A Message in the Dark

Seraphine had no time to waste.

Kaelith was relentless—if she did not act first, he would uncover everything.

She could not afford to plant false trails yet. First, she needed to warn her allies.

A Risky Plan

Late that night, Seraphine dismissed her attendants earlier than usual, claiming exhaustion.

But she did not sleep.

Instead, she waited. And listened.

The guards outside her door never left their post, but their routine was predictable. A brief window, just before dawn, when the watch changed.

She moved swiftly, draping herself in a dark cloak, her bare feet silent against the cold floor.

Then, as the footsteps of the departing guards faded—she slipped through the servant's passage.

The Secret Meeting

The palace was still, the halls empty.

Seraphine kept to the shadows, moving with practiced ease until she reached a secluded corridor—one rarely used.

She pressed her fingers against a loose stone in the wall. A hidden signal.

Minutes passed. Then—a quiet shuffle of footsteps.

A hooded figure emerged from the darkness.

Seraphine's heart steadied. Not an enemy. An ally.

"You should not have called for me," the figure whispered. "It is too dangerous."

Seraphine's voice was cold but calm. "Kaelith is searching. He is too close."

The figure tensed. "How much does he know?"

"Not enough," Seraphine said. "But he will. He's pulling at every thread. You must cover our tracks."

The figure hesitated, then nodded. "It will be done. But, Seraphine…" Their voice dropped lower. "Be careful. If he catches you—"

Seraphine silenced them with a sharp glance. "He won't."

She had no other choice.

The Return

She slipped back into her chambers just as the morning light began to creep into the sky.

As she pulled off the cloak, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

Her heart was still steady. She had done what was necessary.

But even as she reassured herself, one thought lingered in the back of her mind.

Kaelith is watching.

Had she truly slipped past him unseen?

Or had she just stepped into his next trap?

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