Chapter Two: The Kingdom That Never Existed
1305 Words
Seraphina stared at the man kneeling before her.
Her mind refused to process what she had just heard.
The last queen of the Forgotten Kingdom.
It sounded ridiculous.
Impossible.
Like something from a children's bedtime story.
She glanced at the broken wall.
Then at the bloodstained floor.
Then back at Lucien.
"Get up."
He didn't move.
Seraphina's voice sharpened.
"I said get up."
Slowly, Lucien rose.
But he didn't look away from her.
"What kingdom?"
"The Kingdom of Elaria."
The name struck something deep inside her.
A flash.
A castle.
White towers beneath a crimson moon.
A woman running through a burning corridor.
A baby crying.
Then darkness.
Seraphina stumbled backward.
Lucien caught her arm.
"What did you see?"
She yanked herself free.
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"I said nothing!"
The mark on her palm pulsed.
Lucien's eyes immediately dropped to it.
Seraphina covered her hand.
"Stop looking at it."
"You don't understand what that mark means."
"Then explain it!"
Lucien was silent.
Seraphina laughed bitterly.
"That's what I thought."
She turned away.
Lucien's voice followed her.
"Elaria was destroyed nineteen years ago."
She froze.
"Nineteen?"
"Yes."
"The same year I was born."
"Exactly."
Seraphina slowly turned around.
"What happened?"
Lucien's expression hardened.
"Your kingdom was attacked."
"By who?"
"We don't know."
"You expect me to believe an entire kingdom disappeared and nobody knows who destroyed it?"
"It wasn't an ordinary attack."
He stepped closer.
"Every person in Elaria was killed."
Seraphina's stomach twisted.
"Every person?"
"Except one."
She already knew the answer.
"Me."
Lucien nodded.
"You were an infant. Your mother gave you to someone she trusted before the kingdom fell."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Then how did you find me?"
"We didn't."
He paused.
"You found us."
Seraphina frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"The moment your power awakened tonight, every supernatural creature within hundreds of miles felt it."
A distant roar echoed outside.
Seraphina looked toward the window.
More shadows were moving through the burning village.
"They're coming."
"Yes."
"How many?"
Lucien's expression became grim.
"Enough."
Seraphina's heart hammered.
"So what happens now?"
Lucien walked toward the door.
"You come with me."
She stared at him.
"Absolutely not."
He stopped.
"Seraphina."
"I'm not going anywhere with a stranger who claims I'm some lost queen."
"I am not asking."
"Then you're going to have a problem."
Lucien turned.
Something dangerous flashed in his golden eyes.
"I'm trying to keep you alive."
"And I'm trying to stay away from people who break into my bedroom!"
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Lucien sighed.
"You are remarkably difficult."
"I've been told."
"Come."
"No."
"Seraphina."
"No."
Lucien rubbed his forehead.
"You are going to make this difficult."
"I think I've already made that clear."
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Both of them turned.
Lucien's expression changed instantly.
"They're inside."
Seraphina grabbed the knife from the floor.
Lucien looked at it.
"Really?"
"It's all I have."
"You have magic."
She stared at him.
"I have what?"
Before he could answer, the bedroom door exploded.
A creature lunged through the opening.
Lucien raised his hand.
But Seraphina moved first.
She screamed.
The mark on her palm erupted with crimson light.
The creature froze midair.
Its body began trembling.
Then—
BOOM!
It was thrown through the hallway wall.
Silence.
Seraphina stared at her hand.
Lucien stared too.
"That," he said quietly, "is your magic."
"I did that?"
"Yes."
"I didn't mean to."
"I know."
Another creature appeared behind Lucien.
Seraphina's eyes widened.
"Behind you!"
Lucien turned.
Too late.
The creature struck him across the chest.
He flew backward and crashed against the wall.
"Lucien!"
The creature charged.
Something inside Seraphina snapped.
She raised her hand.
"Get away from him!"
