The hallways of the Valtor estate were adorned with large golden frames, each holding portraits of long-dead ancestors whose stares bore down on all who passed, almost as if they were silently judging everyone.

The light streaming through stained-glass windows cast fragmented colours across the marble floor, but the scene's beauty was lost on Seraphina. She stood at the centre of one of her family's gathering rooms, her shoulders tense, her hands clasped tightly in front of her to keep them from trembling.

The air was tense as her father's voice echoed off the high ceilings. Each word landed like a slap to the face.

"Do you even understand the significance of this, Seraphina?" Duke Alaric Valtor's voice was low but commanding, and his tone left no room for argument. "This marriage isn't a suggestion, Seraphina. It's your duty to secure the Draven contracts on Drakara and cement this family's future."

Sera's throat tightened, but she nodded, her voice small. "I understand, Father."

"You understand?" Her brother Dedric stepped forward, his tone dripping with disdain. "If you understood, we wouldn't have to waste time explaining this to you. You are a Valtor. You don't get the luxury of questioning orders. You act. This is your duty to your house and your family."

Her mother, Isolde, placed a delicate hand on her husband's arm to temper his anger. "Seraphina, we know this isn't easy for you. But the quicker this union is finalised, the sooner we can secure the Drakara contracts and bring stability to our house. Alexander Draven may be young, but he is a baron with significant influence, even if he doesn't realise it. It is your role to ensure this alliance succeeds."

Sera felt her heart sink further. Each word pressed down on her, dragging her spirit down like the weight of the family crest emblazoned on the walls. A sigil she'd been born into, with expectations she had never dared question.

"Do you understand what we're asking of you, Sera?" Dedric pressed, his cold eyes narrowing. "You're not just marrying him; you're securing him. You will push for this marriage to happen quickly, and once it does, you will ensure that the mining rights on Drakara fall under Valtor's oversight. This is non-negotiable."

"And if I don't succeed?" The question slipped out before she could stop it, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her father's expression darkened, and for a moment, the silence in the room was deafening, feeding Sera's fear of the suffocating silence. Dedric cleared his throat before speaking.

"Failure isn't an option, Seraphina," Dedric said, his voice cold and unyielding. "Every hesitation you show pushes us closer to ruin. Is that what you want? To see the Valtor name dragged through the mud because you couldn't do what was necessary?"

"No," Sera said quickly, her voice trembling.

"Then you know what you must do," her mother said softly. "Alexander will respond to kindness. Play the part of the dutiful fiancée, win his trust, and secure the contracts. You've been trained for this, my dear. You know how to be a Valtor."

Sera nodded again, though her stomach churned.

As the meeting ended, her family left the room one by one, their parting glances lingering with expectation. Only Elara stayed behind, her arms crossed as she leaned against the far wall.

"I can't believe them," Elara muttered, her voice low but fierce.

Sera looked at her, surprised. "You're not going to defend them?"

Elara pushed off the wall, her dark eyes meeting Sera's with an intensity that belied her usually calm demeanour. "They’re vultures. They don’t care about you. They care about what you can do for them. It’s disgusting.”

For a moment, Sera thought she might cry. She didn’t, though; she simply nodded and let Elara pull her into a rare, protective embrace.

“I’m here for you,” Elara whispered. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Sera closed her eyes, savouring the brief comfort. But it was shattered moments later when raised voices echoed from the corridor outside.

“The Draven boy was attacked,” someone hissed, the words cutting through the air like a dagger.

Sera stiffened, pulling back from Elara. “What did they say?”

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Elara frowned. “I don’t know. Stay here; I’ll find out…”

“No,” Sera said, her voice breaking. “I need to know. This is too important. I need Alex.”

She pushed past Elara, her heart pounding as she followed the sound of hurried whispers. Two servants stood at the end of the hall, their expressions pale as they exchanged hushed words.

“...barely survived,” one said. “His ship was attacked on the way to Drakara. The reports just came through.”

Her chest tightened. Without thinking, she stepped closer, her voice trembling as she spoke. “What happened to Baron Alexander?”

The servants flinched at her sudden appearance, one bowing quickly. “Lady Seraphina, we... We aren't certain of the details; this is all hearsay, but there was an attack. The baron’s ship was ambushed near Drakara. Reports say he survived, but he’s gravely injured.”

The world seemed to tilt, and Sera reached out to steady herself against the wall. Panic surged through her, an intense panic that caught her off guard.

