POV: Sera
Don't you dare outshine me tonight?
Elara's words still ring in my ears as I stand in front of my mirror, smoothing down my plain blue dress. It's pretty, I guess, but nothing like the shimmering gold gown my stepsister wore when she left for the Grand Hall an hour ago.
I shouldn't even be going to this party. Stepmother made that clear this morning.
You're only invited because people will talk if you're not there, she'd said, not even looking up from her breakfast. Stay in the corners. Don't draw attention. And for heaven's sake, fix your hair.
My hair looks fine. At least, I think it does. I touch the simple braid running down my back and sigh. Nothing I do is ever good enough for them.
I grab my cloak and head downstairs, my stomach tight with nerves. Father's already gone he left with Stepmother and Elara in the fancy carriage. I have to walk to the Grand Hall like a servant.
The party is already in full swing when I arrive. Music pours out of the open doors. Inside, hundreds of candles make everything glow like a dream. Women in gorgeous dresses twirl across the dance floor. Men in expensive suits laugh and drink wine.
I slip inside and do exactly what Stepmother ordered I find a corner and try to disappear.
Sera!
I turn to see Rhen pushing through the crowd. My childhood friend grins at me, his guard captain uniform making him look older than twenty-six. He's the only person in this whole city who still treats me like I matter.
You look miserable, he says, handing me a glass of juice.
I'm fine, I lie.
You're a terrible liar. Rhen leans against the wall beside me. Come on. One dance won't kill you.
Before I can argue, he pulls me onto the dance floor. For a few minutes, I actually forget how much I don't belong here. Rhen makes me laugh with his terrible dancing and his jokes about the snooty nobles around us.
Then I see her.
Elara stands on the main platform, her hand stretched out to show off the biggest diamond ring I've ever seen. Her fiancé, some rich lord's son beams beside her. Everyone claps and cheers.
My stepsister's eyes find mine across the room. She smiles, but it's the kind of smile a cat gives a mouse before pouncing.
A chill runs down my spine.
Something's wrong, I whisper.
What? Rhen asks.
Before I can answer, the screaming starts.
High Priest Aldric bursts through the main doors, his white robes flying. His face is red with rage. STOP THE MUSIC!
The musicians freeze. The dancing stops. Everyone turns to stare.
The Tear of Valendris has been stolen! Aldric's voice booms through the silent hall. Our most sacred treasure GONE!
Gasps ripple through the crowd. The Tear of Valendris is a magical gem that's protected our city for a thousand years. Without it, the protective barrier around Valendris will fall.
Guards! Aldric points at the crowd. Search every noble house! Find the thief!
My heart hammers. This is bad. Really bad. But what does it have to do with
Start with the Ashford estate, someone shouts.
I freeze. Ashford. That's my family name.
No, I breathe.
Rhen grabs my arm. Sera, we should go
Too late.
Guards surround me. One of them grabs my wrist. Sera Ashford, you're coming with us.
What? Why? I try to pull away, but his grip is iron.
We have orders to search your room first, the guard says coldly.
My room? I didn't do anything!
But they're already dragging me out of the Grand Hall. The crowd parts like I'm diseased. I see Father in the crowd our eyes meet for just a second. I wait for him to say something, to defend me.
He looks away.
The walk back to our estate feels like a nightmare. My mind races. Why would they search my room? I've never even been to the temple where the Tear is kept!
We reach our house. The guards storm up the stairs to my bedroom. I run after them, my heart in my throat.
Please, you won't find anything
One guard drops to his knees and reaches under my bed. When he stands up, my whole world shatters.
In his hands, glowing bright blue in the darkness, is the Tear of Valendris.
No, I whisper. No, no, no! I didn't put that there!
Sera Ashford, the guard says, pulling out chains. You're under arrest for theft of sacred property.
I DIDN'T DO IT! I scream as cold metal locks around my wrists. Someone's framing me! Please, you have to believe me!
But no one's listening. They drag me back downstairs. The whole household has gathered servants, my stepmother, even Father.
Please! I beg, looking at Father. Tell them! Tell them I would never do this!
Stepmother clutches her chest dramatically. Oh, Marcus, I always knew the girl had a wild streak, but this
Father! I sob. FATHER, PLEASE!
He opens his mouth. For one second, I think he's going to save me.
Then he closes it again and turns away.
The guards haul me toward the door. Through my tears, I see Elara standing on the stairs. She's not even trying to hide her smile anymore. Our eyes meet, and she brings one finger to her lips.
Shhh.
She did this. She stole the Tear and planted it in my room. And I can't prove it.
Move! A guard shoves me forward.
As they drag me into the night, only one person tries to help. Rhen breaks through the crowd and grabs my hand for just a second.
I'll fix this, he promises. Sera, I swear I'll
A guard rips us apart.
The last thing I see before they throw me in the prison cart is my childhood home the place I grew up, the only life I've ever known.
