After what occurred not only in the ball but at the sudden spine-chilling presence of a knife in which Seraphina quickly hid under her bed surrounded by her shoes, Seraphina traveled back to Avebury.

Aunt Veronica wrapped her arms around her niece in surprise when she saw Seraphina, still wearing a pitch-dark frock, a mere carpet bag in hand in the Hearts manor.

"What brought you here, dear?"

Seraphina scanned her eyes around her aunt whose yellow and violet polka-dot gown is far too much to gawk upon.

"The Headmistress advised us all to go home for a week or so due to the incident that occurred near the boarding school," informed Seraphina, strolling down the familiar marbled floor and rubbing her palm against the marbled staircase leading to her room upstairs.

"Oh, that. I've heard about all that from Zachary last night assuring me that all is fine in regards to you," stated Aunt Veronica who then entered the kitchen next room, her voice becoming quite inaudible.

"Of course, he has. He is always watching, am sure of that," murmured Seraphina to herself, rolling her eyes heavenwards.

After a moment, her aunt came back to the drawing-room, carrying tea with a concerned expression plastered on the wrinkled face of hers.

Aunt Veronica then stared at her niece in disbelief, with a brow raised, she scolded Seraphina, "Just where do you think you're heading to, young lady? Go and take a seat before you go straight to your room,"

Seraphina was about to open her mouth to protest when her aunt added another statement expressing her disbelief, "Kids these days. Always locking themselves up in their room. Not about proper etiquettes," and clicked her tongue.

Seraphina could still hear her aunt's pressuring tongue clicking while Seraphina raced towards the chair, Aunt Veronica arranging the teapots in the silver coffee table.

Sitting on the elongated beige couch, Seraphina let out a soft sigh as her eyes gawk upon her aunt who is now busy with pouring the teacup with her freshly blended jasmine tea.

"Tell me, child. Why have you disappointed me with such news about you not finding a suitor once again?"

Hiding half her face with the massive yet fragile teacup, Seraphine remained still, grimacing as she felt the hot liquid seeping through her upper lip.

"Why, oh, why? Do I have to remind you for heaven's sake how you're getting old, my dear? You're already 19, you should've been married now," persisted her dear aunt, Seraphina frowned once again at her aunt's constant ramblings.

100% sure is Seraphina that her aunt would remind her again the fact how at her age, Aunt Veronica was already married to this wealthy bachelor who is 12 years older than her. Her aunt chose not to comment much on the man's face though.

"Look at me, at age 17, I am already married to John. Well, too bad he died from typhus a month after, " her aunt added, giving her niece such a pressuring look once again.

"I fear that you'll grow old all alone, surrounded by books on that boarding school of yours. Dear God, don't tell me you aspire to be like that Headmistress of yours, an old hag?"

Seraphina cannot help herself from rolling her eyes heavenwards due to how dramatic her aunt is.

"I pray to the Lord that He'll grant you a devoted husband,"

"Who is wealthy, of course," Aunt Veronica quickly added, looking at her niece with such an intimidating expression to let Seraphina know that she is dead serious.

Letting out a soft huff, "Aunt Veronica, we can talk about that after I finish my schooling next year,"

However, Aunt Veronica mirrored her sigh. "My dear, you've been far too invested in that schooling of yours. Don't you think, perhaps, it's time to focus more on prominent issues?"

Swiftly shaking her head in disagreement, Seraphina cannot swallow what her aunt is blurting out in this very instance.

"Aunt Veronica, I know you know how much my parents wanted me to finish school before getting myself married," reasoned Seraphin's out, clutching her customary black traveling clothes.

With that, Aunt Veronica surrendered in the said argument. Simply nodding since she still quite remembers her sister on her deathbed, asking her to take care of Seraphina.

Her sister and this niece of hers are way too ingrained to be scholastic, unlike all the other women who prefer to get themselves drawn to the world of hosting balls and such.

"How about you giving my godson a try? Surely, there's nothing wrong with two childhood friends getting married, right?" suggested Aunt Veronica to her niece whose tired emerald eyes are glued to the porcelain teacup, tracing its intricate floral designs.

Seraphina almost slipped the teacup from her subtle fingers for her aunt to come again, endorsing the oh-so-great Zachary to her. If only Aunt Veronica knew what really lies behind that mask of his.

Horrified would her aunt be with that revelation and his spine-chilling illustrations are just the tip of the iceberg.

"Mr. Canning and I are childhood acquaintances, not friends, Aunt Veronica," reminded Seraphina to her aunt whose arms are now crossed.

"Surely, you find his talent remarkable, right?"

As a response, Seraphina shrugged. Less talk, less mistakes.

His god-like talent is truly remarkable but in a bad way. In a very, very bad way.

"Look here, honey, I know my godson is not so refined looking, we all know that, but don't you give him a shot?" added Aunt Veronica, her brows wiggling.

