What was supposed to be a cute short date– a walk to the lake and back home, tables with warmed dinner served and a house that smelled like pine with a hint of vanilla and lavender, her scents soaking into the wood with the time she spent, blending it with his and making it a new 'home', from beneath– turned into an intense makeout session that Sera did not seem to mind. James' big hand gripping tightly on her waist, another one of his hands running through her platinum hair, she did not mind at all. How his veins popped up due to the strength of his grip and how his lips bit hers and sucked on them till they were swollen and wet, how the moon shone on the crown of their heads and the lakes seemed to sing for their sweet union.
Sera has completely given up on her body, it heats up as James hovers on top of her and makes her lean back till her back is flushed with the cold grass, the gap of her waist supported by James' arm, and his lips devouring her, claiming all of her. He grabs some lock of her hair and pulls her head back, moving on from her lips to attack her collarbones, leaving a burning red mark on top of it. She gasps out whimpers as James sucks and licks on top of her skin.
He heaves as he pulls back, leaving Sera dazed and wanting for more, she almost pouts in disappointment from the lack of his touch, she tries to lean in for more, more, more, more. More of his lips on her, more of his desperate grip on her body, more of the urgency, more of his desires. Yet, James only pulls back. He lets out an airy chuckle as his finger rests on top of her lips, watching in amusement as her expression turns even more sour and if it wasn't for the openness of the space, he would've jumped to kiss her right back.
"You don't mind cutting our walk shorter do you? I don't think I can hold back anymore." He stands up first and extends his hand forward. Sera can only nod, already at a loss of words as she accepts his hands, allowing him to pull her forward and on her feet. He doesn't waste a moment, hand clutching at her wrists as he rushes through the forest, smacking the leaves out of his way, jumping through the logs and climbing through the stone piles, not bothering about reaching back safely, he only has one thing in his mind, that's devouring Sera right then and there, he's had enough. He has shown enough control. Sera catches up just as quickly, feet light on the ground, not a word of complaint leaving her lips.
He sighs in relief and frustration as he spots his house peeking through the trees. It's so close yet so far away and the pressing urgency in his pants makes it harder for him to walk. He walked up the front stairs twirled Sera to be stuck between the cold wood of the door and his warm body pressed against her, too hungry for the taste of hers as he fidgeted with the key hole and the key in his hand, barely managing to open the door after 10 minutes of work.
They somehow made it inside, Sera slamming the door with her legs to not waste any more of their time. They stumbled out on a red coloured sofa in the hall, Sera on top of James as they continued making out without parting away from each other, both weak in the knees and filled with lust to find a better spot to do this for their first time. James curled his hands around the neckline of her dress, ready to tear it apart before Sera firmly stopped them from doing so.
"It doesn't belong to me, be gentle." She reminded him, definitely not wanting him to catch trouble with the friend he borrowed the dress from. James sighed and slithered his hand around her waist and then back, trying to open the hooks one by one, smiling with satisfaction as the dress came loose and almost slipped off from her shoulders. Before James could take them completely off, she leaned in, feeling up his abs through the thin material of his shirt, painfully slowly unbuttoning his shirt, lips attached to his sweet neck. She lingers just near his pulse points, sucking, biting and licking at the same spot. His musky cologne too bitter to taste but just as inviting, it tastes nothing like the citrus and sweet amber he smells of, it tastes like cheap alcohol, intoxicating the senses out of her mind. She pulls the shirt behind and puts his skin on display.
Before Sera could blink, she was flipped and her back now rested on the sofa and James was on top of her, hips pressed along hers as he gasped and heaved, barely able to contain himself. The dress slipped off from her body completely and rested on her hips, James gently slid them off revealing her grey lacy lingerie. She gasped as the cold wind kissed her skin but paid no attention to it, too busy groping his chest and caressing his abs. James glanced and kept his eyes fixed on her hands as they explored each inch of his body, groping, flicking, pinching each sensitive spot and going dangerously lower before moving up again, teasing him to an edge. He picked his shirt from her side and caught both her hands using one of his and tied them up using his shirt.
"What are you doing?" She whispered.
"Just wait." He caressed the smooth skin of her hands and her wrists, making her coyly look away. Using his other hand, he slid beneath her body and swiftly unclutched the hook of her bra. Leaning in till his face was just inches apart from her body, letting the hot breath linger on her skin and kissing the exposed skin of her chest, leaving wet trailing kisses behind, before he caught her bra between his teeth, slowly dragging it back before spitting it out. It revealed her luscious breasts, bouncing off from the lack of support, the smooth cedar skin that went pale on her chest due to tanning, the browning of her nipples and the inviting light coloured veins visible from under her skin. "James.." She moaned out.
Keeping her hand locked, he fondled with one of her breasts, pressing and kneading into them, pinching her nipples, leaving a playful burning sensation, his mouth taking on the job to keep the other busy, tonguing at her nipples, sucking and licking on them, making her wither against his grasp.
"You're so sensitive here." He comments as her head rolls back and buries itself on the soft armrest, she, unable to answer, lets out a moan instead. He plays with her for a while before she whines, looking up at him with tears in her eyes and says 'no more.' "No more? Do you want me to stop?"
She frantically shakes her head. "No. Enough teasing, give me more." A lone tear rolling down her eyes. James sighs before letting go of her breasts. He unbuckles his pants, taking off the jeans and his briefs in one go. "Are you not going to untie me?"
