MasukAURORA“I’m telling you, Clarissa, there was just something off about him.’” I said,I had been standing in front of the mirror for a solid five minutes, tugging at the hem of my sweater and then smoothing it back down like it had personally offended me. My reflection stared back at me unimpressed with everything that I had done so far to make it seem like I had slept well last night, when I had actually not. My paint-stained fingers were still very evident from the work of yesterday, no matter how much I had tried to scrub it clean.Clarissa, sprawled dramatically across her bed with her phone hovering inches from her face, snorted.“You’ve said that exact sentence three times since you walked through the door last night.”“That’s because I’m still trying to understand it,” I shot back, reaching for my earrings and then changing my mind and setting them down again. “Who walks into a studio they don’t belong in and starts critiquing someone’s work like that?”She finally lowered her p
DEAREST READERS,As you well know, we have come to a close with “Seraphina and Tristan”Our next phase will be Aurora and Antonio’s love story.You know how I always like to give you multiple stories in one book.Thank you for sticking with me and our lovely characters Shall we?PROLOGUEThe phone rang out right beside me, completely interrupting the music that was playing calmly through the speakers and snapping me back into reality for a little bit.I picked it up and a smile lit up on my face as I saw who it was.“Where are you right now?” Seraphina asked the second I picked up, her voice was bright and warm in my ear, even though I could hear a slight raise in her tone.“I’m in the studio,” I said, shifting the phone to my shoulder as I dipped my brush back into the palette. “Working.”There was a pause and then a laugh. “You’re kidding.”“I’m not,” I replied. “I told you I had a lot to do today.”“This is the third time I’ve called you,” she said. “And this is the third time you
SERAPHINA“We are going to be late.” Aurora said, as her voice carried down the hallway. I could hear her pacing around outside as she was no doubt trying to make sure everything was absolutely right and perfect.I was still in my room, standing in front of the mirror, adjusting an earring I’d already adjusted three times, my hands trembling just enough to irritate me.“I’m coming,” I called back, even though I hadn’t moved yet.“You said that five minutes ago,” she shot back. “This is an exhibition, Sera. People are actually coming to see my work.”I grabbed my clutch and stepped out, locking my bedroom door behind me. Aurora stood by the front door in a navy-blue dress that made her look healthier than she had in months. There was color in her cheeks now and I could tell that she was getting back to how she was a couple of years ago.She looked absolutely beautiful that it still caught me off guard sometimes.“You look so beautiful.” I said, as I looked at her.“You look nervous,”
TRISTAN“You’re lucky,” the doctor said, flipping through the chart at the foot of my bed. “Very lucky.”I leaned back against the raised pillows, ignoring the dull ache that pulsed through my side every time I breathed too deeply. “Lucky isn’t a word I’ve ever relied on,” I replied.He sighed now, as he continued to stare at me a little bit.“That said, we need to keep you under close surveillance for at least five days.”“Five days?” I scoffed. “That’s not happening.”The doctor looked up at me sharply. “Mr. Blackwell…”“I want to leave right now.” I said,“You know there is no way that we can allow you do that.” He replied with a stern look. “We still need to run some tests.”“Fine,” I cut in. “I’ll stay twenty-four hours for you to run whatever tests you want. After that, I’m leaving.”His lips pressed into a thin line. “You do know that this isn’t a hotel that you can chose when to come and when to leave.”“And I’m not a patient who has the luxury of lying around,” I shot back. “
SERAPHINAThe drive to Naomis place from the hospital was one of the longest of my whole life. My mind was filled with so many thoughts which I couldn’t exactly contain. At some point, I considered heading straight to the airport and going back to where Aurora was waiting for me, but I knew that Naomi would have my head if I did that.She was already waiting for me anxiously at her door as I pulled into the driveway.“So,” Naomi said the moment I stepped into her apartment, arms folded as she leaned against the kitchen counter, eyes scanning my face like she was bracing herself, “how is Tristan doing?”I hadn’t realized how much I needed to be in somewhere as familiar as this until my shoulders sagged the second the door closed behind me.“He’s… fine,” I said slowly. “He is recovering.”Naomi frowned as she studied my face over and over again. I had not exactly planned to tell her that I had chickened out of seeing him, but knowing her, she could see through my bullshit right from the
TRISTANPain was the first thing I knew. It felt like I was buried under something I couldn’t see or fight.But then I was so sure I could hear Seraphina’s voice calling for me.I tried to move toward it, but my body wouldn’t respond. I did not even know if I had a body in this place. It felt like I was floating… drifting… stuck between something I couldn’t name.“Seraphina…”The name formed in my mind first then I tried to say it.Nothing happened so I began to panic.Seraphina.This time, it felt louder… like it echoed inside my skull, bouncing against walls that refused to let it out.Where was she?Why couldn’t I reach her?I remembered… a gunshot and Julian’s face. I remembered falling before nothing.Suddenly the darkness shifted and I could hear something… a steady beeping.My body slammed back into existence like it had been dropped from a height.Pain followed immediately. My chest burned. My head throbbed like it was being split open from the inside. My throat felt dry… raw…
SERAPHINA“You wanted to see me?” I said, as I walked into the office, feigning confidence like I had not just dreaded the whole walk here.The moment the door shut behind me though, I felt the air shift. It was heavier in here and I could feel the tension from him as he sat there behind his desk w
TRISTAN“Please tell me you have something for me.” I said, as I stood by the window in my study.I had decided to work from home after everything that had happened earlier with Seraphina. I had told myself it was because I needed quiet, but the truth was that I had expected to talk with her today.
TRISTAN“I’m not staying for dinner.”That was the first thing I said when one of the maids greeted me at the door. She had already begun to ask if she should set the table when I loosened my tie and stepped inside. Deep down I actually wanted her to because I could already feel the exhaustion gnaw
SERAPHINA“I can’t believe this is happening.”My voice had come out in a whisper as I stepped out of the hospital doors, the automatic glass sliding shut behind me. It was already dark outside and the evening air hit my face, cool and sharp, but it did nothing to calm the storm which was raging in







