SERAPHINA’S POVThree mornings ago was the last time I saw Artemis. The image of him laughing nervously, casting a final glance with a flimsy promise of seeing me again, is the last memory I have, and since then, he's become invisible. Absent from all his classes and clubs - well, the plausible excuse was his engagement. Despite promising he would do something about it, it seems to have taken over every aspect of his life, including the bits that involved me, leaving me staring at places we used to hang out with a certain longing.School feels different without him; it's colder, quieter, maybe even pointless, or perhaps it’s just me, unable to get my mind off him. Aside from that, I keep having nightmares, each more terrifying than the last. This time, I'm stabbing a person with so much hate until I finally recognize his face as Artemis. The veil lifts from my eyes, and I realize what I’ve done. Each dream becomes creepier and scarier than the one before, so I’ve sworn myself off

SERAPHINA’S POVI look around me again, at the colorful, bright streets, the laughter, the children, and the hardworking individuals casually passing by, and then I look back at her in disbelief. “What? Is it so unbelievable?” she asks with a playful smile and a raised brow, mocking my lowered jaw. “This is Astria?”“Yes. This is what Astria used to look like. We are in a memory,” she explains further. It makes sense… Actually, it doesn’t, but I attribute the logic of me being here to nothing else but magic. Still, it’s unbelievable, and I don’t even ask whose memory we’re in. The peace, the tranquility, the normalcy... none of it looks or seems like what I imagined Astria would look like.She chuckles beside me, having stood by, watching my expression for more than a second, forcing me to look at her again. “Why are you laughing?”“I’m sorry... you seem too surprised that this is the life they lived. I imagine it’s different from the history books you’ve read about. You learned

SERAPHINA’S POVWARNING: CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES OF SELF-HARMI’m petrified for the first few seconds, unable to say or do anything but stand and be horrified by the sight of what I’ve done to him. I swore over and over again that this wouldn’t happen, that no one else would get hurt, and yet I did it. He groans painfully, pulling himself out of the indentation in the wall and dusting off the bits of wall debris clinging to his clothes before he looks at me again, more confused and shocked than ever. I can see the wheels in his head turning, the questions brewing in his mind about what's going on, how and why I suddenly threw him off like that. Questions I have no answer to, and worse, I don't think I can offer any because of the fear of what he might think of me. I’m scared. I’m so scared, Artemis.Hands rest on my shoulders from behind me now, and I freeze in place, feeling the instant chill of her presence, this lady, the guardian of my destiny. "He's judging you right now,"

SERAPHINA’S POVThe next time I’m conscious, I’m waking up in a room similar to mine but different in so many ways. The amount of pink lights and glitter and paint is enough to make anyone barf their breakfast out, and yet it’s recognizable. But how did I get here? Memories of the last few seconds before I passed out fill my mind, and I sit up too fast, being hit with so much realization at once. The pain in my back stabs the second I stand faster than I should have, and I suck in my breath before the throbbing in my head makes itself known. I feel like utter shit and like I could actually barf right now.“Sera?” I look up and meet familiar faces, Alice and Juliet. It hits me that it was Alice who opened the door before I passed out, and she had probably dragged me back here with all the blood. Both of them run to me, forcing me to lay back down together, and I don’t fight it. I’m too weak or numb to do anything. And when I’m down, they’re both silent, looking at me with pitifu

SERAPHINA’S POVI look away too fast, forcing air into my lungs and panting hard from not breathing in the last five seconds. I’m not ready to face him, for him to look at me like that while standing next to her. I thought I was, but I’m not. The reality of it hits me too hard, and the pain in my chest becomes more and more unbearable.“Are you okay?” Jasper asks, holding me up so I don’t fall forward, while Juliet pats my back silently, all while I catch my breath. I take a second before I can stand on my own again, and when I do, they're already on the same level with us, talking with some people on the other end of the hall next to King Silvan. His laughter is the loudest, the rest of them just smile, including Artemis. Did he notice me, or was it my imagination?“Maybe we should leave now,” Jasper suggests, but I stop him. “No, I’m seeing this through. I want to be here.” He looks at me, worried and reluctant to give in, but I plead with him with my eyes until he sighs. “Fi