Pretty Things Bleed Too

The Necklace That Changed Everything

I couldn’t stop staring at the necklace Seraphina gave me. It was so pretty , silver with this fancy crest thing in the middle that looked like a crown mixed with roses and thorns. Every time I touched it, my fingers got all tingly. Like it was trying to tell me something important. I wore it under my hoodie so nobody at school would see, but I kept reaching up to feel it against my skin. It made me feel… special. Like maybe I belonged somewhere.

Damian noticed it the second we got back to the safe house that evening.

“What’s that?” he asked, his voice suddenly sharp. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me change into one of his big black shirts like he always did. His eyes went straight to the chain around my neck.

I pulled the necklace out shyly, letting it rest on my chest. “Seraphina gave it to me today. She said she liked my art. It’s really pretty, right? The crest looks so elegant.”

Damian’s whole face changed. The soft boyfriend look disappeared and the Devil came out. His jaw got super tight and his eyes went dark and scary. He stood up fast and walked over to me, gently lifting the necklace with two fingers like it might burn him.

“Where exactly did she get this?” he muttered, more to himself than to me.

I blinked, confused. “Damian? What’s wrong? You’re scaring me…”

He let go of the necklace and pulled me into his arms instead, holding me so tight I could barely breathe. His heart was beating really fast against my cheek. “Nothing’s wrong, baby. Just… that crest. It’s from an old family. A powerful one. You need to be careful around Seraphina Devereux.”

“But she was nice to me,” I whispered, hugging him back. “She said my drawings made her cry. Nobody’s ever said that to me before. Not even you.”

He sighed and kissed the top of my head. “I know. You’re too trusting, Kai. That’s what I love about you… but it’s also what makes me scared for you.” He pulled back and looked at me with those intense eyes. “Promise me you’ll tell me everything she says to you from now on. Okay?”

I nodded, even though I didn’t fully understand. “Okay. I promise.”

He kissed me then. Not soft like usual. This kiss was hungry. Like he was trying to remind me who I belonged to. His hands held my face gently but his mouth was desperate. I melted into him completely, my fingers twisting in his shirt. When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine.

“You’re mine, Kai. Nobody else gets to have pieces of you. Not even pretty rich girls with golden eyes.”

My cheeks burned. “I’m yours,” I whispered back. “Only yours.”

That night we cuddled in bed and he bought me strawberry milk delivered to the house. I drank it while drawing on his arm again — little velvet roses this time. He watched me with soft eyes, but I could tell something was bothering him. The black cars outside seemed to multiply. There were more men in suits standing around the property now. It felt like we were in our own little bubble that was about to pop.

The next day at school, Seraphina found me again during free period. She sat next to me in the library like it was normal. Her golden eyes lit up when she saw the necklace peeking out from my collar.

“You’re wearing it,” she said happily. “It looks perfect on you.”

I touched it shyly. “Thank you again. It’s really beautiful. What does the crest mean?”

She got this strange look on her face. Sad but also hopeful. “It’s an old family symbol. Protection. Power. And… belonging.” She reached out and gently fixed the chain so the crest sat perfectly. Her fingers brushed my skin and I felt a weird spark. “You deserve to feel like you belong somewhere, Kai.”

My heart did a flip. “Why are you being so nice to me? We barely know each other.”

She smiled softly. “Because your art feels like home. And because looking at you makes me feel less alone.” Her voice dropped. “Have you ever felt like you were living the wrong life? Like something important was taken from you?”

I nodded slowly. “All the time. Every day with my family. With Luca…”

Her eyes got shiny like she might cry. But before she could say more, my phone buzzed. It was Luca.

Luca: Where the f**k are you? Come home tonight or I’ll come find you myself, princess.

I quickly hid the phone but Seraphina noticed my hands shaking.

“Is everything okay?” she asked gently.

I forced a smile. “Yeah. Just family stuff.”

She didn’t believe me. I could tell. But she didn’t push. Instead she took out her own phone and showed me something. “I saved all your VelvetGhost posts. This one…” She opened the rooftop kiss drawing. “This one made me cry for hours. Who is he? The shadow boy?”

My face went bright red. “He’s… someone important. He makes me feel safe.”

