Smoke filled the halls.
Vivi pressed a hand to her mouth, coughing as flames licked the air behind her. The serpent mark burned on the wall—alive, almost moving.
She could hear the guards fighting somewhere below. And above the crackle of fire
A voice.
Not spoken aloud.
Spoken into her mind.
"You don't belong to them, little flame."
Her knees buckled. She fell against the stone wall, eyes wide.
"Who—?"
"You were never meant to wear a crown. You were born for something older."
The flames dimmed around her. The walls began to pulse not with heat… but memory.
She saw flashes:
A forest of silver trees.
A woman who looked like her, eyes glowing with starlight.
A child held above a flame, marked with a sigil.
"You were given to the royals. But your blood is mine."
Her heart nearly stopped.
> "You're lying."
"Ask them. Ask your precious mother… what name you were born with."
And then the voice said it:
"I named you Virelya."
🩸 Outside, in the courtyard…
Haken slammed one of the shadow-creatures into the stones, breath ragged, blood streaking his arm.
More were coming.
He looked up toward Vivi's balcony—
"I'm coming."
And in that instant, she appeared.
Not the same girl.
Eyes glowing faint gold.
Hair dancing with the wind.
And in her hand… the cursed book, burning.
No more running," she whispered.
The wind circled her. The shadow hounds froze.
And somewhere, in the dark…
Viper smiled.