Selena's POV:

Once I saw Serena, I ran up to her, wanting answers. "What did Angelina tell you? Does she know how to help me?"

Serena seemed tired and unusual. "Yeah, she can help you." Her arms were folded over her stomach, and she seemed more pale than usual.

"Serena? Are you okay?"

Serena smirked. "I'll be fine, I can handle this. If I couldn't, what kind of half demon would I be?"

I smiled. "Good. So what needs to be done so I can get better? I'll do anything."

"I know you will."

"Serena, what's wrong, really? You don't look too good."

By now, Serena was shaking, looking exhausted and almost feverish.

Serena sat on the ground, taking slow breaths. "I told you. I'll be fine. Just don't let me take over for a while unless it's an emergency. Your illness doesn't like me very much."

"I'm doing this to you?"

Serena looked up. I was looking down at her, terrified. "I don't want to hurt you..."

"Selena, it's not your fault, now take over so I can recover a little. I can't be in control. Your body thinks I'm aiding your illness and hurting you. If you take over, it'll stop. Please."

I nodded quickly, then rushed to take over again.


I awoke in the carriage, leaning on Alex's shoulder. I could see Dad out the front window, driving. I sat up, and saw Alex look over and smile at me. I smiled back at him.

"You feeling okay?" Alex asked.

I nodded. "Serena wouldn't tell me what Angelina said. She looked awful, like she was dying."

"Yeah, while she was out here with us she cried out in pain a few times. Your illness really doesn't like her being inside of you."

"I wish I could do something to help her. I hate that I'm the one doing this to her, even though I guess it's not really my fault. I just hate hurting her."

"I know. The only thing we can do for now is keep her out of control. You're body will kill her otherwise."

"I don't like this. Alex, Serena is going to die, and she wouldn't tell me what Angelina said." I quickly turned to look at Alex. "You know what she said, don't you?"

Alex hesitated, then nodded.

"Can't you tell me?"

"This is something Serena needs to tell you." I hung my head, saddened. "But hey, if you want me to, I could talk to her. I know how to get into your little world, so I could try to get her to tell you. If she doesn't tell you, maybe she'll tell me, and I could convince her."

"Really? You really think you could?"

"I could do my best, and that's all anyone ever asks for anyway." Alex smiled.

I smiled back, feeling a lot better. "I'll talk to her when we get back."

Alex nodded.

It was quiet for a moment, then I thought of something. "Alex?"

"Yes?"

"Could you stay with me tonight? If something happens, I want you to be there to help me. I don't think Finny would be able to."

Alex immediately nodded. I smiled, then leaned my head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.


I found Serena lying on the ground, surrounded by her black fog. I slowly approached her, then knelt beside her. "Serena? Are you alright?"

Serena rolled over to face me, her mist vanishing. "Yeah," she answered, "I'm fine. I'm able to think better when I block out everything else."

"Oh," I said, not sure how exactly to respond. Was she trying to block me out as well?

"So, what's up?" Serena asked, sitting up, and pulling me from my thoughts. I quickly looked her over. She seemed to be okay again, like she had recovered from my body trying to fight her. I smiled slightly, glad I hadn't done any terrible damage to her.

"I was just wondering, um..." I hesitated, not sure if she would feel comfortable answering me. I asked anyway, because I needed to know. "I was wondering when you were going to tell me what Angelina said. About helping me."

This time it was Serena's turn to hesitate. I was about to say something else, tell her that it was okay if she didn't feel like discussing it right now, when I felt myself beginning to wake up. I gave Serena a pleading glance, begging her to answer quickly.

"I can't right now, Selena. It's a lot to take in."

"But if you tell me sooner, we can talk it through together. We can help each other get rid of our doubts and make sure it's the right thing to do. I'm here for you, Serena. We are a part of each other, after all."

Serena smiled, then nodded. "You're waking up, aren't you?"

I nodded.

Serena leaned forward and hugged me. "We'll talk tonight."

"About this?"

"If I can."

I nodded, then let go and waved goodbye, before awakening.


I woke up in a dark room. I sat up and saw a small amount of light coming from a candle on a table across the room. In the dim light, I could tell we were back at the inn, and I was back in my room.

I quickly glanced around, looking for Alex. He wasn't in there. He'd promised he'd stay with me, and he'd bailed once I'd fallen asleep. No, I thought. Alex wouldn't do that. Last time you jumped to conclusions that he'd bailed on you, he was actually doing something nice for you. I decided that maybe Dad had finally decided to speak with him. I carefully got out of bed and, after blowing out the candle, left in search of everyone.

There was a large clock in the hallway. It read 4:37. So it was early morning. I considered going back to bed and pretending to have never noticed anything had happened, when I heard the creaking of a door down the hall. I froze, then slowly turned around. No one was there.

I turned back and continued down the hall. It made a left, and I followed, walking quickly. I thought I heard footsteps behind me, and I walked faster. After a short distance, I couldn't walk fast anymore. I had to lean against the wall and use it to hold myself up. I kept going, hoping to find someone.

But then the hall ended in a dead end.

I fell against the wall, unable to keep walking, and coughing. The last thing I could think of to try to protect myself was spread my wings and use them as a shield. And I did just that.

After a few minutes, I heard footsteps, then a gasp.

"Mistress?"

Curious, I peeked through my wings. There was a girl, maybe 16, slowly approaching me. She wore a black and white maid's gown and looked at me worriedly. I closed my wings.

I heard her approach, and I started shaking in fear. Who was she? Why did she call me mistress? What was going on?

"Don't be afraid, miss. Let me help you."

I opened my wings slightly, so I could see her knelt beside me. She was sadly smiling at me, trying to make eye contact.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Samantha. I work here. Miss, everyone here has known your father for a very long time."

"You're all demons?"

"Yes, miss."

I opened my wings a bit more, and Samantha's smile brightened. "Everyone has been looking for you. Why were you hiding here?"

"I... just wanted to get out of the room for a bit. No big deal," I lied. I wasn't going to tell someone that I had just met and didn't fully trust that I had thought I was being followed. I decided to tell whoever entered my room first after I got back that I trusted.

Samantha didn't seem to believe my lie, but didn't ask questions. She offered me her hand. "Let me help you back to your room, miss."

Hesitantly, I took her hand and let her pull me to my feet. I tucked away my wings and let her lead me back to my room.

"I'll have the guards search the building and the surrounding yards," Samantha said.

I nodded, then we walked in silence to my room.