Cassian's POV
I was trapped in gold.
The world around me looked different now—everything had a golden shimmer, like seeing through stained glass. I could see Seraphina staring at me in horror. Could see the strange woman, Aria, standing behind her.
But I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't warn Seraphina that this stranger might be dangerous.
The gold stone felt different from the grey. Warmer. Like sunlight instead of ice. The agony that usually came with transformation was... gone. Replaced by something else. Something that felt almost like power humming through my frozen veins.
What had Seraphina done to me?
"What did I do?" Seraphina whispered, echoing my thoughts. Her hands were shaking as she touched the golden stone of my arm. "Why is he gold? Did I hurt him?"
"You didn't hurt him," Aria said calmly. "You changed him. Your Healer power is evolving faster than I expected."
"Who are you?" Seraphina spun around, her hands glowing defensively. "How did you get in here? The door is locked!"
"I've been alive for three hundred years, child. Locked doors don't concern me." Aria smiled gently. "And as for who I am—I'm the last person who can teach you what you need to know. I'm a Healer. Like you."
Seraphina's eyes went wide. "But the book said all Healers were killed in the Dark Purge!"
"All but one." Aria touched her own chest. "Me. I've been hiding, waiting, watching for three centuries. Waiting for another Healer to be born. Waiting for you."
"That's impossible," Seraphina breathed. "No one lives that long."
"Healers do. When we master our power fully, we can extend our own lives indefinitely. It's a gift—and a curse." Aria's eyes were sad. "I've watched everyone I loved die. Kingdoms rise and fall. All while waiting for you."
I wanted to interrupt, to warn Seraphina to be careful. But I was helpless. A golden statue who could only watch.
"Why me?" Seraphina asked. "Why now?"
"Because the darkness is rising again. The same forces that killed our people three hundred years ago are gathering strength." Aria moved to the window. "King Theron isn't just a cruel ruler. He's in league with ancient dark powers. The stone creatures you destroyed? Those are just the beginning. He's building an army of cursed beings."
"For what?" Seraphina's voice shook.
"To conquer the realm. But more than that—to find and kill the last Healer." Aria turned back to her. "You, Seraphina. He needs your blood to complete his dark ritual. Once he has it, nothing will be able to stop him."
Horror washed over Seraphina's face. "Then I have to run. Leave the kingdom. Hide like you did—"
"You can't." Aria shook her head. "He has Sir Elias. And he'll kill him and everyone else in this palace if you flee. You're trapped here until you're strong enough to fight back."
"I'm not strong enough!" Seraphina cried. "I can barely control my power! I just turned Cassian into gold when I was trying to help him!"
"Actually," Aria said, looking at me with interest, "turning him gold was brilliant. You accidentally upgraded his curse."
Both of us—Seraphina and I—wished we could ask: What?
"The grey stone curse was designed to cause pain and isolation," Aria explained. "But your Healer power transformed it into something different. Gold is the color of purification. Of divine magic. Look at his eyes."
Seraphina stepped closer, studying my frozen face. "They're... aware. Conscious. But he doesn't look like he's in pain anymore."
"Exactly. You didn't break the curse—you evolved it." Aria smiled. "This is good, actually. It means your power is incredibly strong. Untrained, yes. Uncontrolled, absolutely. But strong."
"But he's still trapped!" Seraphina protested.
"For now. But golden stone can be broken by the same Healer who created it. When dawn comes and he transforms back, try again. This time, with my guidance." Aria pulled out a small vial filled with shimmering silver liquid. "This is essence of moonflower. It helps focus Healer magic. Take three drops before you attempt the healing."
Seraphina took the vial carefully. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because I'm tired of hiding. Tired of watching evil flourish while I do nothing." Aria's voice hardened. "And because you're my descendant. My great-great-great-granddaughter, though you didn't know it. Your mother was my bloodline. She hid her powers her whole life to protect you."
Tears filled Seraphina's eyes. "My mother... she was a Healer too?"
"She was. And she died keeping your power secret from people who would have used you." Aria touched Seraphina's cheek gently. "She would be so proud of the woman you've become."
