#seraphim!reader

The battlefield was silent.

No screams. No cannon fire. Just the creaking of ruined metal and the soft flicker of firelight licking over broken walls. The enemy base had fallen without honor, its defenders cut down, scattered like leaves before a gale. Mihawk stood at the center of the smoldering wreckage, Yoru dripping red, his cape fluttering in the scorched wind.

He had been sent alone, as usual. Buggy’s “genius strategies” usually translated to send Mihawk, pray for the other side. Mihawk never prayed.

He was turning to leave—his mind already drifting to where you waited, curled up with a book, perhaps, or tending the quiet garden behind the Cross Guild’s hidden estate—when the temperature shifted.

It wasn’t the heat. It was the flame.

A plume of fire bloomed in the corner of his vision.

He turned slowly, fingers tightening around Yoru’s hilt.

From the wreckage stepped a figure—tall, barefoot, cloaked in embers. Brown skin marked by Lunarian heritage. Snow-white hair. Jet-black wings. Fire burning at her back. Her pupils glinted like five-pointed stars. And her face...

His grip faltered for half a second.

Your face.

Younger—much younger, barely eight in age, but unusually tall for a child. The shape of your eyes, the arch of your brow, even the way she stood with her weight subtly shifted to the left, as you often did when assessing someone you didn’t trust.

The clone stepped forward, weapon in hand.

Mihawk’s breath didn’t catch. His heartbeat didn’t spike. But for the first time in years, something inside him stilled.

This was you. No—not you, he reminded himself coldly. This was a Seraphim. A government weapon. A counterfeit made in your image. Something made in a lab, shaped by data and devilry.

And yet—

The clone raised her blade. Not Yoru. A crueler thing—thin, jagged. Lacking elegance. The green glow of synthetic blood pulsed beneath her skin.

She lunged.

Mihawk parried without thinking, steel shrieking against steel. The impact sent sparks flying, the ground beneath them cracking. She was fast. Faster than her size should allow.

She came again, silent, precise. He countered. Again. And again. The clash of blades rang out like thunder in the hollow city. 

But then—something changed. She stopped. The clone backed off, lowering her blade slowly, eyes still locked on him. Her head tilted—slightly to the side. 

Just like you did.

Mihawk straightened, cape billowing with the wind. His sword remained in hand, yet he did not raise it. They stared at each other in the stillness. The fires crackled. Somewhere in the distance, the cry of a hawk echoed through the smoke. She blinked slowly. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes... they recognized him.

Not just as an enemy. But as someone.

“You were sent to kill me,” Mihawk said evenly. Not a question. A truth. “And yet, you hesitate.”

The Seraphim said nothing.

He studied her. Not with wonder. With calculation—and a tinge of something colder. So this was the depth of the World Government’s depravity.

They hadn’t just cloned his former comrades. They had taken the only woman he allowed himself to belong to. Turned her into a weapon. Dressed her in white flame and filled her with borrowed blood. Given her your stance. Your eyes. Your silence.

They had forged her into a sword meant for him.

His lip curled. Not in rage—but in something sharper, older.

Contempt.

“You mock the dead,” he murmured, more to the air than to her. “But she lives. She is no ghost for you to copy.”

Still, the clone stood there. Tilting her head again. The fire behind her flickered once, then burned brighter. And then—something terrible happened. She took a step toward him. Not fast. Not attacking.

Curious.

As if drawn to him. As if—like you—she found something about his stillness... comforting.

Mihawk stiffened. “I see,” he said coldly. “You inherited more than her face.”

A mistake. A flaw in the programming. They’d encoded too much. Her movements were too natural. Not mimicry. Instinct. She was imprinted. On him. The child—a living weapon made in your image—liked him. Just like you did.

He sheathed Yoru in one fluid motion. “Return to your masters.”

No response.

“I will not strike you unless you force me.”

The wind shifted. Her wings twitched. Her fingers flexed around the hilt of her weapon. Then, slowly, she lowered it. Their eyes locked again—black steel and artificial starlight. For a moment, the battlefield no longer existed. Only the burning ruin of a home neither of them wanted, and the quiet tension of mirrored silhouettes.

She turned.

She left.

