Chapter 2


Sera felt better after she had told Jerry of her worries. In her slightly weakened state she could hear the other half's voice more clearly. {You must redeem yourself. His back is turned, and he isn't expecting it!} it whispered seductively. 'No! I couldn't do that to him! He's helped me so much!' Sera fought against the persuading voice. Gasping, Sera looked at her watch. She hadn't realized how much time had elapsed. Struggling to standup, Sera overbalanced and almost fell. Catching herself at the last moment Sera tried to leave before Jerry could notice, but the experience must have left her more drained that she had thought. Jerry turned and saw where Sera was holding herself up. "Where are you going, Sera?" Jerry turned and walked over to help her. "My mom's going to be worried about me! I have to get home!" Sera continued towards the door but almost fell again. "If you insist on going home, I'll help. You are in no shape to go anywhere on your own." Jerry slipped one of Sera's arms over his strong shoulders to help her walk. 'What will my mother think? Here I am being helped home by a full-blooded angel…' Sera was both relieved and concerned when they arrived at her house. Sera felt torn, half of her wanted Jerry to met her parents; the other wanted him to leave and never bother her again. "What's wrong, little Sera? Isn't this your home?" Jerry looked down at her, her hesitation and indecision must have shown on her face. "Oh, yes it is…" Sera could not return his gaze as she stared at her own front door. No sooner had the pair started toward the house again than the door opened and Mrs. Rivka ran out to help her daughter. "Don't worry, I've got her. Where can she sit down?" Jerry followed Mrs. Rivka inside the house and eased Sera onto one of the oversized couches in the Rivka living room. Sera could only start at her hands, fearing what might happen next. She heard her mother offer Jerry a seat, but her declined it, claiming he had somewhere he needed to be going to. Sera still didn't look-up, even after Jerry had left. She heard her mother bring a seat over to the couch and her mother's feet came into view. "I'm not sure where to begin… though I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am that you are alright. Before I ask you what happened, do you know what that young man was that helped you home?" Sera's mother took her daughter's hands in her own and squeezed them comfortingly. "Yes, I know what he is… though I still don't know why he helped me, or why… why…" Sera pulled her hands out of her mother's and threw herself into her mother's waiting embrace. There she buried her head in her mother's shoulder and hugged her tightly as she could. After she finally managed to sort everything out she managed to tell her mother everything that had happened, from the dream to when he helped her home. Sera went back to staring at her hands, not knowing what to say. She wished her mother would say something, anything… yell at her, comfort her, anything, just so long as the deafening silence was broken. "Sera, dear… I'm not sure what to say… all I can think to do is apologize to you, but that isn't right either… Other parents would probably tell you that you can't see this 'Jerry' again, who knows what he wants with you. You should try and go to school and act like nothing has happened, but be on your guard." Her mother stood and walked into the kitchen to start making dinner. Sera slowly rose from her seat and walked into her room where she examined her wings. "You know it wouldn't hurt so much if you did it more often." Jerry smiled at her. "Do what?" Sera asked shakily "Extend those golden wings of yours." Jerry smiled. He had one of his white feathers between his fingers and looked like he was examining it. "Of course I want to know why you're here!" Sera pulled her wings tightly against her back in frustration. "I was just making sure you're alright. Now that I see you're fine, I'll be going." Jerry turned and slid to the ground. Sera waited until she was sure that he was gone before walking over and closing the window. She finished the quick check of her outer feathers before retracting her wings once again. She would have to remember to buy more tank-tops, they didn't rip in the back when she extended her wings, she would also have to get a new Girl Scout blouse if she was ever going to go back. School the next day seemed to go by in a blur. Her friends didn't seem to notice any change in her behavior, or if they had they didn't say anything. Sera was a little distressed that she couldn't get the incident at the church out of her mind. Between the two sides of her heritage, she had guessed that the demons would accept her more readily than the angels… "Well, I was proven wrong…" Sera told her stuffed tiger, Mike. Her tiger offered no response, though it's head did fall lazily to the side. Sera laughed at this, and she realized that she hadn't been doing anything that made her feel better in quite a long time. She put her favorite CD on and turned it up as loud as she was allowed to. Picking up Mike again she danced around her room with him. She did not hear, or notice her window slowly slide open. She was startled when she felt a pair of strong hands grab her from behind. Sera had been caught off guard and stumbled backwards. She cried out as her arms were painfully