LOGINSERAPHINA When I came out of the bathroom, the bedroom was semi dark, only a bedside lamp was lit on low setting and there was no sign of Dante. Suddenly, I felt like a kid who has been abandoned. The chill that had barely vanished from the hot shower came back and I rushed to the bedroom door, my lips parted, ready to call out to him. But before I could do so, the bedroom door opened and Dante stepped in. I paused, my eyes taking him in and the bags and the big rabbit he was holding. When he saw me standing there in the middle of the bedroom, his dark eyes travelled down the length of me and suddenly I became aware of the fact that I was wearing nothing but just his tshirt that I found in the bathroom. "I thought you'd left," I whispered feeling the heaviness those words brought in my chest. He put down everything he was carrying and rep
SERAPHINA "I am fine.""I know," I replied but didn't stop what I was doing.I took out the wad of cotton and dipped it in the antiseptic solution before dabbing it over the back of his knuckles.My fingers trembled but I wanted to do this for him. It felt safe to concentrate on him rather than think about the fact that my mother came here with the man she sold me to. And that man touched me again. I still felt the ghost of his unwanted touch, a part of me wanted to scratch and tear at my skin or just burn it off to get rid of that slithering shame that someone touched me again without my consent.It was taking everything inside me not to pinch and peel off my flesh where his touch still itched and lingered."That's enough."Warm fingers wrapped around mine, stopping me. And I looked down to see that the solution that was soaking the cotton was dripping down on the
SERAPHINA "Who else but your father gave us the keys."Silent stretched after my mother's announcement.And as I lifted my gaze, my eyes caught Fernando's and an apprehensive shiver went down my spine. He looked at me like a snake would look at a rabbit before striking.I took an involuntary step closer to Dante, my hands going to grab his shirt as I stood half hiding behind him."Get the hell out of my house before I throw you out myself. Tainting my childhood home with your presence wasn’t enough that now you decided to come here." Dante gritted out, his fury unmasked.My mother waved her hand. "Of course. I am just leaving. I was only here to get my daughter." She looked at me and ordered, "Come, Seraphina. You have spent enough time with your step brother, its time you return home and we prepare for your upcoming wedding."My stomach hollowed and bitterness clogged my thr
SERAPHINA "If you want it, I will get it."Dante did win it.The shopkeeper handed me a blush pink rabbit with big floppy ears. "Oh my god, it's so big.""As big as you."I looked up and a flash caught my eyes as he took another of many pictures.I stepped toward him."Why don't I take a picture of you? You have been clicking mine this whole time.""Because you look beautiful, smiling like this," He said, his fingers caressing my cheek as he tucked the loose strands behind my ear.I swallowed, closing my eyes and leaning toward his warmth. When I opened them, I saw an unfamiliar look in his dark gaze that quickly vanished as he blinked and looked away.I said, "Then let's take a selfie at least."I grabbed his phone and sidled closer to him. A moment later his arm came around my waist.I took the
SERAPHINA I fidgeted with my hands as Dante stared at me. After the breakfast and him making sure to wrap my foot in a plaster like someone has chopped my limb, he had told me to get ready, that he's taking me somewhere.I had no idea where, just that I should dress comfortably.So, I wore one of the pink sundresses I already owned. Not one from the dozens they had filled the closet with.Now, as I stood in front of him, waiting for his verdict, I couldn’t read his expression and tell whether he liked what I was wearing or not.My hair was gathered into a loose braid, and I was wearing comfortable pair of bunny flip-flops."Is this not right for where we are going?" I asked when he remained silent.He cleared his throat and didn't say anything as he left the room. I frowned.What did I do now?I looked down at myself,
DANTEFor the first time in years I woke up without feeling like I was being suffocated.No nightmare jolted me awake, no screams and cries echoed in my mind.Instead I woke up surrounded with warmth and a soft weight settled against my side.I turned my head to find her sleeping peacefully, with her head resting on my chest and her slender arm draped around me. I strared at the ceiling, feeling confused and a foreign emotion I couldn't name.I slept the whole night.There was no blood.No pain.Not my younger version crying and begging for my mother to wake up.No dark cells.No fights.No hands pinning me down while others laughed.No thoughts of staying awake throughout the night just to stay safe.Nothing.Just peaceful sleep and warmth.Rubbing a hand down my face, I sat up and felt a tug on my side. When I looked down, I saw her small hand tightly gripping my shirt like she was afraid I'd disappear.I straed at her sleeping face and acknowledged the truth of my words that I had