“Leave us,” Elara commanded, her tone coming out harder than she had intended. The servants hurried away, leaving Sera and Elara alone in the corridor.

Elara placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Sera, breathe. He’s alive. That’s what matters.”

Sera shook her head, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “They did this,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anger.

Elara frowned. “Who?”

“My family.” The words came out in a rush. “They pushed for this alliance, forced me into this role, and now he’s...” She trailed off, struggling to find the words for the emotions swirling inside her.

Elara’s expression softened. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened to him, Sera. This wasn’t your fault.”

But Sera wasn’t so sure. She shuddered to think what her family would do to her if Alex were to die before she was married. Her mouth watered as she swallowed. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.

“We need to go to Drakara. I should have never left his side.” Whispered Sera. Not trusting her voice. “I need him, Elara. Drakara is my chance. The only one I have.”

“It’s ok, Sera. You can’t blame yourself.” Replied Elara. “Your family ordered you back here. They can’t blame you for not being there with him.”

Sera shook her head. “No. You know as well as I do. They would blame me.”

Elara sighed. “Sera. I'll arrange for our travel to Drakara, ok. Just breathe. Relax. Alex isn’t dead.” She said as she bowed to Sera. “I’ll get you away from here before your family can do anything. I’ll handle everything. Trust me.”

Sera could only nod in reply. Her mind raced as she swallowed hard, her breath catching as Elara’s voice faded. The words barely registered.

Instead, a cold memory clawed its way to the surface unbidden.

The silence. The dark. The void that had swallowed her whole.

They put me in the chamber, her mind whispered, and the world around her blurred. She could feel it again, the suffocating stillness, the weight of isolation pressing down on her chest like a vice...

‘The sound of boots echoed softly in the empty corridor outside Sera’s rooms. As Sera lay curled up on the edge of her bed, knees drawn tightly to her chest, staring blankly at the far wall as a voice called out to her.

“Sera?” Elara’s voice was soft and testing, as if she feared a louder tone might shatter her. She approached slowly, sinking to her knees beside her.

Sera flinched. Her eyes darted to Elara, wide and bloodshot as if she’d been pulled from another world entirely.

“They put me in the chamber,” Sera whispered hoarsely, the words trembling as they fell from her lips. “Two days. No light, no sound... nothing.” She clenched her fists tightly, her nails biting into her palms. “I thought... I thought I’d die there.”

Elara’s hand hovered uncertainly before resting gently on Sera’s arm. “You’re here now,” she said. “You’re out.”

Sera let out a strained laugh that was more of a choke. “Out? I’m never out. Not really. The silence… the dark… it’s still inside me.” Her hands shook as she pressed them to her temples. “I kept hearing things that weren’t there. Whispers, screams. And then... nothing again.” She shut her eyes, her breathing uneven. “Do you know what it’s like to feel your mind turning on you? To forget who you are, if you even exist?”

Elara frowned, fighting the anger bubbling beneath her calm exterior. “Those monsters,” she muttered. “How could they do that to you?”

Sera shrugged weakly, her voice dropping to a flat monotone. “It’s just what they do. It’s how they remind me… that I’m theirs.”

Elara gripped her shoulders firmly. “No, Sera. You’re not theirs. You’re stronger than they’ll ever understand. And I swear I’ll get you away from here, anywhere but this place.”

Sera nodded slowly, her expression distant, her body still trembling. She knew Elara meant every word, but right now, her mind was too fractured to process hope.’

“Sera… Sera… Hey, Sera.” Called a voice as Sera felt herself being shaken.

“Wha… What?” Sera muttered, shaking her head to clear away the memory.

Elara stood before her, her hands gripping Sera’s shoulders. “Hey. Are you back?”

Sera breathed in deeply, slowly letting the breath out before replying. “Y… Yes. I'm ok.”

Elara stared into her eyes for a moment before nodding to herself. “Ok. I've managed to arrange our transport. We won’t be able to go the normal way. I’m worried about what will happen if your family finds you leaving, especially with the news about Alex. I've arranged to bribe the guards we can, but any others will require us to sneak past them. We are leaving this dark hole of a planet. Come Sera, I have a shuttle waiting.”

Sera nodded as Elara turned and started walking out of the room. Looking around the gathering room one last time, Sera nodded to herself before turning to follow Elara out. She knew this was her chance to escape her family's control, and finally, all she needed to do was get Alex to agree.