Chapter Text
Sera Phim
Sera finds herself in a predicament during lunch. It is not just Rev, Mark and herself anymore. Bella has joined them for two days. She felt awkward while Rev yelled at Mark and argued fully with Bella about some project they have together. The three of them looked so natural together. For some reason, Bella sitting next to her made her more aware of her surroundings than usual.
Not only this but Bella was also acting weird around Rev and Rev was acting weird in general, a little less angry, only a little, and he has started to apologize for things he usually would not. It didn't really bother her considering that Lovecraft probably managed to get empathy in his head. She was more bothered with Bella acting weird, she always seemed to have a red tint on her cheeks around Rev, even as they are arguing right now, she can never speak a full sentence to him without stuttering or changing the topic but fine with everyone else. Is this what it's like to not like someone? No, she didn't feel like this with Wendy. Yesterday when Mark was teasing Rev about Bella, she felt the same. What is that pit in her stomach?
"Yeah- uh, well, who was the one who messed up the potion yesterday?" Bella snapped at Rev. Sera turned her attention to the argument knowing that Rev was going to go out of hand. "Oh, so you want to bring that up now? Who is the one that kissed me yesterday fix my mistake?" Rev said with a cocky smirk but had the decency to not scream it to the whole school. Sera felt that pit in her stomach, but this time it was making her nauseas. She kissed Rev? When? How? Why?
Bella gasped and Mark beamed with a smirk on his face. "Ohhohoho, so something did happen between you two!" Mark teased.
"Shut it vampire!" They both said at the same time. "Rev, you promised not to mention that! But now that you did how about you pinning me to a wall trying to seduce and kiss me while under the influence of the love potion YOU made? Then refusing to take the antidote, that's why I kissed you, because you are a stubborn oaf-" Sera has had enough of hearing this. "Enough." She said firmly, making it obvious that she was annoyed. Instead of explaining she just went back to eating her food.
The deafening silence was interrupted by Mark. "Uh, Sera... You good there girl?" Sera looked up. "Hm? Oh, that argument was beginning to annoy me and it was getting out of hand anyway." She said flatly. "Yeah, but you usually aren't the one to express that annoyance." Mark commented cautiously. Rev answered for her. "Oh, I told her to let her anger out when she felt like it the other day at parents day with Wendy, Sera blasted her out of a window." Sera and Rev were sitting casually but Mark and Bella looked concerned. "Oookay... " Bella said awkwardly, preferring not to ask. Sera took this as an opportunity to speak to her.
"Rev of all people to kiss?" She asked with a raised brow. "I-I had no choice, now-just- stop teasing me!" She was blushing and doing that stuttering thing, but, Sera was not teasing, she was serious. "I'm right here Sera." Rev sneered. "Don't worry Rev, I would kiss you." Mark said cheerfully, Revs face turned blue which everyone assumed was his blush considering his blood is blue. "Keep that to yourself Idiot!"
Sera couldn't help but think to herself. Bella could not choose anyone worse to like, but she shouldn't care. Why does she care so much? Not just Bella but also Rev, the situation he did not want to be in put him in many more situations such as having a wendigo wanting to always kill him and teachers and other students targeting him. It is not only a danger to himself but also others, he could end up hurting or killing someone who is already alive which is completely against what KADE stands for. It is her job as his guardian angel to protect him but not control his life.
Bella let out a sigh snappimg Sera out of her trance. "They gave me vanilla yogurt instead of blueberry again. Rev, do you want it?" Rev was about to reply when Sera interjected. "I got blueberry, we can trade." She said quicky while switching them, not giving Bella time to reply. "Uh, thanks." She stared with confusion. "Welcome." This was the least she could do until she figured out what is wrong with her.
Sera had to go to her next class after lunch, but she would rather skip. She had heard that Lovecraft had a free period at the moment. He always said that he'd help any student at any time if they felt comfortable enough to speak to him so Sera figured she could speak to him and figure out what is wrong with her.
After knocking on his classroom door, he opened the door not too long after. His eyes widened when he saw Sera there. "Miss Phim, what brings you here when you are supposed to be in class?" He asked while opening the door more for her to enter. "I have a problem." Lovecraft seemed shocked that she came to him. "You are usually unbothered so this must be a big problem if you are coming to me, please do tell."
