SERAPHS: THE WAR GAMES

CHAPTER TWO

Nora stormed into her room and kicked her dress room door, breathing heavily.

Keelan cracked her door open and peeped in. "Is it safe to come in? Your mum said it would be best if I come and talk to you. I don't know why she would think that. You never listen to me."

"How could he do that?!" Nora breathed. "I never knew him so that's fine, but what about my mum? She buried a husband she thought was dead! She mourned him, left her life to come to his shitty town because of it! And all the while he was alive?! What kind of a man would do that?!"

Keelan entered the room and shut the door after himself. "The man that couldn't see beyond protecting his family," Keelan answered.

Nora stopped pacing and gave Keelan a hard look. "Whose side are you on?"

"I am not on anyone's side. I completely understand how you feel but I also understand why your father did what he did."

"Of course, you would," Nora said pithily. "Seraphs are warriors born to put their duty and self-righteousness before everything, right?"

Keelan stammered. "I am not trying to excuse him-- hear me out."

Nora folded her arms. "Okay, I'm listening."

"A Seraph is more likely to be attacked if demons know that he is alone. Like a lone wolf away from its pack, they don't last on Earth. That is one of the reasons why we don't stay here. If there is a lone Seraph on Earth, all demons would be gunning for him. It is a big deal for demons to kill a Seraph. They would want to make a... status out of it. It couldn't have been easy for him to keep his battles with the demons away from your mother. He would have been prone to so many demon ambushes. Seeing your mother at the hospital that day, he must have thought she was lucky to be alive and might not be that lucky next time. I guess those thoughts made him look for a lasting solution to prevent future occurrence. I think he just didn't want to put you and your mother in danger."

"Would you have done the same thing?"

Keelan thought about his answer. "I wouldn't have fallen for any human," he replied plainly.

"You are saying he was wrong to fall for a human?"

"I am not judging," he raised his hands, gesturing surrender. "You asked a question and I answered."

"You fell for me before you knew I was a Seraph," Nora said.

"I knew you were a Seraph from the first time I saw you."

Nora paused. "I thought you said there was no Seraph on Earth."

"That is what we all believe. Although, while he was talking, I remember hearing about a Seraph that went on a mission to Earth years back. The Seraph met a woman, human and fell for her. He kept portalling to Earth to meet up with the woman till he decided to stay on Earth with her. He retired and left Allterra, never to return. It was said that he lost his way as a Seraph. He failed in his duty and ceased to exist. It is more of a myth than a story in Carina. A myth told to young Seraphs to teach them how imperative our duties as Seraphs are."

"You think my fa— Tom is the Seraph?" It would take time for Nora to be comfortable with calling Tom, dad or father.

"I think so."

"If he is here on Earth maybe there are other Seraphs on Earth too."

"Maybe. Seraphs don't just abandon their responsibilities to settle on Earth. It is probably why your father's story was more myth than something that happened."

Nora sighed. "I get that he wanted to protect my mum... it still doesn't make it easy for me to accept."

Keelan closed in on her. "I know, I know and nobody is asking you to accept it or be okay with it right away. Take your time, okay? It is going to take a while to adjust to having him in your life--"