Charlotte's POV
I received the most devastating news from the woman I call my mother—a news that shook me to my core. The serpent queen, a figure shrouded in mystery and power, had been captured. My heart raced with a mix of panic and desperation as I realized I had been aimlessly searching for Kimi, the one person who meant everything to me. In a moment of frustration, I reached out to my uncle, hoping to find some solace or guidance. I dialed his number, but there was only silence on the other end; he never answered my calls. It felt as if he had vanished into thin air, a ghost haunting the edges of my memories.
It had been nearly a decade since anyone had seen him. The last time I laid eyes on my uncle was at my father's funeral, a poignant occasion turned surreal by his presence. He had stood there amongst the grieving faces, wearing a balaclava that obscured most of his features. The only thing I distinctly recalled was the weird symbol stitched onto the fabric—a strange emblem that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. I was just a kid then, my mind clouded by grief and confusion, yet that image was forever etched in my memory.
Amidst these swirling thoughts, my phone suddenly erupted with a ringing sound that broke through the oppressive silence. The name on the screen sent a jolt through me; it was Elena. Hesitantly, I answered the call, bracing myself for whatever dark words she might cast upon me.
"Hi," I greeted her coldly, my voice betraying none of the turmoil raging inside.
"You have time to greet me when your precious is going to die," she replied with a sinister glee that chilled my blood.
Fear gripped my heart as I felt the urgency take hold. "Where is she?" I asked, worry lacing my tone, desperation creeping into my voice.
"With Mr. Adrian. The serpent queen hunters," she said, her tone dripping with malice.
I felt warmth flood my face as rage spiraled within me. "Where the fuck is she?" I yelled into the phone, unable to contain my fury any longer.
"She doesn't even remember you," Elena said, her words slicing through me like a knife, delivered with a coldness that felt almost unimaginable.
In a fit of anger, I hurled the phone away from me, the impact resonating with the turmoil in my heart. I slammed my fist against the steering wheel, the sharp pain a fleeting distraction from the crushing weight of betrayal. Kimi erased me from her memory—how could that be? I clenched my fists tightly, grounding myself amidst the chaos swarming around me, and for a moment, everything went black. My world narrowed down to a singular thought: I had to find Kimi, no matter the cost.