Chapter 95: Shadows and Reckoning
**
The grand chamber was tense with discussion.
Queen Elara sat at the head of the table, her face solemn, her hands folded tightly together. Lucian was beside her, his jaw clenched, eyes flickering between Seraphina and Ava. The twins were also present, their expressions unreadable. Seraphina sat stiffly, her fingers gripping the arm of her chair. She didn’t want to be here—not with Ava pretending to be part of the royal family, not with Lucian avoiding her gaze, and certainly not with the weight of the **Origin Relic** pressing against her soul.
“I think we all need to talk,” Queen Elara said carefully.
Lucian exhaled sharply. “There’s nothing to discuss.”
“There is everything to discuss,” the Queen corrected, her voice firm. “Seraphina risked her life for this family—again. We need to understand what that means.”
Ava let out a quiet scoff. “I don’t see why this concerns me.”
Seraphina turned to her, eyes cold. “It doesn’t.”
Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly weary of the brewing hostility. “That’s enough.”
A moment of silence settled between them, thick and suffocating.
Then—
A low chuckle echoed through the room.
The flames in the torches flickered wildly. The temperature in the room dropped, a cold so sharp it seeped into their bones.
And then—he was there.
The **Dark Shaman.**
He stood in the center of the room as if he had always belonged there, his dark robes flowing like liquid shadows. His smirk was sharp, wicked—a mockery of amusement.
“Ah, what a lovely family gathering,” he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I do hope I’m not interrupting.”
Queen Elara’s face paled. Lucian was on his feet in an instant, hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
“What are you doing here?” Lucian growled.
The Dark Shaman tilted his head, smirking. “Now, now, Prince, that’s no way to greet an old acquaintance.”
Seraphina felt her fingers curl into fists.
His gaze shifted to her, and his smirk widened. “Ah, little silver-haired angel. We meet again.”
Seraphina’s heart pounded.
“Leave,” she hissed.
The Dark Shaman chuckled. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. You see, I’ve come to collect what’s rightfully mine.”
Queen Elara’s eyes narrowed. “Rightfully yours?”
The Dark Shaman let out a mock sigh. “Your late king,” he said, his voice laced with dark amusement, “should have honored his end of our deal.”
Lucian stiffened. “What deal?”
The Dark Shaman grinned. “He was supposed to hand over Seraphina to me.”
A stunned silence filled the room.
Seraphina’s breath hitched.
“What?” Queen Elara’s voice was barely a whisper.
The Dark Shaman shrugged. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. Your dear king knew the cost of keeping her. He made a bargain. And now that he has so inconveniently *died* before fulfilling his end…” He spread his arms, his eyes darkening. “I have come to collect.”
Lucian’s sword was out in an instant. “Over my dead body.”
The Dark Shaman tsked, shaking his head. “Now, now, Prince. You don’t want to be so hasty. I haven’t even finished my little story yet.”
His eyes flickered with something dangerous, something cruel. Then, with mock solemnity, he placed a hand over his heart.
“Did you know, Seraphina, that your dear grandmother begged for her life?”
Seraphina’s body went rigid.
The Dark Shaman smirked. “Oh yes, she fought bravely—just as you do. But in the end, she was no match for me.”
Seraphina’s breath came faster. The memories of that night slammed into her like a hurricane. Her grandmother’s screams. The smell of burning magic. The sight of the Dark Shaman standing over her lifeless body.
The Dark Shaman’s voice lowered, cruel and taunting. “She screamed your name before she died.”
Something inside Seraphina *snapped.*
Her magic erupted before she even thought about it.
A powerful blast struck the Dark Shaman square in the chest, sending him crashing against the wall. The impact shook the entire room.
Lucian turned to her, eyes wide. “Seraphina—”
But she wasn’t listening.
Her vision blurred with red-hot rage.
The Dark Shaman let out a low chuckle, rising to his feet. “Oh, that’s more like it.”
His grin widened. “Come on, tigress. Show me what you’ve got.”
Seraphina’s magic crackled at her fingertips, a brilliant white and silver light surging around her. She struck again—another burst of energy that sent the Dark Shaman skidding across the floor.
But he was still laughing.
“Do you feel it?” he whispered, eyes glinting. “The darkness inside you?”
Seraphina’s breath hitched.
She didn’t notice it at first.
The way her fingers trembled.
The way her **vision darkened** at the edges.
The way her **anger** pulsed like a living thing inside her.
The Dark Shaman wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his smirk never wavering. “Ahh, you don’t even realize, do you?”
Seraphina stiffened.
“Your magic,” he murmured. “It’s *tainted.*”
Lucian’s eyes flickered toward her, concern shadowing his face.
Seraphina shook her head. “You’re lying.”
The Dark Shaman’s smirk widened. “Am I?”
And then—he lifted a hand, conjuring a mirror of dark magic.
Seraphina’s **reflection stared back at her.**
Except—it wasn’t her.
The girl in the mirror had **black eyes.**
Seraphina stumbled back, her breath catching.
No.
No, that wasn’t—
Her.
The Dark Shaman let out a dark chuckle. “The darkness inside you hasn’t left. It’s been waiting, lurking, feeding off your anger, your vengeance.” He took a slow step forward, voice dripping with malice. “Every time you let your rage consume you… *you lose yourself a little more.*”
Seraphina’s fingers twitched.
Lucian’s voice was urgent. “Seraphina—step back.”
But the rage inside her burned too brightly.
The Dark Shaman tilted his head, watching her with **delight.**
“Oh, Seraphina,” he whispered. “You’re already mine.”
And then—
The **room exploded in chaos.**
The Dark Shaman **lunged** toward her.
Seraphina **struck out** with all her magic.
Lucian **shouted her name.**
The last thing Seraphina saw was her **own blackened reflection** before the darkness **swallowed her whole.**