Seraphina remained silent.

"If only Dorian did not inherit that godsarken illness from his mother then surely, you two must've been engaged to be married,"

Seraphina quickly gave her aunt another frown, "Aunt Veronica, how many times do I have to tell you that he and I were never a thing,"

This time, it was her aunt's turn to shrug which somehow made Seraphina groan in frustration.

Later that day, Seraphina changed into her Sabbath clothes, together with her aunt, they made their way into the church near the plaza, quite far from the Hearts manor.

Her fingers sneaked inside her pastel yellow gown's loose sleeves which is mandatory for her to wear, scratching the area just below her elbow where it itches.

If only she could spend the remaining of her days locked herself inside her quarters, wearing only a mere chemise.

But no, whether she likes it or not, she is stuck with such itchy frocks as this. Her aunt then gave her a warning look when she caught sight of inappropriateness, her niece scratching her skin like a cavewoman. What would the others think?

Seraphina instantly placed her hands behind her before giving her skin one last hard scratch, of course.

Her aunt insisted on sitting on the 1st row, directly in front of the priest, her aunt even forced her to sing the gospels at the top of her lungs just so the others could see how religious they are.

Seraphina gulped down at her situation. She felt like she was going straight to heaven after this.

After the mass, Aunt Veronica snatched her niece's wrist, ambling towards the priest who now stood before them.

Seraphina, panic rising within her, quickly snatched the priest's pale hand and touched it to her forehead, paying respect or so she thought since the balding priest gave her such a stunned look.

Forcing herself not to look at her aunt who Seraphina is sure humiliated on how she just acted.

Letting out a relieved sigh and a celebration roar in the back of Seraphina's mind, Aunt Veronica began conversing with the priest all while Seraphina standing beside them, her mouth closed.

After a few minutes or perhaps an eternity, the two finally finished their discussion. Again, a celebration dance happened at the back of Seraphina's mind.

They were almost at the door when an old friend of Aunt Veronica came into the picture. Seraphina scowls at the idea of waiting for another eon for a mere conversation.

Luckily, Aunt Veronica faced her niece, a massive smile plastered on her face, eager to spill and unravel some tea, exclaiming, "You can go now, Seraphina. My friend and I still have a lot of catching up to do. Don't wait for me for dinner, I'll probably eat at their estate,"

Seraphina pretends to be forlorn at such information but deep inside, she is elated. Also, she knew what lies beyond that brain of her aunt. Aunt Veronica only goes to other estates with a hidden agenda which includes examining the interiors of the house and of course, finding its flaws.

Constantly checking if their grasses are well-groomed and if their paints are peeling off.

Well, except the Canning manor, obviously. It's practically their second home.

Well, before Dorian died. However, Seraphina doesn't particularly view that manse as her fortress, her safe haven anymore. More like Lucifer's lair. The gate to hell.

By the time Seraphina made it back to the Hearts manor, it was already sunset.

She spent the rest of the day in the library, completely engrossed in a novel once again. It was almost supper in which she chose not to take when she climbed upstairs to head straight to her chamber.

Aunt Veronica still hasn't made it home. Probably got way too engrossed in finding such flaws. Perhaps she'll be here before the clock strikes midnight.

Her pale hand touched the cold doorknob of her cell, opening the door ajar. However, there stood a humane figure in the corner of her room, near her dresser.

Squinting her eyes, Seraphina still can't see who that person is due to how dark it is.

However, as she stared longer at the figure, her brain digested whose broad shoulders belong to. She knew him even from the mere shape of his godforsaken body.

And so, Seraphina slammed the door with such force and was about to sprint downstairs into the drawing-room when she felt his gummy fingers snaking around her wrist.

In just one blink, Seraphina is inside her murky chamber, trapped between the man's clutches whose hands are resting on either side of her. Seraphine's back touching the door.

"Get out of my room, you crackpot," Seraphina firmly muttered, grinding her pearl-white teeth on him.

Yet not a single sound escaped the man's lips, even his breathing, Seraphina could tell is ragged.

Seraphina almost screamed out loud when she felt his sticky arms around her body only then did she realize he was covered in blood.

His chapped lips touched the base of her throat, sending chills down her spine. His raspy breath tickled her for a second.

Struggling to get out of his embrace, Seraphina was about to snatch the kerosene lamp beside her to check on him when yet again, he touched her shoulder using his bloodstained hands.

And before she could protest any further, he began exploring her features, his finger lingering on her plump lips, taking it all in and even her neck with his dry and cracked lips.

Seraphina knew this ogre is just making it all worse. Staining her clothes and all with whoever blood is thus.

She almost lost her steadiness when she felt his cracked lips landed on the very corner of her soft lips. When she gathered enough strength, Seraphina quickly pushed him off.

Still, it was no use for he only stumbled upon his feet but promptly regained his position, his arms locked around her slim waist.

