Dawn crept over the shattered cathedral like a reluctant witness. Blood had dried in dark streaks across the marble floors, and the air still carried the metallic tang of violence mixed with the lingering musk of last night's rituals.
Bodies had been cleared, but the evidence remained—cracked pillars, scorched tapestries, and the occasional smear where someone had dragged a corpse away.
Aiden stood at the edge of the central nave, staring at the massive stained-glass window that now looked like melted wax.
The fractures inside him pulsed in time with the morning light. They felt heavier today, like shards of glass grinding under his ribs. Every breath sent a faint tremor through the stone beneath his feet.
Footsteps echoed behind him. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Catherine entered first, chin high, her simple dress still stained at the hem from the night's chaos. Sabrina followed close behind, eyes sharp and arms crossed.
