Seraphina's POV
I wake up screaming.
Memories flood my mind like a dam breaking—memories that aren't mine but somehow are. I see myself as a child, but not the child I remember being. I see a palace made of moonlight. I see dragons and witches bowing before me. I see a throne carved from silver stone.
And I see the Void. Not as it is now, weak and trapped. But as it was—an endless ocean of darkness swallowing entire kingdoms.
"Breathe," a calm voice says. "The memories are overwhelming at first, but they'll settle."
I'm lying on the library floor with my head in Draeven's lap. His hand is stroking my hair gently, and the gesture is so tender it almost makes me cry.
Celestia kneels beside us, watching me with those ancient silver eyes. "Do you remember now, child?"
"I remember..." My voice shakes. "I remember being someone else. Someone important. But that's impossible. I'm only 247 years old. These memories are from a thousand years ago."
"Not your memories," Celestia says. "Mine. I've passed them to you so you'll understand what you truly are."
Draeven's hand stops moving. "What is she?"
Celestia looks at him with something like pity. "She's my successor. My replacement. When I sealed the Void, I knew the seal wouldn't last forever. So I made arrangements. I scattered pieces of my soul across the world, hidden in bloodlines, waiting for the right time to awaken."
"You put your soul in me?" I sit up too fast, and the world spins.
"Only a fragment. But yes." Celestia touches my hand. "You're not just a Luna Priestess, Seraphina. You're me, reborn. Or rather, you're what I could have been if I'd made different choices."
"What choices?" Draeven demands.
Celestia's face grows sad. "When I sealed the Void, I had two options. I could sacrifice myself and trap it forever, or I could find another way—a way that wouldn't require anyone's death. But that way would take time, patience, and trust in others. I didn't have trust. I'd been betrayed too many times."
I see it in her memories—a witch who loved her, a dragon who swore to protect her, both of them lying dead because of the Void's manipulation.
"So I chose the quick way," Celestia continues. "I died, and the Void was sealed. But my death only delayed it. It didn't destroy it. And now, a thousand years later, it's breaking free again."
"Because Seraphina's alive?" Kael asks from across the room.
"No. Because she was never supposed to be the seal at all." Celestia stands, and despite her small size, she radiates power. "Morganna stole my research. She learned about my backup plan—about the reborn soul that would appear when the seal began to fail. She found Seraphina as a child and tried to force her into my role. But it doesn't work that way."
"Then what's Seraphina supposed to do?" Draeven's voice is tight with tension.
Celestia looks at me. "You're supposed to finish what I started. Not by dying, but by living. You're meant to find the other way—the way I was too afraid to try."
"What other way?" I ask desperately.
"I don't know." Celestia smiles sadly. "That's the point. I failed because I controlled everything, trusted no one, did it all alone. You must succeed by doing the opposite. Trust. Cooperate. Let others help carry the weight."
She starts to fade, becoming translucent like a ghost.
"Wait!" I reach for her. "You can't just leave! I don't know what to do!"
"You'll figure it out. You're stronger than I ever was." Her voice grows faint. "Remember, child—the Void feeds on isolation and fear. It wants you alone. So whatever you do, don't face it alone."
"How much time do we have?" Draeven demands.
Celestia looks at him with something like approval. "The witches outside have given you until dawn. The Void will fully break free by tomorrow's sunset. You have one day to find a solution I couldn't find in a lifetime."
"That's impossible," Kael says.
"So was surviving two centuries of persecution," Celestia says, smiling at me. "Yet she did it. Have faith, Dragon King. You chose well."
"I didn't choose anything," Draeven growls. "Prophecy forced us together."
"Did it? Or did you choose to save her when you could have let her die?" Celestia's form is almost completely transparent now. "Free will is more powerful than destiny, Draeven Nightflame. Remember that."
She vanishes completely, leaving only a faint shimmer of silver light.
The library is silent except for everyone breathing.
Then Casimir starts clapping slowly. "What a touching story. The ancient priestess appears, gives cryptic advice, and leaves you with an impossible task. Very helpful."
"Shut up, Uncle," Draeven snaps.
"No, I don't think I will." Casimir walks toward us, and the guards move with him. "Your hour is up. You promised if you didn't find a solution, you'd step aside. Well? Did you find one?"
Draeven's jaw clenches. "We have until dawn—"
"To do what? Trust each other?" Casimir laughs. "The Void doesn't care about your feelings. It needs to be sealed, and there's only one seal that's ever worked—a Luna Priestess's death."
"But I'm not actually the seal," I say, standing on shaking legs. "Celestia said—"
"Celestia said you're her replacement. Which means her death sealed it, and your death will reseal it." Casimir looks at me coldly. "I'm sorry, girl. I truly am. But one life against millions is a fair trade."
"No trade is fair if it's not freely given," Draeven says, moving to stand between us again.
Casimir sighs. "I was afraid you'd say that. Guards, restrain the king."
The twenty guards surge forward. Draeven shifts to dragon form, and Kael does the same. But there are too many of them.
I watch in horror as guards pile onto Draeven, weighing him down with chains designed to bind dragons. He roars and struggles, but they're prepared for this.
"Stop!" I scream. "Don't hurt him!"
"We're not hurting him," Casimir says calmly. "We're saving him from himself. He'll thank us later."
They drag Draeven away, still in dragon form, still fighting. His golden eyes lock onto mine, and I see desperation there. Rage. And something else—something that looks like an apology.