The entire house shook.
A wave of crimson energy exploded outward.
Every creature in the building was thrown into the night.
The flames outside suddenly died.
Seraphina stood frozen in the middle of the room.
Her breathing was ragged.
Lucien slowly stood.
There was blood at the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away.
Then looked at her.
"What?"
His expression was unreadable.
"Nothing."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I've spent my entire life hearing stories about your bloodline."
Seraphina frowned.
"And?"
Lucien stepped closer.
"I thought they were exaggerated."
"What stories?"
He looked toward the window.
"The first queen of Elaria was not a witch."
Seraphina waited.
"She wasn't a demon either."
His golden eyes returned to hers.
"She was the first being ever created from both light and darkness."
Seraphina's heartbeat slowed.
"That's impossible."
"Your kingdom was built around her bloodline."
"Why was everyone afraid of it?"
"Because every generation became stronger."
He stepped closer.
"Until your mother."
Seraphina's throat tightened.
"My mother?"
"Your mother was the most powerful queen Elaria had ever seen."
"Then why did they kill her?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low.
"Because she refused to give you to the Devil."
Seraphina stared at him.
"What?"
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"The Devil wanted you."
"Why?"
"Because of what you are."
"What am I?"
His gaze dropped to the mark on her palm.
"The prophecy says the last heir of Elaria will possess enough power to destroy Hell."
Seraphina's blood ran cold.
"And the Devil wants to stop me?"
"No."
Lucien looked directly into her eyes.
"He wants to marry you."
She nearly choked.
"What?!"
"He believes binding your bloodline to his will make him unstoppable."
Seraphina stared at him in disbelief.
"So you're telling me the Devil wants me as his bride?"
Lucien's expression darkened.
"Yes."
"And you're his son."
"Yes."
"So why are you helping me?"
Lucien was silent.
That silence told her everything.
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
He looked away.
"I have my reasons."
"That's not an answer."
"No."
He stepped toward her.
"But it's the only one you're getting tonight."
She hated how calm he was.
She hated how impossible he was to read.
And she hated the strange feeling that spread through her chest whenever he came too close.
Before she could respond, a deep horn sounded outside.
Once.
Twice.
Then three times.
Lucien's face changed.
"What is that?"
He walked toward the window.
Seraphina followed.
A massive black carriage stood in the middle of the burning village.
Its horses had glowing red eyes.
Hundreds of armored demons surrounded it.
And standing before the carriage was a tall man dressed in crimson.
Even from a distance, Seraphina could feel his power.
Lucien's expression became murderous.
"Who is that?"
"My father."
Seraphina's heart dropped.
"The Devil?"
Lucien nodded.
The carriage doors opened.
The Devil stepped out.
He looked toward the house.
Toward Seraphina.
And smiled.
Then his voice echoed across the village without him needing to shout.
"Bring me my future queen."
Seraphina's blood ran cold.
Lucien moved in front of her.
"You'll have to go through me."
The Devil laughed.
"Son..."
His eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight.
"Move."
Lucien didn't.
The Devil's smile disappeared.
"Or I will remind the girl behind you exactly why everyone fears the name Draven."
Seraphina looked at Lucien.
"What does he mean?"
Lucien's jaw clenched.
"Nothing."
But the Devil laughed again.
And this time, Seraphina noticed something strange.
He wasn't looking at Lucien.
He was looking at her.
As if he knew something Lucien didn't.
As if he had been waiting nineteen years for this exact moment.
Then the Devil lifted his hand.
The sky turned black.
And every supernatural creature in the village dropped to its knees.
Every single one.
Except Lucien.
And Seraphina.
The Devil's gaze locked with hers.
"Welcome home, little queen."
Seraphina's blood froze.
Because she suddenly remembered his face.
She had seen him before.
Not in a dream.
Not in a story.
But nineteen years ago...
He was the man standing beside her mother's bed the night her kingdom burned.
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