The air in Blackthorn Castle was heavier than usual. The walls, though ancient and cold, seemed to hum with the vibrations of something awakening. It had been three days since the incident in the hall, and yet Yuvan hadn’t spoken a word to Keven.

  Down in the archives, Vespera, draped in a deep burgundy cloak, flipped through scrolls that smelled of ash and centuries. Keven leaned against a cracked pillar behind her, arms folded, eyes never leaving her.

  “You’re wasting time, Ves,” Yuvan said harshly from the shadows, emerging with a scroll in hand. “What exactly are you hoping to find here? A bedtime story for bloodthirsty fools?”

  Vespera didn’t look up. “Truth, Yuvan. We’ve been lied to.”

  Keven stepped forward. “Don’t talk to her like that. She’s trying to protect all of us.”

  Yuvan turned to Keven, eyes glowing faintly. “You think protecting means keeping secrets from me? You think I didn’t notice what happened during the Blood Oath?”

  Keven’s voice dropped. “You weren’t ready for what that power showed us.”

  Vespera stood between them. “Stop. Both of you. If we keep tearing each other apart, we’ll be easier to destroy.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  There was a tense silence. Then, from beneath a broken slab, a low humming began. The floor cracked open slightly—revealing a staircase spiraling down into complete darkness.

  No records spoke of a room beneath the archives.

  The three of them descended cautiously. The walls whispered with an unknown language, shadows shifting with every heartbeat. At the end of the spiral, they reached a hidden mirror—framed in obsidian thorns.

  It shimmered.

  And then… Vespera saw her reflection blink independently.

  “Who are you?” she whispered.

  The reflection smiled—a cruel, knowing grin. “I’m what you’ll become if you choose wrong.”

  The mirror fractured, just slightly.

  Behind them, the door slammed shut.

  A gust of wind knocked Keven back. Yuvan rushed to the door, trying to break it open with force. “It’s sealed!”

  Vespera stepped closer to the mirror, unable to move her eyes away. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears. The face in the glass was her—but older, darker, blood dripping from her lips, a crown of bones on her head.

  And then—she screamed.

  The reflection reached out—through the mirror.

  Keven grabbed her, pulling her back just in time. The clawed hand scraped the edge of her cloak, tearing it. Yuvan’s anger erupted—shadow tendrils shot out from him, smashing the mirror to pieces. But the shards floated mid-air, glowing faintly, refusing to fall.

  One shard embedded itself into Vespera’s arm.

  She fell to the ground—blood trickling, eyes wide with something new.

  Fear.

  And just before she passed out, she whispered, “She said I must choose… soon.”

  Still breathing after that ending?

  really going on. Drop your theories (even the wild ones).

  Chapter 4 is already on its way—scheduled to drop next week.

  Nyx ??