An intruder came over once more. If Seraphina should be candid, she confesses how she is somehow pleased with his presence since her undying curiosity is chewing her alive.

What is his connection to the strange man from before? She hasn't had the chance to tell him about the intruder who chased her with an ax the last time they met at the ball.

As usual, Seraphina doesn't have a clue on how Zachary even managed to sneak inside her chamber unalarmed. Again, he is crouching on her bed, overlooking the closed window, his back facing her.

Even from the outline of his physique, Seraphina could tell this man is no other than Zachary himself.

Crossing her arms, Seraphina strolled towards him, inclined to confront him about the incident the other night.

However, Seraphina was startled, Zachary jerked her wrist, their faces only a few inches apart making her cheeks darkened, her eyes momentarily shifting to the ground.

Wincing, Seraphina rolled her eyes heavenwards, wince her nose for she could smell liquor coming from the intruder. "Are you drunk?"

But as soon as she had one good look at him, she knew there's something more.

Zachary eyed the beautiful yet frustrated woman before him, his ocean eyes droopy, smirking, "A welcome kiss would be nice, love,"

Closing her eyes for a moment in frustration, Seraphina let out a weak sigh, "Leave this instant, Mr. Canning, we'll talk when you're sober enough,"

Regardless, with a sarcastic chuckle, his calloused hand still wrapped around her wrist, Zachary let a few words flee his parched lips.

"I didn't mean to scream at you back in Avebury," repented Zachary wielding a voice Seraphina is relatively foreign with. Indeed, he clearly is intoxicated.

"I don't really dwell much on that, Mr. Canning. What I want is for you to get out," replied Seraphina, still glancing at Zachary whose blond hair is once again filthy and chaotic, it was as if he ran his fingers over it a thousand times. His black suit wrinkled which is unusual to his conventional well-ironed apparel. The bags under his eyes are more pronounced than ever. Did he even blink an eye?

"Again? At least pretend I'm Dorian. The oh-so-great Dorian whom you kept letting sneaked around your room in the middle of the night," uttered Zachary, his voice rising.

"Let your brother rest in peace, Mr. Canning. Enough with your childishness," replied Seraphina, reciprocating the deadly stares of Zachary.

After the short banter, silence came into the picture, the two of them were merely staring back at each other. Anger slowly evaporated between them.

"What do you say, my beautiful Sep, don't you want us to get married?" blurted out the drunkard, smirking at her.

Her brows meeting, Seraphina cannot hide her surprise at what the man before her just uttered. "What in the Lord are you talking about, Mr. Canning? Me, married to a psycho like you? I'll rather rot in an asylum,"

At her response, Zachary's mood seems to deteriorate, his aura darkening, his grip around her wrist hardening.

Nevertheless, Seraphina doesn't care. She had enough of this man's foolishness.

"And don't call me Sep, Mr. Canning. Your brother only has the right to call me that," her voice filled with annoyance.

In just a snap, anger fully consumed Zachary, that Seraphina could tell.

"I don't give a damn about it," roared Zachary, giving such deadly stares at the woman before him.

Biting back the urge to confront him on his disgraceful choice of word, Seraphina stared at him, cheeks flaming in anger.

Seraphina remained hardheaded and was about to repeat her words to give emphasis when Zachary's horrid hands slipped around her thin waist despite the absence of a corset with such force.

Seraphina felt Zachary's chapped lips touch hers, causing Seraphina to panic for she knows nothing about this thing.

However, despite her naivety, she found herself responding to his gentle kisses which soon turned into scandalous kisses. Zachary's tongue licking her rosy plump lips, causing her to let out such moans.

Zachary broke off the kiss, both of them catching their breath, their foreheads touching, eyes staring at one another.

His hand still encircled around her waist, "Damnation, Seraphina. Don't tell me you didn't like that,"

Truth is, she found all of it intoxicating. She didn't realize kissing can cause such... pressure.

However, she knew far better than to admit it. After a moment of battling with herself, Seraphina rolled her eyes heavenwards, "I've kissed far better men,"

With that, something snapped inside him. Everything transpired so fast, the last thing Seraphina remembered was Zachary dragging her down to her own bed and her struggling to escape his hold, managing to score a few kicks in his feet.

"Get your filthy hands off me, you psycho!"

But the psycho did not listen. Instead, he stared at her like a devil. Laggardly, he removed the black-tie around her collar and in just one snap, both of Seraphina's hands were bound by it.

Using her free legs, Seraphina began to kick Zachary with such force but he immediately covered her small body with that masculine body of his, his legs locking her legs.

"Why can't you marry me, love?" mumbled Zachary in her delicate ears, tickling her.

Shaking her head, "I would rather die than marry you, you psycho!" she hollered in his very ears, causing Zachary to wince.

Seraphina expected Zachary to get furious even worse at her words. Instead, he let out a chuckle.

