SERAPHINA'S POV
It's dark and cold out in the deep woods, and I don't remember why I'm here, alone and out when it's so dark with an ominous fog. I don't know why I'm wearing the same dress I had on for the banquet.
The scene in front of me seems all too familiar.
I walk aimlessly for what feels like a while, without any destination, until a dark figure emerges in front of me, filling me with dread.
I know he's going to kill me with his bare hands, rip me apart, and before I can scream, hands fall on my neck and squeeze hard. My lungs begin to collapse for air, and my vision blurs.
I can't call for help; he won't let me. I'm weak, all alone in this dark forest.
I feel helpless until something else flickers into my vision-a woman I easily recognize in her iconic white dress. Her features are so vividly clear that I can make out every one of them, despite the darkness.
She's crying, thick red liquid pouring from her eyes.
"Avenge me," she pleads.
Confused at first, I soon realize that I'm no longer being strangled against my control; rather, I'm the one holding my attacker in place, pressing down on their windpipe.
The feeling of power at the tip of my fingers is immediately overwhelming, addictive-everything I need to hurt those who have hurt me.
The thought resonates, struggling within me.
I don't realize I'm crying until I feel moisture leaking from my eyes, and I don't stop until I snap his neck and toss him to the floor, reveling in my newfound strength, my ability to defend myself without needing to be rescued.
As though on cue, the dark clouds above shift, and the moon's light shines on his face more clearly. Now that I'm awake, I see him more clearly-it's not the man in the black suit who tried to hurt me, nor any of the enemies I've faced.
No, it's Artemis.
Cold, dead eyes stare back at me, lifeless, and I'm crippled with shock and regret, falling to the earth to clasp him as I begin to wail, crying out loud for mercy, even though I have just taken his life.
Then I taste blood in my mouth and look down at my chest, only to find a gaping hole where my heart should be. But it's missing.
My consciousness is suddenly hurled back into my sleeping body, painfully, and I wake up with a violent start, sitting up too fast and panting hard. I'm back in my room, in my pajamas, without a hole in my chest or blood on my hands.
It was just a dream, a messed-up dream that felt too real, leaving shivers down my spine when I recall the pale, lifeless look in his blue eyes.
"Sera?" Olivia looks at me with groggy eyes, rubbing them with the heel of her palm to get a better look at me.
She was also sleepy, the sun just barely peeking into the sky.
"Are you still reading that book?" she asks now.
I look down at my lap, at the book, realizing I must have dozed off at some point while searching for answers after staying up most of the night.
I laugh nervously, evading the question by avoiding her gaze.
"How was your sleep?"
She yawns, now fully awake, rubbing her eyes.
"Just okay, I guess," she says, getting up from her bed and deciding to take an early shower.
I smile until she walks out the door, then my smile fades into an exhausted sigh.
I look at my trembling hands, still shaken by the dream that felt disturbingly real.
I can vividly remember the tears running down my face, the rush of power and satisfaction in my veins as I broke his neck - the feeling of taking a life, watching the light fade from his eyes.
I killed Artemis, and that terrifies me.
I thought I was fine after my attacker died; he deserved it after all, dying at my hands like that. But Artemis...
The fear of talking to Olivia about it grips me-I can't bear the thought of her seeing me as a monster. I don't want to be viewed that way in her eyes. I don't want to hurt anyone else.
That's why I need more answers.
With more information, I can control this, manage it, and stop myself from hurting anyone, maybe even protect the people I love.
And then I also wonder if anybody has stumbled across the corpse and started asking questions. What would it mean for a human to lash out against a wolf and kill them?
I'd be expelled, or worse, locked up while the reputation I worked so hard to build crumbles.
I sigh, walking towards the balcony in need of some fresh air, to breathe away some of this weight on my shoulders. I stare at the deep orange sun rising on the horizon, its bright golden light tainting the sky, letting nature calm me, distract me.
I can't break down yet, not until all of this is over, and I get to the bottom of things.
Lost in thought, I'm startled by the sound of shuffling feet and light groaning, then a pair of hands suddenly grips the edge of the balcony.
I freeze, taking a defensive stance, wondering if they've sent someone else to hurt me. Maybe they've figured it out and now a whole squad is here to take me away.
I imagine the worst scenario in my head until the person lifts themselves up with ease, and it's Artemis.
My heart pounds in my chest as I watch him climb up to me. I'm frozen in shock, partly not believing he's here and also forgetting how to breathe.
"Artemis?"
"Hey, darling," he offers with a light, nervous smile that instantly brightens the gloomy morning, making it glisten with a thousand colors.
All the emotions I've been burying come crashing down, and I lose control of myself instantly. Remembering my fear of losing him, how scared I was to be alone and targeted, I realize just how much I've missed him.
I turn into mush, running into his open arms.
"Artemis!" I cry out, breaking down into tears.
He holds me silently, patting my back and kissing the top of my head while I wail like a child starved of affection. I cry until it's impossible to continue, my eyes and throat aching from releasing so much emotion, and he doesn't let go for a moment.
Finally, when my tears subside, I push him away, my fear and sadness turning into anger.
"Where were you all this while?" I demand, shoving at his shoulders, though he doesn't budge. I keep pushing, letting out my frustration. "You were supposed to be there for me, to come back, but you never did. You left me alone to handle that kind of news by myself, all alone."
"Sera, it's not as simple as it seems."
"You're engaged, Artemis... What the fuck?"
"I know," he replies, his lips down-turned, eyes flickering away for a moment. "I shouldn't have left you in the first place, but I swear I didn't know about the engagement. I found out when it was too late."
Looking into his eyes, I see sincerity and depth in them and believe him without further question. Perhaps Lucian was wrong, maybe he got the information about Artemis knowing the engagement details mixed up.
My anger quickly subsides with this new revelation, and I find myself able to breathe again.
He didn't know; he wouldn't betray me like that.
I hug him again, feeling sorry for ever entertaining the thought, then pull away to look at him more clearly. I've missed looking into his eyes, seeing the face that watches me with so much love.
But then, a vivid memory lashes in my mind-his bright, colorful cheeks replaced with cold, dead skin, his bright blue eyes turning a lifeless greyish blue. Fear grips me again, and I put distance between us, shaking the image from my head.
I blink, and I'm back in reality, staring into his eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah, I am," I say, shaking off the terror from my expression, hiding it from him. "Where were you?"
He sighs, running his hands through his hair, then grabs my hand, intertwining it with his.
"It's a long story. You might want to strap in for this."