pinned behind her back. Kicking backwards he was able to distract her attacker long enough to free one arm. Whirling she was shocked to see the same 'man' that had attacked her in the church. "Think you could get away did you? I was originally just going to kill you, but now… I think I'm going to have a little 'fun' with you." The man pulled her arm behind his back so she was forced closer to him. She put her hand on his chest and tried to push away from him. . Acting with lightening speed the man lifted Sera and sat her on the windowsill. "Well, if you don't want to play, we'll end this." He let go of the wrist that he had been holding. When Sera grabbed the ledge to keep from falling he leaned over and took hold of her wrist again. Pulling a little he broke her grasp on the sill and held her suspended above the fall. 'What am I going to do? It's a three story fall…' Sear grabbed the man's wrist to help keep herself from falling. "Good try little half breed, but you can't win." While releasing his grasp he cast a spell to make his arm's temperature to rise until Sera could no longer stand it. Though she knew she was still falling a feeling of weightlessness overcame her other senses. An explosion of pain hit her in an instant as she impacted the ground. Her last thought was hope that her back hadn't been broken due to the force of the impact she hit with. Jerry arrived just in time to see Sera hit the ground and see the demon escape from her bedroom window, her music still playing.He would have gone after the demon, but couldn't leave Sera in that condition. "Sera, you better be all right…" Jerry walked over and knelt to her small motionless body. A small globe of pale light as his hand passed above her chest. He nodded in approval to something only he could see, though the look of worry didn't leave his handsome face. "I'll come back for you." Jerry sat pure white stones around Sera's body. Standing, he then walked around the house to talk to Mrs. Rivka. "Yes? Oh, it's you." Mrs. Rivka invited Jerry in and offered him a drink. Declining he tried to think of the best way to bring up the issue with Sera's mother. "Mrs. Rivka, I'm not sure how to bring this up without being extremely blunt…" Jerry ran an unsteady hand through his light hair. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, though he tried to keep his face calm. "Does this have something to do with Sera?" Mrs. Rivka's voice made it clear that if he had hurt her daughter in anyway she would do anything in her power, even if it ment using her demon powers, to make him pay for it - angel or not. "It does… I don't know how to put this so I'll be blunt. Your daughter, Serafina, was attacked by the same demon again. You can't do anything for her now." Jerry added seeing her start to rise. "What do you mean I 'can't do anything for her?' Are you trying to say I'm not strong enough to protect my own daughter, even if it is against my own kind?" Mrs. Rivka lowered her cold gaze on Jerry, clearly outraged. "I'm not trying to insult you in anyway," Jerry was acutely aware of the concentration of the energy in the room. "This demon is stronger then could have been predicted. No one thought such a strong demon would be sent after Serafina this soon." Mrs. Rivka seemed to accept this, though her gaze didn't waver. Letting out a long sign she finally let her gaze drift from Jerry, "We've been expecting something would happen, but not to this level… I just want to protect my daughter." "I've put a protective barrier around her now. This is hard for me to ask… I would like to take Serafina under my protection. As you might know, something about her is worrying the demon kind, and now they seem determined to kill her. Though neither you, your husband, nor your daughter are aware of it, there have been a few attempts to take her life before these last few days. Only recently have they become do determined and send stronger demons out." Jerry had clasped his hands together and was resting his elbows on his knees. He had lost most of the awkwardness he had felt when first confronting Mrs. Rivka. Jerry wanted to kick himself for bringing up the subject when Mrs. Rivka didn't answer him immediately and merely stared at him. "There have been two attacks on Sera in the last two days… younger demons must be getting stronger since I cannot sense their presence, I should have been able to tell if there had been one around recently… I think I might let you protect Sera, but this is ultimately her decision. If she does not want to go with you I will not let you force her to." Jerry could feel Mrs. Rivka channeling some of the energy she had collected from before, he could tell she was very powerful and might be able to take him out with too much effort if she was pushed to it. "Of course, though I must be leaving again. I have things I must check on." Jerry rose and was let out my Mrs. Rivka. He slowly walked towards the street until he heard the door close behind him. Turning he quickly made his way back to where Sera's body lay within the protection barrier. Depositing the small stones back into his pocket, he lifted the small girl as he extended his white wings and flew her back up to her bedroom. He gently laid her down on her bad and left as quickly as he could. As he quietly dropped to the ground he could hear Sera's bedroom door open, and Mrs. Rivka hurry in. Retracting his wings, Jerry adjusted the folds of his jacket to hide the slits in the back. Resting his hands in his pockets Jerry started to walk back to the church to wait for Sera's answer. Sera opened her eyes in alarm, she remembered the fall, but nothing after that. 