SERAPHINA'S POV
Maybe... just maybe, this one time, I might have bitten more than I can chew.
The days fly way too fast after my most daring announcement to Lucian that I will, in fact, be participating in the gaming event and against the one and only Artemis.
At the time, it felt like a breakthrough moment. It still does, even though it feels almost impossible to fight for the title of sovereign Alpha when I'm still just human.
But maybe, this is my destiny like Mr. Jermaine had talked about - which is being able to start a revolt in this school. Being the difference it needs.
I would win and then change so many things around Raven Wood Academy for that one month when my authority would be second to none. Even Artemis Sinclair would learn to bow at my feet.
However, now, standing in the large hall with the rest of the contestant which aren't that much, I find myself developing cold feet. As usual, I'm the smallest here, like a tiny twig compared to five more tree trunks; one girl in the presence of 5 large boys.
I take a deep breath, swinging at the bottle water in my hands again to drown at my pulsing heart. Luckily, everyone is too focused on their own routine, leaving me alone and at peace in my small corner where I contemplate my eventual failure.
The door to the gym hall suddenly swings open very dramatically and all heads turn to the entrance where Artemis walks in. He's an hour late, but I'm sure he's unbothered by it.
Murmuring begins while he walks by, but no one dares approach him at this point, myself as well. The last thing I need is him spotting me before the event begins, but alas, my prayers fall on deaf ears.
He moves deeper into the hall, looking for a bench to wait at and our eyes fall on each other instantly. There's a shift from indifference to shock that lingers, and his eyes run over me, before it morphs into humor.
He thinks this is funny?
And the worst possible thing happens next; he starts walking toward my direction.
I try to play it cool, picking up my bag and shifting away, but he's already behind me.
"Sera?" He calls to me, and I freeze on the spot, already hearing the tease in his voice.
"What are you doing here? This isn't the association for delusional humans, you know."
I sigh, turning to face him.
"Don't worry, I'm not lost."
"You sure about that?" He asks, looking over me again. "I don't want to be mistaken, but is this some lousy attempt at being seen or heard?" He throws the question, and I'm immediately offended.
I didn't want to do this before, but he's left me with no choice. I face him more squarely, holding his arrogant stare with a glare.
"Why? Do you feel offended by my presence here? Is the big bad Alpha scared of a small human girl?"
His smile drops and just like that, the lion's been poked
"If anything, I'm worried about you. You're so small and frail, you might break in the first round."
"I don't need your worry." I snap at him, now hating my weakness being pointed out to my face.
He smirks deviously, looking down at me like some little child.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but you'd need more than Sera-powered stubbornness to get through the games. If you want to get hurt that badly, I can have that arranged for you when I'm not busy wining this year's competition. If not, word of advice; step aside and don't be a fucking nuisance."
He reaches out, roughing my 2 hours of hard work on my hair with his large wide palms before walking away.
I fume, feeling my cheeks turn extra warm. It doesn't help that everyone else heard the bullshit he just said and are now snickering silently while staring at me.
I can already read their minds from their expressions, and I know they all probably think the same thing.
'Look at the human girl that really thinks she could be anything like us.'
This is exactly why I need to win and wipe that obnoxious grin off his face.
Just like that, every bit of doubt inside me washes off and I'm more determined than ever to prove myself to these people.
I take a swing at my bottle water, only to realize its empty and I need a refill.
I walk past the gossiping group in the gym, stepping into the hall way and to the nearest water dispenser to get a refill. I need all the hydration I can now, before it all begins.
I press on the tap and the water slowly fills my bottle up while I take in deep breaths to calm my nerves.
"Hey." Someone calls from beside me out of nowhere.
I turn and come face to face with Lucian, and my brain-to-hand coordination turns to shit almost immediately.
I jump, not expecting to see him right here, and end up spilling half of the water right onto my light brown jeans, making myself look clumsier than ever.
"Shit." I swear, wiping it with my hands and making it even worse while struggling not to look like an idiot in front of a cute guy.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, of course!" My voice comes out too loudly before I finally make a pose, leaning against the water dispenser awkwardly.
"What brings you here...? I mean, not to the water dispenser because its school property, and maybe you just came to drink some water...? The actual question I was driving at is why you're here with me... well, not with me in that sense-"
He suddenly chuckles, breaking right through my momentary rambling before I can say more stupid shit nervously. I realize what I'm doing and decide to shut up.
