The Extra Wants Control

Ray pushed himself out of the chair, a predatory smile lingering on his lips. The playful banter had taken a sharp turn, leaving him with a head full of questions and a newfound respect for the woman across the table. "This was… a thought provoking conversation, I found it quite pleasant Seraphina," he said, his voice smooth as it was calm and collected.

"Let's do this again sometime. But next time, perhaps a more… candid conversation? One where you bring out your real self, Saintess." He hinted at something but Seraphina just smiled as if she didn't know what he was talking about.

The challenge hung heavy.

Seraphina then met his gaze, her eyes still closed but she was smiling. "The same could be said for you, Vampire," she countered as he smile slightly widened.

"Indeed," Ray replied, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Until next time then." He said.

He turned and strode out of the room, leaving behind a woman whose facade cracked.

The door clicked shut behind him, and the playful sweet smile vanished from Seraphina's face.

A deep frown settled on her features as her face contorted in pure uncensored disgust.

"Filthy leech," she muttered under her breath as if she was about to throw up.

" I underestimated it..." She said.

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, her mind already swirling with new plans.

This game of theirs had just begun, and she wouldn't be outplayed.

She had revealed a glimpse of her true self and Ray had only seen the tip of the iceberg.

****************

Seraphina, people saw different things in her, just like how a kaleidoscope creates changing patterns. The woman was a mystery, showing different sides of herself to different types of people.

Ask a lovestruck bard in a tavern, and he'd wax poetic about her beauty or even hair that seemed to catch the setting sun, or the way her blue eyes were purer than any clear sky or calm sea.

Ask a weary farmer tending his crops, and he would say that she's be the embodiment of kindness – a gentle soul who championed fairness and spoke for the little guy.

Even a child, skipping in the playgrounds, would tell you with certain certainty, "I want to marry her when I grow older!" or, with great admiration in their eyes, "I want to be just like her!"

Others used words like benevolent, charismatic, and generous.

Everyone loved Seraphina. They saw her as a saint, a holy person blessed by God. After all, she was practically royalty – following in the footsteps of a super important Pope! Everything she did, from her passionate speeches to helping settle arguments, just made people admire her even more. But the truth was, these labels were stuck and often coupled with the name Seraphina.

Think of Seraphina and these words would come in your mind. But again these applied to majority of the people but some knew that she was hiding the reality of herself and how much of a complicated person she was underneath.

Seraphina wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, even though people often compared her to fire. She used her power to fight for justice, just like a two-sided sword. One side protected the innocent, but the other punished the guilty really harshly, leaving everyone shocked. For bullies and liars who hurt the weak, Seraphina was a nightmare.

Her anger came fast and strong, making sure these 'bad things' never happened again gaining even more popularity and respect.

This duality, this ability to be both a beacon of hope and an executor of justice was what made Seraphina such a powerful figure.

She understood the power of perception, of crafting a narrative that resonated with the masses.

But beneath the dazzling facade, a cunning manipulative mind dwelled.

***************

[Seraphina POV]

The last stragglers of the graduation celebration walked past the building seemingly lost, their laughter fading into the horizon.

I leaned against the balcony railing, watching the vibrant crowd below partying without a care in the world... Must be nice.

My informants, a flitting sparrow and a sly alley cat, had already vanished, leaving me with the intel they'd gathered on this "Ray" character, if even that was his name. I didn't set it up so I don't know what was true and what was false.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the nature of my power, I wouldn't have pegged him as a vampire.

He blended in and moved with the ease of a seasoned socialite, his smile charming, his laughter easy. No one could notice.

Babel, the great business he'd built in just five years had grown splendidly and he did it from scratch. I'm really curious how he did it... But I'll know soon enough, afterall I'm very very patient.

Stonegate, once a shabby frontier town, was now ranked tenth in the entire continent – a meteoric rise that solidified Babel as a power to be reckoned with. And this was just in five years.

And that's why I needed him as a pawn. Babel's economic influence, its innovative technology – it was a potent tool to have at my disposal. Yet, Ray himself was a different beast. My senses, honed over years of navigating the magical world, picked up a subtle air around him how he too was patient like me. And I didn't like that.

*Crack!*

Ahh... I broke my nail.

The entire evening had been a carefully played game.

I'd subtly offered him drinks, that weren't even spiked, but he'd politely declined each time.

The physical distance he maintained, always a half-step back, spoke volumes about his cautious nature.

He was a strategist, I guess he didn't make it this far with just luck... Every move, every interaction, seemed meticulously planned.

Intriguing. Frustrating, too. My usual innocent/naive/kind charm, had the warmth that melted even the iciest hearts, seemed to have no effect on him.

This was a game of a different caliber, one where brute force wouldn't win. I don't know what he has under his sleeves... I also don't want to incur any losses.

I needed a new approach, a way to penetrate the meticulously crafted persona of Ray, the 'charismatic' businessman.

Ray.

Ray.

Ray.

Ray.

Ray Alistair. The name echoed in my mind like a catchy but irritating tune.

In our conversation, every inquiry/suggestion made was purposeful... I steered the floe of the conversation making it completely unstructured and random, searching for a crack in him. To break his facade.

When he mentioned a favorite artist, I would nonchalantly bring up a the war. Did he offer an opinion on the weather? I'd counter with talk about fashion trends – anything to throw him off balance.

But the man was a master of composure.

He played along flawlessly, weaving seamlessly between topics, his smile never faltering.

Impressive, I had to admit it. A filthy lowly vampire with such self-control – it was almost unreal if I didn't see it I wouldn't have believed.

The more unsettling was the total lack of... well, anything 'predatory' about him. He didn't look at me like something he could devour... he showed no contempt nor condensation. Not even lust in his gaze when he saw me... no subtle power plays during our conversations.

It was unnerving.

I didn't like him. Not one bit. My instincts screamed danger that I needed to be cautious. It wasn't the kind of danger of him harming me but of me falling into a trap.

There was something hidden beneath him, something he wanted to keep concealed. But that something, whatever it was, only fueled my desire to unearth it and break him... Make him a slave.

My informants were already planted and were burrowing deep within Babel's operations, little eyes and ears to gather information and secrets.

If Babel wasn't already enough... there was Null. Another beautiful creation, another powerful entity frustratingly out of reach. Which even I don't know how they work and the captured people are useless...

Why did the most interesting things always belong to others? But who am I? I am Seraphina, the Saint. I haf orchestrated the Academy's integration into my vision and have some systems in place, and I wouldn't stop here. Babel and Null would be mine too.

A plan began to take shape in my mind, a web of intrigue and manipulation. Patience was my weapon now, the slow and steady erosion of Ray's defenses.

I wouldn't force him into slavery no not yet... I'll let him think we were still partners. I would make him see the benefits, make Babel a vital and necessary part in the grand plan I was building.

And Null? Well, that was a different beast entirely. But one I was determined to tame. I still needed clues though.

At the end I'll win.

*************

Seraphina exited the building, a radiant smile gracing her features. The day's graduation festivities had left her heart brimming with warmth. As she walked, students clustered around her, their youthful faces lit with a mixture of awe and affection.

"Saint Seraphina!" a young elf boy squeaked, clutching a hand-drawn portrait towards her. "Here! It's for you!"

Seraphina crouched down to his level, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth. "Oh, this is wonderful! Thank you so much!" she exclaimed with a beautiful smile.