Blood Will Answer

🐺 SILAS

He lunged.

Claws first.

The Buried King didn't dodge—he simply raised his arm, and a wall of thick roots erupted from the ground.

Silas slammed into it with a roar, snapping vines and shattering bone-like bark.

> "You were never more than a vessel," the King said coldly. "A beast to be bound, used, and discarded."

Silas burst through the wall, eyes glowing with rage.

> "I swore I'd never kneel to you again."

They clashed—beast and monarch, fury and magic—tearing the chamber apart.

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🩶 EVELYN

The chains holding her pulsed with heat, reacting to the King's power.

But they were weaker now.

Cracks spread across the runes as the chamber trembled. One more shock… one more—

Silas's body slammed into the stone beside her, coughing blood.

> "Silas!" she screamed.

The King raised his hand, summoning another root—this one sharpened to a blade.

> "You gave him love," he said to her. "That was your first mistake."

As the root blade shot toward Silas—

> CLANG.

The chain on Evelyn's wrist snapped.

She caught the root mid-air, screaming as it burned her palm—but she didn't let go.

> "Get away from him!"

She twisted, and the magic flared—sending the root flying back into the King's chest.

He staggered.

For the first time… he bled.

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🐍 THE BURIED KING

He stared at the red spreading across his robe.

> "Interesting," he whispered.

He touched the blood.

Smiled.

Then laughed.

> "You're more than a sacrifice," he said to Evelyn.

He turned to the shadows behind him.

> "Come, child. It's time."

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🌕 HAZEL

She stepped out of the darkness in a crimson cloak.

But her eyes were blank.

A ceremonial dagger in her hand, and a mark freshly carved into her chest.

Evelyn's mouth fell open.

> "Hazel…?"

Hazel didn't speak.

Didn't blink.

She walked toward Evelyn.

Then raised the blade.

> "The King commands," she whispered.

> "Blood must be paid."

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