CONFUSED DESIRES (Claimed by them)

Chapter four: A different kind of Cruel

“Aw… did the puppy get hurt?”

I froze.

That voice—

Smooth. Mocking. Amused.

Slowly, I turned.

She stood leaning against the lockers like she had been waiting for me.

Dark hair. Pale skin. Red lips curved into a cruel smile.

Her eyes—

Deep crimson.

Watching me like I was something fragile… something breakable.

“Not very strong, are you?” she continued, pushing herself off the locker.

My chest tightened.

“I don’t want trouble,” I said quietly.

She laughed.

Soft.

Dangerous.

“Oh, I know,” she said. “That’s what makes this so entertaining.”

She stepped closer.

Too close.

“You’re the human everyone’s talking about.”

I didn’t respond.

“Interesting scent,” she added, tilting her head slightly. “Not entirely human… but not worth much either.”

My stomach dropped.

Not entirely human?

What did that mean? So if I wasn't entirely human, what was I huh? part mermaid???

Why the hell do I keep hearing human, scent what is it with these creeps and sniffing.

“Who are you?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Her smile widened.

“Seraphina Crowe.”

The name hit differently.

Like it carried weight.

“And unlike those mutts,” she added lightly, “I don’t need a reason to be cruel.”

My breath caught.

Great.

So I was dealing with a different kind of problem.

“Stay away from Kael.”

I blinked.

“What?”

Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened.

“And Adrian,” she added. “You seem to attract attention you don’t deserve.”

“I’m not trying to—”

“I don’t care what you’re trying,” she cut in smoothly.

Then—

Her fingers brushed against my wrist.

Cold.

Too cold.

I flinched instantly.

She noticed.

And smiled.

“Scared?” she whispered.

I didn’t answer.

Because yes.

I was.

Her grip tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me she could.

“Good,” she said softly. “You should be.”

A shadow fell over us.

And suddenly—

The temperature in the air shifted.

Seraphina’s grip loosened.

Not out of fear.

Out of irritation.

“You again,” she muttered.

I turned.

Adrian.

Of course.

He walked toward us slowly, his expression unreadable.

But his eyes—

Locked on Seraphina’s hand still near mine.

“Is there a problem?” he asked calmly.

Seraphina smiled sweetly.

“Just welcoming our new student.”

Adrian’s gaze flicked to me briefly.

Then back to her.

“Your version of welcoming tends to leave marks.”

Her smile didn’t falter.

“And your version tends to get attached.”

Silence.

Tension.

Sharp and dangerous.

Then—

Adrian stepped closer.

Close enough that Seraphina’s smile finally… slightly faded.

“Careful, Seraphina,” he said softly. “You might start something you can’t control.”

Her eyes flashed.

For a moment, I thought she would argue.

Attack.

Do something.

Instead—

She stepped back.

Slowly.

But her gaze never left mine.

“This isn’t over,” she said quietly.

Then she turned and walked away.

Just like that.

Leaving me standing there again.

Caught in something I didn’t understand.

Adrian looked at me.

Really looked this time.

“You attract trouble,” he said.

I let out a shaky breath.

“I noticed.”

For a second… I thought I saw amusement in his eyes.

Then it disappeared.

“Stay away from them,” he added.

I frowned slightly.

“Does that include you?”

A pause.

Then—

“Yes.”

But the way he said it…

Didn’t sound like he meant it.

And then he leaves

---

And all I could is just stand and think, replaying all the events that had taken place so far and I'm beginning to wonder if these psychos are actually even human. Because at this point I'm scared as hell but I won't let it show.

Remain just a few more classes and I can get the hell out of this s**t hole they call school. So all I have to do is ignore everyone, keep quiet and don't say I word well..... that sounds easy.

I mean I do it alot, what's the worst that can happen.