Lahat ng Kabanata ng MARKED : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Elizabeth's POVThe library didn't want us there.That was the first thing I felt the moment we stepped inside.The air was colder than it should've been for late afternoon, the lights humming faintly overhead like they were struggling to stay awake. Even the smell was different this time — old paper and dust layered with something sharper, metallic, almost like rain before a storm.Chloe slowed beside me. "Tell me I'm not imagining this.""You're not," I said quietly. "It feels... heavy."Vanessa locked the door behind us — not something she'd ever done before — then exhaled slowly. "Okay. Ground rules. We find what we need, we don't panic, and we don't touch anything glowing, chanting, or whispering."I forced a smile. "Comforting."We moved deeper into the restricted section — the part of the library most people didn't even know existed. The shelves here were taller, tighter, packed with leather-bound books that hadn't been checked out in decades. Some titles were written in langua

Elizabeth's POVSleeping at Chloe's house felt like pressing pause on a life that had already moved on without her.The night stretched quietly around us, heavy and still. Vanessa and I lay on either side of Chloe, the only light coming from a small lamp on her dresser. Its glow barely touched the corners of the room, leaving shadows curled against the walls like they belonged there.Chloe stared at the ceiling, arms folded tightly across her chest."I hate this," she whispered.Vanessa turned toward her immediately. "Hate what?""All of it." Chloe's voice cracked despite her effort to stay composed. "The darkness. The waiting. The way time feels different now. Like the world keeps going and I'm stuck behind glass."My throat tightened. Chloe had always been the brightest of us. The one who laughed too loudly, who danced without caring who watched, who filled silence with warmth. Seeing her like this—dimmed, restrained—felt cruel."I miss the sun," she said softly. "I miss walking wit

Chapter — Elizabeth's POVThe French Quarter greeted me like it already knew my name.The iron gates opened before I could even knock, and the moment my car rolled to a stop, a man in a dark tailored suit stepped forward, polite and unreadable. "Miss Elizabeth," he said smoothly, as if we'd met before. "We've been expecting you."That sentence alone made my spine stiffen.Of course they had. Damon had probably known the second the idea crossed my mind that I would come. I hated that most of all—not the mansion, not the bargain, not even the sacrifice. I hated that he'd been right about me.I stepped out of the car, lifting my chin. "You can show me where I'm staying."The man inclined his head and led me inside.The mansion smelled like old money and secrets—polished wood, faint spice, something metallic beneath it all. Every step echoed, reminding me how small I was in a place like this. And yet, part of me felt... steady. I was here for a reason. Chloe. Vanessa. Family wasn't always

The day starts like any other, which almost makes it worse.School feels louder than usual. Too bright. Too human. I sit through classes pretending to listen while my mind drifts back to wrought-iron gates, stone corridors, and Vanessa barely speaks to me all day. I tried talking to her a couple of times but each time she would take a different direction. It was so frustrating because despite everything I really needed my best friend. I was afraid , this was all too crazy and I didn't know how to get out of it.She sits two rows ahead in History, shoulders stiff, back straight, pretending I don't exist. I don't blame her. If the roles were reversed, I'd probably be furious too. Living with the Elvadores wasn't exactly something simple especially considering they were sworn enemies in history-even now.I smile into my tray, pushing fries around, relief curling warm in my chest. Whatever else happens, that part was worth it.Classes drag. Bells ring. Lockers slam. By the time the final

Elizabeth For once, the mansion is quiet in a way that feels... kind. Not tense. Not watchful. Not waiting for something terrible to happen. Just quiet. I sit on the edge of my bed, sunlight spilling through the tall windows of my room, warming the hardwood floors and the soft cream-colored rug beneath my bare feet. The curtains sway gently in the breeze, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the gardens below. It's strange how quickly a place can start to feel like home—even when it's filled with creatures that could tear the world apart if they wanted to. I tuck my legs beneath me and close the book resting in my lap, pressing my palm against the cover as I exhale slowly. Peace. Real peace. I haven't felt this in days. No nightmares last night. No whispers in the walls. No sudden surges of energy under my skin. Just sleep. Deep, steady, uninterrupted sleep. Maybe the spell worked better than we thought. Maybe the world finally decided to give me