I watched Seraphina break down crying. Watched Aria hold her while she sobbed for the mother she'd lost, the powers she'd never known, the destiny she'd never asked for.
And I felt helpless. Trapped in gold while the girl who'd saved me fell apart.
"I can't do this," Seraphina whispered. "I'm not brave enough. Not strong enough."
"You are," Aria said firmly. "You survived abuse. Betrayal. Public humiliation. You walked into a cursed prince's room when anyone else would have run. You touched stone when death was guaranteed. You bargained with a king to save someone you barely know." She pulled back, looking Seraphina in the eyes. "You're braver than you realize. You just need to believe it."
A knock at the door made them both freeze.
"Open up!" a guard shouted. "King's orders. The healer girl is summoned to the throne room immediately."
Seraphina paled. "It's only been a few hours. What does he want?"
"Nothing good," Aria said grimly. She moved toward the window. "Remember what I taught you. Focus your power through emotion. Through the bond you share with the prince."
"Wait—where are you going?" Seraphina asked desperately.
"I'll be watching. Always." Aria's form started to shimmer. "Trust yourself, granddaughter. You're stronger than you know."
She vanished just as the door burst open.
Guards flooded in. Six of them this time.
"Come quietly," their captain ordered. "Or we'll drag you."
Seraphina looked at me—at my golden, frozen form. I could see the fear in her eyes. But also determination.
"I'll be back," she whispered to me. "I promise. Hold on."
They grabbed her arms and pulled her from the room.
I wanted to scream. To break free. To protect her.
But I was still trapped. Helpless. A golden prison with no way out.
Hours crawled by in agonizing slowness. Being stone was torture even without the pain. Every second felt like an hour. Every minute like a day.
The moon rose. Full and bright through the window.
And then—something changed.
The golden stone began to crack.
Not the usual cracks that came with dawn's transformation. These were different. Glowing from within.
Pain exploded through me—but not the curse's pain. This was something else. Something burning and powerful.
The gold shattered into a thousand pieces.
I fell to my hands and knees, gasping. But I wasn't returning to human form.
I was still partially gold—my arms, my chest covered in glowing golden scales like armor. My fingers ended in golden claws. When I looked at my reflection in the window, I saw my eyes were pure silver now, glowing with inner light.
"What..." I whispered, staring at my transformed body.
The door crashed open again.
But it wasn't guards this time.
It was Morgana. And she was dragging an unconscious Seraphina by her hair.
"Hello, golden prince," she purred. "Aren't you interesting now? The curse evolved. How delightful."
"Let her go!" I roared, and my voice echoed with power I'd never had before.
"Oh, I will. After I'm done with her." Morgana threw Seraphina's limp body to the floor. "Theron wanted to study her. I convinced him to let me extract her blood first. Healer blood is so much more potent when the Healer is alive but unconscious. The screaming ruins the magic otherwise."
She pulled out a long, wicked knife.
"Now," she said, kneeling beside Seraphina. "Let's see what makes the last Healer's blood so special."
Rage exploded through me—pure, burning rage.
The golden scales glowed brighter. Power surged through my transformed body.
I moved faster than I'd ever moved in my life.
My golden claws caught Morgana's wrist before the knife touched Seraphina's skin.
"You," I growled, my voice inhuman now, "will never touch her again."
Morgana's eyes widened in shock. "You broke free during transformation? That's—"
I threw her across the room. She crashed into the wall and crumpled.
But when she looked up, she was smiling. Blood trickled from her mouth, but she was smiling.
"Perfect," she whispered. "The curse didn't just evolve. It created something new. Something powerful." Her eyes gleamed with terrible hunger. "The King will pay a fortune for this. A golden cursed prince and a Healer girl, both ripe for harvesting."
She vanished in black smoke before I could stop her.
I dropped to my knees beside Seraphina. Her pulse was weak. Her skin was cold.
"No," I whispered. "No, no, no. Wake up. Please wake up."
But she didn't stir.
And my golden, clawed hands—hands that could tear apart stone creatures—were too dangerous to even touch her properly.
Then I saw it.
On her neck—a dark mark. Spreading like poison beneath her skin.
Morgana had already started the blood extraction ritual.
Seraphina was dying.