14. Seraphina
14
SERAPHINA
“RUN”
It’s been a week, and I haven't seen Orion. Admittedly, I’ve been pathetic enough to stop by the coffee shop several times in a day in the hopes I’d run into him again. But every time has been in vain. True to my word, I canceled my clients for the week in order to spend more time with Maggie—which has been amazing and utterly, eye-stabbingly boring all at once. All we’ve done is rot in front of the TV, watching nature shows on an endless loop. But I’ve never seen Maggie happier, so in my mind, it’s worth it.
Still, all the time we spent together doesn’t stop her from pouting as I gather my things to visit Vee and the tigers.
“You promise you’ll be safe?” Her lower lip quivers as she looks up at me with wide, blue eyes. “I heard on the news there’s a serial killer on the loose.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of it. “I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m always worried about… you still have the dagger I gave you, right?”
Maggie nods swiftly.
“If someone breaks in, stick them with the sharp part.”
Maggie laughs. “Just like you taught me.”
“Exactly.” I dig to the bottom of my backpack, fingers wrapping around the pink taser hidden there. I toss it to Maggie, but she doesn’t so much as try to catch it, and it clatters to the floor behind her.
With a sigh, I pick it up, placing it gingerly onto the counter. “Use this if you really need to. It’ll give you a few seconds to get away if you’re really in a pinch.”
“How did we go from worrying about you to worrying about me?”
“Eh. Just the way I’m wired.” I step over and throw my arms around her. She returns my embrace, sniffling lightly when I go to pull away,
“Do you know when you’ll be back?” she asks.
I nod, pulling her into another tight hug. “Tomorrow. I’ll spend some time with you before I go to see Ivan, and then I’ll be back after I see him. Sound good?” I pull back to look at her, the iron grip around my heart easing as I take in the small smile tugging at her mouth.
We say our goodbyes, and I hustle down the stairs and around the corner where my motorbike is parked. The engine roars to life, and I twist the clutch, laughing aloud as I shoot off down the road toward the mountain preserve.
Clouds hang low in the sky, obliterating any rays of light that would have illuminated my path and casting the entire forest in ominous shadows. In addition, a heavy layer of fog creeps along the ground, making my journey twice as treacherous. I lean low, pressing my chest to the handlebars as my bike bucks along the uneven terrain, my knuckles white in a vise grip as I try to keep upright. I’m so incredibly focused on my task, I don’t notice the danger looming a few feet ahead.
And I barrel straight into the rock placed in the center of the path.
My mouth pops in a silent scream as my momentum sends me headfirst over the handlebars, and I can do nothing but watch as the ground closes in. At the last second, I tuck my head, twisting mid-air so my shoulder takes the brunt of the impact.
Pain bursts from my right side as I make impact with the frosted ground, a cry of pain clawing up my throat and desperate to be freed. But I don’t let it.
Taking a few deep breaths in my nose, I shove to a stand, ignoring the blinding pain that shoots down the length of my arm as I gaze around the forest. About ten feet behind me lies the fishing line, the silvery thread glinting menacingly under the shadow of the canopy. And farther to the right past some trampled underbrush, lies my bike.
My heart sinks as I take in the state of it—even from this far away, I can tell it’s utterly fucked. And there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to tow it through the woods without help. I rest my head in my hands, focusing on drawing deep, even breaths—on calming down enough to come up with a plan.
But then the whistling starts.
I snap my head up as the haunting, airy sound fills the clearing. I turn in a circle, my eyes wild as they scan the clearing for the origin of the sound that seems to be everywhere and nowhere all at once.
“Who’s there?” I demand, my pulse thundering in my ears. “Are you the one who put the rock there?”
There is no answer, other than another line of whistling—and it’s then that I realize what the tune is. It starts out low, then grows to a forte, each punctuated beat worming its way under my skin and scraping at my nerve endings.
In the night, little doves take flight,
Silver wings soft as fading light.
Once they trilled a gentle song,
But in the dark, their calls feel wrong.
‘O wide-eyed lovers, don’t you roam,
For the doves have found their rightful home,
In the night, little doves take flight,
Silver wings shining in moonlight
Once they trilled a gentle song,
Now a warning as shadows grow long.
‘O wide-eyed lovers, don’t you roam,
For the devil has taken his throne.
Little doves with wings of ghostly gray,
They sit from their perch—watch the living fade away.
Wide-eyed lovers, when the doves begin to sigh,
It’s time to say your last goodbye.
All at once, it stops.
And then I see it—a person at the edge of the clearing, a heavy black coat strewn over his shoulders, concealing the bulging muscles beneath. A large silver dagger is clutched in his gloved hand, but even that’s not the most frightening part about him—it’s the glowing red eyes of his plague mask.
They glint through the shadows like two menacing orbs, and though I try to look away—to move—I cannot. The stranger turns his head to the side, highlighting the impressive leather beak of his mask, though I’m too focused on the strange branching scar running up his neck.
It looks like… a lightning bolt. The thought fills my head as I take an unwitting step forward. Something deep inside me draws me closer to the masked stranger. Pulling me.
My step crunches against the frozen leaves, but that’s not what brings me out of my trance—it’s his voice. It flows into the clearing, deep and mechanical and not of this world. And it only says one word.
“ Run. ”
My legs move before I know what I’m doing. Stray limbs whip against my skin as I crash through the brush, my mind blank save for one screaming thought— run. My brain screams for air as I force my feet forward, not caring which way I’m running or where I’ll end up. I only know I have to get away from this crazed maniac.