'Maybe I'm dead…' Sera tried to move, but winced as jolts of pain went running up and down her spine. 'Ok, I'm not dead… I wouldn't hurt so much if I was dead.' Sera could hear someone moving around her room. Closing her eyes again, incase it was someone unpleasant in her room; she slowly tried to move parts of her. She started with her fingers and ended with her toes. Relieved that she wasn't paralyzed, Sera opened her eyes and tried to turn her head to see who was in her room with her. Sensing the movement Mrs. Rivka turned and hurried to her daughter's side. Kneeling she took on her daughter's hand in her own. "I'm so happy that you're alright." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "What… happened?" Sera could slowly feel her strength start to return. "You were attacked again, honey." Mrs. Rivka gently squeezed Sera's hand reassuringly. After a while Sera started feeling more like herself again and was brought some soup to eat. She sat, pushing the last piece of chicken around with her spoon, trying to remember everything that had happened. Everything after the fall was black, though she did remember a little of what she had heard, she remembered hearing Jerry's voice and another voice that was vaguely familiar. Once Sera could get around on her own without too much trouble, her mother sat her down with a serious look on her face. "Sera, honey, I have something to tell you." Her mother took both of her hands in her own. "You have a big decision to make…" "What is it, mom?" Sera didn't like the worried look on her mother's face. "This is a big decision you are going to have to make…" her mother paused, trying to think of how to phrase the question. "Jerry has offered to take you under his protection. He does not think you are safe enough here. I told him that it was your decision." Her mother's face showed her confidence that Sera would make the right decision. "I… I…" Sera's thoughts were running in circles. She wanted to be able to feel safe again, though Jerry was still a stranger to her. Even though he was a stranger who had saved her life two times already. If she agreed, would she have to leave her family, or would he come stay with them? "Sera, you don't have to make your decision now, take as long as you need." Mrs. Rivka interrupted her daughter's thoughts. Nodding, Sera rose and walked up to her room. Picking up Mike, her stuffed tiger, she laid down on her bed to think. She slowly started to sort the pros and cons of both of her options. She still didn't know why Jerry wanted to help her or what he wanted with her, but she couldn't shake the fact that he saved her life twice that she knew of. Sera knew she couldn't take care of herself if things kept happening the way they were, and that she couldn't rely on her parents for the rest of her life… Sighing to herself, Sera plopped Mike on her head so that he was covering her eyes. She knew it would be best if she let Jerry protect her, but the whole thing was creeping her out a little. She wanted to trust Jerry, but had a hard time believing his good intentions. 'Though the angel side of my family doesn't seem to care if I live or not… Or maybe they do care about me! Jerry could have been told to protect me or something.' Sera brightened at that thought. 'If the angels had shown more interest in me before, the demons might have acted sooner, or with more force!' Sera knew what her decision was. She had to admit, even though she wasn't sure why, she was excited to see Jerry's reaction. During dinner Sera thought out how she was going to tell Jerry her decision. She realized that she didn't know how to contact Jerry. If her mother or father asked her any questions, she didn't hear them. The next day Sera was determined to find Jerry. She didn't know exactly where to go, but she knew she would be able to find him. She walked out of her house, not consciously choosing a direction, but just going on a whim. Something inside her told her to stop. Looking at the building she was standing in front of, Sera almost laughed out loud. She was standing in front of the building where all the trouble started… the church. Sera wondered if it was opened to the public, she didn't remember ever seeing very many people here. Taking a deep breath, Sera walked up the few steps to the door. She tried to push the door open but it wouldn't budge. She tried a few more times, but the door only rattled on the bolt lock. One of the people inside must have heard her trying to open the door because she could hear some movement inside. A kind looking lady, who looked to be in about her thirties, came to the door. "Yes? Can I help you?" The worker pushed her glasses up higher on her nose. "I was looking for someone… I-I thought he might be here." Sera stammered, she could fell her checks start to grow warm. The lady looked at Sera like she was speaking in some foreign language. "There isn't anyone else here right now. The person you are looking for might be here later." Sera thanked the lady and walked beck down the steps. Sighing, Sera sat down on the bottom step. 