He Fed Me to the Serpents, So I Came Back to Ruin Him EP

NoirNights

Transcript

00:00:07I was born to kill serpents, so the Hargroves used me as their perfect shield.

00:00:12In my past life, I entered their cursed hall for Callum, the man I loved.

00:00:17But when the serpent gate opened, he chose Jenna, locked the door, and left me to be devoured.

00:00:23Death gave me one chance to return.

00:00:25I traded my beauty for silver sight, and woke up with a scar no man was supposed to love.

00:00:30But I did not come back for love.

00:00:32I came back to watch Callum's devotion rot, expose Jenna's snake magic, and let the serpents choose their real prey.

00:00:39My name's Rowena Whitmore.

00:00:41In my past life, I loved Callum Hargrove so much that it cost me everything.

00:00:45I knew exactly what Hargrove Hall was, a century-old estate built over a sealed serpent gate, rotting from the

00:00:51inside out with ancient venom.

00:00:52I still walked in, for him.

00:00:55Whitmuster blood ran through my veins, and that blood was born to suppress serpents.

00:00:59So when the curse came for Callum, I threw myself in its path and let the poison tear through me

00:01:04instead.

00:01:04What I did not know, what I never saw coming, was that he and Jenna had already decided how my

00:01:09story would end.

00:01:10The venom spread through my body like fire through dry wood.

00:01:12My flesh began to rot from the inside.

00:01:14I still remember every second of that night.

00:01:16The freezing rain, the iron door, and my bloody hands clawing at the gap in the frame.

00:01:20Callum, please! Just open the door!

00:01:21My nails split down to the quick. Blood smeared the cracks. Still, nothing.

00:01:25Then his voice came through, flat and cold, without even a flicker of hesitation.

00:01:29Shut up. Your screaming is scaring Jenna. I'm not opening this door.

00:01:33You're useful in there, so stay there. Keep those monster snakes inside, even if they eat you alive.

00:01:38From the other side of the door, I could hear Jenna crying softly.

00:01:42Then came Callum's voice again, low and gentle, saying things he had never once said to me.

00:01:47You're safe. I've got you. Nothing is going to touch you. I promise.

00:01:52The lock turned. I will never forget that sound.

00:01:56I will never forget that sound. Callum had one arm around Jenna as he sealed me inside.

00:01:59He left me there to die in the dark, surrounded by serpents, and he never looked back.

00:02:04The pain was beyond anything I had words for.

00:02:07It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out, piece by piece, until even screaming became impossible.

00:02:11When I died, I drifted in silver light, endless, cold, and silent.

00:02:15There was nothing left of me but a thin thread of soul, too broken even to cry.

00:02:19Then a voice fell through the dark like a blade through silk, clear, ancient, and completely without warmth.

00:02:24Child of it, Moir, you died badly. What I offer is not mercy.

00:02:30It is a contract. Give me something, and I will give you what you want.

00:02:36I'll give up my face, my beauty in this life, all of it.

00:02:39In exchange, I want the Lunar Hunt Covenant, the Silver Sight, and one more life.

00:02:43Do you understand what it means to give up your face?

00:02:46I do. Last time, my beauty made it easy for them to use me.

00:02:49I don't need anyone to love my face. I just need to see clearly.

00:02:53Silver light crapped through me like lightning, and I was thrown back into the world of the living.

00:02:58When I opened my eyes, the hissing was gone. The air smelled of incense.

00:03:02I raised a hand to my face and felt it. A scar across my cheek.

00:03:05Faint silver light pulsing beneath it like a wire.

00:03:07It was the mark of the covenant. The price Artemis had carved into my skin.

00:03:11I was back. Back to the morning, Eleanor Hargreff came to beg.

00:03:15I stood in front of the mirror and traced the scar with my fingers.

00:03:18Then I smiled, but there was nothing warm left in it.

00:03:22I did not come back to love him.

00:03:25I came back from hell to collect what they owed me.

00:03:28One debt at a time.

00:03:36Rowena, please. I'm begging you. You have to save Callum.

00:03:40The old woman dropped to her knees in front of me, clutching the hem of my dress with both hands

00:03:44and crying like she had nothing left.

00:03:45The death mark carved into Callum's forehead was the final outbreak of decades of serpent resentment buried beneath the Hargrove

00:03:52state.

00:03:53As long as it stayed on him, the curse would keep spreading, and every Hargrove tied to this land by

00:03:59blood would carry the same death sentence.

00:04:02Only a Whitmore could even see the mark. Only a Whitmore could remove it.

00:04:07They needed me. That was a fact.

00:04:10But the only reason I was here was to take back what the Hargroves stole from us, the silver arrow

00:04:14of Whitmore.

00:04:15I stood over Eleanor, looking down at her shaking shoulders, and all I could think of was how she used

00:04:19to call me Sweetheart while she watched the flames swallow me alive.

00:04:23I slowly pulled my skirt out of her grip.

00:04:25I can't break the Hargrove curse.

00:04:26There was not a single trace of emotion in my voice.

00:04:29I did not owe her that much.

00:04:30Eleanor nor froze.

00:04:31The invitation in her hands crumbled at the edges.

00:04:33Then Callum walked in from the hallway.

00:04:35He was younger than I remembered.

00:04:36Sharper and more arrogant, with all that ugly pride still sitting right on the surface.

00:04:39His eyes swept over me and stopped on the scar crossing my face.

00:04:42For one second he went still.

00:04:45The scar was silver, winding across half my cheek and glowing faintly in the morning light.

00:04:49It did not look like an ordinary wound.

00:04:51It looked like something ancient had pressed itself into my skin and left its mark there.

00:04:54His disgust was almost impossible to miss.

00:04:56He turned his face away slightly like he could barely stand to look at it.

00:04:59I noticed.

00:05:00I said nothing.

00:05:02In my past life I had walked through this same door with an untouched face and he had smiled

00:05:06at me so beautifully.

00:05:07Every warm word had been perfectly calculated.

00:05:10Now that I had a scar, the mask slipped at once.

00:05:13That told me everything.

00:05:14He did not need a person.

00:05:16He needed a tool.

00:05:17And apparently he preferred his tools pretty.

00:05:19Callum stepped closer, his voice sharp with disbelief.

00:05:22What the hell is that supposed to mean?

00:05:24We came here in good faith and you won't even give us a reason?

00:05:28You're telling me one curse is too much for a Whitmore?

00:05:31He moved into my space like he was used to people backing down when he did.

00:05:34I only looked at him.

00:05:36Go ahead.

00:05:38Look down on me, Callum.

00:05:39You have no idea that the mark on your forehead is getting darker every day.

00:05:43And the only person in this entire world who can see it, the only one who can take it

00:05:48off you is standing right in front of you while you make that face at her.

00:05:51Eleanor started crying harder.

00:05:54Her hands shook as she pulled a heavy envelope from her coat.

00:05:58The wax seal bore an old dark gold crest.

00:06:01We have nowhere else to turn.

00:06:03Please, just look at this.

00:06:05For the sake of what our families once meant to each other.

00:06:09I almost did not bother.

00:06:11But the moment my eyes touched the seal, my silver sight flared.

00:06:15A pulse of silver light cut through the surface of the wax.

00:06:18And beneath it, clear and understakeable, was the trace of a Whitmore silver arrow.

00:06:25The silver arrow was the most sacred relic of the Whitmore bloodline.

00:06:29The Hargroves had stolen it from us, and it had been lost for generations.

00:06:36I only learned the truth as I was dying in my past life, when it was already too late to

00:06:41do anything about it.

00:06:42Now I knew exactly where it was.

00:06:45That was the real reason I would walk into Hargrove Hall.

00:06:48Not Callum.

00:06:49The arrow.

00:06:51Callum saw me take it, and his whole body relaxed.

00:06:54He lifted his chin slightly, satisfaction spreading across his face.

00:06:58He had already decided I was still hung up on him, that I had finally given in because

00:07:03of old feelings.

00:07:04Then he turned on that warm, reasonable voice.

00:07:07The one that used to make me believe every word.

00:07:10Good.

00:07:10All you have to do is come with us, and suppress the curse.

00:07:14Once I'm better, I'll make sure you're rewarded.

00:07:16The Hargroves take care of people who prove useful to us.

00:07:20He said it like he was doing me a favor, like I was something he could summon, use, and

00:07:25dismiss whenever it suited him.

00:07:27I looked at him slowly.

00:07:28The way you look at something that does not know it is already finished.

00:07:32I'm going to Hargrove Hall to take back what belongs to the Whitmore family.

00:07:36I was never doing this for you.

00:07:38The smile on his face died, died completely.

00:07:43The next morning, the man had everything packed before I came downstairs.

00:07:48Lady, the carriages are here.

00:07:49He was the boy the Whitmore family had taken in years ago.

00:07:53Quiet, precise, and so still that most people mistook him for cold.

00:07:57Since I came back, he was the only person who looked straight at the scar on my face without

00:08:01flinching or glancing away.

00:08:03Two Hargrove carriages were waiting outside.

00:08:06Eleanor had one to herself, and the other was meant for Callum and me.

00:08:09Jenna, who supposedly could not handle the mountain road, was supposed to have her own

00:08:13space.

00:08:14I was about to step into the second carriage when a voice cut across the courtyard.

00:08:18Wait!

00:08:19Callum, I want to ride with you!

00:08:20She ran toward us with her skirts gathered in both hands, her cheeks flushed and her eyes

00:08:25red at the rims, as if she had already been crying.

00:08:28She was the girl the Hargroves had taken in years ago, the orphan daughter of some distant

00:08:33relation.

00:08:33She had grown up inside the estate walls, right beside Callum.

00:08:37Everyone said she was sweet and innocent, the one person Callum protected more than anyone

00:08:41else.

00:08:42She had a white silk scarf in her hands.

00:08:45Before Callum could answer, she was already looping it around his neck and smoothing it down

00:08:49with both palms.

00:08:51The mountain road is freezing.

00:08:52I don't want you getting sick again.

00:08:53Callum did not move away from her hands.

00:08:56In my past life, I thought she was only being kind.

00:08:58This time, my silver sight caught the edge of the scarf the moment it touched him.

00:09:02Faint dark lines were woven into the silk, forming the exact pattern of a serpent mark.

00:09:06Callum did not see any of it.

00:09:08He was already brushing a loose strand of hair away from Jenna's face.

00:09:11Jenna turned to me with wide, apologetic eyes.

00:09:14Lady Rowena, I hope you don't mind.

00:09:15I won't take up much space.

00:09:16I promise.

00:09:17She did not wait for my answer.

00:09:19She climbed in ahead of me.

00:09:20I watched her settle beside Callum and push me toward the window seat without even looking

00:09:25at me.

00:09:26I said nothing.

00:09:27Jenna, last time I missed every move you made.

00:09:29This time I'm gonna watch every single one.

00:09:33The carriage wound its way up the wet cobblestone road towards the Hargraaf estate.

