SERAPHINA’S POVHe picks up my hand, holding onto it tightly like I might slip from his fingers, placing it against his beating heart, and staring right into my soul with a precision that leaves me breathless."This isn’t your fault, baby. Don’t you feel that? Don’t you feel my heart? You’re the life that keeps it beating, Sera. I realized that when I ran into that fire to find you. I realized then - it has become essential for me to always find you, to always love you, and my heart might very well stop pumping if I’m ever forced away from this truth. But I swear, by the moon goddess, by every drop of blood in my veins, by every shred of my being, not even decay or the deepest pits of hell could stop me from loving you. I'd battle through an inferno, crawl if I have to, endure every agony, time and time again, just to ensure this heart keeps beating—to ensure it beats for you."His words are my undoing—and without realizing it at first, tear after tear rolls down my cheek, before i
SERAPHINA’S POVThe following days drift by fast, like a daze, as if time becomes the wind that breezes past us in the blink of an eye, and everything that comes with the passing days a simple dream. It’s all a never-ending nightmare I can’t wake up from, no matter how hard I scream and cry and deny its reality. It remains, casting darkness like a storm that never fades. Juliet isn’t hiding away. It sounds completely unbelievable. I held on to the possibilities of it being all a lie for a few days, an elaborate prank, until the fifth day came, and I hadn’t seen her, and Jasper hadn’t broken into a maniacal laugh about how crazy we all were for falling for it.Slowly, reality has begun to hit, as it always does. It was easier to ignore before while I was still in the hospital room, but outside, it is a different case. Grief is everywhere—at her locker in the form of a thousand flowers and notes, in front of her dorm room, and in all the faces I see.‘Sorry for your loss.’
SERAPHINA’S POVA part of me dies once I make the realization. Deny it as I may, I did it. ‘You killed your own friend.’‘You lost control again.’ The vicious, negative voices in my head begin tearing me down once more, just like they had that night, taunting me, lording over me for ever being hopeful for a second that I could change anything.Hope is a luxury I once had. I danced around in the fields of possibilities, imagined what my life could be like. Hope was like a shining sun that could never set over the horizon. But my hope is dead, and I realize now there was never a point in having it in the first place.I’d always be the evil witch from Astria who killed her friend.My entire body trembles dangerously, shivering in the cold that bites at my skin. I fall to my knees and stare at my hand, the one stained with blood, endlessly flowing blood. First was my father, then Gideon’s Beta - now, Juliet.Even if my father and Gideon’s Beta deserved it - what about Julie
SERAPHINA’S POVOlivia holds me up once I stumble to the ground, panic and surprise plastered across her face. I guess I was the last thing she was expecting to see tonight, being a wanted criminal and all that. "Sera, what happened to you? You look like a mess!" she exclaims once I'm settled on a chair, brushing my sweaty hair away from my face while I catch my breath. "The guards came looking for me again, and Artemis isn't home, so I ran… I don't know where he is, and I don't have anywhere else to go," I say, looking up at her with a desperate plea.Her face turns worried and horrified by my news, with emotions I can't place perfectly, something akin to sadness and pity. Regardless of what she feels, I'm only grateful I don't see hate looking back at me… I was scared that she'd hate me now. "I knew I could come here in case of anything," I smile, clutching onto her arm.Now she frowns, avoiding my eyes for a second, and gently tugs her hand away, which confuses me. I l
ARTEMIS’ POVIt’s been days—I don’t know how long—of arguing with the same group of old bastards, trying to find a way to convince them of Sera’s innocence, to not lock her up like common vermin, people who don’t even know their own left from right. I’m completely tired and exhausted, unable to keep my eyes open, yet regardless, I keep pushing through because she’s worth it. I’d rather fight until I die than let them take her away and lock her up. Let people who know nothing about her castigate her like a criminal when she’s nothing but the brightest ray of sunshine in this goddess-forsaken world.It’s clear that neither of them are brave enough to question the laws of old, the stories that are completely false and hold no truth to what really happened 500 years ago. I try to convince them of Astria’s innocence, of the fact that it was us who actually started the war, summoning Horatio, who was exiled, to read ancient texts and prove it to them, yet in the face of actual truth
OLIVIA’S POV (BONUS)I hold my breath until Sera goes down through the balcony, my heart racing fast and pounding loudly in my ears, louder than my own conscience screaming at me. She came to me for help… she had nowhere to go. It’s all I can think about as pain constricts through my chest, as I clench my fist and bite on my lower lip.Jasper waits for a second more before he lets Alice go from his hold, and she drops to her knees, panting from exhaustion but rushing to her feet the very next second to go after her. This time I reach for the door, blocking it before she can get out, before she can chase after Sera and possibly do something she will regret.Her cold eyes focus on me instantly, gnashing her teeth my way. “Olivia…” she begins in a calmer tone, yet her intentions are clearly written all over her face, “move.” “Back off. She has enough on her plate right now,” I say with a warning tone.Alice looks at me incredulously, taking a step back to scoff at me. “En
OLIVIA’S POV (BONUS)We don’t go too far from the girls' dorm before we see a crowd emerging from the woods, cheerful and chattering to themselves with a renewed sense of accomplishment, something that hasn’t been felt since Juliet died and since the witch hunt began. A bad feeling crawls up my spine as they pass through us. Jasper and I share a silent look without words, completely confused and looking ahead until we see imperial guards up ahead, and right in the middle of them is Lucian. Something about him appears colder and detached, with dark circles underneath his eyes.“Lucian, what’s going on?” Jasper approaches him first. He looks at us finally, his eyes completely void of emotions and cruel. “Oh, the gang is here…” briefly, he looks behind us, almost expecting someone else to be here. “Without Artemis, it seems. Must have abandoned another one of his toys as usual,” he adds with contempt clear in his voice. His attire matches the other guards around, and I’m no
SERAPHINA’S POVI wake up from losing consciousness after being captured, awakening into nothing but pitch darkness around me, with every square inch of my body aching terribly. The sores and cuts from running through the bushes barefoot at night, and the cut on my cheek from Alice. Perhaps the one inflicted by someone who was once a friend hurts even more than the rest. The cut on my cheek and the bruises to my heart after they sent me away, knowing I had nowhere else to go. I want to be angry at them and hold it against them, yet I know I deserve this for the pain I caused. None of this could ever possibly make up for taking Juliet away from them, from hurting someone so precious and bright.I find myself weeping all over again in the darkness, too sad and depressed to be scared by my dark, unknown surroundings. I thought the pain would get easier at some point, but it only seems to get worse the more I think of her and what I did. Worse of all, I can’t seem to get Cassand
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