Episode 2 — Beautiful Disaster
641 Words
Blackthorn Estate never truly slept.
Even at midnight, shadows moved through the endless hallways like ghosts loyal to the Vespera family. Armed guards stood outside every entrance. Politicians arrived through hidden underground garages. Secrets breathed inside the walls.
And somewhere deep within the mansion—
Seraphina sat alone in her massive bedroom, staring at the city lights beyond the balcony.
Five years.
Five years since the accident.
Five years since blood covered shattered glass beneath the rain.
Sometimes she still heard the sound of crushing metal in her nightmares.
Sometimes she still woke up screaming.
But nobody knew that.
Because spoiled girls weren’t supposed to break.
A knock came suddenly.
Without waiting for permission, Vivienne Ashcroft entered carrying champagne.
“You disappeared for years and came back hotter. I’m offended.”
Seraphina rolled her eyes. “Get out.”
Vivienne laughed before sitting beside her.
“The city’s obsessed with your return already. Half the university boys are losing their minds.”
“I don’t care.”
“That’s because you’re still emotionally constipated.”
Seraphina smirked faintly.
Then—
“What about Kael?”
The smile vanished instantly.
Vivienne noticed immediately.
“Oh my God,” she whispered dramatically.
“Still scared of him?”
“I’m not scared.”
“You avoid him.”
“Because he’s unbearable.”
Vivienne leaned closer. “People say he’s more dangerous than Lucien now.”
Seraphina looked away.
She believed it.
As a child, Kael terrified her without trying. He never yelled. Never smiled much. Never played games.
He simply watched.
Silent.
Calculating.
Like he already knew how everyone would betray him someday.
Meanwhile—
Across the estate—
Kael stood inside a private underground meeting room beneath the mansion.
Several politicians sat around the table nervously.
One man continued talking too much.
A mistake.
Kael calmly lit a cigarette before speaking quietly.
“The journalist.”
The room went silent.
The minister swallowed hard. “Handled.”
Kael’s eyes remained emotionless. “Handled means?”
“…dead.”
Silence.
Then Kael nodded once.
Meeting over.
The men immediately relaxed.
Fear worked efficiently.
As Kael exited the underground corridor, Cassian walked beside him.
“There’s another issue.”
Kael already looked irritated.
“Seraphina went out tonight.”
“With security?”
“She dismissed them.”
Of course she did.
Kael’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Location?”
“Velvet Hour.”
A dangerous nightclub.
Drugs.
Politicians.
Predators.
Kael extinguished his cigarette slowly.
Then smiled for the first time tonight.
A cold smile.
“Prepare the car.”
Meanwhile—
Music thundered through Velvet Hour as Seraphina danced recklessly beneath crimson lights.
Bodies pressed together.
Champagne spilled.
Men stared openly.
She welcomed the attention because attention meant distraction.
And distraction meant she didn’t have to think about grief.
A drunk politician’s son suddenly grabbed her waist roughly.
“You’re prettier than the rumors.”
Seraphina’s eyes darkened instantly. “Remove your hand.”
Instead—
He squeezed harder.
Wrong decision.
A hand suddenly wrapped around the man’s wrist.
Calmly.
Firmly.
Dangerously.
The man turned—
And his face lost all color.
Kael.
The entire atmosphere shifted instantly.
Even the music suddenly felt quieter.
Kael stared at the man without emotion.
Then—
Crack.
The man screamed as his fingers bent unnaturally.
Seraphina froze.
Kael released him slowly.
“Touch her again,” he said softly, “and they’ll identify your body through dental records.”
No shouting.
No anger.
Which somehow made it worse.
The terrified man stumbled away bleeding.
Seraphina’s heartbeat became uneven.
Kael turned toward her.
“You’re leaving.”
“I didn’t ask for help.”
“You never do.”
His gaze slowly moved across her dress.
Possessive.
Disapproving.
Dangerously calm.
“Come home, Seraphina.”
And for reasons she hated—
She followed him.
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Episode End
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