"Ouch! Excuse , can you be more polite when—"
"Throwing soone?" Sebastian finished smoothly, voice calm enough to make want to punch him. "Miss Seraphina... I know what you’re trying to do, but this is unwise."
I blinked up at him, my hair sticking out like a dying mop. "What am I trying to do? And... Unwise? You literally threw out!"
Then his previous words sank in. "Wait... did you just call Seraphina? You know my na?!"
Sebastian’s expression barely moved, but I caught a faint flicker of... irritation? Amusent? Or perhaps both?
"Of course," he said flatly, scrolling sothing on the sleek tablet in his hand. "You’re listed in the staff directory. Seraphina Vale. Temporary contract. Administrative assistant under—"
He paused, his brow arching slightly. "Ah. That explains it."
"Explain what?" I demanded.
"That you’re still alive."
I blinked. "Excuse ?"
He gave a smile that was sohow polite and terrifying all at once. "The last phoenix who dared step into this building didn’t leave in one piece. You must have impressive survival instincts... or very poor luck."
My brain blanked.
’Last phoenix?’
Did he just imply I’m next on that list?!
"Okay," I said slowly, voice wobbling, "there’s so kind of mistake. I’m not... whatever you think I am. I’m not a phoenix. I’m not anything. I’m human! Flesh, love caffeine, and, you know... alive!"
Sebastian tilted his head. "Human?" He frowned like I’d just spoken a foreign word. "What makes us... dead?"
"No..." I held my forehead, searching for the right words. "I an I’m not a phoenix—"
He ignored , tapping on his screen. "According to your profile, you were transferred here three days ago from..." He frowned again, scrolling faster. "That’s odd. Your file’s incomplete. No background, no lineage, no skill record. Just your na."
His sharp eyes lifted, locking on . "Who are you?"
Before I could answer, he suddenly grabbed my arm, firm, unyielding and enough to make flinch in pain.
"You’re not a spy sent by the Pegasus Clan, are you?"
My mouth dropped open. "A... what now?"
He narrowed his eyes, voice low and wary. "Don’t play dumb. Those self-righteous sky dwellers would do anything to infiltrate the dragon division."
"Sky dwellers?" I repeated, staring at him like he’d just admitted to being allergic to gravity. "You an the flying horse people?"
Sebastian’s expression didn’t change. "Exactly."
I blinked once, then burst into laughter that echoed way too loudly through the pristine, marble-lined hallway.
"Oh, wow," I wheezed, clutching my stomach. "You guys really committed to the bit, huh? Pegasus Clan? Dragon Division? What is this, Mythical HR: The Office Edition?"
Sebastian didn’t even blink. His hand stayed on my arm, his face a perfect mask of suspicion and mild offense.
"Alright, where’s the cara?" I glanced around, squinting at the ceiling corners. "Co on, this is the part where you tell I’m on so hidden show, right? Like Gotcha...." I winked, "Or wait... are you live-streaming this?"
"Miss Seraphina," he said carefully, like talking to a toddler holding explosives, "there is no cara."
"Oh, please." I snorted, jerking my chin toward him. "Then what about you? What are you supposed to be? A snake? You look like the type who hisses in his spare ti."
His eyes twitched. "Excuse ?"
"You know," I continued, waving dramatically, "slithery, secretive, all ’yesss, my lord’ with a fake smile and a dagger under the desk?"
His lips thinned. "For your information, I am not a snake."
"Oh?" I tilted my head, grinning. "So what are you, then? So far I’ve heard phoenix, dragon, Pegasus... What’s next? dusa? Oh—oh! Don’t tell ... Werewolf?" I pointed at him excitedly.
He leaned forward just enough for his shadow to fall over . "Sorry to break your excitent, but I am a basilisk."
"A what?!" I instantly stepped back, raising my hand, trying to digest what I just heard. "The thing from Harry Po—uh?"
His brows knitted in annoyance. "Who is that?" He waved a hand dismissively. "Never mind. You need to leave. Effective imdiately, your temporary contract is terminated."