The flames did not follow her.

~~~

He returned to you that night without a word.

You looked up from your book when the door creaked open. The way your face softened upon seeing him—not wounded, not broken—was the only comfort he needed. But Mihawk didn’t speak right away.

You rose, setting your book aside. “Something happened.”

He nodded. Shrugged off his coat. It smelled of ash and ozone.

You reached for him instinctively, brushing soot from his collar. “Did it hurt?”

“No.” He hesitated. “Not physically.”

You stilled. That wasn’t like him. You cupped his cheek, your thumb brushing the fine scar there. “What did you see?”

He didn’t meet your eyes. “She had your face.”

That’s when your hands dropped. You understood immediately.

“A Seraphim.”

“Yes.”

He poured a glass of wine. Took a slow sip. “I fought her. Briefly.”

You didn’t ask if he’d won. He wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t.

“But she pulled back,” he continued. “Watched me. As if—” he paused. “As if she knew me.”

You swallowed. “They say the Seraphim can inherit more than strength. That S-Snake... she acted like Hancock.”

Mihawk nodded. “Then this one—she tilted her head. The same way you do. Mirrored your stance. And when I spoke, she listened. Not like a weapon. Like a girl.”

You sat beside him, silent. The wine in your own glass was untouched.

“They used my Lineage Factor,” you whispered. “My mannerisms. My blood. And gave her his flames.”

Mihawk’s jaw tensed. “She looked at me,” he said, “the way you did, when we met. Curious. Not afraid.”

You reached for his hand. His fingers closed around yours tightly. There was tension in his grip, but not violence. Not directed at you.

“What did you feel?” you asked softly.

He didn’t answer immediately. Finally, he said: “Disgust. Not with her. With them.”

Your hand squeezed his.

“I have hunted Marines before. But this—this is different. This is not war. It’s desecration.” He turned his face to yours. “They would have sent her to kill me. Your face—your likeness—striking at me in battle.” His voice was quiet, but lethal. “I will not forgive it.”

You nodded. “Then don’t.”

He leaned in, forehead brushing yours. “I wonder,” he murmured, “what she will become.”

You thought about what he had told you. Of the flame on her back. Of her star-shaped eyes. Of her watching him—not as a soldier, but as a girl unsure of herself. Searching.

“She has your face,” he said again. “But she is not you.”

“No,” you said gently. “But she’s not a monster either. Not yet.”

Mihawk didn’t reply. But the weight of his silence said everything.

He had spared her. But the Government would pay. They had crossed a line that night. Not by cloning him. Not by playing god. But by forging a weapon out of his one exception. The one person who made him believe peace was more than just a myth.

And if she ever turned against them?

Then perhaps one day, that white-haired Seraphim girl with your eyes would find her own sword. And the man who first spared her life would be the one to teach her how to wield it.

But until then, he sat with you. 

The real you—warm, breathing, and entirely your own.

Not a clone. Not a weapon.

Just the woman he would burn the world to protect.

  You had been friends with Lucifer ever since the beginning. Since the sun and moon had been created. You both were always as tight as ever. You both had watched with curious eyes as the higher angels had created the gardens of Eden under the speaker of God's orders. Watched as they created many splendid living things to put into the gardens.

  Things you and Lucifer were allowed to partake in trying to make living things to join the gardens.

  You had chosen plants as you always like the pretty colors you could make them have, Lucifer had chosen animals…..of which very few of his ever were allowed to join the gardens, while most of all your plants were added with ease.

  But nothing was more exciting than watching the higher angels create man.

  You watched with your friend as they took the clay and star dust and molded it exactly the way heaven's father had commanded. 

sculpting and molding until it is shaped something akin to you all seraphims however without wings. 

You watched as bright star light and energy had entered the mold and it gasped in a harsh breath.

  there you saw him breathe his first breaths and suddenly full of life.

  Adam, the first man of humanity. 

  The higher angels had placed him upon the gardens where he would name all the animals and plants your kind had spent so much time making.

  You laid upon clouds looking down watching as Adam moved along with the eldest, Sera. 

Telling her the names he wished to call the things upon his home, as Sera followed with a scroll scribbling them all down. 

  Your cloud shook making you look to see Lucifer laying down to look down into the gardens as well a huffy face as he stared down.

  “Not fair that he gets to name them all! I had so many great ideas for names!” Lucifer had complained which made you laugh. 

  “It's fair for him to name them my friend, for he lives there! Not us!” You laughed lightly as you watched Lucifer roll his eyes, still muttering that it wasn't. 

  “He sure is pretty to look at.” You softly told your friend as you looked back down at the human man. Lucifer had leaned over to look more closely before letting out a small.

  “pfffffft!” He let out some snickers. “He looks like-”

  “Oh hush you.” You cut your friend off as you leaned your cheek into your palm. 

Enjoying viewing. 

  Lucifer had looked down at the curious man below being left behind by Sera and to you his friend. His wings twitched before he sat up grabbing your hand.

  “Let's go meet him!” He exclaimed, making your eyes widen.

  “We are not allowed in the gardens.” You quickly spoke but it wouldn't land on your friend's ears as he dragged you down. 

  Your first meeting with Adam has gone with Lucifer excitedly and overwhelmingly bombarding him with greetings and fast introductions before shoving you forward to meet him as well.

  You who sputtered and grew flustered as you tried even telling the new creation your name as you took in his furrowed brows of curiosity morph to a bright smile.

  “Y/n? That's a very pretty name!Oh!” He spoke before grabbing your wrist making you squeal some as Adam had dragged you to a beautiful flower patch.

  “I will name these y/n lilies!” He announced as he looked at you so brightly it made your face burn and wings flutter in delight.

  “Oh!” 

  You liked that a lot. 

  Lucifer had made fun of your flustered state the entire fly back to the heavens and the entire week as you both would sneak into the gardens to visit Adam. 

  “How can you, the fiercest fighter who gives Micheal a run for his feathers, become all stuttering around a human!?” Lucifer asked cackling as your misfortune caused you to puff your cheeks out and cross your arms as you flew away from him.

  You couldn't help it.

  Every time you went near Adam you became a bumbling mess…

  Maybe it was because he was just so tall…and large…and gentle and yet…..

  He could easily move and pull you around the gardens in a way that had you giddy to obey…. 

  A natural yet gentle dominance is what Adam had, and a good kind heart that made yours rush. 

  “Oh shut up! you don't understand!” You snipped back at your friends teasing as he cackled. 

  “Ouuuu y/n~ & Adam~ Sitting in the gardens~” Lucifer started singing after you made you let out a noise of annoyance and flap a cloud into his face, laughing as your friend sputtered on its misty vapors.

  It wasn't long before Lucifer started to understand your flustered state around Adam. 

For when the gardens were filled with His wife Lilith, another fantastical living being made for the gardens. 

  It was your turn to tease Lucifer as he would become a red faced fumbling mess around the human woman. 

  You watched snickering only to be startled when you felt fingers gliding something into your hair, looking up to your side to see Adam sliding Lilly into your hair.

  “A pretty flower for my pretty angel.” He softly said with a smile making your face flush with heat. Your heart pounding in delight, wanting to say more than thank you only to falter as you watched Adam leave your side to Lilith. 

  Distracting her from your stuttering friend Lucifer as Adam handed her a bundle bouquet of assorted flowers. 

  you watched heart ache at how he smiled at her in a way he never did towards you. 

  How his Wife Lilith smiled and smelled the flowers before moving over to press her lips against his cheek. 

  You had wept in Lucifer's arms after you both silently left the gardens leaving Adam with his Wife. 

Lucifer had been oddly silent as he held you. Giving you comfort as you cried into his shoulder.

  “I shouldn't be so sad, I know he would have a wife to love…That father had plans for him…” You wept your heart out as you pulled away, wiping your tears. 

“Why did it have to be so soon?” 

  Lucifer had looked at you sadden for you as he moved his hands to help wipe away your tears.

  “Im sure one day, he will be yours.” Lucifer said softly, and you had missed the face he had made.

“Like one day Lilith shall be mine.” 

  You didn't ask what he meant by that, 

