Sarafina POV
I woke up choking on air.
My body jerked upright like someone had yanked strings tied to my ribs. For a second, I didn't know where I was. My room blurred in and out—too bright, too sharp, too loud.
My heart hammered so violently it hurt.
Not normal.
Not human.
Not okay.
I pressed my palm against my chest, trying to force it to slow down, but my heartbeat only thrashed harder, like something inside me was fighting to break out.
"Calm down," I whispered. "Just breathe. It's fine. You're fine."
I wasn't.
The neon sign outside my window buzzed faintly, washing the room in blue. Except—every time my heart pulsed, the light flickered. In sync.
That wasn't possible.
I stood too fast. The floor tilted sideways. A wave of dizziness crashed over me, followed by heat—rising from my stomach, my spine, my throat.
Not human heat.
Not fever.
Something raw and electric.
"Please," I breathed, palms shaking. "Not again."
