SERAPHINA'S POV:
(TRIGGER WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE)
I take deep breaths after letting all those words out without pause.
Numerous eyes peer at me silently, watching me, and for a second, I feel as though I've blown my chance with that cheesy speech, but the two that argued against me before begin clapping.
Soon, the small crowd joins in as well, clapping and applauding for the speech I half-assed on the spot.
Relief feels me, and my tensed shoulders finally slump.
Somehow, I did it.
"You did it." Juliet squeals from behind me, clapping and jumping as well, all excited and pleased by the outcome of everything. I can't help but laugh.
"That was a close call." Juliet comments now.
"You think? Next time, I prefer to be warned prior before I have to make a speech in front of so many students."
"Does this mean you accept us as your campaign team?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yay!" They exclaim with joy, again showing how much the decision pleases them.
I chuckle at their victory dance. Holding hands and dancing around together with so much happiness.
Despite how annoying I find them, I have a good feeling about these two bubbly girls helping me out, and I'm a bit hopeful and excited about the outcome - wondering about everything we could achieve together, the difference we could make, what it would mean for future humans that want to attend this school.
Maybe it won't be so bad.
The run to class minutes after being hijacked into a meeting with the omegas has me regretting that initial thrill of being practically worshipped by Juliet and Alice because now, I'm late.
I don't make it very far though.
Rounding a corner, I run into a wall that shouldn't be there, stumbling backwards, only to look up and see a person instead. Tall and intimidating with a serious look plastered all over his face.
I take steps back, only to run into another person from behind me, equally as intimidating with the same scary scowl, stopping me from getting very far.
"Hello, Seraphina."
Morgan appears like a ghost beside me with a sinister grin on his face.
Right beside him is another one of his minions most likely; cowering in fear and crouching his shoulders.
My body grows tense automatically the moment my eyes meets those dark black irises that stare at me twistedly.
"Another day and we still have to run into each other like this. By the way, did you get my gift?"
By gift, he clearly means threat. I knew it. He was the one that sent that assaulter to me.
"Sadly, the messenger wasn't well equipped in passing my little package to you, or was he?"
His smile drops as he turns to the cowering guy by his side, the previous statement making him shiver the more. I put the clues together, guessing it's him that attacked me - only now, he's not as scary as before.
"Are you here to threaten me further? Well, don't waste your time. You'll have to deal with running with me." I state firmly, standing up to him.
I wait for the usual backlash that comes with their bubbles being burst. The screaming and yelling, over entitled demands that follow with threats to scare me.
"Huh." But all I get from Morgan is a small sound that comes from the back of his throat, before he nods slowly.
What comes next with immense speed is unexpected and shocks me to my very core.
Out of nowhere, there's a thunderous impact on the locker beside me as the guy he had sent after me crashes brutally into it, head first. Morgan, in an abrupt burst of violence, had kicked him from behind.
I gasp, startled from the sudden action that happens only inches away from me. There's a gush of wind that follows the sickening thud.
The guy yells in excruciating pain, not daring to look up from his position, and I wish it ended there.
But no.
No, it does not.
Morgan's friends join in, spurred by his lead, and they start taking turns mercilessly kicking him. Blow after blow lands brutally on his body, the force behind each kick cracking the air with an eerie rhythm. It's a circle of violence as they stomp on him, targeting every vulnerable spot they can find, a relentless assault to break him apart piece by piece.
His agonized cries fill the air, the sounds of pain mingling with the sickening thuds of their kicks. They show no mercy, no hesitation. It continues relentlessly, until he can barely produce a sound, until his body can't take any more punishment.
Blood seeps from his wounds, pooling on the ground beneath him. It's as if they want to extract every ounce of suffering from him, until they're satisfied that he's paid a sufficient price for not ending me.
"Pardon me. This is just how I deal with incompetent fools that just can't seem to get the job done." Morgan responds politely with a malicious wide grin eating up his face. It terrifies me more than ever.
Unlike most people who would show an outward annoyance that they don't get what they need, he doesn't. No. He prefers to show me just how twisted, how mentally unhinged and violent he can be.
