Ciel's POV
The intruder alert tore through the garden, and my heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest. I bolted through the castle halls, every step fueled by panic, dread coiling tighter around my ribs.
At the stairwell, time froze. Guards had formed a wall, shouting, but I pushed past them, ignoring their calls. Then I saw her.
Serena.
She lay sprawled on the cold stone floor, blood pooling around her. Sharp, merciless pain tore through me, and my chest felt as if it had shattered into a thousand fragments. My stomach twisted violently, nausea clawing at me.
I dropped to my knees beside her, lifting her fragile body into my arms alone. My hands trembled violently beneath her weight, nails digging into her clothing, as if holding her closer could somehow keep the world from collapsing.
"No… please… my love… hold on!" I gasped, panic choking me. "Stay with me… don't leave!"
"Get help!" I screamed, my mind fracturing as more distant cries echoed through the hall.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" a guard shouted, rushing forward.
I pressed her close to my chest, rocking her gently, willing her to live. Every heartbeat throbbed painfully in my temples. My arms shook, my hands gripping her as if sheer force could keep her alive.
Finally, I carried her into a nearby room and laid her gently on the bed, though my hands refused to still. "Please… please… be alright… stay with me…" I whispered repeatedly, my voice breaking under the weight of despair.
The doctor arrived, rushing to her side, examining her wounds with quick, precise movements. I sank to the floor beside the bed, clutching her hand like a lifeline. "Please… please… don't leave me, Serena," I begged, tears streaming freely. Each heartbeat, each breath, each flicker of her movement stabbed through me with unbearable pain.
Her fingers twitched faintly, a small pulse. I clung to it, a fragile thread of hope amid the chaos. If she died… terror seared through me… I'd never forgive myself. And whoever had done this… I would find them, and I would make them pay.
Lucien's POV
I was deep in slumber, dreaming of my throne in heaven, when a sudden bang shattered the quiet. My eyes snapped open just as the door burst inward.
At the entrance stood Lila, breath ragged, eyes wide with urgency.
"Lucien… come quick. Something's happened," she gasped.
"What the hell?" I shouted, staring at her in complete shock.
Before I could process anything, Lila spun on her heel and bolted from the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
I scrambled out of bed, heart pounding, and raced after her, my mind spinning with questions and dread.
"Wait, Lila! What the hell is going on?" I shouted, sprinting after her.
"Over here!" she called, turning sharply and leading me down the stairwell. We raced down the winding stairs and into a massive hall, its shadowed ceiling looming high above us.
The room was filled with thousands of fallen, all standing frozen in shock and fear, their faces pale and uncertain. And there, at the center, sat Asriel.
He looked terrifying. Angry. Every inch of him radiated power and wrath. A shiver ran down my spine, and my stomach twisted as I struggled to catch my breath.
I slowly came to a stop beside Lila, who had halted at the entrance of the hall.
"What the hell is going on, Lila? What's happening?" I asked, my eyes searching hers for answers.
"I don't know all the details," she said, her voice tight, "but I know it has something to do with that guy you fought earlier."
"What guy?" I asked, my stomach knotting.
"Malvrik," she said.
A wave of dread crashed over me. "Malvrik… that crazy bastard. What the hell did you do?" My fists clenched as my mind raced, fear and anger twisting together.
"Where is he?!" Asriel's voice boomed through the hall as he slammed his fist against the ground. "Where the hell is that bastard?!"
I shrank back instinctively — his fury was palpable, radiating through the room like fire.
"Master Asriel," I heard Gordon call cautiously as he stepped forward. "He hasn't arrived yet."
In an instant, Asriel's wrath struck. Gordon went flying against the wall, the impact echoing in the hall. My whole body froze, shock and fear rooting me to the spot.
"You stupid bastard!" Asriel roared, his eyes blazing. Gordon struggled to his feet, dazed and trembling.
"Then what are you still doing here, go find him," Asriel snapped, turning to the gathered crowd. "What the hell are you all waiting for? Find him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the crowd shouted in unison, scattering in every direction to search.
I looked at Lila, heart racing. "Come on. Let's find Malvrik before we face Asriel's wrath," I said urgently, and we took off down the hall.
Then, suddenly, one of the massive hall doors burst open.
And there he was.
Malvrik stepped into the room, battered and bloodied, yet moving with a strange, dangerous determination. My eyes widened, and I wasn't the only one — everyone froze, staring in absolute shock.
"Malvrik," Asriel spat, his voice thick with rage. His eyes glowed, furious and terrifying, every inch of him radiating murderous intent. "You bastard! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Malvrik walked calmly down the hall toward him. "Wait," he said, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Don't bother. Asriel seethed. "No amount of begging will save you now."
Confusion struck me. "What… what is he talking about?" I whispered under my breath, heart thundering.
"I'm not here to beg, Master," Malvrik continued, a confident smile on his bruised face. "I've come to give you something — something that will make your anger fade in a matter of seconds."
Asriel's brow furrowed, fury mixing with surprise. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Malvrik's gaze shifted, sharp and deliberate, locking on me. "I have something that will aid our plans… and make you cast out that useless fellow, Lucien," he said coldly.
My chest tightened. Fear clawed at me as realization hit. Could he really have obtained something that would turn Asriel in his favor? And then I remembered his threat in my room: "I'll prove who he truly needs, and when I do… you'll be gone, or better still, dead."
Malvrik turned back to Asriel, producing a long scroll and several documents. He handed them over with calm precision. My heart stopped as Asriel accepted them, his hands closing around the papers.
My heart sank on the spot, a cold dread spreading through me. If this is really true… I'm dead.