The mansion had grown unbearably quiet—too quiet for a house once filled with voices, laughter, and restless footsteps. The silence pressed heavily against the walls, broken only by the faint hum of the storm gathering beyond the windows.
Dadi sat in the prayer room, her hands trembling as she clutched her rosary. "So much darkness… so much suffering," she murmured. "First Raani, then Urvashi… Chandni buried… and now Gauri gone. What more will this night take from us?"
Vihaan stood beside her, staring at the flickering diya that fought against the cold draft in the room. His face was pale, shadowed by worry. "I should've gone with her," he said hoarsely. "She shouldn't have gone alone."
Dadi placed a frail hand on his arm. "No, beta… if you had gone, who would have protected the family? You did what you had to. Gauri will come back."
But Vihaan's heart was far from convinced. His thoughts kept circling back to her face—her voice, her touch, her promise.
Just then, Laila entered, her steps echoing lightly against the marble floor. Her expression was solemn but determined. "You must not lose hope," she said, her voice low and steady. "I will find a way to end this curse—to protect all of you."
Vihaan turned to her sharply. "You'd better mean it, Laila. Because if anything happens to Gauri—"
Laila met his gaze unflinchingly. "Nothing will happen to her," she said. "Not while I'm alive."
Without another word, she moved toward the balcony, her moon-staff glowing faintly in her hand. The clouds parted just enough to reveal a pale crescent moon hanging low in the night sky, its light soft yet commanding.
Laila stepped onto the edge of the balcony—and as the moonlight bathed her, a gleaming white crescent materialized beneath her feet. It lifted her gently, shimmering like liquid silver.
She sat upon it gracefully, her hair flowing like silk in the wind.
"I'll return soon," she called down, her voice carried by the night breeze. "Until then—keep your faith strong."
The crescent ascended slowly, carrying her toward the heavens. The clouds closed behind her, and within moments, she was gone—only a trail of moonlight left shimmering across the sky.
Vihaan stood still, looking up at the fading light. "I just hope Gauri is safe," he whispered, his voice breaking softly into the night.
Dadi's eyes followed the same path, her fingers tightening around the rosary. "She will be," she said, though her heart trembled with fear. "She must be."
The night sky was drenched in crimson light — the eclipse moon hung low, bleeding across the ancient stones of the Red Moon Fort. The air trembled with dark energy as the moon's glow rippled like liquid fire over the castle walls.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard as a silvery mist swirled in the air. Out of it descended Laila, her long hair flowing like smoke, her eyes reflecting the moon's red gleam. She landed gracefully, her feet touching the cold marble floor with divine menace.
Across the vast hall, Veer stood waiting, arms crossed, that wicked smirk of his curving deeper as he watched her approach.
"So," he said, voice smooth as poison, "the grand performance is over. Quite an act, Laila."
Laila's lips curled into a half-smile. "Coming from you, that's a compliment. You aren't less of an actor yourself, Veer."
They began walking toward each other, their footsteps echoing through the silent fort. Shadows danced around them as if bowing to their darkness.
"You fooled them beautifully," Veer continued, circling her like a predator admiring another. "Even Vihaan — with all his power — never suspected a thing."
Laila let out a soft laugh. "Why would they? They never knew me… not truly. I was never one of them. Chandni played the saint, the good twin — but I?" She lifted her hand, summoning a small flame of lunar fire. "I'm the evil princess they feared in whispers."
Veer tilted his head, eyes gleaming. "And yet they believed Chandni to be the monster."
"Exactly," Laila said, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "They think she's the attacker, the betrayer. Meanwhile, I stand among them, trusted, freed… ready to finish what we began."
The red light flickered across her face, revealing a cruel, knowing smile.
Veer stepped closer, his voice lowering into a dark whisper. "Vihaan doesn't even realize… this was his last time seeing Gauri alive."
Laila's smile deepened, cruel and serene. "The eclipse moon rises — and with it, her end. The moment she touches its light…" she extended her palm toward the glowing red disc above them, "…Gauri will die."
The moon flared, pulsing in agreement — red and merciless.
Veer's eyes glowed faintly as he looked up. "Then let the prophecy complete itself, Princess of Shadows."
Laila turned toward the moon, her expression a perfect blend of triumph and madness. "Let the eclipse claim her."
The fort trembled, and the red light began to spill outward — racing toward the world below.