ARRIVAL

Evangeline’s breath came in shallow bursts as she stumbled through the grand hall, the weight of her body dragging against her will. She couldn’t remember when her legs had become so heavy, like they had been replaced with stone. Maybe it was the blood loss, or maybe it was the toll of undoing everything she had worked so hard to build. Either way, every step felt like she was dragging a boulder.

Her fingers tightened around the rail as she made her way up the stairs, trying not to trip over the hem of her dress. The floor under her feet was cold.

It felt like an eternity before she finally reached the top, her legs shaking beneath her. The hallway was just as vacant as the rest of the castle, at the end of it, she reached the room she had been aiming for. It was a quiet room, always kept empty, a space meant for a guest who would never arrive. It had every piece of furniture it needed: an old, square ottoman that sat by the window, a dresser pushed up against the wall, a mirror framed in gold, and a small table by the door. The curtains were drawn to the side, letting the pale moonlight spill across the floor in long, silvery streaks.

She didn’t hesitate as she walked in, her feet dragging against the marble. The room felt so still, so unmoving, like it had been waiting for her.

She crossed to the window and collapsed onto the ottoman, the dark red fabric rough beneath her fingers. She grabbed a few dry wipes from the small drawer beside the table closer to her, dabbing them gently against her nose. The blood was still flowing, staining her skin as it dripped slowly down. It was almost calming, in a strange way—having something to focus on other than the dizzying fog in her head.

Her fingers trembled as she wiped her nose, but she kept at it, even as the blood continued to pour out of her. Her head swam with exhaustion, the room around her spinning slowly.

She stared out the window, eyes half-lidded, watching the gate of Eden from the third floor. It was a peaceful view, one she had always appreciated. The sprawling grounds, the distant buildings, the people who had come and gone. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the tiredness of it wash over her. Her fingers pressed harder against the wipes, trying to stop the bleeding, but it wouldn’t stop, it only slowed. She could feel her pulse in her ears, loud and normal. At least she was still alive.

Who was she kidding?

She wasn’t fine. Not by a long shot.

It would take weeks to recover, if Adeline helped her. But weeks weren’t the real problem. The real problem was that if Adeline didn’t help, if she had to rely on her own strength, it could take months.

Months!! That was if she didn't die.

It was a bitter thought, one that tasted like metal in her mouth. Her power had limits, even if she hated to admit it. The magic that had nearly destroyed her tonight was not something she was meant to wield. It was a weakness that had been passed down through her bloodline, something that had already cost them so much.

Her eyes moved back to the window, the gate of Eden barely visible in the distance, the stone walls surrounding it standing tall and imposing. It looked almost serene from up here, as if nothing was wrong. As if she hadn’t just shattered everything she had worked for. It wasn't entirely for her own sake even.

Would they appreciate her if she told them?

Certainly not.

She relaxed into the soft material, her head tilting to one side as she watched the moon shift behind the clouds. The stillness of the room was overwhelming.

Every breath felt like it came from someone else, she closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting around her what would happen after now as she waited for the pain to subsid, and her strength to return. That would be possible if Adeline was willing the help.

Her fingers moved to her nose again, gently wiping at the blood that had pooled beneath her skin. Oh, how she hated the feeling of it, hated how it seemed to never stop.

Her ears picked up on a distant sound, that grew louder by the second.

The smooth, unmistakable sound of an engine revving.

Her entire body tensed.

She turned her gaze back to the gate, eyes narrowing as she leaned forward slightly, trying to make out the dark figures moving beyond the iron bars. The moment the gates creaked open, she felt her stomach drop.

Two black Spectre Rolls-Royces glided into Eden, their sleek bodies gleaming under the moonlight, as they made their way toward Hera Castle with an eerie sort of grace.

Shit! she was so screwed.

Her fingers gripped the edge of the ottoman as she sat up straighter, ignoring the way her muscles protested, the way her heart hammered against her ribs, or the heavy, suffocating pain that only grew worse as the cars rolled to a slow, deliberate stop in the lot near the castle’s entrance.

She felt like she couldn't breathe.

No, she could. She just didn't want to.

Because if she did, she might start panicking.

And she did not have the energy to panic right now. The engines cut off, leaving a chilling silence in their wake.

Shit! shit! shit!

But god! it was almost laughable at this point. She hadn’t even recovered from the spell, and now this? She was going to die of high blood pressure before the pain from undoing the illusion even finished working through her system.

Her hands twitched slightly in her lap, her nails digging into the fabric of her dress as she tried to steady herself.

Okay, no need to panic. She had known this was coming, Tide had warned her, Adeline had basically rubbed it in her face. There was no need to panic right? Phew! No need but nothing could have prepared her for the feeling of actually seeing those cars pull in, and the doors opening.