Just when I think I’ve gained some distance, gloved fingers nip at the ends of my hair, sending a shock of adrenaline to my system and causing my legs to move impossibly faster. But it’s to my detriment.
The tip of my foot catches on a stray root, and I go flying through the air for the second time tonight. I brace for an impact that doesn’t come, my eyes snapping open to find a pair of gloved hands wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me upright.
The fingers tighten, the soft squeak of leather sending a pulse of desire to my core. My breathing quickens at the low laugh that sounds behind me, only to increase as he presses his torso flush against me.
His cock is like steel as it slides across the thin fabric of my leggings. His hips buck, pushing the head against my asshole. My muscles clench, goose bumps covering my exposed skin as a throaty chuckle fills the air.
“You’ve done so well.” He dips his head low until the beak of his mask brushes my shoulder. He takes a deep inhale, letting it out in a decadent moan. “I wonder what I would find if I pushed my fingers up your pretty little cunt? Would you be soaked for me? Dripping, like the dirty little slut you are?”
His hand snaps up, engulfing the front of my throat and applying enough pressure to cut off my airway. My eyes pop as panic lights my veins, my mouth opening and closing as I search for oxygen that won’t come. Not until he lets it.
Holding me in place, his other hand slides beneath my waistband, fingertips inching maddeningly closer to my center. He stops just above the apex of my sex, the cool leather blissful against my heated flesh. Against my better senses, I want him to go lower. I want him to touch me. To take me.
He takes another deep breath, his voice coming out a menacing hiss. “But you’re not just for me, are you? You belong to no one—to everyone. ” His fingers dig into my flesh as spots line my vision, the world dipping in and out of focus as my body goes limp in his hold. And I can do nothing—nothing but ache as he holds his fingers just out of reach.
A vicious snarl echoes as his hips thrust, his grip tightening enough to leave bruises. “Why? Why do you let them touch you? Why, when you belong to me? ” His voice is uneven, cracking every other word with pure rage. “You are mine, little dove. Your flesh is mine; your touch is mine. Your thoughts, your breath, your existence—all of it belongs to me. ”
He eases the grip on my neck, finally allowing me to take a breath. When I do, he nuzzles the mask to the side of my neck in a gesture so loving it’s fucked up. “You’ll see soon, little dove. Soon. ”
His hands leave me, and I’m shoved forward, barely having enough sense to splay my hands out before I go face-first into the dirt. I heave oxygen into my lungs, my vision obscured by the tears of relief pouring down my cheeks.
When I finally collect myself enough to stand, the stranger is gone. My knees quake as I gaze around the small clearing, jumping at every rustle and distant animal call, convinced that the masked face will push through the shadows at any moment,
With a shudder, I trudge back in the general direction of my bike. My heart sinks as I take in its sad state, but I force it from my mind as I take off down the trail, determined to make it to Vee’s by foot.
By the time I make it to the circular clearing in front of the mountain face, I’m freezing, frazzled, and bone-tired. I raise my wrist to the lock, only for the wall of rock to slide open, revealing a worried Vee.
“Seraphina!” She steps forward, her mossy eyes taking in the numerous cuts and scrapes marring my skin. “What happened? I was just about to go out and look for you!”
I shake my head, a shiver running down my spine as I think back to my encounter in the woods. I’m not ready to recount it—if I’ll ever be. All I want is to climb into the bath and lie down for a long, dreamless sleep, banishing all thoughts of the intoxicating masked man.
“It was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention and crashed my bike. No big deal.” I smile, though by the expression on Vee’s face, she’s not convinced.
“Suit yourself.” She steps aside to let me in. “But when you’re ready to tell me, I’m all ears.”
I brush past her, a genuine smile finding me as I take in Sviato and Savyne spread out on the couch. The two great white tigers raise their heads as I step closer, the tips of their tails flicking happily as they regard me.
“Hey, guys.” I plop to the floor in front of the couch and run my fingers through Sviato’s fur absentmindedly. Savyne narrows her eyes in jealousy, reaching out with a massive paw and smacking me away from her brother.
I roll my eyes. “This is why I have two hands,” I murmur, reaching up with the other to give Savyne some pats as well. Vee appears a few minutes later with some Valerian tincture, and I take it gratefully, fighting a scowl as the heinous taste coats my mouth.
“When’s the last time you slept, Seraphina?”
The question is the same as always, yet I feel like I need to be honest with her this time. “Five days.”
Vee tuts, her eyes crinkling with sympathy as she reaches out, squeezing my shoulder in a weathered hand. “Are you remembering?”
I stare at a spot on the floor, a rush of emotion welling behind my eyes. “I don’t… I don’t know. The dreams… they don’t make any sense. And when I wake, I can’t remember a single thing about them.” I hold my head in my hands, exhaustion curling my shoulders inward. “I’m worried, Vee. I’m worried I’m slipping. Things keep happening—things I don’t even know are real. I’m scared—I’m scared that…” The rest of the words won’t come. I’m scared I’m going crazy.
Without a word, Vee pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight as a sob threatens to break free. She rubs her palm over my back in soothing circles, a gesture I know is taking its toll on her. But she doesn’t let up—just keeps holding me, giving me something to ground myself.
I don’t realize when it happens, but eventually, I drift off in Vee’s arms. It’s not the sleep I long for, but it’s something—and for that, I’m grateful.
Although, that masked man lingers in the shadows of my mind. Waiting to pounce.
And I know it’s only a matter of time.