erenity Pines always smelled li

girl whose eyes never quite focu

moving plastic toys around becau

empty, just like

hey gave me felt like

at was mine, a small, worn p

, from a time before everythi

e scent of expensive cologne

there, tall and dark

a fist of ice sq

from my fingers and cl

er, to press into the wall,

lor of a stormy

s lips, but it did

th, like stones rolling in a r

e word w

up, I couldn't sp

started humming, ro

ep into the room

, his gaze

though his tone suggested he didn't believe it, o

as just broken into sm

e here after I told him, on my eig

rned, a const

older, powerful, a

t a hand.

oman, I pushed myself

felt warm in

ke his hand

door, towards him, because

ry SUV was silent, a

d against the door, as fa

me in the re

t," he observed, his voice casu

ty Pines, before I underst

, Marcus," I stammered, m

just a slight tig

the gates, a massive stone fortress

, opulent, and i

vies, opened the door, h

, rich and savory, a

rite meal, or

out a loud, emb

ame and terro

d over my stomac

d, tears stinging my

Room at Serenity

r "defiance," for not

ing me, his expr

, his voice soft, too soft. "Go wa

ust another fo