SERAPHIM

CHAPTER 02

Luthor is just listening to the conversation between the doctor and Muriel’s parents. He can’t help but roll his eyes when the doctor blinks his left eye at him when the couple is not looking.

‘Did my acting good enough for you?’

He heard the doctor’s voice inside his head.

‘You suck.’

‘Ouch! You hurt my feelings.’

‘I don’t care at all. Anyways, why do I have an incurable disease?’

The doctor took a while to answer his question.

‘That is written in her faith. Her body will have an incurable disease and die and come back to life to become the heart of heaven.’

‘Knowing the situation she was in, I think God made her and her human family undergo the normal process of bidding farewell when the time comes.’

‘Indeed.’

Mrs. Gozon is still crying and her husband is rubbing her back to calm down.

‘Anyways, you really found a good job for yourself as a reaper.’

Luthor said, glaring at the doctor. Yes, the doctor is a reaper, the angel that fetches the soul of a dead human and sends them to their proper destination.

‘Well, the hospital is a good place for me, isn’t it, cute little cat?’

Luthor cursed when he heard what the doctor said. Dimiter probably told him that.

‘Just stay alert and wait for a while longer. Muriel will die.’

Luthor just agreed.

“When will my daughter wake up?”

“She will be needing a lot of rest. Probably after 24 hours.”

“Thank you, doctor. We have to go.”

~~

Muriel, on the other hand, was awake in the dream realm. She was in the middle of a wide land full of beautiful flowers.

“Where is this? Why am I in the middle of this place?”

Bright sunlight kissed her skin, but not enough to hurt her. The calm and cold breeze of the wind brushed her face and hair.

“Sollene.”

She heard a soft voice almost like music to her ears. From afar, she saw a very beautiful woman with three pairs of wings slowly walking toward her.

“Who are you? My name is Muriel and not Sollene. Why do you have wings? Where am I?”

The woman smiled at her and gently stroked her hair.

“You have grown more beautiful.”

Muriel couldn’t help but stare at the woman’s face. She is an exceptional beauty. She has bright golden eyes and long golden wavy hair, long eyelashes, a double eyelid, a pointed nose, pinkish cheeks, and reddish lips.

“You’re beautiful.”

The woman chuckled. Muriel’s cheeks flustered.

“Thank you.”

“But, where am I?”

“You are in the dream realm.”

“Dream realm? Am I dead?”

The woman chuckled again and smiled at her sweetly, then held her hands like it was a fragile thing.

“You are not dead. And I will do everything just to protect you from death.”

“Who are you?”

“You will know soon. But for now, let me stay with you. Can I hug you?”

Muriel steps backward, causing the woman to lose her hold in her hands.

“I didn’t know you at all. Besides, you have wings. Not just a pair of wings, but three, three pairs of wings!”

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t you already have an idea of what I am?”

Muriel forced her mind to remember. She had already read about some creatures possessing features like what women have. With wide eyes, she looked at the woman looking and smiling at her.

“A-are you a Seraphim?”

The woman nodded.

‘Oh, God. Am I really looking at the Seraphim? But how come I am still alive?’

“I can hear your thoughts here.”

With wide eyes, Muriel looked at the woman.

“H-how?”

The woman just keeps on smiling and chuckling at her but not even answering her questions.

“It’s time, even though I didn’t even hold you in my arms, I am still happy to see you here for a short period of time. You have grown into a very beautiful lady, without me beside you. I am really sorry.”

Muriel cannot utter a word. She can see pain, loneliness, and longing in her eyes. Without realizing it, Muriel went towards the woman and hugged her, patting her back.

“I don’t know what you are sorry for doing. I am also not the Sollene you are talking about, but let me give you a hug.”

Emily stiffens when Muriel hugged her. Her tears flow like a river. She’s been waiting for a very long time to do this to her daughter. To hug her and talk to her.

“Thank you so much. I hope you can still hug me like this when you know the truth.”

~~

“Baby, please open your eyes. It’s been almost a day.”

Mariel Gozon, Muriel’s mother, has been gently rubbing Muriel’s hand and didn’t leave her side since yesterday.

“Hon, have a cup of tea. You should not starve yourself. Muriel would not like that.”

Gilbert Gozon, Muriel’s father, on the other hand, is the one who is taking good care of them, since his wife doesn’t want to leave his daughter’s side even a second.

