CHAPTER 8.
POV: Seraphina Vale
"Please… you guys should not do this to me. I don't want to get married," Sera wailed, her voice breaking.
The palace was filled with noise. Maids rushed everywhere, decorating the hall with flowers and lights as if this was a celebration.
But to Sera…
It felt like her funeral.
"Decorate everywhere! The wedding must be held today!" her mother ordered.
"Mother, please…" Sera cried, holding her mother's legs.
"Seraphina, stop this nonsense. Maids, take her away."
"No! Let me go!" she struggled—
SLAP.
Her mother hit her hard.
"Listen to me," she said coldly. "You will do as I say."
Tears rolled down Sera's face as they dressed her in a white gown.
---
At the altar…
Her father held her hand tightly as they walked forward.
Kade stood there, waiting.
Sera held a red rose, her hands trembling.
"Father… please don't do this. I don't love him," she whispered.
"This is for your own good," he replied.
Her heart broke.
---
The priest began.
"Do you—"
BANG!
The doors burst open violently.
Everyone screamed.
Bodies of guards were thrown inside, blood spreading across the white floor.
Sera froze.
Her chest tightened.
And then—
Lucien Draegor walked in.
Dark. Powerful. Terrifying.
"Stop this wedding."
Demons flooded the hall.
Swords clashed.
People screamed.
Blood stained everything.
One guard fell right in front of Sera, his body hitting the ground with a dull sound.
She stepped back, shaking.
---
"Lucien! Don't you dare touch my daughter!" her father shouted.
Lucien's eyes darkened.
"How dare you speak to me like that?"
Then he looked at Sera.
"I'm going to marry her."
"No…" Sera whispered.
She tried to run.
But he grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Let me go!" she cried.
"You are going to marry me, freckles."
---
The priest was dragged forward.
"Say the vows," Lucien ordered.
"Please… I don't want this…" Sera cried.
Then she saw it.
A blade against Orion's neck.
Her heart stopped.
"If you refuse… he dies."
"Don't accept, Sera!" Orion shouted.
Tears streamed down her face.
Her body trembled.
"I…"
She couldn't breathe.
"I do."
---
The hall went silent.
Lucien placed a black rose in her hand.
The thorns pierced her skin, and a drop of blood fell.
She didn't react.
She felt empty.
"My daughter!" her mother screamed.
But it was too late.
---
She was taken away.
Blindfolded.
Crying silently.
---
When the blindfold was removed…
Sera saw it.
The Underworld.
A massive black gate stood before her.
The sky was dark and heavy.
Fires burned in the distance.
The air felt cold and lifeless.
She took a step back.
"This… is where demons live…"
She tried to run.
Lucien caught her.
"What do you want? Why did you marry me?" she cried.
"This is where you belong," he said.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped.
"You will beg me to touch you soon," he replied.
"I hate you."
"Welcome home… my wife."
---
Inside the palace…
Everything was dark and grand.
Black marble floors.
Tall pillars.
Dim chandeliers.
It felt cold.
Empty.
---
Her room door opened.
Sera stepped in slowly…
And froze.
Blue curtains.
White sheets.
Soft light.
It felt peaceful.
It felt like her.
"Why is it like this?" she whispered.
"I had it prepared," Lucien said behind her.
Her heart skipped.
---
Later that night…
Sera sat on the bed, hugging herself.
Tears rolled down her face.
She missed her family.
She was scared.
---
The door opened.
Lucien.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"This is my palace," he said, stepping closer.
"Stay away from me…"
But he kept coming.
Closer.
He touched her face gently.
She froze.
Her eyes closed.
She was scared…
But she didn't move.
"You're mine now," he whispered.
---
POV: Ezra Solivan
The night was quiet.
The wind moved softly through the trees.
Ezra walked slowly, staring at the sky.
He had always wondered about supernatural beings.
Demons.
Angels.
Were they real?
Suddenly—
Rustling in the bushes.
He stopped.
"Who's there?" he asked.
A bright light flashed.
He covered his eyes.
When the light faded…
A boy stood there.
"Who are you?" Ezra asked.
"I'm Juno Skylark," he replied.
"What was that light?"
"I can't tell you."
Ezra looked at his hand.
A mark.
Wings.
His heart skipped.
"You're an angel…"
Juno's face changed.
"No. There's no such thing."
"You're lying," Ezra said.
Juno turned and walked away.
"Hey! Come back!" Ezra shouted, running after him.
But deep down…
He knew.
Something had just changed.