Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 26: Entering the Lion’s Den

Third-person Pov

Seraphina's heart was still pounding in her chest as she tried to compose herself, standing in the hallway with Electra. Her emotions were a mess, part relief from being freed from that suffocating room, part confusion at why Electra, of all people, had been the one to save her.

Tears continued to roll down her cheeks despite her best efforts to stop them, and her body was still trembling from the anxiety that had gripped her.

Electra stood in front of her, her usual confident aura surrounding her, but her expression was different now—there was something almost soft in her gaze, or at least softer than the cold look she usually wore.

"Did they hurt you?" Electra asked as though she was prepared to deal with the consequences if Seraphina said yes.

Seraphina sniffled, trying to gather herself enough to speak. "No, they didn't hurt me," she managed to say between gasps for air, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hands. "They just... dragged me out of class and locked me in that room. I-I don't even know why. They didn't say anything."

She glanced up at Electra, expecting maybe an expression of pity or something else she couldn't quite place, but instead, Electra's lips curled into a small, amused smile, though her eyes didn't lose their intensity.

It wasn't a cruel smile, though—it seemed like Electra was just amused by how worked up Seraphina was, and the thought of it almost made Seraphina feel embarrassed, as if she were overreacting.

Before Seraphina could wipe the next tear from her cheek, Electra leaned in closer, her cool fingers grazing Seraphina's face as she used her thumb to gently wipe away the tear. The contact made Seraphina freeze, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't know why her heart was beating faster—it could've been the lingering fear or perhaps something more confusing.

"I'd hug you," Electra said, still wearing that half-amused, half-serious expression, "but I don't do comforting hugs, so this will have to do." She gestured to her thumb, still brushing Seraphina's face.

Seraphina let out a nervous laugh, though her voice was shaky. "T-That's okay. I didn't expect a hug from you, anyway."

Electra raised an eyebrow at that, her lips twitching upward even more, clearly enjoying Seraphina's awkwardness. "Good. I'm not known for being the comforting type."

"I'll walk you back to your room," Electra said after noticing that Seraphina had calmed down a little. "Just in case you're worried those girls might try something again."

Seraphina stiffened at the thought of returning to her room, and without thinking, the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I don't want to go back."

Electra paused, clearly taken aback by the sudden outburst. "You don't want to go back?" she repeated, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Seraphina's cheeks flushed in embarrassment, but she quickly continued. "I just... I don't want to be alone right now, and I can't go to Yuna's room either... She's, um, busy," she stammered, trying to explain without revealing too much about Yuna's shedding.

More than anything, she couldn't bear the idea of returning to her room, where her roommates would either ignore her like they always did or, worse, judge her for the state she was in.

They had made it clear from the first day that she was an outsider, and they wanted nothing to do with her, and she couldn't handle that coldness right now.

Electra's brow furrowed slightly, as if she were trying to figure out what Seraphina was really asking. "So... where do you want to go?"

Seraphina hesitated. She knew what she wanted to say, but it felt almost absurd to ask. Her voice was small and unsure when she finally spoke. "Can I... stay with you for a while?"

Electra blinked, clearly not expecting that request. For a moment, her usual cool demeanor faltered, but she quickly masked any sign of surprise.

"Are you sure about that?" she asked, her tone shifting to something more teasing but with an underlying seriousness. "You might regret asking to stay alone with me because we might not be alone," she added, certain that Seraphina wouldn't catch what she meant.

At Electra's response, the memory of the last time she had been alone with Electra in her room flashed vividly through Seraphina's mind. She remembered Electra's lips on hers—the unexpected kiss that had left her breathless and confused.

It had been her first kiss, and like the dork she was, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since.

Her face flushed at the thought, but she swallowed her nerves and nodded. "I'm sure," she said softly, though her heart was pounding in her chest.

Electra regarded her for a long moment, her eyes scanning Seraphina's face as if trying to read her thoughts. Then, with a slow, almost predatory smile, she nodded. "Alright then, if that's what you want."

As they walked down to Electra's room, Seraphina's thoughts would keep going back to something Electra had said earlier, and the more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. With a furrowed brow, she glanced over at Electra.

"Electra?" Seraphina's voice wavered slightly as she finally spoke up.

Electra turned her head, arching an eyebrow in response. "Hmm?"

Seraphina hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer. "Earlier... you said something about us not being alone if we went to your room. What did you mean by that? Are your friends going to be there?"

Electra's lips curled into a sly smile, but she didn't respond right away. She took a few more steps before turning to face Seraphina, who had stopped walking. "What if they were? Would you mind?"

Seraphina's stomach twisted at the thought of being alone in a room not just with Electra, who was already enough to handle, but also with her intimidating group of friends. "I don't think I'd be comfortable if it's all of them. I was hoping..."

She trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence. She was hoping for what? To be alone with Electra? To understand the strange pull she felt toward her? Admitting that out loud felt too revealing, and she was sure she'd look like a fool and an obvious noob with a crush if she did.

Electra's smile widened, as if she could read every thought racing through Seraphina's mind. "Ah," she said softly, stepping closer. "So, you wanted it to be just us?"

Seraphina's face flushed, and she quickly looked away, her heart pounding. She hadn't meant to make it so obvious, but there was no taking it back now. "I… I just thought it would be easier, that's all," she mumbled, her fingers fidgeting nervously at the hem of her shirt.

The amused look in Electra's eyes told Seraphina everything she needed to know: Electra knew. She clearly knew Seraphina had a crush on her.

Electra, with that same sly smile, leaned in slightly, her voice low and teasing. "Don't worry, my friends aren't coming, but I did arrange for a bit of fun with an old friend today."

Seraphina's stomach twisted at those words. Fun? What kind of fun? Before she could even begin to wrap her mind around what Electra meant, Electra added with a wink, "Since you wanted to join me in my room, I figured it might not be a bad idea for you to watch and maybe... learn a thing or two."

Seraphina's heart nearly stopped. Watch? Learn? What exactly was she supposed to be watching? Her thoughts raced, and she could feel her hands growing clammy.

She shifted awkwardly on her feet, unsure of how to respond. "Wh-what do you mean?" she finally stammered out, her voice shaky.

Her mind was going in a million directions, and none of them made her feel any more comfortable.

Electra leaned back slightly, her smile widening as if she were enjoying every second of Seraphina's unease.

"You'll see soon enough," she replied cryptically, and Seraphina could only hope it wasn't what she was thinking.