Fianna stepped into the chamber, her feet silent on the stone floor.
Her hair, usually braided with silver vines, was undone, loose around her face. Her green skin was pale under the dim torchlight, and her eyes — once bright and curious — were hollow, distant.
Rey forced himself to stand, his legs trembling, blood drying on his skin.
"Fianna," he said, voice hoarse. "Tell me this is a nightmare."
She said nothing at first, only stared at him. Then, slowly, she closed the door behind her.
"I warned you not to eat the fruit," she whispered.
His heart pounded. "That's all you have to say? You stood there while your 'lord' chained me up. You let him—"
Her eyes narrowed. "You think I had a choice?"
She took a step closer. Rey flinched — not out of fear, but confusion.
"I'm his slave, Rey," she said. "Just like the rest of the tribe. Just like the monsters in this cursed realm. Vladis owns us. Body. Soul. Blood."
Rey's fists clenched. "Then why the act? Why pretend to care? Why lie to me for so long?"
Silence.
Then — something cracked in her eyes. The hollowness wavered.
"I didn't lie about everything," she murmured. "Not when I said I liked your voice. Not when I smiled. Not when I kissed you…"
Rey's heart twisted. He didn't want to believe her. But her voice trembled. It was real.
"But then the moment came," she continued, bitterly, "the moment I had to choose between protecting you… or obeying him. And I chose survival."
A tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.
"I'm sorry."
Rey stepped forward, barely keeping upright. "Then help me. Now. Run with me."
Fianna looked toward the door. "I've already broken ten laws by coming here alone."
"Then break one more."
She hesitated. Her body trembled. Something inside her wanted to say yes.
But she turned her back.
"I can't."
"Fianna—"
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hall. A heavy presence neared.
Fianna's eyes widened. She rushed to Rey, grabbed his arm, and dragged him behind a column just as the door creaked open.
A servant entered — a hunchbacked creature with a tray of glowing blue water.
"Leave it," Fianna called from the shadows, imitating the tone of a higher servant. "He's unconscious."
The monster bowed, placed the tray down, and left.
Once the door closed, Fianna turned back to Rey.
"You have one chance," she whispered urgently. "There's a hidden tunnel behind the throne room. Old, forgotten. It leads to the outer cliffs. But you must leave before dawn."
Rey stared at her. "Why are you helping me now?"
She turned her eyes away.
"Because you were the only real thing in my life. And I destroyed it."
Silence fell.
Rey's voice cracked. "Do you regret it?"
She nodded.
That was all he needed.
He pulled her close. Not in love. Not in forgiveness. But in understanding. In pain.
Their fates were intertwined — tangled in a cruel game played by gods and monsters.
And it was far from over.
Fianna slipped a knife into his hand.
"Go."
Rey looked into her eyes — and saw the girl he once believed in, still buried deep within.
"I will come back for you," he said.
She didn't answer.
As Rey slipped out of the chamber into the dark halls of the castle, one thought pulsed louder than anything else in his mind:
"They broke me. But I'm still breathing. That's their mistake."
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