'I thought he was going to be here! I though I don't know why I thought he lived here or something.' Sera rested her head in her hands. She didn't even look-up when she heard someone walk down the stairs. She figured it was the lady coming to tell her to go away. "Fall asleep?" The person with a familiar voice sat next to her. "Jerry?! Where'd you…?" Sera looked up at him surprised, not believing he just appeared. "I didn't know you were so religious, getting here so early…" Jerry said offhandedly, trying to hide the smile that was tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I-I'm not, I was trying to find someone…" Sera suddenly felt extremely shy. "Really? I didn't know that you knew Marea in there!" Jerry couldn't keep his smile at bay anymore. Sera turned and looked at him, flustered, but smiled when she saw the glitter in this eyes. Sighing she sorted out her thoughts, trying to think of how to bring up the subject of her decision. All thought fled from her head as Jerry wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Looking up at him she saw that he already new her answer. Though she could feel her checks become bright red, she leaned closer to Jerry. Cursing her suitcase, Sera sat on it to try and make it close. After jumping on it a little to try and compact everything down Sera was finally able to flip the latch on the front closed. Looking around her now very bare room Sera found herself surprised that her parents said she could go if she really wanted to. Jerry had told her that he thought it would be best if she came to stay with him. "Umm, mom?" Sera called out of her room, clasping her hands to keep from fidgeting. "I'm in the kitchen, dear." Her mother's voice floated to her from down the hall. "Mom, I-I have something to tell you… I've made my decision." Sera took a deep breath to try and calm her pounding heart. "I've decided that I am going to go with Jerry." Sera could immediately tell that her mother wasn't completely happy with her decision. "Your father and I are going to have to discuss this, though we will keep in mind that it is your decision to make." Mrs. Rivka had a thoughtful, but slightly worried, look on her face, like she was trying to keep herself from saying something.
Back

     Sera felt better after she had told Jerry of her worries. In her slightly weakened state she could hear the other half's voice more clearly.
     {You must redeem yourself. His back is turned, and he isn't expecting it!} it whispered seductively.
     'No! I couldn't do that to him! He's helped me so much!' Sera fought against the persuading voice.
     Gasping, Sera looked at her watch. She hadn't realized how much time had elapsed. Struggling to standup, Sera overbalanced and almost fell. Catching herself at the last moment Sera tried to leave before Jerry could notice, but the experience must have left her more drained that she had thought. Jerry turned and saw where Sera was holding herself up.      "Where are you going, Sera?" Jerry turned and walked over to help her.
     "My mom's going to be worried about me! I have to get home!" Sera continued towards the door but almost fell again.
     "If you insist on going home, I'll help. You are in no shape to go anywhere on your own." Jerry slipped one of Sera's arms over his strong shoulders to help her walk.
     'What will my mother think? Here I am being helped home by a full-blooded angel…' Sera was both relieved and concerned when they arrived at her house. Sera felt torn, half of her wanted Jerry to met her parents; the other wanted him to leave and never bother her again.
     "What's wrong, little Sera? Isn't this your home?" Jerry looked down at her, her hesitation and indecision must have shown on her face.
     "Oh, yes it is…" Sera could not return his gaze as she stared at her own front door. No sooner had the pair started toward the house again than the door opened and Mrs. Rivka ran out to help her daughter.
     "Don't worry, I've got her. Where can she sit down?" Jerry followed Mrs. Rivka inside the house and eased Sera onto one of the oversized couches in the Rivka living room. Sera could only start at her hands, fearing what might happen next. She heard her mother offer Jerry a seat, but her declined it, claiming he had somewhere he needed to be going to. Sera still didn't look-up, even after Jerry had left. She heard her mother bring a seat over to the couch and her mother's feet came into view.
     "I'm not sure where to begin… though I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am that you are alright. Before I ask you what happened, do you know what that young man was that helped you home?" Sera's mother took her daughter's hands in her own and squeezed them comfortingly.
     "Yes, I know what he is… though I still don't know why he helped me, or why… why…" Sera pulled her hands out of her mother's and threw herself into her mother's waiting embrace. There she buried her head in her mother's shoulder and hugged her tightly as she could. After she finally managed to sort everything out she managed to tell her mother everything that had happened, from the dream to when he helped her home. Sera went back to staring at her hands, not knowing what to say. She wished her mother would say something, anything… yell at her, comfort her, anything, just so long as the deafening silence was broken.
