You Really Do Have Beautiful Eyes

I woke with a jolt, my eyes snapping open, confusion clouding my mind. The air felt thick, heavy, and there was an unfamiliar disorientation as my body slowly registered the softness of the bed beneath me. The room around me—the familiar, luxurious walls of my childhood bedroom—seemed distant, almost surreal.

I sucked in a breath, trying to clear the fog in my brain, but the ache in my head pulsed with every throb of my heart, relentless and suffocating. I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt like lead, weighed down by some invisible force.

Where am I?

My heart skipped a beat as the memories flooded back: Julian collapsing in the cafeteria, the poison, the kiss. The desperate need to save him. The moment I'd pressed my lips to his, hoping my magic would be enough, even if it meant risking my life.

"Julian?" I whispered, my voice hoarse, then louder, more frantic, "Is he okay?"

I scanned the room—no sign of him. Panic tightened around my chest, and a sharp, raw fear clawed at my insides. What had happened? Was he really okay?

Just then, the door creaked open, and before I could react, my father, Duke Richard Clarke, entered, followed by Albert and Samuel. The moment their eyes met mine, I felt the weight of relief in their gaze, but there was something else—something unsaid hanging between us.

"You're awake," my father said, his voice calm, but the exhaustion and frustration beneath it were unmistakable.

Albert stepped closer, his usual teasing smile replaced by a frown. "You scared us, Sera," he said, his tone sharper than usual, his worry tinged with anger.

Samuel stood by the door, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on me with a coldness that was almost unbearable. His face was unreadable, but there was a certain hardness in his gaze that made me shift uncomfortably.

"Is Julian..." My voice trembled, and the words rushed out in a frantic stream. "Is he okay?"

"Julian's fully recovered," my father said, his voice steady but edged with something heavy. "You saved him, and the worst has passed."

Relief surged through me, but it was immediately clouded by guilt. I had nearly killed him with my desperation. My fingers twitched, brushing over my lips—the kiss.

Heat flooded my face. I really kissed him to save him. I shouldn't have. The embarrassment burned through me, but I couldn't escape it. I had acted on impulse, and now, with everyone watching, the weight of my actions crashed down on me.

"How long was I out?" I asked quickly, trying to mask the discomfort, avoiding their eyes. I couldn't face them—especially not Albert, who had witnessed it all.

Albert's gaze softened briefly, but his voice was firm. "Two days. You... you nearly killed yourself, Sera," he said, his words laced with frustration. "We didn't know what had happened. Your magic—your magic, Sera—it saved him, but at what cost?"

My chest tightened. Magic. I had used light magic—something I hadn't even known I had. It felt like a bomb had just gone off in my chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I didn't know how to..."

My father's eyes narrowed, a mix of concern and anger flashing across his face. "It was a surprise to figure out that you had wind magic when I clearly remember you using dark magic when you were five Seraphina. But now… light magic?" His voice grew harsh. "Why didn't you tell us? You're not just hiding one power, but possibly two, if we're counting dark magic. And you risked your life—for him—when he's supposed to be protecting you."

I winced at his words, his disappointment cutting deep. But before I could respond, Albert stepped forward, his expression hardening.

"You're my sister," Albert said, voice tight. "But what were you thinking? Throwing yourself into something so reckless? What if it hadn't worked? What if you died? Julian should be protecting you, not the other way around."

I felt my stomach twist in shame, my face burning with the weight of their anger. I had acted without thinking—without telling them about my powers, without considering the consequences. But the worst part was how they were right.

Samuel's usual cool demeanor cracked just slightly. He uncrossed his arms and took a step closer, his voice low but heavy with concern. "You have no idea how dangerous this is, Seraphina," he said, his eyes searching mine, almost pleading. "You're already the first female to have magic. But now, two abilities?" He shook his head, as if processing something terrifying. "We need to understand what you're capable of before this gets out of hand."

I glanced down at my hands, feeling a cold, sickening dread settle in my gut. What if I had more abilities? What if I couldn't control them? What if I couldn't stop myself from making another mistake?

"Please tell me Julian is really okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible, a knot of fear constricting my chest again. I almost lost him.

"He's alive, Seraphina," my father answered firmly, though his anger remained. "But you put him—and yourself—at risk. You saved him, but you didn't think. And now, you have to learn to control this. Before you destroy yourself."

Relief washed over me like a wave, but it was tinged with guilt. I had risked everything, my life, my magic, and my family's trust, without fully understanding what I was doing. What if it hadn't worked? What if I hadn't been able to save him?

Albert's hand rested gently on my shoulder, grounding me. "Sera," he said softly, his voice steady. "I don't want you risking your life again. Your magic—it's dangerous. You can't just throw yourself into it. We need to help you understand it. We need to help you control it."

I nodded, my throat tight with both guilt and uncertainty. Dangerous. I hadn't meant to be reckless. I hadn't meant to risk everything, especially not Julian. But now, as my powers grew, as I learned more about what I could do, I wasn't sure what was safe anymore.

The faint burn of the poison was gone, but I could still taste the memory of the kiss, the heat of it, the power that surged between us. That moment clung to me, an unshakable shadow.

"Please…" I whispered, my voice barely audible, "Don't let this happen again."

Sammy sighed, his usual detachment softening. "We won't let it happen again, Sera. But you have to trust us. We need to help you control this. We have to."

Just then, the door creaked again, and my heart skipped. The figure who stepped into the room wasn't one I had expected.

Julian.

He stood in the doorway, looking perfectly fine, his presence enough to make my breath catch in my throat. He was here.

"Julian!" I gasped, struggling to sit up despite the heaviness in my limbs. My chest tightened with both relief and a thousand other emotions I couldn't name.

He smiled softly, the same mischievous glint back in his eyes. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he said, his grin wry but warm.

Albert, Sammy, and my father all turned to look at him, but Julian ignored them, too busy looking at me. His gaze softened, his eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place.

"You're really okay?" I whispered, my voice breaking. I had almost lost him.

"I'm fine, Seraphina," he replied, his voice steady. "Thanks to you."

A rush of heat flooded my face, and embarrassment surged through me once again. I quickly lowered my gaze. He's looking at me like that because of what I did.

But then his voice, so gentle and sincere, broke through the tension.

"I remember," Julian said, his words filled with awe and something deeper. "I remember the kiss."

My heart leapt in my chest. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do.

But Julian smiled again, his gaze soft and warm. "You saved me, Seraphina. I won't forget that."

And for the first time, despite the storm of emotions crashing through me, I felt something else too. Something undeniable. It was…love.