And every single window is dark.
Even Father's.
I spend the night in a freezing cell that smells like fear and old urine. My wrists are raw from the chains. My dress is torn. I can't stop shaking.
At dawn, guards come for me.
Trial's in an hour, one says. Get up.
Trial? My voice cracks. Already?
He laughs a mean sound. High Priest Aldric doesn't waste time with thieves.
They drag me through the streets to the Temple Court. People line the roads, shouting at me. Someone throws a rock that hits my shoulder. Another person spits.
Thief!
Traitor!
Monster!
I keep my head down and try not to cry.
The Temple Court is packed. High Priest Aldric sits on a throne-like chair, looking down at me like I'm an insect. The city council sits beside him. Father's there too, in the back row, still not meeting my eyes.
Sera Ashford, Aldric's voice echoes. You stand accused of stealing the Tear of Valendris. How do you plead?
Not guilty! I shout. I was framed! I never touched the
SILENCE! Aldric slams his hand down. The evidence speaks for itself. The Tear was found in YOUR room. Do you deny this?
It was planted there! Someone put it
Who? Aldric leans forward. Who would do such a thing?
I open my mouth to say Elara's name. But I have no proof. It's just my word against hers. And she's the golden daughter about to marry into wealth. I'm nobody.
I... I don't know, I whisper.
Lies, Aldric says coldly.
The trial is a joke. Stepmother testifies that I've always been difficult and jealous of my sister. A guard testifies about finding the Tear under my bed. Even my own father won't speak in my defense when they call him.
It takes less than twenty minutes for the council to decide.
Aldric stands, and the room goes silent. Sera Ashford, you are found guilty of theft of sacred property. The sentence is...
He pauses, and his eyes glitter with something that makes my skin crawl.
Fifty days of service to the Cursed Guardian beyond the gates.
The entire room gasps. Someone screams.
My legs give out. Guards catch me before I hit the floor.
Fifty days beyond the gates. With the monster. Everyone knows what that means.
It's a death sentence.
No, I whisper. Please. Anything but that. I'll do anything
The sentence is passed, Aldric says. Take her away.
As guards drag me back to the cells, I hear people whispering.
She'll be dead in a week.
Poor girl.
Should have thought of that before she stole from the temple.
I'm thrown back in my cell. This time, I do cry. I cry until there are no tears left.
Then I hear footsteps.
Someone's coming down the stone stairs. I look up, hoping desperately it's Father, finally come to save me.
It's Elara.
She's wearing a beautiful purple dress and a smile that makes me want to scream. She stops outside my cell, looking at me through the bars like I'm an animal in a cage.
Hello, sister, she purrs.
You did this, I say, my voice shaking with rage. You stole the Tear. You planted it in my room. WHY?
Elara examines her perfect nails. Because you've always had something I wanted.
What? I have nothing! You took everything!
Not everything. Elara's eyes meet mine, and they're cold as winter. You had Father's love. His real daughter. His precious firstborn from his precious first wife. Even when he married Mother, even when I came along, you were still his favorite.
That's not
But now? Elara's smile widens. Now you're nothing. A criminal. An embarrassment. And in a few weeks, you'll be dead. The Guardian will kill you just like he killed all the others.
She turns to leave.
They'll find out! I shout after her. Rhen will prove I'm innocent!
Elara looks back over her shoulder. Oh, didn't you hear? Captain Rhen has been reassigned. They're sending him to the border outpost tomorrow. He won't be able to help you.
My heart stops. No.
Goodbye, Sera, Elara says sweetly. I'll be sure to cry at your funeral.
She disappears up the stairs, her laughter echoing behind her.
I slump against the wall, hopeless and alone.
Tomorrow, they'll take me to the gates. Tomorrow, my life as I know it ends.
And there's absolutely nothing I can do to stop it.
The cell door clangs open.
I jerk awake. It's still dark middle of the night, maybe. A guard stands in the doorway, holding chains.
What's happening? I ask.
Change of plans, he says gruffly. High Priest wants you gone tonight. Get up.
But the sentence said
NOW!
He hauls me to my feet and locks the chains around my wrists. My heart hammers as he drags me up the stairs and out into the cold night air.
A prison cart waits outside. But it's not heading toward the regular prison.
It's heading toward the obsidian gates.
No, I breathe. No, wait, you can't it's not time yet
The guard shoves me into the cart and slams the door. Through the bars, I see High Priest Aldric watching from the temple steps. Even in the darkness, I can see his satisfied smile.
He's getting rid of me early. Before Rhen can investigate. Before anyone can ask questions.
The cart lurches forward.
And as we roll through the silent streets toward the cursed gates that mark the edge of our world, I realize something that makes my blood run cold:
This was never about the Tear of Valendris.
This was always about getting rid of me.
But why?
What could I possibly have that would make them send me to die?