*******Harper
When morning light streamed through the window of the demon castle, I woke up to find myself… surprisingly calm. The heaviness that had clouded me for days seemed lighter, though not gone. My body still felt fragile, but my mind felt clearer—as if the night had reset something inside me.
A tray of food was already waiting. I sat at the table and quietly ate the bread, fruit, and soup that had been prepared for me. The flavors were rich, but what I appreciated most was the silence—the kind that didn't suffocate me, but let me breathe.
Still, Kael was nowhere to be seen. The chair across from me, usually occupied by him, was empty.
I flagged down a passing maid.
"Do you know where Lord Kael is?" I asked carefully.
The maid bowed. "Lord Kael went for a meeting early this morning, my lady. He hasn't returned yet."
I nodded. "I see. Thank you."
I hesitated before asking, "What about Ellis? Do you know where she is?"
The maid exchanged a strange look with another servant before leaning closer. "Forgive me, my lady, but… I would advise you to stay away from Ellis. She's… strange. A creep, if I may be so bold."
Her words startled me. "Why do you say that?"
"She lingers in shadows. Watches people. No one trusts her," the maid whispered.
I pressed my lips together. "…Thank you for telling me. What's your name?"
"Ivy," she answered softly.
I gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Ivy."
Back in my chambers, I sighed. Maybe Ivy was right. Maybe I should keep my distance from Ellis. But the truth was, I didn't know who I could trust anymore. Kael had been colder last night, and Ellis… well, she was full of secrets.
I sat on the bed, staring at my hands. Maybe I couldn't keep relying on other people. Maybe I should learn something—anything—that could help me survive.
Just then, the air shimmered. My heart leapt into my throat as Ellis materialized inside my room.
"You should get used to me appearing like this," she said with a sly smile.
I pressed a hand to my chest. "You scared me half to death."
She ignored the comment and extended her hand. In it was a book. "Here. This will help you."
I blinked. "What is this?"
"A spell book," she said simply. "You'll need to memorize everything inside if you want to survive what's coming."
I shook my head in disbelief. "Ellis… how could I possibly cast a spell? I'm not a witch."
Her lips curved. "Don't worry about that. Just trust me."
I narrowed my eyes. "Why should I?"
Her expression darkened. "Then don't. I can take the book back, and we'll pretend this never happened."
She moved as if to snatch the book away, but I quickly reached out.
"Wait." My fingers closed around the leather cover. "…I'll keep it. Thank you."
Her smile returned, sharp and secretive. "Good. Keep it safe for now. When the time is right, I'll teach you how to use it."
I frowned. "Why wait? Why not teach me now?"
"You'll understand later." Her gaze softened briefly, and then she shook her head. "As for your visions… don't bother telling me anymore. I don't need them."
I tilted my head. "Then why give me this?"
"Because you'll need it for the banquet," she replied cryptically. "There will be… a lot happening."
"The banquet?" I echoed, confused. "What do you mean—"
But she was gone. Just as suddenly as she had appeared, the room was empty again.
I exhaled shakily. Why did she keep disappearing like that? And what did she mean about the banquet?
I didn't have time to think further. The door creaked open, and Kael entered.
"Who were you talking to?" he asked immediately, his eyes scanning the room.
I swallowed, clutching the spell book behind me. "…Ellis. She was just here."
He didn't react, only nodded. His gaze lingered on me, sharp and unreadable. Finally, he said, "Harper… soon, I'll take you to other realms. We'll try to uncover your true origins. But I need you to tell me—do you have any birthmarks?"
My breath caught. My back burned with the memory of Ellis's fingers tracing the crescent-shaped mark as I bathed. She'd touched it deliberately. She'd noticed.
I forced a calm smile. "I… I have a mole. On my left palm." I held it out to him.
He studied my palm for a moment, then asked, "Nothing else?"
I shook my head. "No. That's it."
For a long second, he looked as if he didn't believe me. Then he let out a sigh. "Fine. We'll visit the realms before the banquet."
I nodded.
He turned and left the room, the sound of the door closing echoing like a warning in my ears.
I pressed the book to my chest and whispered to myself, What am I supposed to do now?
---
Author's POV
Kael walked down the torchlit halls of the castle, his expression unreadable. Eventually, he reached a heavy stone door. He pressed his hand against the cold surface, and the seal unlocked with a low hum. The door swung open to reveal a dimly lit chamber—a secret room.
Inside, a cloaked figure bowed low. "My lord. What do you require?"
Kael's voice was steady, but beneath it was steel. "I want you to find out everything you can about Ellis. She's a problem."
The figure looked up. "What kind of problem?"
Kael's eyes darkened. "Harper already knew about the banquet before I told her. She was hesitant to tell me about her vision. And just now, she lied to me about her birthmark."
He crossed his arms. "Ellis is influencing her. If she's trying to control Harper, I need to know."
The figure bowed again. "It will be done."
Kael turned away, his cloak brushing the stone floor as he left.
---
Elsewhere, in Vaelthor's chambers, Natalie sat at her vanity, combing her long hair. Her eyes were distant, weighed down with memories.
The door creaked open, and Vaelthor entered. His clothes were rumpled, his hair disheveled. He looked exhausted, yet there was a strange light in his eyes.
Natalie stood, about to speak, but she stopped herself. Instead, she crossed her arms. "If you don't want to accept our son, then say it. I'll take care of him alone. I was planning to leave soon anyway."
She turned as if to go, but Vaelthor caught her wrist. "Wait."
She froze.
His voice was rough, almost pleading. "I want to see him."
Natalie's eyes widened. "What…?"
He tightened his grip. "Our son. I want to see him."
Natalie stared at him, caught between disbelief and hope.
The air in the room felt heavier than ever, as if the walls themselves held their breath.