🪻《The Seraphim》🪻

🥀Corinth, Greece.
Claude/Amadeus backstory:

A young boy stood on the edge of a cliff as the sea waves aggressively hit the rocky shore. The sun was burning bright but he held his head up and stared at the blistering sun, he wasn't afraid of the light or becoming blind.

The boy raised his hands up ready to embrace his destiny. He was to be the Seraphim the mortal body that Seraphiel had chosen! The celestial being hovered above him, unspeaking. He watched the young boy smiled at him, unafraid.

Seraphiel wore his long white and golden robes, adorned with precious gemstones beautifully crafted for him. His silver hair matched his eyes with thick silver brows and he had several golden heavenly symbols imprinted on his arms, all the way to his feet. He had a smooth and calm feature, his beauty was said to even rival that of the morning star!

He had six colossal wings that could almost cover the sky, the silvery feathers that looked like metal under the sunlight, had strings of fiery red hues on them. Due to this, he was often described as "the burning one" or "red-winged angel", the light of the morning star.

All beings cowered before him but he didn't quite understand why this young boy not older than five wasn't frightened of him. He reached his hands and lifted the boy in his arms, he cradled him as the boy laughed merrily and tried to pull his silver hair. Ugh! the seraph groaned.

"Pretty!" The boy spoke with his high-pitched voice as he pulled the seraph's silver locks.

Seraphiel smiled and poked the boy's nose with his own, he adored his boy, such an innocent and pure soul!

"You are of my blood," he stared at the boy's azure eyes. "You are my descendant, my and Wicca's blood"

He laid the boy down and whispered. "You shall be my vessel, an angel on earth!" he placed one finger on the boy's forehead and an azure decagram star symbol appeared and quickly faded. The boy's once azure eyes turned golden!

"I will come for you when you are ready," the seraph unfastened his silver earring and placed it on the young boy's ear, he casted an enchantment so that the boy couldn't feel the pain of the sharp hook piercing through his skin. The alexandrite stone gleamed as the sunlight reflected on it, the young boy touched the silver earring and laughed merrily!

"You shall be the master of apocalypse!"

Nine years had passed and the young boy turned thirteen. He already surpassed the elder weavers in his village, he weaved all ten knots of spells with ease and found it boring to listen and practice with some of his teachers who, he thought hadn't even mastered the tenth knot. He laid his chin on the table and drifted to sleep, when a small chalk was thrown at him!

He groaned as he rubbed his head. "Don't sleep Amadeus! you need to learn the history of magic!" an elderly man spoke.

The elderly man was called Aneaes, he was tall and thin, he had long white braided beard and a bold head. Despite his age, he was still beaming with energy, he wore a purple tunic, an official color for educators of Atalanta and among all his teachers, Amadeus respected Aneaes the most!

"I know of it already!" Amadeus whined, Aneaes glared at the youth, who stifled a yawn.

"Oh, bless the archangels! Why they chose you be the Seraphim!" he strode closer to Amadeus and hit the youth's head with a thick book.

"Ow! why so harsh!" Amadeus covered his head with his arms as Aneaes tried to hit him again.

"Your brother was the perfect pupil if you're only half good as your—"

"Speaking of my brother I need to see him!" Amadeus quickly ran outside as Aneaes yelled behind him!

"come back here!"

Amadeus ignored the elder's threats and darted to the village center. His brother, Claudius was his protector but he was nowhere to be seen! He searched for him around the palace but still no sign of him. He found his handmaiden, Tia in the laundry chambers, washing clothes.

A rope was tightly wrapped around on the edges of two big barrels with a spin circle underneath, the purpurite crystal was embedded on the pulley as it pulled the rope simultaneously in opposite directions. Tia was pouring the natron powder and scented oils into the barrels, full of linen cloths when Amadeus came running inside the laundry chambers and startled her.

"Tia!" Amadeus yelled.

Tia spun around and lowered herself to show respect, "Exalted one, why have you come?"

"Have you seen my brother?"