"No sweetie, not until I am done with you." His voice came out all raspy and groggy from the heavy make out sessions they've been going at. He smirked at her, satisfied now that she was stunned and obeyed like the good little girl she was. He was already painfully hard and had to resist the urges to just thrust it in and have a good time, he wanted to take it slow, bring out loud moans from her until she was a complete mess.
He latches onto her nipples again, this time, holding both her hands with one of his as the other snakes around her body, going lower and lower and lower. As his hands hang around her lower belly, her stomach trembles and sinks in, allowing his hands to slide further in. They're quick to find her hole, soaking wet and throbbing, asking him to destroy her. He smirks as he enters two fingers at once, slowly yet forcefully and thrusts away into her.
"That— Your fingers… Stop teasing me." She barely manages, her voice cutting off to loud exhales. His long fingers stretch up her insides, It burns at first, her insiders squeeze in tighter and tighter, denying him entry until they grow hotter and stretch more easily, accepting both his fingers to go in knuckles deep and out. He changes the angles, the pace and the strength of his thrusts till he finds a spot that makes her jerk. A smile blooms on his face almost immediately. She tries to move her hands but they stay tied and under his grasp, as he keeps stretching up her hole. A grunt escapes his lips as he feels his hard on pressing up tighter against the fabric. He continues stretching her until he runs out of patience.
He pulls his hands back, and unties her hands momentarily, only to tie them with the couch to keep them from moving.
"Sorry, you'll need it." He caresses her cheeks. "The walls in these areas are thin, try to hold back." He whispers against her reddened burning earlobes. She whimpers and nods under his touch, rolling her head back, trying to avoid his gaze.
"Just get on with it already.." She begs. He groans in response, pulling away at the button of his jeans, too much in a hurry to take them off completely, sliding them till they sit snug on his thighs along with his boxers, The belt open wide enough to give his skin some space. Sera looks at him with her eyes pleading and big. His throbbing cock swells up even more and it makes her gulp away.
Unable to resist his urge and Sera's begs, he enters her completely in one thrust, his belt slapping her ass, leaving a light mark. Her mouth hangs open, so overwhelmed and full that no voice comes out, instead she softly gasps. He starts moving slowly at first, making her get used to the size and the girth, skin slapping against each other and the belt spanking her each time he gets deeper inside. Her mouth hangs open still, eyes shut tight and hands wriggling to be set free. He quickens the pace, holding tightly on her waist, not even pulling his cock out properly before he slams it back in.
He stops for a while, making Sera open her eyes and whimper for more, she complains— 'I was so close, don't stop.' She breathlessly says, He has the audacity to chuckle at her teary eyed begs, she looks too cute, too cute he wants to hug her and shower her face with kisses. He frees her hands from the couch and makes her wrap her arms around his neck. He pulls her up till she is sitting on his lap and he is looking up at her. Using his arms as support, he lifts her hips and enters her hole again, her head and eyes roll back, James grabs her hair to keep them lifted.
"You are deep, you're too deep." She moans out. James grabs her ass, greedily grabbing all of her skin, he pulls her hips up before slamming them completely down. "This is too deep, I'll-I'll come." James enjoyed this scene far more than he would like to admit, her skin smooth, covered in his precum and her chest covered in his spit, her head lolled back and the aborted sounds of moaning leaving her lips one by one as she bounces greedily on top of him. Her breasts jiggling right in front of his face and her tied hands wrapped around his shoulder, unable to move, he likes it far more than he would ever admit. He buries his face between her breasts, starting with soft kittenish licks which grew into big passionate sucks and bites, leaving marks all over her smooth skin.
"Let's do it together." He mumbles, and Sera nods. His pace slows down, this time slipping almost out of her hole and thrusting in all in, going deeper and slower. They both moan as they cum together and make a mess of the couch, James realising his musky sweetness inside her, Sera quickly latching onto his lips so their voices die down. She slumps over him with a heavy sigh and he buries himself against the soft cushions, untying her hands before allowing her to pass out from exhaustion. He rests Sera against them, and gets a warmer for them both. Too tired to even move, they pass out on the couch, smiling to themselves. Sera's hole twitching and dripping all over but for that moment it was alright, it was alright because they had all the time in this world and she would wake up and clean herself with him, with his in her arms and his hands on her waist.
When James opens his eyes, it's too bright. It's far brighter than it has ever been in his small room but he thinks it's because he's in love, everything seems brighter when you're in love, the time is perfect, they've shared kisses and their bodies and a date, he will confess today, properly. Under the moonlight with the rings they've missed and the vows he wants to say, this time with a kiss gentler than the ocean and tears in their way, he will confess all his love for her tonight, on one knee and a whispered 'I love you.' A secret moment they will share together before giving themselves up to each other for life. He smiles big when he feels her hands rustling through his hair, movement soft and gentle, so full of affection. He slowly fluttered his eyes open, getting more used to the light, and pulled her hands till they brushed against his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
As his vision cleared up, he saw Sera, blindingly beautiful and hair dancing away in the wind… and a tear rolling down her cheeks. All the sleep he had in his body disappeared in an instant, he jerked up and sat, propped against his elbow, quick to wipe her tears and pull her in for a hug. Only then did he notice the room, a big room and a softer bed, a thick warmer and crystals all over, something he knew his room would have never been. He could feel Sera bite his lips against the shoulder she was buried in, he could feel her tears seep through his clothes, he could feel his own vision blurring again, this time not due to sleep but due to his own tears rolling down without even understanding what's going on. He pulled her back and pushed her chin slightly up, dropping his head to see her eyes better, to see her better.
