********Harper
I couldn't move.
Chains clanged around my wrists as a low, cold voice echoed through the darkness.
"Use your powers, Harper," Kael hissed, his tone sharp and venomous. His silver eyes gleamed with something cruel — something that didn't belong to the man who once held me tenderly. "You can end this if you just stop pretending."
"Please…" I whispered, my voice trembling as the pain surged through me again.
Kael's mother — Lady Seraphina — stood beside him. Her golden hair shimmered like a halo, yet her eyes were colder than frost. She smiled faintly, tracing her fingers over a glowing rune etched into my skin. "She's stubborn, Kael. Perhaps a little more persuasion will loosen her tongue."
And then the fire came.
It wasn't real fire — not entirely — but the kind that burned from the inside out, spreading through my veins, scorching my soul.
I screamed.
Their laughter — Kael's and Seraphina's — blended with the sound of cracking chains and whispering shadows. "You have no idea who you are, do you?" Seraphina's voice purred near my ear. "You can't hide from what you are forever."
And then —
The world shattered.
I gasped awake. My body jerked upright, drenched in cold sweat. My breathing came in ragged bursts as my heart hammered violently against my ribs. The faint light of dawn filtered through the lace curtains, turning the room's ivory walls into pale shades of gold.
"Miss Harper!" a soft, anxious voice called out.
I turned, and my maid rushed in — Marielle, her long auburn hair slightly messy from sleep. Her hazel eyes were wide with worry as she hurried to my bedside. "Are you all right, my lady? You were screaming again."
"I'm fine, Marielle," I said quickly, forcing a weak smile. My throat felt raw.
Marielle hesitated, kneeling beside me. "You always say that. But I see you clutching your chest every night, trembling like someone's chasing you in your sleep. I don't know what you're dreaming about, but…" her voice softened, "it hurts me to see you like this."
Her words lingered in the air, heavy and sincere.
I reached out, placing my hand gently over hers. "It's nothing, really," I lied. "Just… silly dreams."
Marielle's lips pressed into a thin line. "If you say so, my lady." She stood, smoothing her apron. "In that case, I'll prepare your morning tea. But before that—" she paused, glancing toward the window, "Lady Seraphina sent word. She'll be visiting you this morning."
I blinked. "So soon?"
Marielle nodded. "She said she has some matters to discuss about the wedding preparations."
"Of course," I murmured, my stomach twisting. "Thank you, Marielle. You may go."
"Yes, my lady." She gave a small curtsy before walking out. At the door, she turned once more, her voice faint. "You should rest, Harper. The wedding's close. You'll need your strength."
The door closed with a soft click.
Silence settled again.
I drew a shaky breath and stared at my trembling hands. The dream felt too real — the heat of the flames, Kael's cruel smirk, Seraphina's whisper. Why did it feel as if I'd lived it before?
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. No, Kael saved me. He would never hurt me.
Still… the unease wouldn't fade.
It had been three years since that night — the night he found me, broken and bloodied, running from people who wanted me dead. I remembered his hand reaching for mine through the smoke, the promise in his eyes. That was the moment my life began anew.
Or so I believed.
Ever since he proposed — less than two weeks ago — the dreams had started. Each night worse than the last. Each one whispering fragments of a life I couldn't remember, faces I couldn't name, voices I couldn't forget.
I rubbed my temples. "What's wrong with me?" I whispered to myself.
The morning breeze drifted in, cool and quiet, brushing against my skin. I looked toward the window. Somewhere beyond those hills lay the world I'd forgotten — and the truth I wasn't sure I wanted to remember.
---
*******Author's POV
In another realm, far away from Harper's peaceful chamber, storm clouds churned over a sky painted violet and crimson — the Witch's Realm.
The air crackled with restless magic as Natalie and Vaelthor stepped into a vast, candlelit chamber. The room smelled faintly of ancient herbs and sorrow.
By the window sat Ellis, her once-silver hair dimmed to gray, her fingers absently tracing the rim of a cold teacup. Her eyes — those same sharp, commanding eyes that once terrified gods — were dull now, fixed on nothing.
Natalie's sigh broke the silence. "You're still thinking about her, aren't you?"
Ellis didn't answer at first. Her gaze lingered on the horizon, where purple storms gathered. "How could I not?" she said finally, her voice trembling. "That monster took my daughter, Natalie. And I can't reach her — not even through the bond."
Her fingers tightened around the cup until it cracked.
"I've called for Zareth every night," Ellis whispered. "He hasn't answered once. It's been three years. Perhaps…" Her voice faltered. "Perhaps there's no hope left."
Natalie's heart clenched. She looked toward Vaelthor — the stoic, quiet figure leaning against the far wall. His eyes, usually sharp as blades, looked distant, distracted.
"Vaelthor?" Natalie called softly.
He didn't respond immediately, only exhaled through his nose. "Hope is fragile," he said finally, "but not dead. We've faced worse, haven't we?"
Ellis turned away. "You don't understand, Vaelthor. She's my child. If she's gone—"
A new voice cut through the room, smooth and echoing from the entrance.
"Perhaps I can be of help."
The air shifted. The candles flickered wildly.
All three turned toward the doorway. A young man stood there — no older than twenty — draped in black robes embroidered with runes that shimmered faintly crimson. His eyes glowed a deep, unnatural red, like the reflection of blood beneath glass.
Ellis's breath caught. "Ravion…?"
The boy's lips curved into a smile — the kind that didn't reach his eyes. "It's been a long time, Lady Ellis."
Natalie stiffened. Vaelthor's hand moved toward his blade. The room fell into a tense silence, and the storm outside grew louder.
---
******Harper
A soft knock came at my door.
Before I could answer, the door creaked open, and Lady Seraphina stepped inside, graceful as ever in her flowing silver gown. Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, her smile perfectly composed.
I quickly stood and curtsied. "Good morning, Your Highness."
She smiled faintly, approaching with elegance only years of power could perfect. Her hand rested lightly on my head. "Good morning, future daughter-in-law," she said sweetly. "I trust your night was good?"
My throat tightened. The dream flashed again — her cold eyes, her cruel laughter.
I forced a smile. "It was… restful enough, my lady."
Her gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, her smile unwavering. But behind those emerald eyes, something unreadable glimmered — something sharp.
Outside, the morning sun rose higher, spilling golden light through the window. Yet to me, it felt like the dawn of something darker.
And deep inside, a voice I didn't recognize whispered—
Wake up, Harper.