     "Sera, dear… I'm not sure what to say… all I can think to do is apologize to you, but that isn't right either… Other parents would probably tell you that you can't see this 'Jerry' again, who knows what he wants with you. You should try and go to school and act like nothing has happened, but be on your guard." Her mother stood and walked into the kitchen to start making dinner. Sera slowly rose from her seat and walked into her room where she examined her wings.
     "You know it wouldn't hurt so much if you did it more often." Jerry smiled at her.
     "Do what?" Sera asked shakily
     "Extend those golden wings of yours." Jerry smiled. He had one of his white feathers between his fingers and looked like he was examining it.
     "Of course I want to know why you're here!" Sera pulled her wings tightly against her back in frustration.
     "I was just making sure you're alright. Now that I see you're fine, I'll be going." Jerry turned and slid to the ground. Sera waited until she was sure that he was gone before walking over and closing the window. She finished the quick check of her outer feathers before retracting her wings once again. She would have to remember to buy more tank-tops, they didn't rip in the back when she extended her wings, she would also have to get a new Girl Scout blouse if she was ever going to go back.

     School the next day seemed to go by in a blur. Her friends didn't seem to notice any change in her behavior, or if they had they didn't say anything. Sera was a little distressed that she couldn't get the incident at the church out of her mind. Between the two sides of her heritage, she had guessed that the demons would accept her more readily than the angels…
     "Well, I was proven wrong…" Sera told her stuffed tiger, Mike. Her tiger offered no response, though it's head did fall lazily to the side. Sera laughed at this, and she realized that she hadn't been doing anything that made her feel better in quite a long time. She put her favorite CD on and turned it up as loud as she was allowed to. Picking up Mike again she danced around her room with him. She did not hear, or notice her window slowly slide open.
     She was startled when she felt a pair of strong hands grab her from behind. Sera had been caught off guard and stumbled backwards. She cried out as her arms were painfully pinned behind her back. Kicking backwards he was able to distract her attacker long enough to free one arm. Whirling she was shocked to see the same 'man' that had attacked her in the church.
     "Think you could get away did you? I was originally just going to kill you, but now… I think I'm going to have a little 'fun' with you." The man pulled her arm behind his back so she was forced closer to him. She put her hand on his chest and tried to push away from him. . Acting with lightening speed the man lifted Sera and sat her on the windowsill.
     "Well, if you don't want to play, we'll end this." He let go of the wrist that he had been holding. When Sera grabbed the ledge to keep from falling he leaned over and took hold of her wrist again. Pulling a little he broke her grasp on the sill and held her suspended above the fall.
     'What am I going to do? It's a three story fall…' Sear grabbed the man's wrist to help keep herself from falling.
     "Good try little half breed, but you can't win." While releasing his grasp he cast a spell to make his arm's temperature to rise until Sera could no longer stand it.
     Though she knew she was still falling a feeling of weightlessness overcame her other senses. An explosion of pain hit her in an instant as she impacted the ground. Her last thought was hope that her back hadn't been broken due to the force of the impact she hit with.

     Jerry arrived just in time to see Sera hit the ground and see the demon escape from her bedroom window, her music still playing.He would have gone after the demon, but couldn't leave Sera in that condition.
     "Sera, you better be all right…" Jerry walked over and knelt to her small motionless body. A small globe of pale light as his hand passed above her chest. He nodded in approval to something only he could see, though the look of worry didn't leave his handsome face.
     "I'll come back for you." Jerry sat pure white stones around Sera's body. Standing, he then walked around the house to talk to Mrs. Rivka.
     "Yes? Oh, it's you." Mrs. Rivka invited Jerry in and offered him a drink.
     Declining he tried to think of the best way to bring up the issue with Sera's mother.
     "Mrs. Rivka, I'm not sure how to bring this up without being extremely blunt…" Jerry ran an unsteady hand through his light hair. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, though he tried to keep his face calm.
     "Does this have something to do with Sera?" Mrs. Rivka's voice made it clear that if he had hurt her daughter in anyway she would do anything in her power, even if it ment using her demon powers, to make him pay for it - angel or not.