Sera too, wiped away his tears, her lips quivering as her mouth opened and closed again and again, trying to say something but her voice failing to come out.
"What's wrong? Huh? Sera… what's wrong?" He urged her.
"This… this is heaven." Her voice cracked at the edges. "They know, everyone knows. We're found James, we're found." She trembles.
"Heaven? Am I..Am I no longer alive?" His stomach sinks in, She shakes her head and a breath of relief settles in his chest before panic bubbles up again. "What do they know? Who are they?"
"My father and the heavenly principles, god. They know about us. They will never approve of this." She cries out again. "I was sent because I broke a rule and was called back because I broke one again, They'll never allow this." She hid her face with her hands. "I don't want them to hurt you."
"They won't. I'll accept whatever punishment they give me, Sera." He pulled her back in his chest and she kept shaking her head, trying to deny all of this, trying to forget all of this. She quietly pulled herself together in his arms as she heard footsteps approaching their room.
Two girls, one a lot younger than the other and a man with a child in his arms entered the room, hesitating to approach them both. Sera wiped off the tears from her face and looked as calm and happy as ever, as royal as she has ever looked and James can now understand why, being the eldest and the next heir of the heavenly thrones, he can just understand what she has gone through for her whole life. Putting up a mask, he can understand how much she trusted him when she let go of her royal demeanour and lived together with him, as a human, as a girl just in her 20s, as a woman in love without a care in this world. She gasped as the child ran into her arms, she lifted her up and cooed at her, chatting away with the guy the tiny girl belonged to.
"This is Lucifer, Lucifer morningstar, my brother." She smiles, he bows at him in a fancy way.
"And that's my lovely daughter charlie, I call her charchar." He sits beside Sera and ruffles Charlie's hair.
"Where is Lilith?" Sera whispers. Lucifer's expression is replaced by a sad one, he just shakes his head and pockets his hand, avoiding her gaze. Sera passed a look of concern but brushed it off just as quickly, not wanting to pry any further. "This is Emily," She pointed to the short one, "And this is Serenity." The other one waved shyly at him. "Everyone, this is James. My—" Her voice died down as she realised that their relation had never been defined, he was never officially hers and she wasn't his. All they knew was that they shared the same feelings which were about to be ripped apart by the heavenly principle themselves. Her gut churned but thankfully everyone moved on. The word 'Lover' had died in her tongue, he was never her lover to begin with.
Charlie jumped from Sera's laps to James arms and Sera could only think about how if she had more years on the earth, more time with James she would've raised a kid, their kid with him till they were both wrinkly and old and till their children grew old enough and got married and had their own kids, How he would be the most gentlest father and carry their child like he carried Charlie. How all of this filled her with envy, that Charlie could get his love but not the child she'll never have. They played together and James attentively listened to all of the stories that they had to share.
'You have to present yourselves now.' Whispered an unknown voice. It echoed through the hall, startling Charlie who started crying loud. Lucifer had to leave for now, he knew. Because of Sera's mistake, the ban he had over his head was lifted but he was no longer allowed to meddle in the affairs of the heavenly principles or even be present during major decisions and events. Lucifer took Charlie back in his arms and disappeared in a blink. Emily and Serenity too, exchanged knowing glances, they left the room for them to prepare themselves.
On the bed, their clothes were placed, neatly folded for them to change into. Sera had worn her own grey gown, her wings had grown back to their full size and the halo above her head floated and glowed again, She was back in her angel form, James, changed into his usual clothes too, could only stare at in silence, dazed. They held hands as they walked out together and presented themselves in the heavenly court, already knowing what fate had stored for them, yet they couldn't give up, not yet, not just yet.
James was made to stand behind bars, in a corner while Sera stood in right in the centre, in front of Seraphiel, her father and the heavenly principles staring at her like she was a lowly creature. She looked up at his father for help but he glared at her and averted his eyes, she knew what it was going to be like. Emily and Serenity settled on the first seat they could find, the closest to Sera and the court started filling up with members of the heavenly principles and people under her and her father.
"Do you know what you've done or do we need to recall it for you?" The voices whispered again. Heavenly principles, also called as god, had no body and an airy voice. They took no form nor appeared in front of anyone, just hid behind a golden glowing mass that could be present anywhere and nowhere at all.
"I fully know what I've done.' She bows, hearing Seraphiel's grunts as she does so.
"Then there's not much to say and add, I believe this human faces his—"
"No. He faces no punishment." She stood straight once again, going directly against the principles, they tilted their head in amusement. "I did what I did with full consciousness and my choice, I wasn't forced or manipulated, I did what I had wanted at that time. He faces no punishment and gets to return back freely and with respect."
"Sera!" Seraphiel yelled. The heavenly principles stopped him from moving any further.
"Very well then, are you saying you're all right with taking the punishment on his behalf?"
"I am." She confidently replied without a single drop of hesitation. James, locked behind the bar, shook his head and tried to refuse but even his mouth was locked. Seraphiel jerked up from his seat and aimed his hand at James, making him crumple with his powers.