Seraphina looked at the drawing for a long time. “He looks dangerous. But the way you drew his hands… he cares about you. A lot.”

We talked until the bell rang. She was so easy to talk to. Smart and graceful but also a little lonely like me. When we stood up to leave, she hugged me quickly. A real hug. Not fake like other girls at school.

“Be careful, Kai,” she whispered before walking away. “Some things are coming that might hurt. But I’ll be here if you need me.”

I stood there feeling confused and warm at the same time. Why did she care so much?

After school, Damian was waiting by his car looking tense. The second I got in, he noticed something was off.

“Seraphina again?” he asked, starting the car.

“Yeah. She hugged me today. And she knows about VelvetGhost.” I played with the necklace. “She’s really nice, Damian. I don’t get why you don’t like her.”

He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “The Devereux family is dangerous. Almost as powerful as mine. And that necklace… it’s their family crest. The real one. Not a copy.”

My eyes widened. “What? But why would she give it to me?”

“I don’t know yet,” he said darkly. “But I’m going to find out.”

Back at the safe house, things got intense. Damian pulled me into his lap on the couch and kissed me like he was scared I might disappear. His hands were gentle but desperate, sliding under my shirt to touch my back. I shivered and kissed him back just as hard.

“You’re mine,” he growled between kisses. “Say it again.”

“I’m yours,” I breathed. “Only yours, Damian.”

We made out for so long my lips felt swollen. He didn’t push for more than that, but I could feel how much he wanted to. How much he was holding back because he knew I was still scared and fragile. That made me love him even more.

Later that night while he was on the phone in the other room, I opened my laptop.

VelvetGhost got another message from GoldenSeraph.

GoldenSeraph: I met you today. The real you. You’re even more beautiful in person. Please don’t be scared of what’s coming. I think we’re connected somehow.

My hands shook as I replied.

VelvetGhost: How are we connected?

She didn’t reply right away. Instead I posted a new drawing.

[Image: A soft boy wearing a silver crest necklace, standing between two shadows ,one protective and dark (Damian), the other elegant and golden (Seraphina). Both shadows reaching for him.]

Caption:

“two people want me now.

one makes me feel safe.

the other makes me feel seen.

my heart is so confused.

the necklace feels heavy but warm.

pretty things bleed too…

but maybe this time someone will finally tell me why i was born broken.”

I posted it and closed the laptop fast. When Damian came back to bed, I curled up against him like nothing was wrong. But inside, everything felt like it was shifting. Like the ground under my feet was cracking open.

The next morning Luca finally snapped.

I got to school and he was waiting near my locker. His eyes were wild. Scary. He grabbed my arm hard, right where the bruises were finally fading.

“You think you can just stay with him forever?” he hissed, pushing me against the lockers. “You belong at home. With me. I’m the one who’s always been there. Even when I hurt you… it’s because I care.”

His words made me feel sick. The way he said “care” sounded all twisted.

“Luca, please let go,” I begged quietly. “You’re hurting me again.”

Before he could say anything worse, one of Damian’s men appeared. Big guy in a black suit. He grabbed Luca and pulled him away roughly.

“Touch him again and you die,” the man said coldly.

Luca looked furious but scared too. He glared at me one last time. “This isn’t over, princess. You’ll come back. You always do.”

I was shaking when Damian found me a few minutes later. He took one look at my face and pulled me into the nearest empty classroom, locking the door.

“What happened?” he demanded, checking me for new bruises.

I told him everything. About Luca’s words. About how his obsession was getting worse. Damian’s face went terrifying. He held me tight and whispered promises about protecting me.

But later that night, when I was alone for a moment, I got another text from an unknown number.

Unknown: The necklace belongs to you. You just don’t remember why yet. - S

My heart stopped.

What did that mean?

I touched the silver crest again, feeling its weight.

Something big was coming. I could feel it in my bones. The girl with golden eyes knew something. Damian was hiding something. Luca was breaking apart.

And me?

I was just a pretty boy with gloss and bruises who wanted to be loved.

But maybe… just maybe… I was never supposed to stay broken.

The thought scared me more than anything.

Because if I wasn’t broken anymore, what would happen to the Kai that Damian fell in love with?