SERAPHINA’S POVThe garden is one of the most marvelous places in school I’ve realized. Its almost ethereal beauty is one of the reasons I seldom hang out here during school hours. I know it could easily distract me from reading. Moreover, given the chaos of my life, resting under tree shades and appreciating the delicate dance of blossoms just seemed out of place.However, when my eyes land on Kamila, everything changes. She's meditating beneath an ivory tree with captivating ombré leaves, appearing like an angel nestled in nature. I find myself wondering: Why isn't Artemis head over heels for Kamila? She's dangerously alluring, possessing a beauty that's both otherworldly and powerfully intense.This thought brings a flutter of insecurity, compelling me to compare myself to her involuntarily. The truth hits me hard; I could never match her elegance and poise, not even in a hundred lifetimes.I approach her, and as I pause by her side, she graces me with a sly, knowing smile — al
SERAPHINA’S POVI nervously check over my outfit for the night again, obsessing over the low-rise neckline and debating if showcasing a hint of cleavage might come across as too forward. Cleavage or not? The dress I've chosen is the shortest one I own, ending at mid-thigh, and its spaghetti straps make me feel exposed. He's expected any moment now, and after endless pleas and apologies, I managed to persuade Olivia to vacate the room. The anxiety intensifies with each passing second, and my palms grow clammy. Staring at my reflection, dressed to impress, specifically to seduce, the gravity of the situation dawns on me, making it all even crazier.Soon, a knock from the balcony door jerks me out of my thoughts, anchoring me back to the present. Taking a deep breath, I turn towards the door, attempting to swallow the nervous lump in my throat.He’s here.I take several deep breaths, each more deliberate than the last, before approaching the door and pulling it open. Artemis stands
SERAPHINA’S POVIt feels nothing like the first time his lips touched mine. Nothing like the sudden, explorative kiss from before. Instead, it’s deep, passionate, wild, and hot. His lips take mine, hungrily devouring every square inch until his tongue pushes through for access. I grant him entrance, casting aside every inhibition.I gasp, tasting him for the very first time. I press further, driven by wanton desire, an undeniable urgency, and let out a sound from the depths of my throat, a primal and raw moan — a sound I never imagined I could make. This seems to be an invitation for him; the perfect fuel to this burning fire.Swiftly, he shifts me, setting me onto his lap in a straddle, and with surprising ease.Suddenly, he pulls back, leaving my lips cold and wanting. Before I can voice my yearning, a soft frown forming on my face, he's trailing fiery kisses down my neck, his teeth lightly scraping my skin, sending delicious shivers of anticipation down my spine.The sensation
SERAPHINA’S POV‘He’s a monster!’The voices – No, my thoughts scream at me. A wave of anxiety hits, and all that cloud nine rush fizzles away, replaced by dread that settles in the pit of my gut. Crippling fear takes over, and I kick him off me before he can get any closer or touch me any further. Before his filth can further taint my skin."Get off me!" I scream, breathing hard. Pulling myself up to a sitting position, I fold my legs protectively around myself. He looks at me with wicked eyes, tilting his head to the side."Sera?" His voice is calm and confused, contrasting sharply with the distorted mania evident in his swirling red eyes that seem to want to devour me‘He hates us.’He approaches, ignoring my whimpers and pleas, taking my hand gently and cradling the side of my face. Fear courses through me, urging me to flee, to escape his grasp before he can inflict any more pain, before the point of no return.‘End him.’A surge of vengeful rage takes over me as he leans ov
ARTEMIS’ POVOlivia literally karate chops Sera right into her delicate neck. Her eyes roll back into her head, and she falls on top of me. One moment, Sera's obsidian black eyes were filled with animosity, craving nothing but death and vengeance. If she could, she would have been foaming at the mouth while pressing down on my windpipe with a strength I never imagined such a petite body could possess. In any other circumstance, her tiny hands wouldn't have had the power to restrain me, but that wasn't the Sera I knew. That version had been enraged, screaming bloody murder, and sobbing from an intense pain that I couldn't – still can't – understand.Her hand, trembling with fury, had remained on my neck, each shudder directed at me. Several reasons she might have been angry came to mind: perhaps it was Ace, the contract, or maybe even the betrayal on my part. I hadn't expected her to be so enraged that she'd smash a globe against my head or stab me in the arm. And still, none of t