"Father!" Sera rushed to the bars.
"How dare you take up punishment for a mere human like him. Do you know what you have done? Sera do you? Is this how you were raised! You've brought such disgrace to the Seraphim angels. I can't even look at you." James landed on his knees, feet heavy and unable to move, yet he bit his lips till they bled to not make a sound of complaint. He accepted whatever spell he casted on him without a whimper leaving his lips, because he promised he'll take whatever punishment will come over him, because Sera took it from him instead, because he failed to protect her. His hands glowed gold again and this time James met his eyes with equal determination, challenging him almost, to hit him right near his heart so it never beats for anyone ever again. Before it could hit him, a lavender orb, similar to the gold one, shattered it whole. Seraphiel looked taken aback, he stared at Sera and so did James.
Her hands were aimed at her father, other hand clutching it tight while streaks of blood flowed down her face. Her body glowed and her eyes were widened, burning with rage.
"You don't…You don't touch him.." Her voice husked out. He raised his hands again, this time directly at her but was once again stopped by the heavenly principles themself.
"We believe, Seraphiel, this is a private matter that your daughter will sort out on her own. As you have decided to take the punishment on his behalf, you may ask this man to exit heaven." They replied.
"But heavens this—"
"No more Seraphiel, no more." Her father sulked away in a corner.
"Leave heaven?" She asked, pulling herself away from James' cage "What do you mean leave heaven?"
"Ah Sera..My sweet child. Heavens don't approve of your relationship, nor this man. To be with an angel and to be that physical with an angel is a great sin Sera, tainting your innocence and stealing your purity carries grave consequences. Since you've decided to take them on yourself — we can't punish him, nor keep him in heaven. He must live on earth and grow and age as an old man but never die as nor heaven or hell accepts him, for we have banished him for life. And you, my child, no angel or human can ever make you leave this place."
"So you're separating us, forever." Sera gritted out.
"We are. We are also giving you the opportunity to see him out, on your own accord, taking your own time. After a week, however, we must not see him lingering inside the holy gate of gold. If that were to happen – You and him, both will be facing consequences for that, I hope we've made ourselves clear." They bow in her presence. "And you Seraphiel, must live within the gold castle and leave them two alone– for a week."
"Why am I in this, heavens? I've done nothing and don't deserve this disrespect, this disgrace!" He shouted.
"You've brought distress to the next heir to our throne, you must not be meeting anyone for a week and reflect on your anger." Before he retorted, foggy creatures clutched him by his sides and pushed him till he started walking.
"Well then Sera, congratulations in advance on your crowning next week. After this chaos, we shall not be attending your crowning ceremony" They stopped by James for a bit examining his body and glancing back at Sera's, an amusing smile on their face, fading away as the lock of his cage opened with a click sound. Sera runs inside to catch his weary body before he collapses and the cage crumples from the sides. Emily and Serenity watch from their seats, tears in their eyes as the hall is once again filled with sounds and noises. The members leave one by one, sharing their sympathy with Sera and her lover.
"I am sorry I couldn't protect you" Sera sobbed. He deflated in her arms and sighed in relief.
"A week, a week with you is all I have, love. Don't waste it with regrets, instead love me all you can, all you want." He pulled her in for a hug. She tightly held him too, remembering the way his body feels in her arms, remembering the smell of his cologne, the sound of his breaths and the rhythm of his heart. She took him back to her room and laid him down where he instantly passed out.
"This… His body is getting drained out in heaven." Serenity commented. She lingered near the door, hesitating to enter and regretting her timing as she catches Sera in tears watching James rest peacefully.
Sera jerked due to the sudden voice in complete silence. "Drained out?" She collected herself and asked.
"The one we have in this heaven, the one laying here right now, it's not his physical body, Sera. It's the manifestation of it, it's his soul. The more he stays here, the more he loses his connection with the physical world. Due to heaven's blessings, he may not die, but can grow severely ill for a while if the connection is too weak or maybe even lose himself in the stars and never return… back to earth. It's strong right now and he's already this weak. Think of it as a stretched band with multiple threads. The more you pull them, the more they break off, one by one, one by one until the rope is completely torn apart."
She looks back at James and then back at Serenity. She extends both her hands in front of her and a blue stretched rope hovers over her hands, a string or two broken but it looks fine, in a good condition. "This is the state of his connection with the earthly world right now."
She looks at him and caresses his head. He looks a little pale and a little glum, his cheeks aren't entirely sunken in but you can tell that he's suffering, his cheekbones are more prominent and his eyes have bags and are puffy. He doesn't wake up, completely lost in regaining his strength. Her heart squeezes in and doesn't release, making it tightened and ache. He seems to be worsening but she wants to be a little selfish, he seems to be worsening but she wants to be there to witness it, she wants to be the one to make him feel alright and kiss all his pain away, she wants to be the one to wake up and see his face every morning and every night. She wants to be selfish and keep her all to herself, right here in her arms.
He cracks his eyes open shortly after and smiles, pulling her trembling hands towards his lips to kiss her palms. She can be selfish for a day, she can be selfish for a day more before he has to return and find love again. She wonders if they'll be so cruel yet so kind to erase his memories for life, she wonders if she has the heart to witness it all, James forgotten and clueless, and find love once again and be smitten in the arms of another woman. All forgotten about her and happier, not as miserable as he is right now, writhing away in the sin of loving not a human but an angel.
