The morning came reluctantly, dragging a pale sun into the sky and spilling a muted light over the vast forest surrounding the manor. Sera woke with a start, her dreams tangled in shadows and whispers. The air in her room was heavy, as though it carried the weight of the conversations she'd overheard the night before. Despite her confusion and fear, she was determined to find answers.
The faint aroma of something savory wafted into her room, pulling her out of bed. She wrapped herself in the thick coat Aidan had given her, still slightly overwhelmed by its comforting scent, and ventured out into the quiet hallways. As she descended the grand staircase, her gaze lingered on the intricate carvings etched into the banisters—stories of creatures and battles that felt oddly familiar, even though she had never seen them before.
Her curiosity drove her to explore further. The walls were adorned with ancient tapestries and paintings that seemed to depict a lineage of nobility—although some faces bore an otherworldly quality that sent shivers down her spine. She stopped before a large portrait of a woman whose striking features seemed oddly similar to her own. The resemblance was unsettling, as though the woman was staring back at her with a knowing smile.
"You're up early," Aidan's voice interrupted her thoughts, startling her.
Sera turned to see him standing a few steps away, his expression unreadable. He wasn't wearing the long coat today, and without it, his sharp features and imposing presence felt even more intense.
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, gesturing toward the painting. "Who is she?"
Aidan hesitated, his gaze flickering to the portrait. "A story for another time," he said curtly.
Sera frowned. "Every time I ask something, you shut me down. Don't you think I deserve to know why I'm here? Why you're protecting me? Or why that man last night looked at me like I was a threat?"
Aidan's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, another voice echoed through the hall.
"She's asking questions already? Bold, isn't she?"
The man from last night stepped into view, his crimson eyes glaring at her with disdain. Sera recognized the simmering anger in his gaze, but this time, she didn't back down.
"She has a right to know, Damian," Aidan said firmly.
Damian scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. "You're playing with fire, Aidan. If she starts digging, she'll find things better left buried."
"That's enough," Aidan snapped, his tone carrying an authority that silenced the room.
Sera watched the exchange, unease settling in her chest. Damian's words only fueled her determination to uncover the truth.
"I don't care about your secrets," Sera said suddenly, her voice steady despite her nerves. "I just want to know why I'm here. Why me?"
Aidan turned to her, his expression softening. "Because you're in danger," he said simply.
Damian let out a humorless laugh. "Danger? She's the danger, Aidan. Or have you forgotten the prophecy?"
Aidan's glare silenced him, but the damage was done. Sera's curiosity burned brighter.
"What prophecy?" she demanded, stepping closer to Aidan.
"It doesn't concern you," he replied, but his voice lacked conviction.
"It does if I'm the one you're talking about!" she shot back. "I deserve to know!"
Aidan ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn. Damian, on the other hand, looked like he was ready to explode.
"You think she can handle the truth?" Damian sneered. "Fine. Tell her how her blood could either save or doom us all. Tell her why she looks like the woman in that portrait. Go on, Aidan. Tell her everything."
Sera's breath caught in her throat. Her blood? The woman in the portrait? None of it made sense, yet she couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling that there was a connection she didn't yet understand.
Aidan shot Damian a warning look before turning back to her. "Not here," he said quietly. "There are things you need to see first."
Before Sera could protest, Aidan gestured for her to follow him. He led her through a maze of corridors until they reached a set of heavy wooden doors. With a push, they creaked open to reveal a vast library filled with towering shelves and ancient tomes. The air smelled of leather and aged parchment, and the room hummed with an almost palpable energy.
"This is where it begins," Aidan said, his voice reverent.
Sera stepped inside, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the place. Books and artifacts filled every corner, some of them glowing faintly as though they carried secrets of their own. Aidan pulled a thick, leather-bound book from one of the shelves and placed it on a nearby table.
"This is the history of my people," he explained, flipping through the pages. "And this—" He stopped at a detailed illustration of the woman from the portrait, surrounded by symbols and strange markings. "—is the story of how everything changed."
Sera stared at the page, her mind racing. "Who is she?"
Aidan's gaze met hers. "Her name was Althea," he said. "She was a human who crossed into our world centuries ago. Her arrival marked the beginning of a prophecy—a prophecy that speaks of another human who would follow in her footsteps. Someone whose blood carries the power to unite or destroy our worlds."
"And you think that's me?" Sera asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aidan didn't answer immediately. "I don't know," he admitted. "But your presence here isn't a coincidence. The resemblance, the timing—it all points to something bigger."
Sera felt a chill run down her spine. "What happens if I am the one?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Aidan said. "But until we do, you need to be careful. There are those who would rather see the prophecy destroyed than fulfilled."
Damian's voice broke the tension. "She's a liability, Aidan. Keeping her here only puts us all at risk."
Aidan shot him a warning glare. "She stays," he said firmly.
Sera didn't know whether to feel reassured or terrified. She was caught in a web of secrets and danger, and the more she learned, the more tangled it became. But one thing was certain—there was no turning back now.