Chapter 14

### **Chapter 14: Echoes of the Past**

Lena and Prince Adrien made their way back to Ravenscroft Castle in the dead of night, the atmosphere thick with the aftermath of their perilous encounter in the ruins. The journey back was silent, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the occasional cry of a night owl. Both of them were lost in their thoughts, still reeling from what had transpired. Lena's hand throbbed where she had cut it, but it was the least of her concerns.

Upon reaching the castle, they entered through a hidden side door, avoiding the prying eyes of the night guards. Lena couldn't help but glance over at Adrien, who looked more weary than ever. The weight of what they had done seemed to be pressing down on him, too. The destruction of the relic had saved them from immediate danger, but the future was still uncertain.

They silently made their way to the library, where they knew they could speak without being overheard. The room was dimly lit by a few flickering candles, casting long shadows over the shelves of ancient books. Lena took a seat by the fireplace, staring into the flames, while Adrien poured them both a glass of brandy.

"You should drink this," he said, handing her the glass. "It will help with the shock."

Lena took the glass, her fingers trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips. The brandy burned as it went down, but it did help to steady her nerves. "What now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "We destroyed the relic, but the curse… Do you think it's really broken?"

Adrien sank into the chair opposite her, his expression troubled. "I don't know," he admitted. "The shadows are gone, and that's a good sign. But curses like this… They have a way of lingering, even after the source is destroyed. We won't know for sure until we see if the effects have truly lifted from Ravenscroft."

Lena nodded, her mind still racing. "And what if it hasn't worked? What if we've just made things worse?"

Adrien looked at her, his eyes filled with a sorrow that spoke of years of pain and guilt. "If it hasn't worked, then we'll find another way. We can't give up now, Lena. We've come too far."

The conviction in his voice gave Lena some comfort, but it did little to silence the doubts swirling in her mind. She had been so sure that destroying the relic would end the curse, but now that it was done, the uncertainty was almost unbearable.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the room. Then, Adrien spoke again, his voice soft but firm. "There's something you should know, Lena. Something about the relic, and about why I didn't tell Harrison."

Lena looked up at him, sensing the weight of his words. "What is it?"

Adrien took a deep breath, as if bracing himself. "The relic wasn't just the source of the curse—it was also a key, a link to the past. The curse itself was tied to the history of Ravenscroft, to the bloodline. And by destroying the relic, we may have severed that link, but it's possible that we've also awakened something… or someone."

A chill ran down Lena's spine. "Awakened? What do you mean?"

Adrien's gaze was steady, but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes. "The curse was meant to bind a dark force, a presence that existed long before the curse was placed. It was something ancient, something that the original lords of Ravenscroft sought to control. They used the relic to trap it, to keep it dormant. But now that the relic is destroyed, there's a chance that this force could be unleashed."

Lena's heart pounded in her chest. "But if the curse was keeping it bound, then… what have we done?"

Adrien shook his head. "I don't know, Lena. I don't know what we might have set in motion. But I do know that we have to be prepared for anything. The shadows were just one part of the curse. If there's something else, something more powerful, we need to find a way to stop it before it can wreak havoc."

Lena could hardly breathe as the implications of his words sank in. They had gone into the ruins to break the curse, to free Ravenscroft from its grip, but in doing so, they might have unleashed something far worse. "We have to tell Harrison," she said, the urgency in her voice clear. "He needs to know what we've done, what we might be facing."

Adrien nodded slowly. "Yes, you're right. But we need to do it carefully. If the curse isn't fully broken, we could still be in danger. And if there's something more… we'll need all the help we can get."

Lena set her glass down, feeling a renewed sense of determination. They had to confront whatever was coming, and they had to do it together. "We should also try to find out more about this dark force," she suggested. "There must be something in these books, something that can help us understand what we're dealing with."

Adrien gave her a small, grateful smile. "Agreed. But first, we need to rest. We'll need all our strength for what lies ahead."

Lena wanted to argue, to insist that they start searching immediately, but she knew he was right. They were both exhausted, physically and emotionally, and they wouldn't be able to think clearly until they had some rest. "Alright," she said reluctantly. "But first thing in the morning, we need to talk to Harrison."

Adrien stood, offering her his hand. "Agreed. I'll have a room prepared for you. Try to get some sleep."

Lena took his hand, allowing him to help her to her feet. "Thank you, Adrien. For everything."

He gave her a solemn nod. "We're in this together, Lena. We'll see it through."

With that, Adrien escorted Lena to a guest room, and she was left alone with her thoughts. She couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest, the sense that something terrible was on the horizon. But as she lay down in the unfamiliar bed, exhaustion finally overtook her, and she drifted into a restless sleep.

---

The next morning, Lena woke with a start, the events of the previous night flooding back into her mind. She quickly dressed and made her way to the dining hall, where she found Adrien and Harrison already deep in conversation. As soon as Harrison saw her, he stood, concern etched on his face.

"Lena, are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. "Adrien told me what happened. I can't believe you went into those ruins alone."

Lena managed a small smile, touched by his concern. "I'm fine, Harrison. A little shaken, but fine."

Harrison didn't look entirely convinced, but he nodded, gesturing for her to sit. "We need to talk about what happened," he said seriously. "Adrien has filled me in, but I want to hear it from you. What did you see in those ruins?"

Lena took a deep breath, recounting everything that had happened, from the shadows to the destruction of the relic. As she spoke, Harrison's expression grew more and more grim.

"And now you think we've released something even worse," Harrison said when she had finished. His voice was calm, but Lena could hear the tension beneath it.

"It's possible," Adrien said carefully. "We don't know for sure, but we need to be prepared."

Harrison ran a hand through his hair, looking more troubled than Lena had ever seen him. "This is worse than I thought. I had hoped that destroying the relic would be the end of it, but if there's something more…"

"We'll find out what it is," Lena said firmly. "And we'll stop it, whatever it takes."

Harrison looked at her, a mix of admiration and concern in his eyes. "You're brave, Lena. Braver than I ever gave you credit for."

Lena blushed slightly, but she held his gaze. "I'm just trying to do what's right. For everyone."

Harrison nodded slowly. "And I'm grateful for that. But you don't have to do this alone. We'll face whatever comes together."

There was a moment of silence as they all absorbed the gravity of the situation. Then, Adrien spoke up. "We should start by searching the library. There must be something in these books that can tell us more about this dark force."

Harrison agreed. "I'll have the staff bring us everything we have on the history of Ravenscroft, especially anything that mentions the curse or ancient magic. We need to understand what we're dealing with."

Lena felt a surge of determination. They might not know what they were up against, but they wouldn't face it unprepared. Together, they would uncover the secrets of the past and find a way to protect Ravenscroft from whatever darkness threatened it.

As the three of them set to work, Lena couldn't shake the feeling that the answers they sought would change everything. The echoes of the past were growing louder, and with them came a danger that could shatter everything she had come to care about in this strange, enchanting world. But she was ready to face it, whatever it took.

Because for the first time since she had arrived in this world, Lena knew that she wasn't just a passive character in someone else's story. She was a force to be reckoned with, and