Echoes

The late evening settled over the Monte Riego mansion like a velvet curtain, the faint hum of crickets in the garden barely audible through the thick glass windows. Seraphine sat at her vanity, the dim glow from the bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the room.

Her reflection stared back at her—a girl draped in silk and secrets. But tonight, she felt like a stranger to herself. The emerald eyes looking back were clouded with confusion, and the curve of her mouth seemed unfamiliar, as if wearing a mask she hadn't noticed before.

The key rested on the vanity, its cold surface warm from her hand. She brushed her fingers over it absentmindedly, as if the touch might unlock more than just secrets—perhaps courage, perhaps clarity. But all it gave her was more questions.

How could a piece of metal carry the weight of generations?

She sighed, the ache in her chest growing with every thought. The events of the day swirled in her mind—Lianne's taunts, Kieran's steady presence, and the unsettling conversation she overheard between her mother and the Vervains. Every piece of information felt like a puzzle with no edges, no clear picture to guide her.

The soft knock at the door was followed by the quiet click of the handle turning. Paula Monte Riego entered without waiting for permission, her silk robe trailing behind her like liquid silver. There was elegance in every step she took, but tonight her presence carried the weight of unspoken truths.

"Mother," Seraphine said, her voice sharper than intended.

Paula's gaze remained calm, though her eyes flickered with something Seraphine couldn't place—regret, perhaps. "I thought we should talk," Paula said, closing the door behind her.

Seraphine folded her arms, the familiar frustration bubbling to the surface. "You mean you thought you'd finally give me some answers?"

Paula exhaled softly, settling into the armchair by the window. "I wanted to give you more time, Seraphine. To let you have a chance at being normal."

"Normal?" Seraphine repeated, her voice bitter. "There's never been anything normal about my life, and you knew that."

Paula's expression softened, though her posture remained composed. "I know it seems unfair, but everything I've done has been to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" Seraphine demanded. "From my own life? From the truth?"

Paula clasped her hands in her lap, her calm exterior cracking just slightly. "I hoped... I hoped the prophecy wouldn't come to pass so soon. I thought I could shield you from the burden of it. But it's here now, and I can't keep you from it any longer."

Seraphine's heart ached with a mix of anger and sadness. "You were controlling me. That's what this is about."

"No," Paula said, her voice laced with both firmness and sorrow. "It was never about control. It was about love. About wanting you to have a choice—for as long as I could give you one."

Paula leaned forward slightly, her gaze steady. "The Monte Riego family isn't just about wealth and influence. We've guarded something for generations—a power hidden from those who would misuse it."

Seraphine gripped the edge of the vanity, the weight of her mother's words settling heavily on her shoulders. "And I'm part of it now."

"You always have been," Paula whispered. "You're more connected to our legacy than you know."

The silence between them felt like a fragile thread stretched too tight. Paula stood slowly, crossing the room to press a kiss to Seraphine's forehead. "You may not understand everything now, but you will, in time."

After her mother left, Seraphine sank onto her bed, exhaustion wrapping around her like a heavy blanket. She closed her eyes, and the world slipped away...

In her dream, she stood in a moonlit forest, surrounded by shadows that flickered and danced like the flames of a dying fire. As she moved deeper into the woods, the shadows began to take shape—faces she recognized but couldn't name. Ancestors. Guardians. The past whispering its truths to her.

Their voices blended into a haunting melody, carrying warnings and promises. "The key is yours... but it unlocks more than you think."

Seraphine tried to speak, but the words tangled on her tongue. The shadows closed in around her, a swirl of faces and voices pulling her deeper into the dream.

She awoke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was dark, the only light coming from the sliver of moonlight slipping through the curtains.

And then she saw him—Kieran, standing on the balcony outside her room.

She pushed the covers aside and crossed the room, opening the glass door. The night breeze carried the scent of cedar and rain, grounding her amidst the turmoil swirling inside her.

"You shouldn't be here," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.

Kieran's gaze was steady, unreadable. "I had to check on you."

The simplicity of his words sent warmth spreading through her chest. "I'm... not doing great," she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself.

Kieran moved closer, his presence both comforting and overwhelming. "I know."

She looked up at him, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

Kieran reached out, brushing his thumb across her cheek in a gesture so tender it made her breath hitch. "Some truths are heavier than others," he murmured. "You don't have to carry them alone."

"I feel like I've been drowning in expectations my whole life," she whispered, the vulnerability in her voice taking her by surprise.

Kieran's gaze softened, and for the first time, his guard seemed to lower. "Then I'll keep you afloat, Sera. As long as you let me."

The space between them felt charged, heavy with unspoken emotions. His hand lingered on her cheek, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world didn't exist.

But then Kieran stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the garden below.

"What is it?" Seraphine whispered, her heart pounding.

Kieran's expression darkened. "Something's here."

Without another word, he pulled her back into the room and closed the balcony door. "Lock the doors," he said, his voice low but firm.

"Kieran—"

"I'll handle it," he whispered, brushing a fleeting kiss against her forehead before disappearing into the shadows.

Seraphine stood frozen, her heart racing as the night pressed in around her. Whatever danger lurked beyond the walls of the Monte Riego mansion, looking at Kieran's trail, she knew one thing for certain—she wasn't just afraid for her own life now.