It was almost noon when Seraphina woke up, for a minute, she was in deep confusion where she was.

However, memories from revelations last night came surging back to her mind, killing her mood.

Frowning and squinting, she surveyed the chamber, searching for any sign of Zachary, and found none.

Darkness consumed the entire room for not a single candle was lit, the curtains closed.

Letting out a soft sigh, Seraphina walked around the room once more, the obscene illustrations Zachary drew were nowhere in sight. He probably cleaned it up right after their argument last night.

Just thinking about Zachary fills her with so many feelings. Some were full of anger and sadness yet Seraphina knew deep in her heart and mind, she cannot detect any hatred towards him.

Seraphina pulled back the curtains, groaned as she remembered how Zachary purposely purchased a manor near the boarding school all these years.

She found herself surveying the dresser. As Zachary stated last night, it is, indeed, filled with black clothes for her, perfect for her size.

Inside the closet, she could see everything a female could ever wear. Bonnet, drawers, chemise, stockings, gloves, ribbons, nightgowns, traveling gown, evening gown, you name it. All in the color of black.

Goodness, gracious. Truth be told, she does like his style, love even. However, she badly wants to just pay him for all these. She doesn't like the idea of anyone wasting their hard-earned money for her.

Seraphina dared not to check the desk for she knew she wouldn't like its content. She's tired of seeing naked illustrations of hers

Walking and walking, Seraphina hadn't realized she had finally left the room, fortunately, Zachary did not lock the room, even left a tray of meals on the desk with a note saying, 'Eat this. I'll be back, love,"

Customarily of Zachary, a signatory cannot be sighted.

The interior downstairs was parallel to the room upstairs. The dark wallpapers are already peeling, the furniture old and crooked. The floor in need of polishing. No paintings were hung. Curtains closed. The ceiling is filled with cobwebs.

Suddenly, Seraphina felt an urge to stop for a minute and clean the whole house. However, as her eyes began searching for the cleaning bin, she stopped in her tracks.

Asked herself, "What are you doing?"

What is she? His wife?

Groaning, Seraphina continued her tour around the battered house. In the cupboard was where Zachary's books are. Her frail fingers ran across the edges, her eyes skimming the titles.

Alas, she found nothing familiar for it solely revolved around brutal topics Seraphina dared not to name one.

However, she saw a box on the very corner of the cabinet, tiptoeing, Seraphina gingerly reached for it.

When her eyes caught the words scribbled on top of the box, her heart skipped a beat. 'for her' was what it said.

Coughing due to the dust it provided, Seraphina let her curious fingers explore the contents of the box.

Eyes widening, jaw-dropping, before she was nothing but books.

Now, what could go wrong with books?

Well, here's the thing. Seraphina knew Zachary perfectly since God knows when. One thing's for sure, she and he don't share the same taste for novels.

He isn't a fan of the novel, preferring facts and all, that's the truth while she and Dorian do love everything about novels from A-Z.

Now, how on the earth would there be a box filled with novels she vividly remembered getting excited about. She remembers Dorian reading books such as these almost every day, its pages almost battered.

Sighing, Seraphina closed the box for she knew what's this all about.

Walking around the manor more, Seraphina stumbled upon a small room next to the kitchen.

And if things couldn't get any more peculiar, there she saw numerous dolls wearing black dresses and shoes with blank faces and dirty hair in the corner.

Eyes surveying more, she spotted lots of paints in every hue your mind can conjure on top of the desk.

With that, Seraphina's mind went back to the night Zachary stunned her with a doll that looked exactly like her in her bedroom back in Avebury.

Looking around the room, she knew Zachary didn't purchase it. Seraphina was torn between being flattered since he himself crested or be frightened at such an idea.

After a minute, she proceeded to the next room. And she knew it was the last straw for she ascertained numerous blood-stained handcuffs and knives. In the corner was a chest filled with narcotics.

Under the desk were jars filled with chopped fingers, nails, eyeballs, tongues, teeth, bird wings, and much. At that very moment, Seraphina felt like vomiting.

Seraphina was on the verge of crying in anger. How could he? He promised not to get involved in such crimes such as this.

Tired, Seraphina raced back to the bedroom, almost tripping in the stairs. Inside, she hurriedly searched for pen and paper, composing a letter to her aunt.

