Heir & Pawn

When Hope Begins to Hurt
Aurora’s trembling fingers held the fragile parchment, the edges slightly crumpled. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, and the world seemed to go quiet around her. Her breath hitched as she began to read:

"Aurora,

If you're reading this, then I've done what I promised. I only hope this reaches you in time. I don't have much time myself. Writing this was a risk, but you deserve to know the truth.

I know you believe Darius is gone, but he’s not.

He’s alive.

He was actually captured by the witch hunters. He's been imprisoned in the royal dungeons under the palace. He's injured, Aurora. Badly. I saw him.

He’s bruised, broken, and bloodied but breathing.

They starved him.

He's barely recognizable. But at least he's alive. They have him under heavy guard, and my mother’s wrath falls upon him every day. I tried to help him, but I couldn't do more without risking exposure.

You must come for him before it’s too late.

– Alexander."

The words blurred. Not from the light, but from the tears welling in her eyes. Her lips parted in a silent gasp as the letter fell slightly in her grasp, held up only by her trembling fingers.

For a long moment, she simply stood there, mouth hanging open, unable to utter a word. The silence between heartbeats stretched painfully.

Maelis, Selene, Idris, and Morgan, who had been watching her closely, exchanged concerned glances before Selene finally broke the silence.

“Aurora… What does it say?” Her voice was soft and cautious.

Aurora didn’t answer right away. Her gaze was still locked on the parchment, her lips forming words that didn’t leave her mouth. The group—Maelis, Selene, Idris, and Morgan—exchanged confused glances, crowding slightly closer.

"What does it say?" Selene asks again.

Aurora swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “Darius... Darius is alive.”

Maelis’s eyes widened. "What?!"

Before Aurora could even react, Maelis’s hand darted out and snatched the letter from her trembling grasp. Her eyes skimmed rapidly across the words, her expression shifting from disbelief to stunned silence. The others leaned in, reading over her shoulder, breath catching in their chests.

A heavy stillness settled on the group. None dared speak as the weight of the revelation sank in.

"He’s alive," Maelis repeated in disbelief. "He’s—he’s actually alive."

"The dungeons," Idris murmured, frowning. "He’s in the dungeons of the palace?"

"Bruised and broken," Morgan echoed. "Son of a bitch."

Aurora didn’t wait for more. Her legs moved before her thoughts could catch up. She turned and bolted from the clearing, her feet pounding against the earth as she ran toward the heart of the sanctuary.

"Aurora!" Maelis called, and the others ran after her.

Aurora’s hair billowed behind her as she weaved through the crowd of witches, who parted with startled murmurs. She spotted Elara in the distance, walking beside Soraya, Malakai, Morpheus, and Daphne.

"Elara!" Aurora’s voice cracked with desperation. "Elara!"

They turned, confusion etched across their faces just before Aurora crashed into their midst.

"He’s alive!" she shouted. "Darius is alive!"

Gasps erupted around her. Passersby slowed, then stopped. A murmur stirred through the air like wildfire.

"What’s going on?"

"Did she say Darius?"

"Alive? But we just—"

Elara’s eyes were wide. "Aurora, what are you saying?"

Aurora glanced around at the forming crowd, panic flashing across her face. "Can we go somewhere? Somewhere private. Please."

Malakai nodded immediately. "This way."

They entered his modest stone cottage on the edge of the clearing. As soon as the door closed behind them, Aurora turned and took the letter back from Maelis. She handed it to Elara with trembling hands.

"Please," she whispered. "Read it."

The older woman’s eyes scanned the piece of paper. Slowly. Line by line. Her expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief. Then horror. Then hope. Her hand began to tremble, and by the time she reached the end of the letter, tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

"Aurora..." Her voice cracked, thick with disbelief and hope. "Is—Is this true?"

Aurora nodded. Her own tears returned, rolling down her cheeks freely. "Yes. It’s real. He’s alive."

The letter slipped from Elara’s trembling hand and fluttered to the floor as she collapsed into Aurora’s arms, sobbing. Elara clung to Aurora, burying her face into the younger witch’s shoulder as tears shook her whole body.

Aurora held her tightly, tears mingling as she whispered, "He’s alive. It’s okay."

Malakai picked the letter up and began to read it aloud, his voice grave. When he finished, silence settled thick and heavy in the room. Soraya, Daphne, and Morpheus all stared at one another with wide, guarded eyes.

Morpheus stepped forward, placing his large hands gently on Aurora’s shoulders, his voice calm but heavy with caution. "Aurora, listen to me. This could be a trap. They know you’re desperate. Lysandra and her witch hunters would not hesitate to use Darius to lure us all into danger.”

Aurora’s breath hitched, but she shook her head firmly. “It’s not a trap, Uncle.”

Her voice gained strength as she continued. “Alexander being the crown prince of Edralis doesn’t mean I can’t trust him. He broke the curse and woke me with a kiss. True Love’s Kiss. You can't fake that.” Her gaze was fierce, determined. “That means everything. He wouldn’t put me in danger on purpose. That kiss... it proves it.”

Morpheus exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. The lines on his face deepened. “I believe you, Aurora. But that doesn't mean this isn't dangerous.”

"I have to go!" Aurora cried. "We can’t just leave Darius there. Not like that. Lysandra will kill him!"

A tense silence fell. Morpheus shook his head slowly.

“I won’t stand aside and watch you walk into that hell.”

"Yes.” Daphne said gently. “You can’t just walk into Edralis,"

"Aurora you can’t even defend yourself," Idris muttered. "You're still collared."

That last sentence hit Aurora like a punch to the gut. Her breath caught. Her hands rose instinctively to her neck, fingers brushing against the cold metal collar that bit into her skin like a chain. She had stopped noticing it in her distraction and grief.

Her confidence shattered.

She backed away slightly, her hand still at her throat. Her gaze lowered to the floor.

Morgan saw it. "Aurora..."

"I forgot," she whispered. "I forgot I can’t even use my magic."

Maelis stepped forward, but her voice was softer now. "It’s not your fault. But you need to remember. Until that collar’s removed, you're completely vulnerable."

“We’re asking you to think carefully. This isn’t just about bravery; it’s about survival.” Malakai added.

Silence fell again. A painful, heart-wrenching silence. The room felt smaller now. The walls closed in. The warmth of the hearth offered no comfort.

Aurora stood still, shoulders trembling, her face crumbling under the weight of despair and indecision. Her fierce determination wavered, and shadows of doubt began creeping through the cracks in her heart.

Her mind raced.

Can I actually do this?

Can I rescue Darius without my magic?

Would this be a suicide mission?

Aurora closed her eyes and tears spilled down her cheeks.