Sera waited outside for her cab.  She picked pieces of bone and small chunks of flesh out of her hair and threw them into the street.  Her favorite dress was a complete disaster.  The bottom hem was ripped in four places and she was pretty sure the blood stains were starting to dry and set into the fabric.  The sweater Marcus had given her was still intact, although the collar ribbing had been broken and now it hung off one shoulder like she had just stepped out of Flashdance.  But it didn’t matter. Even if he did eat crumpets and honey in the morning, he could kick ass like there…

Sera woke up alone to a room filled with sunshine sparkling off of glass.  Marcus had cleaned up the broken vase and moved the largest bowl directly under the skylight.  The dull sun hit the swirling colors and shot blue and green veins of light throughout the loft.  She was surprised and disappointed that he wasn’t still sleeping next to her. However, she saw a steaming cup of tea on the bedside table and a note. “I’m down in the studio. There’s crumpets warming in the oven, honey on the kitchen table, and a small gift.  Please come down before you leave. –Marcus” Sera was glad for the scent of…

Marcus sat back on the bed, letting his touch calm her down.  “The fire’s out. Are you okay?  Are you burned?  Are you hurt?” her breath came ragged from her raw throat. “I didn’t mean it” she coughed and squinted to see him in the darkness. “The stove blew up.” “I didn’t do it.” Sera hoped it was true. “Of course not! It’s my fault.  I made the fire when we came in. I must’ve used too much lighter fluid” The words sounded false to her, but he didn’t seem angry.  She pressed her palms into her temples. “Look, let me get you some water.” he said  “You need some…

When she started to doze, Marcus moved away from the bed and pulled the amulet off his body.  The heat was unmistakable and the emanating light became a deeper blood red.  Sera kept sneaking little peaks at him though.   She watched him open a metal box near the bed, put the amulet inside, closed the lid and mumbled under his breath.  Then he padded across the loft and into the kitchen.  Rummaging into the fridge for something and then returned to the bed with two bottles of water. He layed back down, letting his eyes close and sighed. But Sera didn’t think it was contentment.  He seemed rather pensive and…

Sera allowed herself to be pulled into Marcus’ strong chest. She heard his heart beating calmly and let a silent sigh of fatigue pass over her lips. God it felt good to be held by somebody again.  Especially such a solidly built man.  She kept her head tucked under his chin, but could easily remember the square jawline and distinctive hazel eyes, one more blue than the other and one more green.  He told the cabbie to turn left toward the far end of Capitol Hill and his voice rumbled a little under her ears. Sera was content for the moment to stay still.  She didn’t really hope for more…

“I didn’t want to upset you” Brogan was trying to calm her down since he knew how she felt about the institute.  “we’ve got another hour before we open and Sally should be here in 15 minutes to help me finish setting up. Go take a walk and clear your head.” Sera’s knew he was right.  She needed to think and calm down before the Tooth and Nail got crazy.  And it was friday night, so crazy was definitely on the menu.  Plus, she was glad that Marcus was supposed to come by but not sure how Bro would respond to him.  She shook her head yes, picked up her…

Sera opened the door to the Tooth and Nail with her keys, hoping to sneak in while her brother was counting the inventory in the back.  “Jesus Sera, I’ve been calling your cell all afternoon.”  No such luck. “Shit.  My cell battery must’ve died last night and I haven’t had time to charge it.” Sera pursed her lips. “We open in an hour” Brogan said “and you saunter in here with a smile on your face like somebody just gave you a saucer of milk.  What the fuck?!” “Back off Brogan. “  Sera threw her purse down on the bar.  “I’ve been out all night, had a very weird breakfast…

Marcus was accelerating.  The headlights barreling down the wet road illuminated his path but not his mind.  He had not realized how power hungry Marie really was until now.  Until he saw her throw the unconscious Renee/Sera into that car. He had just turned the corner.  It had taken a minute to recognize Marie in the rain, but Renee’s form was unmistakable, unconscious or not.  He gunned the engine, aimed his car at the Benz, and hit the gas.  A second before the collision, he turned the wheel to the right and side swiped them.  Black paint embedded in his powder white Audi. The black Benz slide off the road…

“Two johnny walkers and a flaming nipple for the lady” Sera juggled glass bottles and ignored the barely legal pink tubetop covering a layer of rotting flesh that “the lady” was wearing.  She smelled like sewer and roses but nobody else seemed to notice. “IDs?” Sera avoided the Succubus’s hypnotic eyes and possible entrancement. Two frat guys pulled some very abused drivers licenses out of their pockets. “You too honey.” She stole a glance at an ID that looked like a library card but had the right hologram and embedded signature.  It was hard to tell just from looking at it, but once she picked it up, she knew the…