Chapter Thirteen – The Truth Beneath the Blood
I woke up choking on air, my throat dry and burning. Every muscle in my body trembled as if my veins were on fire. The bitter taste of herbs lingered on my tongue — the same ones my father forced into my mouth before I passed out.
The room was quiet, dimly lit by the moonlight spilling through the window. I could still feel traces of the poison pulsing through my body, crawling under my skin like a whisper that refused to fade. My head throbbed, but faint voices echoed from the next room — my father's voice and… someone else's.
I pushed myself up, wobbling slightly before steadying my balance. My bare feet barely made a sound on the wooden floor as I crept toward the half-open door. The faint light inside flickered, glowing with a strange silver hue. I peeked through the crack — my father was standing before a crystal orb, blood dripping from a small cut on his palm.
