Clara's POV
I woke up choking, gasping for air. Cold water streamed down my hair and skin as I coughed violently, my lungs burning.
When I finally caught my breath, I froze.
I was back in my prison cell.
What…? Just moments ago, I was drowning—again. How was I still alive?
My mind spun. I thought of the first time I drowned and somehow lived. Of seeing Ciel… and the woman who looked exactly like me. Of drowning again and waking up here, still breathing.
None of it made sense.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. My body tensed.
The man in the black cloak stepped into the dim light.
"Oh, my… look at you," he said with a twisted smile. "Still alive."
His maniacal laughter scraped against my ears, and something inside me snapped.
"You bastard! You drowned me!" I shouted, forcing myself to stand. I gripped the bars hard enough for my knuckles to ache. "Why are you doing this?!"
He didn't answer right away—only laughed again before resting his hands casually against the bars.
"For your revival," he said simply.
"What?" My voice shook with confusion that again.
He slipped his gloved fingers through the gap and gripped my chin, tilting my head up so I had no choice but to meet his shadowed eyes.
"Because without you," he murmured, "I can't become who I'm meant to be."
"And who is that?" I demanded, struggling against his hold.
"The ruler of Heaven and Hell. The King."
The words sent a chill straight through me.
Then, without warning, he released me. I staggered back, heart pounding.
"You must be exhausted from the first ritual," he said lightly. "Rest before the next one begins… Clara."
He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
I sank to the floor, trembling—not just from fear of him, but from the dread of whatever was coming next.
I buried my face in my knees as sobs escaped. I never thought I'd miss that castle so much… or the people there.
And him.
Ciel.
I wished he was here. I wished I was home.
When had everything started to go so wrong?
Ciel's POV
Dawn broke over the horizon as I stood in my study.
Finally. The day had come.
I left immediately, striding through the halls until I reached the prison where Lucien was kept. I flung the door open.
"Lucien!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he said, climbing down from the bed. "It's time to save Clara."
I eyed him. "Your wings?"
"Sore," he admitted, "but strong enough to fly."
We headed toward the castle's front gates. "Jason!" I called.
In a shimmer of light, he appeared at my side.
"Any progress with Lila?"
"Not yet, Your Majesty. She's… surprisingly resistant. But give me more time—"
"No. We don't have time. Serena is the priority now."
Outside, I removed the enchantment binding Lucien's hands. "Don't even think about doing anything reckless," I warned.
"I won't," he replied seriously.
We took off, soaring over mountains, rivers, waterfalls.
"Can you still sense their spiritual pressure?" I asked.
"Yes," Lucien said, flying ahead. "We're almost there."
We reached a towering mountain. The air felt heavy with power. Lucien stopped at a certain spot and traced glowing runes into the stone. The rock shifted, revealing a hidden entrance.
"Inside," he urged.
We raced through twisting tunnels until a faint light appeared ahead. Lucien's pace quickened. "It's here."
We rushed into the chamber—
Empty.
Not a single soul. No Fallen. No Serena.
Panic gripped me. "Lucien! Where are they?!"
He stood there, frozen, his face unreadable.
I didn't wait for him to answer. I turned and ran deeper into the tunnels, searching every shadow. She had to be here. She had to be.
Lucien's POV
No… no, no, no.
They were gone.
I tore through every hall, every narrow crevice of the mountain, my heart pounding harder with each empty room.
I knew they had been here. I had seen them. Felt them.
But no matter where I searched, there was nothing.
And I was forced to accept the truth.
They were gone. Serena was gone.