"Is it crazy that I heard you say 'rather die than marry you,'?"

Browse meeting, "Wow, you really are a psycho, Mr. Canning,"

With that comment, Zachary remained unwavering, instead, he became more viscous.

Seraphina let out a soft gasp when she began to feel his tongue licking her delicate earlobe, making her uneasy.

Zachary then attacked her on the lips, kissing her gently at first but the next minute, he was consumed by need, his tongue darting over her sensitive lips and teeth, causing Seraphina to let out such moans she didn't notice slipped out.

At the sound of it, Zachary was driven by hunger more than ever. His kisses became violent, completely the opposite of what Seraphina needs since she was only 19, for goodness sake, she hasn't even been kissed yet.

"Don't you want more of this for the rest of your life?" whispered Zachary, his tongue traveling down to her neck, his hands rested on top of her stomach, both his legs trapping the maiden.

Seraphina closed her eyes, shaking her head, and there she heard another one of his monstrous laughs, "Really, but this sweet body of yours says otherwise,"

Hands caressing her thigh up and down, Seraphina wanted to faint on this very spot. Shaking her head, "Pl-please stop this, Zachary, please," her voice hoarse.

But the devil dared not to listen to her pleas. She was on the verge of screaming for help despite how it'll put her reputation into ruin when Zachary acted fast, faster than her.

Seraphina could feel Zachary's touches at her side boobs, nearing down her nipples and womanhood, with that, Seraphina's tears began to fall.

At the sound of such cry, Zachary stopped in his tracks, his hands remained stiff and stared down at the tortured woman below him.

It was as if a strong wind passed by for the atmosphere abruptly altered, Zachary sat in the bed, his fingers digging into his blond hair, cursing himself over and over again.

"Shit," grunted Zachary, frustrated, full of regret over his stupidity.

The woman in the bed continued sobbing for she cannot believe Zachary would do such a thing.

After a few moments, Zachary's blue eyes filled with regret shifted back to Seraphina.

Hurriedly yet carefully, he untied her, mumbling the words, "I'm sorry," over and over again but Seraphina didn't seem to care.

Seraphina, wrapping herself with the sheet, dared not to cast a look upon the devil before her.

The devil continued to stare at her, guilt eating him alive. He badly wants to blame someone for what he did, perhaps the alcohol but he knows this is entirely his fault.

Before his lips could let out another apology, Seraphina raced him off, exclaiming, "I don't want to see your face ever again, Mr. Canning," her voice low but filled with such anger.

Nonetheless, the devil did not listen to her, instead, he wrapped his arms around her, completely enveloping her, his legs between her, his head hiding in the crook of her head, reciting the words, "I'm sorry," over and over again.

Glued in her spot, Seraphina shook her head in anger and in tiresome and was about to lead him to just leave her alone when suddenly, a loud bang can be heard downstairs.

The two shared eye contact, panic forming within both of them, Zachary's hold around her tightened.

"Stay here," mumbled Zachary and was about to leave the bed when Seraphina held his arm hard, desperate.

Zachary gaped down at her, "I'll be quick,"

Seraphina remained hardheaded, shaking her head. Despite what occurred a while ago, she cannot imagine being alone in this very chamber knowing someone or worse, the man with a burned face the other night might come back.

"Don't leave me, please," uttered Seraphin, her hand still snaking around his arm.

What happened to "I don't wanna see your face ever again," a while ago?

Despite the possibility of the girls or worse the Headmistress catching the two of them together in the middle of the night, Seraphina decided to throw such thoughts away for what's important is this.

By the time the two of them reached downstairs, Seraphina's hand was still around him, his arm encircled around her shoulder, giving her security.

Eyes surveying the area, Seraphina wondered how none of the people in the boarding school even heard the loud sound of the noise downstairs.

What is wrong with these people?

There were already in the kitchen when they ascertained the source of the noise. All the stools are on the ground and even a few of the chinas the Headmistress adores are all shattered in the ground.

What made things worse was how all the butcher knives are missing in its rightful place. She could smell trouble.

Tightening his hold around her, Zachary exclaimed the words, "This place is not safe anymore,"

" I cannot leave the school, Mr. Canning. I still have to finish my schooling,"

Running his thin fingers in his messy hair in frustration, "Your life is more important, do you understand me?"

Seraphina stood still, unknown what to do. Instead, she crossed her arm, "I know what's important for me and what's not. And you know what, what's important is for you to stay away from me,"

Zachary's mouth remained shut, looking over him, he looked crazy with his mussed hair, shirt opened at the top, eyebags and all.

Seraphina knew something was amiss. She is certain of it.

"Please tell me you're not on drugs, Mr. Canning because I swear," Seraphina exclaimed, fuming in anger inside, trying her best to contain it, she closed her eyes for a second.

Upon opening it, by the reaction of Zachary, she knew she was correct.

