The Illusion Gate
Evelyn’s POV
I stayed in bed for a full day after the first trial.
My body hurt. Everything felt heavy. I could still feel the creature’s claws in my ribs, even though the wounds were mostly healed. The healers did what they could, but they said the pain would last.
Sebastian never left my side.
He brought me water, helped me sit up, talked to me when the pain came back. He didn’t say much about the next trial. He knew I wasn’t ready to hear it.
I wasn’t either.
But rest didn’t stop time.
Three days passed too fast.
And now… I stood once again in the trial hall.
The second gate shimmered before me. This one was taller than the first. Darker. The glow around it wasn’t blue like before.
It was silver.
Cold. Sharp.
Like a blade made of moonlight.
The Queen watched from her seat.
The council sat in silence.
Sebastian wasn’t allowed to walk me to this gate.
No one was.
Only the gatekeeper stood beside me now.
“You may feel lost inside this one,” he said softly. “But you must not forget who you are. If you lose your sense of self... you won’t come back.”
I nodded slowly.
I already knew this one would be harder.
Not because it would hurt my body.
But because it would hurt my mind.
“I’m ready,” I whispered.
He reached for me.
And the world shattered.
Inside the Gate
The air was warm. Soft.
The scent of roses filled the room.
I blinked.
Everything was golden. Soft white curtains swayed in the windows. A breeze moved gently through the room. The sun poured in through glass. It smelled like home. Like peace.
Like love.
I turned.
And saw him.
Lucas.
He stood in the doorway, smiling, wearing his old black tunic. The one he wore the day we married in my first life. His hair was brushed back, his smile soft.
“Happy anniversary,” he said.
I froze.
“What…?”
He came closer and held out a rose.
“I got it fresh this morning,” he said. “Your favorite color. White.”
I looked down at my dress.
It was lace. Soft ivory. Like my old wedding gown.
No. No, this wasn’t right.
“I—I don’t understand,” I said slowly.
Lucas tilted his head. “What don’t you understand, love?”
“This isn’t… this isn’t real.”
His smile didn’t fade.
“Of course it is. It’s our life. Our home. You’ve just been resting. You were sick for a while, remember?”
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
I flinched.
“No,” I whispered.
My chest tightened.
This wasn’t right.
I wasn’t married to Lucas anymore.
I had died.
I had come back.
I was with Sebastian now.
I loved Sebastian.
But everything in this place felt real. The softness of the carpet under my bare feet. The rose’s scent. The warmth of Lucas’s touch.
It was like nothing before had ever happened.
Had it?
“You’re confused,” Lucas said gently. “Come eat with me. I made your favorite.”
He led me into the kitchen.
Two plates waited on the table. Soft bread. Lamb stew. Red wine.
Everything looked… perfect.
Too perfect.
I sat down slowly.
My hand trembled.
“You were gone,” I said.
“Only for a while,” he said. “The council sent me away, remember? But I came back early. For you.”
He touched my wrist.
“You’re all that matters.”
The words made me feel sick.
Something in me wanted to believe him.
Something deep, still broken, still raw.
He smiled again.
No fangs. No lies.
Just that soft look I had once loved.
“After dinner,” he whispered, “I want to show you something.”
I said nothing.
I ate the stew.
Each bite tasted like a memory.
Was I dreaming?
Was everything else—dying, waking in a new body, meeting Sebastian—just in my head?
My stomach twisted.
What was real?
Let's wait till evening and see if History would repeat itself.
By Evening.
Couldn't believe he actually came back.
He didn't go see Layla.
Brought me gifts.
Was it really a dream.
He carried me back to the bedroom like some princess.
He was very happy.
He kissed me gently.
Soft, warm.
His hands moved to my back, guiding me down to the bed.
The sheets were silk. White.
He whispered my name against my skin.
My breath caught.
I was falling into it.
Falling back into him.
I didn’t know what was real anymore.
Everything inside me was blurry.
Maybe I had made it all up.
The pain. The second life. The bond with Sebastian.
Maybe this was how it always was supposed to be.
I closed my eyes.
His lips touched my neck.
And then—
Flash.
A memory slammed into me.
Sebastian’s hand on my cheek.
His mouth on my shoulder, the sound of his voice when he whispered “mine.”
The first time we kissed.
The night I wore his mark.
I gasped.
My eyes flew open.
Lucas pulled back, confused. “What is it?”
I shoved him off me.
Hard.
He hit the floor with a thud.
“What’s wrong?” he said, blinking up at me.
I backed away. “No. No, this isn’t real. It’s a trick. A lie.”
His face changed. Slightly. Just for a second.
Something cold moved behind his eyes.
Something inhuman.
“You’re tired,” he said gently, rising to his feet. “You’ve just been dreaming again. You always get like this when you’re stressed.”
I shook my head. “You lied to me. You used me.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, coming closer again.
“You needed my blood,” I whispered. “You pretended to love me, but you only wanted to break the curse.”
He froze.
That was it.
The crack.
I saw it.
The illusion shimmered—just for a heartbeat.
The curtains flickered.
The walls faded.
And I knew.
I was still inside the second gate.
This wasn’t real.
But I didn’t know how to leave.
My chest burned.
My skin tingled like I was on fire.
I was getting cooked from the inside.
The trial wasn’t just a dream.
It was a trap.
One that fed off confusion and fear.
If I forgot the truth, I’d stay here forever.
I sank to my knees.
My head throbbed.
I could barely breathe.
“Help,” I whispered.
But no one could hear me.
No one knew what was happening in here.
And I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.