‘Where am I?’ Eloise woke up abruptly to find herself by a small pond, in the middle of a very large garden. The cool evening breeze blew wisps of her dark red hair into her face.
She looked down to find herself in a beautiful white gown. She slowly stood to her feet confused.
‘My wedding day?’ But that was two days from now. She quickly touched her stomach to find no stab wounds. She found no blood in her palms either. She swore they were filled with blood minutes ago
The scene of Cole stabbing her was so vivid now. 
She died......
Yes, she died. She would never mistake the fear she felt while, Cole pushed her off the balustrade. It was real. She knew what she felt. The sharp piercing pain from the cold iron knife, he stabbed her with. The satisfaction in his eyes while he stabbed her multiple times. The hate.
 Pure hate, she thought.
But why?
Why would the love of her life kill her? 
Most importantly, why wasn’t she dead yet? Yes, she was the Phoenix. She could rise from the ashes every time she died but not this time. She was sealed.
Yes, by that woman. She’d seen that tattoo on her hand before, but where? 
Oh, she remembered it all perfectly now. There was a witch circle, the seal of the condemned, a bright red moon and her blood.... 
 She fell from a three-story building, right to the bottom of the pool. She spent her last breath drowning because she couldn’t swim. 
What a terrible way to die, she thought. Or maybe not.... She was alive, wasn’t she?
Some terrible dream that was......

INTO THE FLAMES.

“It has been several weeks already and it just happened once. We have to move on with our lives and that starts by sending Eloise a letter,” Catherine said. She followed after Alina with a sealed brown envelope in her hand. Next to Alina was the royal treasurer who was having a quiet conversation with her. A conversation Catherine kept interrupting. 


“Tensions are on the rise, Catherine. We have to obey the curfew until things quiet down,” Alina retorted, with her back still turned to Catherine as she spoke. 


“Sir Edwin, about the budget for the….” Alina turned to the treasurer, picking up their discussion where they left it. 


“Do you not care at all?” Catherine yelled, interrupting their conversation. 


“Please take the lead, Sir Edwin. I will be right behind you,” Alina told him. 


Sir Edwin bowed and went down the stairs. 


Chapter 18(The sigil of mystery)