Charlotte stood outside the mansion, panting heavily as her eyes flicked back to the inferno engulfing the grand structure. The flames licked at the sky, painting the night with a fiery glow that could be seen for miles. Her breath was shallow, her heart racing, and her body trembling with the remnants of adrenaline. She hadn't meant for things to go this far, not like this. But when the blade had slipped from its case, the fight with Mathias had escalated in ways she hadn't foreseen.
One moment, they had been exchanging harsh words in the vault, and the next, her dagger was buried deep in his side. She hadn't hesitated. Mathias had always underestimated her, always assumed her spirit was broken beyond repair. But he was wrong. And now, his lifeless body lay somewhere inside that burning mansion, consumed by the flames she had unknowingly unleashed in her desperation to escape.
The heat from the fire brushed against her skin, even from this distance, as the towering flames devoured the wood and stone of the place she had been imprisoned in for the past ten years. A fitting end, she thought bitterly. The place that had once felt like her tomb was now reduced to ashes. And with it, the last remnants of her old life.
Charlotte tore her gaze away from the blazing mansion and turned her eyes toward the vast bushes ahead, the ones she had often seen from the narrow windows of the servant's quarters. Beyond them lay the capital of Nefaria, the heart of the kingdom. A city she had only heard whispers about. It was a dangerous place for someone like her, a runaway with nothing to her name but a stolen sword and a burning desire for freedom. But it was her only option. She couldn't stay here. Not with the flames drawing attention.
A flicker of hesitation passed through her as she stared into the dense foliage. What awaited her in the capital was uncertain. Would they recognize her as a runaway? Would they capture her and send her back to a life of servitude, or worse, execute her for what she had done?
The thought gripped her for a moment, but then she felt the weight of the sword strapped to her back, its cold metal a reminder of the strength she now held. Power. She had something Lord Kael and his overseers had never intended for her to possess.
Gritting her teeth, Charlotte shook off her doubts. This was her only chance. She couldn't go back, and she wouldn't. Not after what she had done. Without another thought, she pushed through the bushes, her legs moving almost on their own. Her worn-out shoes hit the uneven ground as she began her run.
The night was eerily silent aside from the crackling of the distant fire and the soft rustling of leaves underfoot. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she ran, her breath coming out in ragged gasps. The cold night air stung her skin, but she welcomed the pain. It was a reminder that she was alive, that she had escaped, and that her suffering at the hands of Lord Kael and his overseers was finally over.
Her mind drifted back to the fight, the moments when everything had spiraled out of control. Mathias had confronted her in the vault, his twisted smile mocking her even as he lay bleeding on the ground. His final words, gurgled through bloodied lips, had been a curse—a promise that she would never escape, that the chains she had worn for so long would follow her no matter where she went. But as she had stood over him, sword in hand, Charlotte had known he was wrong.
There was no one to stop her now. The power was hers, and the chains that once bound her had been severed, replaced by the cold, liberating steel of the sword strapped to her back.
As she ran, her eyes scanned the landscape ahead. Beyond the thicket, the terrain sloped downward toward the capital city. She could see the faint glow of its lights in the distance, the flickering lanterns and bustling streets beckoning her toward a new life. But getting there would not be easy. There were patrols that circled the outskirts, and news of the fire would spread quickly. Lord Kael's estate wasn't just any noble's home—it was a symbol of power in Nefaria, and its destruction wouldn't go unnoticed.
Charlotte pushed harder, her muscles screaming in protest. The wind whipped through her hair, tangling it around her face, but she kept her focus straight ahead. Every step was a step away from the nightmare she had lived for so long. Yet, even with the freedom that lay ahead, a small knot of uncertainty tugged at her gut. The capital wasn't a safe haven. It was a den of politics, manipulation, and hidden dangers. If she wasn't careful, she could find herself in another prison, this one even more difficult to escape.
But there was no turning back. She had made her choice, and now she had to see it through.
A flash of movement to her left caught her attention, and Charlotte skidded to a halt, ducking low behind a tree. Her heart raced as she strained to hear, to see what—or who—it was. The sound of hooves echoed faintly in the distance, growing closer with each passing second. Guards. They must have been alerted to the fire already.
Her pulse quickened as she pressed herself against the rough bark, her eyes darting toward the capital's glow in the distance. It was still too far to reach before the guards passed by. She would need to hide, at least until they were gone.
The bushes behind her rustled as the hooves grew louder. Charlotte tightened her grip on the hilt of the sword, the cool metal reassuring in her hand. If it came to a fight, she wouldn't hesitate. She couldn't afford to.
The moments stretched on, each heartbeat feeling like an eternity. The guards passed by, their voices low as they exchanged hurried words about the fire and the search for survivors. Charlotte held her breath, praying they wouldn't search the trees. Finally, after what felt like hours, the sound of the hooves faded into the distance, and the forest was silent once more.
Charlotte exhaled, her body sagging with relief. She didn't have much time before more patrols would be sent out. She had to keep moving.
Emerging from her hiding place, she darted back onto the path, her legs trembling but refusing to stop. The capital loomed closer now, the lights brighter and more defined as she neared. Her mind raced with possibilities. Once she reached the city, she would need a plan. Somewhere to lay low, to figure out her next move.
By the time she reached the edge of the capital, the first rays of dawn were beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over the stone walls and rooftops. She paused, taking in the sight of the city she had only dreamed of. It was larger than she had imagined, sprawling and alive with movement even at this early hour.
Charlotte's stomach churned with a mix of excitement and fear. This was it. Her escape from the mansion, from Lord Kael's cruelty, had brought her here. To the heart of Nefaria.
She hesitated for a brief moment, looking back at the distant smoke that still lingered in the sky from the burning mansion.