Prologue

Prologue

1825

ELEANOR ROSWELL’S POV –

As soon as we stepped into the forest, the woods swallowed us whole. The fiery orange radiance of the twilight sun, blending with deep coral, illuminated the shadows of the trees. It was broad daylight when we came here, but as soon as we entered this mystical wood, it appeared to have its own time.

I wouldn't deny that this place was paradise, and I didn't even expect that something so majestic existed, since it could only be found in the heart of the mountains.

“We came and we brought people as we always promise,” my brother Jasper stated.

From the glittering grove that stood in the middle of the crystallized river, golden smoke emerged. It gathered in front of the grove and formed an image of golden eyes, the usual form that we had always seen. It floated above the river, and its scattered smoke lingered around the grove.

“Well then, let them come,” said those mystical eyes. His voice was deep and thick, sending shivers down my spine, and his chilling gaze pierced through my soul. I could even feel my fine hairs stiffen.

I had frequently heard its mysterious voice, but this time it felt different; it made me feel uneasy. Or perhaps my brother Jasper’s tone gave me a weird vibe. He had been acting strangely recently, and he was unusually quiet while we were on our way.

Instead of calling our people to step into the river, Jasper went in himself, which was strange. He had strictly told me that only members of our people would be the sacrifice, and now, what was he up to?

“Jasper, what are you doing?” I called him, though my voice slightly stuttered, and yet he didn't bother glancing at me. Maybe it was because my voice was so low that he couldn't hear me, or perhaps it was due to the tension rising in the midst of the luminous atmosphere.

Before I could figure out what he was planning, he pulled out a silver dagger from his back. Wait… silver dagger? Don't tell me… he was up to something terrible. I needed to stop him immediately.

“Jasper!” I screamed, hoping to steal his attention but failed horribly.

Driven by greed, he had already stabbed the magical eyes with the silver dagger he held. And I froze in disbelief—eyes almost came off and my jaw hung open—our people behind me were panicking, terrified and confused as they tried to comprehend what they witnessed. What had he just insanely done?

Right before I could process what I had just witnessed, the skies, filled with beautiful auroras, suddenly became enveloped with pitch-black clouds. Enormous lightning cut the sky in two and struck straight where Jasper was standing. The impact was so powerful that it blew him inches away, and so was I.

The dagger shattered into a million pieces; the golden smoke that had once formed golden eyes now spiraled back to the grove. The wind was wuthering, as if it was slapping our faces. I was in the dark, but for sure, we were in hot boiling water.

“You traitors!” the voice growled in anger, making my knees tremble in fear. “Your descendants and nation will pay for what you owe!”

In the blink of an eye, the golden smoke vanished. The majestic forest that looked like paradise was replaced by darkness; the trees and flowers that gave life now withered, covered with thick fog through which we could hardly see anything, and nothing but a cold breeze that almost froze us to death.

“What have you done, Jasper!?” I yelled. My lips trembled in horror, and so did my body. I had a horrible feeling that something terrifying was about to happen.

Broadened eyes met my horrified gaze. His hands were shivering, yet I could see on his face that he was proud of what he did. “I gave us power, Ellie. Power that will make our nation prosper and become powerful beyond anyone.”

I never would have imagined what I was seeing right now, nor what I was hearing. Jasper had just turned into someone I didn't recognize.

For the first time in ages, I was terrified of him. A tear escaped from my eyes while my lips trembled. “You didn't give us power, Jasper! You placed a curse upon us!” I burst into tears. Every drop of my tear on the withered grass shared the agony of this mystical place.

“You are the curse, Ellie.” A terrifying expression gloomed on his face; his sinister look scared me to the core.

As if a grenade had just exploded in my chest while tears flooded my cheeks, I begged, “Jasper, please… I am your sister.” I had never begged like this in my whole life, yet my voice didn't get through to him.

Chills turned me to stone. I couldn't feel any inch of my muscles as I witnessed my brother driven by lust for power, someone I was now terrified of.

“Don't do this… Jasper! No!