Elara's POV
Lord Verin's hand closed around the silver collar.
I scrambled backward, but guards grabbed my arms, holding me in place. The collar gleamed with evil magic, ready to drain every drop of life from my body.
Hold her still, Lord Verin commanded, stepping closer.
The door burst open again.
Stop! A girl's voice rang out. Lord Verin, the king requests the prisoner immediately. There's been a change of plans.
I looked up. A servant girl stood in the doorway young, with kind eyes and nervous hands. I'd seen her before, bringing me food.
Lord Verin's face twisted with rage. The king said nothing to me about
He said it was urgent, the girl interrupted, her voice shaking but determined. Something about needing her magic for tonight's banquet. He said if you delay, he'll... She swallowed hard. He'll hold you personally responsible.
Lord Verin's jaw clenched. He clearly didn't believe her, but he couldn't risk angering the king. Finally, he lowered the collar.
Fine. Take her. But she wears chains. He glared at me. This isn't over, girl.
The guards dragged me out. The servant girl led us through the palace, and when we turned a corner, she whispered so quietly I almost missed it: Trust me. I'm helping.
Three days later, I stood in the great hall wearing a gown I'd never have imagined in my village. Music and laughter filled the air. Nobles danced and drank, celebrating the king's power and strength.
I wanted to scream at them. They had no idea their king was a prisoner just like me.
I stood near the throne, chained by invisible magic to stay close to King Cassius. He sat perfectly still, cold and distant, while nobles bowed and praised him.
But when no one was looking, his eyes found mine.
Are you ready? They seemed to ask.
I nodded slightly, my heart pounding.
The servant girl Mira, I'd learned her name was had visited me each night in secret. She'd discovered the truth about the crown years ago and had been waiting for someone who could help. She'd given me a small vial of silver liquid.
One drop in his wine, she'd whispered. It won't break the crown's control, but it'll weaken it for a few hours. Enough for him to leave the palace.
Tonight was our only chance.
During dinner, I moved closer to the king's table, pretending to adjust the magical lights like I'd been ordered to. My hands shook as I uncorked the vial and let a single drop fall into his wine glass.
Please work, I prayed.
King Cassius lifted the glass and drank without any reaction. I held my breath.
An hour passed. I was starting to think it hadn't worked.
Then I saw it the crown's sickly glow dimmed slightly. The king's shoulders relaxed just a bit. When he looked at me this time, his eyes were clearer. More alive.
He gave me the smallest nod.
At midnight, when the dancing was wildest, a huge crash echoed through the hall.
Mira had accidentally knocked over an entire tower of wine glasses. They shattered across the floor in an explosion of sound. Servants rushed forward. Guards turned toward the noise.
In the chaos, King Cassius stood calmly and walked toward a side door.
I followed, my pulse racing.
We slipped into a dark corridor. Mira appeared from the shadows, beckoning us forward. She led us through passages I'd never seen, down stairs that seemed forgotten by time.
The potion will last four hours, she whispered urgently. After that, the crown will call him back. It'll hurt him. Maybe kill him if he's too far away.
Four hours to reach the Blackwood Forest, Cassius said. We can make it.
We reached a hidden door. Mira pushed it open, revealing the night beyond the palace walls.
King Cassius stepped outside and stopped. He breathed in the free air, his eyes closing. For just a moment, pure joy crossed his face the happiness of a prisoner finally tasting freedom.
Thank you, he said to Mira.
She smiled sadly. Save him. Save all of us. The Oracle will know what to do.
Let's go, I said, grabbing Cassius's hand.
We ran into the darkness together.
We'd been running for two hours when I heard it.
Hoof beats. Behind us. Getting closer.
They've found us already, I gasped.
Cassius pulled me off the road into the trees. We crouched in the shadows, watching.
A dozen riders thundered past, carrying torches. Leading them was Lord Verin, his face twisted with fury.
They went toward the Blackwood! He shouted. Find them! The king must be returned before the crown
He stopped mid-sentence, his head snapping around.
He was looking directly at where we hid.
There, he said quietly. Coldly.
The riders turned their horses toward us.
We ran.
Branches whipped my face. My lungs burned. Behind us, I could hear them crashing through the forest, getting closer.
The river! Cassius shouted. If we can reach the river
An arrow whistled past my head.
We burst through the trees onto a riverbank. The water rushed past, dark and violent. On the other side, I could see the Blackwood Forest twisted black trees that seemed to swallow the moonlight.
Safety. If we could just reach it.
Jump! Cassius yelled.
We leaped into the freezing water. The current grabbed us, pulling us downstream. I went under, came up gasping, and went under again.
Strong hands grabbed Cassius, pulling me toward the far shore.
We dragged ourselves onto the bank, coughing and shaking.
Behind us, Lord Verin stood on the opposite shore. He didn't follow. Instead, he smiled.
You can't escape the crown, he called across the water. It will call him back. And when it does, it'll tear him apart from the inside.
Cassius grabbed his head, gasping in pain. The crown even weakened was starting to pull at him.
How long? I asked desperately.
Not long enough, he gritted out. We have to find the Oracle now, or
A voice spoke from the darkness behind us.
You've already found her.
We spun around.
A woman stood among the black trees. She was ancient, her eyes white with blindness, her skin covered in ash-colored tattoos that seemed to move in the moonlight.
The Oracle.
I've been waiting for you, she said. Both of you. Though I'm afraid you've brought something terrible with you. She tilted her head, those blind eyes somehow seeing everything. The crown is waking up. And it's very, very angry.
Cassius screamed, collapsing to his knees. The crown on his head blazed with black fire.
It's killing him! I shouted.
The Oracle stepped forward, her face grim.
No, she said softly. It's transforming him. Into something much worse than a puppet king.
She looked at me with those terrible white eyes.
The crown has decided it doesn't need a human host anymore. In ten minutes, it will consume him completely body and soul and create a monster that will destroy your entire kingdom.
Cassius screamed again, black veins spreading across his skin.
Can you stop it? I begged.
The Oracle smiled sadly.
Only one person can. And it will cost you everything.
She pointed at me.