--
The night wind pierced my bones as we stood face to face with the palace's shadow assassins. Their weapons glinted, footsteps slowly filling the dark garden.
Aldric stood at the front, his body rigid, his gaze sharp. "Seraphine, stay behind me," he said in a deep voice.
I clutched his fingers tightly. "I'm not leaving you, Aldric."
Oren stood beside me, his dagger glinting under the moonlight. "My lady, if anything happens, run. Aldric and I will hold them off."
I swallowed hard, my heart racing wildly. "No… I won't run alone."
---
The leader of the assassins stepped forward, his black cloak billowing. "Lord Aldric… hand over the woman. We only want her curse."
Aldric raised his sword high. "You'll never have it. She's mine."
A sly smile curved the leader's lips. "Then… kill them all."
In an instant, the assassins lunged at us. The clash of metal filled the night air, the ringing of blades forming a deadly symphony that danced through the palace garden.
---
Aldric spun his sword, deflecting blow after blow. I saw the look in his eyes—cold, sharp, unshakable.
Oren moved like a shadow, every slash of his dagger deadly, piercing the enemy's defenses.
I stood between them, my body trembling. "I… I have to do something," I murmured.
---
Just then, a strange glimmer flashed across my vision. The curse within me—the curse of Lady Seraphine Valeria—quivered, as if it responded to the blood and death swirling around me.
A whisper echoed in my ears. "Blood calls to blood… release me, Lady Seraphine."
I staggered. "What… is this…?"
Aldric turned, seeing a faint red glow in my eyes. "Don't let the curse consume you, Seraphine!"
But the power kept creeping through me, like a fire flowing through my veins. I felt something wild and dark rising—something that wanted to destroy.
---
One of the assassins lunged at me. I flinched, but my hand shot up on its own—thin red wind burst from my palm, hurling his body far away.
Oren stared at me in shock. "My lady… did you…?"
I gasped, staring at my trembling hand. "I don't know… if this is the curse or just me…"
Aldric parried another sword, shouting at me. "Control yourself, Seraphine! If not… you'll destroy yourself!"
---
Between Two Choices
The assassins hesitated for a moment, staring at me with fear. Their leader hissed. "She has awakened… the curse is real."
Aldric stood in front of me, his sword raised. "You will not touch her. I swear it."
I looked at his face, feeling both fear and relief. "Aldric… what's going to happen to me?"
He cupped my face gently. "I will be here. No matter what."
---
The leader of the assassins suddenly raised his hand, signaling. From the trees emerged a group of armed men—palace guards who should have been protecting us.
Oren muttered under his breath. "They… they're working together."
Aldric narrowed his eyes. "I suspected… the traitor isn't a stranger. They want Lady Seraphine alive—to control this curse."
---
I felt the world crack around me. "They want to turn me… into a weapon?"
Aldric looked at me, his eyes somber. "They won't succeed. I won't let them."
Oren glanced at us, his voice heavy. "But we're cornered, my lord. We can't fight them all."
Aldric took a deep breath, then turned to me. "Seraphine… you have to go."
I stared at him, my eyes wide. "No! I'm not leaving you—"
He cupped my cheek, his voice a whisper. "You must survive, Seraphine. For me. For us."
---
Aldric turned to Oren. "Take her away. Use the eastern passage. I'll hold them off."
Oren hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, my lord."
I struggled, tears welling in my eyes. "Don't, Aldric! I don't want you to die here!"
He forced me to look at him. "Trust me, Seraphine. I will come back. I swore it."
I bit my lip, feeling pain pierce my chest. "Aldric…"
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Go. I love you."
---
Oren pulled me away forcefully. "My lady, quickly!"
I looked back at Aldric one last time, seeing him standing tall among the assassins, like a lion facing death.
We ran, racing down the dark garden corridor. The sounds of clashing swords and screams filled the air. I knew… Aldric was fighting for my life.
---
As we ran, the whisper returned. "I will protect you… let me out completely…"
I clutched my chest, choking back a cry. "No… I won't become a monster."
Oren looked back at me, worry in his eyes. "My lady, the curse… don't let it win!"
I stumbled but kept running. I had to be strong—for Aldric.
---
We were nearly at the eastern passage when suddenly, a figure appeared before us. A man in noble robes, his eyes glinting with cunning.
He grinned. "Ah… at last, I've found you, Lady Seraphine."
Oren raised his dagger. "Step aside! Or you die!"
But the man only laughed. "You don't know who you're dealing with, little guard."
He pulled back his sleeve, revealing a noble crest—one I recognized all too well.
I gasped. "That… that's my mother's family crest…"
---
The man bowed slightly, his cold smile never fading. "My family name… is Valeria. You think you can escape your destiny, Lady?"
I stepped back. "Who… who are you really?"
He came closer, his voice dripping with poison. "I am your mother's brother. The true heir of Valeria blood. And you… are the key to our family's power."
---
I stood frozen, my chest pounding. "What… do you want from me?"
He grinned, leaning close until his voice was a whisper in my ear. "Just one thing, Lady Seraphine… the curse. And you will never escape me."
In his eyes, I saw a dark future—one that called me to kneel.
---