04
Sera’s apartment, late night. She can’t sleep. The phoenix tattoo on her arm throbs gently, not painful anymore just a reminder. She sits on her bed, the glow of her phone lighting her face.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Texting her friend Cass*
Got a tattoo today.
Cass (Fl friend)
*Reply, almost instantly*
WHAT?! Who even ARE you?? Pics or it didn’t happen.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Sends a blurry picture of her arm, sleeve half rolled up*
Don’t freak out. It’s… nothing.
Cass (Fl friend)
Um, excuse me??? That is a freaking phoenix on your arm. That is not “nothing.”
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
Just felt like it
Cass (Fl friend)
Uh huh. And let me guess—you got it from that scary studio downtown? The one everyone says looks haunted?
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Half-smile despite herself*
… Maybe.
Cass (Fl friend)
Girl. Are you insane?
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
Probably.
She doesn’t type the rest: But he wasn’t scary. He was… safe. That thought alone makes her stomach twist. She drops the phone beside her, lying back on the bed. The ceiling feels too close, the walls too tight.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*To herself*
Why can’t I stop thinking about him?
She drags her fingers over the ink, tracing the lines. Each stroke feels like Adrian’s voice in her head, calm, grounding, dangerous in its gentleness.
Her phone buzzes. Not Cass this time. Unknown number.
Adrian Blackwood
*Text*
This is Adrian. Your artist. Just checking in. How’s the arm?
Her breath catches. She didn’t give him her number… did she? Wait. She must have filled out a consent form earlier. Right. Still, her pulse races.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Typing, deleting, retyping*
Fine.
Adrian Blackwood
Fine as in “it hurts, but I won’t admit it,” or fine as in “I’m okay”?
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
..... Both
Adrian Blackwood
*After a pause*
That’s honest. Good. Ice it a little tonight. Drink water.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Rolling her eyes, smirking*
Wow, thanks, Dad.
Adrian Blackwood
More like annoying older brother. But I’ll take Dad if it makes you laugh.
She bites her lip, fighting the smile tugging at her mouth. Nobody ever checks in like this. It feels too intimate. Too close.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
You do this for all your clients?
Adrian Blackwood
Only the one who matters.
Her chest tightens. She stares at the screen too long before tossing the phone aside. Dangerous. He’s dangerous in all the wrong ways.
The next day. The café down the street. Sera sits with her notebook open but blank. Adrian walks in, leather jacket, sketchbook under his arm. She stiffens instantly.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Mutters*
… Of all the cafés in this city…
Adrian Blackwood
*noticing her, smile tugging at his mouth*
Morning, Phoenix.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Scowling, clutching her notebook*
Don’t call me that.
Adrian Blackwood
*Shrugs, ordering his coffee, then sitting across from her without asking*
Fits you. Rising through fire and all.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Sarcastic*
More like burning out and crashing.
Adrian Blackwood
*steady gaze*
Still means you're alive.
She glares at him, but her pulse skips. He has a way of turning her bitterness into something softer, and she hates it.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
Do you just… follow people around for fun?
Adrian Blackwood
*Calm*
Just wanted coffee. Didn’t expect to see you. But I’m not complaining.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Defensive*
You’re too calm. It’s… unsettling.
Adrian Blackwood
*Sips his coffee, smirking faintly*
Would you rather I be chaotic?
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Half-laugh*
You’d probably still make it look composed.
For a moment, the banter feels easy. Dangerous again. She tries to bury it, scribbling nonsense in her notebook. Adrian leans forward, noticing the empty page.
Adrian Blackwood
Writer's block?
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Snapping the notebook shut*
None of your business.
Adrian Blackwood
*Nodding, unfazed*
Fair. But if you ever want someone to listen, I’m good at that.
She falters, lips parting, but no words come. He doesn’t press. He just drinks his coffee, watching the world outside the window.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Muttering after a long silence*
… Why are you nice to me?
Adrian Blackwood
*glances at her, voice low but certain*
Because you deserve it.
Her throat closes. She wants to argue, to laugh it off, but the words won’t come. Instead, she shoves her notebook into her bag and stands abruptly.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
I should go.
Adrian Blackwood
*Calm, not stopping her*
Alright. But you’ll see me again.
Seraphina Hale (Sera)
*Snapping, too quickly*
… You sound to sure of that.
Adrian Blackwood
*Smirk tugging at his mouth, eyes warm*
I am.
She storms out into the street, heart hammering. His confidence should annoy her. Instead, it leaves her restless, like a fire she can’t smother. And deep down, a dangerous whisper grows louder: What if he’s right?
See you in next Chapter :-)
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