Serpentine Desires

The prey

Ivan: See you in a few hours. 'grinning emoji.'

Grinning I quickly typed.

Seraphina: Waiting. 'blushing'.

After finishing my assignments, I cleared the table and reached for my clothes. My gaze landed on the sweater I had been looking forward to wearing-a chunky, knitted beige cardigan with delicate red bows scattered across the front. The V-neckline was simple, fastened down the centre with matching red buttons. It was a gift from my father, and after two years, slipping it on felt like wrapping myself in a memory. A quiet, bittersweet kind of nostalgia settled over me.

I paired it with my favourite boot-cut jeans, layering a red turtleneck underneath for warmth. The fabric hugged me in all the right places.

Standing before the mirror, I ran my fingers through my freshly washed hair. For once, it didn't resemble a bird's nest. Still, indecision gnawed at me as I debated how to style it.

After a moment, I sighed, surrendering to simplicity. I braided small sections, tying them off with tiny red bows. Perfect. A small, content smile tugged at my lips.

Applying my lip gloss, I smacked them together. I looked good actually, if I ignored the dark circles and few breakouts I tried to cover with concealer. A strange tingly sensation crawled up my stomach making me feel giddy. Date. I was going on a date for the first time in my life. Satisfied with my look, I grabbed my phone to see another text from Ivan.

Ivan: Asian or American?

I teased my bottom lip feeling all kinds of emotions.

Seraphina: Chinese. 'Chopsticks emoji.'

Calling a cab, I grinned ear to ear like a teenager getting asked out for the first time. Irony. It was my first time actually. Never in my school life or teens I ever showed interest in boys, simply because they were just horny little pigs wanting a one-night stand rather than a girl. Though I had my fair share of crushes. All of this had me distance myself away from them, and there came a time when I hated the male population altogether. This one time, a guy from my class asked me to be his girlfriend. I broke his nose.

And the next day his ex-girlfriend broke mine.

I almost laughed recalling the look on her face when I butted my head on her face knocking two of her teeth.

Anyway, the point here was- my first-ever date. Potential date.

Another forty minutes, and I stood before the towering gates of the mansion. This time, I prayed they were open-I wasn't about to relive the humiliation of scaling the wall again. Crossing my fingers, I approached, and to my relief, they parted without resistance.

Jogging up the long, stone path to the entrance, I pulled my cardigan tighter around my torso. The air here was different-colder, heavier, as if the very atmosphere carried a furtive. Maybe it was the way the mansion stood alone, swallowed by the forest, untouched by the city's warmth. Or maybe it was just me, underdressed for the creeping winter chill.

Or perhaps... it was him.

Whatever. I just needed to do my work and get the hell out of here.

Frowning, I reached for the door, only to realize it was locked. Just as I raised my fist to knock, it swung open from the other side. My knuckles nearly collided with Kyle's chest.

I jerked back, mortified, and cradled my hand awkwardly. "Good evening."

Kyle didn't respond. His gaze flicked over me before his brows dipped into a frown. Without a word, he stepped aside, allowing me in.