  simply because you thought it had been misplaced hopeful dreaming…

  So you were taken aback at the fact that Lucifer had interfered with Adams & Lilith's marriage. Had kept going down to the gardens when you both had promised to leave them alone and focus on divine tasks that needed to be done across the heavens.

  He had fallen for Lilith and in turn had Lilith fallen for him in love. He  had convinced her to reject Adam as her husband, in order to have freedom to be with him instead, with both having hidden away where the heavens could not find them both.

  You were shocked when you found out that Lucifer had promised Lilith things he could not do or attain and your heart broke when you found out that Lilith had broken Adam's heart. 

Then you had been selected to help aid in creating Adams' Second Wife Eve. 

  You were sent to collect his ribs. 

  You had guided down to the Garden of Eden softly, landing near the cave that was Adam, and once Lilith's home and moved towards the entrance of it. Peeking inside as your eyes moved along the things inside.

  “Adam?” You had softly called as you moved inside, your eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.

Movement to a pile of furry had you nearing, that is where you found Adam laying and curled into the furry. You moved to him in a hurry worried he was hurt only to pause as his eyes opened with water leaking from them and down his cheeks.

  His golden eyes finding your own e/c eyes as you both stared at each other for a second. He moved sitting up at the sight of you, and your heart ached as you saw how his eyes narrowed at you.

  “What do you want?” He spoke harshly which made you flinch, your wings pulling closer together as you looked at him hurt by his harsh tone. Yet seeing how he had not softened his gaze at you after experiencing betrayal and hurt by an angel and his wife…You supposed you understood his tension towards you.

  Though it hurts…

  Because you were supposed to be ‘His special Angel.’ 

  Lucifer had destroyed that, when he had fallen in love with Lilith and had interrupted the original heavenly plans for both humans and their marriage.  

  “Adam.” You softly called his name as you stared at the first man, the only being that made you so flustered and nervous being around, who stared at you in anger. You swallowed some and fidgeted. 

  “I came to take the ribs from your chest and take them back to heaven where they will make a new wife for you.” You had softly explained to him in hopes he would smile at you. 

  But Adam had not turned his face away from you but puffed up his chest, allowing you to do what you were sent for. 

You had moved your glowing hands to his chest extracting out two ribs and stood to leave when Adams' large hand wrapped around your wrist.

  A rush of giddiness filled you. 

  You had turned your head so eagerly at him only to see Adams stern face.

  “Make sure when my new wife comes, No angel, even you, y/n, can come.back here again.” 

Adam had said, his voice lacked the warmth he always had. His words had crushed your heart and despite how you wanted to refuse…You promised. 

  Eve had been made and placed in the gardens and you watched from afar at how happy and loving she made Adam. How it broke your heart. Though you were forced to accept that the bond you had with Adam had been crushed by Lucifer. 

  Your dear friend who was missing with the first human was on a hunt list ... .One you had joined with Micheal in hopes to find Lucifer. 

You wanted to know Why….Why would he cause so much trouble. Why did he lie to you? 

  You both had promised to leave Lilith & Adam alone, so why did Lucifer lie to you?! You felt anger as you searched and searched for him with his brother Micheal. You both had anger towards Lucifer, although for different reasons. You wanted Lucifer to explain, to confess why he lied to you, why he broke his promise to you. Michael however, wanted his brother to pay the consequences of his deeds, the very ones that brought doubt on his name as well. 

  You ached for Micheal as well, for there were now whispers among the other Angels on how no one should trust a “Morningstar” due to Lucifer's shady dealings. Micheal had shrugged off your empathy. Simply stating he will drag his brother back to face the consequences. 

  You both didn't have to be the ones to drag him back. 

  Lucifer and Lilith had been captured and dragged to heaven's court. 

  One where all was summoned to listen and give out fitting judgement. 

It was then you found out that Lucifer had once again interfered with Adam's marriage. Lilith & Him lured young Eve to the forbidden tree, giving her the forbidden fruit and watched as she had taken upon a bite then took the rest to Adam.

  You were horrified as the heavens orb showed how darkness and wrong was now able to enter both humans bodies and corrupt them of their purity…..Your heart shattered when you saw Archangels banish Eve and Adam from the gardens to earth. Their Just punishment for falling for trickery. 

  The high elders wanted to cut Lucifer's wings.  

  You had stood up, begging them to show mercy, to not harm him, or Lilith. 

  “Make them see the consequences of their actions, make them live it instead.” You had spoken, pleading up to Sera who looked down solemnly. 

  Sera had taken a stand silencing all with a wave of a hand. 

  “I will agree with young seraphim Y/n.” She spoke as she looked down at Lucifer who kneeled to his knees looking up at the courts in sorrow and fear, Lilith by his side you held onto his arm. His wings covered her as to shield her from judgement.

  “Here today and for all days as earth thrives, Lucifer and Lady Lilith will be banished to the planes of darkness. Never are they to ever reach heaven's light. They will pay in their punishment by being accompanied by all those who cause harm to humanity and perform unforgiving acts.” 

  It was that day, You saw your close and dear friend fall from heaven. Falling away from the pristine skies with his lover in his arms, down to a pit that sunken beneath both realms of heaven and the earth. 

  When it came to assigning one to be the communicator, the peacekeepers between the realm that became known as Hell, and Heaven, Sera had chosen you. 

  “I know you both were close, This is the only way I can allow you to make sure he stays in line and is okay.” Sera had told you as she gave you your duties. 

  Perhaps you being able to keep your friendship with Lucifer is the only reason he didn't crumble in hell.

  As you had watched Lilith thrived with the power of being a ruler in a cursed realm. Your friend had hidden away, only coming out if it was to have meetings with you. In which you both spent them talking. 

  “Why did you do it?” You had whispered, looking at your worn and pulled friend, as you glowed and simmered. 

  Lucifer had looked up at you, a weak smile on his face.

  “So you could've been with Adam.” He muttered, as if he had done you a charity at his own demise. It had angered you. 

  “I never asked! And that is not the truth!” 

  Lucifer had only laughed, dry and weak as he shrugged.

  “Beacuse I wanted Lilith, I love how she shined. Why should he get her? When she was clearly destined to be mine.” 

  a prize. 

  That's why. 

  And as much as it had made your face wrinkle up in displeasure at the sickening sight of such audacious pride…..You still stayed his friend. 

  Centuries would pass, nearly 900 of them before Adam had died on earth, from the life he and Eve had built for humanity. 

900 years since you had last seen him, and it wouldn't have been so many, very many more before you would see him as a saint of heaven.

  As war broke out between Heaven and Hell. 

  an Uprising by Lilith's demand of sinners that fell into hell's realm and rapidly grew. 

Her songs empower them, when she had meant it to empower the realms native beings. 

Lilith had wanted her true subjects to rise and want more, want more than the rings of darkness and reach past the earth and into the clouds…..Those same dangerous songs had empowered the damned, the wretched, and fallen filled with vile sins of humanity to also want to rise. To take more than they ever had before when they once were alive and breathing. 

  It had caused a war, amongst hell that was dangerously starting to spread to the realm of earth, and eventually towards hell. 

You and Micheal were heavens fiercest with blades, You were sharp with your words as well. 

As you both tried to bring forth Lucifer who was hiding and shutting himself away from summoning calls. 

When you managed to get your friend to meet you had pleaded with him.

  “Think of your hell-born! They are beings overrun by these sinners-”

  “Lilith has everything in control.” Lucifer had exhaustedly said, “And the realms born will be saved amongst the other 5 rings, as I have sealed them away from the sinners.” 

  “Your wife is the one who caused the outbreak.” You had told him staring at your friend who had looked away. 

“The sinners are finding ways to go back to earth, They are causing humans pain and suffering in forms of demonic, if this continues my friend, I will be forced to act with blades and not words.” 

