Chapter 9: Scratches & Secrets

Seraphina

“The back of your legs, all the way down,” Alexander said, stopping to help me stand while he stayed on his knees. “They’re bleeding. How did this happen? What on earth happened?” Once he was up, I looked at him. My body was shaking uncontrollably, like I was having seizures. I couldn’t find my voice—my mouth just wouldn’t work. “You didn’t just stumble upon that place by accident, Seraphina.”

Fear gripped me tight, like a vice around my chest. I was sweating and feeling super anxious. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything.

“Sorry, I lost my balance,” I said, but it felt wrong and awkward. He probably thought something worse was going on. The truth was way too complicated to explain, even to myself. “I felt some pain in that area.” I could tell he didn’t buy it. I tried to silently plead with him, hoping he could see the urgency and desperation in my eyes.

“If you’re hurting yourself because—” His words threw me off. Did he really think I’d hurt myself? Af