We Dream of Hope

Okay, Ser, you’ve done this a thousand times. Just take a quick look around, take note of what’s happening and you’ll be out before you know it. Don’t have to run into anyone, anything, or whatever this f**k town keeps hidden.  Seraphine’s defense mechanism was to talk herself out of a homicidal spree, but with this being the epicenter of the source for the world’s wrath it was growing more difficult to control her actions. Every step taking her farther into the demon’s territory left a shred of control behind her. At this point, she couldn’t afford to make any kind of scene. She was recently homeless, ally-less, and nearly jobless all through the span of one stupid lack of judgment night.  She took another step and felt her anger drastically subside. Her fists unclenched and her shoulders relaxed. Finally, as a last measure, a powerful breath escaped her mouth in one loud puff. “Who’s there?” Someone had to have caused the atmosphere shift, someone close. She closed her eyes and inhaled heavily, the scents of the world filled her nostrils giving breath to colorful whisps of odor. One trail dark red hung heavy in the air seeping around a corner. “I’m warning you, you do not want to f**k with me right now.” Her upper lip curled revealing her canines dripping with saliva, “Show yourself.” the toss of the low growled warning stirred motion from the alley.  Out stepped a young man, tastefully dressed in a suit his black hair side swept with oil. To complete the classy look his bright blue eyes shined behind a spare of glasses, which Seraphine knew were more for fashion than necessity. “Who are you?” His voice carried a weight of age, while still having a youthful high pitch. “You first kid.” Sera tossed back a nonchalant nod. “Kid?” scoffing he rolled his eyes, “Have you seen yourself recently?” “Chances are you’re not older than me, at my age sonny I’ve more than earned the right. Especially to any manner of grotesque beast, I might encounter.”  Tucking his hands in his pockets he relaxed his stance, “Oh great, another wise guy who thinks I’m a pushover.” He raised his hands and threw a come and get me with his fingers, “Alright, let’s get this over with. What manner of way are we doing things?” “What are you talking about?” “Well, should it be the favorite of you types, fisticuffs? Of course, there’s the open-handed slapping of young girls, but that might offend you. Then there’s the brutish have at you. So what will it be?” his hands rests down again but he tossed his right one up to check a watch on his wrist, “I would like to make this quick. I’ve got a wallow in self-pity session scheduled in an hour.”  “Wait a second-” Sera looked him up and down, “are you honestly…” this had to be the demon of wrath, Lucifer’s son. “Aidan right?” His eyebrow raised at the mention, usually at this point the opponent already knew who he was, “Did you honestly not know it was me before now?” “What are you doing out here? Alone. Completely,” she paused and took another look around, “defenseless, and alone.”  “Defenseless?” a half-smile cracked across his face, “Bold of you to assume that.” “You are an idiot.” her hands clapped against her face, “So you obviously don’t know who I am. Which makes this just awkward.”  “So wait, you’re not going to fight me?”  “Of course not. Anyone who knows what’s going on wouldn’t waste their time on you.” “Who the f**k are you lady?” Now it was her turn to raise her eyebrow, “Seraphine ring a bell?” He took a few steps back, “Th-th THE Seraphine?” “Sure, kid.” rolling her eyes she turned her back and started to walk away but turned back on her heel suddenly, “Wait, where is everyone?” “I-” Aidan’s voice was lost. How could he have a conversation with this thing? She was considered a war criminal to his kind. She was responsible for hundreds of deaths. She was known to kill without mercy. Why wasn’t she trying to kill him now?  Sera took a few steps toward him her smile growing bigger with every inch she gained, “There’s no one else here is there?”  “No-no no” Aidan shook his head, “I mean, of course, there’s other’s here. I meant no I’m not alone.” “Sure kid, so tell me.” finally, Sera knew exactly what was going on, or at least she had a fine few clues to what was going on. “Why did Lucy abandon his only son to this desolate wasteland?” “I don’t know what you mean.” there was little Aidan could do to mask his fear. His control was slipping and with it his appearance.  “Ah, so you really are just a kid then.” Sear laughed as she watched Aidan’s disguise fall to pieces.  His horns crept around his ears pointed ears in a spiral growing out of his dirty blond hair. His pupils stretched to mimic a goat’s long slits and turned as red as his skin which left him looking painted in fresh blood. “For your information, I’m over fifty years old you wretched dog!” As she spoke a slight lisp haunted his words betraying a hidden forked tongue behind fanged teeth. “Oh wow, I’m sorry,” the sarcasm was rampant in her tone as thousands of miles away a mouse could hear Sera’s eyes roll, “Anyway, it’s clear your alone, scared, woefully unprepared for any kind of fight we could ever have, and honestly-” she exhaled and threw her arms to her sides, “I feel sorry for you.” “W-w-what do you m-mean?” retreating a few steps he stumbled a bit on the high cobblestone beneath his feet.  “I’m sure you are able to handle your own, and judging by that display you presented it usually works. Of course, as I said before, anyone who matters, or to put it better knows what’s going on would be able to take you easily, but won’t because why waste the time or effort.” She gained more ground growing closer to the shaking demon whose feet were refusing to move him any further, “Sorry, I am embarrassing you. I’m sure this would be terrifying to anyone else. So don’t take it personally.” her hand reached up and patted his shoulder. He towered over her but still, she looked ready to dance around him playfully, “When you’ve faced as many armies as I have a little half breed wrath rattler just doesn’t do it for you anymore.” “Wrath rattler?” mouthing the words let a whisper come out, but still he knew his end could come at any point, this monster was wrapped in sheep’s clothing ready to take its next victim.  “Would it help if I wasn’t so close to you? You seem tense.” winking she stuck out her tongue quickly and danced back to a more reasonable distance. “Okay, so you can relax now right?” While the thought crossed his mind he still couldn’t move blinking was even too risky for him right now, he just watched as his little creature cast a presence of aloofness while still focusing deep into his being.  “I guess not.” she shrugged and exhausted twirled herself onto the ground with her legs crossed. “See, I’m not going to hurt you. I just have some questions for you and I’ll be on my way. So,” patting the ground she welcomed Aidan to join her but when he didn’t move she exhaled nostrils flared, “At this point, if you don’t sit I’ll chop off your legs and make you sit. So” patting the ground more aggressively caused Aidan to finally move to join her though he sat down on his knees instead of crossing his legs. “That’s better.” She smiled, “Now, how long has Lucifer left you alone?” Aidan twitched his head around quickly looking at the buildings trying to calculate the time, “I-I don’t know. Maybe a few years.” “Nah, had to be longer, The dust is fully settled in the shops, and I know that wouldn’t have happened on Lucy’s watch. Ten or fifteen years seems about right.” She took another look around, “Why’d he leave?” Nervously Adian scratched his arm digging his long thick nails in deep tearing his shirt slightly, “I don’t know.” “Ah, so it was something you did then?” She took another look at him and her face softened as she scooched herself closer, “Look, we’ve all been there…” she reached her arm out but drew it back quickly, “I guess…” she let off a short laugh to try to ease the tension, “Look, I’m really not going to hurt you.”  Aidan looked at her unconvinced, but before he could say anything Sera held up a hand.  “I would never do it, on purpose.” laying back she rested her hands behind her head, “Now, I need your help. Things are changing and quick. If you help me you won’t regret it.”  “I d-don-d-don’t know what you mean.”  “Fine, just let me crash here for a while, I’ll keep to myself, you do your thing, to an extent.” her eyes narrowed at him and scoped out his intent.  Aidan scratched his horns, “Actually, I was thinking of a different kind of arrangement.”  “Well well well.” Sera leaned forward digging her fingers into Aidans knees as she pressed herface closer to Aidan’s, “This is about to get interesting isn’t it?”