[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]
After that emotional storm, it's been a week. Grayfia's condition has improved, but not too much, as she… has been clingy.
Every ten minutes or so, she would come and sit on my lap and kiss me.
Heck, even Gabriel, in her infinite curiosity, tried to replicate it. For a moment, I was about to give in, thinking she was Grayfia—
—and that was when I felt a shadow fall over us.
"…Darling."
A voice colder than a cryogenic chamber slid down my spine.
I froze.
Gabriel froze.
Even the damn air froze.
Slowly—very slowly—I lifted my head.
Zeraphira stood there.
Arms crossed.
Eyes glowing faintly crimson.
Smile, absolutely not a smile.
"Z-Zera…?" I managed.
Gabriel squeaked, wings fluttering anxiously as she shuffled three steps away from me like a startled baby duck.
Zeraphira's gaze tracked her until Gabriel physically hid behind a chair.
Then—
That crimson gaze snapped back to me.
And lingered.
And did not look pleased.
