Chapter Text
The strong and overwhelming smell of her own golden blood stung Sera’s sensation, making her almost sneeze as she winced. Despite the seemingly endless dark and musty smelling streets and alleys of this cold city, Sera continued to walk at a slow pace, not really expecting to reach something, just to move, to keep her body temperature up. Sera pressed her now dirty and scared hand to one of the many brick wall buildings that were higher than the big and thick trees that were planted by each building she passed.
Though as she slowly traced her long fingers across the bricks, she glanced at her dirty hand and yet again felt a wave of devastation hit her. She stopped just for a moment to breathe as she took a good look at both of her hands with the soft light from the street light granting her the ability to properly see the dirt and dried up golden wounds on her soft, dark-brownish hands that now almost looked unrecognizable.
Tears pricked Sera’s now black eyes, emptied of whatever holy power she possessed before she got casted down from Heaven’s secured golden gates just earlier today and down here on Earth.
Regardless, Sera is still so despaired about getting stripped of her position as the head seraphim, of her powers, of her status, reducing her to basically become a normal human beside her golden blood. Her appearance also got affected due to her powers getting taken. Her hair wasn’t white as angel feathers, it was now as black as the night she was walking through, the white dots in her face vanished, replaced by black freckles, her wings and crown-like halo were gone and she was now shorter, not too short but now she was slightly below what the average woman in this town was.
After taking a deep breath that nearly as her choking of all the sooty air this part of the city has, Sera continued to walk, and despite the fact that her feet burned more than her injuries now, her pace was a bit faster as she felt like someone was watching her, following her, taunting her but every time she glanced over her shoulder, there was no one there, just the twilight dark cast over the city and the light fog on the ground.
Sera felt scared, alone and vulnerable knowing she had no one and no powers to defend herself if she was attacked.
She had tried to ask for help, money, a place to stay or at least something from a few random people earlier today who were taking a stroll on the sidewalks or was getting into glamorous carriages pulled by big horses, but each time she approached anyone, they either ignored her, spat at her or sneered at her in disgust. She wondered if this was a common interaction between mortals but at least she got to know that this city’s name was London from a man who had a bag filled with newspapers and had his hands and face covered in soot she ran into earlier today before the sun hit the horizon and darkness fell over the city.
Sera’s grip onto the dirty cloak that she used to cover herself up tightened, holding onto it like her life dependent on it as she only got more weak, more exhausted and hungry, sensations she never felt or needed to worry about when she was a seraphim.
Feeling dizzy, Sera finally stopped in a more fancy part of town that had gorgeous architecture on the houses that you could even see in this darkness. With shaky legs, Sera went to one of the trees and slowly sank down, leaning her back against it with an exhausted sigh as her last string of hope was beginning to fade.
Sera closed her eyes, a single tear falling down her brown cheek as she lifted her head up to the sky that was full of stars and did a silent prayer to God to save her despite the fact that she disobeyed God's words and the bible earlier today
When nothing happened, Sera finally broke out in silent sobbing, her tears washing away the dirt from her face and soaking her cloak. She hugged her legs and buried her face into her knees to further silence her sobs as she could feel her body getting numb due to the freezing cold weather.
She was now fully convinced that God had abandoned her and she was never going to be saved. She was going to rot in these dirty streets for all eternity with no one that would remember her.
“Are you perhaps lost, my dear lady?”
Upon hearing the sudden voice looming over her, Sera snapped out of her bitter thoughts and got so startled that she nearly choked on her own spit as she looked up, only to see a man leaning over her. Sera sniffled as she inspected this man's appearance. He was dressed like any man she had seen in this city, nice and clean with a dapper suit and accessories except he had no top hat. His hair was also long. So long that it reached his hips and it was raven black and looked so soft and shiny. He had thin glasses that he had to occasionally push up his slightly crooked nose as he had a grin plastered on his paper pale face that made Sera feel uneasy.
Sera subconsciously held her breath just looking at this strange man whose sharp hazel eyes seemingly observed her arms that were carefully hidden under the cloak she was clutching onto so that people wouldn’t see her golden wounds.
However, the man took a step closer, almost cornering Sera who were almost shaking in place,
“Now, now, no need to fray. I do not wish to cause you any harm.” He said in what on the surface came off as a reassuring tone but it felt flat when his arm basically shot forward to grab onto her arm and pull it out in the dimmed streetlight for him to see and inspect her skin.
Sera let out a small shriek, more at the sudden physical touch than the slight stinging sensation of her wounds, but then she held her breath, feeling like time had stopped as panic were rising inside her, terrified of what this man would do to her, and how he would react when he saw her wounds.