As far as her mind could recall, he had never engaged in such dangerous substances such as this. Perhaps, this is his way of coping with his brother's death but still...

"I beg you, Zachary, please, that's- that's the last time you'll use one, understand?" Seraphina pleaded, unconsciously addressing him by his Christian name.

He must've passed his mind since he stood there tall, wasted, staring back at her, guilt consuming every fiber of his being.

Before Zachary could respond, Seraphina raced towards her chamber upstairs, wishing Zachary won't chase her up for she is indeed growing tired of him.

Back against the door, Seraphina's mind began to drift off to a fresh memory last year. A memory she desperately wanted to get rid of but can't seem to leave her every now and then.

For it is a story of how she almost got raped just like what happened a while ago. It occurred last year, a few months before Dorian got ill.

She just came back from book shopping with Dorian in the plaza, the Headmistress then ordered all the girls to dress up since they'll all be going to the Church.

Now, you see, unlike now, Seraphina used to have a handful of friends. Friends whom she loves conversing with even during supper or so.

However, on this very Sunday, all things changed. Sydney, that's the name of her closest friend back then, their hands snaked around each other, the two of them mounted the carriage, laughed the whole journey and entered the church together.

You see, Sydney's twin brother, Scott used to always tag along with them, always making Seraphina uncomfortable. Even more uncomfortable when Zachary is around.

There is just something about Scott that Seraphina knows is trouble. Despite his good looks, academic excellence, and humor, she just can't seem to get along with the man.

Scott seems to get the hint for he began to drift away from his younger sister and her friend, satisfying Seraphina.

For that reason, Seraphina cannot help herself from hiding her surprise when there she saw Scott sitting just a few seats away from them.

"What is your brother doing here?" murmured Seraphina to her friend during the Father's sermon, her eyes still glued at the altar but her mind drifting off the staring at her.

Sydney chuckled at her, "Oh, brother is just here to check up on me. He just came back from America, you see,"

" Why don't we greet him later. Surely, you missed my brother," added Sydney and all Seraphina could ever muster is a forced smile, still feeling the unwanted gapes of Scott.

As soon as the mass finished, the Headmistress signaled hee girls to bless the Father, even converse with him on how his sermon was utterly amazing.

However, just as the girls were talking delightfully with Father, Seraphina felt someone snatched her hand and before she could even protest, another hand covered her mouth, silencing her. In just one snap, she was wholly dragged out of the place.

By the time they reached the farthest area of the church, the barn where nobody dared to walk upon, Scott inserted a ball of cloth in her mouth.

Knowing this is nothing but danger, Seraphina began to struggle but Scott just held both of her hands with such force.

She even dared to punch her in the stomach multiple times in the process, causing her to slump down into the ground.

The next thing she knows, her church frock is completely in ruins, his disgusting hands traveling around her body which made her sick.

"Don't you know how much I fantasize for this moment?" Spoke Scott, his fingers trailing over her bare arm, his eyes following them.

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know it. I know that's why you kept ignoring me these whole time but don't worry, all those made me even hungry for your bod,"

Seraphina waited for the very moment the man was distracted before she grabbed the shovel she had been eyeing the whole time and whacked it hard at Scott before running back to the Church.

That night, Dorian sneaked inside her room with a carpetbag filled with goodies when he saw wrapped around in a blanket, sobbing.

Dorian ran towards her, brushing her hair up, trying to get her attention. "What's the matter, Sep?"

Looking up to her friend, Seraphina quickly wrapped her arms around her dear friend, wetting his polo due to her tears which Dorian doesn't seem to care for.

With that, she confessed how she almost got raped by her friend's twin.

Anger consumed Dorian for that very minute, he raced towards the Headmistress' office. Not caring if his presence is unwanted and even if he knows the whole thing will spark such scandal since what in the hell is a man unrelated to Seraphina doing here in the midst of the night.

And so, Dorian knocked hard at the Headmistress' door and confronted the old lady about what just occurred back in the Church.

Due to his doings, Sydney got expelled and with the help of Dorian, Scott was immediately sent to jail later that night. It was even Dorian who chased towards the man's inn, punching him in the face hard to the point Scott now looks unrecognizable.

Tomorrow morning, the Headmistress asked, more like, ordered the Headmistress that Seraphina should by any means, not tell anybody about the raping incident for the school's reputation might be in ruin.

In exchange, the Headmistress will not disclose to anybody the presence of a man in Seraphina's chamber that very night.

It seems like this is blackmail, indeed. So, all Seraphina could ever do is agree to the truce.

In addition to that, The Headmistress also informed her that Scott, the man who almost raped her yesterday was found sobbing in his cell, his genitals chopped off.

With that, not a single girl dared to befriend her and so, she remained friendless inside the boarding school.

Sydney, who is innocent of his twin's plan, dared not to contact her ever again which somehow made Seraphina sad for Sydney had been nothing but a good friend over the years.