Sera entered the classroom, and Lovecraft closed the door behind her. "It sometimes feels like my heart might explode from how much it is beating and sometimes it aches as if it had dropped. If not that, I get nauseous that often turns to anger. This only started a few days ago but today it was really bad," She explained while staring at nothing. "Well, this does sound like a health issue, but seraphim don't necessarily get sick. This could be an emotional problem. Anything else you can think of, like when it happens or if it happens after a certain scenario?" sera thought for a bit.
It is only when she is with her friends, specifically Rev and Bella. "It started after I became Revs guardian angel, but only around him and another friend."
Lovecraft raised his eyebrows. "I was unaware that you have taken interest in becoming Mr Vennett's guardian, but, if it is only happening around him and another friend of yours, then it sounds like are either not happy with one of them, worried about one of them or jealous of their friendship. The last option is not necessarily bad but if it is that one then you should be cautious."
Sera looked to the side then back at Lovecraft. "Which one is it?" She asked flatly. "That is for you to decide Miss Phim, consider this a test in my rehabilitation class, I will give you extra credit if you figure it out, but I am also unsure myself, so I won't be much help." He took out a small notebook from inside his coat and began writing something down. "Now, here is a late note so that you will not get in trouble in class and if you have more problems or updates, feel free to come to me." He ripped out the page and gave it to her.
"And Sera, I am so glad-and proud of you for finding someone you would like to protect." He said with warm smile, almost fatherly. Sera nodded and turned around. "Thanks."
Walking out of the class, she looked at the note, it read, "I apologise for Miss Phims lateness, I asked to speak with her. -H.P Lovecraft" and at the bottom was his signature and date... She might as well go to class at this point.
She had Divination class next, that professor doesn't even care if you are there or not. She always says "Education here at KADE is a privilege, if you do not take it seriously, it will only affect you not me. Though, if you have an excuse, I do not mind reteaching over the weekend, if not, find a friend to explain." At least she would not get a comment from the teacher with this note.
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After class, she had rehabilitation, not only the last lesson of the day but it was also with Rev, Mark and Bella. She wondered if Bella would sit in the front like always or resonate at the back with the three of them. While thinking about this, she bumped into someone and accidently knocked them over. When she looked down to apologise, she saw that it was none other than Wendy. Regardless, she was in the wrong, so she had to apologise. "Uhm, My bad, sorry." The wendigo looked up at her with confusion and annoyance. "Why the hell are you apologising?! I don't need your pity!" She stood up quickly and grabbed Sera by the collar. "Besides, you didn't even say sorry for beaming me and putting me in the infirmary." Sera stood still, unbothered by this act. "You deserved it." She spoke simply.
Wendy gritted her teeth and shook her a bit. "Why are you not as angry as you were then huh?!" Sera gently moved Wendy's arms away from her before speaking. "It was my fault, and I have better things to think about." She spoke calmly but her frustration was growing with every second she was not going to class.
"Like what? That Rev Vennett? Wanna kiss him?" She clasped her hands together and made kissing noises with her mouth, in between she mocked Sera with her own voice. "Oh Rev! Kiss me- mwa, mwa, mwa." Sera felt her eye twitch before shoving Wendy onto a locker. "Shut up! I am sick and tired of your constant mocking; I do NOT like Rev like that and if you dare to use my voice one more time, I will make sure your vocal cords never work again-" "Sera!" There was the familiar voice of a certain witch. "Sera, let go right now! No fighting!" Bella grabbed the arm that was holding Wendy. Sera complied hesitantly, but for some reason, seeing Bella angry at her made her want to listen."
Wendy let out the breath she was holding. "Thought I was a goner there." She spoke a little more cautiously. Bella snapped her head towards Wendy. "And you! Stop picking fights you cannot win." Wendy scowled. "I can beat her in a fight anytime, who are you to defend her? You her girlfriend or something?" Bella's face flushed and Seras eyes widened at the words, her face was stunned as she stared off into nothing. "Go to class Wendigo!" Bella yelled while dragging a dazed Sera along by her hand. Her and Bella? Bella was just rambling on about how annoying Wendy was, Sera was staring at their hands. She wondered how it would feel to interlock fingers instead of just the way they were holding it at that moment. Why is her brain thinking this? And why won't her heart calm down?!