SERAPHINA’S POVMy eyes flutter open sometime in the night, observing the ceiling in front of me. I turn, trying to get a sense of my surroundings. Through the window, it's still dark out, making it hard to tell if it’s very late or very early.A movement to the left catches my attention. It's Olivia, quietly rolling up the rug in the room. Weird.Attempting to sit up, a sharp pain hits my head, and I groan, drawing her attention. Her hurried footsteps approach, and I feel her warm hands checking the top of my head.“Are you okay?” She asks, sounding worried.Why? I was just sleeping. Yet there’s an itch in my mind, a sensation of forgetting something important.Unconsciously, my eyes move to the floor, and the sight of thick red liquid triggers a barrage of fragmented memories. Most of them seem incomplete. I remember that Artemis was here, and we were talking. I remember things got hot at some point, really hot. The feel of his skin on mine was electric. Our bodies felt like two
SERAPHINA’S POVIt's been a whole week—7 days, 168 hours of pure agony. Every single time I'd run into Artemis in the hallway, he'd look the other way, as if I were some demented cockroach scuttling about in broad daylight, acting as though I never existed. Each time I approached to talk, he'd promptly stand up and walk away, not even attempting to mask the scowl on his face.He clearly hates me.Artemis Sinclair is giving me the cold shoulder, and it hurts like hell. I have a hunch about why—perhaps it's because I stabbed him or shattered Olivia's glass globe on his head. It's a reasonable explanation – and honestly, I’d run from my crazy ass too. However, he doesn’t seem willing to give me a chance to apologize.For the rest of today, I fixate on the little gold card in my hands. Whenever it's tucked away in my pocket, I still find myself running my fingers over its rough texture. This card holds all the answers I've craved for months. Every. Single. One. I always thought hav
SERAPHINA’S POV"Can we meet?" Those are the three words I text Kamila, along with directions to the place that started it all, the very reason our stupid deal ever came to be: The Obsidian Library. The location was scribbled on the gold card, and I slipped out of the school grounds, sneaking into the lavish compound that surrounds the main building—a grand structure that towers over everything for miles. Despite its cathedral-like beauty, holding untold secrets, I find no room in me for admiration today. I don’t even feel excited.I never imagined I'd need her number, exchanged during one of our passing encounters. Yet, here I am, infinitely grateful for those two seconds I spent saving it.He knows.He knows.He knows.My lower lip is caught between my teeth as I pace frantically, hyperventilating, on the brink of full-blown panic. My heart threatens to leap out of its cage. A chaotic mix of terror, anxiety, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of sorrow holds me captive.He knows!W
SERAPHINA’S POVThe doors to the throne room on the west side of the castle finally pull open, revealing Artemis and me to the entire congregation gathered to celebrate our crowning and witness the beginning of a new era of peace. Our hands are intertwined, our traditional garments matching, with long flowing capes that trail a few feet behind us. A wave of anxiety and excitement hits all at once, but I know I’m not alone. Never again.The congregation stands, applauding endlessly as we walk down the aisle, side by side, hand in hand, waving at all of them. I spot Olivia and Jasper, hand in hand, seeing them for the first time in three years, waving harder and growing excited to tell them all about my tales. Ace and Gabe sit in the next row, clapping along with the crowd, smiles on their faces as well. Of course, Alice is nowhere to be seen. It’s been years, and she has never shown her face to me again.Olivia had said that she moved to a different country, one that’s far a
ARTEMIS’ POV ( 3YEARS LATER)I'm completely stacked with work, towers of paperwork almost reaching the ceilings for the changes I've tried desperately to implement for the past four years since becoming the Alpha King. Laws newly implemented seem to have more backlash than initially anticipated, yet I’m committed to see them to the end, all to make some time for the coming weekend. A knock echoes from my door before Jasper walks in, still rocking that god-awful goatee Olivia hasn't succeeded in getting him to chop off. "Beta reporting for duty, Your Majesty," he bows. "Any news from the delegation you sent out to the human population?" He now turns serious once he sees all the papers.I instantly appreciate the new version of him that's capable of taking things seriously while still retaining his joyful side. I've tried to continue my father's works, improving the mission to unite all races as one to prevent things like war from ever happening again, to form a union o
ARTEMIS’ POVWeeks pass since Sera’s eyes open, and like a sick twist of fate, I find myself unable to see her as much now, with doctors being around her and more work piling on my desk. Yet, I remind myself to be patient while she gets the treatment and therapy she needs. The times I do stay by her side, I hold her in my arms, slowly filling her in on everything she’s missed in the past year. Her greatest hurdle with everything is accepting how much time has passed, how long she’s been unconscious, the time she’s lost. Processing it has not been easy and simply adds to her stress. Thankfully, Olivia stayed back for a few weeks to help her readjust to it all while I’m away and has only just left a few days ago.Tonight, as always, I’m in my office completely swamped with work, trying to achieve most of what I planned to do before Sera is completely better and on her feet again. Because I want to show her the world and more, and before I can get anywhere, I have to fix it.
