ELENA'S POV
AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE, 12:45AM
I leaned against the car, shivering, while Donald stood a distance away talking on the phone. I guessed he was speaking with Seraphina, and my guess was confirmed when a white car drove in and parked not too far from where I stood.
The car door opened and Seraphina rushed out to meet me.
"Se…ra…phina," I muttered in the cold, my breath fogging in the air.
She quickly placed the jacket she was holding over my shoulders.
"Are you alright?" she asked, worry clear in her voice.
Donald hurried over and bowed to Seraphina.
"Welcome, miss. I'm so sorry to have brought you out in the freezing cold."
Seraphina placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"Elena?" she said, studying my face. "Is everything okay?"
"Hazel…" I muttered, and before I knew it, I burst into tears. Tears ran down my cheeks and into my mouth, and I tasted the salt on my lips.
"I… I don't understand why it had to be Hazel. She's a good person."
Seraphina pulled me into her arms and gently rubbed my back, trying to calm me. I couldn't stop thinking that if I had been with Hazel, the accident wouldn't have happened.
I felt uncomfortable being held by her, so I pulled away and held the jacket tighter around myself.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…" I said, even though I still felt uneasy, though I couldn't explain why. Maybe it was because I was standing at an accident scene.
"It's okay," Seraphina said softly, placing her hand on my shoulder again.
My vision was still blurred from tears. I wiped my eyes, and when I turned quickly to look at her, I thought I saw a strange look on her face, something cold, but it disappeared the same moment I noticed it.
"Elena, let me take you home. You need to rest," she said gently.
"The police said they wouldn't let us pass," I said, then turned and noticed Donald was still bowing. I looked back at Seraphina, confused.
"Oh," she said calmly. "You may leave."
"Thank you, miss," Donald replied, straightening up before walking away quickly.
Seraphina cleared her throat softly.
"You shouldn't worry too much about Hazel. The best doctors are attending to her. She'll be fine."
I didn't respond. My head felt heavy, and sleep was starting to take over.
"I'll take you to my home," she continued. "When morning comes, I'll take you back. Alright?"
I stayed quiet. I didn't like the idea of resting while Hazel was fighting for her life.
"Elena, I have work to do today. It has been a long day," she added, sounding tired.
I nodded and followed her to the car. Once we got in and settled, I checked the time on my phone. It was 1:15AM.
"Drive to the mansion," Seraphina instructed.
"Yes, miss," the driver replied.
The car started, and we slowly left the accident scene behind.
****
INSIDE THE BIRCHS' MANSION, 2:00AM
Seraphina made sure I ate something when we arrived at her mansion. The servants were cleaning up after the guests from the party.
I followed her as she led the way.
"I want you to feel at home," she said, stopping in front of a room with double doors. She opened them and stepped inside, and I followed.
"Do you like it?" she asked with a smile.
I nodded, but before I could thank her, I sneezed. At that moment, my vision blurred, and the old man from my dreams appeared briefly — Greybeard, as Agnes once said my grandmother used to call him.
"FLEE," he said urgently, then vanished.
I held my head, trying to steady myself.
"If you don't like this room, I can show you another," Seraphina offered.
"It's lovely," I said quickly, realizing she misunderstood my reaction.
I looked up and met her gaze.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
"Trust me," she said, stepping closer and stopping beside me, "the pleasure is all mine."
I smiled faintly.
"Good night, Seraphina."
She hummed softly as she stepped out and began closing the doors.
"Sleep well, Elena."
The door shut, and I dropped onto the bed. The room was quiet except for the soft ticking of a clock. The steady sound slowly lulled me, and I drifted off to sleep.
*
It was freezing. Snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on my skin. I hugged myself, trying to stay warm, but it didn't help.
I looked down and saw I was wearing a thin pink dress that stopped just below my knees. I was barefoot.
Ahead of me, people were gathered, their hands moving as if they were working on something.
I walked faster, hoping to find something to cover myself. When I got closer, I saw both young and old people knitting sweaters. They all wore white, and snow had settled on their bodies, yet they kept working without stopping.
Then I felt a strange pull and followed it.
I saw a woman with her back to me, knitting a black sweater. I walked around to face her.
"Please… can I share your sweater with you?" I asked, my teeth shaking from the cold.
She looked up, and my heart stopped.
"Hazel?"
She got up from the ground and looked at me.
"How do you know my name?" she asked.
I shivered and glanced down. Snow had already covered part of her legs.
"We're best friends," I said.
She looked at me carefully.
"I can't give it to you. I'm still making it for myself."
I looked down again and saw that my toes were already buried in snow.
"Then let's share it," I said quickly. "We can hold each other and stay warm."
She paused.
"What's your name?", she asked.
"Elena," I said, but my voice shook too much.
"Elana," she repeated wrongly.
She put her knitting needle aside and opened the sweater slightly. I moved closer and held onto her.
After a while, snow fell off her knees, and she let out a tired breath.
*
My eyes flew open. What kind of dream was that?
My phone buzzed beside me. I picked it up from the stool. It was a signal from Agnes, and relief filled me.
At last, I would understand my powers and learn how to use them.