*****Harper
The castle had been restless for days, filled with the sound of rehearsals, fabric rustling, and echoing footsteps. The Banquet of Blood—or as Ellis called it, the Banquet of Shadows—was only a day away. Everyone was preparing, and so was I.
Every morning, I joined the maids in the grand hall as they taught me the official dance. The movements were precise and disciplined, like a ritual of blades and grace. But when night came and the halls grew silent, I practiced the dance Ellis had taught me—the forbidden one. The two dances clashed in rhythm and form, one drenched in blood and authority, the other cloaked in mystery and shadows. Yet, I couldn't stop. Something inside me whispered that both held the key to my fate.
No one knew what I was doing. No one could. I'd become good at hiding things lately—my fears, my doubts, my secrets. Especially after what happened with Kael and that demon lord, Azragoth. I still couldn't forget the chill in Kael's eyes when he said nothing after hearing I was a threat to his existence.
But still… he hadn't hurt me. Not yet.
The thought offered a small comfort as I practiced one last step, spinning until the world blurred. My hair whipped across my face, and I stopped, breathing hard, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
"Who are you really, Harper?" I muttered to myself. "And why does everyone keep acting like I'm the key to something I don't even understand?"
Before I could spiral further into thoughts, a cold gust swept through the room. The candles flickered violently, and I felt it again—that unsettling tingle at the back of my neck.
I turned sharply.
Ellis stood by the window, her silver hair swaying slightly even though the air was still. Her eyes shimmered with that same calm, mysterious power that always made me feel both safe and uneasy. But this time, she wasn't alone.
Standing beside her was him.
"Vaelthor?" I blurted, instinctively stepping back. My body tensed, remembering the time he nearly killed Kael… and me. "What are you doing here?"
His lips curved into that infuriating, lazy smirk. "Relax. I'm not here to harm you. My quarrel isn't with you—it's with Kael and his despicable ways."
Despicable. The word echoed in my mind.
I frowned. "You keep saying that. Why do you hate him so much?"
Vaelthor was about to answer, but Ellis raised her hand swiftly. "Enough, Vaelthor." Her tone was soft but carried the weight of command.
Vaelthor sighed dramatically. "You always ruin the fun, Mother-in-law."
He stopped when Ellis turned her gaze on him. For the first time since I'd met him, I saw fear flicker behind his crimson eyes.
Ellis's voice softened as she looked back at me. "Harper, the answers you seek will come soon—very soon. What happens at tomorrow's banquet depends on how you handle the truth you'll learn tonight."
"The truth?" I repeated, confused. "What truth are you talking about?"
But before I could get another word out, Ellis and Vaelthor were gone. Just like that—vanished into thin air, leaving only the faint scent of iron and ash behind.
I stood there, heart pounding. Their words echoed in my mind over and over. The truth tonight. What truth? What could possibly happen at the banquet that would depend on me?
After pacing for several minutes, I decided to do the only thing I could control—calm down. I drew a bath, letting the warm water wash away the confusion and tension knotted in my chest. The water rippled softly under the candlelight, and for a brief moment, I wished I could disappear into it, like Ellis and Vaelthor had—vanish before any of this madness swallowed me whole.
By the time I got into bed, exhaustion had claimed me. My eyelids grew heavy, and despite the unease stirring in my heart, I finally drifted off.
And then—it came again.
Another vision.
The familiar sensation of falling, of darkness folding around me, swallowed me whole.
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******Author's POV
In the silent hallways of Kael's castle, Ellis and Vaelthor stood side by side. The night was deep, and the torches burned low, casting eerie shadows across the walls.
Ellis's hand glowed faintly, dark energy swirling around her fingers like smoke alive with purpose. Vaelthor watched her with curiosity and unease.
"What are you doing?" he asked finally, his tone edged with suspicion. "And why involve me in this? If Kael finds out—"
"He won't," Ellis interrupted sharply, her focus unbroken. "Everyone is asleep. I cast a silence spell over the entire castle. Not even Kael will sense this."
Vaelthor raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you casting, oh powerful one?"
Ellis's expression hardened. "A manipulation spell. It will be useful for Harper."
"Manipulation?" Vaelthor echoed, stepping closer. "You do realize such a spell can devour the caster's strength, don't you? It's dangerous."
"I know," Ellis said simply. "But Harper is immune to it. I made sure of that the last time I touched her hand."
Vaelthor tilted his head, studying her. "You planned all of this… for her?"
Ellis nodded. "She'll need it soon. There's too much at stake."
He gave a low whistle, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "You could have asked Zareth to cast it. He's got more power than both of us combined."
Ellis's jaw tightened. "Zareth would never do anything that might harm Kael. And that's precisely why I didn't ask him."
The air crackled between them. Vaelthor's crimson gaze flickered with something unreadable before he finally said, "Fine. I'll help. But I want to know one thing before I do."
Ellis glanced at him. "Ask."
Vaelthor's usual smirk faded, replaced with genuine curiosity. "Why are you doing all this for a girl you've never met before? You know this spell could drain your life force."
Ellis's expression softened, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't need to know why, Vaelthor. Just know this—" she lifted her glowing hand higher, the light now bright enough to illuminate the hallway— "I will do anything for Harper."
Vaelthor watched her in silence, for once without a word or smirk to offer. The spell began to hum through the walls, shadows curling and twisting as Ellis closed her eyes and began to chant.
Outside the castle, the wind howled as if the world itself could sense what was coming.
And far away, in her sleep, Harper's heart began to race—her body responding to a power she didn't yet understand.