ARTEMIS’ POV(ONE YEAR LATER)"In light of all the allegations brought forth, not only by students but also by teachers, I hereby strip you of your position as school Administrator," I declare before the newly appointed school board gathered before me. The now former Administrator, Mr. Andrew, stares at me with wet, red eyes on the brink of breaking into tears. He trembles, looking at me with pleading eyes for mercy, but I feel nothing close to remorse, especially with proof of years of his embezzlement sitting right in front of me on my desk. The fact that he also played a huge part in the school's segregation alone tempts me to strangle him with my bare hands every time I remember what Seraphina had to go through - but then, even I had a hand in this.My eyes shift to the other man in his late thirties standing on the other side of the room among the council, nodding in his direction. "In replacement, I appoint Mr. Jermaine for the new position of school Administrator."
ACE’S POVAs the doctor announces the outcomes of the surgery, I slowly detach from the group, watching their faces light up for only a moment before something even darker takes over. But I don’t stay long. I don’t dare stay with them in their moments of grief or offer words of encouragement, not when I haven’t been there for everything they’ve had to face. I don’t deserve to sit in their presence of lament with any of them, not especially Artemis or Jasper. I was a shitty friend, I probably still am. I haven’t gotten over my jealousy or my issues. I couldn’t be there for them even if I wanted to, but I at least wanted to show up and apologize, at least to Sera, for everything I did. I wish I could do more, be better. Perhaps in the future, when so much isn’t happening, perhaps one day I could have the courage to face each of them and apologize properly.I walk to a corner, resting against the wall, wanting to be alone before I read the letter from Kamila. She’s neve
ARTEMIS’ POVI grab her before her body can hit the ground, pressing down on her neck that gushes more blood than I can bear to see. “Sera!” I yell her name, my voice laden with begging and pleading for her to wake up, to look at me, to say something—anything at all. Even if it means her hating me for forcing her into this situation, for not being strong enough, I would gladly take it; she need only say anything.The blood doesn’t stop, and she doesn’t move either; her eyes remain unfocused, staring at nothing without the usual glint of light in them. “Sera, please…” I break into a sob, holding her against me, pressing my cheek against her forehead as a wave of agony overwhelms me. She can’t leave me. I won’t let her."Moon Goddess!" I scream, my voice reaching the sky with tears in my eyes, Sera clutched tightly in my arms. Rage burns like fire in my blood. "You said you chose me to make a difference, you said you wanted the circle to end. None of it would make any s
SERAPHINA’S POVHer hands stretch out, and numerous black hands spring forth from the shadows of everyone else, every person that still remains on the school premises, grabbing onto whomever it comes from and pinning them to the ground, myself included. "I only spared you for a moment because you meant something to her, but if you force my hand, I will find joy in crushing you with my bare hands," she seethes, trembling with anger. The shadow holding me down doubles in pressure, and I feel a few of my ribs breaking under it. It’s only a matter of time before she kills me along with everyone else here, and if she does that, there would be no one else to stop her."Sera, don't!" the scream of a female voice pulls both our attention to the far left. It's Olivia, tied down by her own shadow, trembling and in tears, next to an equally captured Jasper... I thought they had escaped. "Don’t do this, Sera. This isn’t you." Her surprise turns into disgust while facing Olivia now.
ARTEMIS’ POVI'm violently shaken awake by someone, and my eyes open, staring at the gruff, manly face looking down at me with concern—a face I recognize as one of the soldiers on my side. "Your majesty," he cries the second my eyes are open, giving me enough space to sit up. I feel as though I've only woken up from a deep, restful sleep, my body relaxed and fully energized once more, which is confusing for an entity claiming to save me for last after wiping an entire race out.I look around the room, everything being the same aside from Sera’s presence. She’s really gone. I look at the large hole in the wall, at the sky that suddenly seems like a darker red shade with clouds hanging around. It really does look like the end of the world. "Report," I say to the soldier, getting to my feet again. "The witch..." He begins, pausing the second I cast a deathly glare his way. "...I mean the princess managed to change the color of the sky as soon as she left the building, casti
SERAPHINA’S POVI blink my eyes for only a second, and suddenly I'm in a garden with the sun setting, showing that half the day has passed. Half the day just breezed past me without being present, almost as if I’m running through today. I'm startled for a second, not remembering coming here at all. I could have sworn that I was back in the hall accepting my new title just a second ago. Yet, I'm sitting on a bench holding the book in my hands, its skin feeling and looking awfully familiar, as if I’ve had it long before now.“How does it feel being Queen now?” A voice cuts through my train of thought from behind me. I pause and look around, meeting my mother walking towards me in her always slowly paced walks. I’d never seen her run, even in times of distress and emergency, and always wished I could be half as regal and calm as she is. “Mother,” I say, standing to my feet and hugging her for a while. Somehow calling her my mother leaves a feeling of yearning in my heart, des