*Seraphina/ Saphyra*
I do not know for how long I stood by the mirror touching my face, feeling the sharp pointy edges of my new found fangs, pulling at my strange black wings… But nothing happened.
They remained in place, taunting me like something straight out of a horror movie, freezing me with a fear so chilling it made my bones go stiff.
Was this all Lucian's doing? Was he taunting me now? Using me to satisfy some kind of creepy dark fetish?
Suddenly, the door creaked open and I lunged, not bothering to check who it was before I immediately smacked them hard in the chest.
An incoherent sound filled my ears before a man, outrageously handsome, and strangely large stepped back from me in surprise, his red eyes widening as he took in my petite frame. "What the hell, Saphyra?!" He bellowed, nursing his abdomen like I had any power to cause him real damage.
I mean… look at him!
"Why would you come at me like that?"
For a moment, I stood rooted in place, struggling to understand what was happening around me. This man in front of me, however handsome, was a complete stranger. And yet, he acted like we were buddies. You know, the type you go to spas and coffee dates with?
Not only that, but he'd also referred to me as Saphyra. Saphyra not Seraphina, my real name!
I frowned, taking a step back. "Who are you?"
At the sound of my voice, the man halted in his steps and whipped his head to look in my direction. I however didn't miss the infinitesimal widening of his eyes, or how he seemed to look at me like I was a stranger.
And then after a while, he muttered; "Ragnar. It's me Ragnar."
But I didn't know any Ragnar.
I've never met anyone with that name in my entire life.
And why the hell is he so tall? Why does he look like something straight out of a book?
And if I was being real with myself, he indeed seemed familiar in that book character kind of way—
Wait!
"Are you a kidnapper?" I spurted, making him freeze again as he tilted his head to the side, watching me closely… accessing me.
"What's a kiddynapper?"
Dumb ass!
"Did Lucian send you? Or Adrian? Or Eloise? Who sent you? I have money! A lot of it… I can give you whatever you want!"
Ragnar, or whatever his name was, laughed at that, and then planting both hands on his waist, he scoffed. "Have you been struck by a meteor, Saphyra?"
Saphyra again. My name isn't Saphyra! It's Seraphina! S.E.R.A. fucking. P.H.I.N.A!
"I think I have to bring Veythar in here," he said, a tinge of amusement lacing his voice, his eyes twinkling with a weird kind of mischief. "I've always told him that our sister is insignor, but he never listens. Now look at this!"
At that, he turned, slamming the door shut behind him as he walked away, leaving me panting and out of breath. And afraid because suddenly, everything was beginning to piece itself together.
Veythar… Saphyra… Ragnar.
These were names from the last book I'd been reading shortly before my death. The book that had fallen against me at the last minute before I passed out.
No. No. No. This cannot be true.
This cannot be happening.
This isn't real, right? RIGHT?!
And then, just when I was on the verge of hyperventilating, his last word floated into my head. "insignor," a dark dravarethian word meaning crazy that I'd learned from the said book.
And now that I think of it, everything here was just as described in the book. The gothic ambience. The boy, Ragnar… his majestic and otherworldly appearance… my appearance—
Hold on there.
He'd called me Saphyra. SAPHYRA?!
My eyes widened as I rushed back to the mirror to take in my silver hair, round bosoms which was a stark contrast to my usual miniature ones, my red eyes, rosy lips… my fangs.
Oh no, good gracious no!
I was the villainous female lead in the story. The one hated by all and sundry due to her recklessness and overly pompous nature.
Even I as a reader, hated her, so why the fuck am I here as her? How the hell did I even get here?
Just as I mulled over these things, a strange large screen suddenly appeared in front of me. I had no idea what it was but it looked like a system. And on its display page, the words; [WELCOME] flashed across the screen like warning bells.
My heart raced. I needed to find a way out of here.
If I remember correctly, a lot of people wanted Saphyra dead, and if I remained here, I would be killed way before they realize I'm not their villain.
I clicked on the arrow button on the left side of the screen and just like that, it morphed into a status screen.
[Character: Seraphina Ashford, now Saphyra Rhiaros.]
[Race: Human/ Succubus]
[Level: 1]
[Exp: 0/1000]
[Strength 10/1000]
[Agility:25/1000]
[Stamina: 10/1000]
I glared at the screen before me, wondering what the fuck this meant until suddenly, it shifted, and something else popped on the screen.
[What do you need?]
I immediately typed in: [I need to leave here.]
[You cannot, not until this simulation is over. Ask for something else.]
I frowned, chewed on my lower lip, and upon realization that my period would be here in a few days, I punched back in. [I need sanitary pads.]
[On planet Dravereth, you are a succubus and succubi do not experience menstrual periods.]
Now, I couldn't help the frown twisting my face. However, I was just about to type in another retort when the door was forcefully pried open again and this time, two large men crowded into the room.
I rolled my eyes. Guess, they do not knock in this part of the world… or galaxy. Whatever.
"That's her! I told you she's mad. She's been acting strangely since you put her on time out. She even called me a kiddyrapper."
"Kidnapper." I snapped, raising my eyes to meet the two pairs of red ones staring back at me.
"Driscaryl menteè!"
One look at Veythar had my blood going cold because suddenly, it felt like I could remember this scene from the book. This was the part where I'd hated the eldest brother the most.
His lips curled back. His curly black hair tied into a slick back at the nape of his neck made his face even more pronounced. He snapped;
"Since she hates being controlled… then I have the brightest idea on where to take her. There she'll learn manners or maybe a thing or two about our ways." He drawled, causing Ragnar to turn to him skeptically.
"And where is that?"
"The royal palace."
"The royal palace."
We said together, our voices blending together in a distorted harmony.
Veythar's eyes widened slightly, but then his lips curled into a maniacal smile. "Thank Hades that you already know. Now start getting ready, because you'll be going there in a fortnight."
Ragnar gasped, his eyes widening in horror. He was always the more protective one. The one who always loved Saphyra—me— despite her many flaws. The one who pampered her the most.
"You cannot do that, Veythar!" He growled, but the older brother simply shrugged, not bothering to spare us a glance as he stalked out of the room.
"Would you tell that to the twin kings? Because last I checked, they specifically asked for her. If you can stand against them, then go on. Just know that I'll never put myself in harm's way for Saphyra who's a menace."