Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 238 238: Iris Aurelian

Electra's POV

I had been this close to burning Hunter alive.

Not because I was angry. Not because he had said anything particularly offensive. But because, for the first time in my life, a thought that wasn't mine had taken root in my mind.

"Just do it."

The thought had been so foreign, so detached from my usual instincts that it had sent an immediate chill through me. It wasn't the usual rage-fueled reaction I sometimes had when I lost control of my temper. No. This was different.

This thought had been curious. Playful, even.

It had told me to set Hunter on fire, just to see what would happen, and for a terrifying moment, I had wanted to.

The idea had settled deep, wrapping itself around my mind like a snake coiling around its prey, urging me to act on an impulse I had never felt before.

I had wanted to watch him burn. Not in a fit of rage, not in a reckless explosion of power, but slow, and controlled.

To press my palm against his smug, insufferable face and let the heat seep into his skin, down to his bones, let it ignite something deep inside him until he crumbled from within.

And that? That scared the hell out of me.

I had barely caught myself before the heat rolling off me had become visible. My fingers had tingled with the familiar sensation of power, growing stronger, and waiting for my permission to unleash itself.

It had been so close—too close. I had been standing in that office with Hunter smirking like the arrogant little pawn he was, and all I could think about was how easily I could make him disappear.

The heat had surged so fast, so violently, I was sure my eyes had changed. That molten gold with fire—my Phoenix showing itself in a way that had nothing to do with instinct and everything to do with something far darker.

And that was why I had run.

Now, I was standing outside the office, my chest rising and falling unevenly, my mind racing with the realization that something was happening to me.

Seraphina was watching me. I could feel her eyes burning into me, studying every little movement, every tiny tremor in my hands.

I let out a shaky breath, running a hand through my hair as I tried to stop myself from feeling so stressed out.

Seraphina let out a soft sigh before finally asking, "You didn't hurt him, right? You almost did, but it didn't happen, right?"

I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. "I didn't." My voice was tight. "I left before I ended up making the mistake of burning him, but I'm worried because he saw my eyes change, and he looked terrified at some point. I'm pretty sure he now knows that there's something strange about me, meaning that sooner or later, he'd find out from Queen Jella what I was."

Seraphina let out a small scoff, crossing her arms. "That doesn't matter, Electra. As long as you didn't fry him, everything's fine." She tilted her head slightly, lips twitching. "Honestly, he should be thankful you were nice enough not to give him a scar or two. The Electra I know would have branded her name on his forehead for his audacity alone."

That made me chuckle, if only a little. It was an empty sound, but it was something.

The relief in Seraphina's eyes was subtle, but it was there. She stepped closer, reaching out before I could move away, and pressed the back of her hand against my forehead. I tensed instinctively, but she didn't seem to care.

Her brows furrowed. "The heat's completely gone now."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Good."

Because the last thing I needed was another episode, and another situation where I'd almost lose control.

Seraphina lowered her hand but didn't step back. "Whatever that was, it's passed, but… Electra."

I already knew what she was going to say before she said it. "We really need to figure out what's happening to you as quickly as possible."

A frustrated sigh escaped me. "You think I don't know that?" I gestured vaguely, feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest. "I wish there was someone—anyone—who could actually explain this to me. Someone who knows what I am, why I feel like I'm going to combust every time I get too angry, and why my thoughts are suddenly being influenced by my other side."

Seraphina was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "I'm sure everything will start making sense soon."

I nearly scoffed. "That's very optimistic of you."

"Well, someone has to be," she muttered, before quickly shifting the topic. "By the way, who was that older man that left the office before you came out?"

I blinked, slightly caught off guard. "You saw him?"

Seraphina nodded. "Of course I did. I haven't left this place since you entered. Also, he was the one who told me you were inside with Hunter after he came out."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "That was General Aurelian."

Seraphina frowned. "That name sounds… familiar."

I hesitated, looking away. The same thought had been lurking in the back of my mind since I walked into that office, and he introduced himself to me.

Something about that name 'Aurelian' gnawed at the edges of my mind like an itch I couldn't scratch. It meant something, but no matter how hard I tried to dig for the memory, it remained buried, and out of reach.

"I can't figure it out," I muttered to Seraphina, frustration lacing my voice. "It's like I know the name, but I don't know how or why."

Seraphina opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get a word out, a voice suddenly spoke from behind us.

"Dad, who are these people?"

Immediately, both Seraphina and I turned on our heels, facing the source of the voice, and standing just a few feet away from us was General Aurelian, the same man, whose last name I had just been questioning in my mind, but it wasn't him who made my stomach flip with recognition.

It was the girl standing beside him.

I felt my breath catch in my throat as I took in the familiar face. Long, wavy red hair, a piercing blue eyes, and a strange presence that was nothing like the meek and innocent girl I remembered this face to be.

It was a face I had momentarily forgotten, and it was none other than Iris. Iris Aurelian.

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