"Actually, there's something I need to speak with you about. It's about participating in the games." He says finally, a look of worry etched in his eyebrows.
"What?"
"You sure you want to do this?" He starts, and there's an immediate pang in my chest.
Ah, he wants to talk me out of it like everyone else.
It's not like I was expecting some kind of extraordinary support from him though. Nevertheless, it still hurts.
"Lemme guess, you don't think a human can win, right?" I say, trying to force a smile.
He says nothing more, his silver eyes giving me all the answers I need. I nod my head, affirming that he does indeed doubt it. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm a bit disappointed.
Maybe because he had inspired the idea in the first place.
"That's nice to know." I say, wanting to not be here anymore.
"No, Sera... You don't understand." He draws closer to me, eyes wary as he glanced around us, then drops his voice octaves lower. "There's something I have to tell you and I'm afraid that it can't wait till later."
I make the move to ask what's going on, until footsteps approach from behind me.
"Human, it's almost time to start." A taller guy says dryly from behind me.
I recognize him as one of the participants.
"Oh yeah, sure."
He rolls his eyes, walking away before I can thank him. I'm grateful he at least had the decency to let me know what's going on.
"I gotta go now." I say to Lucian, turning to leave but he suddenly grabs onto my shoulder.
It's not a forceful tug but gently stops me from moving further away from him. I stop in my tracks, looking at the hand and then at him.
"You gotta go but please, before you get up there, meet me in the old nurse's office on the second floor. I'll be waiting." He says just before dropping one of his signature small smiles and a firm nod.
I stand there, silently watching him leave without saying anything else.
Now I'm curious.
Just what could it be that he wouldn't say in the open halls? But then, I'm reluctant just as I am curious.
He's been nothing but nice to me. But last time I checked, the few people that seemed nice were only serpents, waiting to strike just like everyone else. They turned on me.
Do I really want to risk this right now?
I walk back into the hall just before we're given our archery gears for the first event. I'm not so good, but at least I know I won't flop it.
Days of training with Olivia has fine-tuned my stance, even though I'm still a bit too stiff.
We're about to be called onto the stage to introduce the contestants, and I feel my legs pinned to the floor, stopping me from moving forward.
Lucian's parting words linger in my mind, repeating themselves over and over again like a warning.
Don't go on the stage yet.
What if there really is some plot against me by Artemis, and I have a chance at being embarrassed in front of the whole school again?
I ponder on the thought, nibbling on my nails in the process, until I decide it's better to be safe than sorry.
I have just a few more minutes before I'm called, so I decide to just trust him, just this one time. He doesn't seem like he was lying, right?
I leave the hall, running to the stairwell and climbing up the flight of stairs before I reach the right floor.
Everywhere is especially empty with the games about to begin and all.
"Lucian?" I mutter his name as I move forward, hoping I'd see him on the way, but I don't and there's no response.
So, I have no choice but to walk all the way to the old nurse's office that was closed before I even got there.
I slide the door open, taking a peek first.
"Lucian?"
I don't see or hear anyone, just a dusty room with plastic wrappers covering the furniture in here.
The room looked like something straight out of a horror movie.
"Lucian" I call again.
Maybe he's already left... or I came too earlier?
The second I'm fully in, however, the door behind me gets shut with a loud banging sound, causing me to turn around swiftly, staring at it.
It takes a second for it to hit me.
"Lucian?" I call, feeling fear fill me quickly
I move to the door fast, trying to pry it open but it doesn't budge no matter how hard I tug and pull.
Shit.
"Sera?" He calls from the other side of the door. "Sera, I swear I can explain."
"Open this fucking door, Lucian!" I scream at him, pulling at the door knob again.
"I can't let you go out there and risk getting yourself killed."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" What happened to standing up against my bullies?"
"Yes, I said that but not like this. The game is ruthless and you don't understand the length most would go to win. Forgive me, but this is for your own good." He says and then, there's no more sound on the other side suddenly.
"Lucian?"
No response.
"Lucian!" I scream now, banging at the door continuously until the sole of my palm bruises and bleeds out.
Then it dawns on me that I'm doomed.
"FUCK!" I scream at the top of my voice, kicking at the door.
I've been screwed over with again and for the third fucking time!
I must really be a fucking dunce or something!
I let some cute guy lead me in here on one of the most important days in school, like a fool. I trusted him when I should have trusted my gut and not come here in the first place.
I let myself believe that smile was real, that he was different.
And now, I'll be missing my one shot at winning in this hell-inspired Academy.