Seraphina’s POV

Dinner with my mom passes by as we chat about school and her work. After helping with the dishes, I retreat to my room. Paige is already waiting there, sprawled across my bed with a pile of clothes.

“Come on, we’ve got to get you ready for tonight!”

I grin, feeling myself relax in the familiar comfort of hanging out with my best friend. Paige rifles through the clothes, holding up potential outfits for the bonfire. We joke around, giggling as I model absurd combinations.

I settle on a pair of tight black jeans and an off-the-shoulder red top to show off my figure. As I change, my thoughts stray back to Lucas.

“There’s no way I’m letting you think about that guy tonight,” Paige tosses clothes at me until I finish dressing. “What do you think?”

“You always pick the perfect looks. Thanks, Pai, I needed this.”

She adores her work. “You look hot! The guys at the bonfire won’t know what hit them.”

I glance back at my reflection with fresh eyes, feeling a surge of confidence at Paige’s praise. The tight jeans cling to my curves while the flowing top hints at what lies beneath. A coy smile plays on my lips as I imagine the senior boys ogling me around the campfire.

“Alright, I’m sold. Let’s do this!” I sling an arm around Paige’s shoulders.

We make our way downstairs, calling out goodbyes to my mom. As we step out into the cool night air, Paige leads me toward her red convertible parked at the curb. The top is already lowered, letting the breeze lift our hair as we climb in.

Paige peels away from the house with a squeal of tires, blasting her favorite playlist. We sing along at the tops of our lungs, waving to the few classmates we pass on the way. Her enthusiasm is infectious, capturing away my lingering worries. By the time the trees part to reveal the shoreline, I’ve lost myself at the moment.

Down by the lake, a bonfire roared against the darkness. Dozens of students milled around, chatting and laughing with red solo cups in hand. Paige pulls up and kills the engine with a flourish. Grinning, she turns to me.

“You ready to party?”

I take a deep breath, straighten my shoulders. “Hell yeah!”

We climb out of the car and make our way down to the bonfire. The heat washes over us as we got closer, the flames crackling and sparks floating up into the night sky.

Paige grabs my hands and leads us over to the cooler. “Drinks are a first order of business.” She bends down to rummage through the ice. She emerges with two bottles of beer, twisting the tops off and passing one to me.

I take a refreshing sip, scanning the crowd as more people arrived. My eyes caught on a familiar tall figure stepping out of a truck. Dean spots me at the same moment, lifting a hand in a half wave. I force a smile and look away, not ready to deal with my ex just yet.

“Ignore him.” Paige notices my expression. She tugs my arm towards the crowd. “Come on, let’s meet some new people.”

We weave our way around clusters of chatting students, the roar of the bonfire warming my skin. Paige disappears into a group, leaving me alone at the edge. I scan the faces, wondering if any seniors might pay attention to a lowly freshman, when someone taps my shoulder from behind.

Spinning around, I come face to face with Dean. His bleach-blond hair seems even lighter in the firelight. “Hey Sera,” he says with a calm smile. “Haven’t seen you in a while. How’ve you been?”

My stomach knots. Dean had been my first proper boyfriend last year, but it hadn’t ended well between us. I’d spent months trying to forget his careless smirk. “I’ve been fine.”

But Dean presses on, oblivious to my discomfort. “We should catch up, talk in private.” He gestures towards the woods that line the shore. “Come on, it’ll just be for a few minutes.”

I glance around for an escape, but Paige is still chatting animatedly with her new friends. Taking a breath to steel my nerves, I nod reluctantly. “Fine, just make it quick.”

Dean leads the way into the trees, holding branches aside for me to slip through. The sounds of laughter and music from the bonfire fade as we walk further into the forest. I regret agreeing to be alone with him.

“What do you want to talk about, Dean?” I ask, fighting to keep my voice even.

He turns to face me, the hint of a smirk on his lips. “I was hoping we could pick up where we left off. You know, get back together.”

I shake my head. “That’s not happening. We’re over.”

Dean steps closer, crowding into my space. “Come on babe, you can’t tell me there’s not still something between us.” He reaches for my hand, but I jerk away.

“Don’t call me that. And yes, I can tell you - I don’t have feelings for you.” My pulse quickens as his eyes flash with anger.

“You little tease. Led me on all this way just to reject me?” He grabs my arms, grip biting into my skin.

I struggle against his hold, panic rising in my chest. “Let me go, Dean! You’re hurting me.”

“Not until you give me what I want,” he snarls, pulling me roughly against him.

I shove at his chest with all my strength. Fear courses through me as Dean stares me down, waiting for a response. But how could he possibly know the truth? Unless...

“Who are you?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dean’s grip on my hips tightens painfully. His eyes glow an unnatural red in the darkness. “I’m just like you, darling. A damned soul. Only I ended up in a far worse place - the pit of hell itself.”