Tia shook her head. "No, he must be out of the village"

"Out?" Amadeus frowned, he knew why his brother always gone out of the village. His brother told him that he had met a woman, however she was a lamia, cold-blood but despite that, his brother befriended this creature. Jealousy filled his heart, he thought that this creature was taking his brother away from him and that was unacceptable!

Amadeus turned and headed to his chambers. He decided to wait for his brother and planned to reprimand him, he was his protector so he should stay by his side always! It was already dusk and Claudius didn't return, Amadeus kept waiting but still no sign of his unruly brother.

Due to boredom, he strode toward the balcony and looked down at the villagers, who were leisurely strolling around the roads when he caught a glimpse of a golden haired woman.

Even from far, he could clearly see her beautiful face, her red lips curled into a smile as she strode side by side with his brother. She wore a black cloak covering her body, Amadeus craned his neck to see more but the woman gracefully walked further out of his sight!

He turned quickly for the door and immediately, strode toward the palace entrance! His chamber was built on top of the megalithic palace and he needed much time to arrive at his destination. He passed through the library, where Aneaes flipping pages after pages of a thick book and into the great hall where rows and rows of soapstone stood, aflame!

When he met her, the pale woman looked like an angel with her golden hair braided behind her. Amadeus called out to his brother and he leaped! Claudius caught him and cradled him in his arms!

So this is the woman who stole my brother, Amadeus thought. Claudius introduced her to him but Amadeus couldn't keep his eyes away from the pale woman, he was both hateful and fascinated by her!

After awhile Claudius told Amadeus to retire to his chambers which he reluctantly did. Even in his dreams, his mind lingered at the pale woman named, Clodette. Amadeus tossed and turned on his bed, he wanted to rest but sleepiness seemed to avoid him, he was staring absentmindedly at the ceiling when he heard his voice, the seraph!

"Are you fascinated by her, young one?" The mellifluous voice spoke.

"more like I despise her!" Amadeus replied, as he sat up on his bed. Amadeus got used to the seraph talking to him in his mind, no matter the place, the seraph would communicate with him.

"you cannot trick me, young one. Our hearts beat as one, what you feel, I also feel!"

"Why is it beating so fast?" Amadeus placed a hand on his heart, trying to calm his heartbeats.

"your heart remembers what your mind cannot."

"What do you mean?" he furrowed his brows as he tried to understand the seraph's riddles.

"souls reincarnated and continued to live through a lifetime, but there is one thing people call the "string of fate" when two souls are intertwined they will find each other no matter what happens"

"So, are our souls intertwined?"

"for many lifetimes, young one"

"—and in those lifetimes, did I hate her?"

"you loved her"

Clodette would visit the village every night and Amadeus would secretly watch her from afar, her musical laughs made his heart quivered. He was enraged by the fact that his past lives were in love with this woman! The woman who stole his brother!

During the angel hour, Amadeus would stroll the palace and leisurely walked into the library where he met Clodette, she was sitting by the table near the window as the moonlight shone down on her, she looked like a snow angel! She slowly lifted her eyes and met his, she smiled as she spoke softly;

"I knew it was you, I heard you from afar."

Amadeus frowned and strode inside, ignoring her! He fondled with the books in the shelves as Clodette came closer, "What book are you looking for?" and again, Amadeus ignored her.

"If you tell me I can help you find it." Clodette's face came closer to Amadeus and whispered. Her hot breath tickled his skin, he immediately grasped and turned to her with a flush face. Clodette tilted her head, and arched her brows as though she was confused, Amadeus furrowed his brows and walked away deeper into the library! As he walked, Clodette followed.

"stop following me!"

"Alas! finally he speaks!" Clodette teased. Amadeus spun around and glared at her.

"What do you want?" Amadeus spat out, angrily.

"I want to be your friend"

"I don't want to be friends with you!"

"Why?"

Amadeus avoided her gaze. "He is my brother", he spoke softly but there was no doubt that Clodette heard him. He reverted his gaze at her and yelled,

"he is my brother but you stole him from me!"

"I didn't steal him." Clodette came closer. "He loved you more than anything so no one can steal him from you!"

"Is that true?"

Clodette nodded, cheerfully. "You are all he could talk about!"

"me?"

"yes, he talks about you all the time, he said he loves you more than anything!"

