Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 188 188: Electra's Funeral

Third-person POV

Both Electra and Seraphina stirred awake, and their eyes opened at almost the same moment, blinking against the morning light that filtered through the curtains. For a brief second, they both stayed still, as if unsure whether they were really awake or still trapped in the strange dream.

Electra was the first to move, sitting up so abruptly that the bed creaked under her. Her breaths came in short gasps, and then, without warning, she began to scream.

"No, no, no, no!" she yelled, her voice trembling with anger and desperation. She clutched her head, her fingers tangling in her hair as she rocked slightly. "Why? Why now? Why the hell did we have to wake up now?!"

Seraphina turned toward her, her heart sinking at the raw emotion in Electra's voice. Sitting up herself, she reached out as if to touch her but hesitated, unsure if Electra would even register the gesture.

"Electra," she called out as calmly as she could, her tone laced with concern.

Electra didn't seem to hear her. "I was so close," she blurted out, her voice shaky. "I was right there. Why couldn't I talk to her? Why couldn't I—" Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling with barely suppressed sobs.

Seraphina's chest tightened at the sight. She'd never seen Electra like this—so vulnerable and looking so utterly broken. Taking a deep breath, she moved closer, trying to figure out a way to get through to her.

"Electra," she called again, and this time, Electra's tear-filled eyes met hers. "I can understand that you're upset by how suddenly we woke up, but maybe… maybe we had to wake up because you were insisting on speaking to your mother."

Electra frowned, confusion momentarily clouding her frustration. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice still filled with emotion.

Seraphina offered a small, sympathetic smile. "You were trying to do something that wasn't possible," she explained. "Solara wouldn't have been able to see or hear you, no matter how hard you tried, because it wasn't real, Electra. It was just a dream, or maybe a figment of the past, but whichever way, they can't see or hear us, and you would have only hurt yourself by trying."

Electra shook her head violently, refusing to accept the words. "No," she said, her voice rising. "No, you're wrong. It wasn't just a dream, Sera. It felt real, and I didn't care if she couldn't see or hear me—I needed to try! I needed to try to talk to her. I'm sure you didn't try hard enough, but I would have, and she'd have heard me."

Seraphina sighed, leaning back slightly, as she didn't know what else to say. She was a little confused about why Electra was being this way, even though she could understand to some extent that Electra was probably emotional about seeing her birth mother.

Electra wiped furiously at her tears, her breaths coming in uneven gasps. "We need to find a way back," she said suddenly, her voice tinged with desperation. "We have to go back there, Seraphina. I need to tell her. I have to warn her."

Seraphina blinked, startled by the intensity of her words. "Warn her about what?" she asked carefully.

Electra turned to her, her tear-streaked face filled with a mix of anger and pain. "I really need to tell her not to go near him," she said, her voice trembling. "I need to tell her not to get pregnant with me."

Seraphina was momentarily speechless, unsure of what she was supposed to say in response. "Wait," she said, holding up a hand as if to physically stop the flood of emotions pouring from Electra. "Electra, what exactly are you trying to say? Why would you want to tell her not to get pregnant? Why wouldn't you want her to have you?"

Electra let out a bitter laugh, though it was devoid of humor. "You don't understand, Sera," she said, her voice cracking. "She died because of me. Giving birth to me killed her, and for what? So I could grow up with a father who's a manipulative, lying bastard and a stepmother who hates me? My father abandoned her to die, Seraphina, and he went ahead to marry that witch, Jella. I need to tell my mother to get away from him now."

Seraphina's mind raced as she tried to piece together everything Electra had just revealed. It was difficult to make sense of it all, but one thing was clear: Electra's life had been far more complicated and painful than she had ever imagined.

From what she understood, Electra's father, King Vale, had abandoned Solara—Electra's birth mother—and had married Queen Jella, and somehow, everyone believed that Queen Jella was Electra's biological mother.

The realization explained so much—Electra's bitterness whenever she talked about her family, and most of all, the terrible confession Electra had made to her days ago.

Seraphina had never fully understood how a mother could sexually abuse her own child, and she hadn't dared to press Electra for more details.

But now it all made sense. Jella wasn't Electra's biological mother, and she had hated Electra, likely because she was a reminder of Solara—a woman Jella must have despised, and yet, instead of directing her anger elsewhere, Jella had taken it out on Electra in the most vile and unforgivable way.

Seraphina's stomach churned, a mix of disgust and sadness rising in her throat. Electra's childhood must have been hell, trapped in a palace with a father who had abandoned her mother and a stepmother who loathed her.

She opened her mouth to say something, to offer comfort or reassurance, but before she could form the words, there was a knock at the door. The sudden sound startled both of them, and Electra flinched, quickly wiping at her face as though trying to compose herself.

"Who is it?" Seraphina called, her voice sharp with irritation. This was not the moment for interruptions.

The door opened before she received a reply, and Deena stepped into the room, her hair pulled back and her face set in a look of mild annoyance.

"What are you doing here so early?" Seraphina asked, her tone a mix of confusion and frustration. "It's barely morning."

Deena arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "I could ask you the same thing," she said pointedly. "I understand that you're grieving, but you shouldn't spend the night in someone's room, and you should also be preparing for the funeral that's in less than an hour."

Seraphina's brows furrowed, and she stared back at Deena like Deena had lost her mind. "What are you talking about, Deena? Whose funeral is it? I don't understand a word you're saying."

Deena scoffed, shaking her head at Seraphina like Sera had lost her mind. "Did you hit your head and lose your memory, kid? Today's Electra's funeral, Seraphina. Get out of her room and go get ready or something," she responded, and Seraphina and Electra could only stare at each other in confusion.