The Unexpected Ally

Seraphine's chest heaved, her heart pounding with fear and anger. She had almost made it—almost reached freedom. But now, with Veylan standing above her, the weight of his presence was suffocating. His eyes gleamed with malice, a twisted grin playing at the corners of his lips.

"I must admit, you're more resourceful than I gave you credit for," Veylan said, kneeling down to grab her by the arm, dragging her upright. His grip was cold, unyielding. "But you cannot escape me. Not this time."

Seraphine's mind raced. There had to be something, anything, that she could do to break free. But the strength in his hands was too much, and her energy was quickly waning from the fight. She was on the brink of exhaustion.

Just as she braced herself for the inevitable—an end, a fate sealed by Veylan's cruel plans—she heard it.

A loud crash sounded from behind them. Veylan's head snapped to the side, his eyes narrowing as he stood upright, releasing his grip on Seraphine, who took the brief moment of freedom to stumble backward.

A shadow appeared in the hallway, tall and menacing. The figure was cloaked in darkness, his presence commanding attention.

And then, the voice she never expected to hear again broke the tense silence.

"Let her go, Veylan."

Seraphine's heart stuttered as she turned toward the voice. It couldn't be. She blinked, her breath catching in her throat. It was him—Karien. The same Karien who had betrayed her before. The one she had trusted and loved. And now, here he stood, a man transformed. The same dangerous glint in his eyes, but with a new, fierce resolve.

Veylan didn't move, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. "And what will you do, Karien? You think you can stop me?"

Karien's lips twisted into a grim smile. "I don't need to stop you. I need to make sure she doesn't get hurt. Now, step aside."

Seraphine's mind was a whirlwind. Karien, the man she thought she had lost forever, was here. But why? What had changed? She could hardly wrap her head around it. Had he truly come to her aid, or was this all part of some larger game?

Veylan's eyes flicked between the two of them. "And what makes you think I'll listen to you, Karien?" he sneered, taking a step forward. "You're not the man you once were. You're nothing more than a shadow of your former self."

But Karien didn't flinch. He was resolute, and for the first time since she'd met him, Seraphine saw a side of him she hadn't known existed: strength, loyalty, and perhaps even regret.

"I've changed," Karien said, his voice steady. "But you haven't. And that's why I'm here."

In a swift motion, Karien drew a blade from beneath his cloak. The cold metal gleamed in the dim light as he pointed it directly at Veylan. "You've lost, Veylan. You just don't know it yet."

Veylan's eyes narrowed, but instead of retreating, he advanced on Karien, ready to strike. It was clear he had underestimated the man who stood before him. Karien wasn't the same naive fool he once was. He was powerful—perhaps more powerful than Veylan had ever anticipated.

The air crackled with tension, and Seraphine's pulse raced. She had no idea what was happening, but Karien was giving her the opportunity she needed.

It wasn't just a fight for survival anymore. It was a battle for control, for their lives, and for the future.

Karien advanced toward Veylan, their blades clashing with a resounding clang as Seraphine backed away. She was still in shock, trying to make sense of it all, but she knew one thing for sure—Karien was here to protect her.

But the fight was far from over.

As Karien and Veylan exchanged vicious blows, Seraphine spotted an opening. It was time to act. She quickly turned, running toward the hallway, desperate to get away before the battle turned fatal.

But before she could make it more than a few steps, she heard a voice—Karien's voice—call after her. "Go! Now!"

And that was all it took for Seraphine to push forward, adrenaline taking over as she raced down the hall, the sounds of battle fading behind her.

She didn't know where she was going, but she couldn't stop now. There was a way out. She had to find it.

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