Chapter 25: The Embodied Shadow
That morning, which should have brought tranquility after a night of turmoil in the palace, instead enveloped Shapira in a gray fog. Her eyelids felt heavy, as if weighed down by lead, and each breath felt shallow, unable to fill her lungs. The nightmare that haunted her last night still lingered, no longer a faint shadow, but too-clear fragments of reality. The fractured crown's blood, the horrifying laughter, and those green glass eyes all spun in her mind, blurring the line between what was real and what was merely illusion. Her head throbbed, and she felt nauseous as if she had swallowed bitter poison. The moonstone necklace she had wrapped around her wrist last night now lay on the bedside table, emanating a disturbing cold aura, even though no moonlight illuminated it.
Shapira tried to get up, but her body felt weak. She stumbled to the window, pulling back the heavy curtains that obscured the view. The morning sunlight streamed in, touching her pale skin with a warmth that couldn't penetrate the chill creeping within her. The palace air, usually fresh, now felt choked by something unseen. She touched her hot forehead, feeling an overwhelming exhaustion, as if she hadn't slept at all.
A soft knock came at her door. "Shapira? Are you awake?" William's voice sounded worried from beyond the door.
Shapira started, trying to hide her condition. She took a deep breath, attempting to calm her racing heart. "Yes, Your Highness. I'm awake," she replied, her voice a little hoarse.
William entered, his dark blue eyes sweeping over Shapira with a sharp gaze. He wore more casual clothes, but his aura of authority remained palpable. A faint frown appeared on his forehead when he saw the pallor of Shapira's face. "You look ... unwell. What happened?"
Shapira tried to smile, but the smile felt bitter. "Just a little dizzy, William. Perhaps from lack of sleep." She tried to avert her gaze from the necklace on the table, hoping William wouldn't notice it.
However, William's eyes could not be deceived. He saw the moonstone necklace lying beside the bed. He walked closer, picking it up carefully. "Did you wear this last night?" his voice sounded colder.
Shapira looked down. "I only tried it on briefly. I was curious about its power. After that, I took it off."
William rotated the necklace between his fingers, the moonstone felt cold and unsettling. "I suspected as much. After you entered You room last night, the guards reported strange occurrences around your chamber. A piercing cold, some even swore they heard strange whispers. I thought it was just the wind, but seeing your condition now ...." He looked at Shapira seriously. "I'm sure this is no ordinary necklace, Shapira. This is Isabelle's doing."
Shapira was shocked. "Isabelle's doing? But why?"
"She is a cunning woman," William scoffed. "She always wanted to be queen consort. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to harm you in such a subtle way. That moonstone has most likely been enchanted. It may not be a physical poison, but something that drains your energy or disturbs your mind." William placed the necklace in a black velvet pouch, then tied it tightly. "I will take it to the Keepers for investigation. Don't touch this kind of necklace again."
Shapira nodded weakly, fear creeping over her. "I ... I had a truly terrible nightmare, William. About Princess Anya. There was blood, a fractured crown, and the laughter of a man with glass-like eyes. They were the same eyes as the figure in the black robe I saw last night at the ball."
William's face grew tense. He pulled Shapira to sit on the edge of the bed, then knelt before her, gripping her hands tightly. "Glass eyes? Are you certain?"
"Absolutely certain. They emitted a terrifying green glint, William. And that laughing voice ... he said, 'You will never escape your destiny, Anya!'"
William clenched his jaw, his eyes radiating suppressed anger. "Lucian. He must be the one who infiltrated the palace. He dared to show himself in the heart of Astellia." He stood, pacing the room. "He has begun his game. And now he's attacking you, Shapira, even in your dreams."
"But how? How could he invade my dreams?" Shapira asked, her voice trembling.
"He possesses terrifying dark magic," William explained, his eyes full of worry. "He can control memories, invade fragile minds. If that necklace was indeed enchanted by Isabelle, it could have become a conduit for Lucian to reach you. He is trying to instill fear and doubt in your heart, preying on your past trauma concerning Anya."
Suddenly, Shapira's dizziness worsened. The room walls seemed to spin, and she felt a strange wave of heat sweep over her body. The sight of William before her blurred, replaced by another image that was clearer, more real than just a dream.
