relax."

Argilla felt her heart race; she hadn't heard Serph talk like that in months. In the prior months, Serph had become detached, harsh and cold. He was distant and had always a world of his own. But now, speaking to him like this, lying in their bed like this, it seemed to Argilla that she had awoken in some beautiful dream.

"I don't want you to leave either."

"Huh?"

"I want us to get away from all this for awhile. I want to spend time with you Argilla."

Argilla could hardly believe her ears and he continued, "I want to talk…Frankly, I miss you Argilla."

Argilla smiled and lunged herself at her husband, catching him by surprise as she embraced him, "Oh Serph…you don't know how long I've waited for you to say that…I miss you too…"

Serph felt bliss as he held the woman in his arms. It should always be that way.

xxxxx

Heat paced back and forth in his office. It was already nine in the morning and he hadn't seen Argilla yet.

"Where could she be?" he wondered anxiously. He didn't know when it had started happening; when his feelings had changed, but the change was so gradual that the end result seemed so natural to him. His mind drifted to thoughts that were unbecoming of him. He felt so possessive of her when he didn't have the right to. He felt anxious and incomplete whenever he didn't see her. His imagination would conjure up all sorts of images and scenarios that he deemed unpleasant for her and himself. He would picture her being beaten, crying, or doing the deed with Serph. No, he wouldn't have that.

'What the hell am I thinking? She's not my wife…' he thought regretfully and bitterly. He didn't have the right to feel angry or upset about the possibilities of what Argilla might be doing, but for some reason, he just did.

'God…why do I feel so cheated?' he asked, frustrated with himself, Argilla and their situation.

"She promised me that we'd talk today…" he sighed, annoyed, "She'd show up…of course she would…"

Heat began to feel his breathing quicken as sweat was gradually forming throughout his body. He was feeling a mixture of emotions; he was being frustrated of her not being there. He felt frustrated that he didn't know where she was or what she was doing. But, at the same time, he felt desperate. 'She would be here…of course she would…' was the mantra of desperation that he kept running through his head.

The rational part of him would automatically conclude that some pressing issue or emergency had kept her from meeting her prior obligations to him but the irrational part of him would hear none of it. It was that part that was scared to lose her. And because it was scared, it was desperate to keep her in any way possible. The fact that he had no way of knowing where she was, was sending fire alarms to this irrational side and became the source of his frustration.

He gritted his teeth and inwardly cursed only to be brought back to reality when a nurse came to him, running, "Doctor O'Brien, Mr. Harris has just suffered from a cardiac arrest!"

Heat left his thoughts of Argilla in his office as he rushed to his patient's side.

xxxxx