Elara had lived nine lives before this one. Each life ended in heartbreak, betrayal, or death, yet each left her stronger, wiser, and painfully aware of the cruel patterns woven into her existence.
Her first life began with hope. Dutiful, obedient, striving for love and approval, she carried her family's honor without complaint. But even obedience could not save her, exhaustion and neglect claimed her during her engagement anniversary, leaving Adrienne unmoved, and her father indifferent.
Lesson learned: obedience kills quietly.
In her second life, she thought love could alter fate. She wrote letters, offered kindness, even addressed Isolde as "Mother." But love could not melt cruelty. Poison from her own hand ended her days after overhearing Adrienne mock her.
Lesson: love cannot be begged.
The third life saw rebellion. She dared to call out lies, demand answers, and confront the injustices around her. Jealousy and spite pushed her down the grand staircase, leaving her to a fate dictated by others' hands.
Lesson: truth does not protect the powerless.
Her fourth life was silence. She learned to cloak her pain, to make polite armor. Yet even silence could not save her from the poisoned cup at a false reconciliation.
Lesson: silence doesn't guarantee survival.
The fifth life was an escape. She tried to flee the chains that bound her, only to be hunted and betrayed, shot by Darien at Seraphine's command. Lesson: freedom is never free, betrayal hunts it down.
In the sixth life, she became a dreamer, seeking forbidden truths in ancient scrolls, glimpsing the cursed cycle of her bloodline. Fire ended her pursuit, as Isolde's paranoia struck again.
Lesson: truth burns those who chase it.
The seventh life was forgiveness. She tried to heal through kindness, helping Seraphine, praising Isolde, smiling at Darien. But even the gentle hand of mercy could not save her when jealousy turned into violence.
Lesson: kindness cannot heal cruelty that delights in your pain.
In her eighth life, she learned to pretend. Lies became armor, masks became protection. She became outwardly perfect, inwardly hollow, only to be stabbed by Darien after rejecting his confession, manipulated by Seraphine and Mirielle.
Lesson: masks protect nothing when the world wants you dead.
Her ninth life was numb. Expecting betrayal, she moved through her debutante ball with mechanical grace. Poisoned wine, envy, and silent complicity ended her final pre-10th life.
Lesson: no matter how she lives, obedient, rebellious, silent, kind, clever, the ending never changes.
And now, in her tenth life, sixteen years old once again, Elara awakens with the silver crescent sigil on her wrist pulsing faintly. Time is slipping away, yet this time...
She will not fail.