He leans in so his face is mere inches from mine. I could feel the heat radiating unnaturally from his skin. “Down there, we hear many... interesting things. Including a price on the head of a little seraphim who’s harboring the devil’s soul. I aim to collect.”

Dean lungs at me, gripping my throat tightly with burning fingers. I gasp for air as black spots dance before my eyes. Suddenly, his weight is gone - Dean has been thrown off of me with brutal force. I collapse to the ground, coughing violently.

Through watery vision, I see a blur of movement as two figures grapple viciously amongst the trees. Then a flash of orange light and Dean’s agonizing howls pierces the night. When my breathing relaxes enough to focus, I spot Lucas emerging from the shadows. His eyes blazes like hot coals as he stalks toward the barely conscious Dean.

With barely controlled fury, Lucas mutters words in an ancient tongue. Dean let out an unearthly scream as his corporeal form dissolves into wisps of dark smoke. The acrid stench of brimstone fills the air.

Lucas turns to me, his expression softening. “Are you hurt?” he asks gently, extending a hand to help me stand. My legs wobble like a newborn faun as I manage upright.

“I-I don’t think so,” I stammer, still shaking with residual terror. Lucas places a steadying hand under my arm, his touch strangely warm and comforting.

I take a shuddering breath, seeking answers to quiet the doubts screaming in my mind. “What’s happening, Lucas?”

“Hell on earth, Seraphina.” Lucas exhales, his eyes maintaining their unearthly gleam. “It seems my presence has drawn the damned to your world, seeking the power locked inside you.”

A thousand more questions swirl in my mind, but one stood out above the rest. “When you said a mortal carries your soul, your light... what did you mean?”

He pauses, his eyes gleaming brightly yet shadowed by demons within. “One remains with me still, granting these infernal abilities. But the other... it was sealed within a mortal - within you, Seraphina. Your soul carries my celestial powers. That's why the demon seeks you; with your power, they could wreak havoc on this earthly plane without opposition.”

A shudder runs through me as I process this revelation. All my life, an angel’s soul has lived inside me - and now it draws enemies from hell.

“Dean mentioned I’m a seraphim, have you heard of them?”

Lucas pauses thoughtfully. “No, but each lord has vast archives. Wrath keeps ancient magic in a hall of screams. Greed hides tomes in a maze of gold. Gluttony’s archives lie in an indulgent chamber. Sloth’s library exists only in dreams, its secrets lost. Envy and Lust conceal scrolls behind walls of desire. Any one of these might contain the knowledge we seek. Much of my own archives lie in ruins.”

I pause, wrestling with the scant knowledge I possess about the searing depths of hell. “Can we reach them?”

Lucas eyes me, a storm of contemplation in his gaze. “It’s not as simple as you wish, Seraphina.”

“Great, because simple has never really been my thing.”

Lucas sighs, concern lining his features. “For now, back to the party would be wise. Your friend will wonder where you’ve run off to.”

We make our way quietly through the forest. I steady myself against Lucas as my legs wobble. After a while, the sounds of voices and music grow louder ahead.

“Thank you for earlier.” I glance up at him. “You didn’t have to help me.”

Lucas’ fiery eyes soften as he meets my gaze. “You are carrying my soul, Seraphina. Protecting you is protecting myself.”

I chuckle lightly. “That’s reassuring.”

We emerge from the trees, greeted by the roar of the bonfire. Paige immediately spots me and rushes over.

“Sera! I was looking all over for you. Are you okay?” She frowns, taking in my pale face and shaking hands.

“I’m fine, just had a scare in the woods.” I manage a weak smile.

“Come sit by the fire.” Paige takes my arm gently. I glance back to thank Lucas, but he has disappeared into the shadows.

Paige guides me to a log near the bonfire. Its warmth washes over me, calming my frazzled nerves. Paige sits beside me, brow furrowed with concern.

“What happened out there?” she asks.

I take a shaky breath, rubbing my hands together over the crackling flames.

Where do I even begin? How can I explain the horrors of the past hour without sounding utterly insane?

“I ran into Dean,” I drawl. Paige’s eyes widen, but she stays silent, letting me continue. “He... wasn’t himself. Tried to hurt me.”

“That bastard!” Paige snaps. “Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone?”

“I’ll be fine, really. Let’s just go.” I stand up slowly, feeling weakened from the ordeal. Paige rises with me, sliding an arm around my waist supportively.

We say our goodbyes to her friends and make our way to her convertible.

The drive back to my house is quiet. Paige shoots me worried glances but doesn’t pry, sensing I’m not ready to talk yet. Her concern is comforting in its own way. When we pull up outside, she turns to hug me tight.

“Call me if you need anything, okay? I’m here for you.”

“Thanks Paige. For everything.”

She gives my hand a squeeze before I climb out. The night air is cool on my face as I walk up the front path alone. All the lights are off - my parents must already be asleep. I let myself in as quietly as possible, locking the heavy door behind me.

Leaning back against it, I exhale a shaky breath. The horrific events in the woods play on in my mind.