"Seraiya," Piper said knocking on the door to Seraiyas room lightly. "You need to eat sweetheart," Piper said from outside the door. No answer came from inside.
Damien suddenly appeared and Piper turned to him. He gave his mother a look of concern. Piper could only shake her head.
It had been 3 days since Amani died. Since Seraiya struck her with lightning taking Amani's wolf from her. 3 days since she killed Amani. Seraiya hadn't left her room once. She had only moved to go to the bathroom, which just so happened to be attached to her room. She hadn't said a word or even had food.
She was stuck in her own head, constantly reliving the moments before Amani's death.
She blamed herself. How could she not? It was her fault. If she hadn't been so stupid… if she wasn't so weak… if her mind was stronger… maybe Amani would still be alive. No. Amani would definitely still be alive.
Seraiya suddenly heard a noise from outside. She slowly sat up then stood up, walking to her window. She lightly put 2 fingers in her shutters and opened it just enough for her eyes to see out of.
The room was dark. Yet the light coming in from the slightly open shutter brought so much light into the room. Her eyes weren't used to it. It took her a minute to adjust.
She looked out her window, small children played in the garden. She only watched. She couldn't remember a time she was that happy.
"You can't continue to live like this Rai" Amani's voice suddenly echoed behind her. Seraiya quickly turned. "Amani," she said looking around. No one was there. Tears came to her eyes as she fell to her knees and cried.
She missed her. None of this should have happened. Why? Why did this happen? She cried. But the voice… Amani's voice was right. She couldn't continue to live like this. Amani wouldn't want her to live like this.
Seraiyas tears began to cease as she tried to hold them back. She used her bed to pull herself up off the floor before slowly walking to the bathroom.
She took off her shirt then her bra, then her pants and underwear. She then turned on the shower and stepped into the still-cold water, not even giving it a chance to heat up.
She just stood in the water. Tilting her head up and closing her eyes as the water slowly grew hotter and hotter.
"What are you doing?" Damien asked as he stared at Anya with her ear against Seraiyas door. "I'm trying to listen I think she's finally taking a shower" Anya replied not even phased by Damien's sudden approach. "You're a witch why not just do a listening or whatever type of spell?" he asked her. Anya suddenly stood up straight and tilted her head slightly. "That's a good point," she said turning to him.
"There's no point now though sounds like she just shut the shower off," he told her. "You can hear it?" Anya questioned. "Part wolf, remember? She's not the only tribrid" he answered.
"Right," Anya said stepping away from the door.
Suddenly the door to the room opened. "Is there a reason people won't leave my door alone?" Seraiya said slightly annoyed. Anya turned to her surprised. "We were worried," Anya told her simply. "Whatever," Seraiya said before walking out of her room and down the hall.
Anya looked at Damien confused, and Damien gave her the same look. Seraiya walked down the steps and straight to the living room.
"Hey kid," Aaron said turning to her. "What are you doing here?" Seraiya asked "I have something for you," he said pulling an envelope out of his jacket and holding it out to her.
"What is this?" she asked looking down at the envelope and then up at Aaron. "3 days ago I received a letter from Amani along with this envelope," he told her. "3 days ago?" Seraiya questioned. "The day she died" he answered. "The letter stated that in the event she died, I was to personally give this to you," he told her.
Seraiya took the letter from Aaron. "She knew she was gonna die?" Seraiya asked choking on her own words. "It… looks that way," he told her.
Seraiya took a step back leaning against the couch. She put her hand over her mouth as the tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Give us a minute," Piper said. Anya and Damien hid at the top of the steps and Aaron went into the kitchen.
Piper walked over to Seraiya. Seraiya looked up at Piper, "she knew she was gonna die, Mom" Seraiya said through tears. "If she knew she was gonna die why didn't she try to stop it why would she let me…. Why would she let me kill her?" Seraiya asked.
"I don't know," Piper told her. "But maybe what's in that envelope might" she added. "I don't think I can read it" Seraiya replied. "I don't think Amani would have gone to so much trouble to make sure you got it for you not to read it," Piper told her.
"But if I read this… it makes it real… it means that she really is gone… it means that I have to go the rest of my life without her and… I don't know who I am without Amani" Seraiya explained.
"You're still a tribrid… still Seraiya Mason," Piper said grabbing Seraiyas hand. "I loved her mom," Seraiya said. Piper could no longer stop herself from hugging her.
"I know," Piper said after pulling Seraiya into a hug. Piper pulled herself away and put her hands on Seraiyas cheek. "Read the letter or don't read the letter the choice is yours," Piper told her. "I'm gonna make you something to eat," she said before walking into the kitchen with Aaron leaving Seraiya alone.
Seraiya looked down at the envelope and took a deep breath. Seraiya slowly began to open the envelope and then pulled out a piece of paper.
To My Beloved Seraiya…
TO BE CONTINUED