Sera makes him sit up straight with his back resting against the headboard and chats away, she invites emily, morning star, serenity and even charlie to join and keep him entertained while she makes him food, cleans him up, talks to him and takes care of him like a sickly patient. She pretends he is just sick. She pretends it will go after a week or two and he'll spend the rest of his life here, she pretends and pretends and spins stories in her head so the ache feels a little gentler in her chest.
Charlie has found fondness for the new member. She barely leaves his side and bounces on his lap as he coos at her. Morning star playfully expresses his jealousy of not being Char's favourite anymore while Emily and Serenity make fun of him. They look whole and complete, even Lucifer who lost his wife to nobody knows what, but he doesn't look devastated. He doesn't look shattered the way Sera feels. He doesn't look broken like Sera feels. Instead, he laughs and topples over Serenity, instead he makes jokes and plays in with them as if nothing's wrong. It pisses her off. The way James plays with them and looks like their older brother and oh so much like her betrothed, yet they took it away from her.
Even when they all leave back to their respective places, James sits straight, his eyes flutter shut and jerks open due to exhaustion taking over but he sits straight, listening to Sera talk about everything and nothing, he listens and listens and listens until the voices drain out and his eyes shut on their own once again. He wants to listen but what can he do? He's a mere human who gets tired too.
Sera stares at him as a dagger pierces through her heart. She watches him grow tired so quickly and despite his multiple attempts, his body shuts off on its own and she knows it's time she can no longer be selfish. When he wakes up next, she showers him with kisses and hugs. This time however, she doesn't invite Emily or Serenity or Lucifer. She sits next to him and talks to him about his day, she talks to him about what he likes, it's all him him him.
"James, are you liking it here?" She finally asks.
"I mean, it's a lot more comfortable than working as a guard. I don't have to fight and most importantly," He leans in to kiss her, "I get to be with you all day, just sit by your side and listen to you. I've become quite fond of Charlie too."
"Charlie hm? Yes, yes. She's quite a charmer isn't she? I fell in love with her the first day I met her too! She makes me want to have a kid of my own.."
"She does." His voice fades off.
"Would you like to have children someday?"
"Oh I would, I would love to have a daughter and a son. I would spoil my daughter and shower with love, I would never let her go to bed upset and I would give her toys and dresses every now and then. I would teach my son to be strong, I would teach him how to protect and spoil him with presents too, he too would be my little princess." He smiles. "Right? I think you would be a great father James." Her smile drops. She clutches her heart and her breaths get heavier, it trembles and James looks at her confused. "James, You would be a really great father so…" Tears fill her eyes and roll down. "So go back and become one. Find yourself a wife and—" He covers her mouth with his hands and she completely gives in to her emotions, hiding inside James chest for comfort as she cries.
"Don't say that love, you're hurting me." He caresses her cheeks. "You're hurting my feelings. We still have 4 days left, let's not think about all that."
"We don't have 4 days left James." She whispers.
"Do we not? It must be becau—"
"You're leaving today, James." She aggressively wipes her tears and pulls herself away. "Today, you're leaving today."
James jerked up out of the bed and stood up, fainting in the process and almost tumbling down but he stands up straight and searches for answers in her eyes.
"What are you saying?"
"Leave James, before you lose yourself."
"I still have days—"
"N0! Do you know the reason why you're this weak? Do you know why you can't even stand up by yourself and find it hard to even breathe? Because you're here in this rotten place, because you chose to be with me and got carried here. Because if you stay here any longer I might lose you forever. So please, leave."
"I came here because I lo—"
"Save that James. Save that for when Heavens are kinder." She sighs.
"Sera please, I'll be fine!" His voice cracked.
"Guards!" She avoided his gaze and folded her arms across her chest. "Please escort this kind man out of the golden gates without hurting him and wait for me there." Two men enter one by one, both calm and pale. They have a gentle smile on their faces, devoid of any emotion. They take James by his arms and as instructed, walk him carefully to the gate and Sera watches him leave, Nausea taking her by and she throws up before she can even look at him again.
The commotion is enough to gain the attention of Emily and Serenity. They stand near Sera and soothe her back, Emily already has fear running through her veins as she watches James leave, gulping down his tears and accepting his fate.
"Sera what's going on? James? Is he leaving? We still have 4 days left till he has to." Her voice bubbles with panic.
"I can't be selfish any more Emily." Her words click in Serenity's head. She offers a sad smile, ah to witness love like this, transcending the barriers of universes just to end up together and even in the parting moments, they can't help but be strong for each other.
"Emily..Let her be." Serenity speaks.
"But—" She sighs and stops herself, not bothering to question any further. Instead she focuses on Sera, who slowly trudges behind the guards and James, who barely has her glow around and her halo seems to be cracking, her wings are flaccid. The guards let go of James and he stands there, still and looking sadly at Sera.
Serenity and Emily follow, standing closely behind the Golden Gate of Heavens and watch as Sera slowly puts her foot out of the border, sighing in relief when she smoothly crosses over, the heavens must not have put her ban from earth just yet. She stands there and avoids his gaze still, a scroll flickering in her hands. She opens it and begins to read,
"James Potter, A guard of Hogwarts - World's greatest Wizarding school, a visitor of the heavens on special accords, You! You are banished from heaven for life! If you shall enter this place one more time, I will make sure that you do not get to witness another second." She spoke with rage, Emily trembled and dropped on her knees. Sera who was always calm and collected had never shown such a big emotion in her life. "And if you don't peacefully exit by yourself, I must use great force to make sure my duty is fulfilled." He fully turned to her and took a step forward.
