The soft glow of candles lit up the sprawling dining hall in Celeste's secluded Scottish manor. It was an intimate gathering, just as she had planned—a celebration of her 32nd birthday, surrounded by her closest friends, family, and a curated handful of the world's biggest names.
Her husband, Liam, stood by her side, his steady hand resting gently on her back as guests offered toasts to her legacy. Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and even Adele had come to honor her. Her sister Rollie serenaded her with a heartfelt acoustic rendition of one of Celeste's earliest hits, while her mother beamed from across the room.
It was perfect. A quiet yet profound moment of gratitude, a reminder of everything she had built and fought for.
But then came the tap on her shoulder.
Celeste turned, her breath catching in her throat.
The auburn-haired woman stood before her, looking exactly as she had all those years ago—timeless, unshaken by the passing of time. Her green eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of familiarity and authority.
"Happy birthday, Celeste," the woman said, her lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
The room seemed to shrink around them, the lively chatter of her guests fading into a dull hum. Celeste's pulse quickened as memories of their last encounter rushed to the surface—the contracts, the rituals, the binding.
"What are you doing here?" Celeste asked, her voice low but firm.
"I've come to congratulate you, of course. Thirty-two… quite the milestone," the woman said, her tone dripping with feigned warmth. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "And to remind you of the terms."
Celeste's stomach twisted. She hadn't thought about those terms in years, hadn't dared to. She had worked so hard to distance herself from that world, to create a life free from its shadows.
"I fulfilled my end," Celeste said through gritted teeth. "I gave you everything—my fame, my power, my silence. I walked away. You have no reason to be here."
The woman tilted her head, amused. "You did walk away. And yet, here you are—still a legend, still adored, still basking in the glow of everything we gave you."
Celeste's eyes darted around the room, searching for Liam, but he was deep in conversation with her sister. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene, to drag her family and friends into this nightmare.
"What do you want?" Celeste demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman's smile widened. "It's not what I want, dear. It's what you owe. Fame and power of this magnitude don't come without their costs. You know that better than anyone."
"I paid my cost," Celeste hissed. "I gave you Riot. I gave you my innocence. I—"
The woman raised a hand, silencing her. "You've done well, Celeste. Better than most, in fact. But you didn't think this was a one-time transaction, did you?"
Celeste's blood ran cold.
"You've thrived for nearly a decade, untouched by scandal, unchallenged in your field, revered by millions," the woman continued. "But the balance must always be maintained. It's time for your next offering."
Celeste's heart pounded in her chest. "I have nothing left to give you."
The woman leaned in, her green eyes boring into Celeste's. "Oh, but you do. You've built a life here, haven't you? A husband. A family. A legacy. You've made yourself whole again, and that kind of purity… it's rare. Valuable."
Celeste took a step back, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. "No. No, you can't—"
"I'm not asking for much," the woman said, her voice calm and measured. "Just a taste. Just enough to keep the scales balanced."
Celeste shook her head, panic rising in her chest. "You can't have them. Not Liam, not Rollie, not my mother. You can't take them from me."
The woman's smile faltered for the first time, her expression hardening. "Then make a choice, Celeste. Offer us something of equal value… or watch everything you've built crumble to ash."
Tears burned in Celeste's eyes as she realized the horrifying truth: she would never truly be free of them. No matter how far she ran, no matter how much she gave, they would always come back, demanding more.
"I need time," Celeste said, her voice trembling.
The woman stepped back, her smile returning. "Of course. But don't take too long, my dear. The clock is ticking, and we wouldn't want to lose our brightest star."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Celeste standing alone, her perfect evening shattered.
As the party continued around her, Celeste's mind raced. What could she possibly offer to keep them at bay? And how much more of herself could she sacrifice before there was nothing left?
She glanced at Liam, her heart aching with the weight of what she might lose.
For the first time in years, Celeste realized she wasn't just running from her past—she was still bound to it. And no amount of distance, fame, or love could break the chains she had willingly fastened around her soul.