Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]-Chapter 67: Let’s make a bet

Third-person Pov

Seraphina and Electra slipped back through the school's back gate just after 8 p.m., and Seraphina's heart raced, even though she wasn't sure if it was from the thrill of sneaking out, the lingering adrenaline from the day's escapades, or the unease that was building in her stomach.

She had to admit, even though not out loud, that the day had been fun. For a few hours, she had been just another girl exploring the bright streets of Elmeria, free from her own anxieties.

Electra had dragged her from shop to shop, through different markets, and even up to the cliff that overlooked the kingdom—her kingdom, as Electra had referred to it. It had been exhilarating, and for a moment, she'd almost forgotten about Yuna. Almost.

But as they neared the dormitories, reality settled back into her. Yuna. Seraphina still hadn't heard from her since she left without saying goodbye, even when she had called and texted her several times. And the sickest part of it all was that Electra—the very reason Yuna had to leave—was the one distracting her from that pain.

Seraphina glanced at Electra, whose confident stride didn't falter. Electra caught her looking and smirked, a cocky, knowing smile that made Seraphina's fingers itch with the urge to slap it off her face—or perhaps something else she wasn't ready to admit.

At some point during their night out, Seraphina realized exactly what Electra was doing. Electra wanted her isolated. Alone. Without Yuna or anyone else. It was all just a game to her, a ploy to make Seraphina dependent on her and to force her into a position where she couldn't say no.

And worse, it was working.

The realization made Seraphina feel sick to her stomach. She clenched her fists tightly at her sides as they walked, her nails biting into her palms. She was furious—not just with Electra, but with herself. She wanted to scream, to cry, to hit something—or maybe someone.

She was even considering hitting Electra again, but she knew it'd be suicidal, so she stopped herself.

Electra suddenly slowed her pace, turning to glance at Seraphina. "What's with the brooding face?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement. "Did I wear you out already?"

Seraphina forced a tight smile, though her nails dug deeper into her palms. "I'm fine," she said curtly, keeping her gaze fixed ahead.

Electra chuckled, clearly not convinced. "Come on, Seraphina," she drawled, stepping closer. "Don't tell me you didn't have fun today. You looked like you were having the time of your life."

For a split second, Seraphina hesitated. She had fun—she couldn't deny it, but that wasn't the point.

"That's what you wanted, isn't it?" Seraphina said suddenly, her voice sharper than she intended.

Electra raised an eyebrow, surprised by the edge in her tone. "To make me forget. To distract me."

Electra's smirk grew wider, but there was a glint of something else in her eyes—interest, maybe, or amusement. "And what's wrong with a little distraction?" she asked innocently, though Seraphina knew better. "Life's too short to dwell on things, don't you think?"

Seraphina stopped walking, forcing Electra to stop as well. She turned to face her, her hands trembling at her sides as she struggled to contain the mix of emotions churning inside her. "You're trying to isolate me, Electra," she said, her voice low. "You want me to have no one, so I'll be completely under your control. Isn't that right?"

Electra took a step closer, her lips curling into an amused smirk as she tilted her head to gaze down at Seraphina. She then reached out, placing her hand on Seraphina's cheek, her fingers tracing along the curve of Seraphina's face, and making Seraphina stiffen in response.

"What's wrong with a little control, my little dove?" she asked, and her voice was smooth and dripping with mockery as she leaned closer, her piercing eyes scanning Seraphina's face.

Seraphina's jaw tightened as her body recoiled from Electra's touch. She slapped the hand away with more force than she intended. "Stop calling me that," she snapped, her voice low but seething. "It's insulting."

Electra's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "How is it insulting?" she asked, tilting her head as if genuinely interested.

Seraphina didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward, closing the small distance between them. Her chin lifted defiantly as she stared up at Electra's towering figure, and though her heart pounded in her chest, she refused to let her fear show.

"Just because Yuna isn't here doesn't mean you've gotten what you wanted, Electra," she said, her tone stern. "You can try all you want, but you'll never have complete control over me, and you'll always have to resort to cheap and dirty tricks just to get my full attention."

Electra blinked, momentarily stunned by the harshness in Seraphina's tone. Instead of being offended, she felt a flicker of excitement, but she wasn't going to show Seraphina how much her attitude intrigued her.

A sly smile spread across her face as she stepped even closer, forcing Seraphina to tilt her head further to meet her gaze. "How bold of you, little dove," she purred. "Let's make this interesting, shall we?"

Seraphina's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?" she asked, wary of the sudden shift in Electra's tone.

Electra's smirk widened, and her eyes gleamed with amusement. "A bet," she said simply, folding her arms across her chest. "By the end of the entire month, with Yuna gone, it'll come down to two possibilities: either you'll hate me so much that you'll want to kill me, or..." Electra's voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in, her breath brushing against Seraphina's ear. "You'll fall so hopelessly in love with me that you won't know how to live without me."

Seraphina felt her cheeks flush, a mix of anger and embarrassment swelling inside her. She stepped back, putting some distance between them. "You're delusional," she spat. "I'd sooner die than fall for someone like you."

Electra chuckled, clearly unbothered by Seraphina's fiery response. "That's where the bet comes in, little dove," she said, her confidence unshaken. "I'm betting everything on the latter. By the end of this month, you'll be mine, completely and irrevocably. If you're not, I'll leave you alone like you want me to."

Seraphina rolled her eyes, her frustration boiling over. "Well then, you'd better tell your friends to start planning your funeral," she shot back. "Because if I hate you any more than I already do, I just might follow through with killing you."

Electra threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. Her amusement only fueled Seraphina's irritation, and she clenched her fists at her sides.

"You're so adorable," Electra said, reaching out to brush a strand of Seraphina's hair behind her ear. Seraphina flinched but didn't move away this time; her glare fixed firmly on Electra. "So cute," she added, her tone dripping with mock affection.

Seraphina slapped Electra's hand away again, her face burning with anger. "Don't touch me," she growled, stepping back once more.

Electra shrugged, her expression unbothered. "Suit yourself, little dove," she said nonchalantly, though the glint in her eyes showed she wasn't taking Seraphina's attitude seriously. "But remember, the clock is ticking. Let's see who wins this little game."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Seraphina standing there, her fists clenched and her heart racing. She stayed rooted to the spot, glaring at Electra's retreating figure and vowing silently that she would never let Electra win. She'd cleanse herself of whatever attraction she felt towards Electra, win the bet, and hopefully Electra would keep her word and leave her alone for good.