Then he's gone, pulled through a doorway by a dozen guards.
Kael fights harder, but he's younger, smaller. They overpower him too.
Now it's just me, Casimir, and five remaining guards.
"Please," I whisper. "There has to be another way."
"There isn't." Casimir actually looks sad about it. "I know what it's like to make hard choices, girl. When Draeven's father was king, I did terrible things to try to save our people. I thought I was being practical. Turns out I was just being cruel."
My breath catches. "You killed Draeven's father."
"I hired the witch who did it, yes." He doesn't even try to deny it. "I wanted the throne. I thought I'd be a better king. Instead, Draeven survived and became ten times the ruler I ever could have been. Funny how fate works."
"Then why are you doing this now?" I demand. "Why try to kill me when you know Draeven will never forgive you?"
"Because this time, I'm not doing it for power." Casimir's eyes are genuine. "I'm doing it because it's right. The many over the few. The world over one witch. Even if that witch happens to be the first person my nephew has cared about in three hundred years."
He nods to the guards. They grab my arms.
"Wait," I say quickly. "If you're going to kill me, at least let me die knowing the truth. Why did you really kill Draeven's father?"
Casimir pauses. "Why does it matter?"
"Because I've spent my whole life being lied to. I'd like to die with at least one honest answer."
He studies me for a long moment. Then he sighs. "His father knew what I'd done. Not the assassination plot—I wasn't foolish enough to try that while he lived. But other things. Darker things. He was going to expose me, exile me, strip me of everything. So I had him killed before he could."
"And Lyria? The witch Draeven loved?"
Casimir's expression doesn't change. "I paid her to seduce him. To make him trust witches less. To make him angry and reckless. I thought if he was emotional, he'd be easier to control after I took the throne."
Fury burns through me. "You destroyed him."
"I tried to," Casimir admits. "But he's stronger than I gave him credit for. He survived my manipulation, my father's death, Lyria's betrayal—and he still became a good king. Better than I ever was. Better than I ever could be."
"Then let him save me!" I plead. "Let him try!"
"I am letting him try. He has until dawn to find another solution. But I'm not letting you escape in the meantime." Casimir gestures to a side door. "Take her to the ritual chamber. Bind her with Moonstone chains. If Draeven finds another way by dawn, we'll release her. If not..."
He doesn't finish the sentence.
The guards drag me away. I struggle, but I'm weak from all the magic I've used. My power feels drained, empty.
They take me down stairs, deeper into the palace than I've ever been. The air grows cold and damp. Finally, we reach a chamber carved from solid stone.
In the center is a circle marked with ancient symbols. They chain me in the middle of it, and the Moonstone burns against my skin like ice.
Then they leave, locking the heavy door behind them.
I'm alone in the dark.
And that's when I hear it again. The Void's voice in my head.
"Finally," it purrs. "Just you and me, little priestess. No king to protect you. No brother to fight for you. Just us."
"Leave me alone," I whisper.
"Why would I do that? We're going to be so close soon. When your blood spills on that altar at dawn, when they sacrifice you to 'save the world,' do you know what will really happen?"
I don't answer, but it continues anyway.
"The seal won't reform. It'll shatter completely. Your death is the key that opens my prison, not the lock that keeps it closed. Celestia knew that. That's why she never told anyone her backup plan. Because there is no backup plan. There's only me, winning."
Horror washes over me. "You're lying."
"Am I? Think about it. Why would your death seal me away when Celestia's death only delayed me? Why would the same solution work twice? It wouldn't. Your blood is the final piece I need to break free completely."
"Then why does everyone think killing me will work?"
"Because I've been whispering in their minds for centuries. Planting the idea. Making them believe. Even sweet, foolish Casimir thinks he's doing the right thing. But when that blade falls tomorrow, when your blood hits the altar, I'll be free. And the first thing I'll do is devour your precious Dragon King while you watch from whatever afterlife you find."
Tears stream down my face. "No."
"Yes. And there's nothing you can do about it. You're chained. He's imprisoned. The witches are waiting outside to ensure your death. Everyone thinks they're saving the world. But they're actually ending it."
The Void laughs, and the sound echoes in my skull.
"Sleep well, little priestess. Tomorrow is your last day alive. And the world's last day existing."
The voice fades, leaving me alone with my terror.
I pull against the chains, but they hold firm. I try to use my magic, but the Moonstone drains it away.
I'm trapped.
And in a few hours, I'm going to die and destroy everything.
Unless...
A sound makes me freeze. A soft scratching at the door.
Someone's out there.
The lock clicks. The door creeps open.
A figure slips inside, hood pulled low.
"Who's there?" I whisper.
The figure pulls back their hood, and I gasp.
It's Lyria.
The witch who betrayed Draeven. The woman who helped kill his father.
She's alive. And she's standing in front of me with a key in her hand.
"Hello, Seraphina," she says softly. "We need to talk about how to save the Dragon King's life. But first, you need to understand something important."
"What?"
She smiles, and it's not a kind smile.
"I'm not here to rescue you. I'm here to make sure you die exactly as planned. Because unlike everyone else, I know what you really are."
My blood turns to ice. "What am I?"
"The Void's daughter," she whispers. "And tomorrow, when you die, your father is going to rise again and give me everything I've ever wanted."
She raises her hand, and dark magic swirls around her fingers.
"Sweet dreams, little monster. The real nightmare starts at dawn."
She touches my forehead, and everything goes black.