Amadeus was silent for a moment, black brows furrowed as he contemplated, Clodette found it adorable how he curled his lips to the side and arched his brows. Clodette thought that if she had a younger brother she would want it to be Amadeus! After awhile of contemplating, he glanced up at Clodette;

"I was looking for the book of Celestials!"

Clodette held up her hand. "come on, let's find it together!"

Amadeus hesitantly held her hand and they walked side by side.

🥀The day before the Seraphim Enthronement

Claudius was sitting by the patio when Amadeus found him, he looked up and saw his brother's adorable face. His heart glowed and immediately gestured for him to come closer.

"Why are you just standing there?"

Amadeus was silent but he strode closer to Claudius, he looked at the adamantine sword with a complex expression; "Tomorrow, you will be with me right?" Amadeus asked in a low voice.

"of course, I will be beside you." Claudius reassured him but Amadeus only smiled and nodded. "Are you afraid of the enthronement?"

"No." Amadeus shook his head.

"you don't need to act brave in front of me," Claudius smirked.

"I am not afraid, Seraphiel said it would be okay. He will be with me and guide me through it!"

Claudius was taken aback from Amadeus' revelation, "Does the seraph often talk to you?"

Amadeus hummed, "yes, daily." he touched his silver earring; "he and I, are of one mind" Amadeus sat beside his brother. "After the enthronement, we will have to go back to Atalanta. Seraphiel says it is where we belong, we should return but I don't want to go!"

"me too!" Claudius looked down on his adamantine sword which gleamed brightly under the moonlight.

"Will you miss her?"

Claudius immediately looked at his brother, face beet red! "Who!?"

"Clodette."

Claudius touched his face with the back of his hand and felt it heated up. "Ye-yes, she is my friend"

"brother, do you love her?" Amadeus nonchalantly asked.

"Wh-what kind of question is that?!" Claudius stood so quickly that his sword has fallen down with a loud clatter. He swiftly picked it up as Amadeus reverted his gaze at the sea, it gently created some small waves and made a swish and splash sound. Claudius stared at his brother's face, there was something different about him today.

"What is it?" he asked Amadeus.

"brother, I have a premonition about you."

"Don't say it, it is taboo!" Claudius tried to stop his brother.

"but it is my decision to say." Amadeus' tiny hands curled into a fist.

Claudius held out his hand, gesturing for Amadeus to stop. "I said it is taboo!"

"I also have a premonition of Clodette." Amadeus looked at Claudius and whispered,

"you will die by her hands."

"I said it's taboo—"

"brother, I know you love her! The seraph told me, but do you know —"

Claudius didn't answer instead he looked at Amadeus seriously, he had grown rapidly and Claudius hoped in his heart that Amadeus will remain a child forever but time wouldn't allow that! He waited until Amadeus spoke again;

"I, too, love that person"

Amadeus reverted his gaze back to the waves while Claudius continued to stare at his melancholy face.

The cold winter wind blew on Amadeus' face but he didn't feel the cold, he strode on the platform as the people cheered! After the spirit of the Seraph had entered his body, his consciousness drifted away it felt like he was sleeping inside his own mind. He could see everything but his body moved and spoke without his control.

The enthronement came to a halt when the cold-bloods invaded their village, he woke up in Tia's arms, whose face was full of tears! The village was burning into ashes, children cried softly as the mageias guide them to the transportation portal, the shapeshifters were running around taking down as many vampires as they could!

Some vampires killed anyone they deemed worthless, some drank the moon-eye's blood before they hacked them into pieces. Mud and blood mixed together, a heavy iron smell filled the air while the fire smoke darkened the surroundings!

Amadeus couldn't quite register how this legendary village reduce to ashes in a mere seconds, he pushed Tia away as he ran. He stopped by the village fountain, where a mountain of his people lay, dead. Aneaes, his teacher was among them;

His arms were severed, he lay on his own pool of blood, the same happened to the others! He scanned his eyes and stopped at his father's figure, covered by his own blood, his right arm severed from his body, his head smashed in! And, his torso had a big hole in the middle! Tobias' eyes were steady but it was lifeless!