00:09:37There was barely enough room for two people to sit comfortably, and Jenna had made sure

00:09:41she stayed pressed against Callum for the entire ride.

00:09:45Every time the wheels hit a rough patch, she let out a soft, breathy sound and leaned into

00:09:49his shoulder.

00:09:49The timing was perfect, always within my line of sight, like a little performance stage just

00:09:54for me.

00:09:55Callum, I feel so dizzy.

00:09:56I can barely breathe.

00:09:58She twisted her fingers into the front of his shirt, lifting her eyes just enough to catch

00:10:02the light, looking soft and helpless and miserable.

00:10:05In my past life, watching this would have made me want to shrink into myself and disappear.

00:10:10Now I only sat still and watched her work.

00:10:12Callum noticed me looking.

00:10:14His expression hardened at once.

00:10:15He tightened his arm around Jenna and turned his face away from me, like even the air on

00:10:19my side of the carriage disgusted him.

00:10:21Rowena, stop staring.

00:10:22Jenna is kind and gentle, not that you would know anything about that.

00:10:25And stop using that face to scare her.

00:10:26Jenna reached over and touched his arm gently.

00:10:28Callum, don't.

00:10:30Lady Rowena probably doesn't mean it.

00:10:32She knows exactly what she's doing.

00:10:33She's had it out for you since the moment she saw you.

00:10:36Maybe she just doesn't like me.

00:10:38It's alright, I'm used to it.

00:10:39That is her problem, not yours.

00:10:41I don't care what she thinks.

00:10:42I did not answer.

00:10:43In my past life, that exchange would have hollowed me out for days.

00:10:47Now I only filed it away.

00:10:48Every word, every dismissal.

00:10:50I was keeping track.

00:10:52At the same time, through the silver sight, I could see what was really happening.

00:10:55Dark energy was seeping from the coral bracelet on Jenna's wrist, winding along Callum's

00:11:00collar and pushing inch by inch into the skin at the back of his neck.

00:11:04She was not dizzy.

00:11:05She was feeding the serpent.

00:11:06Callum, the sweet, innocent girl you're so desperate to protect, is poisoning you right

00:11:11now, and you're holding her tighter.

00:11:12He pulled her closer and pressed his cheek against the top of her head, completely blind.

00:11:18By midday, the carriages stopped in front of the Hargreth family's main residence.

00:11:22This was not Hargreth Hall.

00:11:24Not the old estate with the serpent gate buried beneath it.

00:11:27The hall stood deeper inside the grounds, behind a locked inner courtyard that almost never

00:11:31opened.

00:11:31This was only where the family lived.

00:11:33When Jenna stepped down from the carriage, she grabbed the doorbrain, her face going pale,

00:11:37and sagged into Callum's side.

00:11:39I'm fine.

00:11:40Just cold.

00:11:41My legs feel strange.

00:11:42Callum wrapped an arm around her at once.

00:11:44The look he sent me over her shoulder made it clear that somehow this was supposed to

00:11:48be my fault.

00:11:48We passed through the front entrance hall.

00:11:50The moment we crossed the threshold, my silver sight erupted.

00:11:54Dark serpent energy crawled across every wall and ceiling, coiling and shifting like something

00:11:59alive.

00:11:59It hulged at anyone with Hargreth blood, then recoiled the second it touched the silver light

00:12:04of my mark, shrieking back into the cracks.

00:12:07Jenna was walking ahead.

00:12:08I watched her cross the threshold, and I saw the exact moment her shoe came down on the protection

00:12:14line hidden beneath the doorframe.

00:12:16It was not an accident.

00:12:17The movement was too precise.

00:12:19The line snapped.

00:12:20The energy that had been held down broke loose all at once, and a wave of freezing air tore down

00:12:25the corridor like a blade.

00:12:27Oh God!

00:12:28Help me!

00:12:29She stumbled backwards straight into his arms, clean and practiced, like a stage fall.

00:12:34Callum caught her without even looking.

00:12:35One arm locked across her chest, and his first words were for me.

00:12:38Rowena!

00:12:40What the hell are you doing just standing there?

00:12:43You're a Whitmore!

00:12:45You're supposed to handle this!

00:12:48If Jenna gets hurt because of you, I swear you'll answer for it.

00:12:52I raised one hand, a silver seal dropped across the corridor, and the serpent energy shrank

00:12:57back into the walls.

00:12:58The hallway went still.

00:13:00I looked at Callum.

00:13:02You're welcome.

00:13:03I let the silence stretch for a moment.

00:13:05Then I lowered my gaze to the broken line on the floor, before slowly lifting my eyes

00:13:09to Jenna's shoes.

00:13:11You might want to ask how that line broke in the first place.

00:13:14Callum's brow tightened.

00:13:16In his arms, Jenna's eyes filled with tears at once.

00:13:19Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at him, as if she was the one being attacked.

00:13:22Callum looked between us and clenched his jaw.

00:13:25What exactly are you accusing her of?

00:13:27Nothing.

00:13:28Just giving you advice.

00:13:30While you're in this house, pay attention to what's right in front of you.

00:13:33Then I walked toward the sitting room without looking back.

00:13:40When we settled into the sitting room, Eleanor came in herself with a tray of peach blossom

00:13:44tea.

00:13:45Steam curled slowly from each cup.

00:13:47You must be exhausted after that ride, sweetheart.

00:13:50I made this myself.

00:13:51Drink it while it's hot.

00:13:53It will calm your nerves.

00:13:55She had the warmth turned all the way on.

00:13:57Deep smile lines, a gentle voice, every inch the loving grandmother.

00:14:00Jenna sat beside Callum.

00:14:02She picked up his cup first, blew on it softly, and placed it in his hands.

00:14:05Drink it while it's hot.

00:14:07It'll warm you up.

00:14:08In my past life, I fell for all of it.

00:14:10I drank the tea, and by nightfall my silver sight was almost blind.

00:14:14The poison had worked slowly and silently the whole time.

00:14:17When I tried to suppress the serpents that night, I kept making the wrong calls, and one

00:14:21of them tore my palm open.

00:14:22I burned with fever for three days straight.

00:14:24And Jenna had been there the entire time, smiling sweetly as she added a spoonful of

00:14:28sugar to my cup.

00:14:29Something sweet makes everything less bitter, Lady Rowena.

00:14:32This time, I looked into my cup through the silver sight.

00:14:34The tea should have been pale amber, but beneath the surface it was deep crimson.

00:14:38Something small and dark moved along the bottom.

00:14:40I picked up the cup and drank most of it.

00:14:42I let none of it touch me.

00:14:44Under the cover of my sleeve, I pressed two fingers to my wrist and sealed my throat and

00:14:48chest with a silver seal.

00:14:50The poison slammed into the barrier and thrashed like a trapped thing, but it got nowhere.

00:14:54Jenna kept her eyes on my face the whole time.

00:14:56She was waiting for my gaze to blur, waiting for the sight to go dark.

00:15:00When I set the cup down, breathing evenly and looking straight back at her, I saw the corner

00:15:04of her smile crack.

00:15:06Just a twitch.

00:15:07Just one second.

00:15:08But it was there.

00:15:09Lucien picked up his own cup, gave it one slow sniff, then turned and poured the whole

00:15:14thing into the planter beside his chair.

00:15:16Too sweet.

00:15:17Hides the taste of rot.

00:15:19Eleanor's expression flickered.

00:15:21Calatin's eyes sharpened.

00:15:22My grandmother made that tea herself.

00:15:24You want to explain what the hell you're doing?

00:15:26I just did.

00:15:27Lucien looked at him calmly.

00:15:29Callum's face turned ugly.

00:15:30He was about to snap back when Jenna laid a hand on his arm.

00:15:33Callum, don't.

00:15:34We asked them to come here.

00:15:35It's fine, really.

00:15:36She said it in that soft, peacemaking voice.

00:15:39But as she lifted her own cup back to her lips, her eyes slid sideways to me, patient,

00:15:45calculating, waiting to see something that was never going to happen.

00:15:48I looked at her and said nothing.

00:15:50Jenna, I'm just getting started.

00:15:52Next time, I'll make sure you see it coming.

00:15:57The welcome dinner that night was exactly the kind of show the Hargroves loved to put

00:16:00on.

00:16:01Candles stretched down the table.

00:16:03Silver gleamed at every place setting, and there was more food than anyone could finish.

00:16:07Jenna sat to Callum's left, cutting her food with careful, effortless grace.

00:16:11Then she set down her knife, turned to me, and spoke in the softest, most concerned voice

00:16:15she had.

00:16:16Ladies, Rowena, I've been meaning to ask you something.

00:16:19With a scar like that on your face, do people avoid you when you go out?

00:16:23You must feel so lonely.

00:16:25I can't even imagine.

00:16:27Perfectly worded, perfectly gentle, loud enough for every servant in the room to hear.

00:16:31I held my knife and fork and did not respond.

00:16:34Jenna, don't say it like that.

00:16:36She's a guest.

00:16:37You'll embarrass her.

00:16:37In my past life, I had actually been grateful for that.

00:16:41I thought he was standing up for me.

00:16:42Now I could see it clearly.

00:16:44He did not care whether I was humiliated.

00:16:46He just needed me to walk into that hall tomorrow night, and a scene at dinner would make things

00:16:50harder.

00:16:51That sentence was for him, not for me.

00:16:54Jenna's face crumpled at once.

00:16:56Her eyes filled.

00:16:57I didn't mean it that way.

00:16:58I was worried about her.

00:17:00Callum, why are you making it sound like I did something wrong?

00:17:03Her voice broke on the last word.

00:17:04Two tears slipped down her face.

00:17:06And just like that, Callum changed.

00:17:09The hardness left him, and his voice turned low and gentle.

00:17:13I know you didn't.

00:17:14I'm sorry.

00:17:16I shouldn't have said it like that.

00:17:18Lucian set down his silverware.

00:17:20I have a question.

00:17:21Is this how the Hargroves treat guests they begged for help?

00:17:24Every sound at the table stopped.

00:17:26Jenna's tears paused mid-fall.

00:17:29Callum's head snapped up, and the look he gave Lucian was full of real anger.

00:17:33Who the hell do you think you are?

00:17:34Nobody asked for your opinion.

00:17:36Lucian did not move.

00:17:37He only held Callum's gaze and took his time answering.

00:17:40I came with Lady Whitmore.

00:17:41As long as she is here, I have every right to speak.

00:17:45Callum pressed one hand flat against the edge of the table.

00:17:47His jaw tightened, and his face went pale with fury.

00:17:50Rowena, control your people.

00:17:52I set my wineglass down slowly and looked at him.

00:17:55He's right.

00:17:56Callum, I came because your family begged me to save you.

00:17:58I did not come here to be insulted at your dinner table.

00:18:01If you can't understand the difference, I don't need to enter that hall tomorrow.

00:18:05I can leave tonight.

