Chapter 23 CALM DOWN
Lilian POV
Mia didn’t show up after school again today.
At first, I thought I'd have a bunch of apology to give today but I didn't see her at all even during classes that means those old ass didn't realize her.
“Okay… cool,” I muttered to myself, pacing near the lockers. “Totally normal, people vanish every day, it happens all the time. Nope....not creepy at all.”
By the time I stepped outside, dusk had swallowed half the sky, painting everything a sick reddish purple. Cars rolled out of the parking lot one by one.
Students chatted, laughed, pointed at their phones—completely unaware that my best friend had evaporated from existence ... I mean why would they ... pathetic beings.
I inhaled sharply a scent of a Vampire, My chest clenched ... they had the guts to take my Friend and also show up to spy the hell on me.
“No. No, no, no... hold it together don't freak out.” I gripped my hair. “Fuck.”
The panic bubbling in my throat finally snapped, and I pulled out my phone, hands shaking as I dialed Seraphine.
She answered after a single ring, sounding like she’d been waiting... Of course she was.
“Lost something?” she asked casually.
“Oh don’t start with me right now,” I snapped. “Mia’s is not back yet and your little vampire friends are spying on me cause I could smell them from here, What the hell is happening?”
Seraphine hummed, annoyingly calm. “Relax... If another vampire took her, they won’t hurt her.”
I froze in place. “What?”
“They probably just want to talk,” she continued, voice smooth like she was discussing weather. “Humans aren’t harmed unless necessary. And she’s not the type they’d crave, so...”
“Seraphine,” I growled and she made to talk again and I cut her off, “oh, fuck off.”
There was silence on her end then I heard a soft, amused chuckle.
“ Wait...You think this is funny?” I hissed. “I can barely keep it together right now, don't tempt me.”
“Mm?” Seraphine sounded entertained, which pissed me off even more. “That’s cute... Look at you...boiling.”
“I’m not boiling,” I snapped.
“You are,” she said. “just go...”
I groaned. “Shut. Up.”
“No, seriously.” I could hear the smirk. " there not gonna get her... okay.”
“Seraphine,” I said slowly, “if you say one more word like I'm the problem, I swear—”
She interrupted, tone suddenly shifting to serious, like a knife gliding across a table.
“Lilian. Listen. Mia is fine. If someone took her, they took her for information. They won’t hurt her unless provoked.”
“Great,” I muttered, pacing toward the gates. “And what counts as provoked? Breathing? Existing?”
“You care about her,” she said simply.
“No shit.” My voice cracked. “She’s literally the only person who still calls me to rant about stupid shows and forces me to try her disgusting strawberry ice cream... Of course I care.”
“Then don’t run into this blinded,” she said. “Use your senses and track her.”
“Okay,” I mumbled reluctantly. “Fine.... I’ll try.”
“That’s my girl,” Seraphine said, warm pride in her voice.
“Stop calling me that.”
“No.”
I rolled my eyes skyward. “Where are you, anyway?”
there was a pause in the other end.... Then a soft, almost playful, “Turn around.”
My entire spine froze and I turned slowly.
And she stepped out from behind a pillar as if she’d been waiting there the whole time arms crossed, boots clicking softly against the concrete, her long dark hair catching the last strands of dying sunlight.
“You—WHAT—how long have you been standing there?” I demanded.
“Long enough to see you panic,” she said. “Very entertaining.”
I pointed at her, furious. “First of all... fuck you. Second of all—why didn’t you come out earlier?”
“Because,” she said calmly, approaching me, “if I came out earlier, you wouldn’t have used your senses. You rely too much on panic. You need to rely on instinct.”
She stopped right in front of me.
Her scent was dark roses and cold wind, it hit me, and I swallowed tightly.
“You’re shaking,” she observed, eyes gleaming red for a split second.
“That’s because I’m angry,” I growled.
“It’s also because you’re scared.” She tilted her head. “You think you can’t protect your friend.”
I didn’t answer her but My chest felt like it was closing.
“And you hate that feeling,” she whispered.
I closed my eyes briefly. “Just... help me find her.”
Seraphine nodded once. “We will but you need to understand something first.”
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping low.
“The vampire who bit you—the one who turned you—he was a true blood.”
“ Yeah you've told me that a million times?” I said with my voice thin.
“Yes,” she said. “Which means you aren’t just any turned vampire.... You’re something else. Something stronger, Something very… unstable.”
“Unstable?” I snapped. “ So Mia’s missing and I’m apparently a walking hazard... Wonderful news all around.”
Seraphine gave a small smile “Relax,” she said. “This is exactly why I’ve been teaching you control that's Why I’ve been staying close.”
“Stalking me,” I corrected.
“Same thing.”
I sighed hard. “Okay... What do we do now?”
“We track her,” Seraphine replied. “But first.. stop spiraling.”
I glared. “I’m not spiraling.”
“You’re vibrating.”
“ JESUS! Seraphine”
She stepped closer, placing her cold hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find her....But you need to breathe And trust me.”
I looked up at her, feeling my anger simmering beneath the fear.
“Fine,” I whispered.
“Good.” She smirked. “Now let’s go.”
We stepped into the darkening street, side by side And all I could think was:
If they hurt Mia…
I’m burning this whole damn town to the ground.