Chapter 49: Amanda's Death

"Hmph!" Lina's only response was a cold snort.

"Sophie, this is Lina—the one I told you about before. And this is Bazzak," Libor introduced awkwardly. "Lina, Bazzak, this is Sophie, and that's Amanda, our... friend." He hesitated, unsure of Sophie's feelings toward him.

"Hello, Lina!" Sophie forced a smile, surprised to see the princess who had chosen vampirism for Libor's sake. Clearly, her feelings hadn't faded.

Lina's glare sharpened. To her, Sophie's smile was nothing but mockery. Without warning, she lunged again.

No one expected the attack. Sophie crumpled, coughing blood. Amanda's fury ignited. *No one harms Carina in front of me.* Blood would repay blood.

Libor clenched his fists, but Bazzak blocked his path. He wouldn't let Libor hurt Lina—not unless he stepped over Bazzak's corpse. Silently, Libor helped Sophie up, guilt gnawing at him. *This is my fault.*

"What the hell?" Sophie wiped blood from her lips, glaring at the brawl between Lina and Amanda.

"Why did she hit me? Is she insane?" Unprovoked violence wasn't something Sophie tolerated.

"I'm sorry," Libor muttered, unable to meet her eyes.

"Unbelievable," Sophie groaned. "Jealous women are the worst. I'm not even her rival! And she just *punched* me!" She shot Libor a scathing look.

"Who's winning?" Sophie asked, watching the fight with morbid curiosity.

"Amanda. I couldn't beat him—Lina certainly can't," Libor admitted. *Unless she uses the Life Curse.* He prayed she wouldn't.

"Good. Maybe she'll tire out." Sophie rubbed her aching chest. "Then you can explain I'm *not* her competition."

Libor nodded, wishing he could take the blow for her. Behind him, Bazzak wore a pained expression. He'd spoiled Lina too much.

Amanda held back, not aiming to kill—but Lina grew desperate. Bazzak refused to intervene, and she couldn't land a hit.

Then she saw Sophie smiling beside Libor. Rage burned. *A thousand years of waiting, and this human steals him?*

Deliberately, Lina left an opening. Amanda's spell sent her flying—straight toward Sophie.

Midair, Lina's lips moved silently. A violet glow enveloped her—the telltale shimmer of the Life Curse.

"Stop her!" Libor and Bazzak lunged, but it was too late.

A beam of light shot past Bazzak's dark mist—toward Sophie.

Amanda moved faster. He shoved Sophie aside, taking the full brunt of the curse.

"Amanda!" Sophie screamed as he collapsed, blood spilling from his lips.

"Carina... don't cry," he whispered, smiling weakly. "I promised... never to make you cry again."

"You can't die! I won't let you!" Tears—crimson ice tears—rained down Sophie's face.

"Loving you... was my greatest joy." His voice faded. "But if there's another life... I hope I don't fall for you again."

Flames erupted. Sophie clung to the fire, unburned, as Amanda's body dissolved to ash.

Libor could only watch, helpless. The fire spared Sophie—Amanda's final act of love.

When the flames died, Sophie sat motionless, cradling the ashes.

"Sophie..." Libor approached gently.

"Amanda said he was of the Phoenix Clan," she murmured, eerily calm.

"Yes." The self-immolation confirmed it.

"Phoenixes rise from ashes. So... will he?" Her voice was hollow.

Libor hesitated. "Sophie... the Life Curse destroys souls. Even dragons can't survive it. There's no rebirth."

Silence.

Then Sophie's fingers tightened around the ashes.

**Will Sophie's grief consume her—or ignite a vengeance beyond death?**