"I can't believe people these days- I mean- who does she even think she is to do those sorts of things?!" She stopped walking and pulled Sera closer by her arm. "And you- you shouldn't let her just get to you like that, you are already in enough trouble as it is!" Sera looked down at Bella with wide eyes, she knew that Bella was busy scolding her, but she looked so pretty when she was angry. Sera felt her cheeks grow hot. Bella paused and stared for a second. "Uh-Sera. Your ears-wings? - Seraphim thingies are wiggling and your third- fifth? - eye is open. Youu are so confusing. Did Wendy bother you that much?" Sera lightly touched her own face with her free hand and felt how hot she was. She shouldn't be this bothered if it was just Wendy's doing. "Happens sometimes." She lied in her monotone voice but her wide eyes and ear wings gave her away.
Bella's face contorted from annoyed to confused to worried. "Are you okay? You're burning up." She reached her free hand to feel Sera's cheek and forehead, but that made Sera heat up more and twitch her ear wings more. "I-I am fine, it happens quite often when I am frustrated." She lied again and Bella let it go this time with a sigh before interlocking her fingers with Sera's and clinging to her side. "Let's get to class before we are late." She said casually, continuing to walk.
Sera could not stop thinking about how nice it felt to have their fingers interlock. This is natural for Bella but not Sera, she never had clingy friends, she thinks this is the first time she had held someone's hand in 400 years... and she was comfortable. This was weird, new, she didn't like new... but she was willing to learn to accept it. Mark would say that it is what friends do.
Before she knew it, they had already entered the classroom. Sera took note that people were already writing notes, so she figured they were a bit late. Bella came to that conclusion as well. "Sorry we are late sir; we ran into some trouble on the way that had held us back." Lovecraft was about to speak before he saw the way Bella and Sera were attached to each other. "It is fine, you are only three minutes late, sit, there are two papers on your desk, one is your empathy test papers, and the other is a blank, I want you to revise in your textbook which parts you lacked empathy. If you are done or have full marks, feel free to do as you please for the rest of the period, does not include talking or leaving."
Sera tried escaping Bella's grasp so they can sit in their respective seats, but she held on. "I got full marks, so I don't need to check my test, I want to sit with Rev- I mean you three." She spoke while dragging Sera to their usual seats where Mark and Rev already sat. Bella was about to sit next to Rev, but Sera sat down first. "This is my seat; you can sit next to me or Mark." Sera said blankly. Bella was confused but figured Sera is just picky and sat beside her. In reality, she is possessive and hates change. She did not know that first part... yet.
Rev was seething in his seat. He somehow did not even get one question right. He was muttering things under his breath like "That is so stupid" and "People are so sensitive." Maybe Lovecraft didn't get empathy that deep in his head but at least there is progress. Mark was already done with his notes since he got an A and seemed to be helping Rev with his paper. Sera looked at her own paper then sighed at her D+. There was a lot of notes to take. Usually, she would not care for doing things like this, but she had to try because Rev was too... she hoped it was not out of spite from him.
Bella looked up from her book when Sera began writing. She seemed surprised to see sera got a D+, earlier she seemed empathetic enough... or maybe that was her delusions talking. She looked over at Rev and Mark then figured she'd help Sera with her notes too. "Psst, show me your textbook, I'll help write your notes." Sera stared at her then moved the Textbook so that she could see. Even if she didn't say thanks, she looked thankful in her eyes. Her heart was pounding again, she wondered if Rev or Bella or even Mark could hear it with how loud it sounded to her. While Bella was reding through some of the questions Sera got wrong, and they followed a pattern. It was not her lacking the ability to feel empathy, it was understanding the emotions and figuring out ways to solve it was her problem.
Bella did not understand why she was so determined to help but here she was, writing additional notes that were not from the textbook and editing Sera's previous notes. In the end, the two of them finished just before the bell- or the screaming of bloody murder. "If you have not finished your notes, stay behind." Lovecraft spoke after the screaming. Luckily, Rev and Mark seemed to finish as well. Bella grabbed Rev's test before he could put it away. "ah- HEY!-" "Wow, you'd laugh if you saw someone cry? You didn't even try faking empathy." Bella spoke while holding the test in the air. Rev grabbed it back furiously. "I thought this is how everyone reacted to these sorts of scenarios."