A pale horseman hovered above them, he mounted his horse as he held his mighty scythe in one hand, Tia hurriedly covered Amadeus' eyes but it was too late! This memory was already engraved in his mind! On this moment, Amadeus had finally experienced great grief, anger and suffering. Upon seeing his father's corpse, an uncontrollable anger surged inside him! He let out an ear piercing cry, Lucius spun around and found him, his lips curled to a wicked smile!

But before he could approach him, the azure decagram embedded on Amadeus' forehead gleamed and an enormous golden decagram star suddenly shone underneath Amadeus' body! Tia, who was holding him was pushed back by the blinding light. A string of ancient symbols gleamed as they gravitated around Amadeus!

His golden eyes glared angrily at Lucius, he let out another cry, a strong wind blew Lucius in the air! He twirled with the wind and swiftly landed on the ground. Subsequently, Lucius shouted at the moirais to block the wind, but they were imprisoned by Amadeus! He raised his hands and the gravitating ancient symbols quickly embedded on his arms all the way to his feet!

He weaved a knot, the golden threads formed a star, it had eleven pointed edges and a crimson flower in the middle, a Hen-decagram or also known as the Celestial star.

All of the people in the village, raised their gaze to the heavens! There were hopeful shouts and frightened murmurs but Lucius smiled broadly as he knew what will happened next, Marcus sprinted toward his father, leaving Clodette.

"Vladimir, stay here and detain my sister!" Marcus balancing himself as the ground began to quake.

"be careful, my lord!" Vladimir spoke, softly.

Tia was leaning by the tree as she looked up at the heavens with eyes wide open and uttering the sacred words of revelation; "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire!"

Heavenly trumpets resound as the celestial star opened, the clouds parted and the heavenly light shone down on the whole village! Coming out from the celestial star, the seraph's massive silver and fiery red wings covered the village, his golden robes gleamed while his furious silvery eyes stared at his enemies! He hovered behind Amadeus and placed his pale hands on the boy's shoulders.

Amadeus waved his hand, a single star appeared underneath the moirais, forming a golden shield and imprisoning them. Amadeus' voice was laced with several multiple voices, "You, who should serve me have betrayed me!"

"No!" The moirais cried, pitifully.

The golden star gleamed as Amadeus spoke, "Your youth shall be taken, you shall forever live in darkness never to see the beauty and light of the world!"

The golden light immediately glowed brighter as the moirais' youthful beauty was stripped! Their golden hair had turned to ash, their white and golden robes incinerated and replaced by torn black dresses, their skins turned scaly and their magnanimous green eyes were taken!

Amadeus raised his arms and several golden symbols flew in the air, creating several tiny sharp ribbons! It immediately tied the moirais' limbs preventing them from escaping! The ribbons then used its sharper edges and plunged into their green eyes, it twisted deeper until it scooped the eyeballs out! Blood gushed down their faces as they let out a distressing cry!

"You will forever share but only one eye!" Amadeus cursed them!

The moirais screamed in pain as the blood streaming down their black hollowed eyes!

Alas! Amadeus raised his hand to the heavens and the celestial star appeared above, it covered the sky and with one word;

"adolebitque eos!" Burn them!

The sky rained fire! The blue flames rapidly incinerated the vampires to ash, without harming the villagers! The villagers all knelt and uttered their silent prayers while the vampires tried to outrun the rain of fire but they couldn't escape their fate!

"My Lord! we have to go!" Dimitri, Lucius' aide, shouted at him!

Lucius was looking at Amadeus. "What marvel!" he exclaimed, he had his arms stretched out as he laughed like a madman!

"We have to go, My Lord!" Dimitri pulled him away!

"No! No! He is just within my reach!" Lucius tried to break free from Dimitri's hold.

"Father! we have to go!" Marcus was already beside them, and tried to convince Lucius."We have to go! We can kill him next time"

Lucius pushed Marcus away. "There is no next time!"

"Father, you cannot die! we have a lifetime to hunt him down! We have no fighting chance today!" Marcus took hold of his father's collar and pulled him away. Lucius mounted his horse and hesitantly sped away!

