16. Orion
16
ORION
“MALICIOUS ADJUSTMENTS”
I yank the mask from my face, sucking in the cool night air before pulling a cigarette from my pocket, itching to replace the fresh oxygen with something more familiar. I take a deep drag, the cherry-red tip casting harsh shadows across my face as I stare up at Seraphina’s apartment window.
The strap of my duffel bag cuts into my shoulder from the sheer weight of the thing, but I barely feel it. All I know—all I am—is a man possessed. Something in Seraphina’s essence calls me to her, draws me in, and makes me lose all sense of right and wrong. It makes me want to hunt her. To have her, to fill her… to take every fucking piece of her and break it down to dust.
Because as much as I want to save Seraphina, I also want to destroy her.
My blood pounds in my ears as I flick my cigarette to the ground, crushing it under my heel until it’s nothing more than a dark smear on the sidewalk. The sun will rise soon, and if I waste any more time out here, Seraphina will likely come home and discover my plans.
A smirk lights my face as I take the steps toward the entrance, the bag light as a feather as adrenaline courses through my veins.
It's time to make some adjustments to sweet Seraphina’s apartment.