00:18:07Silence fell over the room.

00:18:08Then Callum exhaled through his nose, forced down his anger and ground out the words like

00:18:12they hurt.

00:18:13After dinner, I'll have Chester bring out the legacy book.

00:18:16I picked up my wineglass again and said nothing.

00:18:21Dinner ended, and I asked for the Hargro legacy book, the family's hand-print record dating

00:18:25back to 1840.

00:18:26It dorted how the serpent gate was first sealed and why.

00:18:29If the silver arrow was hidden somewhere on these grounds, there would be a trace of it

00:18:32in those pages.

00:18:34Callum's face tightened at once.

00:18:37It's a dusty old record book.

00:18:39You're here to deal with the curse, not dig through our family history.

00:18:43If I'm going to suppress what's down there, I need to know what caused it.

00:18:46The answer is in that book.

00:18:47Is that too hard for you to understand?

00:18:48He opened his mouth to argue, and Jenna let out a sharp little cry.

00:18:51Her elbow caught the wine bottle at the edge of the table.

00:18:53It tipped over and spilled half its contents across the tablecloth in a dark red wave.

00:18:56Servants rushed forward, and the moment broke apart.

00:18:59I'm so sorry.

00:19:00I'm so sorry.

00:19:01My hands are so shaky tonight.

00:19:02Callum leaned over and took her hands in his, checking them with a deep frown.

00:19:06You didn't cut yourself.

00:19:07It's just a bottle.

00:19:08It doesn't matter.

00:19:09Then he looked at me sideways, contempt clear in his eyes.

00:19:12All this over one old book?

00:19:13Did you really have to push that hard and scare her like that?

00:19:16What is this, an interrogation?

00:19:18I was not looking at him.

00:19:19The silver sight, I watched dark serpent energy pour from Jenna's sleeve and curl around

00:19:24the cabinet where the legacy book was kept like a hand pressing the door shut.

00:19:28She had not dropped the bottle because her hands were unsteady.

00:19:32She had dropped it to keep that cabinet closed.

00:19:33I raised one hand, a silver seal shot across the room and pinned the serpent energy flat

00:19:37against the cabinet doors.

00:19:39Jenna went white.

00:19:40Lucian walked to the cabinet, opened it without asking, and looked calmly at Chester in the

00:19:43corner.

00:19:43Chester, bring out the legacy book.

00:19:45Chester hesitated.

00:19:46Then he lowered his head, took the yellowed leather volume of a wooden box inside the

00:19:49cabinet, and held it out with both hands.

00:19:50I took it and opened it.

00:19:51I caught sight of the serpent brand running along the edge of Chester's sleeve.

00:19:54I filed it away.

00:19:57The first several pages of the legacy book had been cut out.

00:20:00Clean cuts.

00:20:01Blade cuts.

00:20:02Nothing old about them.

00:20:04Callum glanced over and dismissed it without missing a bead.

00:20:06It's a 150-year-old book.

00:20:08Pages go missing.

00:20:09That's not suspicious.

00:20:10That's time.

00:20:11Jenna stepped in right on cue.

00:20:14Exactly.

00:20:15Lady Rowena, the Hargroves have been a respectable family for generations.

00:20:19There's nothing to hide here.

00:20:20Don't you think you're reading too much into this?

00:20:22I ignored them both and bent over the torn edges, looking through the silver sight.

00:20:26There it was, buried in the yellowed fringe, the faint silver glow of dried Whitmore blood,

00:20:30ancient and thin.

00:20:31Tangled through it was the serpent energy from the bracelet on Jenna's wrist, the exact

00:20:35same signature.

00:20:36She was the one who had cut out those pages, which meant she had known about the silver

00:20:39arrow all along.

00:20:41I was about to speak when the death mark on Callum's forehead split open.

00:20:45Serpent energy burst through his veins all at once, and the whole study shook.

00:20:49From deep inside Hargrove Hall came a low, grinding sound, like something massive turning in its

00:20:55sleep.

00:20:56Callum's legs buckled.

00:20:57He caught the edge of a shelf, his face white, his teeth clenched, his breath coming

00:21:01in sharp pulls.

00:21:02Eleanor rushed across the room and grabbed my arm.

00:21:05Rowena, please, go tonight.

00:21:07You're the only one who can stop it.

00:21:09Please.

00:21:10I closed the legacy book.

00:21:12I'll enter Hargrove Hall tonight.

00:21:13But I'm going to question the serpent, not break the curse.

00:21:16Get that straight now.

00:21:17Then I turned to Jenna.

00:21:19My voice stayed calm, but every person in the room heard me one more thing.

00:21:22During the ritual tonight, Jenna does not come anywhere near the main hall.

00:21:24Her energy is corrupt.

00:21:25If she gets close, she'll provoke what's down there, and the entire formation will collapse.

00:21:29This is not a request.

00:21:30It's a condition.

00:21:31The study went completely silent.

00:21:33Jenna blinked.

00:21:35Then her head lowered, and tears rolled down her face without a sound.

00:21:40Callum pushed himself up from the shelf, still pale and tight with pain, and turned on

00:21:44me at once.

00:21:45On what grounds?

00:21:47Jenna came all this way because she was worried about me.

00:21:49You don't get to throw her out in the cold just because you hate her!

00:21:51On the grounds that if I walk in tonight, you live.

00:21:58Callum stayed quiet, but it was not over.

00:22:00He steadied himself against the shelf and started again a few seconds later.

00:22:04Even if you have to enter the hall tonight, that does not give you the right to leave

00:22:07Jenna outside alone.

00:22:08She scares easily.

00:22:10What if something happens and you are not there?

00:22:11Are you going to take responsibility for that?

00:22:13Jenna's tears fell faster, but she still reached out and grabbed Callum's sleeve with

00:22:16both hands.

00:22:17Callum, please don't fight with Lady Rowena.

00:22:19This is my fault.

00:22:19I shouldn't have come.

00:22:21You go in and let her do what she needs to do.

00:22:22Don't worry about me.

00:22:23I'll wait outside.

00:22:24I just want you safe.

00:22:25That's all I want.

00:22:26Every word landed exactly where she wanted it to.

00:22:29Callum's chest rose and fell hard.

00:22:31Then he turned all that anger on me.

00:22:33You hear that?

00:22:35She's willing to stand out there alone in the dark just to make things easier for you.

00:22:38What kind of person are you?

00:22:40Jenna stays by the door tonight.

00:22:42No one is stopping her.

00:22:43I looked at them without anger.

00:22:45I was not even surprised.

00:22:47This was the same performance they had put on in my past life.

00:22:51Jenna cried, Callum exploded, and every bit of blame in the room landed on me while they

00:22:55clung to each other.

00:22:56Perfectly timed.

00:22:58Perfectly practiced.

00:23:00I turned toward Hargrim Hall and spoke without looking back.

00:23:05Fine.

00:23:06Then keep your eyes open tonight.

00:23:10Whatever happens, don't come crying to me.

00:23:14Behind me, I heard Callum murmur to Jenna.

00:23:18You're okay.

00:23:19I'm right here.

00:23:20I walked into the dark of Hargmite Hall without turning around.

00:23:23I already knew he would open that door for her when the time came.

00:23:26And the harder he fought to protect her tonight, the worse the backlash would hit him.

00:23:31Midnight.

00:23:32The main hall of Hargrave Hall.

00:23:34The wind howled through the walls like something was trying to claw its way out.

00:23:37The old chandelier swung overhead, its candles throwing long, crooked shadows across the room.

00:23:43The estate had gone still, except for the dull shiver that rolled up from beneath the floor every few minutes.

00:23:48Whatever had been sleeping down there was starting to wake.

00:23:50I stood in the center of the hall and focused.

00:23:53Whitmore blood ignited in my veins.

00:23:55Silver seals poured out of me in rings, spreading across the floor like a net of cold light, pressing the

00:24:01serpent energy back into the walls and stone.

00:24:04Building a formation like this burned through everything I had.

00:24:07Power, focus, and sheer will.

00:24:10But I did not let it show.

00:24:12My hands were steady.

00:24:14My face was calm.

00:24:17Callum stood on the far side of the formation, supported by the old butler.

00:24:21The death mark on his forehead pulsed blood red in the silver light.

00:24:25He was shaking, yet he still looked at me like he was doing me a favor by letting me help.

00:24:30How sure are you about this?

00:24:32I did not look at him, sure enough.

00:24:34A pause.

00:24:35I need more than questions.

00:24:36I need the death mark gone completely.

00:24:38Can you actually do that?

00:24:40I turned and looked at him properly for the first time.

00:24:43Callum, the only reason I'm standing in this room is because the silver arrow is here.

00:24:48Not because of you.

00:24:49Whether that mark comes off at all depends on whether the Hargroves start paying what they owe the Whitmans.

00:24:56We can discuss that later.

00:24:57He wanted to argue.

00:24:59Then the death mark tore at him again.

00:25:01And the sound that left his throat was not one he meant to make.

00:25:04He swallowed it down hard.

00:25:06Palm up.

00:25:07Catch the light from the core of the formation.

00:25:09Whatever you hear, whatever you see, do not move.

00:25:12This creature follows Hargrove blood.

00:25:14If you move, the backlash will bury you and I will not be able to pull you out.

00:25:16Callum raised his trembling right hand.

00:25:19This time, he said nothing.

00:25:22The last seal fell into place.

00:25:24The stone floor cracked with a deep, grinding boom that rose through the soles of my feet.

00:25:30The eternal flame in its copper lamp guttled until it was almost gone and the temperature dropped.

00:25:36So fast it felt like the walls themselves were breathing out ice.

00:25:39The floor began to shake in small, rapid tremors.

00:25:43White mist bled up through the cracks, spreading low and thick across the ground, catching the faint silver light of

00:25:49my formation.

00:25:51Then, from the center of the mist, she came.

00:25:56A thousand-year-old serpent, white as bone, as large as a river dragon, with golden-slit eyes burning in

00:26:03the dark like two cold fires.

00:26:05Decades of rage, grief, and imprisonment moved through the air around her, like a physical force.

00:26:13The servants screamed.

00:26:16Eleanor collapsed to her knees.

00:26:18Callum made a sound he probably did not mean to make, as the death mark nearly tore itself open under

00:26:24the pressure of her presence.

00:26:27But when those golden eyes swept across the hall and found me, they stopped.

00:26:32She recognized something.

00:26:34The covenant.

00:26:36The silver light around me.

00:26:38Something older than her rage.

00:26:41Althea went still in a way she had not been still in years.

00:26:45Then she lowered her slowly, all the way to my feet.

00:26:49A low, grieving sound came from her throat, like a creature finally standing before the person it had been waiting

00:26:55for.

00:26:56No one in the room could speak.

00:26:58Callum's breathing was loud, raggled, and stunned.

00:27:01He had spent his whole life under the shadow of what she had done to his family.

00:27:06He had never expected to see her bow.

