The woman stared at the door with a soft smile, “She’s one of the first surviving artificial Nephilim.”
Damien looked to her with surprise, “Really?”
“Indeed, she has much experience handling outside emotions. Your brother hardly had any affect on her.”
“So, that really was his emotions I felt?”
“Yes. Nephilim tend to be highly empathetic. With your brother gone, your anxiety is gone as well, no?”
Damien brought a hand to their chest. Their heart rate felt normal, and the ball of tension they always felt during attacks was nowhere at all. They looked to her with concern, “Just Daniel caused that?”
She nodded, “Yes. Your mind and body will be influenced by your’s and other’s strong emotions. Have you never experienced this before?”
“I…” They wanted to say no, but the absent-minded picking at the scar on their arm caused them to think back. Back to the hair trigger temper that scared away classmates, the petty fights Claire had spent hours lecturing them on, the panic attacks that would leave them bedridden with chest pains, and… Damien stopped picking and spoke softly, “I have. I couldn’t do anything to control it.”
“Having such a problem, especially without knowing the cause, can make life… difficult. Due to the physical and mental strain, most Nephilim are unable to survive to adulthood.”
“But… I wasn’t born this way, was I…” They stared into the Seraph’s eyes, “Father did this to me…”
“Do not be discouraged. From your current state, I can say you are better off than most.” She reassured them.
“Why do you think that?”
“Your brother said what your father had done at that time helped you recover.” She hopped off the bed and began to pace before them, “When we brought you here, your wounds had already healed a fair bit, and after just a week they are nothing but scars. Whatever he gave you, it was likely from a very powerful Shade; like a Sentinel, or something close to Seraph. To be honest, you look like a unique case for a Nephilim, artificial or no.”
“A Seraph?” Damien thought for a moment, then frowned, “But the Seraph are beings created by Engel, they aren’t Shade. How would that even work?”
“Seraphim are an enigma to humans, that is true. We tend to keep to ourselves regarding our history and nature. All humanity needs to know is that we are children of Engel, and live to serve and protect.
“So, because it healed me… you think I’m part Seraph? ”
She raised a finger to them. “Unlikely. Artificial Seraph-Nephilim do not exist. Even a natural born has never lived past childhood. If he had tried to change you like that, you would not be alive.”
Damien’s expression fell at the thought.
“However,” she continued, “if you do have self healing properties, and your father aided in your safety and escape, he likely used something with great power, which is unusual in the artificial Nephilim I have seen.”
“But he still experimented on his own kid.”
She nodded, “Yes, he did. While I don’t fully comprehend such concepts as love, I do know it can make people commit immoral acts for the sake of a loved one’s well-being.”
Damien’s hands bunched into fists, but not out of anger. They looked to her with determination, “Then I need to hear it from him.”
She smiled, “A very human conclusion” She walked over to the door and opened it, “I would tell you more, but I do not know much of artificial Nephilim and their origins. I suggest getting close to Lilith for insight.”
“Wait!” Damien called to her mid-step. “What’s your name?”
She looked back with soft eyes, “Seraphim are not born with names, so I do not have one,” before she walked out, closing the door behind her.
Damien picked up their fork, prodding at their breakfast. “Nephilim…” Questions littered their mind as they took a bite. Father knew, but did mother? Why was medicine not enough? How could Charles be involved with artificial Nephilim?
Damien shook their head as they felt a fog of doubt start to linger over them. Asking such questions would do nothing but stir unnecessary emotions. They were Nephilim, they had to be mindful. At least they had an answer. Perhaps controlling their emotions would be easier from then on.
Again Damien looked down at their chest, the bandages still wrapped snug. They gingerly touched the wound and flinched at the soreness, as it felt like applying pressure to a large bruise. They could barely remember the impact, let alone the pain. The thought of Daniel having to deal with it was hard enough, but knowing he had carried them away from the burning Tairan and stayed by their side for a whole week hurt them more than any fatal wound ever could.
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