The Seven Seraphim

Chapter SIX

She screamed for a few seconds, the opened her eyes and enjoyed the view. They were higher than the clouds, and faster than any fighter jet. She giggled and laughed as they flew past skyscrapers and and then dove down to get to her apartment. He lighted on the railing, and set her down on the balcony. 

Jake kept his wings open to shade her eyes from the setting sun, and she stared at the magnificent creature. His wings looked like exact extensions from the sun. His eyes melted her soul. She stared openly, and didn't care what he thought. He was hers whether he liked it, or knew it. "Get off of there before you bend it in half." She teased, and he swooped his wings one time and was two feet higher, hovering by moving his wings backward and forward, like a hummingbird, but much more slower. She was amazed at what he could do.  "You're amazing," She said, without realizing it. His face cokced to the side, confused. 

"No," he said. "I'm a monster. There's nothing amazing about me. I-I...No. You're wrong." He dropped onto the balcony and walked inside after cooling his wings. She followed him inside, trying to figure out what was wrong, and jumped when she saw Sarah and LJ.

"What are you doing in my arpartment. And how did you get in?" She asked credulously. 

"LJ can walk through walls," Sarah explained. "And anything he touches passes with him." Sam nodded while trying to wrap her head around it, and decided it wasn't going to work. She gave up and sat down. Sarah went over to Jake and checked his ribs. Once she was satisfied, she pinched him, smiled, and walked away. Sam's face turned a little red, and Sarah mouthed her apology. 

Jake took LJ in the kitchen, and Sam sat down with Sarah to try and understand Jake better. "Sarah," she began, hesitantly. "Today, Jake called himself a monster. Why does he think that?" Sarah took a long drink, and tried not to answer. "Sarah?" She said, expectantly. Sarah started to whistle, and Sam glared at her. 

"Okay, okay." Said defensively. "I wasn't altered until afteer the incident." She looked toward the kitchen and lowered her voice. "Jake and Jak were the last of the Seraphim in the project. They were twins, and so Charde wanted them to be exactly alike so they wouldn't fight. They were the strongest and the best. Together, they were unstoppable." Sam was so into the story. 

"So, what happened?" She asked, excited. 

"Well," Sarah continued. "The assignments they wee given were-let's face it-stressful and extremely bogus. And one day, Jak went chaotic. The chemicals overloaded his brain, and he went crazy. The thing is, when one of us goes chaotic, the first thing they do is try and kill their team and friends. Jake and Jak had just come back from stopping a chaotic Seraphim. It was terrible. Anyway, so, Jak went after the team, and Jake had to stop him. He was the only one that could. In the end, Jake killed his brother. And, he's...just never gotten over it." 

"Wow," Sam said. "That's, really sad. Then, you came?" She asked, and Sarah nodded.

"Charde decided that they needed an anchor. She made me able to heal them. They use me to talk to. I mean, sometimes, after a very bad assingment, they just need somebody to comfort them." Sam's eyes widened as she picked up the hint. 

"You mean you-"

"Yes. But it's not like that. They respect me and I'm a part of them. I mean...anyway. That's why I'm here. So, technically. it's all thanks to Jak that I'm here. That's why Jake doesn't like me. I constantly remind him of what happened." Sam nodded, and the conversation ended with Jake walking out of the Kitchen.  

"Governor Charde was attacked at his office by a small band of Stags. If it wasn't for the police, he'd be dead. Sarah, who's not assigned protection?" 

"Well, let's see." She said, playing with him. "You have Sam, Jim has Lucy-just in case. Mike and I have Charde. So, Luke, LJ, and EJ." 

"Okay," Jake said. "Get EJ and LJ on him. I need Luke to be my eye in the sky. If the Stags are attacking everything Charde wants, we'll be there to stop them." He went to the open window and stared out acorss the way at the last rays of the sun. "We're all gonna die," he said to himself. "And it's gonna be my fault." He thought of his battle with the three unusual beasts, and tried to come up with a weakness, but couldn't find one. "Jak, where are you when I need you?" 

Sarah and LJ left through the closed door, leaving Sam and Jake in silence. He didn't move from the window, and it bothered her. She went over to him, and put her hand on his huge arm. 

"Are you okay, Jake?" She asked, concerned. "Is something bothering you?" She saw his face harden as he shook off her arm. 

"I'm fine. Nothing bothers me, really." He lied. Sam saw the pain on his face, but didn't say anyhting. She got very mad for no reason. . 

"Well, when you finally decide you want to be human again, let me know, okay?" She pushed him out of her way and stormed off. He followed her, and she smiled as he took the bait. She turned around, and stared into his fiery eyes, all the while feeding her annoyance and fear into anger, then channeling it at him. Sorry, seductive flame, you're not trapping me this time. "Go away," she said acidicly.

"What did I do?" He asked defensively. She exploded. 

"What did you do? The question is what don't you do? You're completely inhuman. Here I am, trying to help you get over your flippin' self-pity, and you go and get all hard and heroic and...manly." She started crying, and it shocked her when she realized that they were real tears. "What if, I need you to be human? What if, for some reason, I'm having trouble coping with something, and I need you're help. You know, you're not the only one who has lost a sibling! I had to watch my sister HANG HERSELF!"  She started sobbing and leaned on him. She felt his arms tighten around her, and it made her feel better. It made her feel important. 

"I'm sorry," he said simply. "I-I'm sorry." He let go and made her sit down on the couch. "I don't talk about it much, because I remember it so well. Are you okay?" She nodded and he continued. Wel, when...Jak turned. It was along night. We fought all the way around the world. From the wall of China, to the Pacific Ocean. Anyway, I got so mad at him. How could he do this to me? MAke me kill him. I killed him in cold blood, and I still remember what he said to me. 'Forgive me, brother. I'm sorry.' To this day, I can hear his words. And, the funny thing is, I already forgave him. But, did he forgive me? I'm-I"m a monster. I killed my brother, and I wanted to." He turned away from her and she saw his fists clench. 

She got off the couch and opened his fist, making him hold her hand. He looked down, and smiled. 

"Tomorrow, Jake." She said, as she finally saw what he was staring at. There wasa  cemetary about a mile out, and it was only recognizable by the tall arching entrance. "Now, we need sleep. Come on." He let her lead him to her bed, and they slept in the same place they did the night before. "Jake, go to sleep," she said, when he didn't close his eyes. 

"Tomorrow, you can make it all right. Go to sleep." He shook his head. "Jake, I love you, but you need to go to sleep." He nodded his head and closed his eyes.

"Don't love, me, Sam. You're just goig to get hurt. Good night." With that, he turned off his mind and drifted off.