312- Hypnotized
POV Seraphine Valerian:
I was pinned to the ground, hypnotized.
One moment, I was crying for my father, watching his belongings being burned, hearing the sad music. And feeling the fire's heat. The next, everything vanished.
There was only him. Near the trees, looking at me.
Endless shivers raced up my spine, raising every hair on my body. My heart pounded, on the verge of collapse. Even breathing became difficult, air trapped, everything motionless.
He was beautiful. A being like I had never seen, hadn't even known existed. Enormous, perhaps two meters tall. Striking, with broad shoulders and a deceptive elegance that hid muscles beneath his clothes. And his eyes... his eyes held me captive, swirling in their depth.
Black, piercing, beneath thick, drawn-together brows. Abundant hair, in a dark brown shade, almost mahogany. They contrasted with the clear, flawless skin covering his angular face with a shadow of beard, his distinctly masculine features.
He seemed from another era, with boots and a long coat, dark red like wine, black clothes. An aura of power, violence, and seduction surrounded him. Throwing me into an endless whirlpool of sensations, drawing me in with intensity.
I stepped forward, for his gaze called to me. He stood still, not moving a muscle. Inviting me to come close, to stand before him. Enslaved, unable to think, I went slowly. Floating, needing. It was an inexplicable instinct, potent, overwhelming.
The bonfire crackled, an ember rolled near my feet. My dulled senses perceived it as if from far away. The whispered music, some people nothing but shadows. Voices came and went. I passed beside the fire and a group.
He's back. It's him.
Frightened murmurs. I didn't understand if from outside or inside my head.
My heartbeat intensified. I was invaded by a delicious, virile perfume that shook my entire system. Something warm, sovereign, musky. Extremely masculine. It impregnated itself entirely in me. I was a good distance away, but could swear it came from him.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm tightly, making the enchantment flicker. Dazed, I didn't understand what a woman's voice was saying, until finally the words focused in my mind:
"It's him. The accursed one."
I stopped, confused. She pulled me closer to herself, confirming:
"Don't go. He's dangerous."
Shocked, I still took a while to truly comprehend. Then, alongside the voracious energy calling me to him, other things joined in. An awakening of fear, reality making itself present.
My father, forbidding me from coming to Romania. His warnings that the beast would come for me. His pleas for me to leave as soon as he died. "Promise me." I almost heard his voice in memory.
Static, I blinked, unable to tear my eyes from those black, piercing ones. The desire to run to him was deafening, desperate. However, another memory came. My aunt in our apartment:
They weren't kidnapped. They fell in love with him and followed him willingly. The creature seduced them.
Fear attacked me with full force and I trembled, gasping, stepping back.
The woman walked backward with me, not letting go, whispering:
"That's it, slowly... come on, Seraphine..."
His brows furrowed, expression harsher. Even without moving, he remained powerful, commanding everything.
That's what he did. He deceived, drained the strength from his victims. And then, he finished them off. It wasn't about lies or illusions. But truth.
I turned, dizzy, nervous. I needed to flee those eyes, him. Everything spun: bonfire, frightened faces, low voices. I fixed on the blue house and ran for it, heart in my throat, breathless.
I was followed. For a moment of pure terror, I imagined him hunting me and ran faster, stumbling up the porch steps, realizing some of the Roma women were entering the house with me. One of them shouted:
"Lock the door!"
"Calm down, he's still out there!"
"The men will protect us!"
"My Saint Sara, he's back!"
"The demon is back!"
I bumped into furniture, braced my back against the hallway wall, hand on my chest. I felt like I was going to die, on the verge of a heart attack.
The others spoke all at once, agitated, saying he had almost taken me. That the creature was cunning, everyone was in danger. One of the older women went to the window and opened the curtain, shouting in relief:
"The beast is gone! Vanished! Thank God!"
"Seraphine, are you okay?" Camellia came near. "Calm down, I'll get a glass of water."
The rest was confused, jumbled. I sat on the sofa, drank the whole glass of water, the house door was opened and more people entered.
Many said he hadn't threatened anyone, others that my father had already warned them of the risk. Almost all surprised because this was really happening.
The elders remembered, spoke of Jasmina, of the stories about the several disappeared women. There were too many people, too many voices, too much agitation.
I trembled, trying to find an explanation. He didn't have golden eyes, he wasn't a wolf. But I was also certain he wasn't an ordinary man. The way he dominated me effortlessly, pulling, seducing.
It took a while for everyone to calm down a bit and start a debate, about the possible risks and what to do. One of the elderly women sat beside me, held my hand.
"Daughter, we wanted you to stay here. But now... I think he'll come back for you."
I stared at her wrinkled face and worried gaze. Her rough hands warmed me, for I was frozen. I nodded, believing what she said.
"He's never attacked anyone in the village. But he wants you," one of the men said.
"He could become aggressive. They said Jasmina came back in pieces, torn apart!"
Everyone started talking endlessly again and I managed to find my voice:
"Tomorrow I'm leaving."
"That's the best decision." She nodded, smiling, squeezing my fingers tighter.
"Seraphine can't spend the night alone," Zuleica opined.
"I'll sleep here with her."
"I'll stand guard on the porch, armed." One of the Roma men volunteered.
"Great, Istvan! I'll stay with you," said one of the strongest, in his thirties, decisively. His name was Vladimir. "I'll bring my shotgun. The beast won't try anything, even if it prowls around."
"We'll protect you, as Zorvan asked." Camellia smiled at me.
"Even with our lives! We'll never abandon you, Seraphine. You're one of us!" Vasile, one of the elders who had taken over as Baro in my father's place, squeezed my shoulder. "You don't need to be afraid. Tomorrow we'll also accompany you to the airport."
"I'm sorry, daughter." Xenia shook her head. "We know you wanted to stay."
"Maybe she'll come back, when there's no more danger," said another.