  “Is it not my realm!?” Lucifer had snapped glaring up at you from your side of the table as he stood up, his nails digging into the wood, his reddened wings snapping open with eyes among them, dark and cursed like the horns and tail that came from him.

  Your eyes had widened at your friend. Before your own eyes narrowed your wings flaring as all your own blessed eyes opened as you stood as well. 

  “You are temporarily a ruler of it, If you force me my ‘dear’ friend, I will be forced to make you no longer one, as well as your wife.” You had warned. Watching your friend crumble before stating he will accept what Heaven comes up with a solution and negotiate it to protect those who are deserving.

  You had taken the news to the angelic council. Where a selected few among each court summoned by Sera would know. As the hell's Uprising had been kept secret and hidden from the rest of heaven.

  There wasn't need to instill fear, when it was your job to prevent it. 

  The meeting was long, each suggestion caused more discussions and debate if it was the right path to take.

  “Just cull them.” 

  You turned your head quickly, at the sound of the voice, One that was so familiar yet different…as if changed, aged. 

Your eyes found him fast, a few balconies down from Sera's. 

He was in white robes, bright golden wings that gleaned and a simple halo above his head as he stared down at the orb that was showing the uprising going on in hell.

  Adam.. 

  Your eyes had widened as you took him in, he wasn't anything of how he once was…He looked older, not old and wrinkled no…He still fairly looked young, but nowhere as young looking as he had in Eden. 

His skin had darkened and aged under the Earth's scorching sun. 

His hair still managed to stay fluffy and had darkened a few hues. 

He had facial hair on his chin.

His once bright and rich blazing golden eyes had dulled only slightly, dark circles formed under them…..and yet, you still found him as beautiful as the day you saw him inhale his first breaths.

  His words had caused the selected council to bicker and argue if such a course was ethical, if it was needed, others had argued that if humanity's Father is suggesting then it must be, as Adam was made in the greatest father's image. 

Micheal who was by your side was in agreement to such notion, speaking on how Hell's wars were starting to infect Earth, causing The living humans on earth go into their own wars. 

  Your eyes hadn't left Adam, not until his golden ones flicked up to your court balcony making your own e/c ones widen before you quickly turned away. Glad your balcony wall hides your hands as you nervously twitch them. 

  Even after all this time, he made you feel so nervous….

  Yet the memories of how harshly he had last looked upon you and demanded you to never see him again painful came as a dark reminder….He didn't want to see you as you redirected your focus on the meeting.

  “And how are we supposed to do so, we have no grand armies. Angels are not to be vicious beings…” One spoke and it was time for you to speak up. 

  Moving your hand causing a soft glow you made the orb change focus off of hell and onto Earth's wars. Where humans were fighting other Humans. Whatever their war was about was no concern as that was human matters and Angels were not to interfere with human matters any more unless the great father had declared otherwise.

  “We will craft an army from the fallen human souls who died in battle. The ones of pure heart will surely arrive here past the pearly gates and We shall position them to fight for heaven's safety. Micheal & I will teach them to fight with wings and thus have them ready to lead into hell and stop its uprising.” You had explained, focusing on sounding calm and professional. 

  Ignoring the feeling of two golden eyes burning into your frame…While you hadn't seen him for so long, Adam in turn hadn't seen you, this court being the first time for him to gaze upon you as well. 

You were as youthful as the day he last saw you, yes……But you too had changed. 

You were older, like him, you had to grow up.

Carrying yourself with maturity and with commandment…

Your eyes…Look sorrowful, worn. They did not gleam with insatiable curiosity and hope as they once had. 

Like him, You had seen things. Many he was positive was far worse than he had witnessed with his own two eyes. 

As he studied your face, he realized, there were no smile marks…You used to have smile marks that would enhance your beautiful radiant smile. 

They are gone now…as if your skin had simply never had been stretched around your lips and crinkled by your eyes…

  When was the last time you smiled?

  He wondered, as he watched you speak, taking turns with Micheal as you both stratified a plan that would be quick, swift, painless…at least the intention of painless was there….

  But how truly can destroying a human soul, even if it was a vile sinner that deserves to be erased for their unforgettable acts against humanity, be painless? 

  Sera had approved it.

Adam had known she would, as Sera had confided in him way before this meeting on what to do with his descendants that fell into hell?

  Adam had sneered with disgust.

  None of them were descendants of his. 

  “You do not claim them?” She had asked him in surprise.

  “None. They are no longer alive and can change. What they did is unforgiving and they should pay for their consequences. They are no longer Human..” He had said bitterly as the thought of them left a bad taste in his mouth.

  “Do you not care for a single one?”

  “There's one one down there I hope is safe, but I know her like the right side of my ribs, and she will thrive.” He softly spoke of his dear Eve, knowing she had been banished entirely from the heavens. But he knew she would be protected and safe regardless. 

  Adam had watched as slowly the council would leave as Heaven's decision had been made and the meeting adjourned.

All leaving from their balconies, Adam watched as you guided down to the floor, to the orb a golden scroll in your hands as you seemed to sigh. 

  Because you were the one who had to deliver Heaven's Decision and then fine tune it and negotiate with Hells Rulers to make sure there would be no resistance against Heaven's Orders. 

  Adam had moved, leaving his court balcony to quietly land behind you, his hand forming soft light as he formed an object, a flower, as he took steps towards you.

Watching as your wings fluttered and you turned moving to the sound of one approaching onto freeze as he reached forward.

  Your E/c ones meeting his Golden ones, as his fingers slipped a y/n Lilly into your hair beside your ear.

Old and forgotten words easily falling from his lips as they once had…nearly an entire lifetime ago. 

  “A pretty flower for my pretty Angel.” 

  You both had frozen, his eyes watching how yours widened and how flustered your face would grow for a second as your eyes crinkled and ah, there it was, that radiant smile blossomed on your face.

  It had never changed. 

  A laugh came from you next that made a rush move through him as he his wings twitched a smirk forming over his lips.

  And once again, You both had been reunited. 

  And suddenly, Adam was by your side wherever you went. 

  When you had to call a meeting with Lucifer and Lilith, Adam had been by your side. 

  “You are not permitted into Our Realm!” Lilith had snapped, her nails digging into the table's wood as she once again refused to negotiate for better terms. 

  “Dear-” Lucifer had moved a hand to his wife only to be shrugged off by her and a glare at him.

“They wish to kill OUR subjects! Don't Dear me when you plan to be complicit.” 

  You watched as Your friend Lucifer flinched back, his hands raising as if to flag he was not her enemy. 

A scoff by your side had you turning to look at Adam, which had brought all eyes to him.

  “It's not. Your realm. It's your punishment.” Adam spoke venom in his tone as he glared at the one who once he had loved as a wife. 

  “You have no standing against heaven. So you can stand here and keep throwing your tantrum and risk ALL that moves down there to get culled. Or you lose the attitude towards Y/n and start working out who is to be safe.” Adams' voice had silenced the meeting room. You had stared at him as he looked at Lilith and Lucifer with a look far harsher than he had the day he sent you away. 

His golden eyes moved over both of them.

  “I suggest you negotiate protection for the unlawful and against God's order, spawn in your womb.”

  His next words cut through the two self proclaimed rulers of hell, and through you as you looked away from Adam and onto Lilith immediately. Your eyes immediately went to her stomach, where you noticed the faintest of bumps. You looked over at Lucifer in your surprise as he moved up his wings moving to shield Lilith's expecting body.

  “Are you both expecting?” You spoke softly in your surprise and hurt Lucifer. “And you never told me?”

  “For you to go and tell heaven? I have my reasons to not trust your silence.” He spoke harshly, which made you flinch before glaring at him.

  “I believe those reasons are your self projections. Mind, I remind you I have never gone back on my words, I can not say the same for you.” 

