The night dragged on in restless silence. Elara tossed beneath the heavy velvet covers, listening to the creaks and groans of the manor. Every now and then, she swore she heard footsteps pacing just beyond her door.
Sleep claimed her in broken pieces.
When she woke, it was to the sound of whispering.
Her eyes snapped open. The candle had burned out. The room was swallowed in darkness.
"Elara…" a voice crooned, soft and strange. "Elara…"
She sat up, her heart hammering. The voice wasn't human. It was like smoke given form, curling into words.
Then she saw it.
A figure stood at the foot of her bed — tall, thin, its body made entirely of shadow. Its face was featureless, save for two hollow eyes that glowed faintly blue.
Elara's breath caught.
"W-what are you?"
The shadow tilted its head. Its voice slid into her mind like a whisper through cracks. "A servant. A prisoner. A warning."
It took a step closer. The air turned icy, her breath clouding in front of her.
"Leave," it whispered. "Leave before you belong to him. Before the shadows eat your name."
Her hands gripped the covers tight. "Why are you warning me if you serve him?"
The shadow's head twitched, its form shuddering as though torn by invisible chains. "Because I was once like you. A bride."
Elara froze.
Before she could speak, the shadow dissolved into smoke and vanished, leaving the room colder than before.
Her chest heaved with ragged breaths. Another bride… turned into a shadow…
Her eyes darted to the wardrobe. She swore she heard faint laughter echoing from within.
She lay awake until dawn, her body stiff, her mind a storm.
When the first gray light crept through the window, the door opened without a sound.
The Shadow King stood there, his robes sweeping the floor. His silver eyes lingered on her pale, sleepless face.
"You survived the night."
Elara's voice was hoarse. "Barely."
He smirked. "Better than the last one."
Her stomach turned. The last one? She wanted to demand answers, but his gaze silenced her.
"Get dressed," he ordered. "Today, you will see why the world fears me."