     "It does… I don't know how to put this so I'll be blunt. Your daughter, Serafina, was attacked by the same demon again. You can't do anything for her now." Jerry added seeing her start to rise.
     "What do you mean I 'can't do anything for her?' Are you trying to say I'm not strong enough to protect my own daughter, even if it is against my own kind?" Mrs. Rivka lowered her cold gaze on Jerry, clearly outraged.
     "I'm not trying to insult you in anyway," Jerry was acutely aware of the concentration of the energy in the room. "This demon is stronger then could have been predicted. No one thought such a strong demon would be sent after Serafina this soon."
     Mrs. Rivka seemed to accept this, though her gaze didn't waver. Letting out a long sign she finally let her gaze drift from Jerry, "We've been expecting something would happen, but not to this level… I just want to protect my daughter."
     "I've put a protective barrier around her now. This is hard for me to ask… I would like to take Serafina under my protection. As you might know, something about her is worrying the demon kind, and now they seem determined to kill her. Though neither you, your husband, nor your daughter are aware of it, there have been a few attempts to take her life before these last few days. Only recently have they become do determined and send stronger demons out." Jerry had clasped his hands together and was resting his elbows on his knees. He had lost most of the awkwardness he had felt when first confronting Mrs. Rivka. Jerry wanted to kick himself for bringing up the subject when Mrs. Rivka didn't answer him immediately and merely stared at him.
     "There have been two attacks on Sera in the last two days… younger demons must be getting stronger since I cannot sense their presence, I should have been able to tell if there had been one around recently… I think I might let you protect Sera, but this is ultimately her decision. If she does not want to go with you I will not let you force her to." Jerry could feel Mrs. Rivka channeling some of the energy she had collected from before, he could tell she was very powerful and might be able to take him out with too much effort if she was pushed to it.
     "Of course, though I must be leaving again. I have things I must check on." Jerry rose and was let out my Mrs. Rivka. He slowly walked towards the street until he heard the door close behind him. Turning he quickly made his way back to where Sera's body lay within the protection barrier. Depositing the small stones back into his pocket, he lifted the small girl as he extended his white wings and flew her back up to her bedroom. He gently laid her down on her bad and left as quickly as he could. As he quietly dropped to the ground he could hear Sera's bedroom door open, and Mrs. Rivka hurry in. Retracting his wings, Jerry adjusted the folds of his jacket to hide the slits in the back. Resting his hands in his pockets Jerry started to walk back to the church to wait for Sera's answer.

     Sera opened her eyes in alarm, she remembered the fall, but nothing after that. 'Maybe I'm dead…' Sera tried to move, but winced as jolts of pain went running up and down her spine. 'Ok, I'm not dead… I wouldn't hurt so much if I was dead.'
     Sera could hear someone moving around her room. Closing her eyes again, incase it was someone unpleasant in her room; she slowly tried to move parts of her. She started with her fingers and ended with her toes. Relieved that she wasn't paralyzed, Sera opened her eyes and tried to turn her head to see who was in her room with her.
     Sensing the movement Mrs. Rivka turned and hurried to her daughter's side. Kneeling she took on her daughter's hand in her own.
     "I'm so happy that you're alright." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
     "What… happened?" Sera could slowly feel her strength start to return.
     "You were attacked again, honey." Mrs. Rivka gently squeezed Sera's hand reassuringly.
     After a while Sera started feeling more like herself again and was brought some soup to eat. She sat, pushing the last piece of chicken around with her spoon, trying to remember everything that had happened. Everything after the fall was black, though she did remember a little of what she had heard, she remembered hearing Jerry's voice and another voice that was vaguely familiar.

     Once Sera could get around on her own without too much trouble, her mother sat her down with a serious look on her face.
     "Sera, honey, I have something to tell you." Her mother took both of her hands in her own. "You have a big decision to make…"
     "What is it, mom?" Sera didn't like the worried look on her mother's face.
     "This is a big decision you are going to have to make…" her mother paused, trying to think of how to phrase the question. "Jerry has offered to take you under his protection. He does not think you are safe enough here. I told him that it was your decision." Her mother's face showed her confidence that Sera would make the right decision.
     "I… I…" Sera's thoughts were running in circles. She wanted to be able to feel safe again, though Jerry was still a stranger to her. Even though he was a stranger who had saved her life two times already. If she agreed, would she have to leave her family, or would he come stay with them?
