Chapter 8: Bloodlines and Betrayal
"We need to keep moving," Lucian said, his voice tight. His gaze darted around the forest clearing, scanning the shadows for any sign of the guardians they had just barely escaped. The air was still thick with tension, and the faint whispers of the spirits lingered like a warning.
Evelyn nodded, clutching the mirror to her chest as they started back toward the manor. Every step felt like a gamble, the oppressive darkness of the forest pressing in on them with each passing moment. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed, though every time she glanced over her shoulder, there was nothing there.
"What happens now?" she asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was shaky, and she hated how small she sounded.
Lucian hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Now we figure out how to use it," he said. "The ledger mentioned the mirror as a key, but it didn't say how it works. We'll have to study it once we're back in the study."
"And Eliza?" Evelyn asked, her grip tightening on the mirror. "She's not going to just let us undo everything, is she?"
"No," Lucian admitted, his tone grim. "She'll do everything she can to stop us. But that's why we have to act quickly."
Evelyn swallowed hard, her thoughts spinning. The realization that her own bloodline was tied to the curse—tied to the suffering of so many innocent souls—was a weight she wasn't sure she could bear. Her aunt's betrayal burned in her chest like a brand, and though anger gave her strength, it was laced with grief.
As they emerged from the forest and the manor came into view, Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine. The house loomed before them, its windows glowing faintly like watchful eyes. The air around it seemed thicker now, charged with an energy that made her skin crawl.
Lucian glanced at her, his expression softening. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Evelyn nodded, though it wasn't true. "I will be," she said. "Once this is over."
Back in the study, the tension was palpable as Lucian and Evelyn poured over the ledger, the mirror resting on the desk between them. Its surface reflected the flickering firelight, but the cracks in the glass seemed to shift and shimmer, almost as if they were alive.
"According to this," Lucian said, his finger tracing a passage in the ledger, "the mirror was created as a failsafe. It's tied directly to the ritual, designed to sever the connection between the curse and its anchor."
"The anchor?" Evelyn asked, leaning closer.
Lucian nodded. "Every curse needs a focal point—a tether that keeps it in place. In this case, the anchor is Eliza. She's the one who performed the ritual, the one who tied herself to the curse to control it. If we can use the mirror to break that connection…"
"The curse ends," Evelyn finished, her heart racing. "The souls trapped here will be free."
Lucian's gaze met hers, and she could see the hope flickering in his eyes. "Exactly."
"But there's a catch, isn't there?" Evelyn asked, her voice dropping. "There's always a catch."
Lucian hesitated, his expression darkening. "Using the mirror requires a sacrifice," he said quietly. "It needs to draw on the life force of someone tied to the curse. Someone who was part of the ritual."
Evelyn's stomach turned. "You mean me."
Lucian shook his head quickly. "No. We'll find another way. There has to be another way."
Evelyn stared at him, her mind racing. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the guilt that weighed on him. "Lucian," she said softly, "if it comes down to it, I'll do it."
"No," he said firmly, his voice sharp. "You've already sacrificed enough. This isn't your burden to bear."
"But it is," Evelyn insisted. "Eliza said it herself—I was the key to all of this. I'm the reason the ritual worked in the first place. If I can end it—"
"You don't owe her anything," Lucian interrupted, his voice rising. "You don't owe anyone anything. This curse isn't your fault, Evelyn. It's hers. Eliza manipulated you, used your love for me against you. If anyone should pay the price, it's her."
Evelyn's chest tightened, and she looked away, her gaze falling on the mirror. The cracks in the glass seemed to pulse faintly, as if responding to their conversation. She didn't know if she believed Lucian—if she could ever forgive herself for her role in what happened—but she knew one thing: she couldn't let Eliza win.
"Then we need to confront her," Evelyn said. "Before she finds a way to stop us."
Lucian nodded, though his expression was heavy. "She'll be ready for us," he said. "She'll use everything she has to protect herself. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Evelyn met his gaze, her jaw set with determination. "I don't have a choice," she said. "We end this tonight."
The journey to Eliza's sanctum was fraught with tension. The manor seemed darker now, the shadows heavier and more oppressive. Every step felt like a test, the air thick with the weight of the spirits watching them. Evelyn could feel their anger, their desperation, pressing against her like a physical force.
As they approached the door to Eliza's chamber, Lucian stopped, turning to face her. "No matter what happens in there," he said, "stay close to me. Don't let her manipulate you."
Evelyn nodded, clutching the mirror tightly. "I won't," she said. "She's not going to win."
Lucian gave her a small, reassuring smile, then pushed the door open.
The chamber was as Evelyn remembered it—vast and circular, its walls lined with shelves of ancient tomes and artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and decay, and the flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows across the room. Eliza stood at the center, her dark cloak billowing around her like living smoke.
"So, you've returned," Eliza said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I must admit, I'm impressed. I didn't think you had it in you."
"Enough games, Eliza," Lucian said, stepping forward. "It's over. We have the mirror. We know how to use it."
Eliza's eyes flicked to the artifact in Evelyn's hands, and for the first time, Evelyn saw a flicker of fear in her aunt's expression. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a cold, mocking smile.
"You think that's enough to stop me?" Eliza said, her voice laced with venom. "You have no idea what you're dealing with. This curse is bigger than you—bigger than all of us. If you break it, you'll unleash forces you can't possibly control."
"Maybe," Evelyn said, her voice steady. "But I'd rather risk that than let you keep destroying lives for your own gain."
Eliza's smile faded, and her gaze hardened. "You're a fool, Evelyn," she said. "A naive, sentimental fool. Do you really think your love will save you? Do you really think you can defy me?"
Evelyn took a step forward, her grip tightening on the mirror. "I don't just think it," she said. "I know it."
The air in the chamber seemed to shift, the shadows closing in as Eliza raised her hands. Evelyn's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. She could feel Lucian's presence beside her, steady and unwavering, and it gave her the strength to face what was coming.
The final confrontation had begun.