WebNovelUnfolded73.91%

The Room of Light

The stairway spiraled like a throat swallowing her whole.

Seraphine climbed, barefoot and silent, her white dress trailing behind her like smoke. This room—the one at the top of the Glass House—was not meant for visitors. Not even for lovers. Only for guardians.

And she was the last. The longest.

The door creaked open with a sigh like breath long held.

Inside: nothing but silence, and a single, narrow ray of light in the center of the marble floor. Dust floated through it like falling stars. The rest of the room was drowned in shadows.

She stepped in slowly. Her feet made no sound.

The light touched her fingertips first, then her face, warming her skin like sun.

"I told you," she whispered, smiling. "I told you he's different."

The light pulsed, faintly.

"He'll stay. He's not greedy. He's not here for you."

Her voice rang like a bell in the hollow room.

The beam of light flared—blinding.

Then, a voice—not hers, not human. The House. Its voice was everywhere at once: the walls, the floor, her bones.

"Do you really think a man will ever choose you over me?" it growled, thunder rumbling in its words.

She turned, her smile faltering.

"Foolish girl," the House hissed.

A force like wind slammed into her chest, and she flew back—crashing into the far wall. Pain jolted through her. She lay there, stunned, breath caught in her throat.

"Open your eyes."

"No," she gasped, gripping the floor. "You're wrong. He loves me."

The light twisted. Warped.

And then: it showed her.

Lucien's room. A flickering reflection rippling like water across the air.

His bed. His drawer. And tucked beneath his pillow—his notebook.

Pages of sketches. Notes. Plans. Scribbled fragments of escape routes. Questions. The drawing of the treasure room. A list of keys. And her name—underlined. Studied like a puzzle piece.

"Go and see for yourself," the House whispered, cruel and amused.

The light vanished. The room collapsed into blackness once again.

Seraphine curled into herself, eyes wide. Her breath shuddered in her chest.

"He loves me," she whispered.

But the echo came back broken.

"He loves me…"

She clutched her head with trembling fingers, whispering over and over.

"He loves me. He loves me. He loves me."

Even as her heart cracked wide open.