Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 103 103: A never before felt rage

Seraphina's POV

The moment I stepped into the classroom, my eyes locked onto her, and my blood boiled instantly. There she was—Electra—seated comfortably beside Yuna, who was supposed to be my friend.

Seeing them together made my stomach churn, and the way Yuna smiled so happily at her only made it worse. That smile should have been directed at me, but it wasn't, because I wasn't Seraphina Hook anymore.

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to stay composed as a wave of resentment ran through me. Yuna didn't know the truth. She didn't know that the person she was so gleefully chatting with wasn't exactly the sweet and thoughtful person she was hoping she'd be.

No, Yuna had no idea she was making friends with a monster—a monster who, in our real reality, had nearly drowned Yuna's twin sister and orchestrated her suspension from school.

Electra didn't deserve Yuna's friendship. She didn't deserve anyone's kindness, but here she was, sitting in my place, enjoying the sweet nature of innocent Yuna that should have been mine.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, pushing down the jealousy and anger that threatened to rise to the surface. It wouldn't do to make a scene. As much as I hated seeing Electra in my seat, I couldn't afford to let my emotions slip.

She didn't know I was aware of the switch, and I needed to keep it that way. If I acted out now, I'd only expose myself.

Electra's glare was sharp as soon as her eyes met mine. She clearly hadn't expected to see me standing at the front of her class, and the look of irritation on her face gave me a small, fleeting sense of satisfaction. At least I had managed to rattle her.

All eyes were on me—Seraphina Vale, who was clearly an unexpected and unwanted visitor. I could feel their confusion and their nervous curiosity about what I was doing here. Good. Let them wonder.

They'd soon see for themselves that I wasn't here to bother them. I was here for one reason and one reason only, and that was to speak to Electra and also see for myself how she was adapting to my life.

Clearing my throat, I straightened my posture and squared my shoulders, projecting the confidence that Seraphina Vale was known for. My voice was clear and steady as I called out to her.

"Electra."

She didn't answer right away, her glare intensifying as if daring me to explain myself and why I was calling for her.

The silence stretched for a moment, and I could see Yuna glancing between us, her expression a mixture of confusion and concern. She probably thought I was here to reprimand Electra, and the thought almost made me laugh, but I swallowed it down, keeping my expression carefully neutral.

"Would you mind coming here for a moment?" I asked, my tone as polite as it was firm. I wasn't asking. I was telling.

Electra's jaw tightened, and I could see the wheels turning in her head as she debated how to respond. She couldn't outright refuse me—not if she wanted to avoid getting on my bad side since she believed that I was just like her in this world.

Finally, she stood, her movements slow as if to assert some measure of control over the situation. "Of course," she said, her voice calm, though I could see the fire in her eyes as she made her way to the front of the class.

When she finally stopped in front of me, I didn't wait for pleasantries. "Come with me," I said, keeping my tone authoritative.

I turned on my heel, expecting her to follow without question, just as anyone in her position would, but when I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see her behind me, she hadn't moved an inch.

My annoyance flared up instantly, and I turned around to face her fully. "Did you not hear me?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

She shrugged, her arms crossed over her chest, and her expression calm. "Oh, I heard you," she said, her tone as insolent as her stance. "But I'm not exactly sure why you're calling me, so forgive me if I'm not eager to follow you around blindly."

I stared at her, disbelief flickering through me. I'd expected resistance—it was Electra, after all—but the blatant disregard for my authority was infuriating. Still, I shouldn't have been surprised. She, after all, had the mentality of an actual princess, so she would never be the type to submit willingly. If I wanted to make her submit, I'd have to stoop to her level.

I scoffed, unable to hide my anger and irritation as I spoke. "When I call for you, the only thing you need to do is obey. No questions. No hesitation."

Her response came swiftly, and the sarcasm in her response was one I couldn't miss. "Well, that's a cute sentiment, and even though I don't know how things work around here, I do believe that if you're going to pull me out of my class, especially when I'm clearly waiting for the teacher, then I think I deserve a valid reason."

Her retort hit me harder than I cared to admit, and it wasn't even what she said that pissed me off; it was how she said it—completely unfazed, and her indifference grated on my nerves. I could feel my temper rising, but I forced myself to stay composed.

I narrowed my eyes, masking my growing anger with a tight smile. "You're going to regret what you just said," I said evenly, though my voice betrayed the outrage I was desperately trying to contain.

Her lips quirked into a smirk, and I could see the flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure I will," she said, her tone dripping with mock sincerity. "But until then, I think I'll stay right here."

For a split second, I considered lashing out. The audacity, the sheer disrespect—it was more than I should tolerate, but acting on my emotions in front of the entire class would only make me look weak, and I refused to give her that satisfaction.

Instead, I took a slow breath, forcing the anger back down where it belonged.

"Fine," I said, my voice cold. "Stay. But you're going to wish you had just followed me like a good girl by the time I'm done with you."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, and I turned away before I could see any more of her insufferable expression.

***

Walking out of Electra's class, I felt an anger so consuming it almost left me breathless. My chest heaved with every step that I took, and my hands were clenched into fists at my sides.

I had never experienced anything like this before—a rage so bad, it felt foreign to me. It felt like it was clawing at the edge of my sanity, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered if this anger was even mine.

Was it a product of this new reality, or had something darker been awoken inside me?

The audacity. Electra had the gall to defy me. Someone who should have been beneath me had instead challenged me, and it had been in front of everyone.

The humiliation was like a fire in my veins, burning hotter with every passing second. I couldn't let her get away with it. I wouldn't let her get away with it.

By the time I arrived back at my class, my rage had not subsided. The moment I entered, the teacher paused mid-sentence, her eyes widening before she dipped her head in a bow of respect. I barely registered her presence, let alone her gesture.

My focus was singular as I headed to my seat, ignoring the curious glances of my classmates.

Sliding into my chair, I struggled to keep my expression neutral, but the effort was futile. The anger raging inside me was impossible to contain, and it must have shown on my face because Roxana, seated beside me, immediately leaned closer, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Seraphina," she whispered. "Are you alright? Did something happen? Did someone piss you off?"

Her question drew the attention of the others. Irina, Deena, and Penelope turned their heads toward me.

I let out a sharp breath, forcing myself to meet their gazes. Their loyalty was clearly unwavering, and I could see it in their eyes that they would do whatever I asked, no questions, no hesitation. And for the first time, I considered how I could use that to my advantage.

After all, I was now in Electra's shoes, so I might as well show Electra what it felt like to be treated the exact same way she treated others.

"How do you get someone stubborn to submit to you?" I asked, my voice colder than I intended. I didn't need to elaborate—they knew exactly what I meant.

The four of them exchanged confused glances, their brows knitting together. Roxana was the first to speak. "Who are we talking about?"

"It's the new girl," I said finally, my voice tight with frustration. "Electra Hook."