Page 36 of Shifting Hearts

THREE

Seraphina

T he minutes ticked by slowly, making the morning last an eternity. After her paperwork was completed, she was escorted back to her desk, just outside Jas’s office. She sat down and stared at the door, without direction, there wasn’t much to do.

She closed her eyes and summoned her starseed. A celestial’s starseed was as important as a human heart. It connected them to the immortal realm and each other regardless of distance. Keeping her wits about her around Jas was imperative to a successful mission.

She performed menial tasks, such as watering plants and diverting calls before replying to e-mails. Her experience at home prepared her well to assume the role as the devil’s assistant.

Her thoughts betrayed her and strayed to her boss more than once. She caressed the spot on her throat where he’d touched her with his fangs. She had her work cut out for her trying to balance sensibility as he tempted her with carnal sin.

Her thoughts were interrupted as her stomach churned painfully. She knocked on Jas’s door to take his lunch order, surely like her, he must eat.

Silence.

She knocked again. There was no answer.

Seraphina abandoned her desk to satisfy her own needs.

She asked the receptionist in the lobby for a lunch recommendation and was pointed to the sandwich shop right around the corner.

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted along the breeze and greeted her nostrils most deliciously, causing her to salivate. Being a vegetarian, she chose a loaded veggie sub and took her purchase outside to eat at a little cafe table in the sunshine.

She salivated in anticipation and the paper crinkled as she unwrapped the scrumptious sub. The flavors of the crisp vegetables and seasoned, soft bread made her swoon with delight.

Her eyes popped open as a shadow blotted out the sun. Her hazel eyes swirled and her starseed vibrated, as a vision pulled her away from the city and into the countryside.

She whipped the sweat from her brow with an arm and raised from the vegetable bed.

Children’s laughter filled the air as their father chased them, and every time he caught them, they squealed in delight.

The dog barked gleefully, running circles around them with his tail wagging.

The cat yawned and languidly stretched her back before curling back up to soak up the lazy afternoon sunshine.

The angel couldn’t breathe as she slammed back into the present as a voice startled her out of her vision. Her food caught in her throat and she coughed, patting her chest to help it clear.

“Are you alright, miss?” a handsome blond man asked as he fished a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it out to her. Her fingers shook as she gaped like a fish, fighting to breathe again.

“Are you alright, miss?” he repeated.

She nodded lamely as he broke into a broad smile. Her face colored as her eyes fell on the muscular forearms that peeked out from rolled sleeves. A dusting of light chest hair was visible beneath the undone button at his collar.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“I’m Eli.”

“I’m Seraphina.”

“What a beautiful name for a ravishing woman. Do you mind if I join you?”

His eyes never left hers as he gestured to the empty seat next to her.

“Um…” She bit her lip. “I mean yes. That would be fine.”

His chuckle was laced with dark promise, despite the dimpled smile on his face making her uncomfortable.

He pulled a sandwich out of the white paper bag and a wave of nausea washed over Seraphina as the smell of cured meats assaulted her nostrils.

An involuntary wrinkle of her nose preceded her recoil.

Eli failed to notice as he bit into the juicy, meaty sandwich. He frowned when Seraphina clapped her hand over her mouth.

“Wat rog?” he asked with his mouth full.

“I’m a vegetarian.”

With her appetite spoiled, Seraphina gestured to her vegetable sub as she placed it back on the paper.

“Oh shit! I’m sorry.” Eli wrapped his sandwich up and pushed it away, inadvertently pushing it closer to Seraphina.

“I’m sorry,” she squeaked. “I just realized my lunch break is over. Goodbye.”

Her heart pounded as she ran around the corner as quickly as she could. She was mortified by the encounter and wiped the tears from her eyes, as she dropped back into the seat at her desk. She’d been optimistic waking up that morning, and now, couldn’t wait for the day to end.

Her phone rang and she quickly picked it up.

“This is Jasper Conrad’s assistant, how may I help you?” She sniffled.

“It’s Mara. What’s wrong?”

Seraphina broke down at the sound of her sister’s voice. “It’s just been horrible, Mara. I want to go home.”

“Calm down, Sera. What’s wrong?”

She recounted her uninvited lunch guest. “And au jus ran down his chin. But since I had his handkerchief, there was nothing for him to clean it up with.

“Bless your sweet heart,” Mara laughed. “Men are pigs. It’s your first day. You’ll get used to being around meat eaters and bloodsuckers.”

“Don’t,” Seraphina hissed.

“He was flirting with you, albeit poorly. I’ll give you lessons on dating.”

“I’m not here to date.”

“You’re a hot, single woman. Dating can be fun if you’re brave enough to put yourself out there. He won’t be the only man attracted to you.”

“I had a vision,” she softly changed the subject.

The images flashed through Seraphina’s mind once more as she shared them with her sister.

“Shut up! You know what that means, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Your soulmate is here.” Her voice became whimsical.

“I’m sorry, Mara. That was insensitive.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she snapped and ended the call.

Seraphina sighed and turned back to her computer when a thump from Jas’s office caught her attention. At first, she ignored it, but then another thump came, quickly followed by another. When she raised her hand to knock on the door she heard a woman sob.

Worried for her safety, Seraphina pushed open the door and was taken aback by carnage. A pain she couldn’t name tore through her as a starseed shattered. She froze, physically unable to comprehend the sight.

A half-naked woman was splayed across Jas’s desk, her long blonde hair cascaded off the side.