She stood in a beautiful rose garden, but the aura of sadness was so dense. She wore a familiar white gown, Princess Anya's gown. Before her, stood a beautiful woman with long, flowing black hair and gray eyes filled with deep sorrow. It was Princess Anya, but this time, she did not appear transparent. She was real.
"Isolde ...." Princess Anya whispered, her voice hoarse. "Are you really going to do this?"
Another woman, with beautiful curly blonde hair and a deceptively sweet smile, emerged from behind the rose bushes. Her face was identical to Isabelle's. "Forgive me, Anya," Isolde said, her eyes glinting cunningly. "Our fates are different. William chose you, and that is something I cannot forgive. My love for him is so great, I am willing to sell my soul to the King of Darkness for him."
Anya shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But William loves me! He would never want you! You will only bring ruin upon him!"
Isolde laughed cynically. "Oh, he will. After you are gone, he will be shattered and I will be there to pick up the pieces of his heart. And King Lucian ... he will get what he wants." She pulled out a dagger with a coiled snake engraved on its hilt. "And you, Anya, will forever be a forgotten shadow."
The vision vanished as quickly as it came, leaving Shapira gasping for breath. She saw William before her again, who was now looking at her frantically.
"Shapira! What's wrong with you? You fainted!" William gripped her shoulders tightly, his face pale.
Shapira coughed, trying to compose herself. "I ... I saw it again. A vision. Anya ... and Isolde. Isabelle is Isolde! They are the same person!" Shapira gripped William's arm, her eyes radiating fear and enlightenment. "Isolde betrayed Anya, William! She was working with Lucian! And she tried ... she tried to kill Anya with a dagger!"
William froze, his body tensing. "Isolde ... so that's the truth behind all of this. Princess Isolde, Princess Anya's close friend, who disappeared after Anya's death ... she is Isabelle! I must inform the King immediately!" He tightened his grip on Shapira. "You are safe here, don't go anywhere. I will ensure the guard is tightened." He turned to the door, ready to leave.
Before William could step away, Shapira's chamber door burst open. Several royal guards rushed in, their faces tense and panicked.
"Your Highness! We apologize for the intrusion, but ... there's an attack on the northern border!" one of the guards reported, gasping for betah. "Not an ordinary attack, Your Highness. They are using dark magic. Villages are burned, residents ... they were tortured and transformed into shadow creatures!"
William's face hardened, his eyes flashing sharply. "Lucian. He didn't wait. He's attacking now." He turned to Shapira, his eyes full of regret. "I must go. I will take the best troops. You stay here, in the palace. Don't go out, don't trust anyone but myself and the King. I will assign some of my best warriors to guard you outside the door. Take care of yourself, Shapira."
William turned and rushed away, leaving Shapira alone in the chamber that felt incredibly cold. Her head was still spinning, her heart pounding. Her vision of Isolde and Anya, coupled with the sudden attack on the border, further clarified the horrific picture awaiting her. She now knew that Isabelle was the reincarnation of Isolde, a past traitor who had now returned to repeat history. The moonstone necklace, a gift from the serpent, was a gateway for Lucian to poison her mind, to make her fragile and vulnerable.
Shapira was confused. Wasn't Isolde her own mother, to the extent that the mother had made a secret door to keep her from entering it? Was it true that the dream about Isabelle was Isolde's reincarnation? Who exactly was this Isolde? And Lucian, what was their real connection? Weren't Princess Anya's parents the King and Queen of the Seraphyne Kingdom who were massacred by Isolde herself?
Outside the chamber, Shapira heard footsteps receding. Then, a deep, cold voice drifted in through the slightly ajar door.
"Princess Anya ... or Shapira. You will never escape the destiny I have written for you."
The voice belonged to Lucian. Shapira gasped, her body freezing. How could Lucian be so close? She had just heard William say that Lucian was attacking the northern border. Was it just a trick? Or did Lucian possess the power to be in two places at once, or to possess another's body?
The chamber door now creaked fully open, slowly. Dark shadows crept into the room. Shapira retreated step by step, her heart beating like a drum in her ears. In the doorway, stood a tall man in a black robe, his face hidden in shadow, but his eyes emitted a terrifying green glint, like the glass eyes she had seen in her dream. It was not merely a shadow, it was a materialized threat, real and terrifying.
"It is time for you to return to your rightful place, my love," the figure whispered, his voice echoing the tone of a cruel, unsettling laugh. "And this time, there will be no William to save you."