Chapter 19: She Didn’t Call me Brother.

Chapter 19: She Didn’t Call me Brother. Asher’s POV I couldn’t sit still anymore when I heard that Seraphina was nowhere to be found. Every second that passed without knowing where Seraphina was, if she was safe, or was in real trouble. My thoughts were spiraling, making me feel frustrated. Where the hell was she? Why hadn’t anyone noticed she was missing earlier? The maid’s smug expression still haunted me, and the memory of that room... that damn room—was itched in my mind like a vivid picture. The dust choking the air, no windows, like they’d stuffed her in a coffin and called it a bedroom. Seraphina had every right to hate us. No, she had every right not to come back home ever again. I grabbed my keys and slammed the door behind me. I didn’t even know where I was driving, but I had to move. I had to do something before I lost my mind. My chest felt tight, like something sharp was pressing into it with every breath I took. My phone buzzed. I nearly dropped it when I saw Emma’s name again. Please tell me she’s back. I desperately thought. I picked up instantly. "Yeah?" "There is still no sign of her yet," Emma said in a shaky voice. "But... there was something strange going on today." "What do you mean?" "There was this black car... parked near the dorm entrance earlier. I thought nothing of it, but now that Sera is nowhere to be seen... I’m not sure anymore." A black car. A chill ran down my spine. "Did you get a plate?" "No, it left before I could get close," Emma responded in a guilty tone. I cursed under my breath. "If you see it again, take a picture. Send it to me." "Okay." I hung up and gripped the wheel tighter. My jaw was clenched so hard it ached. Whoever was behind this... I was going to find them. And when I did? They wouldn’t walk away from it. Not if they laid a single finger on her. "Wait... Is it him? Jim?" I muttered. Yes, it might be him. Jim held a grudge against Sera after what she had done to him. Without a second thought, I swirled why steering wheel and turned to the place where I could find him. And luckily I found Jim exactly where I expected... smoking his damn lungs out behind the staff quarters like he hadn’t just sold someone’s soul for some cheap beer money. He didn’t even flinch when I stepped into the alley. "Young Master Asher," he said, walking toward me. "What brings you—" I didn’t let him finish and punched him hard. My fist met his jaw with enough force to send him stumbling back into the wall. He spat blood, his eyes wide now, but still cocky. "You think you’re clever, huh?" I growled, grabbing his collar. "Where the hell is she?" "I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!" Wrong answer. I slammed him against the bricks again as the fear started to creep into his smug face. But it wasn’t enough after what he had done. "I’m going to ask one last time, Jim. Where is Seraphina?" "She left on her own that day! I had nothing to do with it!" Liar. I pulled out my phone and made the call. My fellow soldiers were already nearby, waiting for the green light, as I had told them beforehand to look for Sera. "Take him with us," I said coldly. "We’re doing this the hard way." Jim’s courageous act was shattered. "No—wait! You can’t—!" I turned to him, voice low. "You thought you could mess with her and get away with it? You really thought I wouldn’t find out? That I wouldn’t burn you down to the ground to look for her?" They shoved him in the van, rolling up within minutes, and stopped at our destination. They were military personnel, discreet and fast. The moment he was in, Jim started panicking. My unit moved like shadows... silent, brutal, and effective. They dragged him inside. No one would hear his screams in that soundproof hell. I didn’t show any mercy to him, and even care about his connection with Melissa at the moment. It only took fifteen minutes before one of my fellow soldiers stepped out. "We got it. I have sent the coordinates to your phone." I was already moving before he finished. By the time I reached the location, a godforsaken VVIP section of a building that shouldn’t have even existed. My gut was telling me that something was really fishy here. I just hope that I wasn’t late. I couldn’t be late. I rushed in with my weapon ready. But as I moved deeper into the building, a fight had already started. The door was already open where I was supposed to find Sera. I ran there to find a familiar face. Lucien. He was already there, fighting, taking down every bastard in his way. But even with all that rage behind his blows, it looked like he was barely holding on. Luckily, I hadn’t come alone. My unit charged in right behind me, backing him up without hesitation. I didn’t stop to count the bodies. I didn’t care. All I wanted and needed was to see Sera. But when my eyes finally landed on her, I froze. My breath caught in my throat, and my mind blanked. She looked like hell. She was in a worse condition than I could even imagine. And just like that, every part of me tensed. Who the hell did this to her? My lips parted, but no words came out. My fists were clenched so tight it hurt, but I just stood there, completely lost in the storm building in my chest. Then I heard her voice. "Asher." She didn’t call me brother. Just took my name like a stranger. I hadn’t expected this from her. She always used to call me brother, and it hurt! But I couldn’t do anything. I deserved this!