Fall From Grace
By: Charlotte Pendragon

Rating: PG-13

Prologue

Summary: Serafina was your ordinary angel until she broke the rules. Now forced to choose between Heaven and Earth, Serafina is tested like never before...

AN: This is my first story in my "Fallen Angel" series.  I hope you all like it.

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	She was wet, tired, and hungry.  She had plummeted so far so fast; she didn't know what to do with herself.  God forgive her, but she didn't understand His judgement.  The words "Enjoy your fall from grace," echoed hollowly in her ears before she was ejected from Heaven.

	She picked herself off the ground and searched for a house nearby.  She pulled her clothes to her body and wrapped her hair around to keep herself warm.  She thought a moment before deciding against manifesting her wings; it would only serve to scare someone who wanted to help her.  She kept moving forward, only veering off her course when the rocks started to dig into her now sensitive feet.  Walking along the grassy roadside, she kept herself poised and alerts, in case a horse and rider came along.  That was her last thought before she collapsed to the ground.

*
	"Miss?  Are you okay?"  

	Serafina felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her before she blacked out again.

*
	When Serafina next awoke, it took her a minute to realize that she was in a bed, a very big bed.  She pushed herself up and gazed around the room.  Why had she fainted like that?  Why had her powers left her?  She slowly jumped when she heard a voice yell,  "She's up, Mr. Sharp. 

	She looked toward the door and nearly fainted when she saw him stand in the door.  This lifetime had been much kinder than the previous ones.  He didn't have any scars marking his body and he looked in peak physical condition.  He slicked back his black hair and smiled at her.  She had been tempted by Lucifer himself, but never as much as he tempted her now.  He came and sat at the end of her bed.  Putting out his hand he said, "I'm Mr. Wyatt Sharp, the one who found you on the road.  You've been unconscious for three days now."

	She gave a slight gasp.  She had been in his care for three days and didn't know it.  She brought her knees up to her chest and stared at him.  Three days with her love.  She had to wait for the third time he prompted her for her name before she could answer.  "I'm sorry, this is an odd experience for me.  My name's Serafi--Sera Angelos."  It wasn't a lie, but not the whole truth either.

	He slightly arched an eyebrow at her expression and said,  "You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to Sera.  You look like you've been ill for some time."  He stood up and gave a slight cough,  "Usually everyone works around here, but you just concentrate on getting better."  He walked through the door, pausing only once to assess her.

	Once he left, Serafina breathed a sigh of relief.  She needed to stay away from him as much as possible.  He was a danger to her well being . . . and her nerves.

*
	Wyatt watched her for a few days, making sure she completely healed while she was under his roof, as he did now.  She was still siting in the bed she had awoken in, but she was far more animated, telling the servants' children Bible stories.

	"Miss Sera, tell us about the angels again," the youngest child asked, sitting on Sera's lap.

	A look of reluctance crossed Sera's face as she pulled the child more onto her lap.  She absently combed the child's hair as she said, "They are beautiful creatures.  In their wings are all the colors of the rainbow."  She paused, and after a moment continued with a heavy sigh, "Their mission is to be God's messengers and to help keep an eye on God's flock.  Some don't do what God says and are banished."

	"Like Lucifer?"

	Sera smiled, "Like Lucifer."  She suddenly looked up and saw Wyatt standing in the doorway.  She whispered something in the child's ear--causing a giggle--and sent her on her way.  She had noticed the way he had been looking at her these last few days and she liked the approving gaze he gave her.  She pulled the blanket up to her chest and gave him a nod of permission to enter the room.

	Wyatt slowly entered the room, taking his time to pull a chair from the fireplace and sit next to the bed.  He slowly sat down and glanced at her with mischievous eyes.  Taking her hand in his, he said, "You certainly look like you're feeling better.  It's interesting what a few days of rest can do to you."

	She looked down at his hand and gulped.  She tried not to think of how he was touching her, and gazed back into his eyes.  They were a deep, rich brown color--the same as they had always been--and full of life, something that had always been beyond her reach.  She turned her face away from him and gently pulled her hand from his grasp.  With her back still to him, she said, "Thank you for your hospitality, but I really must be on my way by tonight."

	Wyatt stared at her back and uttered a soft curse.  She was still as weak as a newborn kitten, but she was filled with persistence.  He would try to help her.  He captured her hand again and forced her to look at him.  She glared at him with a finely tempered pique and waited for him to speak.  Wyatt brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back after he said, "Let me help you."

	Serafina gaped at him.  She felt tears well up in her eyes and turned away again.  Her voice slightly shook when she finally said, "I appreciate the offer, but this is something I must do on my own."

	He stood and left the room, but not before he said, "I will try to help you."  Then, once he was out of the door, he said under his breath, "Even if it kills me."