“Hon, what are we going to do? She has chronic heart disease. I am afraid. I know we can take her medication, and we can bring her to other countries with the best doctors that can save her, but I am feeling unwell and nervous for no other reason. It feels like we only have a short time to be with her. I am afraid.”

With that, his wife began to cry again. His heart was aching, knowing that he also had the same feeling as his wife. But he needed to comfort his wife. No matter what happens, they will do everything to save their daughter.

“Don’t say that, hon. Astera will be fine. We will do everything to make her fine.”

Still sobbing, his wife manages to nod at what he has said.

Luthor, who was sitting on the couch and still on guard, was looking at the couple.

‘Why is she not awake yet?’

He is talking to Dimiter and Grim - the reaper, in his mind.

‘She was probably in the dream realm, maybe Emily met her there and was just having a conversation?’

‘But you are not sure.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I have received a message from Emily that her daughter had suddenly left the realm.’

‘What?! But she’s not awake yet!’

‘Let’s just observe for a while.’

~~

Muriel opened her eyes only to see darkness. She couldn’t see anything or anyone.

‘Where the hell am I this time?’

“Well, you are right. You're in hell.”

She took a step backward when she heard the voice coming from who knows where.

“Who are you?”

“You need to stay here, Sollene. I am your father. We demons need you.”

Her eyes widened because of the sudden information.

“What? I can’t even see you yet. Would you dare to lie to me? My father is probably human. My parents and I are humans! I don’t know what is happening but I am sure of my identity!”

She can’t help but freak out because of what the voice has said. She then heard a loud and frightening laugh from that voice.

“Human? So your mother hasn’t made a move yet, I see. You belong here, Sollene. You belong in hell together with us, demons.”

She doesn’t want the idea that is playing in her head. First, she saw a Seraphim who called her Sollene too. And now, a demon, claiming that she is his daughter.

“I don’t believe you. I am an ordinary human!”

~~

Muriel’s parents panicked when she suddenly woke up trembling, having difficulty breathing, and in tears.

“Sweety, sweety, what is happening?”

“Call the doctor now!”

Only seconds passed and the doctor hurriedly opened the door of the room.

“What’s happening to her?”

Muriel’s mom is in a panic and doesn’t know what to do. The nurses assisted them to stay in the corner while the doctor was examining the patient.

“Muriel, calm down, inhale, exhale. Nurse, inject sedatives to calm her.”

“Yes, doc.”

After a while, Muriel started to calm down.

“Can you hear me?”

The doctor asked her. Muriel looked at the doctor and nodded.

“What happened? Can you tell me?”

“I- someone talks to me. First is a beautiful lady, a Seraphim. And the second one is a demon. He told me I was his daughter. I got scared! I thought I would not be able to leave that darkness.”

The three Angels became alert. Surely, Emily, her mother, is the one she talked about first. But the second one.

‘Is that Daemon?’

‘Probably.’

‘This is not good.’

‘We should tell Emily about this.’

“Sshshh, calm down sweetie, we are your parents. You don’t need to be scared, okay?”

Muriel nodded while holding her mother’s hand tightly.

“I am glad you’re awake, we can go home now that you’re fine.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Do you remember what happened to you before?”

She tried to remember what happened but there was only one thing she remembered. That guy and the thing he was holding. But she didn’t want to make her parents worry anymore, so she just shook her head, telling them that she didn’t remember what had happened.

“I see. You don’t have to worry sweetie, you will be fine. Just always take your medicine regularly.”

“Why should I take medicine, Dad?”

Both her parents looked at each other.

“Sweetie, the doctor has diagnosed that you have hyper-trophic Cardio Myopathy. It’s a severe heart condition and the only way to lessen the pain is a heart transplant which has only 3% of being successful.”

Her jaw dropped.

“How can I have such a disease?”

“We also do not know. But we will do everything to make you feel better.”

“Yes, we can go out of the country to find more capable doctors for your operation.”

“But, I do not want to undergo the operation.”

Mr. And Mrs. Gozon looked at each other. Worry filled their faces.

“Sweetie, this is for you. To make you overcome your disease, please?”

“We will help you.”

Muriel stared at her parents. She doesn’t know why, but she has this feeling that sooner or later, she will part with her parents.

“Sorry, Mom, Dad. But my decision is final. I will not take the operation. I will just take care of myself, okay?”

