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“Don’t,” Rook snapped, leaning forward on the screen. “Don’t hide from me. You’re safe, Fina. I promise.”
“I...I don’t share...I haven’t shown...” She couldn’t get it out. Not the words to explain what this meant, not how important it was to keep her appearance a secret.
Rook held up a hand to the screen, fingers spread as if he could reach out and touch her. “I know. I understand.”
Breath coming in rapid pants and on the verge of passing out, she continued to rearrange her face.
Nose, hair, eyes. Nose, hair, eyes.
The constant shift pulled at her skin. Pinches of pain spread down her neck
“Seraphina, stop!”
Nose, hair, eyes. Nose, hair, eyes.
She couldn’t stop. Eyes stinging, she cried out. Her hands flew to her face. The agony of the nonstop morph burned. Every beat of her heart slammed into her chest.
Air. She needed air. Her hands clawed at her neck.
“Seraphina, listen to me. Listen to me,essha. You’re okay. You’ve having a panic attack.”
Her lungs burned.
“Come on. You’re scaring me. I need you to calm down. I swear on my honor I won’t tell anyone what you really look like,” Rook said.
Truth. She could hear the sincerity in his voice. She tried to drag in a deep breath and wheezed instead.
“Look at me. Hear my voice. Slow your breathing down. I’m right here with you.”
She locked her gaze on his face in desperation. The concern, the assurance in his brown eyes. Rook continued to talk in that crooning whisper. She focused on the tone more than the words. Over and over, he repeated his promise in a calm voice though she recognized the strain on his face.
Nose, hair, eyes.
Nose, hair.
Nose.
Stable. She shuddered as the morph stopped and slumped forward. Her head hit the table with a thump. Rook talked but she could hardly understand him. Her skin tingled and her fingertips were numb but her heart slowed down and her brain ceased sending adrenaline spiking through her system.
“Deep breath,” Rook instructed.
She inhaled.
“There you go, let it out.”
She exhaled.
The spots dancing in front of her vision faded and she blinked rapidly to expedite the process. Another shudder. She rubbed her aching jaw and face. “It hurts.”
“Keep taking slow breaths,” Rook said.
She did as he counseled until finally feeling as if she was back in control. Lifting her head and meeting his worried gaze, she tried a tremulous smile. Her sore lips quivered so she gave up. “That’s never happened before.”
“You had a panic attack.”
It was a new experience for Seraphina and she hoped it never happened again.
