Chapter 12
1156 Words
****
Seraphine
My eyes slowly adjusted to the soft golden light filling the room.
The last thing I remembered was...
The auditorium.
Darius.
Lyra.
Then darkness.
Now...
I was lying on an enormous bed in a room far too luxurious to belong to an ordinary home.
Rain-soaked cedar and sandalwood lingered faintly in the air.
A warm sensation wrapped around my hand.
I lowered my gaze.
Professor Darius Ravencrest was sitting beside the bed, his large hand gently holding mine. His head rested against the edge of the mattress, as though exhaustion had finally claimed him.
He had fallen asleep.
My heart skipped a beat.
Did he... stay here the entire time?
I hesitated before softly calling out,
"Professor..."
His silver eyes flew open almost instantly.
For a brief second, confusion flashed across his face.
Then it vanished, replaced by unmistakable relief.
"You're awake."
His usually steady voice carried a hint of weariness.
I nodded faintly.
"What happened?"
"You fainted."
He slowly released my hand and reached for the glass of water on the bedside table.
"You've been unconscious for several hours."
He poured a glass and held it out to me.
"You should drink."
As I tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over me.
Before I could lose my balance, Darius gently placed a hand behind my back, helping me into a comfortable sitting position.
"Easy."
His voice was calm and reassuring.
"Don't rush."
I accepted the glass with both hands.
"Thank you..."
The cool water soothed my dry throat.
Only after I had taken a few sips did he speak again.
"How do you feel?"
I paused, searching for the right answer.
"My head feels a little heavy..."
I looked down at my hands.
"...but otherwise..."
I glanced back at him.
"...I think I'm alright."
Darius studied me carefully for a moment, as though making sure I wasn't hiding any discomfort.
Finally, he gave a small nod.
"That's good."
A brief silence settled between them.
Neither seemed to know what to say next.
Then, almost at the same time—
"Professor..."
"Miss Veyra..."
The smile on my face vanished.
A memory crashed into me like lightning.
"My parents!"
I threw the blanket aside and hurried to get out of bed.
"They'll be worried sick!"
The moment my feet touched the floor, dizziness swept over me again.
I stumbled.
Before I could fall, Darius was already beside me.
"Careful."
He steadied me with one hand until I regained my balance.
"I have to call them." My breathing became uneven as panic settled in. "They must have been looking for me everywhere."
My eyes darted around the room.
"My phone..."
"Where's my phone?"
"Oh no", My voice trembled.
"They're probably calling me right now."
"They'll think something terrible happened."
"I have to get home."
I took another hurried step toward the door.
Darius's calm voice stopped me.
"Miss Veyra."
I turned to look at him.
There wasn't the slightest trace of panic on his face.
Only quiet reassurance.
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
His expression remained composed.
"There's something you should know."
Earlier…
******
Flashback
**Darius**
The city lights streaked past the windows of the black Rolls-Royce as it sped through the quiet night.
Seraphine lay unconscious beside me, her head resting gently against the leather seat.
Her breathing was steady.
Suddenly...
A soft vibration broke the silence.
Her phone lit up.
I glanced at it instinctively.
Mom ❤️
I reached for the phone, Before I could even touch the screen...
The notification appeared on the lock screen.
«Mom ❤️: Dad and I have an emergency business trip tonight. We'll be away for a week. Take care of yourself, sweetheart. Love you.»
My gaze lingered on the message for only a second.
Another vibration followed.
The battery indicator flashed red.
One percent.
Then...
The screen went black.
The phone had died.
I looked toward the charging cable built into the car.
Without another thought, I plugged the phone in.
At the very least...
She would need a way to contact her parents when she woke up.
********
Present
My eyes met her questioning gaze.
"Actually while I was driving you here, your phone lit up with a notification."
"Your parents left for a business trip."
She stared at him.
"They... left?"
I nodded once.
"It appeared on the lock screen."
“That's how I knew.”
"Your mother texted to say that she and your father had to leave on an emergency business trip. They'll be away for a week."
She blinked several times, trying to process my words.
*****
**Seraphine**
"A week...?"
"They're gone?"
"Yes."
I stared at him silently, my heart easing a little.
Seeing the disbelief on my face, “I'll be back” mutters Darius walked out.
After some minutes he came back with my phone.
"I simply charged it while you were unconscious so you'd be able to contact them when you woke up.”
He handed it to me. "You should check it yourself.”
I took it from him with trembling hands and pressed the power button.
The screen lit up almost immediately.
Relief washed over me.
Dozens of notifications flooded the screen.
Missed calls.
Messages.
Most of them were from Aria.
I quickly opened my mother's chat.
Just as Professor Ravencrest had said...
«Mom ❤️: Dad and I had to leave on an emergency business trip tonight. We'll be away for a week. Please don't worry about us. Make sure you eat on time and take care of yourself. We love you.»
A small smile tugged at my lips.
He was telling the truth.
Just as I was about to type a reply...
My phone began to ring.
Mom ❤️
I answered immediately.
"Mom!"
"Oh, thank goodness!" my mother's relieved voice came through the speaker. "Seraphine, why weren't you answering your phone? We tried calling several times."
I glanced briefly at Darius before replying.
"I'm so sorry, Mom."
"My phone died, and I only just managed to charge it."
She let out a relieved sigh.
"You scared us."
"We called home but the maid said you're not back from school yet", "where did you go so late at night"? Mom asked breathlessly.
"I went to have dinner with my friend Aria" I lied
Guilt tugged at my heart.
"I'm really sorry."
"I'm home now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I'm about go to bed."
My father suddenly spoke from the other side of the call.
"Princess."
A smile spread across my face.
"Dad."
"Take care of yourself while we're away, alright?"
"I will."
"And don't skip meals."
I laughed softly.
"I won't."
"We'll be back before you know it."
"We love you."
"I love you too."
The call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly.
A weight I hadn't realized I was carrying lifted from my shoulders.
"They're alright..."
I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
I could finally breathe easy.
- Writer
