CHAPTER 77: FLESHY COALS

SERAPHINA’S POV

I sit alone on Artemis's balcony, wrapped in my own arms, staring quietly at the full moon overhead.

My thoughts keep drifting back to that unsettling dream – was it even a dream? - wrestling with the impossibility of making sense of it all.

The only logical explanation I can muster is that I must have sleepwalked—trashed the room and nearly stabbed Artemis as he walked in.

I still can't piece together how that knife ended up in my hands; there are unnerving gaps in my memory.

“Here you go,” Artemis says, reappearing to hand me a bowl of ice cream.

I take it, stirring the chocolate ice cream absentmindedly with my spoon as he sits beside me, digging into his own bowl.

“I'm sorry,” I finally murmur, unable to meet his eyes.

“For what exactly? Trashing my room or nearly turning me into a cyclops?” he teases, chuckling to lighten the mood.

I offer a bitter laugh in return, biting my lip and looking away.

“Hey, you said it was an accident. So, it's okay.”

“No, it's no