Blackened Feathers

A Quiet Place

Omega had never questioned Terzo’s word in all the years since he was summoned to Earth to serve him. He'd always believed in him and had never had reason to doubt the decisions that he made. He was a good man with a pure heart, the best that Omega had met, and he was proud to stand by him in all that he did. So it crushed his soul now that he was, for the second time since he had woken up after almost dying, finding himself at odds with his Papa.

Seren had composed herself and sat perched on the edge of the bed next to him. He carefully sat up so as not to disturb Alpha and turned towards her. Surely Papa knew what had happened with Seren’s mother? The Papa was in charge of all the Abbeys and offshoots of the Clergy throughout the world. News like that would reach their Abbey almost instantly. Her mother had died during Secondo’s time, and now that he thought about it, he remembered hearing about a Clergy witch who had died during a ritual a few years back, but he hadn’t made the connection. He frowned. How could Papa be so reckless? How could he ask her to face the demon who had caused the death of her mother, and who could kill her too? He felt a spike of anger rising, which was uncharacteristic of him, and he had to close his eyes and try to find his centre to calm himself.

He felt magical energy tickling his skin and he opened his eyes again, feeling confused. Seren was stroking his bare arm and she had a small smile on her lips. The moment he looked into her eyes, he found himself sucked into that place of tranquillity that she possessed.

In his mind’s eye, he was standing on the shore of a vast lake, dark and still. The surface was calm. Not a single ripple disturbed the obsidian-like surface. It was lit by the glow of the moon, which hung low in the starry night sky.

Omega caught sight of Seren in the water. The pale moonlight illuminated her skin and she held her arms out to him, beckoning him in. He smiled and stepped into the brackish water, slowly moving towards her. 

The shock of the cold took his breath away the deeper he got, and the water made no sound as he waded further in. The frigid temperature permeated his bones as it crept higher and higher up his naked body. By the time he was face to face with Seren, he was shoulder deep and he stood before her, breathing steadily. 

The eerie stillness of the lake floated oppressively between them. She reached out and stroked his cheekbone and he leaned in to her touch and sighed. He no longer felt the cold on his skin or in his bones. All that he knew was peace as he looked into the depths of her eyes, and he knew that he had come home.

Seren wrapped her arms around his shoulders and nuzzled his neck as she pressed her body against his. She wrapped her legs up and around his waist, crossing her ankles at the base of his spine. Her fingers teased the hair at the nape of his neck. He felt goosebumps break out over his skin as she languidly left a trail of kisses along his jaw and across his throat where the gashes from Alpha’s claws were still healing.

The water felt pleasantly warm now. The feel of her bare skin against his was bliss and he thought that he never wanted to leave this strangely enchanting place. He felt his heart rate slowing and his mind relaxing. There was no emotion to balance out here, no stress to calm, and no sadness to temper. There was just the still quiet of the lake and the two of them in it. He felt nothing but serenity for the first time in forever, and it made him want to weep with relief.

Omega came slamming back into his body and he gasped as he realised he was sitting up in bed in his room with Seren enveloping him in a gentle hug. She sat back and blinked at him, confusion on her face.

“What was that?” she whispered warily.

“I don't know, but I want to do it again," he said with a grin.

A slow smile crept onto her lips as she searched his face. He took a deep breath and he felt Alpha stir. He was whimpering and must have been having a bad dream. Omega sent him some calming energy and he settled down with a sigh.

“Okay, that’s odd,” Omega said. Seren gave him a questioning look. “Just now I felt zapped. I had no energy to send to you, but now I feel stronger than I have done in months.”

She smiled at him and shrugged.

“Well, whatever that just was must have given you a boost. I’m interested in finding out more about it. It’s never happened to me before with anyone else,” she said as she stroked his hair. “But I think you need to rest now. Get some sleep and I’ll watch over you both, okay?”

He nodded and she gave him a slow, gentle kiss. He breathed her in and suddenly wished they were alone right now. The feeling of her naked skin against his in the water still lingered, but he quashed down the lust that had bubbled up and looked down at Alpha. Omega lay back down and snuggled up to his friend, who was sleeping more soundly now. His brow furrowed, but he was quiet and still for the time being and his breathing had evened out.

“Thanks,” he said to Seren as she went back to scribbling in her notebook on the sofa.

She smiled over at him and he wondered what might become of them if they continued like this. Omega had never thought about a future with any one person before. He was happy with his life at the Abbey as one of Terzo’s ghouls, and he’d never thought much about wanting anything for himself. He had Siblings or ghouls on tap for any kind of intimacy he desired, and he loved the work that he did here. But Seren had made him think of a life beyond that; something just for him he didn’t need to share.

He closed his eyes and thought about what he should do about the demon. He would have to talk to Papa about this, because risking Seren’s life to talk to an Elemental demon was just ludicrous to him. There had to be something else that they could do.

He hoped that Secondo’s investigation into the suspicious Clergy members was progressing, and he would have to ask for a talk with him about it in the morning.

Alpha stirred and he could feel the heat coming off the fire ghoul. He pulled him closer and settled down. The warmth and the lingering peace from Seren lulled him off into a deep sleep.