Chapter 6: The First Rule
1184 Words
Seraphina stood frozen in the darkness, her phone trembling in her hand.
The message on her screen glowed like a warning.
Don't open the door.
A sharp knock echoed through the apartment again.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
She took a cautious step backward, keeping her eyes fixed on the door.
Who was outside?
Was it Caspian?
Or the person sending the messages?
Her phone buzzed again.
Another text from the unknown number.
Turn off the lights and stay quiet.
She swallowed hard.
The lights were already out.
Her fingers shook as she reached for her flashlight app, but before she could switch it on, her phone rang.
Caspian.
Without hesitation, she answered.
"Caspian?" she whispered.
"Are you alone?" he asked.
His voice was calm, but she could hear the tension underneath.
"I think so," she said.
"What happened?" he asked.
"The power went out, and someone knocked on my door," she said. "Then I got another message telling me not to open it."
"Listen to me carefully," he said. "Lock yourself in your bedroom."
"It's already locked," she said.
"Good," he replied. "Stay on the phone with me."
Fear tightened her chest.
"Do you know who's outside?" she asked.
There was a brief silence.
"No," he said, though his voice suggested otherwise.
"Caspian—"
"I'm on my way," he said.
The line went dead.
Seraphina stared at her phone.
He had hung up.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Every second felt like an hour.
She sat on the edge of her bed, listening to every sound.
A floorboard creaked somewhere outside.
A car horn blared in the distance.
Then she heard voices.
A man's voice.
Another deeper one.
Footsteps.
The sound of a door slamming.
Her phone vibrated.
Caspian: Open the door. It's me.
Relief washed over her.
She hurried through the apartment and unlocked the door.
Caspian stepped inside immediately.
Dorian followed close behind.
The moment Caspian saw her pale face, his expression hardened.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"No."
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
Dorian walked toward the electrical panel near the kitchen.
"The power was cut manually," Dorian said.
Seraphina frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Someone switched off the main breaker from outside," Dorian replied.
A chill ran through her.
"This isn't a coincidence," Caspian said.
She looked up at him.
"You knew something like this could happen?"
His jaw tightened.
"I suspected it."
"Then tell me what's going on," she said.
His gray eyes met hers.
"I can't."
Frustration replaced her fear.
"You keep saying that," she said. "You tell me I'm in danger, but you won't explain why."
"I'm trying to protect you," he said.
"By keeping secrets?"
"Yes," he said.
The honesty in his answer caught her off guard.
Dorian cleared his throat.
"I'll wait outside, sir," he said.
Caspian nodded.
As soon as the door closed behind Dorian, silence filled the apartment.
Seraphina folded her arms.
"I deserve answers."
He stepped closer.
"You deserve the truth," he said quietly. "But not tonight."
"Why not?"
"Because once you know everything, there's no going back."
She looked away.
Part of her wanted to demand answers.
The other part wasn't sure she was ready to hear them.
Her gaze dropped to his hand.
His knuckles were bruised.
"What happened to your hand?" she asked.
He glanced down.
"It's nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing."
His lips curved slightly.
"Are you worried about me?"
"No," she said too quickly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're a terrible liar."
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
She hated that he could still affect her like this.
After everything.
After the threats.
After the secrets.
"Why did you come back?" she asked softly.
His expression changed.
The arrogance disappeared.
The cold mask slipped.
And for the first time, she saw exhaustion in his eyes.
"Because I couldn't leave you alone," he said.
The words settled between them.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Real.
She held his gaze.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Neither of them moved.
Then Caspian lifted his hand and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
The touch was gentle.
Unexpectedly gentle.
Her breath caught.
His eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
The air between them shifted.
She could feel it.
So could he.
Caspian took a step back.
Distance returned.
His expression hardened once more.
"Pack a bag," he said.
She blinked.
"What?"
"You're not staying here tonight."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Until I know who's targeting you, you're staying somewhere safe."
She frowned.
"And where exactly is that?"
"My house," he said.
She stared at him.
"No."
His gaze darkened.
"No?"
"You don't get to decide where I sleep."
"Seraphina—"
"No," she repeated. "You don't control my life."
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"Fine," he said.
The sudden agreement surprised her.
"Fine?" she asked.
"Fine," he repeated. "You can stay here."
She nodded.
"Good."
"But I'm staying too," he said.
Her eyes widened.
"You can't be serious."
His lips curved into the faintest smile.
"I've never been more serious."
She opened her mouth to argue.
Then she remembered the cut power.
The messages.
The knocking.
For the first time that night, sleeping alone felt far more dangerous than sharing her apartment with Caspian Vale.
And judging by the look in his eyes, he knew it too.
- Writer