  You had watched his face crumble, but you paid no mind as you summoned scrolls and slid them to the two hell rulers.

  “I suggest you write who is to be spared. The sinners however are out of question.” 

  The list had been made, negotiated and finalized 

  The beginning of the exterminations put into place by Heaven's Decree. 

  “I hope your little one is born healthy.” You offered your soft prayers as you and Adam left the meeting hall, both riding the heaven-vator back and leaving hell as you were to turn in the negotiations. 

  Adam had stayed with you, the entire ride and fly back, dropping off the scroll and returning back to where you conducted your place of work. He stayed in your office, playing or at least trying to play the harp as you transferred scrolls to finalized orders and pieces before sending them off to Micheal which then would go to Sera. 

  “You are improving .” You hummed softly as you looked up from your desk as he sat on floor cushions trying to play. A smirk formed over his face as he moved his fingers along the strings.

  “Soon I'll be singing you serenades." He teased how it caused your face to flush and a light smile formed on your face. 

  He would spend all his eternal afterlife trying to keep you smiling. 

  And he did. 

  As your friendship rebloomed, Adam tended to it as if it was a garden.  Sowing it slowly to grow into more as the mere thoughts of you began to make his heart race and wings flutter.

  It started with making you smile, to making you laugh. Bringing you small gifts that he could play off as not gifts, until you noticed them getting more personal. 

  Soft grades of each other's fingers as you walked beside each other to places, gazes stuck on another for too long.

  It shifted to holding hands at court, keeping your hands beneath the balcony corner, feeling him trace circles into your hand with his thumb. 

Soft but quick stolen kisses when no one was looking as you both tried to present a professional stance within your office and in meeting halls before the other meeting person or persons had arrived.

  It grew quickly to you staying over in his bed, and he's yours, simply enjoying each other's arms and holding in each other's embrace in soft pajamas and warm cozy bedspread.

A very hushed “I love yous” whispered as you both would fall to sleep till your eyes were fluttering away, smiles forming on your faces.

  The Day Adam had proposed, he had been promoted with the Title of General of the Extermination Army, now titled as Exorcist.. 

You had been moved away from needing to slash a blade and fight along the exterminations lines too being the record keeper. 

You would now document every extermination and the army's soldiers, how many each had killed. Totalling up the exact number had been exterminated each year working on what would be the next year's quota to keep up with the rapid filling of hell's sinners.

  You had been relieved to be released from the Title of general, to be placed as the one who keeps to the books. Excited for Adam as he took upon the role you spent decades training him for, and you had been there to aid in appointing his second hand. A young woman who had fought in religious wars on earth who had led to many victories. 

Adam had renamed her as “Lute” as she could no longer go by her real name within the excorist army.

  You And Him were returning home, this time to his home, you had walked in first muttering about what you both should eat before you heard Adam clear his throat.

  You turned to find yourself wide eyed and in shock as you saw him crouched down to one of his knees, a ring in his hand as his wings shuttered and fluttering showing his nerves as he looked up at you with a shy smile.

  “Y/n l/n Seraphim, would you bless my eternal afterlife” Adam had started the question, one that sent your eyes watering up tears as you held your mouth. 

“As my wife?” 

  “Yes…” You had barely breathed out as you watched Adams face seemed and he moved to grab you, picking you up by your waist and spinning you making you giggle loudly, before he joined your lips with his own in a sweet long loving kiss. Parting when your lungs burned for air, his forehead to yours as he stared into your eyes adoringly.

  “I will always be by your side, My pretty angel.”

  He promised. You believed it. 

  So why did you not believe his second hand, his close friend, your close friend Lute when she came back a bloody mess with his halo in hand.

  Why did you choke out a “No.” as if you had commanded fate to change as she whispered out the truth.

  “Hes dead.”

  Not a “He's gone” which would lead him coming back.

Not anything that could fill you with any false hope that he was in fact a lie and this was her playing a harsh and cruel prank onto you.

nothing more than a "He's Dead.”

  You didn't want to believe it, tears streaming down your face as she placed his cold and dull halo into your hands as she was rushed for medical care.

You didn't want to face it, until you were forced to court and all the muttering was about sinners being redeemed and how one had. 

As they bicker back and forth about whether such a thing should be allowed or not. 

None speaking of your dead husband.

Of Adam….Your Adam. 

  “We will fill the General Position with Abel, Adam's son.” Sera had spoken, making you freeze like ice…No condolences, no questioning if they should get his body and the other fallen dead angels….

  “He hasn't even been buried." Your voice cut silence into the court room as eyes went to your balcony. 

  “Y/n-” You would cut off Sera.

  “My husband's body hasn't even been retrieved, He hasn't even had a proper burial!” You felt your chest heave, heart breaking as it hardened with fury. “And you speak of replacing him!?” 

  You stormed out of the court meeting. Lute had followed you moments after, you were sure she spoke her peace before flying after you.

  “My lady, where are you-”

  “I am getting his body, and the others.” You snapped as tears streamed down your face as you headed to the heavens' advocacy, Lute following you as you sent a summons for Lucifer. 

“I am bringing him home.”

  Only you wouldn't.

  As you and Lute had waited for Lucifer to arrive, he was alone, quietly and you saw as your friend had a look of guilt on his face as he could not meet your eye. It makes your blood run cold. 

  “I wish to bring my husband's body back to heaven for burial. Allow me dear friend passage to retrieve him.” You had explained and softly begged him as you looked up with rear stained eyes.

  Lucifer had looked from the meeting table as he slowly walked to your side, there in front of you he placed down a single golden feather and Adams wedding ring before stepping back.

  You stared at them in confusion, not understanding as you looked at your dear friend with your already hurting eyes.

  When Lucifer had finally found courage to look up at you he grimaced as he spoke the words that seemed to snap your entire existence apart.

  “This is all that is left of him.” Lucifer's words were hesitated as he stared at you with a face full of guilt and regret, as if he was in pain for you. 

  “Where-” Your voice wavered as you looked at Lucifer with pleading eyes, pleading it not to be so. 

  “Most of the fighters that fought to defend were cannibles….”

  “By the time we went to lay rest to the bodies…..I had burned what had remained…” 

  There was ringing in your ears, so your chest tightened in the most agonizing way. 

You felt a hand on you and tonight's your side glance it had been Lute, tears burning in her horrified eyes as she tried to remain strong ... .strong for you.

  “I am sorry I truly am Y/n”

Funny how you no longer believed him. 

  “You let them…..Eat him…” You spoke as your voice broke into something else as you looked away from lute and onto Lucifer standing tall, your wings spraying out to show each of them littered with all your eyes. 

Eyes moving to flash open among your body as you felt a deep fury burn through you in outcry.

  You did not care if Lucifer had stumbled back as he watched you shift to your more holic form in your righteous fury.Your hand moving as your blades, blessed and forged by father came to your hands as you pointed them at your once dear friend. 

  “You allowed him to be defiled in his death!” Your voice morphed into hundreds of screams as you glared at Lucifer's, finally no longer seeing him as a friend. He.never.was.a.friend. 

  Every smile, every laugh, every good memory..

  Was a fucking lie. 

  “Y/n! My friend-”

  “Our bond as friends ended the second he stopped breathing.” You seethe, staring at him in disgust. You had moved leading the lute towards the heaven-vator.

  Simply turning your head back at him one last time. No longer seeing your friend.

No. 

Your friend died the second he had lied to you. 

  Now all you saw was the snake that took his place. 

  “There will be no more negotiations.” 

  Your words had drained what little color was in Lucifer's face as you and Lute left, returning back to heaven where you would return to your former role.

  “My Lady, “ Lute had spoken following you as you stormed towards Adams office, your old office. “What are we to do?” 

  Her eyes watching as you moved to a statue, one that used to be you back in the day. Known as Heaven's most fiercest blade. 

