Silence hung between them like mist. Allison turned to face him, her voice quiet but resolute. "She knew exactly how to stand beside you. Exactly how to smile. That only comes from practice and years of being together."
Lucian's jaw tensed. "Anya knows how to perform."
"Does she know how to lie?"
He met her eyes. "She always has."
That made Allison pause.
Her brows furrowed. "So you knew?"
He exhaled slowly. "I suspected. Even when I loved her, there were… cracks. Things she did that didn't add up. But she was human. Soft-spoken, gentle and fragile. Or so I thought."
"You loved that," Allison whispered. "You wanted something gentle ."
"I was tired of being anything else," he admitted.
He looked down at his hands. "I met her when I was… trying to forget about magic and the rest of them. Trying to forget who I am. She was easy to admire. She knew exactly how to make me believe I was normal."
"But you're not normal."
"No," he said.
She looked away, the wind tugging strands of hair from her bun.
Lucian stepped closer.
" They said she died in a plane crash," Allison said softly. "Didn't she?"
He nodded. "That's what I believed. The explosion was staged. Her body was never recovered."
"But something told you…"
"I had to put the pieces together. Li Fan and his brother, you know what I mean."
After some time Allison said, "I don't want to compete".
"You don't have to."
"She wants you. Do you?"
Lucian's lips parted but no words came. From above, the clouds rumbled faintly and Allison's pendant warmed.
Not from warning or flames but from… recognition.
A ripple of old blood, old magic or maybe an old rival?.
She stepped back.
"I need to breathe," she whispered.
Lucian didn't stop her but as she walked away, she felt the weight of his stare and the ache in the air.
---
UNKNOWN DIMENSION – WITCH'S CHAMBER
In a room of mirrors, a tall woman stood before a bubbling basin of black rose petals and moonlit ink. Her hair was silver, long and wavy. Her lips red as curse-blood. She wore a crown of thorns that pulsed with soft magic.
The Witch Queen.
Beside her, Li Anya stood head lowered.
"She looked more radiant than expected," the witch murmured.
Anya didn't respond.
"She carries the First Flame. I can feel it, even from here. She's blooming faster than the stars predicted."
"She's still just a naive girl," Anya said tightly.
The Witch Queen smiled.
"So were you, once. And yet, here you are… begging me for power again."
Anya's fists clenched.
"I'm not begging."
The Witch Queen turned to her slowly.
"You're scheming. Just like always." Her eyes narrowed.
She stepped forward, trailing a finger down Anya's cheek.
"But if you want Lucian… you must earn it."
"How?" Anya asked, voice low.
The Witch Queen looked into the mirror where Allison appeared in her black gown, her hair red as ever, defiance in her stare.
"Break her. I don't want anyone bringing my son down"
****************************
The moon hung high and distant. Allison stood barefoot on the tiled floor of her room, robe wrapped tightly around her. She couldn't sleep.The shadows kept whispering. She heard a knock on her door, she waited but none came after that. She opened the door expecting Lucian but Alexa Devon stood there dressed in a glittering black hoodie and oversized sunglasses, even at night. Her hair shimmered like starlight.
"Hey," the celebrity said casually. "We need to talk."
Alexa plopped down onto the bed, hugging Allison's pillow.
"You danced really good by the way."
Allison blinked. "You were at the gala?"
"Girl, I owned the second floor." She popped a strawberry candy in her mouth. "But I'm not here for gossips."
Allison sat on the windowsill. "Then why?"
Alexa's smile faded. "Because our mother is stirring something."
Allison's heart skipped. "Lucian's mother."
"She's more than that." Allison met her eyes. "She's a powerful witch. She saw you coming before your mother even gave birth to you. And she never wanted you near her son."
"Why?"
"Because you'll change him. And because she already chose someone else for him." Alexa didn't say the name.
"Li Anya."
Alexa nodded. "Mom always liked her. Thought she was obedient, quiet, good for diplomacy."
"She's none of that."
