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RAPHEAL Distorted noises drifted into my ear drums, and being accompanied with little pains stabbing across my skin, I felt irritated. I blinked hard, trying to grasp what was of my environs, I had forgotten how the last one turned out. I just hoped Serafina was safe. After struggling for a while, the voices had become quite clear, making out my mom’s own, Ruben and another male voice which seemed kind of familiar. My eyes opened to a large white ceiling above me, which trailed down to a few faces staring at me, and the nauseating scent of flowers. “Rapheal?” My mom called, inching closer to me. “Are you getting to it now?” The smell of the flowers were strong with her, as if she wore them as a perfume. “Ger the doctor!” She yelled at the nurse standing there, who dashed out in fear. “Rapheal?” She was annoyingly noisy. I studied the scenery again, from the massive overhead window, the gray couch, side table lined with drinks, food and

SERAFINA “Move it!!” “Get the saline!!” “Shock!! One two!! Clear!!” “Damn..” the doctor I had just walked out of his office pinched his nose tightly. “What the hell happened to him?” The rest of the hospital staff shuddered at his voice, and retreated in fear. “He was recovering well this morning when I made my rounds.” A nurse explained. “His pupils even responded to the lights for the first time.” “Why wasn't this reported to me?” The man questioned. “We..I..” “What's happening?” Helen's voice sobbed, as she and Ruben rushed in at once. “What happened to him?” “Please I need you both to calm down.” The man tried to persuade them, but Helen escaped from his grip, almost stumbling on Rapheal. Ruben turned to the doctor with rage in his eyes. “What the hell is going on man?! Why won't nobody say anything? What..” Helen gripped Rapheal's numb hand, wrapping it in hers. “It's ridiculously cold.” “My baby is so cold.” She crie

SERAFINA I knew I didn't pass out when my body was dissolving back at the temple. And now that I awoke with so much pains and a blind eye, It confirmed that everything I had experienced wasn't a dream. The guardian was out for blood this time. Moving my body had turned to be the most difficult chore, and I couldn't be grateful for the fact that the scars didn't appear with them. Each time I took a breath, my insides felt too intense like it was on fire, my body clawed at me from the bones, pushing me to commit suicide. But I couldn't leave without healing Rapheal. I had just one more thing to do after he was healed. When I finally stood up from the bed, I walked over to my bathroom and caught my pitiful reflection in the full length mirror. I had gone from being a swan to the ugliest and most pathetic duckling anyone could think of. I was thinned at every area, with purple veins popping on my skin. The hospital gown on me looked like I was just a pen inside a massi

SERAFINA “You finally showed up on your own accord.” I blurted as soon as I recognized my environs. The temple's questioning laire. Even though there was black magic in my blood, I knew there was something wrong when my vision suddenly went blank. Turns out i was summoned by the true guardian. “You had your minion cover up for you, so much I thought he was the guardian. I knew there was no way he would be that young even if he was immortal.” With his back to me, he was draped in a long red regalia which had a bold black rose on it and was held at the waist with a thick black rope. Attached to the rope which was called the ciahan, was his sword. His hair was rolled into a thick chignon at the base of his neck, but I could see few strands falling from his face. “Minion..” he drawled, pouring himself a good mix of tea which he was brewing when I awakened. It smelled really amazing. When he turned, I was forced to regret my words instantly, as a cold wave o

RAPHEAL I know that scent.. It always enveloped the one I held dear to my heart. The only one who made my problems disappear, yet crumbled my world in every way. My remedy andMy curse.. A warm liquid trickled down my face, forcing my eyes open. I was expecting the flashes of light that would make my pupils dilate for a few minutes. I wonder how long I had been out for. However, I was met with a darkness so deep, I nearly thought I had gone blind. I tried moving my body, but it felt numb and too heavy to move, like something was placed on it. Hold on! Was I buried alive? Hell no!! “Hello..” I whispered. I was pretty sure I had screamed. “Hello!!” I tried again and it came as a whisper. Some sort of liquid was trickling down my face and dripping to some parts for my body.. Good heavens! How long was I out for that they had to bury me? “Is anyone there? Fuck..” I tried moving again, this time with all the strength I could gather and my free hands flial

SERAFINA The sudden beeping of his machines jolted me from my emotional turmoil. His body jerked at seconds intervals, and sweat began pouring down his body. Tears? I'd rather be dead than watch this. “Rapheal!!” I screamed, trying my best to hold his body down. I couldn't care less that I had sneaked into this building in the first place. “Rapheal!!” I didn't know how or where my body had gathered such a massive strength from, but I threw myself on his body and hugged him tightly, hoping it would change something. The door burst open, throwing in three nurses and two doctor whose foreheads were creased in fear which intensified when they saw me. “What's going…” Ruben stopped midtracks and his eyes darkened. Behind him stood Helen who was no better and Frantlan, seeming like an observer. Well.. Fuck them all.. “What the hell are you standing for?!” I thundered, promptly backing off and getting everyone back on track. Despite my front, I was shaking l

