"You are not the first to try, Seraphina," a chilling voice whispered, its tone both cruel and sorrowful. "And you will not be the last."
Seraphina spun around, her breath caught in her throat. The pair of glowing red eyes remained fixed on her, unblinking. The darkness around them seemed alive, writhing as though it had a will of its own.
"What do you mean?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she felt. "What happened to the others?"
The eyes blinked once, and suddenly, figures began to emerge from the shadows. Women. Their faces pale and lifeless, their eyes hollow. They surrounded her, their tattered gowns whispering against the forest floor.
"They came before you," the voice said. "Each one hopeful, each one certain they could save him. Yet here they remain—bound to the shadows forever."
Seraphina's heart pounded. She tried to step back, but her feet wouldn't move. The women's eyes locked onto hers, their expressions filled with silent despair.
"No," she whispered. "This won't happen to me. I'll save him."
One of the women stepped forward, her voice low and hoarse. "Do you think you're different? Do you think your love is enough?"
Seraphina swallowed hard. "I don't know. But I won't give up."
The woman tilted her head, her lips curling into a ghostly smile. "You should."
---
The shadows surged, swallowing the figures of the women and plunging Seraphina into complete darkness. She stumbled, her hands reaching out for something—anything—to hold onto.
"Seraphina," Caelan's voice echoed, distant and urgent.
"Caelan!" she called back, her voice trembling.
"I'm here," he said, closer now. She turned, and there he was, his shadowy form standing just a few feet away. His outline flickered like a flame in the wind, but his presence was steady.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice softer.
She shook her head, though tears were brimming in her eyes. "I saw them. The women who came before me. They're trapped here, aren't they?"
He looked away, his shadow shifting uneasily. "Yes."
"And that will be my fate too, if I fail."
"Yes," he said again, his voice barely audible.
"But why?" she pressed, stepping closer. "Why didn't they succeed? What did they lack?"
He sighed, the sound heavy with regret. "They couldn't see me—not truly. They tried, but fear, doubt, or their own desires clouded their hearts. The curse… it's relentless. It shows no mercy for half-measures."
Her throat tightened. "And you? What happens to you if I fail?"
His form seemed to waver, as if the question itself caused him pain. "I remain as I am. A shadow. A prisoner in my own realm. Watching, waiting, hoping… until another is chosen."
The weight of his words crushed her. He had endured this torment for centuries, his fate tied to the whims of women who couldn't see beyond his cursed form.
"I won't let that happen," she said, her voice firm.
He looked at her, his glowing eyes softening. "You're brave, Seraphina. But bravery alone isn't enough."
---
The forest began to shift around them, the trees bending and warping into new shapes. The air grew colder, and the ground beneath their feet turned to jagged stone. They were now standing at the edge of a vast chasm.
"This is the final trial," Caelan said, his tone grim.
A narrow bridge of crumbling stone stretched across the chasm, leading to a small island. On the island stood a pedestal, and on it rested a glowing orb of light.
"What is that?" Seraphina asked, shielding her eyes from the orb's brilliance.
"The Heart of Truth," Caelan replied. "It holds the essence of my curse. If you can retrieve it and bring it back to me, the curse will be broken."
She frowned, studying the fragile bridge. "And if I fall?"
He hesitated. "If you fall, the shadows will claim you. There will be no escape."
Her stomach churned, but she nodded. "What happens if I succeed?"
For the first time, he smiled—a faint, almost wistful expression. "Then we both go free."
---
Seraphina took a step onto the bridge, and it groaned under her weight. The stones crumbled at the edges, falling into the chasm below. She glanced back at Caelan, who stood at the edge, his form flickering like a dying flame.
"I'm coming back," she said, more to herself than to him.
"I'll be waiting," he replied.
The first few steps were steady, but as she moved farther out, the bridge began to sway. The shadows below writhed like a living sea, their whispers growing louder.
"Turn back," they hissed. "You cannot save him."
She gritted her teeth, refusing to listen. Step by step, she moved closer to the island.
When she was halfway across, a sudden gust of wind hit her, nearly knocking her off balance. She crouched low, clutching the edge of the bridge as the wind howled around her.
"Seraphina!" Caelan's voice rang out, filled with panic.
"I'm fine!" she shouted back, though her heart was racing.
The wind died down, and she forced herself to stand. Her legs shook, but she kept moving, her eyes fixed on the glowing orb ahead.
---
Finally, she reached the island. The air around the orb was warm and comforting, a stark contrast to the cold, hostile shadows. She reached out, her fingers brushing against its surface.
As soon as she touched it, a voice echoed in her mind.
"Do you truly wish to see the truth?"
"Yes," she whispered, her hand trembling.
The orb flared, and a wave of light engulfed her. For a moment, she was blind, the world around her dissolving into a sea of white.
When her vision cleared, she was no longer on the island. She stood in a grand hall, its walls lined with torches that burned with golden flames. At the center of the hall stood a man.
He was tall, his features sharp and regal. His dark hair fell to his shoulders, and his eyes—vivid green and filled with sorrow—bore into hers.
"Caelan?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "This is who I was. Before the curse."
She stepped closer, her heart aching. "You're beautiful."
His smile faded. "Do you still think that when you see the rest?"
Before she could respond, the hall began to crumble, the light fading.
She was back on the bridge, the orb clutched in her hands. But the shadows had risen, their tendrils coiling around the bridge, cutting off her path.
"Do you really think you can save him?" the voice hissed. "You've seen the truth. Now, show us your choice."