CASSIAN'S POV
Sera's scream shattered something inside me.
Not a scream of pain—worse. A scream of complete betrayal, of a world breaking apart. The same sound I'd made seven years ago when Lydia died in my arms.
Her fire exploded outward, uncontrolled and wild. Red flames filled the entire room, forcing everyone backward. Even Cordelia stumbled, surprise crossing her ancient face.
"Sera, stop!" I shouted, but my voice was lost in the roar of fire.
She was burning herself out. I could see it—her hands blistering, her skin turning red. Flameheart power was dangerous when controlled. Uncontrolled, it would consume her from the inside.
I did the only thing I could think of.
I ran straight into the flames.
The heat was unbearable. My coat caught fire immediately. My skin felt like it was melting. But I kept moving until I reached her.
Sera was kneeling in the center of her own inferno, tears streaming down her face. She didn't even notice me until I grabbed her shoulders.
"Let it go," I said, forcing her to look at me. "The fire won't change what happened. It'll only destroy you."
"She killed them!" Sera sobbed. "My own grandmother murdered my family!"
"I know. And it's unforgivable." I kept my voice steady even though everything hurt. "But if you burn out now, she wins. You'll die, and she'll still be here, still in control. Is that what you want?"
Her eyes focused on me, seeing me for the first time. "You're burning."
"Yes. So are you. So let's stop before we both turn to ash."
For a moment, I thought she wouldn't listen. The fire raged hotter, and I prepared to die in the stupidest way possible—trying to talk sense into a terrified teenager.
Then, slowly, the flames began to shrink.
Sera pulled them inward, absorbing the fire back into herself. It looked agonizing, but she kept going until the last flame disappeared.
We both collapsed on the scorched floor, gasping.
"How touching," Cordelia said coldly. "The Mad Duke playing hero. But you only delayed the inevitable."
She raised her hand again, silver fire gathering around her fingers.
That's when Lydia stepped forward.
My dead sister moved between us and Cordelia, her expression blank. "Grandmother, perhaps we should reconsider."
Cordelia frowned. "Lydia, move aside."
"No."
The word was quiet but firm. And suddenly, I understood.
The girl standing there wasn't my sister. She had Lydia's face, her voice, her gentle mannerisms. But her eyes were wrong—empty where Lydia's had been full of life.
"What did you do to her?" I demanded, rage replacing fear.
Cordelia smiled. "I saved her, of course. Seven years ago, she was dying from poison. I offered your family a deal: let me preserve her consciousness in a new body, or watch her die. Your parents refused, foolish creatures. But I took her anyway."
Horror washed over me. "You made her into a puppet."
"I made her immortal. She should be grateful." Cordelia's smile turned cruel. "Just as you should be grateful I'm giving Seraphina the same choice. Join me willingly and keep your free will, or resist and become like Lydia—alive but obedient."
"I'll die first," Sera spat.
"That can be arranged."
Mnemora suddenly appeared between us, her entire body glowing with silver light. "Enough talk. Everyone who wants to live, grab onto me. Now!"
I didn't hesitate. I grabbed Sera's hand and reached for Mnemora with the other. Ferris was already there, one metal hand on Mnemora's shoulder.
"You can't escape," Cordelia said, but she sounded uncertain for the first time.
"Watch me." Mnemora's eyes flashed. "Memory Portal: Scatter!"
The world exploded into fragments.
We tumbled through broken pieces of reality. I saw flashes of different places—a burning city, a frozen wasteland, an underwater palace—all existing in the same moment. Mnemora was using a forbidden technique, throwing us through random memories to hide our trail.
It was brilliant and completely insane.
We crashed into solid ground. I rolled, coughing, and looked around.
We were in ruins. Not recent ruins—ancient ones. Massive stone columns lay broken across cracked marble floors. Statues of forgotten gods stared down at us with empty eyes. And in the distance, I could see the Clockwork Capital's towers.
"Where are we?" Sera asked weakly.
"The Old District," I said, recognizing the architecture. "The original city, before the nobles rebuilt it. Nobody comes here anymore. It's supposed to be cursed."
"Perfect hiding spot then." Mnemora collapsed against a pillar, exhausted. "That portal technique burned through most of my power. I need to rest."
Ferris immediately went on guard, scanning for threats.
I looked at Sera. Burns covered her arms and hands from losing control of her fire. Her face was pale with shock and grief.
"Your grandmother," I started carefully. "I'm sorry."
"Don't." She wouldn't look at me. "Just... don't."
"We need to talk about what happens next."
"What happens next?" She laughed bitterly. "My grandmother is an immortal fire witch who murders her own family. Malachai has an army. Evangeline betrayed me. And your supposedly dead sister is some kind of mind-controlled zombie. What exactly is there to talk about?"
"How we fight back."
That got her attention. "Fight? Are you insane? We barely escaped with our lives!"
"Yes. And now we know what we're up against." I stood, wincing at my burns. "Cordelia is powerful, but she's not invincible. She's been hiding for years because she can't fight the entire Noble Council alone. That's her weakness."
"So what's your plan? Team up with the people who want me dead?"
"No. We expose them all—Cordelia, Malachai, the corrupt nobles. Show everyone the truth." I held out my burned hand. "But I can't do it alone. I need a Flameheart who's brave enough to stand against her own blood."
Sera stared at my hand for a long moment.
Then she took it.
"Fine. But if we're doing this, we do it my way. No more secrets."
"Agreed. No more secrets."
It was a lie, of course. I had plenty of secrets. But some truths needed time.
Mnemora groaned. "You two done making dramatic declarations? Because we have a problem."
"What now?"
She pointed to the sky.
Silver fire was spreading across the clouds above the Clockwork Capital, forming words visible for miles:
SURRENDER THE FLAMEHEART BY DAWN OR THE CITY BURNS.
Sera's face went white. "She's going to kill everyone. Thousands of people. Just to get to me."
"Not if we stop her first," I said.
"How? We don't even know where she is!"
That's when I heard it—a familiar mechanical clicking sound. I spun around.
Standing in the ruins behind us was Lydia. My sister. Cordelia's puppet.
But her empty eyes were filled with tears.
"Cassian," she whispered. "I don't have much time. She's coming. But I need you to know—I'm still in here. I've been trapped for seven years, screaming, and nobody could hear me."
My heart stopped. "Lydia?"
"She's not just controlling my body. She's stealing my memories, my magic, everything that makes me human." Tears streamed down her face. "In three days, there'll be nothing left. I'll be completely gone."
"No. I'll save you. I'll find a way to—"
"There's only one way." She looked at Sera. "You have to kill Cordelia. It's the only thing that will break her hold on me."
"We will," I promised.
"You don't understand." Lydia's voice broke. "Cordelia isn't just controlling me. She's controlling seven others too. Seven Flamehearts she's captured over the years, turned into weapons." She grabbed my hand desperately. "When she attacks tomorrow, she's bringing all of us. You'll have to fight me, Cassian. And I might kill you."