Chronicles of the Forsaken

The dagger gleamed under the dim candlelight, its dark metal reflecting the flickering flames. It was beautiful—sleek, well-crafted, and undoubtedly lethal. Yet, it wasn't just a weapon being offered to her at that moment. It was something far more dangerous.

Seraphina's fingers hovered over the hilt, hesitation gnawing at the edges of her mind. She could feel Caius's piercing gaze locked onto her, studying her every movement, waiting for her reaction.

If she accepted this dagger, she would be binding herself to him in some way. In the novel, Seraphina Valemont and Caius Raventhorn had always shared an uneasy alliance, one forged through mutual benefit rather than trust. But this? This felt different. This felt like a test.

And failing wasn't an option.

With a steady breath, she reached out and curled her fingers around the hilt. The metal was cool against her skin, sending a strange, almost electric pulse through her fingers. She suppressed the shiver that crawled down her spine and tightened her grip.

Caius smirked. "Wise choice."

Seraphina lifted the dagger slightly, examining its craftsmanship. The blade was engraved with intricate patterns, ancient symbols she didn't recognize. It wasn't just a simple weapon—it held power. A power she didn't yet understand.

She finally met Caius's gaze, her expression unreadable. "And what exactly am I supposed to do with this?"

His smirk deepened. "Survive."

A chill ran through her veins.

"I assume," she said carefully, "that you wouldn't hand over a weapon without reason."

"Indeed." He stepped closer, his presence looming. "Consider it… an investment. One that may yield interesting results."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "You don't strike me as the type to make investments without expecting something in return."

Caius chuckled, a low, velvety sound that sent another wave of unease through her. "Perceptive. And you're right. But we'll discuss my terms another time."

That was far from reassuring.

Before she could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the chamber. A moment later, a figure emerged from the shadows—a man clad in dark armour, his face obscured by a mask. He bowed slightly before speaking.

"My lord, there's been an… incident."

Caius's smirk faded. "Go on."

The armoured man hesitated, then continued. "A scout found two bodies near the outskirts of the forest. One of them was wearing the royal crest."

Seraphina's blood ran cold.

A member of the royal family? Dead?

Her mind raced. This wasn't supposed to happen. There had been no mention of this in the novel, no event that involved a royal being killed so early in the story.

Caius turned his gaze toward her, an unreadable glint in his eyes. "Interesting timing, wouldn't you say?"

Seraphina clenched her jaw. Was this a trap? Did he think she was involved? She had barely existed in this world for a day, and already, something was unravelling the plot she knew.

"I had nothing to do with it," she said firmly.

Caius tilted his head as if considering her words. Then, after a moment, he gestured toward the armoured man. "Show me."

The man nodded and turned to leave. Caius followed—but just as he reached the archway, he glanced over his shoulder.

"Well?" he said. "Are you coming, Princess?"

Seraphina hesitated.

Something deep inside her told her that if she stepped through that archway, she would be pulled even further into this world's twisted fate.

But did she have a choice?

With a slow breath, she tightened her grip on the dagger and stepped forward.

Whatever lay ahead… she would face it. 

Seraphina stepped into the corridor, her pulse thrumming in her ears. The torches lining the stone walls cast long, eerie shadows, flickering like wraiths in the dim passageway. She didn't know if it was the weight of the dagger in her grip or the suffocating presence of Caius beside her, but something told her that she was walking into something far worse than she had imagined.

The armoured man led them through winding hallways and out into the open courtyard. The night air was crisp, but the scent of blood lingered, sharp and metallic. A small group of soldiers had gathered near the gate, their faces grim. Some whispered amongst themselves, but they silenced the moment Caius approached.

Seraphina's gaze fell upon the two bodies sprawled on the ground. One was a soldier, his armour bearing the sigil of the royal house—her family's crest. His throat had been slit cleanly, his eyes wide open in a frozen expression of terror.

The second body, however, sent a jolt of pure dread down her spine.

It was a woman. Young. Dressed in plain travelling clothes, but something about her face felt eerily familiar.

Seraphina stepped closer, her breath catching as moonlight illuminated the girl's features. A memory clawed its way into her mind—a face she had seen before.

This can't be.

In the novel, this girl… this girl was meant to survive. She was a background character, an insignificant servant girl who later played a small but crucial role in the events that led to the downfall of the Valemont family. She had never died.

So why was she lying here, lifeless, drenched in blood?

"This wasn't a simple attack," Caius murmured beside her, watching her carefully. "Someone wanted to send a message."

Seraphina forced herself to remain still, even as panic twisted inside her. The plot is changing. Someone is rewriting fate.

She swallowed hard. "Do you think this was an assassination?"

Caius knelt beside the bodies, lifting the soldier's arm and inspecting his insignia. "Perhaps. But an assassination is usually… cleaner." His eyes darkened as he gestured toward the girl's body. "This was rushed. Sloppy. Someone was desperate."

Seraphina stared at the blood-soaked ground, her mind racing. If the story was already unravelling, what else was different? Was her fate already sealed?

She took a shaky breath. No. She couldn't afford to panic. If this world was going to change, she needed to change with it. She needed to be one step ahead.

Caius rose to his feet, his gaze piercing. "You look troubled, Princess."

Seraphina clenched her fists. "You think I had something to do with this?"

"I think," he said slowly, "that people are going to wonder why a royal soldier was found dead outside my gates on the same night you arrived."

Her stomach twisted. He was right. If word of this spread, the Valemont family might accuse her of conspiring with Caius.

Her father wouldn't hesitate to have her executed.

"We need to move the bodies," she said quickly. "If the palace hears about this—"

"They will," Caius interrupted smoothly. "You're forgetting that I have little interest in playing saviour."

Seraphina glared at him. "Then what do you want?"

He studied her for a long moment before his smirk returned. "A bargain."

Her pulse skipped.

A bargain with Caius Raventhorn was never just a deal—it was a trap, a web of consequences that tightened around its victims, leaving them with no escape. She had read about them. She knew the cost. And yet, standing over two corpses with no clear way out, she wasn't sure she had a choice.

Caius tilted his head, watching her carefully. "Do you want to survive, Princess?"

Seraphina clenched her jaw. "Of course."

"Then listen carefully," he murmured, stepping closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Because from this moment on, you and I… have unfinished business."

A cold wind howled through the courtyard as Seraphina realized the inevitable—her fate had been rewritten. And she was no longer just a villainess in a story.

She was playing a game with a monster.

And she had no idea if she would survive it.