*******Harper's POV
The morning sunlight filtered softly through the sheer curtains, warming my cheeks, but it wasn't the light that woke me—it was the sound of my own breathing. Shaky. Uneven. Frightened.
I shot upright, gasping.
My heart pounded like it was trying to break free from my chest. Cold sweat clung to my skin. The images from my nightmare clung to me even tighter—Kael's voice, his mother's laughter, the chains, the burning sensation of someone forcing me to "use my powers," the same nightmare that had started … and had only grown worse as the wedding drew closer.
I dragged my trembling fingers through my hair.
"My Lady?"
Marielle rushed to my bedside the moment she heard me move. Concern flooded her soft brown eyes. "Another nightmare?"
I nodded weakly.
She sighed—deeply, like it hurt her to see me like this—and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"You've been having them more frequently, my Lady. I wish I knew what troubled you so much."
I forced a small smile.
"I'm okay. Really."
But even I could hear the lie in my own voice.
Marielle tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.
"Your nightmares started again last night… again after the engagement ceremony."
She hesitated, then continued softly,
"You don't have to face this alone, my Lady."
I exhaled, my chest tightening.
"…Is Kael around?"
Marielle blinked, surprised.
"You wish to see him?"
I nodded.
"Yes. I… I feel like I should talk to him."
Marielle cleared her throat lightly.
"My Lady… the groom and bride shouldn't meet before the wedding. It's a demon realm tradition. It is considered extremely improper."
A small, disappointed sigh escaped me.
"Oh. Then… I suppose I'll have to wait for the wedding day."
Marielle smiled gently.
"It's only three days away, my Lady. Soon everything will be perfect."
Perfect.
The word felt wrong—heavy—like it didn't belong in my life.
But I only nodded.
---
Author's POV — Kael's Study
Kael sat behind a towering obsidian desk, flipping lazily through scrolls filled with demonic runes. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows of his study, casting a warm glow across the polished black floors. His expression remained cold and unreadable, the sharp lines of his face carved into pure confidence.
A knock echoed.
"Enter," he commanded.
Lady Seraphina, graceful and elegant in her crimson gown, stepped inside. Her silver hair was pinned neatly, her violet eyes sharp with suspicion.
"You seem busy," she said lightly.
Kael didn't look up.
"Just preparations."
"For the wedding?" she pressed, raising a brow.
Kael paused, rolled up the scroll, and leaned back in his chair.
"Yes. For the wedding."
Seraphina approached slowly, watching him with an unreadable expression before she finally spoke.
"Kael… are you sure you're making the right decision? Marrying your enemy's cousin?"
Kael sighed, his eyes narrowing slightly before a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I'm not losing anything here, Mother," he said calmly. "I get a beautiful wife, and I lure Zareth out of whatever hole he's hiding in. Everything works in my favor."
Seraphina wasn't convinced.
She crossed her arms.
"Still… be careful. The way you act around Harper lately is strange. Soft. You look at her as if—" she hesitated, then added bluntly, "—as if you're falling for her."
Kael barked out a short, amused laugh—loud and sharp.
"Mother, don't be ridiculous."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
Kael waved a dismissive hand.
"I'm not falling for her. I'm only having fun. That's all."
Fun.
That was all she was to him. A game. A trap. A tool.
Seraphina didn't respond, but her expression hardened. Something about the way Kael spoke didn't sit well with her.
---
Author's POV — Witch's Realm Outskirts
Ellis stood under the shade of a twisted crimson tree, arms folded, her expression dark with fury.
"So that's his plan," she spat. "Using my daughter as bait to lure Zareth out… disgusting."
She had heard every word Kael had spoken through her magic.
Natalie and Vaelthor stood beside her. Ravion lingered a few steps back, leaning casually against a tree.
Vaelthor finally broke the silence.
"What is the plan now? I can't stay here for long. I must return soon."
Ellis took a deep breath.
"I've thought of something."
Natalie straightened.
"What we need," Ellis continued slowly, "is to awaken the Ravenna within Harper."
Even Ravion lifted an eyebrow.
Ellis clenched her fists.
"To do that, I must go there myself. Undercover. Getting close to Harper inside the demon castle won't be easy—we must stop the wedding from inside."
"I'll go with you," Natalie said immediately.
Vaelthor turned sharply.
"No. Natalie—"
But Natalie shook her head and cut him off.
"I want to do something for my sister for once."
Her voice trembled with conviction.
"I owe her that much. Please… go back and take care of our son."
Vaelthor's shoulders dropped. A long, heavy sigh escaped him. He hated it—but he nodded.
He turned away and stepped through Ravion's waiting shadow-portal.
Ravion let out a low chuckle.
"Well now. Will you still need my help?"
Ellis shook her head.
"No. But first tell me—what do you want in return for all the help you've given us?"
Ravion's eyes gleamed.
"What I want is Marielle."
Ellis's head snapped toward him.
"Marielle? Harper's maid? Why?"
Ravion smirked.
"How we met… is a story for another day."
Ellis let out a frustrated breath.
"Fine."
Raising her hand, Ellis conjured a floating mirror. Inside it, Harper and Marielle were seen sitting gracefully while other maids prepared clothes and jewelry for the wedding rehearsal.
Ellis whispered a spell.
Harper's eyes fluttered… then closed abruptly. She collapsed gently into the pillows.
Marielle gasped.
"My Lady?! Harper—!"
Before she could shout, Ellis cast another spell.
A flash of light engulfed Marielle—
and the girl vanished.
A heartbeat later, Marielle reappeared beside Ellis—confused, frightened.
Ellis whispered again, and Marielle's eyes glassed over. A truth-revealing spell.
"Tell me everything about Harper," Ellis commanded.
Marielle obeyed instantly, recounting all she knew—Harper's routines, her fears, her dreams, her schedule, every detail since the day Harper arrived in the demon realm.
Ellis nodded in satisfaction.
Natalie stepped forward.
"Let's go."
Ellis turned to Ravion.
"This is as far as we go together."
Ravion gave them a lazy wave.
"Good luck."
Ellis lifted her palm and murmured one final spell.
Her body shifted—bones reshaping softly, hair shortening, height adjusting. Her appearance became identical to Marielle's, from her soft brown eyes down to the faint scar on her wrist.
Natalie transformed as well, taking the form of another one of Harper's maids.
With the disguises complete, Ellis took a breath.
"Time to infiltrate Kael's castle."
'wait, mother. Who is Ravion really?'. Natalie asked Ellis.
'that's for another day. Let's go'.
The two witches stepped into the swirling black air as Ravion opened the final portal.
And just like that—
Ellis and Natalie disappeared into the demon castle.