Chapter 12: She''s interested in me.

    Third-person Pov

    Seraphina''s breath hitched as she stared up at Electra, her body stiffening with the familiar feeling of anxiety. A nervous hiccup escaped her lips, only adding to the embarrassment she felt under Electra''s intense gaze.

    The beauty in front of her had an amused look playing on her face, clearly enjoying the spectacle Seraphina was unwittingly providing.

    Electra also couldn''t believe her luck.

    The very girl she had been intending to send for had shown up, like a lamb wandering straight into the lion''s den, and the way Seraphina was looking at her, wide-eyed with obvious fear in her eyes, made Electra''s smile deepen.

    She could practically feel the tension radiating from the little girl, as well as her stammering breaths and the way her eyes darted around as if searching for an escape.

    Electra relished it.

    Seraphina had frozen completely, her mind running in a million directions. She knew she should say something, do something—anything—but her body refused to cooperate.

    The aura around Electra was so commanding, as if it demanded absolute submission, and there was the undeniable truth she had heard about Electra, which was that she was dangerous, unforgiving, and absolutely crazy.

    When Seraphina remained silent, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly parted in shock, Electra decided to toy with her a bit.

    She bent down, crouching until she was eye level with Seraphina, and her amused smile never wavered. She then leaned in, so close to the point where Seraphina could feel the soft brush of her breath, before she spoke in a voice that was laced with mock charm.

    "Well, hello there, Seraphina," she drawled, her tone teasing but at the same time laced with something darker. "We meet again."

    The sound of her name, blurted out so casually by Electra, made Seraphina flinch. Her heart thudded violently in her chest, and she took a half-step back, nearly stumbling over her own feet.

    How did she know her name? She hadn''t introduced herself to Electra—had barely even spoken to her at all beyond that mumbled apology when she had run into her.

    Electra cut her off with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Don''t apologize," she said. "What happened was hardly worth remembering."

    Seraphina blinked, her mind spinning in confusion. Was this a test? Was Electra trying to lure her into a false sense of security? She didn''t trust it—not for a second.

    Electra''s gaze had a way of making her feel both exposed and scrutinized, like a bug under a microscope, and her casual, almost indifferent demeanor made Seraphina''s skin crawl.

    It was like Electra was playing a game only she knew the rules to, and Seraphina was a pawn in the middle of it.

    "But..." her voice trembled as she tried to speak again. "You know my name. I didn''t tell you... so how...?"

    Electra smiled, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I have my ways." She leaned in slightly, just enough to make Seraphina feel the intensity of her presence. "Let''s just say I''ve taken an interest in you."

    Seraphina''s stomach dropped at those words. An interest? The last thing she wanted was to be the focus of someone like Electra''s attention. She knew for a fact that it wouldn''t end well if someone like Electra took an interest in something like her.

    "I don''t..." Seraphina began, but the words died in her throat.

    What could she say to make this stop? To make Electra lose interest in her? She had no idea.

    Electra straightened up, still smiling that cat-like smile. "You''ll find out soon enough, Seraphina, but for now..." She paused, looking her up and down, clearly enjoying the effect she was having. "Try to relax yourself, okay? You''ll be seeing more of me, I''m sure."

    With that, Electra and her friends that she had barely noticed stepped past her.

    The door shut behind Electra and soon enough, she and her friends disappeared down the hallway, and Seraphina let out a breath she didn''t realize she''d been holding. Her hands were trembling, and her heart was still racing.

    What had just happened?

    Seraphina had no idea, but she knew one thing for sure: Electra knew who she was now, and that terrified her.