SERAPHINA'S POV
Maybe it's because I stayed awake for roughly two days without proper sleep, or the fact that I stayed up most of the night expending energy, but I'm finally able to fall asleep peacefully the second my head crashes into the pillow.
The sleep is light and without any of the nightmares, and by the time my alarm rings at its usual time, I feel more refreshed than ever. The dull and sour mood I've been in for days ceases to plague me.
Olivia says that there's something different about me when she wakes up minutes later and I'm already fully dressed.
I brush it off, telling myself that I've simply decided to let all the feelings of hurt and anger go away. And the fact that today I'm a bit excited for school.
The early hours of school run their usual course, and I find myself staring at the clock in intervals, waiting for the bell for the cafeteria to ring.
For the first time, I'm looking forward to it for reasons besides food.
I'll admit it, a part of me missed Artemis. Seeing him last night confirmed what I hadn't fully accepted-that I care about him more deeply than I realized.
He's weaseled his way into my life through our forced time together, and to my surprise, I've started to enjoy those small, stolen moments.
The ideal way to say goodbye, I suppose, would be one last meal together. Afterward, it's going to be a new routine for me, eating with different people, finding my own crowd.
It stings, crushes deep within my heart, like a farewell that shouldn't hurt this much. We're not going anywhere; we'll both still be here, in the same school, but in separate worlds, I guess.
It's probably for the best, especially now that I'm friends with Kamila-something I haven't told him yet. Space between us might make things easier for everyone involved.
The third-period bell finally rings, and I'm the first to bolt out the door.
I hustle to my locker, stash my books, and then make a beeline for the cafeteria. Pushing the doors open, my eyes immediately start their search.
Right there, at the table they always claim, I find them-Artemis, Jasper, and Ace. No Kamila in sight. A sense of relief washes over me, but I don't linger on it.
The moment I step in, Artemis turns and locks eyes with me, as if sensing my entrance. He waves me over.
As I approach, Jasper ambushes me with a hug that's more like a bear's embrace.
"Sera!" he exclaims, his voice breaking as he lifts me off the ground, ugly-crying into my shoulder. "Tell me it isn't true. You're not really leaving us, are you?"
Before I can catch a breath to respond, Artemis steps in, gently prying Jasper's arms away and pulling me towards himself - almost possessively.
"Mind how you touch her, Jasper." His eyes narrow at his unpredictable friend.
I can't help but chuckle, realizing just how much I've missed moments like this.
"There you go again, hogging her all to yourself," Jasper retorts, pouting like a child. "She's my friend too, you know."
"I'll miss you too, Jasper," I say, peering at him from behind Artemis. His pout melts into a warm, satisfied grin.
Artemis, on the other hand, adopts a small pout of his own. "Don't spoil him. Saying stuff like that only encourages him to act out."
"I don't mind," I reply, taking my seat at the table as the others join me. "I just want to hang out with you guys one last time, like always."
My eyes finally settle on Ace, who's sitting quietly at one end of the table, engrossed in his soup. He hasn't acknowledged my presence-although that's not unusual.
But today, his animosity feels heightened for some reason.
"Hey Ace, nice to sit with you again," I say nervously.
He looks up, and I'm met with eyes that are duller than I remember, framed by bags that suggest he hasn't slept well.
He's clearly irritated.
With a beast-like growl, he kicks his chair back and storms off, not uttering a single word.
A pang of hurt strikes me.
Our relationship has never been cozy, but his indifference was something I'd grown used to. Now it feels like he genuinely has a problem with me.
"What an asshole," Jasper mutters as Ace exits the hall, shaking his head in disbelief.
"He's your best friend," I remind him.
"Yeah, I know. I'm best friends with an asshole," he replies with a shrug, as if it's no big deal.
"Don't read too much into his behavior, Sera. I'll talk to him later," Artemis reassures me softly.
"He's been like this for a while now. I think one of his lady friends ended things before he could get into her pants. It's rare, but it happens," Jasper elaborates, giving me a glimpse into his roommate's mindset.
"No, guys, it's fine. We won't be seeing each other as much anymore, so it doesn't really matter," I say, forcing a smile. I'm not letting one awkward encounter ruin this moment for me.
I catch Artemis' eye, noticing the same unspoken sadness hiding behind those clear, blue eyes - just like last night.
"Right, your contract ends today," Jasper says, his voice taking on a somber tone. "But you could still eat and hang out with us. Nothing has to change," he adds, giving me those puppy-dog eyes.
I muster a smile. How can I convey what's really on my mind?
Sure, nothing needs to change, but perhaps it should. A part of me believes that putting more distance between Artemis and myself might be for the best, particularly when being close to him stirs up emotions I can't quite understand-emotions that become even more confusing when I know they can't lead to anything meaningful.
Even if I momentarily indulge those forbidden feelings, allow myself to be get lost in that electric gaze, or even entertain the idea of something beyond friendship, it's useless - a short cut to heartbreak.
After all, he's already mated to someone else, a partner seemingly ordained by the goddess herself. By stepping in, I'd be meddling with fate, and that's nearly impossible.
So really, what's the point in fanning these flames that would only burn me?
Artemis leans in, his voice dropping to a sultry murmur. "I have a proposition, Sera. The day doesn't have to end with just lunch."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about a fun game we could play. One final act for your master," he says, leaning in so close that I can feel his breath on my skin.
My heart races, and I drop my gaze, fighting with the heat that keeps piling up within me.
"What do you say, Sera? Surely you'll do me one last favor." He's convincing, almost impossible to say 'no' to.
It's hard to forget he saved my life, and he's been bedridden for days. Despite my intuition warning me that I might regret it, I find myself unable to outright refuse this last little dance with Artemis.
"Fine, what is it?"
Jasper jumps in, grinning. "You're going to love this. He thought of it himself."
"Why doesn't that make me feel better?"
Artemis smirks. "It's not that bad. There's an outfit I'd like to see you in. It's something that would suit you...but it's a bit out of your comfort zone."
"What does that mean?" My eyebrows arch upward as I glance between the two of them, both sporting cheeky grins.
Jasper wiggles his brows in response, "Oh, it means you're going to be our little dress-up doll for the day."
I start, "Well, you'll have to wait until after school-" but get cut off before I can finish my sentence.
"Actually, that's the catch, sweetheart," Artemis says, a wickedly amused glint on his face. "You're going to slip into that outfit while school's still in session, Sera."
My eyes widen. "What?"
He leans in, locking eyes with me. "You heard me loud and clear. You weren't expecting the last task I'd give you to be easy, were you? The contract remains intact unless you go through with it. So, what's it gonna be, darling?"