Her eyes only widened a little as she watched you take the mask off the statue and move it to your own face before turning her, its eyes started to glow the brightest f/c. 

  “We are going to make every last one of them bleed.” 

  You were no longer the sweet y/n, the soft angel retired to book keeping and a loving wife. The version that Lute had known you as, while she had spent countless times staring at the statue behind you listening to Adam tell tales of how you were back then.

Now she got to see you.

  Y/n L/n The Seraphim of War,

  Holding your blades of promised death once again. 

whose only warning for the storm you would bring, was when you announced you would no longer use words.

And she kneeled to her New General.

  The Original Exorcist General.

_____

Anyways if you made it to this point, I hope you enjoyed.

Thank you for all your support and For the Suggestion.

Happy Spooky Month!

___

Your mother was a siren, your father? A poor sailor lured down to his watery grave, presumed to be human.  

When you were born, hatched out and new, your mother and other sirens were in disarray.

You looked nothing like them.

You had no water elements to your small little form, and while you had wings, yes, all were covered in glowing white and golden feathers, six stretched out and yet wrapping around yourself to keep you warm.

Your mother, however, loved you and tended to you, her strange little hatchling. She watched as you grew, forced on land or the perches above the waters, since you could not swim no matter how hard she and the pod had tried to teach you.  

When you were of a woman's age, she and the pod had welcomed you to sing with them, and while you had an enchanting voice, your voice could not lure men down, nor did men's flesh ever satisfy you. Instead it made you ill.

You had wept to your mother, a sound no parent of any creature would love to hear. She held you close, her scaled hands moving through your glowing hair as you wept into her arms.  

Different. That was what you were, different from your mother's blood.

“I do not want to lure men,” you wept into her arms as you looked up at her with a broken heart. Your mother could only sadly smile at you.

“You were not meant to be part of this pod.” Her soft words made your heart flutter in pain as you looked at her with watery eyes.  

Her hand moved through your hair before cupping your cheeks.

“You must fly, follow the current patterns and find land. Fly east. Stay safe and away from others, and should you ever be caught by man, deny being part of my own. Tell them that you have not a clue of what you are, but good fortune follows you if you remain unharmed. Man will fall for this little lie, and you will be safe, my child.”

You listened to your mother, nodding before hugging her in a warm embrace one last time before your wings stretched out and lifted you away. You flew for so long, following the eastern currents, landing only to find food or to rest and hide from the harsh storms that would plague the sea.  

You flew on as clouds of mist started to fill the air, thick like a curtain, making it hard for you to see, but you felt a flutter in your heart and a rush of strength filling your tired wings, and thus you trusted them and your heart to guide you through the mist.  

Your eyes closed entirely as you flew, feeling your body move and sway as your wings so strongly and carefully guided you on your heart's path.  

The mist tickling your bare skin and brushing through your hair and feathers until a gush of warmth rushed through your body, letting you gasp as your eyes opened and blinked.

Vast glorious lands lay below you, lush and rich with forests and meadows.

Land of man.  

You had seen such things before, but nothing was as lovely as this place. Your eyes took in the land in wide surprise as everything seemed to glow and gleam and sparkle.  

You flew over a field, seeing small beings move around it, thinking it was farmers.  

Yet, as you risked the sight of yourself, you flew lower to see what the crowd of men was doing.  

Your brows furrowed as you saw humans line strange things in a row and one walked forward, holding up another strange thing in his hand, making the crowd cheer.  

You tilted your head, lowering even more, trying to keep hidden, but your curious nature was dying to be sated.

The single man moved forward, seeming to pull back on some cord tied to the strange curving thing.  

You watched as he seemed to focus, your wings holding you in the air, and you felt a nervous feeling curl in your stomach as you watched the man's hand let go.

Something fired clean through the line of twelve strange things, and a shrill left you as pain jabbed through one of your wings.  

You felt your body hurtling down as you frantically tried to stay in the air, the world rushing and swirling around you as you crashed from the sky, crashing through branches and vines.  

Cries left you until you stopped, vines entangled around you like snakes, making you freak out and scream, trying to get free from them.

Another let out a breath he was holding, eyes narrowing as he heard screams. He had thought the thing that was watching would have sensed that he noticed it, as he shifted to make sure his arrow would curve after leaving the last axe's head to strike it down.

Adam moved quickly into the forest, a few of his army girls following to spread out and find whatever it was he perceived as a threat.

Yet he found a clearing where the sun's light shined through the trees on an entangled form crying. He had made the calling sound for the others to find him as he made it down to the clearing, his golden eyes narrowed at the form.

You had gone silent as you heard sticks crunching, fear surging through your heart as your wings fluttered to get you away. You let out a pitiful noise as your ensnared form turned slowly, and you could see through your wings' feathers the one who was approaching. Your (e/c) eyes landed on a man who seemed to gleam of gold, his eyes nothing but bright golden coins.  

He was beautiful, and yet he terrified you deeply, as man was unpredictable and could be deadly.

“Spare me, spare me, please.” You softly wept as silent tears ran down your face, trying to shrink into your wings for safety.

You could see one of his brows raise as he neared, something sharp in his hand making fear course through you.

A man's blade.

“What are you? A demon? A siren?” the man's voice questioned as he neared, moving the blade to a vine, making a small terrified shrill leave you.

“No!” you cried out, frantically trying to escape the vines again. A choked sob left you.  

“I know not of what I am. Please! Please don't hurt me!”

You squealed as you heard the swiping of metal, yet instead of the pain of a deep gash, you only felt the pain of your backside landing onto semi-soft moss.  

You immediately scrambled backward, two wings moving to curl around your bare body to cover yourself from the man's eyes. The others tried to fly, but pain surged through you as one was struck with an arrow, and others broken, snapped from the fall.

The man's eyes followed you, making you nervous as he moved toward you, outreaching a hand that made you flinch. You were scared he would strike you, only to feel gentle hands moving your arrow-embedded wing open. You opened your eyes to look at him as he moved the blade he held to cut away the arrowhead, and his hands moved quickly to yank out the arrow's pole, making you let out a small whine.  

His hands then examined your broken wings before he moved, grabbing vines and broken branches, cleaning them from their shrubs with his blade, and working on putting them against your wing, snapping them back into place and working vines through your feathers to tie, splinting them.

“Do you bring harm?” the man questioned you as you watched him in surprise before shaking your head.

“No, I bring no harm, only good fortune,” you said softly, watching how his golden eyes flicked to you, brows furrowed.

“Good fortune, hm?” he asked, questioning your words, and you nodded, repeating your mother's very words.

“I bring good fortune if no harm is brought to me.” You claimed, and the man made a noise, looking at your wings.

“So you will bring bad fortune, for it was my arrow that struck you down,” the man admitted, being the one who caused your pain, and yet you did not want to bring him anything of the sort, so you shook your head.

“You thought I was danger. How can I blame you for such a thing…” you justified his actions, his attack on you.  

The man hummed before moving away from you a moment, his hands working on unbuttoning the fabric around his body, exposing his chest to you before wrapping it around you, and moving, hooking an arm under your legs and the other around your back.

Your arms flew around his neck the moment he effortlessly moved you off the ground. The man was tall, from how far the ground looked as he held you in his arms, well cushioned but as he started to move, you could feel muscles ripple from under the protective lining of his flesh. The land's spoils must be very well if such a giant was able to feast so well. You wondered if he was fully human at all as he carried you from the clearing.