Rev seemed to be honest there, he didn't scream it or yell, he just stated it like he was embarrassed. Sera saw this in the textbook. Maybe she could try helping by... relating, she believed is what the textbook said. "I thought so too, if it helps." The three of them just stared at her. "Really? I've never heard you laugh before." Mark said obliviously before Bella also spoke. "You wrote "Stare at them until they stop." for that question." Sera realised that she had misspoken but contemplated correcting them or not. "I thought my reaction was normal- I mean."
Suddenly Mark gasped. "You both haven't been out much, have you?!" He spoke with a sympathetic face. Rev groaned and rolled his eyes. "Let's just go. I do not want to be in this classroom longer than I have to. That was a pathetic attempt at empathy by the way." He began heading to the door. Sera followed, feeling a bit awkward. "I know." Bella snickered then caught up to shake Sera's shoulder. "Hey, at least you tried, Rev doesn't even want to." Sera Looked down, even with her blank expression, you could tell she was down. "I figured that if I tried, Rev would too, and not just do it out of spite." Bella felt bad, this was proof that Sera had the emotion, just did not know how to act.
Sera felt sad, she knew what that emotion felt like, so what was that emotion she felt when Bella had helped her or when she wanted to sit next to Rev? It was annoying her that she could not figure it out.
She recently learnt what annoyance and anger was thanks to Rev. The difference is that he told her to let what she was feeling should be let out. She was told since little that she was too emotional and was trained into this cold, emotionless facade. To now change it felt like she was going to be punished for every emotion, but she won't, not at KADE. That was the only thing she liked about this prison. She did not know how to let out an unfamiliar emotion. Is this what people mean when they say they are emotionally constipated? Maybe she should speak to Mark. He understood this stuff better than her and he is not involved.
When the group was about to turn a corner, Sera moved to that Rev and Bella were side by side and Mark was next to her. "Is it just me or were we not always walking like this?" Mark spoke out of confusion. Rev and Bella were already arguing while walking in front of them. "I need help." Sera spoke flatly, ignoring his question. "Oh, uh sure, What's up?" He spoke expectantly.
Sera thought about how to phrase it before deciding to just speak her mind and hoped whatever came out of her mouth made sense. "Rev and Bella are annoying me." She said flatly. Mark paused in his step. "Huh? You know it's not good to speak behind peoples backs- quite literally in this place but I think this is something you should discuss with them-" Sera had to cut off his fast rambling. "Not in that way, I mean there is something else I am feeling about them, and it annoys me that I cannot figure it out." Mark let out a breath of relief before walking once more, now further behind Rev and Bella. "Oh- well, tell me about it then."
Sera sighed, opened and closed then opened her mouth again before speaking. "Whenever Rev or Bella interact with each other in a close manner, my chest grows stiff and I get nauseous, and when you tease them about them being together, I feel even more annoyed." Mark stayed silent before gasping. "Do you have a crush on Rev!?" Mark whispered loudly. Sera looked at him with disbelief. "No." She said with a low and firm tone. Mark put his hand behind his neck. "Yeah, that would be silly, then maybe Bella, you have been weird around her lately." Sera raised a brow at how Mark is calmer talking about Bella than Rev but brushed it off.
"Bella? Can girls even date girls?" She asked while looking at the ground. "Geez, you and Rev really don't go out much- but yeah, anyone could like anyone. Doesn't matter who they are if you love em' enough. Of course, people have their preferences though. " Sera thought about it for a moment, then remembered the number of couples in the school are actually same gendered.
"Sooo, you think you like Bella? You seemed more relaxed when I brought her up." Mark asked with a smile. "I- don't think so, I've never liked anyone before though, so I am actually not sure." Mark snickered then spoke once more. "Well, how do you feel with each other, I mean, earlier with Lovecraft, you two were attached by the hip. How did you feel then?" Sera stayed quiet.
