Chapter 1: The Night of Flames
Lady Lucia’s Chamber – Evening
A soft golden glow filled the spacious chamber as candlelight flickered against the walls. Fine silk gowns lay scattered across the bed, along with neatly packed trunks. Yet, despite the urgency in her mother’s movements, Lucia hesitated, gripping the edge of an open trunk.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(frowning) Why are we leaving so suddenly?
Her mother, Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair, avoided her gaze, folding a delicate shawl with shaking hands.
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(softly) It’s for your safety, my love.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(pressing) From what? Father won’t even tell me! He barely spoke to me today.
Eleanor sighed and turned to face her daughter.
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(gently) Your father is handling something dangerous, Lucia. He needs us far away, where no one can hurt us.
Lucia clenched her fists. The explanation wasn’t enough. She had always trusted her father’s decisions, but this secrecy—this fear in her mother’s eyes—made her uneasy.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(whispering) When will we see him again?
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(forces a smile) Soon. Once this is over.
A knock on the door interrupted them. The butler entered, bowing slightly.
Butler
My lady, His Lordship requests to see you in his study.
Eleanor exchanged a glance with Lucia before nodding.
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(to Lucia) Stay here and continue packing. We leave before dawn.
Lucia bit her lip but nodded. As her mother left, a heavy feeling settled in her chest. Something was terribly wrong.
Around midnight, the grand estate stood under the moon’s cold gaze, its towering structure a symbol of power and prestige. But tonight, the air was thick with an eerie stillness—a silence that spoke of danger lurking in the shadows.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(whispers) Father…?
She tiptoed through the dimly lit hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. The mansion felt wrong. Too quiet. The flickering candle in her hand trembled as she heard hurried footsteps downstairs.
Then...shouts. The sharp clash of steel.
Her breath hitched. Fear coiled in her stomach like a serpent. She turned to run to her parents’ chamber when—
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(urgent whisper) Lucia! Come here, quickly!
Lucia spun around to see her mother emerging from the darkness, her face pale, eyes frantic. She grasped Lucia’s wrist and pulled her toward a hidden passage behind the bookshelf.
Lady Lucia Sinclair / FL
(panicked) What’s happening? Where is Father?
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(shaky voice) No time, my love. You must leave—now.
She pushed a folded parchment into Lucia’s trembling hands. Before Lucia could ask, the crackling sound of flames reached her ears. The scent of smoke. The walls trembled with the force of battle.
A group of masked figures stormed into the hallway, their faces obscured by shadows. One of them—tall, dressed in black—met her gaze.
Lucia's breath froze. That face—why did it seem familiar?
Marchioness Eleanor Sinclair / FL Mother
(shoves Lucia) Run! Ride to the forest! Don’t look back!
Tears blurred Lucia’s vision, but her body moved on instinct. She bolted down the passage, heart hammering, her mother’s desperate cry echoing behind her.
The last thing she saw before stepping into the night was the mansion engulfed in flames.
Author
Hello everyone, I'm back with a new story!
Author
Don't hesitate to show some support if you like it or have any suggestions!
Author
Anyway, see you in the next chapter!
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