“I will atone for the harm I brought you.” His words came as a promise, making you look at him in surprise.  

“You will be an honored guest in my kingdom and in my home, and once you are healed, if you wish to leave, I will make sure you have plenty for your travels.”

Warmth spread through you at his kind words, taking accountability and yet offering you hospitality. You never thought man could be so generous.

“I am called Y/n,” you softly spoke, enlightening him of your name as you eagerly waited for him to do the same.

“Adam.” He simply responded, watching how his simplicity had made you nearly wither away in his arms in disappointment.

“King of Eden, Adam.” He added, watching how you softly perked up more as he exited the forest, joined by his guards who met him at the tree lines. Your eyes swept over them, all adorned in armor, and the more you looked, the more you were taken in wonder.

Women.

The king's guards were women.

Adam carried you from the meadows into a lovely city, where many went about their day, men, women, and children filling the streets with laughter and joy.  

All, once seeing Adam, would greet their King generously before curious eyes landed on your form, then moved away, allowing space for the King and his guards to pass freely.  

The city was beautiful, adorned with golden accents and gleaming trees bearing various fruits.  

Adam continued to carry you as you focused on the sights, until you reached a lovely palace of stone, all accented with treasures, you were sure. Your breath was taken away by the man-made structure, all intricately designed and built, carved from marble and stone to form breathtaking statues.

“This place is beautiful,” you softly breathed out, and you felt the man chuckle, his fingers softly tapping the plushness of your thigh's skin absentmindedly.  

You looked at Adam to see him stare at the palace with great pride before glancing down into your eyes.

“It took me many years to build,” he softly informed you before entering the palace, maidens moving to greet him and you. Adam carefully set you down.

“Take her and bathe her, then have her fed. Her every need is to be met, as she is my welcomed guest,” he ordered them before moving on, separating from you entirely.

You were unsure as the maidens took you deeper into the place, into a lovely room now destined to be yours, and then to a bathing area where fire-heated water was poured into a great stone pool, and you were softly guided to sit in it.

The maidens removed the fabric that covered you, taking in the wings that curled as close to you as possible. None of their hands brought you harm, though you gasped and squeaked at them bathing you.  

Each maiden idly chatted as her fingers lathered soaps and sweet-smelling oils into your skin, your hair, and your feathers.  

You began to melt into their gentle massaging hands and the warm, toasty water.

After your bath, the maidens' hands were in your hair, twisting it into designs and pinning it up so it did not fall, guiding you from the wash area back to your main room where a live, warm fire crackled. They pulled soft silken fabrics over your bare body.

They wanted to put more layers on you, but you refused, afraid so many would suffocate you, despite their assurances. They fed you whatever your mind was set on, and the bed was gloriously soft and warm.

You were allowed to move freely as you liked, and healers worked tirelessly on making sure your wings would heal correctly. They also scribbled away in their endless inks and papers about your form.  

You wondered why, but such thoughts would escape you as you took long walks around the palace.  

You had hoped to run into Adam once more, the King who had welcomed you into his home, yet you had not seen him in days. You tried not to be rude and sulk in his home, so you spent your days roaming the halls, looking at the art that lay around.

One bright and sunny day, you heard small weeping through the halls and followed it out to a lovely courtyard where a large, glorious tree grew strong, as though prideful in its reign over the yard. Bright, glowing crystal apples grew on its branches and dazzled in the sunlight, making you stare at it in enchantment as you neared. You were momentarily distracted in your sudden quest, wanting to reach out and pluck one of the crystal apples.

But sniffles caught your ear, and you turned your head to follow them, peering over a large root to see a small frame curled into his knees. A small boy was crying as quietly as he could into them, and you moved around the root slowly.

“Hello.” You spoke softly, watching the boy jump. His head lifted from his knees, and you were surprised to see slitted eyes snapping up to you.  

The small child had tanned skin that glowed gold like the King's, but it had more sheen than any other human you had seen. His slitted eyes were two colors, yellow and red, and they watched you carefully as you stayed where you stood.  

His cheeks had intricate patches of red on them, glistening like scales. Dark brown, nearly black, fluffy hair fell around his face like dark clouds.

Snake .

Your inner voice screamed in panic as your wings momentarily tensed with the need to flee, but you watched as the boy sniffled and moved a hand to wipe away the tears as he looked at you.

“H-Hello.” His small voice wavered, and you could not help but immediately move closer, getting onto your knees as you carefully held out a hand to him.

“Are you alright, my child?” you asked him, your eyes moving over him again in search of any source of pain. As you held out your hand, the boy's eyes widened, and he shrank back for only a second before rushing past it, his small frame clinging to you with fresh sniffles.  

You paused, unsure at first, then brought your hand to the back of his head, softly twirling your fingers into his locks and offering quiet words of comfort, the way your mother once comforted you.

“I'm Y/n.” You softly told the small boy your name, and he pulled away, his little face sniffling away tears.

“I'm Cain,” he said softly, still clinging to your fabric. “Eldest prince of Eden.”

You nodded, taking in the small child's name.  

“Well, young Cain, why do you weep so?” you asked him softly, wanting to know how you could ease his troubles. You watched as more tears dripped down his face, his little brows furrowing as if his own thoughts upset him again.

It was not long until you heard the pitter-patter of other little feet, and you turned your head to see an even smaller boy round the roots.  

His hair was golden, matching his eyes, and his skin was pale, barely kissed by the sun. The new child’s eyes landed on Cain, and he made noises, moving toward the eldest prince, who moved away, using one of your wings to hide.

“Go away, Abel!” the first boy hissed with sniffles, making the newest boy pause, tears bursting in his eyes, and weeping sounds came from him.

“Ain! Ain!” the smallest wept, trying to reach the other.

You took in the chaos of the two before carefully comforting the newest weeping child, who also threw himself into your arms. You moved your wing to wrap around Cain and pull him back to your arms, where you held both boys.

“Goodness, what is going on?” you softly exclaimed as you stared at the young boys in your arms, one trying to get away and the other clinging to the older.

“I'm mad at him!” Cain wailed, struggling to escape Abel's small arms as Abel whined, clinging to him.

“Ain, no go!” Abel wailed, and you moved to hold them both securely.

“Why?” you asked, trying to figure out what such small children could have done to upset each other, and it seemed Cain had given up on fighting, huffing through tears.

“He called me pretty!” the older boy exclaimed, making him all huffy and teary-eyed, which stunned you for a moment.  

“I am not pretty! I'm not a girl!” Cain wailed.

“Ah…” you muttered, dumbfounded, staring at the two boys. You tried to gather yourself.

“Men can be pretty,” you said softly, making both boys look at you. Cain, surprised. Abel, curious. “Just like women can be pretty. Though I suppose men's pretty is deemed handsome. Perhaps that is what Abel was trying to say?” you offered, looking down at the two small children in your arms.

Cain's little face shifted into a thoughtful expression before looking at the other boy in your arms.

“Is that true?” he asked the toddler, and Abel giggled, nodding.

“Ain! Andsome!” the smaller tried speaking, and it made you smile as you watched Cain's face break into a wide grin before moving to hug the other.

“I think you are handsome too, brother!” the boy said, and you took note as you looked at the two.

The princes of Eden .

Since that day, the two boys always seemed able to find you, insisting on following you and spending time with you as you roamed the palace. You did not mind, enjoying their small chatter and eager footsteps, getting lured into their tiny human games, unaware of the golden eyes watching you in the distance with another pair of silver ones not too far behind.

The courtyard with the enchanting apple tree was where the three of you spent most of your time. You would sit by the roots and watch the two play, sometimes they would get you to play with them, but otherwise, they seemed satisfied with you simply watching.  