There, she assured her that everything's fine, that she is perfectly safe with Zachary, insisting she doesn't need to fret.

She is a hundred percent sure her aunt wouldn't question her when her godson is involved. That is just how Aunt Veronica trusts Zachary.

Oh, if only she knew.

Finally, Seraphina wrote a concise and clear letter to Zachary.

This is too much. Let me please breathe, Zach. -S

With that, she left the two letters on the desk, grabbing the suitcase under the bed, swiftly grabbing whatever clothes Zachary creepily purchased into the suitcase.

She knew Zachary would send her letter to Aunt Veronica for Seraphina's sure Zachary doesn't want to worry Aunt Veronica.

She grew curious about what Zachary really got himself to. Did he really join a cult, if so, why? Why are there people chasing him, even dangling her when in fact, he wasn't part of the cult anymore.

She badly wants to know more but she knew Zach would not disclose it to her. Reasoning how it would only put her into danger.

All she knew was that he was the man behind all that is happening around her. She isn't sure if he was also the mastermind of the killings circulating.

Goodness, gracious, Seraphina felt like a fool seeking comfort from him when she was chased down by an and almost got killed when in fact, he knew it was just an act. How stupid she must've looked.

The times Seraphina panicked at the sight of him swimming in his pool of blood. Crying over his wounds when in fact, it was planned all along.

Letting him stay in her chamber for so many days for him to fully recover from the gunshots when in fact, it was just another of his ploy.

Seraphina knew she had to get out before Zachary made it home and so, Seraphina, without any clue where to head, left the house, carrying only a suitcase, her stomach growling.

Hailing a carriage, Seraphina mounted it swiftly, not waiting for the driver to step down from his seat and help her

Without any second thoughts, she heard her mouth spilled the words, "Farthest town your horse could take for the day please,"

And with that, onwards to nowhere. Seraphina allowed herself to look back to Zachary's manor, her heart aching.

However, she knew what's happening between them would do anything good for any of them.

She thought she was enough. Enough to somehow change him.

Sure, she has come to accept that side of him however that doesn't mean she'll allow him to continue that behavior.

He has to stop whatever he is doing whenever the two of them are not together. All these stalkings, killings of animals, usage of narcotics, and whatever he used the handcuffs and knives for.

Two hours in the journey, Seraphina still lies awake. She has finished counting her shillings and was lucky enough to grab an expensive pen to pay the driver.

Hopefully, he's okay with her request later. That by any means, she must not disclose anything regarding where she is to the master of the manor he found her.

Another hour went by, her mind still drifting back to Zachary. She began to wonder what had happened to him.

Is he home now? Is he searching for her? Is he furious?

Closing her eyes, she knew the answer to all those would be yes. She just hopes he'll give up immediately.

She doesn't want him tiring himself up searching for her in every corner of England.

It was past midnight when the driver told her this was all they could go, reasoning out how the horses cannot take it anymore and that he still has to go home to his family.

Thankfully, the driver dropped her off in an inn.

Inhaling and exhaling, Seraphina entered the inn, her hand trembling.

She almost cried in relief to realize the inn's keeper is a woman in her fifties. She cannot handle any pervert at this time of an hour, all alone, with zero knowledge on how to fight back.

Flashing the best smile she could muster, Seraphina strolled towards the counter, at the back of her mind, she began calling all the saints her mind could think of.

"Oh, you alone, honey?" uttered the woman, smiling yet her eyes filled with confusion and concern. Her eyes traveled around the room, perhaps looking for her chaperone.

"Good evening, Madame. Yes, I am all alone but don't worry, I am not fresh out of the schoolroom. You see, I am a fresh widow, my husband died from the flu several weeks ago, leaving me with nothing but an ill child who later on died as well," Seraphina lied, her voice low, praying the woman would buy her lie.

In an instant, the woman frowned, pity wrote across her face, saying, "Dear Lord, poor you, I haven't guessed you as a widow let alone with a child. Tell you, you still look like a child ready to have her debut in the ton,"

Seraphina forced herself to looked stunned, "Oh, Madame, you flatter me, a mere widow like me couldn't even afford bread, let alone purchase gowns,"

The woman's expression softened once more, however, at the mention of clothes, her eyes traveled around Seraphina.