     "Sera, you don't have to make your decision now, take as long as you need." Mrs. Rivka interrupted her daughter's thoughts.
     Nodding, Sera rose and walked up to her room. Picking up Mike, her stuffed tiger, she laid down on her bed to think. She slowly started to sort the pros and cons of both of her options. She still didn't know why Jerry wanted to help her or what he wanted with her, but she couldn't shake the fact that he saved her life twice that she knew of. Sera knew she couldn't take care of herself if things kept happening the way they were, and that she couldn't rely on her parents for the rest of her life…
     Sighing to herself, Sera plopped Mike on her head so that he was covering her eyes. She knew it would be best if she let Jerry protect her, but the whole thing was creeping her out a little. She wanted to trust Jerry, but had a hard time believing his good intentions.
     'Though the angel side of my family doesn't seem to care if I live or not… Or maybe they do care about me! Jerry could have been told to protect me or something.' Sera brightened at that thought. 'If the angels had shown more interest in me before, the demons might have acted sooner, or with more force!' Sera knew what her decision was. She had to admit, even though she wasn't sure why, she was excited to see Jerry's reaction.
     During dinner Sera thought out how she was going to tell Jerry her decision. She realized that she didn't know how to contact Jerry. If her mother or father asked her any questions, she didn't hear them.

     The next day Sera was determined to find Jerry. She didn't know exactly where to go, but she knew she would be able to find him. She walked out of her house, not consciously choosing a direction, but just going on a whim.
     Something inside her told her to stop. Looking at the building she was standing in front of, Sera almost laughed out loud. She was standing in front of the building where all the trouble started… the church. Sera wondered if it was opened to the public, she didn't remember ever seeing very many people here. Taking a deep breath, Sera walked up the few steps to the door. She tried to push the door open but it wouldn't budge. She tried a few more times, but the door only rattled on the bolt lock. One of the people inside must have heard her trying to open the door because she could hear some movement inside. A kind looking lady, who looked to be in about her thirties, came to the door.
     "Yes? Can I help you?" The worker pushed her glasses up higher on her nose.
     "I was looking for someone… I-I thought he might be here." Sera stammered, she could fell her checks start to grow warm.
     The lady looked at Sera like she was speaking in some foreign language. "There isn't anyone else here right now. The person you are looking for might be here later."
     Sera thanked the lady and walked beck down the steps. Sighing, Sera sat down on the bottom step. 'I thought he was going to be here! I though I don't know why I thought he lived here or something.' Sera rested her head in her hands. She didn't even look-up when she heard someone walk down the stairs. She figured it was the lady coming to tell her to go away.
     "Fall asleep?" The person with a familiar voice sat next to her.
     "Jerry?! Where'd you…?" Sera looked up at him surprised, not believing he just appeared.
     "I didn't know you were so religious, getting here so early…" Jerry said offhandedly, trying to hide the smile that was tugging at the corner of his mouth.
     "I-I'm not, I was trying to find someone…" Sera suddenly felt extremely shy.
     "Really? I didn't know that you knew Marea in there!" Jerry couldn't keep his smile at bay anymore.
     Sera turned and looked at him, flustered, but smiled when she saw the glitter in this eyes. Sighing she sorted out her thoughts, trying to think of how to bring up the subject of her decision. All thought fled from her head as Jerry wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Looking up at him she saw that he already new her answer. Though she could feel her checks become bright red, she leaned closer to Jerry.

     Cursing her suitcase, Sera sat on it to try and make it close. After jumping on it a little to try and compact everything down Sera was finally able to flip the latch on the front closed. Looking around her now very bare room Sera found herself surprised that her parents said she could go if she really wanted to. Jerry had told her that he thought it would be best if she came to stay with him.
     "Umm, mom?" Sera called out of her room, clasping her hands to keep from fidgeting.
     "I'm in the kitchen, dear." Her mother's voice floated to her from down the hall.
     "Mom, I-I have something to tell you… I've made my decision." Sera took a deep breath to try and calm her pounding heart.
     "I've decided that I am going to go with Jerry." Sera could immediately tell that her mother wasn't completely happy with her decision.
     "Your father and I are going to have to discuss this, though we will keep in mind that it is your decision to make." Mrs. Rivka had a thoughtful, but slightly worried, look on her face, like she was trying to keep herself from saying something.

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