"Not another step, Potter. I will make sure you regret it." And he can only laugh, nothing in this damn universe can make him regret loving her. She channelled her powers to her hand and lavender fireballs grew in her palms, her hair flying wildly and her body floated above the ground, hands burning and threatening. She did not move nor did he dare to do so.
"Go back to where you belong." She commanded in airy whispers. Her chest tightened around and the air choked her throat as tears of blood rolled down her eyes and lips. James, instead of running away, only limped towards her, coughing and barely able to move. He managed to reach her and collapsed against her body. She wanted to push him away, no, she had to push him away because there was no hope for them, no choice. She had to make sure at least one of them led a happy life and she knew it was never in her fate.
James brought both his hands to her cheeks and wiped her bloodied tears away. The magic from her hands dissipated, her hair calmed down and settled on her shoulders and her body came back near the ground. She didn't move. She had to get him out of here whether dead or alive, that was just her orders, what she was supposed to do. James caressed her cheeks and slid back until his hands were around her nape.
He pulled in her till their lips clashed, bloods, tears, the taste of sorrow so prominent in their kiss. He kissed her gently, unlike all the times his lips had met with her, it was a last one, a last goodbye. He hungrily chased after her lips. Sera pulled back from the kiss and rested her forehead against his, tears pouring out from both of them as their mingled with each other.
"If you've ever loved me, my angel, just say so. Just say that you love me." His hands still pulled tightly on her nape, their foreheads still resting together and their breaths heavy. His voice came out raspy and exhausted. "And I will leave you and this place all alone like you wanted, and I will never show my face around here, ever again." Sera shut her eyes as the heaviness of his words pierced daggers through her heart, it's not her that wants him to leave, it was never her who wanted to leave by his side, it's the circumstances.
"You know I do, You know it so well James." She trembled with agony as more tears spilled out of her eyes. This isn't how she wanted to confess her love to him, the universe can't be this cruel for her to confess like this.
"Let me hear it. That's my last request." He breathlessly said. Searching in her eyes as she finally has the courage to face him, to spare him his last glance.
"I love you James, I love you. I swear on the heavens I do." Sera collapsed in his arms, bawling her eyes and screaming in pain with no mercy in sight. The man kneeled on the floor with her, silently crying as he readied himself for the parting.
"I love you, Sera." He silently replied. He pulled himself apart, her arms that perfectly fit around him, her breath that seemed so natural against his, he pulled himself apart and watched her slump against the ground, calling out for him but he had to go. Just as he promised, he turned his back against her and started walking slowly. Without turning back, without stopping, he walked ahead and listened as her voices were drowned out by the growing distances. He closed his eyes until the warmth from heaven disappeared and the cold air of Hogwarts hit him in his face like a wake up call.
When he looked behind him, it was all gone. The clouds, the whites, Sera all was gone. His love, it was gone. His knees gave out, eyes fixed on the gate who lost its glow, all cracked from the edges and plants and roots eating away. He caressed it, tried to open it but it did not budge. Even though it opened to a deep forest, a new place, a new home, it didn't take him back to heaven, to his lover. And since, he hid himself in the depths of forest, painting canvases on canvases full of Sera, her smiles, her tears, her anger and her love. Only thing that remained with him was a dull key that sent shock through his body every time he touched.
Sera, on the other hand, had had enough. Her crowning ceremony was pushed forward due to her decision of sending him back early and after the crowning, she was free, not exactly as her responsibilities and Heavenly principles kept her in check but after Seraphiel stepped down, as long as she did her job she was free to do whatever she wanted.
She barely left her room, barely spoke, barely barely barely, barely lived. Seraphiel, after his discharge from the Gold Castle, never bothered to meet her again. Emily and Serenity came by her room everyday, they kept food outside her room and returned with the tray full. Sera stopped looking at herself in the mirror, her ribs poking out through her dresses, cheeks sunken and her wings looking like someone tore the feathers off, she looks like a mess.
It wasn't until a few weeks after that she discovered her dresses sat tight around her stomach, they stretched and her stomach peeked through, despite not having a single proper meal in those weeks and working herself tirelessly or rotting away in her room. It wasn't until a few weeks after that Serenity sensed different energies around her while bringing her usual tray of untouched food, a few weeks later that angels were called, heavens raised chaos to keep her safe and healthy. A few weeks later she discovered that she was pregnant.
She was brought to the gold castle where she wasn't allowed to work and force fed for the growing child until she could eat properly by herself.
"But how is this possible, this I— I am angel!" She screamed as Serenity tried to give her another spoonful of food. "And he– He was a m..mere human! This is not possible in the universe."
"Sera…" Serenity hugged her. "It isn't..It isn't entirely impossible. You lived there as a human with a mortal body and an ability to do whatever mortals do. You went there and came back with a child Sera, even if your physical body changed the child in you didn't. It's half human and half angel." Sera looked at her bulging stomach and kept a hand, caressing it, finally finding a new purpose and dedication. She let Serenity feed her and no more did she starve herself. The works were given to his other sisters and her father, though still upset, offered to take her work in order to give her rest. Serenity stayed by her side and took care of all of her needs.