Sebastian straightened, eyes narrowing. "Security," he called, voice smooth and sharp, "escort Miss Seraphina Vale out imdiately. Do not let her linger."
Two burly security guards appeared in the hallway like clockwork, expressions unreadable, arms folded.
"Wait! Wait! Wait—hold on!" I flailed, backing up as if waving at them could buy so ti. "At least... at least let know... Where do I live? How am I supposed to leave if I don’t even know where ho is?"
Sebastian’s gaze didn’t soften. "Your residence is irrelevant. Step aside."
I blinked, panicked. "Irrelevant?! My clothes, my—my ran! My stuff! That can’t just vanish into thin air!"
The guards exchanged one look and stepped closer. I squeaked.
"Fine, fine, fine," I said, waving my hands frantically. "I’ll cooperate, but seriously... Could soone please tell what city, street, apartnt... Anything? Do I get a map? A GPS? A breadcrumb trail?"
Sebastian’s hand tapped the tablet. "Irrelevant."
"Irrelevant again?" I shrieked, clutching my hair. "You can’t just... Wait! Don’t walk away! At least give a hint! I swear, if I end up on a Pegasus rooftop sowhere, I’m suing!"
The guards remained silent, just waiting for the next order.
I took a deep breath. "Fine. Fine! Lead . But mark my words... I am keeping track of everything. Every step. Every door. Every... shadow. You damn basilisk, I will rember this day!"
Sebastian glanced over his shoulder with her round, sharp black eyes, "Hope you have enough ti to rember today."
"Ackk!" I shrieked the mont my legs no longer touched the floor. Those two burly security guards escorted out imdiately... One under each arm, like a very reluctant picnic basket.
They carried down the marble stairs, past bewildered employees and glossy trophies, and out through the revolving doors. For a single dramatic second I imagined a crowd, confetti, and a cheesy announcer saying, "And today’s eviction goes to..." Instead, it was just wind, sunlight, and the unforgiving slap of pavent as they deposited on the sidewalk like yesterday’s takeaway.
Before I could stand up, the sa security guards ca back and hurled a handbag at .
"Ah, thank God," I muttered, catching it awkwardly against my chest. "At least I’ve got sothing to cling to while being treated like a rejected package!"
I opened it quickly, rummaging through the bag, desperate for any hint of a clue. "Okay, great... a purse..." I pulled it out and started flipping through its contents.
Then my hand froze on sothing small and rectangular. My identification card.
I stared at it, squinting. Na... the sa. But wait... Race: Phoenix?!
"What?!" My voice cracked. I blinked, then blinked again. "I—how—? This can’t be right. I’m human! Not... not so mythical fire bird!"
But my eyes caught on another line just below it.
Disability: Unable to produce tears.
I gawked. "Hahaha! Great, just great! A phoenix who can’t cry tears! What now?!"
I threw my hands up toward the sky. "Ah, damn it! Vivian! Co out already! Stop playing your prank... I swear I might actually lose my mind if the next thing I read makes any sense!"
My voice carried farther than I realized. Sowhere down the street, a passerby gasped, then hurried off. And then another. And another.
Within minutes, I noticed flashing lights approaching. Sirens blaring. My stomach dropped.
"Wait... what?!" I yelped, clutching the purse like a life raft. "Why are there... police?!"
A squad car skidded to a stop in front of . Officers jumped out, hands on their holsters. "Ma’am, step away from the scene and calm down!" one shouted.
I spun around, trying to catch my breath. "Step away from the scene? The scene? What scene?!"
They looked serious. Very serious. I waved my arms like a flailing bird. "No, no, no! You don’t understand! I’m... I’m—look, I’m just a—uh—temporary employee! Phoenix! No! Humans! No! Ah whatever, officer, please help send back ho."
The officer tilted his head, eyes sharp and unreadable. "Raise your hands, Ma’am. And please cooperate. You are causing a public disturbance."
"Great, whatever..." I muttered, raising my hands.
The next thing I knew, I was sitting on a hard chair in a small police station room, the sll of disinfectant stinging my nose. Behind the desk, an officer tapped on a clipboard, looking completely unbothered.
Reviews
All reviews (0)