She expected confusion, fear, or anything in that direction. But instead, his eyes lit up in fascination and little to no shock. He looked more delighted than anything as he traced over her wounds with his pale fingers that became a beautiful contrast to her dark skin.
“Just as I presumed,” He said in a satisfied hum, his sparkling eyes lingering over her skin, “An angel.”
Sera didn’t dare to utter a word. She was taken back by this man's significantly calm reaction as he continued to examine her golden wounds that shone under the soft streetlight, just so he could get a clearer look at them as he let out a dark chuckle, one that sent shivers down Sera’s spine,
“Quite a poor attempt to cover your true nature yet people in this town still take you for a random woman with such..” The man paused as his eyes trailed from her arm to her face, as if he was studying an ancient artefact
“Excotic features.” He finally said, his grin widening,
“Excotic?” Sera repeated, absentmindedly cocking her head to the side. She was still too stunned, too afraid to process the situation, let alone getting herself out of this man’s stern grip.
“Indeed.” He slowly nodded
Sera was confused with such a comment, partially because she didn’t understand what he meant. Though before she even had the chance to think or react for even a second, the man casually steadied and tightened his grip onto her arm and then effortlessly pulled her up to her feet, holding onto her so that she wouldn’t fall. His other hand slithered its way onto her hip, having a firm grip onto it as he used this to pull them closer to each other to the point where their bodies were just inches apart and Sera could feel his radiated body heat that almost instinctively made her step closer to him but she restrained herself as she tried to jerk herself off from his group, but to no avail as the man’s grin simply widened even more to the point where his smile reached his chinbones.
“Oh, but where are my manners? Let me introduce myself first.” The man said, his voice merrily as his hands didn’t let go of Sera,
“My name is Sir Pendleton, and you are?”
”S-Sera..” she stuttered out of cheer reflex before she could stop herself.
Immediately biting her lip, Sera internally cursed at herself for bluntly revealing her true name to this pushy and creepy stranger who couldn’t keep his hands to himself.
“Sera?” He repeated, his eyes softened
”What a delightful name to possess.” Pendleton commented, his voice as smooth as honey, in a way that both slightly intrigued Sera and just added more to her disquietness.
Finally coming to her senses, Sera did a final, violent tug and jerked herself out of Pendleton's grip and took a few steps back in discomfort and hugged herself as her knees were shaking, her legs still sore and pounding from all the walking.
However, Pendleton was completely unfazed by this, now smirking mischievously as his sharp eyes were still fixated on her, scanning her, as if he was calculating something behind those clear orbs,
Sera snarled, her lips curling into a bitter frown as she clutched onto the cheap fabric of her cloak,
“What do you want from me?”
Pendleton chuckled, an echoing and hunting sound that made Sera’s stomach drop,
“Well, I was just taking my usual night stroll since I just love the chilly night air but then i noticed you limping your way around in my neighborhood and i noticed your golden scars, something I’ve read only angels have and i just had to get a closer look to clarify if it was real or had my work really got to me.” He illuminated with full confidence
“So, so you’ve been stalking me…..?”
Sera’s eyes widened in fear as she took yet again a step back, feeling her stomach twisting itself into a tight knot at the thought of this creepy stranger who had followed after her in her shadows for his own ill intentions, which only justified her recent paranoia. But Sera tried to keep a stern facial expression as she didn’t want him to see her as scared or vulnerable as she was now prepared to run, or fight with only her hands as weapons.
“Gosh, stalking is such a strong word.” Pendleton chuckled casually, placing a hand over his mouth,”I prefer calling it, following you in secret and distance.”
“That’s just the definition of stalking.” Sera tightened her jaw despite being scared.
Finally having enough, she turned her heel and gave him one last glare before she turned her back on him and started to walk away, this time in a more hurried manner. She held her head high in one last attempt to appear as someone assertive so he would hopefully leave her alone
But to her absolute dismay, this only further amused and intrigued Pendleton as he followed after her, just at a five feet distance, his movements quick but quiet, like a snake quietly slithering and aiming towards its prey.
Still, Sera tried to remain reserved and collected as she harshly closed her eyes as she kept walking, not having any intention of giving this man any more of her attention
“Oh, and where are you going?” Pendleton condescendingly asked as he had his arms behind his back,
“Nowhere.”
“Oh! What a coincidence that’s where I'm going.” He stated playfully as he was now right beside her, creeping just inches apart from her body.
“L-leave me alone.” Sera managed to utter out, her fists tightened
“Or what, my dove?”
