Chapter 1 – Rebirth in Shadows
Page 2 (Part 3/5)
The afternoon sun slanted low across Arcadia Oaks, drenching the streets in amber light. Most students had already fled the school grounds, scattering into cars or down sidewalks toward home. Seraphine lingered deliberately, her steps unhurried, her eyes scanning for exactly the two faces she wanted.
It didn't take long. Jim and Toby were walking together, Jim balancing a stack of books against his hip while Toby chattered animatedly about his latest video game conquest. Perfect.
Seraphine adjusted her pace, cutting across the courtyard and timing her path so that she intersected theirs at the gate. Just enough coincidence to seem believable.
"Jim! Toby!" Her voice carried just enough brightness to sound surprised, not desperate. She jogged the last few steps, letting her bag bounce at her side. "I didn't know you stayed after too."
Toby grinned immediately. "Hey! Yeah, we had some… uh, extra stuff to work on."
Jim offered a polite smile, though his tone was distracted. "Yeah, something like that."
Seraphine tilted her head, studying him. His caution hummed faintly beneath the surface, a note she could almost taste. He hadn't completely swallowed her presence yet. Not a problem—challenges made the victory sweeter.
She clasped her books to her chest and gave a small sigh. "I was hoping I'd run into someone. I'm still figuring out the walk home… Arcadia's a maze."
The plea was subtle, dressed in vulnerability. A flicker of her will pulsed outward, brushing both boys. Toby responded instantly, puffing up like a gallant knight.
"No worries! We can walk you part of the way. Right, Jim?"
Jim hesitated. His lips pressed thin, then curved into a faint smile. "Sure."
Got you, Seraphine thought.
They set off together down the neighborhood street, Toby filling the silence with his usual barrage of words. Seraphine played her role perfectly—laughing at the right moments, asking simple questions that kept Toby going. Each time, she nudged his enthusiasm higher, reinforcing his comfort with her.
But it was Jim who mattered. He walked slightly ahead, eyes darting toward alleyways, the faint edge of vigilance in his posture. Seraphine noted it all with hidden delight. He wasn't just cautious—he was carrying something. A secret.
She let her steps fall closer to him, brushing her shoulder against his as though by accident. "You always look like you're watching for something," she said softly, tilting her head. "Is it… rough here?"
Jim blinked, startled. For a second, he looked at her as though she'd peered too closely. Then he shook his head. "No. Just… keeping an eye out."
Seraphine smiled gently, lowering her voice so Toby's chatter wouldn't drown it out. "That's smart. It's nice, though… knowing someone like you's around. Makes a new place feel safer."
The ripple of her influence brushed him again, warmer this time, threading trust through his chest. She saw it in the way his shoulders eased, in the way his lips twitched toward a smile despite himself.
"Thanks," he muttered, almost shy.
Seraphine's smile widened, though inside her mind sharpened with victory.
They reached a corner where the road split. Seraphine paused, pretending to consult a small notebook she had tucked away. "Oh—this is where I'm supposed to turn."
Toby gave her a thumbs-up. "Then we'll see you tomorrow, Seraphine!"
She hesitated, biting her lip just slightly. "I… really appreciate this. I don't know what I would've done if I'd gotten lost." Her gaze lingered on Jim. "Thanks for making me feel welcome."
Again, the subtle tug. Again, the warmth coaxed into place.
Jim nodded, his voice quieter now. "Anytime."
Seraphine gave a final smile, then stepped away, letting the distance grow between them. But her thoughts lingered with satisfaction, humming like a predator that had tasted its first drop of blood.
Each encounter left her threads wound tighter around them. And soon, those threads would weave into chains.
Back in the safety of her room, Seraphine closed her eyes and let the god's gift flare. She pictured Jim's hesitant smile, Toby's eager grin, Claire's guarded eyes. All of them were moving exactly as she wanted.
She whispered into the quiet, her voice silky. "You'll all give me what I want. One way or another."
The shadows seemed to answer, pulsing with amusement.