AUDREY After dabbing the last powder on my face, I wore some perfume and stepped out of my room. I had been confined to it since last night and was beginning to get bored and hungry. Although the thought of making my own meal terrorized me, I had no choice but to do it. Charles had some market runs to do and Alexander was away for a business trip. It’s been barely two weeks but I already miss him like crazy. Which I knew I wasn’t supposed to be doing. I didn’t even know when he would come back. “Get a fucking grip, Audrey.” I had to mutter to myself while rubbing my cheeks which always turned red at the thought of him. On getting to the kitchen, a loud sigh escaped my lips. Maybe I should do something simple, I thought. If I could toast some slices of bread, scramble a few eggs and whip up some salad, then I can comfortably make some orange juice to go with it, or even warm milk. That was what I thought. But after twenty minutes of rattling around in

ALEXANDER For goodness sake Hazel. “Add her bill to my tab.” I gestured to the bartender as I picked up her stuff from the counter, and secured them in her bag. “Hazel.” She made a small sound in response, snuggling closer to me. Alcohol, tiramisu, vanilla, her body scent.. I might as well go crazy before tomorrow. I knew I had this coming when I left with Miss Gold despite Hazel’s foul mood. Now I was going to pay the price. “We have to go home.” She shook her head negatively then proceeded to push me. “I thought you were with Miss Gold.” The name was pure sarcasm coming from her mouth. “Hazel.” I moved closer to her and held her hand waist. “I didn’t know she would take that much time.” “Ohh please.” She mocked. “She seems like a better date than I am.” Was she throwing a tantrum? “We will talk about it when we get home.” My eyes met hers… damn she looked so inviting with her sleepy gaze. “Uh..uhh..” she protested again. “W

AUDREY As someone who grew up in one of the coldest parts of the world, I loved the sun a little too much. Maybe because I didn’t have the chance to enjoy its rays as much as the people who lived in hot areas. Or maybe because I loved the fact that whenever it came, the world seemed like a better place, illuminated and brightened. Whatever it was, the sun made me feel safe. My paint brush grazed the white canvas on the painting board with touches of light orange and purple, as I was trying to recreate the elegant muse in front of me. The soft music lingering statehood background soothed my soul, eliminating all traces of reality. By the time I was done, so much time had passed and the sun was finally gone. Slowly, I put down my paint brush and took a pen, then scribbled the name jimy on it. I sit back to stare at my masterpiece and my heart couldn’t help but shatter at the thought of my dead sister. Jimmie had always wanted me to paint the sunset for her. Then, sh

AUDREY Background song: Stay ready by Jhené Aiko, Kendrick Lamar. As Alexander descended the stairs, my breath hitched the more and heat rose in my body, flooding my cheeks. I didn’t even realize I was drifting backwards until he was merely inches away from me. “Hazel.” Don’t fucking call me that. “Huhh?” “How do I look?” He drew closer. “I didn’t really want to do suits today.” And honestly, I would have suggested you trashed all your suits. You look good in them, but you look fire in this outfit. I nodded frantically. “You look okay.” “Thank you.” As he stepped away to grab his car keys, I exhaled quietly. God! Get a fucking grip Audrey. These damned sexual hormones be messing with my head. I must be ovulating. “Let’s go.” He urged, picking my bag from where it sat. “Where are we going, Alex?” I needed to know the gravity of our proximity and how I could deal with it. He stopped midtracks and turned to me. “What?” I

AUDREY My heart sank the moment I ran into him. The time seemed to have frozen as he stared down at me with that annoying smirk. He always had the upper hand and I hated him for it. “Cat got your tongue?” “No.” Observing his body language, I began to retract my steps but it was futile. In a few seconds, I was met with the iron door I had just snuck out from. He began to inch closer and soon closed the space between us. “For someone in her period, you seemed to be in such a hurry.” “Good thing I don't have cramps.” I stuttered, while trying to avoid his gaze. “Something important came up.” “So important..” he took another step. “You had to skip breakfast.” I turned my face away from him because considering our proximity, our lips would definitely touch if I faced him and that was the last thing I needed right now. Okay.. not the last thing but.. Focus, Audrey! “I’m not hungry.” My sentence was followed by a loud growl of my stomach.

ALEXANDER My sex life has always been messed up…. I have heard someone say there are experiences you can’t ever forget in your life. And just like everyone, I had a few of them. Growing up, my life wasn’t as dramatic as most people thought it would be. In fact, I had a very normal childhood with my parents. Up until I lost my dad. And let’s just say the things I was supposed to learn from him, I had to learn myself. And my mom being absent at that time, I had no one to lean on. As a high schooler, I had just a few friends who I would say were rather exposed. From drugs to girls to illegal racing, they were involved in basically everything and I was just a bystander. Until that day.. It was a day I will never forget. A day that pushed me into a dark depression and guilt… Since then, I had vowed to be as far as I could from anything that concerns women. And then I met Kassia when I was twenty four. Then, she was one of my mom’s trusted busines