Chapter 10: The Price of Freedom
"Eliza!" Evelyn's voice rang out, echoing above the chaos. "This ends now!"
The shadows around Eliza screamed, writhing and twisting like cornered animals. Her aunt's face contorted in fury and fear, her hands clawing at the air as she tried to summon her power to fight back. But the mirror's light was relentless, piercing through every corner of the chamber, burning away the darkness that had clung to the room like a second skin.
"You don't understand!" Eliza shrieked, her voice a desperate wail. "The curse isn't just tied to me—it's tied to you! If you destroy me, you'll destroy yourself!"
Evelyn faltered, her grip on the mirror wavering for the briefest moment. Her heart pounded, and doubt clawed at the edges of her resolve. Could Eliza be telling the truth? Could breaking the curse really mean her own destruction?
"She's lying!" Lucian's voice cut through the haze, steady and unwavering. He was standing just behind her, his presence grounding her in the storm of fear and chaos. "She'll say anything to save herself. Don't let her control you, Evelyn!"
Evelyn's gaze snapped to Lucian, his dark eyes filled with determination. He gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, as if to remind her she wasn't alone in this fight. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, her fingers tightening around the mirror once more.
"You can't scare me anymore, Eliza," Evelyn said, her voice firm and clear. "I won't let your lies control me."
With a final surge of will, she raised the mirror higher, the light radiating from its surface growing brighter and brighter until it became almost unbearable. Eliza screamed, a raw, guttural sound as the shadows surrounding her began to dissolve, consumed by the power of the artifact. The room trembled, the walls shaking as the weight of the curse began to break apart.
"No!" Eliza cried, her voice cracking with desperation. "You don't know what you're doing! You'll unleash them all! You'll—"
Her words were cut off as the light surged forward, engulfing her entirely. The shadows around her evaporated, and for a brief moment, there was silence. Then, with a deafening crack, the mirror shattered in Evelyn's hands, sending shards of light scattering through the room like tiny stars.
The force of the explosion knocked Evelyn off her feet, and she hit the ground hard, the air rushing from her lungs. For a moment, she lay there, stunned and disoriented, her vision blurred from the brightness of the mirror's final burst. Slowly, the world began to come back into focus, and she pushed herself up, her body trembling from exhaustion.
"Eliza?" Evelyn called out, her voice hoarse.
There was no response. The spot where her aunt had stood was empty, the shadows that had clung to her now completely gone. The air in the chamber was still, the oppressive weight that had hung over it for so long finally lifted. Evelyn let out a shaky breath, her heart pounding in her chest as the realization hit her.
It was over. The curse was broken.
"Evelyn."
She turned at the sound of Lucian's voice, relief flooding through her as she saw him standing a few feet away. He looked pale and exhausted, but he was alive—real and solid in a way that made her chest ache. She stumbled toward him, and he caught her as she collapsed into his arms.
"You did it," he murmured, his voice filled with quiet awe. "You actually did it."
Evelyn pulled back just enough to look up at him, tears streaming down her face. "It's over," she whispered. "The curse is over."
Lucian nodded, his expression softening. But there was a shadow in his eyes, a flicker of sadness that Evelyn couldn't ignore. She frowned, her heart sinking as she realized what that look meant.
"What happens now?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Lucian hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "The curse bound me to this place, Evelyn," he said quietly. "Now that it's broken, I… I can't stay. My time here is over."
"No," Evelyn said, shaking her head. "There has to be another way. There has to—"
"Evelyn." Lucian's voice was gentle but firm, and he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You gave me something I never thought I'd have again. You gave me freedom. And now it's time for me to let go."
Tears blurred Evelyn's vision, and she clung to him desperately, her chest aching with the weight of everything she couldn't say. "I can't lose you again," she whispered. "Not like this."
"You're not losing me," Lucian said softly. "I'll always be with you. In every memory, in every moment we shared. And you… you have a life to live, Evelyn. Don't let it slip away."
Before she could respond, Lucian leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. His touch was warm and familiar, and for a brief moment, Evelyn felt a sense of peace wash over her. When she opened her eyes, he was already fading, his form growing faint and translucent.
"Lucian!" she cried, reaching for him, but her hands passed through empty air. He gave her one last, bittersweet smile before disappearing entirely, leaving her alone in the quiet chamber.
Evelyn sank to her knees, the silence around her deafening. The weight of what she had lost pressed down on her, but beneath the grief was a flicker of something else—hope. The curse was broken. The spirits were free. And though Lucian was gone, he had left her with a gift she could never repay.
The gift of a second chance.
In the days that followed, Evelyn left Blackthorn Hollow, the manor fading into the mist behind her as she drove away. The memories of what had happened there would stay with her forever, but so would the lessons she had learned. She had faced the darkness, fought against impossible odds, and come out the other side stronger than she ever thought she could be.
And though she was leaving Lucian behind, she carried his memory with her, a quiet reminder of the love that had given her the strength to keep going.
As the sun rose over the horizon, Evelyn smiled through her tears, her heart aching but full. This was not the end. It was a new beginning.
A beginning she would face with hope.