Seraphina's POV

Weeks passed after my fall from the syndicate world and the humiliation from my ex-fiancée. I vowed to get my revenge no matter what. I wasn't locked up, but I didn't step out of my room either. Every night, I plotted how I would take them out one after the other for hurting me.

And when I found the perfect location to get my revenge, I immediately took action.

I walked over to my father's room silently, taking in deep breaths before pushing the door open without knocking. I heard the sound of the bathroom water running, and my smile widened when I saw Elena sitting all alone on her bed. Perfect.

Her eyes widened when she saw me, and I glanced to the side to see her letter opener sitting prettily on the desk. Grabbing it with a smile, her eyes widened even more in shock.

“What do you want? Your father is in the bathroom—”

“I'm here to see you, stepmom,” I replied with a smile as I rounded her, and before she could move, I held the letter opener against her neck, causing her to scream in shock.

My smile widened when my father stumbled out of the bathroom in worry, draped in his bathrobe, and his eyes widened when he saw me behind his beloved wife with a letter opener against her neck.

“What the hell do you think you're doing!?” My father thundered, but I simply flashed him a smile that had him stepping back in fear.

“What does it look like I'm doing, dearest father?” I questioned as I pressed the opener deeper into Elena’s throat and she screamed for help, causing me to smile in satisfaction.

“Drop that down this instant.” He ordered, and I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Make me.” I mocked him, and his gaze darkened as he started to approach me, but when I pressed the opener deep enough to draw blood, he froze while Elena kept crying in fear.

“You're in no position to give me orders, Father.” I spat, and he took a step backward with his hands raised in surrender. It was hilarious to see him care about Elena when he never treated my mother this way.

“What do you want, Seraphina?” He asked, and I finally smiled as I released my grip on the opener slightly, giving Elena a chance to breathe.

“Send me to Bastion Academy,” I stated plainly, and my father scoffed as he looked at me in disbelief.

“There's no way I will let you leave this house and soil my reputation even more.” He spat, and I hummed softly, pressing my lips into a thin line like I understood him.

“Then you won't mind me taking your wife's life, right? You know I won't hesitate to do it, right?” I threatened as I dug the opener’s tip into Elena's throat, and she screamed again when blood trickled down her chest.

“Alessandro, please! Just do it! Send her to the academy! I don't want to die like this.” She cried out and I watched father look around with a conflicted expression on his face.

“Guar—” Father started to shout, and I panicked.

“If you call anyone in here, I will slit her throat. I don't care what happens after that.” I threatened, and he shrank back in fear while my heart pounded rapidly in my chest.

Just say yes, you fucking monster.

He finally let out a sigh while Elena cried desperately, begging him to spare her life.

“You're free to leave for Bastian Academy. You can leave anytime you want. Just let Elena go.” He said, and a smile formed on my lips, but I didn't let go.

“If you try anything funny, I promise I will come back to kill both of you in your sleep. I won't hesitate like I did now. I don't mind becoming a rogue to the syndicate, I can take it.” I threatened, and my father stared at me with a heaving chest, a confused look on his face as he wondered how I had changed so much.

“I give you my word. Leave and never return. I never had an unfilial child like you.” He said sternly, and I scoffed, grateful for the fact that he said it before I did.

“And I never had a monster and backstabber as a father. I would never step foot here again.” I promised. Until I returned for my revenge, I added in my heart and left the room immediately.

Father didn't see me off when I left, and I didn't care; I didn't want to see his betraying face anyway. I departed that very day and headed for The Bastion Academy, which, to my surprise, was hidden deep in the mountains, where I almost thought we were lost on the way.

Arriving at the academy, my breath was taken away instantly by how beautiful it was. Different races walked around freely, and it felt like a dream come true. Like a freedom I had always craved.

Until I spotted them. Their stances showed that they were waiting for me. Shit. I thought I was free.

But here I was, standing with my luggage, staring face-to-face with my stepbrothers. Cristian still had a bandage over his head, an injury that I had caused a few days ago. He stared at me with contempt and anger swirling in his eyes, and I had to admit, he was hot when he wasn't spitting rubbish from his lips.

Carlo, on the other hand, stared at me silently, observing me like he always did. He didn't like me; I could feel it. But he wasn't as irrational as his dumb brother.

“Look who ran into my arms so willingly.” Cristian mocked with a twinkle in his eyes, and I met his gaze defiantly, not wanting to show how scared I was.

There was nowhere for me to hide here; besides, I was all alone in a foreign environment with no one to protect me. They could end me with a snap, and I'd be gone like a spark.

Carlo stared at me like I was a pest to be gotten rid of. Cristian clearly wanted to kill me the moment I came into their view. I just knew if he had a gun, I'd have a bullet through my head now.

Was it too late to run far away from them?