Screaming at her mind for being so foolish, panic rising within her, Seraphina quickly changed the topic, "Anyway, Madame, I was just wondering if you have any jobs available here,"

With that, the woman's attention went back to her face. Thank goodness for one deep look at Seraphina's clothes, one would know it was probably worth more than a butler's annual salary. Knowing Zachary, he definitely bought the most extravagant ones.

The woman, rose her brow, "Oh, I don't know, my dear-"

"Please, Madame. I could do men's work. I could clean rooms, talk to customers, take care of the plants, in fact, I could also read and write, Madame," insisted Seraphina, her voice filled with desperation.

She knew this was her last hope. She has zero shillings here with her. She cannot survive another hour outside all alone, penniless and without any knowledge of how to fight back.

It's a dangerous world for a woman like her out there.

At the mention of being able to read and write, the woman's face lit up, "You read and write, you say? Well, my five-year-old niece is in need of a personal tutor. That child, all she thinks about is play and buy clothes here and there,"

"Madame, I promise you, I could make that niece of yours literate, that is if you hire me, Madame," uttered Seraphina, flashing another smile, beads of sweats rolling down her temple.

"Mrs...?"

"Mrs...Mrs. Canning,"

It was only when Seraphina said the name out loud when she realized her foolishness.

Goodness gracious, of all surnames, why would she think of his?

She knew she couldn't give her genuine last name for it'll only make it easier for Zachary to find her.

"Well, Mrs. Canning, you're hired. You could start tomorrow morning, I'll fetch my niece for you," replied the woman, smiling, strolling to stand before me sans the barricade, eyeing the suitcase in my feet.

"Thank you for your kindness, Madame," Seraphina blurted out, almost on the verge of crying due to happiness.

"Dear, dear, enough with your madames, you beautiful child. I prefer Mrs. Smith,"

Seraphina quickly nodded, still smiling as she picked up her suitcase and began following Mrs. Smith to her own room, she guessed.

The room Mrs. Smith gave her is small, mustard wallpapers which seem to be in a very battered state, a small bed in the corner and a dresser.

Still, Seraphina almost kneeled before Mrs. Smith for doing all these, for giving her a job despite not having a confirmation that Seraphina truly does know how to read and write.

God bless this kind of woman. An angel in disguise.

And so, for the next two weeks, Seraphina worked as a tutor to a chaotic child named Anastasia. Ay first, the child sat still in Seraphina's lap, telling her how beautiful she is, how when she grew up, she wanted that feature of her.

However, in the next meeting, Seraphina has finally managed Anastasia to sit in the chair and listen to her.

Thankfully, by the end of the week, Anastasia was halfway through learning how to read.

With that, Mrs. Smith was more than happy with the results. Even asking Seraphina if she needs a new set of sheets.

However, Seraphina responded with a mere chuckle, saying her room is fine as it is.

Thankfully, Mrs. Smith did not comment about her all-black attire. Definitely, because she thought she truly is mourning over the death of her fake husband and child.

However, in some aspect, she found her clothes perfect for her emotions for not a minute goes by when her mind kept drifting back to Zachary.

How is he?

Every now and then, a guest in the inn or even some male staff would approach her. Seraphina is well-aware of their agenda, and so, she would race towards her small chamber, lock her room, and push all her furniture against the door, praying, her heart beating loud.

In instances like this, Seraphina found herself regretting her decision in leaving Zachary all alone.

Not that she's only with him for the sake of getting the perverts away for who are we kidding, we perfectly knew Zachary is one as well.

However, these are people he doesn't know, unlike Zachary whom Seraphina knew how his mind works.

Everything was going fine aside from the numerous advances of men in the inn. Seraphina knew that despite the two weeks that passed, Zachary is still furious over her exodus.

Hopefully, he had stopped finding her and perhaps, continued with his life. At that idea, him going on in life without her, that brings so much ache in her heart.

In terms of her aunt, she knew she would not be worried since she wrote another letter telling her that all is well with Zachary and her in Bath.

Of course, Zachary wouldn't really inform Aunt Veronica that he let her only niece escape due to the fact that many are planning on killing them both due to him and also because of his own personal schemes.

Every night, she found herself feeling cold, missing the pair of arms that belong to the man whom she has to admit she has feelings for.