(Hello, all, and welcome to chapter seven of Recovering the Lost. I just wanted to say that the image is the closest I could get to Serena. So just picture what I have shown you all with lower back length hair, and whatever clothes they are wearing in whatever chapter you're reading. If they are in the other world place thing, then you can picture the dress shown in the picture. Just want to explain it! Thanks for all the votes and stuff so far, also! You are the best fans ever. Love you all and enjoy!)

Third Person POV:

Once Serena was in control, she felt her worry for Selena still on her face. She immediately shook it off and replaced it with her signature smirk. She wasn't trying to be rueful or mean anymore. Now she just wanted to mess with the reaper's head more than anything.

"You called?" Serena asked Maria and Alex snidely.

"Alex, I thought you said she wasn't like this in reality," Maria accused.

Alex ignored her. "Serena, we can't have you acting like this right now. I need to know what happened to Selena. Now drop the act and please, tell me what happened."

"I refuse to trust the reaper," Serena said, crossing her arms.

"Serena, I promise, she won't hurt you. Don't you trust me?"

Serena jumped at the sound of Selena's voice in her head. Closing her eyes, she calmly replied, "Of course I trust you. It's the reaper I'm worried about."

"Then why were you in such a rush to get me to her when I collapsed? You even called her by her name instead of 'Reaper.'"

"Because there was nothing I could do while you were inside with me. I had no other option."

"You don't have any other option right now. You have to trust her. I..."

"Selena? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, just talk to her. Please."

"Alright. For your sake, I'll trust her for now."

"Thank you." And then Selena was quiet. Serena turned back to Maria and Alex. Taking a deep breath, she explained everything.

***

Serena finished speaking, and the room went silent. There wasn't even anything inside her letting her know that Selena was still there. She was about to excuse herself and search for the angel when the door to the room opened.

Sebastian stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Serena barely heard footsteps downstairs, which she assumed belonged to either Finny or Peter.

For a brief moment, Serena felt Sebastian's eyes on her, then he turned to Maria.

"I hope you don't mind, but I let myself in," he said in a careless tone.

"I can see that." Maria answered.

"What happened? I had a bad feeling, but couldn't leave to find out what was going on." Sebastian stood by the window, near where Alex was sitting.

Serena remained quiet, refusing to even look at her father. She had no idea how she would be able to talk to him about anything involving Selena.

Maria spoke up, and repeated Serena's story. Once she was finished, Serena could once again feel her father's eyes staring holes into her.

"Serena?"

She gave him not so much as a nod to show she was listening.

Sebastian continued anyway. "Thank you."

Serena's head jerked to stare at him. "Why would you thank me? All I've done is ruin Selena's life! I've done nothing to receive your thanks. All I deserve from you is hatred!"

Sebastian crossed the room and sat on the bed next to the demon half of his daughter. He spoke, "Thank you for talking to her. Thank you for being kind to her. She's always wanted a sibling. You're as close as she'll ever get."

"That's not true. I'm her. I'll never be a sibling to her."

"Serena, please. Accept my thanks. And for the record, I don't hate you. I couldn't possibly hate my daughter."

Serena was about to respond when something happened inside her. It felt like Selena was fading, like she was vanishing into nothingness. Suddenly, Serena had a look of alarm on her face.

Alex was the first to notice. "Serena, what's the matter?"

"I can't feel Selena anymore. I have to go find her!"

Serena let go of controlling her body, and raced inside to find Selena.

***

Selena's body fell back against the bed, motionless. She looked like she was asleep, but they all knew better.

"Maria, tell Finny to go back to the manor. Tell him that Selena is asleep and that he won't be able to see her," Sebastian ordered.

"You want me to lie to the boy?" Maria asked, almost shocked.

Sebastian nodded, then turned to Alex. "We need to talk."

Alex nodded. Then Maria sighed and left the room.

Sebastian didn't speak until he couldn't hear Maria's footsteps anymore. "What I'm about to tell you, you can't tell anyone else. Do you understand? Not even Serena can find out."

Alex slowly nodded, and Sebastian began to speak.

***

"Selena?!" Serena called. "Selena, where are you?!"

Serena ran throughout their world, not knowing, or caring, where she might end up. Eventually, she was able to see a faint light out in the distance. She ran for it, and came upon it's source a few minutes later.

She was standing beside a sleeping Selena. Her angelic light was barely visible, and she seemed to be almost translucent, but Serena couldn't tell whether or not it was real or just the way she looked in the realm.

Serena knelt down and gently shook Selena, trying to wake her.

A few moments later, Selena's eyes fluttered open. It took her a minute, but, finally, she focused her eyes on Serena.

"Serena?" She asked quietly. "What is it?"

Sighing with relief, she answered. "I couldn't sense you anymore, so I got worried. Dad just got here, if you want to see him."

Selena struggled, but eventually got to her feet. "Serena," she said. "What's happening to me? I don't feel like normal."

"You feel that, too?"

"What?"

Serena didn't want to say it, but she had to. "You feel weaker, don't you?"

Selena slowly nodded.

Serena frowned and stomped the ground. "I knew this was going to happen! Why was I such an idiot?!"

"Serena. What's happening? What are you talking about?" Selena asked, puzzled.

"We're dying, that's what I'm talking about! I should have known better! You were weaker to begin with. I should have thought this through!"

"Are you saying I'm going to die sooner because you were stronger to begin with?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying! We have to find a way to keep us strong and alive until we can accomplish what I split us up to accomplish. I guess we'll both be working with Alex. But you need to take control for now. We can still talk later tonight."

"Alright," Selena said, then took control of her body once again.

***

Sebastian stood and paced the room, trying to figure out how to word what he needed to tell the boy before him. Once he finally had an idea, he began to speak.

"Have you out ever had a feeling that you know me from somewhere?" Sebastian asked.

Alex stared at the demon in shock. "H-how did-"

"I met you the day you-"

Sebastian was cut off by Selena's wings turning back to light gray. He watched his daughter carefully, not wanting to continue if she was waking up.

Alex watched both of them. He closed his eyes and searched for Selena's energy, and found it fainter than it had been when she was sick. Serena seemed to have suppressed herself as to not get in the way. Alex felt eyes on him, and opened his own.

Selena was awake, lying on the bed, looking between her father and Alex. Her gaze lingered on the boy's face a moment longer than her father's, and then she turned away from both of them, curling herself up into a ball on her bed.

Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed, stroking his daughter's soft, long black hair. He could see Selena shaking, but couldn't tell if she was cold or crying.

Alex stood and walked to the other side of Selena's bed, where she would be facing him. "Selena? Are you alright?"

Letting out a soft whimper, she shook her head. Her eyes were tightly closed, but were still leaking tears.

Alex grabbed Selena's hand, which was clenched tightly to a fistful of bedsheets, and held it. She immediately let go of the sheets and clung tightly to his hand. Sebastian shook his head at Alex, telling him not to take it any further than that, but Alex either didn't see it, or he completely ignored it.

Selena was trying to hold her sobs inside of her, but her tears gave her away. She let out quiet sobs, and Alex rubbed her hand.

"Selena?" Alex asked in a quiet and soothing voice. Selena remained silent other than her softly crying to herself.

"Selena, are you hurting? What happened?"

To Alex's surprise, Selena opened her eyes. They were red from crying, but not demon red. She lightened he death grip on his hand, and said quietly:

"I'm going to die."