It's a clear silent threat that doesn't need words, and I gulp on my own saliva, unable to say anything else, giving him the chance to lean closer to me to whisper.
"There's still a chance for you to get on my good side."
The sheet of paper comes from nowhere, and he slides it in between my finger.
"Don't be like my friend over here. Be a good little human girl and sign the documents before the end of the day. Okay?"
A hand comes forward, ruffling my hair like anyone would with a naïve child. Only that the effect leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
He drops his hand slowly and walks away, just as his group picks the unconscious body, dragging him away.
Still, there's a bit of blood left on the floor, and I stare at it for seconds. Frozen. Speechless. Feeling an intense amount of crippling fear for the first time in a while, until I have the strong desire to vomit.
And I do.
Running into the closest lavatory for females, I empty the contents of my stomach down a toilet.
Puking until there's not much left to take out, until I feel sick to my guts and the initial feeling of fulfillment I was reveling in only minutes ago becomes non-existent.
***
During the first few classes I have, I'm almost absent mentally, only my physical form, like a flesh husk, sits in my position through the lecture - but my mind remains traumatized by the morning's events.
There's nothing so special about it, I've been threatened before and almost killed, and yet previous experiences never seem to make facing a new situation easier.
The bell before cafeteria rings, and I rise up from my chair, leaving with everyone else with my body on auto-drive, and just like that, I find my way to my locker to drop my books.
I feel his presence walking up to me and stopping by my side before his speaks. His scent is strong, almost as though he's just taken a shower - unless it's my imagination.
"Hey." He says casually, leaning against the locker closest to mine to get my attention.
I slowly close my locker, looking at him plainly, too stressed to make much of an effort. It's funny how I almost forgot my contract with him because of a few hours of freedom to myself.
"I haven't seen you all day. Trying to ignore me because I gave you the morning off?" He comments, frowning a little.
Looking at him for the first time, I'm more annoyed than irritated, having bigger things to worry about than the slave contract.
"Trust me, I'm doing anything but ignoring you." I mutter under my breath with a heavy sigh.
"What's with the scarf?" He comments on the silky fabric wrapped around my neck and hiding the obvious bruise.
On instinct, my hand shoots up to touch it, remembering that he's the last person that needs to see this. Who knows what fucked up scene he'll end up creating because of the bruise?
How do I explain to him that I was choked by someone while walking back to my dorm?
"I'm trying something out."
He makes a sound at the back of his throat, staring at it a second longer before turning away from me.
"It doesn't suit you."
"I don't remember asking what you think though." I respond, and he remains silent.
"Your work resumes now, by the way. The few hours of freedom you had has ended." He announces sternly in the next breath, shifting to a more serious version of himself. "Follow me."
He walks away almost immediately, and I follow him as instructed, making my way through the crowd in the hall way, inadvertently bumping into various people while trying to match up with his long strides.
Somehow, along the line, he notices my struggle and slows down to match my pace until we're side by side. I look up to meet his eyes, but he doesn't meet mine, looking ahead.
I pry mine from him, shaking all thoughts from my head, reminding myself on who he is again and why small gestures like this mean nothing.
We walk into cafeteria, and I follow him all the way to his usual table where Jasper and the third guy are already sitting and laughing about something.
They pause the moment they see me, looking between Artemis and I silently. The air turns awkward too quickly.
The strange feeling of not belonging here takes over quickly, but I suck it up.
"I'll go get you your food, if you just let me know what you want-" I say to Artemis, looking for an excuse to leave for a second.
"Sit." He says sternly, shutting down any plan for escape.
I sigh, sitting down between Jasper and Artemis, feeling too stiff to get comfortable.
I pray silently now, hoping that I don't get indigestion from all the tension and silence around me, coupled with the sly stares that come my way from not just the people beside me, but other students looking on from their own tables, whispering among themselves.
Surely, it can't be worse than this right. Nothing else could make this moment worse.
But alas, I've spoken too soon as only seconds later, Kamilla emerges from nowhere, standing above us with her hands folded tightly below her chest and her venomously vicious eyes directed at me.