00:27:08I crouched and touched her scales.

00:27:11They were cold, smooth, and faintly luminous.

00:27:15Althea, I need to ask you something.

00:27:17The silver arrow.

00:27:19The one taken from the Whitmore family a hundred years ago and brought into this estate.

00:27:22Where is it?

00:27:23Her whole body convulsed.

00:27:25She reared halfway up, her great tail striking the stone floor.

00:27:29As she pointed deeper into the estate.

00:27:32Somewhere farther in.

00:27:34One more step.

00:27:35One answer.

00:27:37That was all it would have taken.

00:27:40That was when the screaming started outside the hall doors.

00:27:43Callum!

00:27:44Callum, help me!

00:27:45It's going to eat me!

00:27:46Please!

00:27:47Every note was perfectly pitched.

00:27:48Every word landed right at the weakest seam of the ritual.

00:27:52I did not move.

00:27:53But Althea's head snapped up, and her golden eyes flooded red.

00:27:57I turned to Callum.

00:27:59Do you remember what I told you earlier tonight?

00:28:01His hand had already curled into a fist.

00:28:04Something broke behind his eyes when he heard Jenna's voice.

00:28:07He stared at the door, throat working, and then he ran.

00:28:11Callum!

00:28:12That's Jenna!

00:28:13I don't care!

00:28:14He threw the doors open.

00:28:16Jenna crashed into him from the other side, shaking, soaked with tears, and buried her

00:28:20face in his chest.

00:28:21I was so scared.

00:28:23I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

00:28:25I needed to see you.

00:28:27That thing is terrifying, Callum.

00:28:28I couldn't stay out there.

00:28:29The second her foot crossed the threshold, Serpent Energy burst free from her coral bracelet.

00:28:35It came in a dark, thick wave, carrying a resonance, that matched Althea's imprisoned resentment.

00:28:44Frequency for frequency.

00:28:46A signal going both ways.

00:28:50Althea felt it.

00:28:52The red in her eyes deepened.

00:28:54Her scales lifted all across her body, as she rose higher.

00:28:59And the sound she made was no longer grief.

00:29:03I stood still with my hands behind my back.

00:29:05In my past life, I had thrown myself in front of that rage.

00:29:09I took all of it so they would not have to.

00:29:12Afterward, I burned with fever for three days and nearly died twice before the fever broke.

00:29:16When I woke up, Callum stood beside my bed with Jenna at his side and said,

00:29:20She needs me more than you do.

00:29:21You're tough.

00:29:22You'll be fine on your own.

00:29:24This time, I breathed out slowly and quietly, and I let it happen.

00:29:32Althea hit them like a wave, smashing into a wall.

00:29:35The formation shattered.

00:29:37The eternal flame died.

00:29:40The silver seals cracked all at once.

00:29:43With a sound like breaking ice.

00:29:45And the core of the ritual collapsed.

00:29:49The whole hall convulsed.

00:29:54Callum was thrown backward and slammed into the offering table, hard enough to knock it over.

00:29:59He hit the ground, coughing blood.

00:30:02Jenna went down beside him, white-faced, with blood at the corner of her mouth.

00:30:08The ground shook.

00:30:11Serpent Heeks rose from every crack in the stone, growing louder and closer.

00:30:18If the formation stayed broken, the serpents under the estate would come up through the floor.

00:30:25Everyone in this house would die.

00:30:28That included me and Lucien.

00:30:31I pressed my fingers together, like a blade, and cut across my own palm.

00:30:39Silver blood fell onto the extinguished flame.

00:30:42The fire came back like an explosion.

00:30:45Three feet of silver flame roared up from the lamp.

00:30:49Flooding the hall in cold light, Althema hit that light and went rigid.

00:30:54The red drained from her eyes.

00:30:56She lowered herself to the floor, pressed her head against my feet, and went still.

00:31:03Breathing, slow and deep.

00:31:06Like something finally put to rest.

00:31:08The hall went quiet.

00:31:13Then Callum dragged himself up from the floor with one arm around Jenna.

00:31:18He looked across the ruined hall at me.

00:31:20Standing in the silver light with blood, still running down my wrist.

00:31:24For one moment, he just stared.

00:31:27Then he opened his mouth.

00:31:29Rowena!

00:31:30You could control that thing the whole time!

00:31:32So why the hell did you just stand there and let it go after Jenna?

00:31:35What is wrong with you?

00:31:38What sick game are you playing?

00:31:41He said it like he was the victim.

00:31:44Like he was not the one who had opened that door, after a direct warning.

00:31:48Like I was not standing in front of him, bleeding to hold the ritual together.

00:31:54I looked down at my palm.

00:31:56The silver blood was already slowing.

00:31:59I did not answer him.

00:32:01In Callum's arms, too quietly for him to notice.

00:32:04Jenna lifted her head.

00:32:06Her face was wet.

00:32:07Her hair a mess.

00:32:09Tears still drying on her cheeks.

00:32:10But from an angle he could not see, the corner of her mouth curved.

00:32:15Less than a second.

00:32:16I caught every bit of it.

00:32:18I almost wanted to laugh.

00:32:19It was the same in this life as it had been in the last.

00:32:23Jenna worked in the dark.

00:32:24Soft and sweet and untouchable.

00:32:27And Callum, righteous, devoted, completely blind Callum,

00:32:31picked up every knife she left behind and walked it straight into me.

00:32:35Except this time, I was not the one bleeding out on the floor.

00:32:39This time, I was the one still standing.

00:32:45I stood in the ruined hall.

00:32:48The cold serpent energy still lingering in the air like frost on my skin.

00:32:55Callum's accusation hung between us.

00:32:58Sharp and accusatory.

00:33:00I didn't rush to defend myself.

00:33:03Instead, I raised my hand and let the silver seat flare.

00:33:10Silver light swept over Jenna,

00:33:13amplifying the dark serpent patterns twisting on her coral bracelet.

00:33:17They projected clearly onto the wall,

00:33:20rivaling like living shadows.

00:33:25The exact energy that had provoked Althea.

00:33:28The servants gasp.

00:33:30Eleanor's face drained of color.

00:33:33Jenna's expression crumpled as she threw herself into Callum's arms,

00:33:37sobbing violently.

00:33:39Callum, I don't know what that is.

00:33:41I really don't.

00:33:44Did Lady Rowish do this on purpose to scare me?

00:33:48Callum pulled her tighter,

00:33:50his voice rising in fury as he glared at me.

00:33:54Rowena, enough!

00:33:56You already hurt her tonight,

00:33:58and now you want to humiliate her in front of everyone?

00:34:01The disbelief hit me hard.

00:34:03Evidence right in front of him,

00:34:05and still he chose her.

00:34:06Lucian stepped to my side,

00:34:08his voice like ice.

00:34:09Are you blind?

00:34:11Or has your brain rotted too?

00:34:12You have no right to speak here!

00:34:14I held Lucian back with a hand on his arm.

00:34:16No need to argue with him.

00:34:17Serpent energy recognizes its own,

00:34:18and so does Althea.

00:34:19Callum, you can keep pretending not to see it,

00:34:21but the formation collapsed tonight

00:34:22because you opened that door yourself.

00:34:23Callum's face stiffened.

00:34:24Jenna cried even harder.

00:34:26I turned away from them,

00:34:27crouching beside Althea,

00:34:28and placing my hand on her head.

00:34:29The great white serpent calmed under my touch,

00:34:30lowering her head like a tamed beast.

00:34:32Everyone saw it.

00:34:32The serpents didn't fear me.

00:34:33They feared the Hargrove.

00:34:37Lucian helped me back to my room.

00:34:39The cut in my palms still seeped silver blood,

00:34:42and the Lunarn Hunt scar on my face burned.

00:34:45Every use of the Covenant reminded me of the price I had paid.

00:34:49My face for this power.

00:34:51Lucian banded the wound with careful hands,

00:34:54his touch gentle,

00:34:56as if afraid to break me.

00:34:58Don't cut so deep next time.

00:34:59If I hadn't, this entire estate

00:35:02would have collapsed tonight.

00:35:04That's not your burden alone to carry.

00:35:06I looked up at him.

00:35:08He met my eyes steadily,

00:35:10never flinching from the scar,

00:35:13only seeing me.

00:35:14After my re-rebirth,

00:35:16I had accepted

00:35:16that trading my beauty

00:35:19meant no man would love me again.

00:35:21Others saw fear or disgust first,

00:35:24but Lucian never did.

00:35:26I pulled my hand away,

00:35:27my voice turning cold.

00:35:30Don't be too good to me.

00:35:32I don't need it.

00:35:33Whether you need it is your business.

00:35:36Whether I do it is mine.

00:35:38Footsteps sounded outside.

00:35:40Callum stood in the doorway,

00:35:42his face dark.

00:35:44Seeing Lubian holding my hand

00:35:46made his expression twist with jealousy.

00:35:50So you have time for your servant

00:35:51to fawn him over you.

00:35:53I smiled coldly.

00:35:54At least he knows who was bleeding.

00:35:57Unlike some people,

00:35:58who only held the real culvert

00:36:00while accusing me.

00:36:02Callum's face darkened further.

00:36:04Tomorrow morning,

00:36:05you're coming with me

00:36:06to the family cemetery.

00:36:07I need to know why this serpent

00:36:09clings to the Hargroves.

00:36:11Fine.

00:36:12But Jenna stays behind.

00:36:14You're meddling too much.

00:36:15I said nothing.

00:36:18I knew Jenna would come anyway.

00:36:22Jenna appeared the next day,

00:36:25wrapped in a pale cloak,

00:36:26looking frail as she clung

00:36:28to Callum's side.

00:36:31Callum,

00:36:32I can't let you go alone.

00:36:34Let me come.

00:36:35I promise I won't cause trouble.

00:36:38Callum glanced at me,

00:36:40waiting for protest.

00:36:42I stayed silent.

00:36:44Let her.

00:36:45The closer she gets to the truth,

00:36:47the faster her mask slips.

00:36:50Jenna's eyes flickered

00:36:51before she looked down.

00:36:53We reached the Hargrove Cemetery,

00:36:55where serpent energy

00:36:56coiled around every grave.

00:36:59My silver sight revealed snake bones

00:37:01pressed beneath each male

00:37:03Hargrove tombstone.

00:37:05This was no simple curse.

00:37:06It was a betrayal.

00:37:08What do you see?

00:37:10Your family wasn't cursed by serpents.

00:37:13You used them first,

00:37:14then betrayed them.

00:37:18Jenna suddenly cried out

00:37:20and stumbled,

00:37:21her hand landing precisely

00:37:22on a formation node.

00:37:24Serpent energy erupted.

00:37:28Callum rushed to her.

00:37:31Jenna!

00:37:32I saw dark energy flash

00:37:33between her fingers.

00:37:35In my past life,

00:37:37I thought it was an accident.

00:37:41Now I knew better.