She felt warm, her heart was pounding from her chest and she didn't feel like zoning out. "What do people normally feel when the person they like touched them or holds their hand?" Sera asked. "For me, I feel all warm and fuzzy, I cannot think and my heart may as well jump out of my chest. My ears sometimes twitch too" Sera paused. "All those things happened to me when she touched me, even my ear wings were wiggling." Sera spoke a little awkwardly.
She could feel her wings moving again and her cheeks growing warm. "Well, there you have it folks, Sera Phim has a crush on none other than the witch, Bella Donna!"
Mark paused randomly. "Wait but, if you like Bella and Bella likes Rev and Rev likes... no one- isn't this an issue for our friend group?!" Sera looked at the two who were bickering in front of them. "They suit each other better; we should help Bella get Rev rather than turning this into a whole situation... As Revs guardian angel, he would be happier too." Mark looked at Sera and frowned. "You really think Rev would be happier with Bella?" "Yes, same for Bella with Rev." Sera spoke, semi-unbothered. Mark sighed then smiled and took Sera's arm. "Let us catch up to them."
The previous day at the school was a nightmare with Rev. He tried to kill himself again and dragged Sera into it- while also involving herself at the same time, causing them to have a fight and get on worse terms with the principal, more in Revs case. Nevertheless, Bella was almost dragged into it but thankfully she was not. Same with Mark.
She is just glad to have her friends safe, but she needed to have a chat with Rev about his suicidal tendencies.
Once she spotted Rev in the main yard, she paused. He was with Bella again and they weren't bickering... It was more like Bella teasing Rev and he was just ignoring it. They looked good together. She felt that same feeling in her stomach and chest. She decided to leave them and catch Rev later.
As she turned, she found herself looking down at Wendy. "Hey Angel!" Sera already found her annoyance growing. "What are you looking at?" Wendy stepped aside then saw the scene then smirked. "You know, I can sense a lot of jealousy spewing out of you, not liking your little owner finding a girlfriend?" Sera grit her teeth but decided not to respond either way. Wendy seeing Sera's response to her teasing made her frown as she looked at the two then back at Sera.
She sighed. "Look, I don't know what your relationship is with those freaks are but if you are jealous for whatever reason just take what you can't have. I'm telling you this not because I care but because you don't, and messing with you isn't so fun when you don't care or react or do anything. Later loser." Take what she can't have?
Sera stared at Rev and Bella again. Upon closer look, Rev seems totally uninterested while Bella was yapping his ear off about some mistake he made in alchemy class, but she seemed so happy compared to his coldness. Bella didn't deserve that. Rev also did not deserve it. Sera could sense distance from the two growing distant every day. It was also affecting Mark, he seems distant from the group but specifically Rev. This was very confusing to her, but she knew that she needed to do something before the small time that Rev has had here and the people he has met- the time will grow to be a more unpleasant time in the long run. At this point she had made up her mind. She will divert Bella's attention from Rev to herself and push Mark towards Rev so that their friendship keeps Rev in check.
Sera began walking towards the now arguing duo, the two not even noticing her before she is right beside them. Rev glanced to the side then back at Bella while yelling something before he jumped with a screech. "Bella! Don't do that, you are going to give me a heart attack!" He yelled as Bella snickered. Sera looked at him up and down before speaking. "You're heart doesn't even beat." She deadpanned at him. Bella burst out laughing, hunching over while holding her stomach, tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
Sera has only been Bella's classmate for a few years, but she had never seen her laugh like that. It made Sera's heart throb and cheeks grow hot. The corners of her mouth twitching. "Angel, if you laugh again, I will actually kill myself right here." Rev stated with a half yell, almost pleadingly. Bella raised a brow, her laughter faltering a little. "Sera laughed? I wanna hear her laugh." She said expectantly while looking up at Sera. "No, you don't." Rev said firmly.
Sera stared down at the two not really sure what to do. Bella suddenly went on her tiptoes, trying to level herself with Sera, only being a few centimetres shorter. "You're so tall and I am even in my heels." She spoke randomly. She felt the wings behind her ears start twitching, soon flapping upon realising how close they were.