Through heaven's eye, she looked at James, cooped up in his own house and refusing to take care of his own self. How she wished he had someone to himself too. She sent in Emily, to find someone with a strong heart and a strong will, someone very dear to Hogwarts and close to James who could take care of him. Emily brought Hagrid to her, unlike James, he talked and walked like the rest of the angels, connections so deep with the earth, even if he stayed in heaven for years it wouldn't falter. Sera told her the whole story, from start to the end, from a budding love to withering partings, he heard it all. Without hesitation, he decided to help Sera and took on the job of taking care of James.
Eventually James warmed up to Hagrid, he handed him the key now that it was no use to him and started getting better, he went back to work, came home and cooked himself meals. He went to sleep and woke up all alone, he went back to the life he lived before it all, and it stung, the faint smell of lavender and her friend's dresses hanging out to dry were reminders of what he had and what he had lost. With a heavy heart, he moved on with life. He never found anyone to love, rather, he couldn't come to love anyone even as time passed.. In several people, he just searched for one. His Sera.
"Oh James, I did not know." Sera sobbed, her legs gave out, and the women and maids behind her ran to provide support. Her stomach had bulged out even more than before and it was big enough as a basketball, she plopped down with a loud thud, the ladies supported her stomach first and then held her, pulling her in their arms to restrict her moment. "I did not know I had your child here with me, our child here with me."
Seeing Charlie in his arms, she could only dream of having a child of her own, she never thought it was possible, not with James at least. All of his life, James won't even get the privilege of cuddling his own baby, of raising the children he so wanted. She regrets not being selfish and a coward. At least they could've loved each other as stars.
"Come back to me." The city ruined with a hollow echo, a hopeless one.
Sera's pregnancy wasn't a smooth journey but it was far better than all that had happened. Seraphiel had put his anger aside and worked day and night to provide it all for his daughter. They made out their differences, even for a while, the hole in her heart filled up one by one but left a half, all for James. That too got filled up by a quarter when her daughter came into this world. 'I will spoil her', James had said and Sera did exactly that. The half angel and half human, who glowed with a different aura and grew faster than all the kids, had to be sent back to the earth however.
She was just a little kid, still smelling like the warmth of her mother and sunshine and flowers, in Sera's had been a while since she had seen James as the eye of heaven had already closed up on her, oh she was no longer allowed to even yearn for her lover. She had no way to take care of him or see him and she knew the kid had to be the one who took care of her father, the little girl who would grow up to be a strong woman, missing the touch of her mother and her family, who would learn the hard way what it's like to be loved and what a family means, it had already been etched onto her fate. Sera knew and yet she didn't have in her power to stop it from happening, who was she to interfere with what the heavens have written?
She had the freedom to keep her under her eyes for a year and on a fine morning Sera decided her name was going to be Harriet, not that she had thought about it or was she told about the name but it was just because she was Harriet. Harriet Potter, the respected daughter of James Potter and Sera. She gave her all the love the universe could possess and Morning star took her in under his wing and gave her the companionship of another sister, Charlie. Emily and Serenity cuddled her taking turns and Sera could only imagine how much she would liven up this crumbling heaven. But she wasn't so lucky, she didn't have the privilege to be selfish yet again and Harriet had to go, she knew this.
When Harriet had 3 months left to turn a year old, Sera called in all of her supporting ladies of the heavens, all of her trusted companions and sent all of them on earth in search of a family that could afford to take Harriet in and give her a life of luxury. The search went for ages and Sera only grew fonder and fonder of Harriet. She was her mother after all. Seraphiel too, who had sworn to dedicate his life to being away from his daughter in the name of betrayal came around to take Harriet in his arms and proudly call her his granddaughter. That's how charming she was, with the eyes as sparkly as the moon and her heart beating in the rhythm of the galaxy, with her being a miracle, a connection that existed in all three realms inside her body. She was a human and an angel and a fallen one born through the sin of tainted purity. She was everything. Her hair was just like her mother's, platinum and long and silky, her wings were short and her halo was the brightest of all.
Harriet was a beautiful child enough to make all of the heavens so jealous they crushed her underneath curses and binded her soul for eternity without happiness and life. Soon her angels returned with no families in their hand that could take Harriet in and could make it possible for her to meet her father and also live a happy life. Every future that was seen showed misery and sorrow for as long as Harriet was to exist. The search continued and continued.
Until one day, Serendipity, a high order angel that worked right beside Sera and Serenity presented herself to Sera with a glowing orb and a future for Harriet on earth, filled with Joy and love forever. The orb however, didn't glow in the colours of peach or pink, the colours that usually showed a joyful future, instead it glowed dark blue with stars of lavender.
"This is the last possible future for Harriet in the earthen realm." Serendipity spoke with a husky voice, her eyes completely shining in the colours of the orbs, showing that she was looking far into the future. "But it comes with a price, a heavy one."
"What do these colours mean… they're not that of love, angel." Sera spoke, pulling Harriet closer to her body, squeezing her and breathing uncertainty.
"As you can see, my queen, they're not of love but it can turn into love. She won't be presented with joy on a plate where all she has to do is pick up and eat, instead it's a game. It's a game of survival and a test of will and her strength. If this kid grows up to be a strong woman and survives the game, she will have the man of her dreams and a family that will love her to death but if she loses.." Serendipity grows closer, "If she fails this very test my queen, she will cease to exist."