00:37:43Lucian stepped in front of me,

00:37:45and the underground bones

00:37:46recoiled from him,

00:37:48as if terrified.

00:37:50A question stirred in my mind.

00:37:55Who exactly was Lucian?

00:37:58Jenna clung to Callum,

00:38:01claiming her legs

00:38:01had simply given out.

00:38:03He held her protectively,

00:38:05but turned on me in anger.

00:38:09You knew it was dangerous here!

00:38:11Why didn't you clear it first?

00:38:15Did you see her step on the node?

00:38:17Callum paused.

00:38:19Jenna lifted her tear-stripped face.

00:38:23Lady Rowena,

00:38:24I know you dislike me,

00:38:26but I didn't touch any node.

00:38:28I was just scared.

00:38:31Callum's gaze softened

00:38:32toward her immediately.

00:38:35Rowena, enough.

00:38:37Stop pinning everything on her!

00:38:39I didn't argue.

00:38:41I extracted the serpent energy

00:38:43from her palm

00:38:45and held it suspended in the air,

00:38:48a writhling black thread

00:38:50trying to return to her sleeve.

00:38:53Jenna paled.

00:38:56Still need an explanation?

00:38:59Callum saw it.

00:39:00Everyone did.

00:39:02But after a moment,

00:39:03he muttered,

00:39:05Maybe the node

00:39:06latched onto her.

00:39:07I laughed bitterly.

00:39:09In my past life,

00:39:10I thought he was blind.

00:39:11Now I realized he saw.

00:39:13He just refused to admit it.

00:39:15Lucian spoke softly behind me.

00:39:18He doesn't deserve

00:39:19a single word from you.

00:39:20His words eased

00:39:21some of the cold weight

00:39:22in my chest.

00:39:24I turned back to the graves.

00:39:27Keep digging.

00:39:29Jenna's desperation

00:39:30to interrupt means

00:39:32there's something important

00:39:33down there.

00:39:36I used silver blood

00:39:37on the tombstone.

00:39:40A fragment of memory rose.

00:39:43Centuries ago,

00:39:44Althea had willingly

00:39:45guarded the Hargroves,

00:39:47shielding them

00:39:48and even giving her

00:39:49white scales as a token.

00:39:51They repaid her

00:39:52by stabbing her

00:39:53with the stolen silver arrow

00:39:54while she slept,

00:39:55turning her into a living lock

00:39:57for the serpent gate.

00:39:59She was no monster.

00:40:02She was a betrayed protector.

00:40:04When the vision faded,

00:40:07Callum looked grim.

00:40:09I expected him

00:40:10to ask about Althea.

00:40:12Instead,

00:40:13If she's the living lock,

00:40:16she can still hold

00:40:17the gate, right?

00:40:19I turned slowly,

00:40:21anger flaring.

00:40:23That's all you take

00:40:24from this?

00:40:26The Hog family

00:40:27cannot fall.

00:40:29I need to know

00:40:30how to save it.

00:40:31His selfishness

00:40:32drained even my rage.

00:40:34In my past life,

00:40:35my pain,

00:40:36my blood,

00:40:36my life had only

00:40:37ever been tools to him.

00:40:39Jenna squeezed

00:40:40his hand gently.

00:40:42Callum,

00:40:42you're just worried

00:40:43about the family.

00:40:44Lady Rowena

00:40:45wouldn't understand

00:40:45your burden.

00:40:46Her voice was soft,

00:40:48but her eyes smiled.

00:40:50Lucian's hand

00:40:50tightened on his sword hilt.

00:40:52Don't rush.

00:40:53Let them dig

00:40:54their own graves deeper.

00:40:57The filthier

00:40:58their words now,

00:40:59the cleaner

00:41:00the reckoning later.

00:41:03Later,

00:41:04Jenna sought me

00:41:05out alone.

00:41:07Her gentle mask

00:41:08dropped completely

00:41:09as she leaned

00:41:11against a cord's

00:41:11allure,

00:41:12twisting her

00:41:13coral bracelet.

00:41:14You must feel

00:41:15so smug right now,

00:41:17making Callum

00:41:18look bad,

00:41:18making everyone

00:41:20doubt me,

00:41:21enjoying yourself.

00:41:23It's nowhere near

00:41:24as entertaining

00:41:26as you feeding serpents

00:41:28while playing

00:41:30the helpless victim.

00:41:31She laughed,

00:41:33her eyes turning venomous.

00:41:34You're much smarter

00:41:35than last time.

00:41:36So you remember too?

00:41:39Jenna didn't answer

00:41:41directly.

00:41:43She stroked

00:41:44the bracelet.

00:41:47Whether I remember

00:41:48doesn't matter.

00:41:49Callum will always

00:41:51believe me.

00:41:52you can shove

00:41:53proof in his face

00:41:54and he'll still

00:41:55make excuses for me.

00:41:57Her words cut deep,

00:41:59laced with malice.

00:42:01Look at you.

00:42:02Traded your face

00:42:03for power

00:42:05and still

00:42:06no one loves you.

00:42:08How pathetic.

00:42:10You think I still

00:42:11want Callum's love?

00:42:12Jenna stepped closer,

00:42:13lowering her voice.

00:42:14Of course you do.

00:42:16Once a woman

00:42:17has been loved,

00:42:17she always

00:42:19craves it back.

00:42:20You're just

00:42:21pretending to be

00:42:21clear-headed now.

00:42:23She reached

00:42:24toward my scar.

00:42:25Lucian emerged

00:42:26from the shadows

00:42:26and seized her wrist.

00:42:27Touch her again

00:42:28and I'll cut off

00:42:29your hand.

00:42:31Jenna winced

00:42:32in pain,

00:42:33but quickly shifted

00:42:34to a pitiful expression

00:42:35as Callum's

00:42:36foot stems

00:42:36approached.

00:42:38Callum!

00:42:39He's trying

00:42:40to kill me!

00:42:46I only wanted

00:42:47to apologize

00:42:48to Lady Rowena,

00:42:49but he suddenly

00:42:50grabbed me.

00:42:51I was so scared.

00:42:53Let her go.

00:42:56Lucian,

00:42:57release her.

00:42:59Rowena,

00:42:59control your people.

00:43:01Don't forget,

00:43:03this is the

00:43:03Hargro estate.

00:43:07I remember

00:43:08perfectly.

00:43:09That's exactly

00:43:10why it's so

00:43:11filthy here.

00:43:25See that?

00:43:26Every time she

00:43:27touches you,

00:43:28your mark deepens.

00:43:29What trick

00:43:30did you pull?

00:43:31Wonderful.

00:43:32She poisons you

00:43:33and I get blamed.

00:43:35You really are

00:43:35her perfect blade.

00:43:37Lucian stepped

00:43:38beside me.

00:43:41Let's go.

00:43:42Don't waste

00:43:43time on fools.

00:43:46This time

00:43:47I didn't disagree.

00:43:51Late that night,

00:43:52Chester knocked

00:43:53on my door,

00:43:53holding a lantern

00:43:54with perfect servant

00:43:55deference.

00:43:55Lady Whitmere,

00:43:56the old madam

00:43:57asks if you will

00:43:57enter the hall

00:43:58again tomorrow.

00:43:59Eleanor did the

00:43:59serpent send you,

00:44:00did she?

00:44:01Chester's expression

00:44:01stayed neutral.

00:44:02You're overthinking.

00:44:04I sealed the room

00:44:04with silver seals.

00:44:05Only Lucian

00:44:06and I remained

00:44:07with him.

00:44:07Chester finally

00:44:08looked up.

00:44:09The silver site

00:44:10lives up to its name.

00:44:11How many years

00:44:11have you hidden

00:44:12in the Hargroves?

00:44:1343.

00:44:13He spoke calmly.

00:44:15The Hargroves

00:44:15think they can

00:44:15control the serpent

00:44:16gate,

00:44:16but those behind

00:44:17it have waited

00:44:17for them to walk

00:44:18into the trap.

00:44:19I asked about

00:44:19the silver arrow.

00:44:21You want the

00:44:22sacred relic.

00:44:23The serpent court

00:44:24wants it.

00:44:24Callum wants it

00:44:25to survive.

00:44:26Jenna wants it

00:44:26to open the gate.

00:44:28Everyone is waiting

00:44:28for you to act,

00:44:29Lady Whitmore.

00:44:30Callum,

00:44:31I just saw Chester

00:44:32enter Lady Rowena's

00:44:33room.

00:44:33Are they plotting

00:44:34something?

00:44:36Rowena,

00:44:37what exactly

00:44:37are you doing

00:44:38behind my back?

00:44:44Callum immediately

00:44:45accused me

00:44:46of colluding

00:44:46with the serpent

00:44:47court through Chester.

00:44:50I didn't deny

00:44:51seeking the arrow.

00:44:55It was my goal.

00:44:57He seized on it,

00:44:59turning everyone

00:45:00against me.

00:45:03You were never

00:45:04here to save us.

00:45:06You came for

00:45:07Hargrave possessions

00:45:08from the start.

00:45:10That relic

00:45:11belongs to Whitmore,

00:45:13not Hargrige.

00:45:15Jenna spoke softly.

00:45:17Callum,

00:45:19I've long felt

00:45:20Lady Rowena's

00:45:21hostility.

00:45:23I didn't dare

00:45:24say it before.

00:45:25I feared

00:45:26you'd think me

00:45:27petty.

00:45:28Her eyes

00:45:28reddened again.

00:45:31Callum's disgust

00:45:32towards me

00:45:32deepened.

00:45:33Hand over

00:45:34your silver seals.

00:45:37From now on,

00:45:38any ritual

00:45:38needs my approval.

00:45:41You want

00:45:42to control

00:45:42my power

00:45:43to manage

00:45:44the gate?

00:45:45This is

00:45:46my home!

00:45:48I have

00:45:48the right

00:45:49to know

00:45:49what you're

00:45:50doing.

00:45:51I summoned

00:45:52a wisp

00:45:52of Althea's

00:45:53white serpent

00:45:54shadow.

00:45:55It coiled

00:45:56around Callum's

00:45:56death mark.

00:45:58He cried out

00:45:59in pain,

00:46:00face paling.

00:46:02You have

00:46:02the right

00:46:02to know

00:46:03this,

00:46:03for example.

00:46:04You're still

00:46:05standing,

00:46:06only because

00:46:06I allow it.

00:46:08Jenna stumbled

00:46:09back in fear.

00:46:11Callum stared at me

00:46:12with a mix of rage

00:46:13and newfound terror.

00:46:15Lucian spoke

00:46:16quietly at

00:46:16my side.

00:46:18She saves you

00:46:18by choice,

00:46:19not obligation.

00:46:21Remember that.

00:46:29Eleanor called

00:46:30a family meeting,

00:46:31summoning all

00:46:32Hargroff branches.

00:46:35It was framed

00:46:36as discussing

00:46:37the gate,

00:46:38but clearly

00:46:39meant to force

00:46:39me to submit

00:46:40publicly.

