Ever since the crown had chosen me, the world felt different. Even the sunlight seemed muted, as if shadows followed me wherever I went. My golden hair, once shining freely, now seemed to absorb the darkness around me. Every reflection, every glance in the mirror, reminded me that I was no longer ordinary.
James was terrified but unwavering. "Laina, you're scaring me," he said one evening as we walked home. "I don't understand what's happening to you, but I won't leave your side."
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to feel safe. But the crown's whispers were growing louder. At night, when the world was still, it spoke to me directly.
"You are mine. Power comes with a price… accept it, or lose everything."
I didn't know if it meant my life, my love for James, or something worse. And then Lucas appeared again, stepping out of the shadows like he had done before. This time, his presence was stronger, more commanding, yet there was a hint of… regret.
"You've changed," he said, his silver eyes scanning me. "The crown has bonded with you. Soon, it will demand more than you can imagine."
"What do you mean?" I asked, fear twisting my stomach. "I don't understand the rules here!"
"The crown is not just a relic," Lucas said, his voice low. "It's alive. It feeds on fear and desire alike. To control it, you must learn its ways. Otherwise, it will control you. And trust me… once it does, no one—even James—will be safe."
I wanted to protest, to deny it, but deep down, I felt the pull of its power in my veins. I could feel it whispering to me, guiding me, giving me glimpses of things I had never imagined. Shadows bent at my command, and the air seemed to tremble when I focused.
Lucas stepped closer. "You have to train, Laina. You have to understand the crown, or it will consume everything you hold dear."
The first lesson began that very night. Lucas led me to a hidden room beneath the museum—a place I had never seen before, filled with mirrors, ancient books, and strange symbols carved into the walls.
"Here," he said, "you will learn control."
The mirrors reflected more than my image. They showed visions of the past and the future. I saw people wearing the crown before me, each succumbing to madness, power, or sorrow. Their eyes pleaded with me silently: Do not repeat our mistakes.
Lucas explained the basics of channeling the crown's energy. Shadows became extensions of my will. I could feel their tendrils wrapping around objects, moving them, bending them to my command. It was exhilarating—and terrifying.
But then came the test.
"Control is useless without restraint," Lucas warned. "Focus, or you'll lose yourself."
He handed me a black orb that pulsed like a heartbeat. The crown's voice echoed in my mind: Take it. Bend it. Claim it.
I reached out, trembling. The moment my fingers touched the orb, visions exploded in my mind—dark forests, roaring storms, and shadowy figures reaching for me. I screamed, but Lucas's hand steadied me.
"Concentrate!" he shouted. "You are stronger than it thinks!"
Summoning every ounce of willpower, I forced the shadows to calm. The orb floated in the air, obedient to me. My heart raced, sweat dripping down my forehead. For the first time, I realized the crown's true gift: it did not just grant power—it demanded courage, discipline, and sacrifice.
"You're ready for the next step," Lucas said quietly, his expression unreadable. "But be warned… the crown's hunger will grow. Soon, it will want more than control. It will want… your essence."
I looked at him, confused and terrified. "My essence? What do you mean?"
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. The crown hovered above me, whispering my name.
"The next choice is yours, Laina. Choose wisely… or be consumed."
I sat on the floor, heart pounding, as James found me moments later, worry etched on his face. "You've been gone for hours… what's happening to you?"
I didn't have an answer. All I knew was this: the crown had chosen me, Lucas had guided me, and my ordinary life was gone forever. The power was intoxicating—but I could feel the cost creeping closer, a shadow at the edge of my soul.
And in the mirror, for the first time, I saw not just my reflection—but the crown resting lightly on my head, its dark red gems pulsing like a heartbeat… as if waiting for me to take the final step.
I didn't know if I would survive what came next. But one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same.