"She fooled everyone," Alexa said. "Even me. "
"But not anymore," Allison whispered.
"No," Alexa agreed. "Not anymore."
She stood, brushing imaginary dust off her clothes.
"Whatever happens, Allison …" She paused. "Don't lose yourself trying to love my brother."
Then, with a wink, "But also, if you do choose to set her hair on fire… I'll help."
LU CORPORATION – ROOFTOP TRAINING TERRACE
The rooftop of Lu Corporation was deserted and off-limits to everyone except those with the highest security clearance but tonight, the rooftop glowed softly under the moon.
Allison stood at the center, breathing steadyly.
Her eyes closed.
A circle of chalk and flame surrounded her. Alexa sat cross-legged outside it, braiding her hair and munching on dried plums.
"Focus on the flame behind your ribs," Alexa instructed lazily. "That's where the sword listens from."
Allison exhaled.
She called.
The pendant pulsed bright and hot.
And then the flame-blade appeared but this time, it didn't hover. It burned red, unstable. Flickering with something darker as if memory and rage were mixing too fast. Allison gritted her teeth.
The blade swayed. She tried to steady it but a vision hit her like a wave.
A pair of delicate lips whispering her name.
Blood sliding across marble.
A goblet.
And Li Anya's voice: "He loved me once. He'll do it again."
Allison gasped.
The flame vanished.
She dropped to her knees, chest heaving.
Alexa was beside her instantly. "You saw something."
Allison nodded, breathless. "A memory… not mine."
Alexa's expression darkened. "The sword remembers all those who ever sought your bloodline. Including her."
She helped Allison up.
Alexa warned. "She's already trying to poison your core. That's why the blade wavered."
"I'm not afraid of her,"
"I know," Alexa replied. "But fear isn't the weapon here."
She stepped back and looked toward the skyline.
"Jealousy is."
Allison sat with a tablet in hand, sipping her black coffee in the company garden café near the board floor. Early sunlight filtered through the trees. It was peaceful until she saw Li Anya walking in.
She was dressed in a pale yellow blouse and cream trousers, hair swept back in a soft braid, looking deceptively gentle. Her stilettos clicked softly on the marble.
Allison didn't look up. "You're up early."
"So are you," Anya replied, settling across from her without permission.
"Must be fate," Allison murmured. Her tone was sweet but her eyes were not.
Anya studied her. "You really don't know how beautiful you are, do you?"
Allison raised an eyebrow.
"You walked into that gala like you were born to rule ," Anya said, stirring her tea slowly. "It surprised me. I expected someone… quieter."
"You mean weaker."
Anya smiled thinly. "Not everyone who whispers is weak."
"No," Allison agreed. "But some people whisper because their lies crack when spoken too loud."
Anya's fingers twitched slightly around the cup.
Then she leaned in, voice really smooth.
"Be careful with Lucian. He loves deeply. But when he lets go… he wouldn't come back."
Allison stood, gathering her tablet.
She looked down at Anya, her expression calm.
"The thing about fire," she said, "is that even ashes remember the flame."
Then she walked away. And Anya's teacup shattered, crashed to the ground.
HALL – NIGHTFALL
Lucian stood before a long obsidian table. On it lay a single file. Paper-thin and bound in red string. The personnel file of Li Anya. He flipped to the last page.
"Confirmed resurrection via blood-binding. Subject linked to dark blooded parasite."
He closed the file slowly.
And whispered, "She's not just back… she's weaponized."
Behind him, Alexa stepped out from the shadows.
"Allison knows," she said softly.
Lucian didn't turn.
"I know."
"She's holding it together. Barely."
"She's stronger than you think," Lucian murmured. "But I'm afraid I'm not."
"Allison makes you vulnerable."
That night Allison had a dream, she stood in a field of glass petals. Each step she took left a footprint of blood.
She saw a mirror ahead. In it she saw someone that looked like her but older and stronger. Crowned in flame and power.
The reflection spoke.
"Become me."
Allison reached out then the mirror shattered.