CHAPYER 10:AWOKEN
1350 Words
Seraphina could hear the ocean.
Not outside the palace.
Inside her.
The sound grew louder with every breath.
Waves crashed through her mind.
Voices called her name.
Seraphina…
She tried to open her eyes.
Nothing.
Darkness surrounded her.
Then a light appeared in the distance.
A girl stood beneath it.
She looked exactly like her.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same long hair.
But she was wearing a simple white dress.
No crown.
No jewelry.
No royal markings.
Just a girl.
Seraphina walked toward her.
“Who are you?”
The girl smiled.
“You.”
Seraphina stopped.
“That isn't possible.”
“It is.”
“Then why don't I remember you?”
“Because you were never supposed to.”
The girl turned and began walking away.
Seraphina followed.
“Wait!”
They entered a strange palace.
Not the underwater kingdom.
Not Aqualis.
Something older.
The walls were covered with paintings.
Seraphina looked at them.
There were hundreds.
She saw Cassian.
She saw her mother.
She saw Adrian.
But each painting showed a different version of them.
In one, Adrian was a prince.
In another, he was a soldier.
In another, he was kneeling before Seraphina.
And in the final painting—
Adrian was holding a newborn baby.
Seraphina froze.
“Who is that?”
The girl didn't answer.
“Who is the baby?”
Still nothing.
Seraphina looked closer.
The baby's eyes were different colors.
One gold.
One silver.
Her heart began pounding.
“That's my child.”
The girl finally turned.
“No.”
Seraphina frowned.
“Then whose is it?”
The girl whispered:
“Yours.”
Seraphina suddenly opened her eyes.
She gasped.
Adrian was beside her.
“Seraphina!”
She sat upright.
“What happened?”
“You collapsed.”
“Where?”
“Your room.”
She looked around.
Everything seemed normal.
But the room was freezing.
Adrian handed her a glass of water.
She stared at it.
The water was moving.
It rose from the glass and floated between them.
Adrian slowly lowered his hand.
“You're doing that.”
“No.”
“You are.”
Seraphina watched the floating water.
Then it formed a small shape.
A crown.
Then a door.
Then—
A baby.
Seraphina's breath caught.
The water fell.
Adrian noticed her expression.
“What did you see?”
“Nothing.”
“Seraphina.”
She looked away.
“I saw something strange.”
“What?”
She hesitated.
“A child.”
Adrian's expression softened.
“Whose?”
“I don't know.”
That was another lie.
She knew.
But she didn't know how she knew.
A knock sounded.
Lady Miriam entered.
The moment she saw Seraphina awake, relief crossed her face.
“You're awake.”
Seraphina looked at her.
“Did you know I would collapse?”
Miriam hesitated.
“No.”
“Did you know about the woman who looks like me?”
Miriam froze.
Adrian stood.
“What woman?”
Seraphina looked at Miriam.
“The woman in the fountain.”
Miriam's face went pale.
“Where did you see her?”
“In the water.”
“What did she tell you?”
“She said I was never the goddess.”
Miriam closed the door behind her.
Then she locked it.
Adrian noticed.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure we're not overheard.”
Seraphina stared at her.
“Tell us the truth.”
Miriam took a long breath.
“There were two girls.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
“Two girls born on the same night.”
Seraphina's heart began racing.
“Twins?”
Miriam shook her head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“One was born from the sea.”
Miriam looked at Seraphina.
“And one was born from the blood of the royal family.”
Adrian's face changed.
“Who was the first?”
“The Water Goddess.”
“And the second?”
Miriam looked at him.
“The Shadow Heir.”
The room became silent.
Seraphina whispered,
“That's the woman I saw.”
Miriam nodded.
“She looks like you because she was created from you.”
Seraphina's eyes widened.
“Created?”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
Miriam looked toward the window.
“The First King.”
Adrian walked toward the window.
“Why would he create her?”
Miriam lowered her voice.
“To destroy the Goddess.”
Seraphina shook her head.
“Then why does she look exactly like me?”
“Because he couldn't destroy the Goddess directly.”
“Why?”
“Because your power was protected.”
“By whom?”
Miriam looked at Adrian.
Silence.
Seraphina followed her gaze.
“Adrian?”
Miriam said nothing.
Seraphina's heart sank.
“What did he do?”
“He created someone who could take your place.”
Adrian turned around.
“And the Shadow Heir?”
“She was meant to become the Goddess.”
Seraphina whispered,
“But I survived.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Miriam looked down.
“Because someone sacrificed themselves.”
“Who?”
Miriam's eyes filled with tears.
“Your mother.”
Seraphina's breath caught.
“No.”
“She gave her life to hide you.”
“She's alive.”
“She may be.”
Seraphina stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Miriam shook her head.
“I don't know.”
That night, Seraphina couldn't sleep.
She kept thinking about the girl.
The Shadow Heir.
If she had been created from Seraphina…
Then what exactly was she?
A sister?
A copy?
A weapon?
Or something worse?
Seraphina walked toward the palace balcony.
The ocean was calm.
Then she heard footsteps.
She turned.
Adrian stood behind her.
“You shouldn't be alone.”
“I needed air.”
He joined her.
For several moments, they watched the sea.
“Do you believe Miriam?” he asked.
“I don't know.”
“Neither do I.”
Seraphina looked at him.
“Adrian?”
“Yes?”
“What if you really were the man who betrayed me?”
He looked at her.
“Then I'll spend the rest of my life proving that I'm not.”
Her heart skipped.
“And if you are?”
He stepped closer.
“Then I'll spend the rest of my life trying to understand why.”
Seraphina looked away.
“You make everything complicated.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“You're the one who can command the ocean.”
She smiled despite herself.
“I didn't ask for that.”
“Neither did I.”
Their eyes met.
For one brief moment, the palace, the prophecy, the secrets—all of it disappeared.
There was only them.
Adrian slowly reached for her hand.
Seraphina allowed him.
Their fingers intertwined.
Then the ocean suddenly roared.
They turned.
Far beyond the palace, a massive wave rose into the sky.
It didn't fall.
It stood there.
Frozen.
A figure appeared on top of it.
The woman from the fountain.
The Shadow Heir.
She looked directly at Seraphina.
Then she raised her hand.
The black mark returned to Seraphina's wrist.
She cried out.
Adrian grabbed her.
The woman smiled.
“You remember me now.”
Seraphina stared at her.
“I have never met you.”
The woman shook her head.
“You have.”
“When?”
“Every time you looked into a mirror.”
Seraphina's blood ran cold.
The woman continued:
“I am the part of you they buried.”
Then the wave collapsed.
The woman disappeared.
Adrian looked at Seraphina.
“What did she mean?”
Seraphina stared at the ocean.
“I think…”
She touched the mark on her wrist.
“…she isn't my enemy.”
Adrian frowned.
“Then what is she?”
Seraphina looked at him.
“I think she's the part of me that remembers.”
A thunderclap shook the sky.
Far beneath the ocean, the Red Door opened again.
And this time—
Something walked through it.
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