00:46:42Many saw

00:46:43my scarred face

00:46:44for the first

00:46:44time.

00:46:46Whispers spread.

00:46:47How terrifying

00:46:48the scar was.

00:46:49How no wonder

00:46:50Callum preferred

00:46:51Jenna.

00:46:54I heard

00:46:55every word.

00:46:56In my past life,

00:46:57such talk would

00:46:58have crushed me.

00:47:00Now it was

00:47:01just noise.

00:47:02Eleanor sat

00:47:03at the head,

00:47:03voice heavy.

00:47:07Lady Whitmora,

00:47:08your power

00:47:09is great,

00:47:10but we've seen

00:47:12your emotions

00:47:12are unstable.

00:47:14For the family's

00:47:16safety,

00:47:17the sealing arts

00:47:18cannot remain

00:47:18solely in your hands.

00:47:21Callum didn't intervene.

00:47:24He sat silently,

00:47:27endorsing the ambush.

00:47:29Jenna added fuel.

00:47:33I'm only worried

00:47:34Lady Roweth

00:47:35might resent me

00:47:37and take it out

00:47:38on the entire

00:47:39Hargroff family.

00:47:40All eyes

00:47:41turned to me.

00:47:42I stood

00:47:43and activated

00:47:44the silver sight.

00:47:45Behind every person,

00:47:47shadows of

00:47:48sacrificed women

00:47:48appeared,

00:47:49maids,

00:47:50adopted daughters,

00:47:51wives offered

00:47:52as tribute.

00:47:53Those who had

00:47:54mocked my scar

00:47:54dropped to their

00:47:55knees in terror.

00:47:56You wanted to

00:47:57talk safety?

00:47:59Then look at

00:47:59how many lives

00:48:00you've trampled

00:48:01beneath your feet.

00:48:03Jenna's smile

00:48:04finally shattered.

00:48:09Chaos erupted

00:48:10after the ghosts

00:48:11appeared.

00:48:11Some begged me

00:48:12to withdraw the sight.

00:48:13Others accused

00:48:13Eleanor.

00:48:14She paled

00:48:14and instinctively

00:48:15protected the

00:48:16legacy book.

00:48:16I saw it.

00:48:17The sacrifice

00:48:18ledger is inside

00:48:18the book.

00:48:19Eleanor's hand

00:48:19froze.

00:48:20Callum tried

00:48:20to block me.

00:48:21Rowena,

00:48:21don't make

00:48:21this uglier.

00:48:22The ugly one

00:48:23is your family's

00:48:23centuries of blood

00:48:24debt.

00:48:24Jenna clutched

00:48:25her chest,

00:48:26collapsing into

00:48:27a chair.

00:48:28I can't breathe.

00:48:29Callum,

00:48:30I'm so scared.

00:48:30Callum moved

00:48:31to help her,

00:48:32but a white serpent

00:48:33shadow blocked him,

00:48:35staring coldly at

00:48:36Jenna.

00:48:37She stopped

00:48:38aggravating her

00:48:39sobs.

00:48:39I approached

00:48:40Eleanor.

00:48:41Give me the

00:48:42ledger.

00:48:43Eleanor forced

00:48:44a smile.

00:48:45Child,

00:48:46those are old

00:48:46matters.

00:48:47You already

00:48:47died once.

00:48:48Why keep

00:48:49pursuing?

00:48:51I leaned

00:48:52close.

00:48:53Because I

00:48:54died once.

00:48:55I know

00:48:56exactly what

00:48:57being chosen.

00:48:58by you

00:48:59feels like.

00:49:00Callum

00:49:00watched with

00:49:01fleeting

00:49:01complexity

00:49:02before Jenna's

00:49:03sobs pulled

00:49:04him away again.

00:49:05My cold

00:49:06laugh

00:49:07deepened.

00:49:09He was

00:49:10never worth it.

00:49:12Callum

00:49:12tried a softer

00:49:13approach that

00:49:14evening,

00:49:14coming to my

00:49:15room with a

00:49:16gentler tone.

00:49:18Roland,

00:49:19we can

00:49:20cooperate.

00:49:21You want

00:49:22the silver

00:49:22arrow?

00:49:22I want the

00:49:23Hargroves to

00:49:24survive.

00:49:25Our goals

00:49:26are clean.

00:49:27I knew

00:49:28what came

00:49:28next.

00:49:29The same

00:49:30fake,

00:49:30fake concern

00:49:31from my

00:49:31past life.

00:49:32I know

00:49:33some words

00:49:33hurt you

00:49:34before,

00:49:35but now

00:49:35isn't the

00:49:36time to

00:49:36dwell on

00:49:36it.

00:49:37Some words?

00:49:38I turned

00:49:39my face so

00:49:40he could

00:49:40see the

00:49:40scar

00:49:41clearly.

00:49:42You mocked

00:49:43my face,

00:49:44protected

00:49:45Jenna as

00:49:45she harmed

00:49:46me,

00:49:47demanded

00:49:47my seals.

00:49:49And you

00:49:50call it

00:49:50some words?

00:49:52Callum

00:49:52frowned.

00:49:53You're too

00:49:54sensitive now.

00:49:55Lucian

00:49:55entered with

00:49:56medicine and

00:49:57overheard.

00:49:58She died

00:49:58once because

00:50:00of you all,

00:50:00and now you

00:50:01call her

00:50:01sensitive?

00:50:02Who do you

00:50:03think you

00:50:03are?

00:50:04Her

00:50:04servant,

00:50:05guard,

00:50:06or just

00:50:06the dog

00:50:07she keeps?

00:50:07Lucian

00:50:08remained

00:50:08calm.

00:50:09I can

00:50:10be anything

00:50:10she wants,

00:50:11but you?

00:50:12You're

00:50:12different.

00:50:13How?

00:50:13Even

00:50:14when she

00:50:14bleeds,

00:50:15you only

00:50:15ask why

00:50:16she didn't

00:50:16protect

00:50:16others.

00:50:17The room

00:50:18fell

00:50:18silent.

00:50:19I looked

00:50:19away,

00:50:21no longer

00:50:21wanting to

00:50:22hear Callum.

00:50:23Give me

00:50:24the key.

00:50:24Tomorrow

00:50:25we enter

00:50:25the underground

00:50:26chamber.

00:50:28Callum

00:50:29gritted

00:50:29his teeth

00:50:31and placed

00:50:32the key

00:50:32on the

00:50:32table.

00:50:36The underground

00:50:37chamber lay

00:50:37behind Hargrot

00:50:38Hall.

00:50:39Dust

00:50:40and serpent

00:50:40energy rushed

00:50:41out as the

00:50:42door opened.

00:50:42Whitmore

00:50:43hunting tools,

00:50:44silver blades,

00:50:45short bows,

00:50:45chains,

00:50:46hung on the

00:50:47walls like

00:50:47trophies.

00:50:48My chest

00:50:49tightened.

00:50:50These

00:50:50belonged to

00:50:50my family,

00:50:51displayed as

00:50:52Hargrok spoils.

00:50:54As I approached,

00:50:55the tools hummed

00:50:56in recognition.

00:50:57Several blades

00:50:58tilted toward me.

00:51:00Callum's eyes

00:51:00gleamed with

00:51:01greed.

00:51:02If these can

00:51:03suppress the gate,

00:51:05why not lend them

00:51:06to the Hargroves

00:51:06first?

00:51:07After stealing

00:51:08them for centuries,

00:51:09you still want to

00:51:09borrow more?

00:51:10Jenna followed

00:51:11us in.

00:51:12Seeing the tools

00:51:13respond to me,

00:51:14jealously flashed

00:51:15in her eyes.

00:51:16Impressive.

00:51:18Too bad it all

00:51:19came at the cost

00:51:20of your face.

00:51:22Lucien took a

00:51:23loosened silver

00:51:24blade from the

00:51:24wall and placed it

00:51:25in my hand.

00:51:26They recognize you,

00:51:28not because of

00:51:29your face,

00:51:30but because you

00:51:31are Whitmore.

00:51:32His words settled

00:51:33warmly in my heart.

00:51:34I gripped the

00:51:35blade.

00:51:36Silver light

00:51:36bloomed.

00:51:37All the tools

00:51:38vibrated in

00:51:39univine.

00:51:39Jenna's expression

00:51:40soured completely.

00:51:41What she hated

00:51:42most wasn't my

00:51:43strength.

00:51:43It was that even

00:51:44scarred I still

00:51:45had someone

00:51:46standing by my

00:51:46side.

00:51:47Deepest in the

00:51:48chamber hung

00:51:49an old painting.

00:51:50The first

00:51:51Whitmore lunar

00:51:52huntress beside

00:51:53a golden horned

00:51:54white deer.

00:51:54The deer shielded

00:51:55her from serpents.

00:51:57Its antlers

00:51:58wrapped in

00:51:58moonlight.

00:52:00Lucien's face

00:52:00changed when he

00:52:01saw it.

00:52:02He looked away

00:52:03too late.

00:52:04You've seen this

00:52:04painting?

00:52:05No.

00:52:06He answered

00:52:06too quickly.

00:52:07Callum noticed,

00:52:08his expression

00:52:08turning dangerous.

00:52:09Seems your servant

00:52:10knows quite a lot.

00:52:10I stepped in front

00:52:11of Lucien.

00:52:12None of your

00:52:12concern.

00:52:13Callum sneered.

00:52:14Rowena, you'd

00:52:14shield a mere

00:52:15servant from me?

00:52:15Lucien's eyes

00:52:16chilled.

00:52:16I spoke calmly

00:52:17without turning.

00:52:18He is not a mere

00:52:18servant.

00:52:19Lucien fell silent.

00:52:20My own heart

00:52:20stirred unexpectedly

00:52:21at the words.

00:52:22Jenna watched

00:52:23with a light

00:52:23laugh.

00:52:24Lady Rowena

00:52:25is so enviable.

00:52:26Face ruined,

00:52:28yet still so

00:52:29protected.

00:52:30How much of that

00:52:30protection is real,

00:52:31I wonder?

00:52:32At least more

00:52:33than what you stole.

00:52:34Her face darkened.

00:52:36Suddenly,

00:52:37her bracelet glowed.

00:52:38Serpent energy

00:52:39corrupted the tools,

00:52:41turning them

00:52:41against me.

00:52:43Jenna cried out

00:52:44in fake alarm.

00:52:45Callum, watch out!

00:52:46The tools have

00:52:47gone out of control!

00:52:48But excitement

00:52:49burned in her eyes.

00:52:51The tools lunged

00:52:52at me.

00:52:54They heard

00:52:55their silver lament.

00:52:57They didn't want

00:52:58to harm their

00:52:59true owner.

00:53:00Jenna's serpent

00:53:01energy forced them.

00:53:02Callum's first

00:53:03instinct was

00:53:04to shield Jenna.

