The air inside the tunnel was thick with dampness, carrying the scent of earth and age-old decay. Evelyne's fingers twitched as she fought the lingering chill from the ghostly grip that had tried to pull her into the darkness. The sensation still clung to her skin, cold and unnatural, as though whatever had reached for her had left a piece of itself behind.
Kael's grip on her wrist tightened slightly, his calloused fingers grounding her in the present. His emerald eyes flickered with tension, scanning the narrow passage ahead. His other hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at the first sign of danger. The torch he had been carrying had been extinguished, leaving them in near-total darkness, save for the faint, silvery glow of moonlight filtering through cracks in the stone walls.
"We need to keep moving," Kael murmured, his voice low and steady.
Evelyne swallowed hard, forcing herself to ignore the way her heart pounded against her ribs. "What was that?"
Kael hesitated. He didn't answer right away, and when he did, his voice was tinged with something close to reverence.
"A warning."
A warning.
The realization settled like a stone in her gut. If the spirits of this place wanted them to turn back, it meant they were on the right path. Whatever lay ahead was something the dead wished to keep hidden.
Kael pulled her forward gently, guiding her through the darkness. "Stay close. Whatever happens, don't let go."
She nodded, her fingers gripping the fabric of his cloak as they moved deeper into the passage. The walls were rough and uneven, lined with ancient carvings—symbols and runes she couldn't decipher. But there was something strange about them. As her fingers brushed against the cold stone, a peculiar warmth spread through her palm, like the faintest echo of life trapped within the etchings.
Then—another whisper.
This time, clearer. Closer.
*Leave… now…*
Evelyne stiffened. "Kael—"
"I hear it." His voice was barely above a whisper.
A sudden gust of icy wind howled through the tunnel, carrying with it a chorus of ghostly murmurs. The shadows along the walls twisted unnaturally, flickering as though they had minds of their own.
Then, just ahead, a faint blue glow flickered to life.
Evelyne's breath hitched. The light was not from a torch or any natural source. It pulsed, slow and rhythmic, as if it had a heartbeat of its own. Kael's muscles coiled in readiness, his sword half-drawn.
They moved forward cautiously, the glow growing stronger with each step. The passage opened into a large chamber, its ceiling lost in darkness. In the center stood a stone pedestal, covered in dust and cracks that spoke of centuries past.
Upon it rested a dagger.
The blade was silver, gleaming unnaturally despite the dim surroundings. The hilt was adorned with intricate engravings, symbols that matched those carved into the tunnel walls. Evelyne felt an undeniable pull toward it, like something deep within her was urging her forward.
Kael's jaw tightened. "This is it."
She turned to him. "What is this place?"
"A test." His voice was grim. "Only the Moonlit Bride can take the dagger. It is the first step to breaking the curse."
Evelyne's stomach twisted. "And if I fail?"
Kael hesitated, his gaze locked onto the dagger. "Then the spirits will claim you before the wedding even begins."
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
The weight of the moment pressed against her chest, but she squared her shoulders. This was why they had come. If this was the first step to survival, she would not falter.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for the dagger.
The moment her fingers brushed the hilt, the chamber trembled. The blue light flared, searingly bright, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut. A deafening chorus of whispers erupted around them, rising into an anguished wail—
And then, everything went silent.
Evelyne opened her eyes.
She was no longer in the chamber.
She stood in a vast expanse of mist, the world around her devoid of color or form. The air was thick with a heavy stillness, pressing against her lungs.
Then, a figure emerged from the mist.
A woman, draped in flowing silver robes, her long hair drifting as though caught in an unseen current. Her face was obscured by a sheer veil, but Evelyne could feel the weight of her gaze.
"You have come," the woman said, her voice both ancient and sorrowful.
Evelyne swallowed, gripping the dagger in her hand. "Who are you?"
"I am what remains of Eldoria's first bride." The woman stepped closer, and Evelyne could see the faint glow of the symbols etched onto her skin—symbols identical to those on the dagger. "I was the first to be bound by the curse. And now, you stand where I once stood."
Evelyne's breath caught. "Is there a way to break it?"
The woman tilted her head, a slow, deliberate motion. "There is always a way. But it is not without sacrifice."
Evelyne's grip tightened. "Tell me."
The woman raised a hand, and the mist around them began to shift, forming images. Evelyne saw a grand castle, its towers rising into a storm-ridden sky. She saw a man—his face eerily similar to Kael's—standing before an altar, his eyes hollow and lost. She saw blood, red as rubies, staining the pristine white of a wedding gown.
"The dagger you hold is the key," the woman murmured. "But it is also the blade that will determine your fate. To break the curse, you must do what no bride before you has dared to do."
Evelyne's heart pounded. "And what is that?"
The woman's veiled face turned toward her fully. "Kill the groom."
The words sent a shockwave through Evelyne.
Kill… Kael?
No. That couldn't be right.
"He's helping me," she protested. "He's not like the others."
The woman's voice softened, almost pitying. "That is what they all believed. And yet, each one of them met the same fate."
The mist began to swirl again, faster this time. The woman's form flickered.
"Remember, Evelyne." Her voice was a whisper now, almost lost in the wind. "The closer you get to the truth, the more the shadows will seek you. Do not trust the moonlight, for even it carries secrets of its own."
Before Evelyne could respond, a force yanked her backward.
The mist dissolved.
She gasped, her body jolting as she was thrown back into reality.
Kael's hands were on her shoulders, his eyes filled with concern. "Evelyne! What happened?"
She sucked in a shaky breath, her fingers still wrapped around the dagger. The chamber was exactly as it had been before—silent, still. Yet, something had changed.
She looked up at Kael.
The words of the ghostly bride echoed in her mind.
*Kill the groom.*
Kael wasn't just her protector. He was a part of this curse.
And if she wanted to break it…
She might have to kill him.
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