"How dare you see such a rotten future for my child! Out now! I am sure she has better written fate than whatever this is. Bring out the other angels, you're dismissed."
"My queen, forgive me for foreseeing such a rotten faith but this is the only one the heavens have given her where she can end up with a life you always wanted to give her. When she turns old enough, the heavens will themselves give her the key to heaven and let you know that she has made it on the right path. It's either that or you'll never find out what has become of James."
"James…" It was a tough choice, she had to choose between the power of both her loves, her love as a lover of the star and her love as the mother of the sun. It was a tough choice. Harriet either got to live her entire life in heaven without ever knowing about her father and facing the same strictness of the heavens that Sera had faced or she could live on earth with her new family and if she survived, she would see love in all the corners of the universe and find her father and love him and take care of him, protect him unlike Sera.
She only had a week in her hands to decide what kind of life she would give for Harriet. She thought and thought and thought and she knew, in her heart she always knew. She had to give her back to James. Serendipity sympathised with her but showed her n0 mercy, she knew she had to be strong for the both of them, she had to be strong because she knew it was the best for both of them.
Serendipity worked day and night each day, tiring herself to the bone to make the necessary arrangements to take Harriet to the earthen realm. She had studied the family and saw broken fragments of how the family would treat Harriet, it was enough for her to back down and stop the process entirely. No, she had to be strong, she reminded herself. She worked with Serenity on potions on spells on magic to make her look as humanly as possible, to remove her wings and halo in a way it didn't hurt. She gave her eyes lacking power just like her father's so that she had to wear glasses, make her hair brown and make her sickly thin.
Sera watched her daughter hide into the form of a human, unrecognisable to her eyes and yet again she wasn't powerful enough to save her, what was the point of her being the throne queen then?
She kept Harriet closer to her chest the entire day on her last day in heaven, tucked under her chest, hidden away from the world, maybe the heavens would sense her love and give her a better life. They couldn't, they would never know.
Serendipity knocked on her room, an entire army of angels behind her to support and hold Sera down.
"It's time for her to go, Sera."
"You look just like him!" A tear escaped her eyes and fell on the face of the child. The child shook her head slightly. "Don't you think you would be happier with him, hm? Harriet? When you carry his name, Harriet Potter, make sure you make him as proud as you can." She kissed her on the top of her forehead.
She called Serendipity in, and asked her to take Harriet away. Yet her grip was strong on her, tightened and not letting go.
"You decided this, you have to let her go, Sera. This is what you decided yourself." sHE took the baby in her hands by force and cooed at her. "I am sure she will live a happy life. I am sure the daughter of THE seraphim angel would be strong enough and make it" As she left with Harriet, Darkness took over the room and in Sera's heart. She silently cried to herself, tucking her head in her knees in the corner of her room.
The angels rushed to her but were proven useless when they were unable to budge Sera sinking deeper into the darkness taking over her heart. They looked at each other and their heads filled up with hesitation, the angels lingered around, waiting for Sera to give any sign of moving, anything but she stayed buried in her knees in the corner of her room. The angels eventually left her alone.
The darkness she was drowning in soon turned to rage, rage so dark she stormed out of her room, the tiles beneath cracking as she walked over them, the things flying out of her way and making path for her, even Seraphiel decided to watch from the sidelines and watched as she walked towards the gate of holy heaven, where the heavenly principles true form resided. It's said that no one had ever seen the true form of the principles and those had died a horrible death. Yet there she was, knocking on the gates of death itself.
The door didn't open instead, the glow had stood right behind her.
"What is it that you're searching for? My child." The principles asked.
"You, your form, there's something I must say to you." Sera heaved.
"You do know what happens to those who seek us, right?"
"I do know."
"Very well then." The aura faded and the gates creaked open. Everyone averted their gazes and Sera stood there, still, facing right into the eyes of death, their form was something out of the ordinary, not a human nor a monster, a lump of skin with hundreds of eyes sewn into the body, the arms too heavy and the aura too strong. Sera fell weak in her knees.
"I…" She started, unable to speak through the dense air. She coughed out blood and fell on the ground with a soft thud. "I must resign, I am no longer the queen of the heavens."
"Hmm.." The heavens picked her up. "If you can survive near us for a minute longer, we shall grant your wish."
And she did, she proved herself to the heavens and even though she passed out in front of their gate, she freed herself from the shackles of heavens. She was a mere angel with her purity lost and a list of sins, but she was free. Serenity had become the next heir of the heavens and Emily had no choice but to stick by her side and guide her while she handled one task after the another.
Sera had disappeared, merged into the common angels and never showed her face around the high angels again, she had locked everyone who she loved out of her life and faded into the darkness till it accepted her and became one. There was no way she could've lived a life that lavish, that luxurious with so much power yet held back because she had responsibilities, she couldn't just accept whatever was thrown at her, she was no longer just an angel but now she was a lover and a mother.
Even if she can't fulfil her roles as one, even if she can't protect as one and nurture or embrace as one, she is a mother. A mother who sacrificed all her life to please the angels around, the angel who sacrificed her one and only love to run away from rebellion and a mother who sacrificed her child to the hands of fate, trusting the universe to bring her back to her, unite her and give her a life full of love.