00:53:05Rowena,

00:53:06control them!

00:53:07Don't let them

00:53:07touch Jenna!

00:53:08I ignored him

00:53:09and summoned

00:53:10the moon's

00:53:11silver bow.

00:53:12Moonlight

00:53:13formed the

00:53:14string.

00:53:15I fired

00:53:16arrows,

00:53:17tearing serpent

00:53:18energy from the

00:53:18blades one by one.

00:53:21They fell

00:53:22obediently

00:53:22at my feet.

00:53:24Each shot

00:53:25burned my scar

00:53:25like a fresh

00:53:26blade cut.

00:53:27Pain seared

00:53:27through me.

00:53:28I grit my teeth

00:53:29and kept drawing.

00:53:30Lucian suddenly

00:53:31grabbed my hand.

00:53:31Enough!

00:53:32Not yet cleared!

00:53:33I said enough,

00:53:34you're hurting.

00:53:34Everyone else

00:53:35fixated on my scar,

00:53:36fearing,

00:53:36hating,

00:53:37using it.

00:53:37Only Lucian

00:53:38cared if it hurt.

00:53:39This isn't the

00:53:39time for your

00:53:40intimacy.

00:53:41Rowena,

00:53:41continue.

00:53:42Lucian turned

00:53:42on him.

00:53:43Shut your mouth.

00:53:45Callum's face

00:53:46darkened.

00:53:48I released

00:53:49the bowstring,

00:53:50refusing his

00:53:51order for the

00:53:51first time.

00:53:52The rest can

00:53:53wait until I

00:53:53decide.

00:53:54Jenna looked

00:53:55furious.

00:53:55She had wanted

00:53:56to exhaust me.

00:53:57She never

00:53:58expected Lucian

00:53:59could make me

00:54:00stop, or that

00:54:01I would choose

00:54:01to for him.

00:54:03I followed

00:54:04Jaina into

00:54:04the underground

00:54:05water chath.

00:54:06She stood

00:54:07on the stone

00:54:07steps before

00:54:08the outer

00:54:08serpent gate.

00:54:09Her innocent

00:54:10mask finally

00:54:11debardened.

00:54:12Do you know

00:54:12where the

00:54:13silver arrow

00:54:13really is?

00:54:14I remained

00:54:14silent,

00:54:15gripping the

00:54:15hilt of

00:54:16the silver

00:54:16blade,

00:54:17see the

00:54:17sound echoing

00:54:17coldly off

00:54:18the walls.

00:54:19It's not

00:54:19in the

00:54:20chamber.

00:54:21It's buried

00:54:21in Althea's

00:54:22heart.

00:54:23The first

00:54:24Hargroves used

00:54:24it to nail

00:54:25her into

00:54:25the earth

00:54:25vein and

00:54:27create this

00:54:28gate.

00:54:28My fingers

00:54:29tightened

00:54:29painfully.

00:54:30The weight

00:54:31of generations

00:54:31of betrayal

00:54:32pressed down

00:54:33on me.

00:54:33Jenna stepped

00:54:34closer, her

00:54:35voice dripping

00:54:35venom.

00:54:36If you want

00:54:37Whitmore's relic

00:54:38back, you'll

00:54:39have to pull

00:54:39the arrow.

00:54:41But the

00:54:41moment you

00:54:42do, the

00:54:43gate opens.

00:54:43Everyone will

00:54:44blame you for

00:54:44destroying Hargrove

00:54:45Hall.

00:54:46Callum will

00:54:46hate you.

00:54:47Eleanor will

00:54:48hate you.

00:54:48They'll say you

00:54:49did it because

00:54:49no one could

00:54:50love your

00:54:50scarred face.

00:54:51The words

00:54:52stung, but

00:54:53not as deeply

00:54:53as they once

00:54:54would have.

00:54:54I met her

00:54:55gaze steadily,

00:54:56the lunar scar on

00:54:57my cheek pulsing

00:54:57with silver light.

00:54:58You still think I

00:54:59care what Callum

00:55:00thinks of me?

00:55:01Jenna's smile

00:55:02faltered for a

00:55:03split second.

00:55:04I continued, my

00:55:05voice low but

00:55:06firm.

00:55:07You're wrong.

00:55:07I didn't come

00:55:08back to prove I'm

00:55:09worthy of love.

00:55:10I came to make

00:55:11sure all of you

00:55:12pay what you owe.

00:55:13Her expression

00:55:14turned ugly.

00:55:15She spat one

00:55:16last barb before

00:55:17leaping deeper into

00:55:18the waterway.

00:55:19You really think

00:55:20Lucien will keep

00:55:21protecting you?

00:55:22Men are all the

00:55:23same.

00:55:24Once he gets tired

00:55:25of looking at that

00:55:26face, he'll leave

00:55:27too.

00:55:28I stood there

00:55:29as her footstamps

00:55:30faded, the cold

00:55:30water lapping at my

00:55:31boots.

00:55:32Her words tried to

00:55:33burrow into old

00:55:34wounds, but Lucien's

00:55:35steady presence in my

00:55:36mind pushed them

00:55:36back.

00:55:37I turned and climbed

00:55:38back to the surface,

00:55:39the truth now clear in

00:55:40my heart.

00:55:41The silver arrow

00:55:42rested in Althea's

00:55:43chest.

00:55:45Back above ground,

00:55:46I found Lucien

00:55:47waiting in the shadows

00:55:48of the hall.

00:55:48His quiet strength

00:55:50grounded me as I

00:55:51told him what Jenna

00:55:51had revealed.

00:55:52He listened without

00:55:53interruption, his eyes

00:55:55never leaving mine.

00:55:56Will you pull it?

00:55:57I have to, but not

00:55:59recklessly.

00:56:00I'll use Callum's

00:56:01blood, Jenna's

00:56:02serpent contract,

00:56:04Chester's serpent

00:56:05court mark, and

00:56:06Eleanor's sacrifice

00:56:07ledger to form a new

00:56:08seal.

00:56:08Lucien studied me

00:56:09carefully, no fear

00:56:11in his gaze, only

00:56:12unwavering resolve.

00:56:14Then we do it.

00:56:15A small smile tugged

00:56:16at my lips despite

00:56:17everything.

00:56:17You won't ask if I'll

00:56:18turn into a monster?

00:56:20You won't.

00:56:22How can you be so

00:56:23sure?

00:56:23He paused, then

00:56:25stepped closer, and

00:56:26gently re-wrapped the

00:56:27bandage on my palm.

00:56:29Because even when you

00:56:30could have let Callum

00:56:31die tonight, you still

00:56:33saved the entire

00:56:33estate.

00:56:34His words pierced

00:56:35through the armor I

00:56:36had built around my

00:56:37heart.

00:56:38I had hated them all

00:56:39so fiercely, that I

00:56:40refused to become the

00:56:42destroyer they feared.

00:56:43Lucien saw that in me

00:56:44when no one else did.

00:56:45The scar on my face

00:56:46burned less fiercely in

00:56:47that moment.

00:56:48Tomorrow we go to

00:56:49Eleanor.

00:56:50Good.

00:56:50I lingered in his

00:56:51presence a moment

00:56:52longer, drawing quiet

00:56:55comfort from the way

00:56:56he stood guard beside

00:56:57me, unflinching.

00:57:00Eleanor refused to

00:57:01surrender the

00:57:01sacrifice's ledger.

00:57:02She sat in the main

00:57:03study, cradling her

00:57:05peach blossom tea.

00:57:06Her grandmotherly

00:57:06facade finally stripped

00:57:08away to reveal cold

00:57:09calculation.

00:57:10Rowena, you already

00:57:11know too much.

00:57:13A smart girl knows

00:57:14when to stop.

00:57:15The memories

00:57:16flooded back.

00:57:16Her smiles as she

00:57:18fed me poison.

00:57:19Her indifference as she

00:57:20watched me die.

00:57:22Anger surged through

00:57:23my veins.

00:57:24When you sent me into

00:57:25the serpent gate, in

00:57:27my past life, did you

00:57:28also think I should have

00:57:29stopped?

00:57:30Her hand trembled

00:57:31slightly on the teacup.

00:57:32Do you remember?

00:57:33I remember everything.

00:57:34Your sweet words.

00:57:36The poisoned tea, how you

00:57:37locked me inside, without a

00:57:40flicker of remorse.

00:57:41I sealed her teacup with a

00:57:43silver seal.

00:57:44The liquid inside turned

00:57:46black.

00:57:47Serpent shadows thrashing

00:57:48wildly.

00:57:49Lupien stood behind me.

00:57:51His presence a wall of

00:57:53silent fury.

00:57:54Eleanor's composure cracked.

00:57:56What do you want?

00:57:58The ledger.

00:57:59She resisted.

00:58:02I stepped forward and

00:58:04sealed her throat with

00:58:05silver light.

00:58:07Her mouth opened, but no

00:58:10sound emerged.

00:58:11You lied so many people to

00:58:13their deaths.

00:58:14This mouth of yours deserves

00:58:15rest.

00:58:16I retrieved the ledger from

00:58:18her hidden compartment.

00:58:19Page after page listed

00:58:20women's names.

00:58:21The final entry was my own.

00:58:23Rowena Whitmore.

00:58:25My fingers clenched until my

00:58:27knuckles whitened.

00:58:28This life, I would cross it

00:58:30out myself.

00:58:33Callum learned of the stolen

00:58:34ledger quickly.

00:58:35Instead of confronting Mimi

00:58:37directly, he lured Lupien away

00:58:39and trapped him in the old

00:58:41underground chapel beneath

00:58:42Hargrove Hall, an ancient

00:58:44altar etched with serpent

00:58:45arrays designed to suppress

00:58:47Lunarn Hunt blood.

00:58:48When I arrived, Lucien knelt in

00:58:49the center of the array, covered

00:58:51in wounds, yet his eyes glowed

00:58:52with a faint golden light.

00:58:53Callum stood outside the

00:58:54formation, a silver blade in

00:58:55hand.

00:58:56Don't come closer, Rowena.

00:58:57One more step and he dies for

00:58:58you.

00:58:59Eyes alight with vicious

00:59:00excitement.

00:59:00Lady Rowena, you're so

00:59:02powerful.

00:59:02Choose the silver arrow or

00:59:04him.

00:59:05Lucien looked at me through the

00:59:06pain and shook his head

00:59:07wiltly.

00:59:08Leave me.

00:59:09The plea tore at my chest.

00:59:10In my past life, I had told

00:59:11Callum the same thing, only for

00:59:13him to abandon me.

00:59:14I would not repeat his

00:59:15cruelty.

00:59:15Power erupted from my

00:59:17huntress mark.

00:59:17Silver light shattered the

00:59:19serpent array, inch by inch.

00:59:21Callum paled.

00:59:22You're mad!

00:59:23The covenant will

00:59:24backlash!

00:59:24That's not for you to decide.

