A story about a place that neither exists in maps or history books, this place was called Athame.

•••

"The root of every fear is the unknown, yet how can one fear what they cannot grasp? Tch... how misleading." His voice, deep and rough, sent an involuntary shiver through her as he closed the distance between them with deliberate steps, his presence suffocating in its intensity.

With a slow, predatory grace, his fingers brushed along her jaw, settling on a strand of her scarlet hair, his touch deceptively tender. "Knowing me will matter little," he whispered darkly, his breath warm against her skin. "For even in the shadows of uncertainty, you will come to fear... and desire me all the same."

•••

Aricia, born with extraordinary abilities in a world that fears anything out of the ordinary, was destined for a marriage alliance to secure peace between kingdoms. 

But on the day of her engagement, her entire family is slaughtered—by the very family she was meant to marry into. 

Grief-stricken and consumed by vengeance, Aricia swore to destroy those who betrayed her. She would wield the very power they had feared against them, seeking justice with no mercy. After years on the run, she found shelter within an elemental clan, hiding her abilities and keeping to the shadows.

But her carefully constructed peace shattered in a single moment. A burning touch, a chance encounter with his haunting gray eyes—an unknown force within her stirred, threatening to unravel her carefully guarded secrets and the fragile balance of magic, madness, and vengeance she had built....

Vengeance Through Passion

The next morning, Vincent strolled all the way to Aricia's room, his steps deliberate yet hesitant. He paused at the door, his hand hovering just above the handle. For a moment, he faltered, his silver brows furrowing before he swung the door open with an abrupt motion. Inside, he found Aricia crouched on the cold stone floor, her hands wrapped tightly around her knees. She shivered as if the chill of winter had crept into her very soul. 


"Miss Aricia," Vincent called softly, his voice tinged with concern. 


Her lips moved, muffling unintelligible words, her eyes clamped shut as if warding off a nightmare. Suddenly, she snapped them open, her gaze locking onto his, startled and unsteady. 


"What happened?" Vincent asked, his silver eyes scanning her trembling frame. She appeared dazed, and as she slowly regained consciousness, she instinctively shifted further away from him. 


"W-why? Are you… here?" she stammered, clearly surprised to see him in the servants' quarters. 


Chapter 42| Little Sparrow