Bella turned her head and reached her hand up to touch it from impulse. "What's does that-" Sera filched and covered her ears "mean...?" Sera looked away while mumbling some excuse. Rev laughed from the sight. "Are you sensitive there angel?" He taunted. Sera's embarrassment fell from his mocking before she had a thought to mock back.
"hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah-" "OKAY STOP!" he yelled with an unpleasant expression on his face. Bella snorted and began laughing again. "What kind of laugh is that?" She kept laughing through the words. Sera stared again, this time a small smile staying on her face. Rev groaned. "I miss when you were emotionless." He spoke while staring at the two. Bella immediately jumped on Sera with a hug. "Noooo, she is so funny, she needs to stay like this to keep tormenting you." She grinned.
As the two began going back and forth at each other with their words, Sera looked behind Rev and saw mark staring, seemingly looking upset. "Rev, Mark looks like he is going to the dorms, don't you two normally walk together." Rev looked to where Sera was looking. "Why would I-?" When Rev saw marks expression, he paused. "Uh... yeah, I need my notebook anyway." He lifted his arm as a small goodbye before leaving without looking back, going towards Mark.
Sera turned her head at Rev's unusual behaviour. "Rev acts like he doesn't care but he is really just a big softy, he just doesn't know it yet." Bella stated with a sigh. Sera looked at her through her peripheral vision. "Do you... like Rev?" Sera asked randomly. Bella paused. "That's a strange question- but, I mean- he is a bit much and has really bad anger issues, but- during that day with the emotion potions, I saw a different side of him. I saw who he could be when he lets his guard down. When he is not this feral beast constantly trying to get out of a cage, he is enjoyable to be around. I like that Rev."
Sera felt herself grow stiff. Bella does seem to have developed some feelings with this other Rev who had empathy, emotions other than anger. She had often pondered what that Rev would be like. From Bella's description, he was still Rev but with his temper in check. THAT Rev is deserving of Bella. This is all so complicated. She should dig deeper before making more major decisions.
"Do you like it when people are more open about their emotions in that case?" She asked, her tone portraying nothing of what she was actually feeling. "Uh, I guess-? Those people are easier to interact with as I know how they are feeling and who they are as a whole with no particular negative effects. I struggle to connect with closed off or aggressive people." Sera thought for a moment. "Am I... closed off?" She asked softly, now staring at nothing in particular.
Bella looked at her in this moment then spoke in a firm tone. "Yes... but, usually people have a reason to be that way, Rev seems more aggressive since he seems like the kind of person who hates to be caged, kinda like a caged dog who grows more aggressive the more time it has without its freedom. I don't know why you are closed off but from what I know about you is that you struggle maintaining relationships with people, always ending up being the one being used then discarded." She gently nudged Sera's elbow. "That's why I want to get closer to you." Sera filched at that admission, eyes widening and heat rising, wings fluttering once more as she looked down at the smiling witch. "You are very emotionally intelligent." Sera complimented awkwardly.
Bella let out a huff and a small laugh. "Thanks angel." She spoke sweetly. The nickname was strange coming from her but different, it was more endearing than the insulting way Rev said it. Sera averted her eyes elsewhere, finding the eye contact awkward. Bella spoke again. "But seriously, what is it with those wings of yours? they seem to have a mind of their own." She lifted her hand to touch it then paused. "Sorry, may I touch it?" Sera nodded then Bella's eyes lit up as she touched them.
"They're so soft!" She squealed while playing around with the feathers. "I've noticed that they flutter without my control when I am feeling a particularly strong euphoric emotion." Sera answered bluntly. Bella stared at her for a moment before her face grew red. "Euphoria?! As in, you are happy when your wings wiggle?" Sera lifted a brow at her strange behaviour. "Is that not what it is?"
Bella pulled her hand away and Sera's wing stopped wiggling and her expression faltered slightly. "W-What are you doing? You are being so random right now!" Sera tilted her head and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "I want to be more open for you." Bella froze and began fumbling over her words. "I-- just remembered Miss Yaga asked to see me! Gotta go." This long after school? "Want me to walk you?" "No thanks!" Bella ran off and Sera stood there, trying to understand why Bella was more nervous than she was at that moment. She figured it was because she was acting more intimate with her emotions, but she also thought that was what Bella likes. Maybe she should experiment?