Amadeus eyes scanned the whole village and burned all vampires that he could see while the pale horse stood in front of him with his scythe on hand! He mounted his horse and immediately darted toward him, Amadeus held his hand up and golden chains immediately appeared from his chest!  It quickly enveloped the pale horse tightly, rendering him immobile!

"You had betrayed me twice!" Amadeus spoke, angrily!

"You are no master of mine!" The Pale horse retorted!

"You shall serve me like your brothers!"

"I will not!" The Pale horse tried to struggle but the chains were made of adamantine, the strongest known material!

"You serve me NOW!" Amadeus let out a siren-like shriek! The sound waves blew away the trees and destroyed the thatched roofs!

"You are weak to face me, spirit!" The seraph's voice was laced with Amadeus'.

"I am DEATH! I am lord of tartarus! I will not serve a boy—" before the pale horse could finish his words, Amadeus had ceased his actions with one word;

"Thanatos!" Amadeus gleaming golden eyes stared at the pale horse. He was unafraid, he was confident, he had an aura of a dominion!

"I hold the power over your name! You, Thanatos, the pale horse will deem to not forget! you serve me! YOU serve me NOW!"

Upon hearing his name, the pale horse trembled at the sight of a boy, whose tantalizing eyes glared and behind him stood the seraph with all his golden glory!

The golden chains tightened and dragged the pale horse inside Amadeus! The pale horse struggled but to no avail, the chains dragged him, his horse huffing wildly, trying to free itself but the golden chains tightened its grip around the horse's legs, bringing them together! Outbalance, the horse fell and was dragged inside Amadeus!

Thanatos tried to crawl his way out but the golden chains wrapped itself around his arms and feet, "You shall be my servant for all eternity!" Amadeus commanded.

The pale horse kept on struggling, he plunged his long nails into the ground, but his strength was not on par with the golden chains, it dragged him with full force! and he too, was dragged inside, leaving his bloody nails attached on the ground! Amadeus could feel him struggled inside of him;

"write it down, young one." The seraph ordered.

"Where?"

"on your chest!"

Amadeus took out a purpurite crystal and engraved a celestial star symbol on his chest, as the sharp crystal plunged onto his skin, blood oozed streaming down his body but he didn't care, he couldn't feel the pain. When he finished writing the symbol, the seraph spoke;

"speak the words, young one."

"Aeterno signata potentia mea est!"
Sealed for eternity, Power is mine!

The celestial star gleamed and faded, imprisoning the pale horse inside Amadeus. He even his breathing as his gaze wandered around and stopped at a familiar black haired figure, Claudius! Clodette was holding him tightly and protecting him from the falling debris.

"He is dead!" Amadeus spoke as he strode closer. He turned his gaze to Clodette! "This is your fault!"

"A-Amadeus, I'm so sorry." Clodette cried.

Amadeus bent over and whispered to Clodette. "Look at me!" he casted an enchantment.

"Forget the village, forget this tragedy, forget about me but never forget —you killed Claudius. It will be embedded inside you forever! This is your punishment! You will forever drown in grief of killing a loved one!"

"I am sorry." Clodette sobbed, uncontrollably.

"When we meet again, I will sever the thread that intertwined us!" Amadeus' golden eyes gleamed with unspeakable anger.

This is where the fate that bound us ends.

🪻《Author's Note 》🪻

Hi lovely people!🥀

This chapter was intense, I hope I was able to portray each emotions of our characters well. So, this chapter will be Claude/Amadeus backstory and how he came to be the antagonist of our story, it will continue until the first part of chapter 20.

The second part of Chapter 20 will pick up from Claude's arrival at Marvius' Mansion to ask about his origins.

A/N: I will use "Amadeus" for Claude from this point on.

🍂| Glossary:

Tartarus: Deepest part of hell
Dominion: They govern celestial objects

🪸| Questions:

Do you think Claude/Amadeus could break the string of fate that binds him to Clodette?

Will Clodette be able to accept him even Claude/Amadeus is out for vengeance?

What are your thoughts?

Please leave a comment and vote for this chapter, it will help my story to be more visible! Thank you!

Love, Julia 🪻