Her dusty rose nipples peeked through the lace of her bra, and the matching lace panties were pulled to the side, exposing her most intimate part.

Her breathy moans filled the air as she writhed in ecstacy.

But it wasn’t her state that broke her heart. It was Jas kneeling on the floor between the woman’s spread legs. Seraphina blindly reached for the door handle behind her, as the woman cried out once more.

Jas’s blackened eyes snapped to hers, and he sneered. “You’ve interrupted my feeding. Are you just going to stand and watch us?”

“I… I heard… I thought someone was in danger.” The words rolled weakly off her tongue as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Blood trickled down the woman’s inner thigh and Jas lapped it up with his tongue. Seraphina couldn’t stay, she didn’t want to, but she found herself unable to leave. Jas’s eyes smoldered with a mocking grin.

Seraphina wondered if he could read her thoughts. Not breaking eye contact, Jas used his fingers to play with the woman on the table, igniting her moans once more.

“Don’t just stand there, join us,” the woman on the table called out.

“I can smell your excitement, angel. Why don’t you be a good little angel and touch yourself for me.”

Seraphina shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat.

The woman on the desk’s breathing changed as she grew closer to climax.

Jas sunk his fangs into her one last time and she broke with a high-pitched cry.

After she fell limply on the desk, Jas rose and wiped his bloody mouth with a napkin and crossed the room in a blink of an eye.

His fangs were exposed as he grinned as his partner lay forgotten on the desk. “What should I do with a naughty angel like you?” He held up his fingers covered in a wet sheen. “Open your mouth and clean my fingers.”

The angel shook her head, but resistance was futile. He grasped her chin in a bruising grip and practically forced them inside her mouth.

“Suck on them and don’t forget to use your tongue.”

Seraphina was humiliated, but what could she do but follow his command. She lapped at the fluid as he shoved his fingers down her throat.

“Fuck. That’s so hot,” the woman said. “Are you sure you don't want to join us, cutie?”

As though remembering they weren’t alone, Jas loosened his grip and pulled away from Seraphina.

His over-the-shoulder glance at his lover was laced with hostility. “Get dressed and leave,” he barked.

“Aren’t you going to heal me first?”

The woman ran her fingers up her thin upper thigh and circled the set of puncture wounds. Jas pricked his fingertip and a drop of blood fell onto the bite mark. It miraculously disappeared before their very eyes.

“Does it hurt?” Seraphina whispered.

“Define hurt?” the woman asked as she shook her blonde hair and buttoned her blouse. “On second thought, don’t. Feeding is a very intimate experience. The pain is intense at first bite, but the pleasure is earth-shattering. Jas is the best I’ve ever had.”

The woman shuttered as if an orgasmic aftershock ran through her. She moved to try to kiss Jas, but he quickly recoiled from her.

Seraphina’s lip quivered as the shock wore off. She had to escape. She turned and ran out of the office. By the time she reached the street, she felt dizzy. Jas’s presence was overwhelming and left her breathless. Confusion and other foreign feelings swirled inside her threatening to explode.

The sunny afternoon sun had given way to pouring rain. She looked into the darkened sky and took it as a sign. Rain was a gift to the world as it brought forth spiritual cleansing and relief. She had participated in bringing forth the rain many times at home.

“I don’t understand, Father.” She raised her eyes to the sky. “Why did you send me here? That man is truly vile. How can I save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?”

She received no answer from her father. It was no surprise, she didn’t truly expect him to respond. He was a very busy man after all.

A flashy silver sports car pulled up beside her. A dark-tinted window rolled down and Jas’s growly voice greeted her.

“Get in the car.”

“No,” she responded sharply.

“Oh, angel. Don’t issue a challenge you can’t win. I enjoy the chase.”

“I quit.”

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. “Get in the car. That isn’t a suggestion.”

Seraphina crossed her arms across her chest in defiance and jutted her hip to the side. Jas threw the car in park and slammed the door behind him as he exited the vehicle. He stalked up to her and towered over her, blocking the rain.

“You’re soaking wet. It’s not safe to wander the streets at night. Get in the car and let me take you home.”

“How gallant of you,” she spat sarcastically.

Jas opened the passenger side door and waited until she was situated before closing it with a thunk . A moment later he slipped in the driver’s side. He moved with unnatural speed, making her dizzy.

“I could’ve gotten myself home.” Seraphina pouted.

“I know, angel,” he said.

“So why?”

Jas didn’t answer. His white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel and his ramrod posture were enough to raise the tension.

“Rest up. Tomorrow we start your training,” Jas said in parting.

She stood on the wet sidewalk in front of her building as the sleek car quickly sped out of view, swallowed by the night. She lifted her face to the rain, allowing it to mingle with her tears.

Her brother appeared a few minutes later and opened an umbrella over her head.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She shook her head with a sob. How could she explain an emotion she didn’t even comprehend? He pulled her into his side.

“Did he defile you?”

He sighed in relief as she shook her head.

“Father called,” he said.

“When?”

“Right before I came outside. Why didn’t you answer?”

“I didn’t hear him,” she sobbed.

“You didn’t hear him?” Brock echoed.

She nodded sadly. “That’s a bad thing, isn’t it?”

Brock pulled her into his arms, warming her with his inner light. “Shhh. It will be all right. We all experience growing pains.”

It wasn’t growing pains. Her father chose her specifically for this assignment. Starting tomorrow, her work began. The quicker she finished her job, the faster she returned home.