Chapter One: The Crown and the Curse
The kingdom of Velmyra did not sleep the night the King and Queen disappeared.
All across the land, candles burned low and whispers filled the air. No one could understand how the rulers they loved—so powerful, so kind—could vanish without a trace.
Just days before, the kingdom had been full of joy. King Alvinar and Queen Rhiada ruled with both magic and mercy, and their people adored them. Their pride and joy were their sixteen-year-old twins: Prince Vandan, quiet and thoughtful, and Princess Vandaya, curious and bold. Together, they were the light of Velmyra's future.
But even the brightest light can be shadowed.
The King's stepmother, Lady Samina, lived in the palace under the pretense of loyalty. Wrapped in silks and secrets, she rarely smiled—and when she did, it was never warm. Her son, Zulin, the King's stepbrother, was a quiet figure lurking in the background, his eyes always watching. Few trusted them, but none dared speak against them.
Then came the journey.
It was a simple royal trip—one the King and Queen had made many times. They left before dawn, under a sky that felt strangely heavy, with no warning of danger. But by nightfall, no word had come.
Two days passed. Then the carriage returned—alone.
Its doors were broken, its royal seal burned. Only one guard remained alive, and his voice trembled with fear as he delivered the news:
"The King and Queen are gone."
The words struck Velmyra like a storm.
The people refused to believe it. How could rulers so strong, so good, simply vanish? No bodies. No battle. No explanation. Just a whisper of loss.
Villagers, nobles, and leaders gathered at the gates of Castle Velmyra, demanding the truth. "Let us see the twins," they cried. "Let us hear it from them. The King and Queen would not leave us like this!"
But the palace remained silent.
Inside, Prince Vandan and Princess Vandaya were shaken—and watched.
The halls of the castle had grown colder. Magic no longer shimmered in the air. The enchanted mirrors dimmed. Servants moved quietly, and no one spoke of what they feared.
And beneath the castle, far below the throne room, in chambers sealed by ancient spells…
Something old had awakened.
Something waiting.
Something watching.