Fall From Grace By: Charlotte Dumas 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Serafina gingerly pulled herself out of the bed she had been laying in for the past week. She had been amused by the children and Wyatt. She winced thinking of him; she hadn't wanted to deceive him, but that was the only way she could get him to leave her alone for now. She peeked out of the window and gave a small sigh. The moon hadn't risen yet, which meant she still had some time to get out of the house. Taking one last look around the room, she went out the door and kept walking until she was out of the house. Meanwhile, Wyatt was sitting in his library, doing his best to keep his eyelids open. If he caught her out of bed, he was personally going to flail her hide and then tie her to the bed to make sure she stayed there. Wyatt slightly chuckled at the image of Sera tied down at his mercy. He was so amused by it, he almost missed her exit. He quieted a moment and heard the telltale squeak of the front door opening. He silently fumed as he went to his window and gazed out, seeing Sera running toward an open field. He ran to the open door and dashed outside to catch Sera before she fell on her face. Serafina was running at breakneck speeds to try to reach the field before the moon rose. If she didn't make it, it could be curtains for her. She had felt a slight serge in her healing powers this morning when Wyatt had visited her. She couldn't believe how incredibly weak she had been; it was awfully tiresome being a human. Serafina looked ahead and almost gave a sob of relief; she was almost free of the trees. If the moon could stay low for a little longer, she might be able to ascend tonight. Reaching the edge, she felt something crash into the back of her knees, bringing her low. 'Not now,' Serafina silently pleaded, 'please not now.' She twisted so she could see what caused her fall and felt her heart jump. From his position on the ground, Wyatt stared up at her. Her brown hair feathered out from her temples and her eyes were a gray-blue color. 'Great, she's mad at me.' Over the past week, he learned how to read her emotions through her eyes; the brighter the shade of blue, the happier she was. Serafina turned toward the field and tried to pull herself from underneath Wyatt's weight. She gave him an icy glare and asked, "Will you please remove yourself?" Wyatt smiled cheekily at her. If she wanted him to get off her... "I will, if you give me a kiss." Serafina gaped up at him. Did he ask just what she thought he asked? "Are you serious?" As much as she wanted to give into temptation, Serafina shook her head. The last thing she needed was to succumb to his intentions, as inviting as they were. Wyatt smiled down at her again. He leaned into her and said, "That's too bad." Serafina gasped at the soft pressure of his lips on her own. He softly kneaded her lips with his own and Serafina began to understand why mortals would kill for this feeling. She felt like she was in Heaven again... Serafina broke away and watched the full moon ascend. It struck her as beautiful, and then she realized what it meant. She shoved Wyatt off her and broke for the clearing. She softly chanted, "Please let me make it," as she burst through the opening. She could hear Wyatt's breathing behind her, but she didn't care. If she was going to get into that field before the moon was at its peak, she would have to act quickly. Sparing a quick glance over her shoulder at Wyatt, Serafina called forth her wings. Wyatt stopped dead in his tracks. Unfurling from Sera's back was a beautiful set of wings. The feathers were the exact shade of her eyes at the top and became a bluer shade at the tips. He murmured, "You're an angel," before chasing after her again. Serafina began flapping her wings and felt her feet slowly lift off the ground. She would need to get to the middle of the clearing before... "No!" The moon hung high in the sky at its zenith. Serafina beat her wings furiously, but to no avail. The moon slowly moved away from its crest. Serafina screamed and let herself fall from the sky... ...And felt Wyatt's arms catch her. He cooed into her ear, "It'll be alright," and began carrying her back to the house. She struggled for a moment before succumbing to the warmth and her exhaustion. * Serafina woke up in the bed she had left the night previously. Everything-from her head to her feet-ached. She squinted against the morning light and touched her lips. Last night, she had... "Good morning, Sera." Serafina jumped at the sound of Wyatt's voice. She glared at him and pulled the blankets up to her chin. "What are you doing here?" Wyatt smiled and winked at her. "This is a room in my house," he said slowly, "and you're my guest. It's my responsibility to check in on you." He watched her blush and smiled. In the morning light, her brown hair had small hints of the silver and blue of her wings. Before he knew it, he was softly stroking her hair. Serafina pulled away, but let him continue. She gave a soft sigh of pleasure as his fingers ran close to her scalp. After a few moments, she gave a soft sigh and pulled away. Wyatt frowned slightly and pulled his hand away. He gazed at her drawn-up blanket and gave a sigh of disappointment. He returned his gaze to her eyes and asked, "What is your real name?" She sighed and reluctantly answered, "Serafina Celeste Angelos." He nodded and tested her name on his tongue, "Serafina...Serafina..." She looked like a Serafina. "What class were you?" She sucked in a shocked breath. He couldn't know about classes, unless... Oh, well. She shrugged her shoulders and answered, "I was Class Phi-Omega; in charge of messages and one of the sacred fires." Wyatt rubbed his chin and was about to ask more when he heard, "Can't you leave her alone; she looks whipped." Serafina turned her gaze to the door as Wyatt shook his head. The man wasn't exactly what you would call beautiful, but he had an air about him that caused one to look longer than they should. The man smiled and said, "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Logan Sharp, Lord Grayling." Serafina just stared at him. She could immediately tell that there was something...different about him. He didn't seem like the other humans she had met. He seemed so...sure of his future, or what he thought of it. Serafina rose from the bed and looked him straight in the eye. His green eyes had a spark of recognition, but at the same time a glint of fear. Serafina threw her shoulders back and manifested her wings. She said in a voice that was slightly lower-pitched than before, "I'm Serafina, Lord Grayling. Wyatt has taken me in of his own free will. I mean him no harm." Then, in a flash, all of her power left her and she passed out. Wyatt rushed forward to catch her in his arms. He slightly shifted her weight--so he wouldn't crush her wings-- and asked, "What is it with women fainting near you?" Logan sneered at him and asked, "What is it with you and odd women?" Wyatt gazed down at Serafina and said, "I don't know." * 'I have to quit fainting on him,' Serafina thought as she sat up, again, in the bed. She looked around until she found herself looking at a young woman holding a tray on her lap. She lifted the tray up and said, "I brought a peace offering. Hungry?" Serafina nodded her head and sat up some more so the woman could place the tray on her lap. "What is your name? I've met everyone else, it seems." The woman giggled and said, "I'm Corliss. Unlike my brothers, I'm a diplomat and don't want you to strain yourself. Eventually, you will be able to move with the ease I am." Seeing Serafina's confused look, green and white wings sprouted from Corliss' back. "Give it time. You'll be alright." Serafina just fainted again.