Chapter 21 SERAPHINE !
Lilian — POV
The cup hit the floor before I even realized I’d dropped it, It shattered loud enough to snap the entire coffee shop’s attention toward me.
For one horrible second, I couldn’t breathe but not because of the cup but because of him.
Because of the way he had leaned in and spoken like he already owned the blood running through my veins.
But by the time I bent over to pick the glass I shattered and stood up, he was already gone.
Just....gone like that. he vanished so fast it felt like I had hallucinated the whole thing.
“Lilian?” mr. Rouke’s voice cut through my frozen panic. “Hey what’s wrong?”
I jerked my head up and breathed out “Nothing...” My voice cracked and I said, I tried again. “It’s nothing my hand slipped... that’s all.”
He gave me a look one of those “I’ve been alive for forty years, don’t lie to me” looks, but he didn’t push.
“Alright,” he sighed. “Just be careful. You’re jittery today do you need a rest permit... I don't mind .”
Jittery..... okay cute word for someone who just got threatened by her existence with a smile, but okay.
“I got it sir,” I said quickly, crouching to gather the broken ceramic pieces.
My hands shook every time I blinked, I swore I saw his shadow behind my eyelids.
I’d like a cup of what you drain from people and animals, Lilian.
My stomach twisted... How did he know my name?
How did he know what I was?
I inhaled and breathed out I tried to push the fear down where all my other traumas lived rent-free.
When I stood up again... He was nowhere thank goodness.There was no dark silhouette by the door.
No looming figure waiting across the street, and the air didn’t smell metallic anymore like it did when he first walked in.
Just normal coffee shop air.... People chatting with my machine whirring. Mr. Rouke humming badly to an 80s playlist.
I let out the breath I’d been strangling in my throat relief burned through me... it was a luxury not everyone have.
But enough to get me through the rest of the shift, The hours dragged but also blurred.
I took orders and made sure i smiled and joked to customers. I pretended my internal organs weren’t rearranging themselves from stress.
Every tiny sound made me flinch, Every time the bell chimed, I stiffened.
Every tall man who entered made my pulse spike But thank goodness none of them were him.
There was no cold scent or heavy presence,Just normal people wanting caffeine to survive adulthood.
At noon, I checked the clock for the 400th time and finally saw the number that saved me.
My shift was over, I walked up to the counter where Rouke was cleaning a milk pitcher.
“sir,” I said, trying to sound normal. “Time for me to clock out.”
He glanced up. “Already? Damn, that went fast.”
“For you,” I muttered. “It was like surviving a decade.”
He chuckled and waved me off. “Go home kid and try to get some rest. And....” he paused, giving me a small, warm smile, “...be safe, alright?”
I snorted actually snorted. “When am I ever not?”
He raised an eyebrow knowingly...
“…Right. Never mind,” I corrected. “I’ll try.”
I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, and stepped out into the cool Saturday afternoon.
For the first time in hours, I felt like I could breathe fresh air without choking on terror. The walk home was quiet and relieving.
But thankfully, no looming death-creatures stalked me from alleyway.
Just me ugh....finally am Home.
The moment I unlocked my apartment door, my phone started ringing.
very loud and aggressive. Like it had been waiting behind the door with a baseball bat, it's high time I change my ringing tone jeez.
I groaned, dropped my bag on the couch, and checked the caller ID... Mia !.
Oh, for fu ... Can people stop existing today?
I debated letting it ring out, but if I didn’t pick up, she’d call again… and again… and then probably show up at my doorstep with snacks and emotional blackmail.
So I answered. “What.”
“LILIAN!!!” Mia screamed so loudly I moved my phone far from my ear buds “WHAT’S UP?! WHY DO YOU SOUND LIKE A DYING GRANDMA?”
“Because I want to be dead,” I mumbled, toeing my shoes off. “Can you not shout? My ears have feelings.”
“Oh puh-lease,” she said, dramatic as always. “Anyway! Listen! I know you had a busy day....”
“You don’t know that,” I muttered.
“But!” she barreled on, ignoring me, “I was invited to a party tonight, and I want you to come with me!”
I froze mid-step a party is a no... no for me ... with the whole crowd and shit....nope.
After a morning like that? After a man walked in talking about what I drain from people? Am gonna have a hard pass.
“Hahaha....no,” I said immediately. “Absolutely not... Goodnight. I’m going to sleep for twenty hours.”
Mia gasped so dramatically I heard her clutch her imaginary pearls.
“Lilian! You old woman! You cannot keep hiding in your apartment like a blind bat!”
“I am a blind bat,” I said. “Let me rot.”
“Nope." She clicked her tongue “You haven’t gone out in forever.”
“I literally saw the sun today,” I deadpanned, “Checkmate.”
“That doesn’t count! You were working! That’s not socializing, that’s .... that's working.”
I snorted and flopped onto my couch. “Mia, I’m exhausted and I smell like espresso and death. I’m staying home.”
There was a beat of silence... Then I k ew she wasn't giving up yet “Liliannnnnn…” she whined.
“No.”
“pretty please?”
“No.”
“There’s free food.”
“…Still no.”
“There will be cute guys.”
“Double no.”
“You need to go out once in a while, you know,” she said, switching to her concerned best friend voice. “You’ve been so isolated lately. Let’s have fun. Blow off some steam.”
Steam.... yeah like the steam from the espresso machine right before the man leaned in and Nope..... nope..... NOPE.
I shut that thought down instantly.
“Mia,” I said, softer this time. “I really just need to sleep.... Today sucked big time yeah.”
She went quiet and then she sighed. “Okay... Fine.”
Victory is that you...
“But I’m not giving up,” she added quickly. “You WILL go out with me eventually. I’m determined. I’m stubborn. I’m..”
“Annoying?” I offered.
“Yes,” she said proudly. “But loveably annoying.”
“Debatable.”
“Oh shut up. Go rest okay and call me if you need anything and for the love of God, lock your doors... That city is getting weird lately.”
If only she knew how weird “I will,” I said. “Goodnight.”
“Night, vampire gremlin.”
“I’m blocking you.”
“You won’t.”
She was right... I hung up and let the silence settle around the apartment... I think it high time I call Seraphine and tell her what's up.