Opposing Muriel’s decision, her father and mother slightly nodded. She just smiled at them.

“Don’t worry Mom, Dad. I will not let anything bad happen to me, okay?”

“Okay, fine. Just make sure, and we will make sure ourselves. We will increase your bodyguards and I will appoint a nurse to be with you anytime.”

Muriel doesn’t want to be with many people each time she spends time outside, but with her condition right now and her parents’ decision is also final, she just needs to agree.

~~

Days passed by and nothing unusual happened. Muriel stayed at home for two weeks and didn’t leave even once to recuperate. Luther and even Dimiter didn’t put their guards down to look after the whole perimeter just to make sure Muriel was safe. Even the doctor who took good care of her in the hospital is regularly attending to her in their house while recuperating.

She’s feeling better now but she knows deep down that her condition has worsened. She doesn’t even know why. She’s always feeling tired and sudden palpitations happen time after time. She just can’t let her parents know what’s happening to her right now. She can’t bear to make them worry again. Just like today.

“Do you want me to call your parents right now?”

Dr. Grim asked her while getting the glass of water from her hand. She just drinks medicine to calm her heartbeat. Muriel shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her looking-tired face.

“I do not want them to worry anymore, doctor. I can feel that anytime, my body will collapse and I’m gonna leave them. I just wish they would have another person they can consider their own child. I want them to be happy even without me. Having this kind of condition, I can’t even take good care of them if they get old.”

The three angels who are listening to her can’t help but feel hopeless. What if she knew that what is happening to her family right now is what her biological mother wants? Would she despise their race and if worst came to worst, she might turn into a destructive weapon for demons?

“Don’t worry, God has plans for everything.”

Muriel looked and smiled at Grim, then looked outside the big window in her room. Leaves are falling from the trees, flowers seem mourning and winds are uneasy.

“I feel like nature is mourning and feeling down for me.” *cough* *cough* *cough*

Muriel immediately covered her mouth with her hands. Feeling the wet thing in her hands, she slowly looked at her hands covered in blood. The three angels became alert. The time is so soon.

“Calm down, Muriel. I will clean your hands and mouth. Call Mr. And Mrs. Gozon now!”

“Ack!”

A sharp pain pierces her heart, making her grab her chest and groan.

“Arrgh! It hurts!”

Blood continuously flows from her mouth, making her bed messy with blood. Doctor Grim injected her pain reliever and her medicine. Looking at her situation, her medication doesn’t seem to be effective on her anymore.

After some time, she calmed down and lay peacefully sleeping in her bed. After half an hour, Mr. And Mrs. Gozon came. They saw how messy their daughter was. They couldn’t help but cry in silence. Even though Muriel doesn’t show them how painful it is, they know everything. They knew that their daughter just didn’t want to part with them because they might feel sad and upset, which is true. But looking at her condition, they might want to let her go rather than make her suffer more pain. Dark circles under her eyes, pale skin, dry lips, and thinner. Far from the healthy and lovely body she had before.

Mrs. Gozon went near Muriel and held her hands.

“Sweetie, wake up. Okay? Wake up, we want to see you awake.”

Tears flowed from their eyes. They are not ready, but this is better than her suffering. After some seconds, Muriel opened her eyes. She immediately smiled upon seeing her mother and father.

“M-mom, D-dad.”

“Sssshhh, don’t talk anymore. Honey, sweetie, baby. I love you, we love you, so much. You know that, right?”

Muriel slowly nodded. Tears slowly came out of her eyes. She knows what’s going on next.

“Mom and Dad will be okay. We promised you, baby. You will always be our baby. I love you, I love you so much, baby. It is hard for us to make this decision but we know you’re already tired and want to rest. W-we will let you rest now, okay? Take a good rest, baby. We will be fine. You don’t have to worry.”

“I love you, sweetie.”

She smiled at them and slowly, her eyes closed. Her body drained all of her energy to even utter a word thank you to her parents. Her hands fell down from the grip of her mother and father.

Luthor, Dimiter, and Grim felt the sadness lingering in the whole house. All of the people who were once a part of Muriel’s life are mourning her. Her mother and father cried their lungs out because of the loss.

‘It’s done.’

‘It feels sudden that it became remorseful.’

‘Our work here is done. I feel sorry for this couple who became the instrument for Sollene.’

‘I agree. But Sollene’s life doesn’t end here. Her more and more complicated life awaits her.’