he washing machine, as if it had just de

mming the dial for what felt like the

orious demeanor, quivered ominously... and

n-Summoning... Nope. This time, it was just her overactive imagi

-prone hair and grappling with abandonment issues, but also

beneath a cold, unforgiving sky, a leviathan more castle than home. Everythin

en cl

umped. "

ce that sent a chill skittering down her spine, followed by a

overhead light fli

Don't you

on of soap, steam, and sizzling sparks. Water shot skyward like a geyser, fl

strap, the horrifying chaos crashing around her as a smoking pair of

led heavily in

p. Dri

the battered remains of the machine, disb

to comprehend, a single sock landed o

ed. Brea

r erupted from her lips, sharp,

ced it out of the corne

ond hand h

. had jus

halls of her uncle's mansion, the echo of wet feet agai

-perfect wife, who probably hadn't realized Seraphine still resided here. And certainly not her cou

Typ

e than modesty. Steam burns stung her skin, but she brushe

wallpaper peeled at the corners like the remnants of her sanity, the bed creaking in protest when she pl

skipped a beat. Red rimmed eyes stared back at her

W

closer, blinki

the harsh light, a strand of her r

ing. Or stress. Or the fact that sh

loud, crashing back against the bed as if

when he remembered her name, merely offered credit cards in place of conversation. Her aunt

ore year, she thought. Graduate. Di

, a crack had formed, and not

n't stop fo

hange color with

first time oddities h

ed away. How animals sometimes stared a beat too long. Once, she'd shattered

estions, so m

answers.