Wincing, she asked him in a voice packed with concern and confusion, "What on earth happened to you, Mr. Canning?"

Yet again, Zachary did not respond to her. She could perfectly tell he is injured in one part of his body or worse, more and so, Seraphina had no choice but to looped her arm around Zachary's waist, assisting him to unto her bed.

When she finally succeeds in laying the afflicting man unto her bed, Seraphina lets out a solacing sigh.

Rubbing her temples, such words slipped out of her soft plump lips, "What am I to do with you, Mr. Canning? You are driving me insane,"

Seraphina forced herself not to roll her eyes heavenwards when she heard Zachary snigger, completely maddening her.

"The feeling is mutual, Seraphina," uttered Zachary, his blue eyes half-closed.

He even had the nerve to laugh at such situations as this. Also, it took every nerve of Seraphina to force herself not to confront him about him addressing her with her Christian name once again.

Towering above the wounded man, she eyed him with such concerned stares. "Whose bloods are these?"

"Don't worry, it's mine," answered Zachary, grimacing, fondling his abdomen.

" Then where are you hurt?" Seraphina, panicking , questioned her dead best friend's older brother on her bed.

Zachary shook his head, his bloodied unruly curly blond hair following the direction.

"Please don't make this hard for me, Mr. Canning. Just tell me where you're battered," pleaded Seraphina, messaging her temple, leaving a few bloodstains on it.

On an ordinary day, Seraphina would've freaked out at the idea of Zachary Canning's blood sticking into her body but tonight, she knew she cannot handle losing another Canning.

"I am dead...serious, Seraphina. I am fine. I already patched myself up using your cloth hours ago,"

Seraphina almost blackout when Zachary paused at such fidgeting words.

'This man will truly be the death of me,' thought Seraphina.

Seraphina just stared at Zachary Canning, searching for some unpatched wounds when she heard the man speak yet again.

"If you came into your room a tad earlier then you could've had your hands on me," Zachary cockily added and despite him being covered in so much blood, he still had the nerve to smirk, his upper lip twitching upwards.

Seraphina pretended she did not hear him. She rummaged around her dresser to snatch one of the nightgowns, her mouth opening in disbelief at the sight of her clothes inside her drawers. It was as if a hurricane passed by. Seraphina breathed in, deciding not to confront the man behind her who was responsible for this.

Seraphina was about to grab a white nightgown of hers when she realized Zachary is right here and is staring at her which made Seraphina once again uncomfortable.

And so, Seraphina did not bother changing for the night, still wearing her yellow church gown.

"I've already seen it, Seraphina. No use to being modest now," she heard Zachary uttered with his authoritative yet teasing voice of his.

To be frank, Seraphina almost slapped Zachary for what he just said but refrained herself for she knew he was not in the perfect state to receive one.

"I am just going to pretend I didn't hear you said those inappropriate words, Mr. Canning but believe me, next time you utter those kinds of words ever again, I will not hesitate on chopping that wicked tongue of yours," Seraphina warned the man as she went straight to the wooden chair next to the door, completely opposite Zachary Canning whose fiery ocean eyes are boring in her.

"Now sleep before you further annoy the hell out of me, Mr. Canning," suggested Seraphina.

With that, silence enveloped the two odd pairs and in less than half an hour, the two were already fast asleep. Seraphina's snores may seem hard for some to fall asleep with but believe me, Zachary Canning is perfectly fine with it.

Why? Simply because, he is used to the sound of it every single night. The only difference is, this is the first time Seraphina is aware of him sleeping across him or so he thought.

It was almost breakfast, way past Seraphina's morning routine when she woke up.

Squinting her eyes, she let out a yawn as she straightened her seat in her bed, elbows supporting her upper body. The great Zachary Canning is no longer in her bedroom, which almost made Seraphina want to cry in gratitude.

However, her eyes went thick in horror, waking her whole system when she gawked down at herself and even around her room.

First, she is no longer wearing her yellow gown she wore last night to sleep. Instead, a white nightgown of hers is what she is wearing right now. Second, her white sheets, her waist, and God help her, even her cheeks are all covered in dried blood. All bore the shape of his body.

Also, why is she on the bed right now? She can vividly remember sleeping right in the chair next to the door.

When Seraphina's eyes traveled around her room, there she saw her bloodied carpet and what's worse was the sight of her dolls covered with Zachary's bloody fingertips.

It all looked like the dolls were all massacred. Dear Lord,

She cannot help herself from muttering the words, "Why can't you keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Canning?" under her breath.

Seraphina bounced on her bed when she heard loud knocks on her door, "Time for breakfast," hollered her aunt.

"Co-coming!" stuttered Seraphina as she forced herself to gather the strength to erase the evidence of Zachary's bloody presence last night.

She began with dumping the bloody dolls whose eyes are staring back at her to the back of her closet.