This day was different as someone else entered the courtyard. Both boys' faces lit up with glee as they ran toward the man's shadow, both clinging to one of his legs with hugs.

“Father!” young Cain shouted in delight.

“Ather!” little Abel squealed as well.

Your gaze shifted from them to the man who had carried you to the palace so many days ago, taking in his tanned, golden skin, his bright golden coin eyes, and how his fluffy dark hair shone in the sunlight.  

The boys shared so many of his features, even little Cain with his many snake-like differences.

Adam greeted his boys warmly, his hands ruffling their hair, then urged them back to play as he found a place near you among the apple tree's roots, leaning back to watch them play.

“They seem to have taken a liking to you,” Adam commented, and you spared him a glance while watching the two go back to their chatter, a smile forming on your face.

“They are great company in the lonely days I found myself,” you answered the King as you turned to face him, your expression shifting to concern. “I have not kept them away from their mother?” you asked, wondering how the boys could be gone for so long without upsetting her.

You watched Adam's face shift before he shook his head, keeping his eyes on the boys. “They have no mother,” he said firmly, making you feel guilt for asking.

“My apologies—”

“Even if they did, only one would have a mother, and the other would have only me,” Adam continued, his eyes never leaving the boys. You moved a hand to his arm in comfort.  

Adam looked at you, his gaze flicking to your hand, then back to your face, as though pondering something before he spoke again.

“My first wife and I were lured into a naga's den where we were both put under a trance. When we finally broke free, we returned to our kingdom, thinking we had escaped. She fell pregnant afterward. I assured her I would love the child as my own, no matter its birthright, and that I would protect them, seeing how she wept those days.” Adam spoke softly, still watching Cain. “On the day she gave birth, I was away on a hunt. When I returned, the maidens told me I was a father of a daughter, and that my wife was exhausted. I rushed to them, to my wife, my daughter, despite the maidens trying to stop me, to warn me of the newborn's appearance. Yet when I entered our chambers, my wife was nowhere, and the balcony was open. All I found in the room was the crying from our bed, where I found him, Cain, messily wrapped in blankets for me to find. The snake had come back to take my wife and her child and abandon our son.”

Your heart ached for the King and the eldest son as you brought a hand to your own watering eyes to wipe away tears.

“No search could find my wife or daughter, so I swore I would protect my boy with my life,” Adam said sharply, looking at you, his gaze firm yet softened by your presence.  

“I swore that if the other child, the daughter who was supposed to be mine, ever made her way back to the kingdom, she would have a home here with her brothers.”

“You are most warmhearted, Adam,” you said softly, moving your hand to your eyes again as you looked at the boys who still played, not a care between them. You could not help but wonder what Cain's sister would be like if she too were here in the courtyard. You imagined Cain as a young girl, and the image seemed so fitting in your mind. Without once laying eyes on the missing child, you would never know for sure.  

You turned your gaze toward Abel, then looked back at Adam, noticing guilt forming on his face as he looked away.

“Abel's mother was my second wife,” he said quietly. “I needed help raising Cain, and so I found a soft, loving woman to raise him. Seeing how she cared for him made me fall in love with her as well.”

Adam took a breath and sighed. “Cain was taking his first steps when she told me she was carrying Abel. I was overjoyed and spoiled her with lavish gifts and rare foods. I gave her everything she wanted, except…” He leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree, his golden eyes staring at the crystal apples with a look of hatred for them, making you nervously look up at them as well, the enchanting glow now no longer so wonderful.

“The fruit of this very tree,” Adam said, his voice growing dark. “Everyone who bites from one of these apples loses themselves. A plague of darkness consumes them, a rage driving them to do terrible things. My refusal to allow her to taste one made her obsession grow. One night she slipped from our bed, and by the time I realized she was gone and got here, she had already taken a bite.”

Adam's face twisted in a grimace as he looked away from the fruit, glaring at his shaking hands as if the memory was too much.  

You, too, moved your eyes off the apples, unsettled by their glow, and shifted your focus to the boys playing. A small smile appeared at their carefree laughter, then you placed your hand over Adam's trembling one. He glanced at you, then slowly wrapped his fingers around yours, needing to finish his story.

“I saw part of the apple fall to the ground, a wicked smile on her face nearly splitting it in two, and a blade that had left her stomach. Abel was no longer safe in her womb, falling to the tree's roots as she morphed into the darkness and vanished from sight. I fought sleepless nights to keep my second son alive and push her memory from my mind.” He told you in a voice weighed down by years of sorrow, feeling compelled to share this after watching how you cared for his boys.  

“I vowed I would not take another wife of my own choosing,” Adam told you, and you nodded in understanding.

“I do not think one would find fault in such a thing,” you spoke softly as you looked back at his sons. “Your sons should be your utmost priority.”

He found himself smiling at your words, warmth spreading through his chest. He did not tell you that, soon after your arrival, your words had proven true: you brought good fortune. In only two days, the farmers' harvest had grown plentiful overnight, stored beers and wines had finished brewing in mere days rather than months, and the forests were full of game ready for the hunt. More importantly, his sons seemed finally at ease. Cain was calmer, and Abel no longer provoked him. The bickering that once ruled the palace had turned into laughter and affection.

Adam let his gaze settle on your wings, which were no longer splinted but still wrapped for support. You would be free to leave once healed, and he had promised you supplies if you did.

But he wished to be selfish.

You had been good for his kingdom, wonderful for his boys, and Adam could not pretend he himself had not felt a new peace since he carried you from that forest. Now, sitting at your side, he felt serenity easing his tired bones, a kind of relaxation he had not felt in so long.

“I told myself that I would let my boys decide who would be their new mother, the one who might become my wife,” Adam said softly enough that you turned to him with wide eyes, seeing a tender look in his golden gaze. “It seems they have chosen you.”

Your heart raced, and your wings fluttered at such a warm, promising declaration. You felt your face grow hot at the King of Eden's words, warmth filling your being as you considered being the one to care for his children. To be at Adam's side.  

The idea of being mother to Cain and Abel, who found solace in you, made your heart skip. To be the King's wife, building a promising future for yourself in Adam's arms, was more than you ever thought possible.

“But I cannot commit to another unless I know they can fully accept my boys as entirely theirs, knowing all there is to know of them, of me,” Adam spoke again, his soft voice turning firm as he set down the final lines. He seemed prepared for you to demand your freedom and leave.

Instead, you moved your fingers against his, intertwining them in his hold as you gave him a warm smile, then turned to look at the boys who would soon be yours as well.  

“I did not believe such a thing possible for someone like me,” you whispered, then looked at Adam longingly, wishing to be someone he could trust and love. “But I cannot say yes unless their father knows of my origins too, for I know how it feels to be born different.”

You told the King everything, of your journey flying across so many lands until you reached his home, about the pod and mother who raised you, and the hardships of living among sirens when you were so unlike them.

When you finished, you stared at Adam, expecting him to turn cruel, as men could do, and cast you out, telling his guards to run you through. You trembled, afraid that your honesty would be your end.  

You flinched when you felt him remove his hand from yours, your wings tensing, ready to flee at the first sign of danger, only to gasp as his hand found your face, his warm lips pressing softly against yours. Your eyes fluttered closed, leaning into the warmth.

Adam pulled away, smiling as he gazed at you.

“I do not allow others to call and curse my son a naga,” he said protectively, his gaze running over your frame and wings with the same fierce devotion. “And I will not let anyone call and curse my wife a siren,” he promised, making your heart glow.

Seraphim .