Sera stopped midway at that nickname, but kept her eyes closed and her nose forward sternly
“Don’t call me a dove. Stop following me.”
“Why should I? I find you to be extraordinarily fascinating and there’s rarely anything exciting that is happening in this lump of a horse feces town.”
Before Sera could react, felt his presence right in front of him, his hot breath hitting her face which made her heart skip a beat,
“And realistically, why should you walk away from me when I know who you truly are?” He whispered out with a low voice, calm and calculated
“What do you mean realistically?” Sera choked out as she kept her eyes closed, tightening her fists as she did so,”You don’t have anything to offer me.”
"Actually I have,”
At that, Sera hesitantly opened her eyes, her breathing a bit frantic through her nose. Having this creepy stranger standing so close to her made her blood freeze but he merrily grinned widely as he slowly but surely caressed his slender fingers over her cheek, touching her gently as if she was made out of the thinnest of glass as Sera was too frightened to move,
“Listen here my dove,” He began, slowly but with full confidence, “This town is a town filled with contagious sickness, thieves and countless greedy and despicable men that are lurking in the shadows that always go after weak, alone and vulnerable women that dare to wander at night. It’s only a matter of time before some of those men will get you, will grab you, will touch you and they will not let you go no matter how much you cry or scream.”
Sera felt her stomach drop at that information. While she was still petrified by this man, what terrified her more was that he was simply speaking the truth. There would obviously be people who would want to hurt or exploit her as she heard countless stalking and murder stories from the human souls up in Heaven who were traumatized victims of these crimes.
“And can you imagine if someone found out about your golden blood, mh?” Pendleton continued, his expression amused, “I know a few medical research centers that would immediately lock you away and you’d be living as a lab rat for the rest of your life.”
Sera felt her stomach squirm as she was shaking at the bare thought of that prediction as tears slowly pricked her eyes
Meanwhile, Pendleton showed no compassion and made no attempt to comfort her as all he did was tracing his fingers up to the side of her face and tucked a few strands of her curly hair behind her ear so he could properly look into her eyes,
“Me though? I can keep you safe and your secret secured from society.”
Sera glared daggers at him “What do you get in return?”
At that, Pendleton drew out a long, calm hum as he ticked his slightly stubby chin as he continued to study her face like it was an expensive piece of art, “Yes, certainly, nothing in this world comes for free of course.”
The sentence was followed by a short silence between the two as Sera kept her glare at Pentious as a sweat drop slowly ran down her dark-skinned face until Pendleton snapped his fingers as he looked down at her with a hungry look, like a predator eying their next meal
“You see, I'm a very lonely man.” He started as he slowly placed his hands at each side of her face to get her full attention, “I have nothing but my inventions and mechanics keeping me company and I've been desiring a beautiful woman in my life to call my own, to cook my meals, to keep my house tidy and take care of me.”
“So like a servant?” Sera furrowed her eyebrows, irritation being evident in her voice
Pendleton sharply clicked his tongue at that, “I’d say more of a housewife that’s provided with warmth, shelter, food, clean clothes, security and company in return.”
When Sera didn’t give him a respond, Pendleton got quiet for a moment before he simply let her face go and turned his back on her, ready to walk away,
“But sure, if you want to go, I won't force you to come with me.” He said with a smug grin, “Go ahead, walk away. Into the cold, unfriendly darkness filled with danger lurking at every street.”
Shifting her eyes from Pendleton from he one side the sidewalk to the other side where it was dark, foggy, Sera actually pondered over this quite tempting offer, now unsure if she should accept it or not. While this man obviously had ill intentions with her and obviously just wanted someone vulnerable so he could use them to obey and serve him, Sera couldn’t shake off the fact that there would be worse and more dangerous men who’d most likely want to either kill or put her hands on her.
So just as Pendleton take his first few steps to walk away from her for good, Sera took a step forward in his direction and reached out a hand towards him,
“Wait,” She called out, almost screaming after him,
Pendleton stopped immediately, paused and then turned around, his smug wide
“Yes, my dove?” He asked confidently,
“I…” Sera stuttered, still significantly reluctant,
“I accept your offer..” She finally uttered out, her gaze to the ground and fiddling her hands in anxiousness
“Marvelous!” Pendleton exclaimed as he quickly approached Sera again with a jump in his step. Without warning, he took a hold of her hand again and pulled her close to his side, ready to take her home with him,
“But you have to vow to not hurt me.” Sera quickly spat, still scared of this decision
“I wouldn’t even dare to think of it, my dove.” Pendleton let out a triumphant chortle as he traced his finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him,
“You’re mine now and I take good care of my possessions.”