00:59:28I rushed into the formation, grabbed

00:59:31Lucien's hand, and dragged him

00:59:33free.

00:59:33His silver-gold blood touched my

00:59:35pie palm, and the lingering dark

00:59:38energy recoiled as if burned.

00:59:42Lucien's blood was not red.

00:59:44It shimmered with faint silver-gold

00:59:46light.

00:59:46The realization hit me as the

00:59:48serpent arraym's rainness fled from

00:59:50him.

00:59:50Who are you, really?

00:59:51Lucien remained silent for a long

00:59:53moment before answering softly.

00:59:55I promised to stay by the

00:59:56Whitmore airside.

00:59:57Promised whom?

00:59:59He didn't reply.

01:00:00But Callum had seen the blood.

01:00:02Greed twisted his features.

01:00:04So he's even more special than you?

01:00:05She laughed cruelly.

01:00:07Callum, if we use him as the new

01:00:09living lock, we won't need Rowena

01:00:11anymore.

01:00:12Callum didn't deny it.

01:00:13Cold fury settled in my chest.

01:00:15Touch him.

01:00:17And I will end the hog-rave

01:00:19bloodline tonight.

01:00:21You care about him that much?

01:00:24So even you can feel fear.

01:00:26I helped Lucien to his feet, my

01:00:28voice steady despite the storm

01:00:30inside.

01:00:32Yes, I fear.

01:00:33I fear him suffering the same fate I

01:00:36did.

01:00:36Being sacrificed by people like you

01:00:39who treat lives as disposable.

01:00:42Lucien glanced at me, emotion

01:00:44flickering in his eyes.

01:00:45I avoided looking back, afraid my

01:00:49own feelings would spill over.

01:00:52Callum and Jenna united against

01:00:54us.

01:00:55They spread rumors that Lucien's

01:00:57non-human aura was the true cause

01:01:00of the gate's instability.

01:01:03Jenna wept publicly, claiming she

01:01:05saw his golden blood and couldn't

01:01:07sleep from fear.

01:01:10Callum played the responsible

01:01:12family head.

01:01:12I don't want to hurt anyone, but

01:01:15for the Hargroves, I must uncover

01:01:17what he is.

01:01:18The hypocrisy made me want to laugh.

01:01:21This was their old game.

01:01:23One crying, the other forced to act.

01:01:26Only now, the knives were aimed

01:01:29elsewhere.

01:01:31I stepped in front of Lucien.

01:01:33Anyone who wants to investigate him

01:01:35goes through me first.

01:01:37Callum's face darkened.

01:01:39Rowena, you'd abandoned the entire

01:01:40Hargrove family's safety for him?

01:01:43I protected him.

01:01:45You don't deserve it.

01:01:46Lady Rowena, have you forgotten

01:01:48Lucien's just an outsider you picked up?

01:01:50An outsider cleaner than you'll ever be.

01:01:53Lucien spoke quietly behind me.

01:01:55You don't have to shield me like this.

01:01:57I want to.

01:02:01The word surprised even me.

01:02:03We retreated to the forest behind the hall.

01:02:06Serpent energy pursued us

01:02:08to the edge, but dared not enter.

01:02:12Moonlight filtered through the trees

01:02:13as I tended Lucien's wounds.

01:02:16Why do you remember the past life?

01:02:18He was quiet for a long time.

01:02:21Because when you died,

01:02:22I was there too.

01:02:24My hand stilled on the bandages.

01:02:26I was trapped in the formation.

01:02:27I heard you begging him to open the door.

01:02:30I couldn't break free.

01:02:31I could only watch it close.

01:02:33The memory of that freezing night

01:02:35crashed over me.

01:02:36Not everyone had abandoned me.

01:02:39Someone had tried.

01:02:42My throat tightened.

01:02:44I always thought if I were stronger,

01:02:46you wouldn't have died.

01:02:48That wasn't your fault.

01:02:49But I was still too late.

01:02:51I looked at him,

01:02:52the urge to embrace him

01:02:53nearly overwhelming.

01:02:54Instead, I whispered,

01:02:56this time,

01:02:57you weren't too late.

01:02:59Lucien met my eyes

01:03:00and smiled faintly

01:03:01for the first time.

01:03:02It was small,

01:03:04but it lit up the darkness around us

01:03:06like moonlight on water.

01:03:08My Huntress mark began spiraling

01:03:10out of control.

01:03:13Visions of blood deeds

01:03:15and deaths

01:03:16flooded my silver sight.

01:03:20I saw Eleanor dragged

01:03:22by ghosts.

01:03:26Chester devoured

01:03:28by the serpent court.

01:03:30Jenna consumed

01:03:31by her own power.

01:03:34And Callum begging

01:03:35on his knees.

01:03:39Ardus's voice

01:03:40echoed in my mind,

01:03:42commanding me

01:03:43to hunt those.

01:03:48who fed

01:03:49the serpents.

01:03:52I nearly summoned

01:03:54the oath arrow.

01:03:55Lucien seized

01:03:56my shoulders.

01:03:57Rowena,

01:03:58look at me.

01:03:58The silver light

01:03:59and blood

01:04:00blurted my vision.

01:04:01Pain tore through

01:04:02the scar on my face.

01:04:04Move!

01:04:05I need to kill them!

01:04:07Lucien held firm.

01:04:08You can take revenge.

01:04:12But don't give yourself

01:04:13to the covenant.

01:04:15He cut his own palm

01:04:16and pressed the silver-gold blood

01:04:18against my scar.

01:04:19The divine fury

01:04:21retreated.

01:04:22I could breathe again.

01:04:23You are not

01:04:24the goddess's blade.

01:04:26You are Rowena.

01:04:28Tears stung my eyes.

01:04:30He had shown me

01:04:31I could hurt,

01:04:32hate,

01:04:33and still remain myself.

01:04:35I closed my eyes.

01:04:37Don't let go.

01:04:39I will.

01:04:40Chester stole

01:04:41the sacrifice ledger,

01:04:43hoping to trade it

01:04:44to the serpent court

01:04:45for freedom.

01:04:47We tracked him

01:04:48to an old underground room

01:04:50where he knelt

01:04:51before a black serpent mirror.

01:04:55A pale hand reached out

01:04:57and took the ledger,

01:04:58offering no promise.

01:05:02Executors have no freedom.

01:05:05Only the next order.

01:05:09Chester protested

01:05:10his 43 years of service.

01:05:13The mirror cracked

01:05:14and dark energy retaliated,

01:05:17rotting his brand.

01:05:24I didn't save him immediately.

01:05:27Lady Whitmore, save me!

01:05:30I can tell you

01:05:31how to close the gate!

01:05:36How many have you

01:05:37helped kill?

01:05:38Let him die.

01:05:40I stabilized the energy

01:05:42in Chester's body

01:05:44with a silver seal.

01:05:47You won't die yet.

01:05:50You'll watch

01:05:51what you served devour you.

01:05:55I reclaimed the ledger.

01:05:57The path to the silver arrow

01:05:59lay clear.

01:06:00The path to the silver arrow

01:06:02clear.

01:06:03Jenna publicly revealed

01:06:05the arrow's location

01:06:06in Althea's heart.

01:06:08She stood in the meeting hall,

01:06:10crying convincingly.

01:06:13If we get that arrow,

01:06:15can the Hargroves be saved?

01:06:18Callum, I don't

01:06:20want you to die.

01:06:22I can't wait.

01:06:25The branches went wild

01:06:27with desperation.

01:06:29Callum pretended

01:06:29to restrain them,

01:06:30but I saw his agent

01:06:32slipping toward

01:06:33the hall depths.

01:06:34I blocked the entrance.

01:06:37Call them back.

01:06:38Callum stayed silent.

01:06:41Jenna tried to soften it.

01:06:43Lady Rowena,

01:06:44why must you think

01:06:45the worst of Callum?

01:06:47He only wants to save his family

01:06:50Shut your mouth. I

01:06:52Faced Callum directly. Do you want to save your family or steal my arrow?

01:06:57If it can save the Hargroves, it shouldn't belong only to Whitmore. His true nature stood bare

01:07:04The man who once wore affection like a mask

01:07:09Now showed his greed openly I

01:07:13Descended into the earth vein with Lucian crossholders the strage and several clansmen forced their way after us

01:07:19Serpent energy parted before me and recoiled even more from Lucian

01:07:25At the core Althea was pinned to the gate the silver arrow buried in her heart. She lowered her head

01:07:33exposing the wound begging for release. I

01:07:37Grasped the arrows hilt Lucian stepped protectively behind me

01:07:44Callum pressed a silver blade to Lucian's throat pull the arrow Rowena or he dies

01:07:51I held the hilt motionless blood silver gold trickled from Lucian's throat

01:07:56Exciting the gate further Jenna's eyes lit with greed

01:08:00Callum his blood can replace hers use him as the new lock Callum didn't deny it choose the arrow or

01:08:08his life

01:08:08Don't mind me the familiar cruelty broke something inside me

01:08:13Why must everyone I cared for become their leverage?

01:08:16Do you know what disgust is me most about you Callum frowned you treat other people's sacrifices as natural rights?

01:08:23I released the arrow and slashed my plomb instead

01:08:26Spilling silver blood to summon the debts

01:08:30Ghosts of sacrificed women rose their eyes fixed on Callum this time judgment

01:08:37The ghosts surrounded Callum they whispered their names

01:08:43wives maids

01:08:46Daughters and my past self

01:08:49He stumbled back the blade leaving Lucian's throat

01:08:53I pulled Lucian behind me Jenna longed for the arrow

01:09:00Serpent energy from the gate seized her instead merging with her bracelet

01:09:06Jenna laughed wildly as she began transforming

01:09:11Finally my turn

01:09:12You knew it wanted your body

01:09:15So what?

01:09:17At least I'll drag you all down with me!

01:09:20She yanked the arrow partially free

01:09:22Althea screamed the gate cracked

01:09:25Jenna stop now you're scared

01:09:28You protected me only because I was useful

01:09:33Their mutual betrayal they exposed

01:09:36Only I had once believed in their false bond

01:09:38Lucian took my hand

01:09:40Rowene don't watch you do what you must

01:09:43I nodded stealing myself

01:09:46The gate's opening caused Hargro Hall to collapse

01:09:50Black rail tents insurged from the ground

01:09:53Clack Sertman fled only to be caught by their own ghosts

01:09:57Eleanor was dragged before the fireplace

01:10:01Forced to confront the ledger

01:10:03Rowena save me

01:10:04I was forced

01:10:06It was all for the family

01:10:08That's exactly what you said

01:10:11While watching you die last time

01:10:14She trembled

01:10:15I was wrong

01:10:17You're not sorry

01:10:20You're just afraid, afraid to die

01:10:23The ghosts pulled her into silver flames

01:10:26Chester was devoured by his own masters

01:10:29I asked Lucian if I seemed cool

01:10:31No

01:10:33They owed you

01:10:34His words erased my final hesitation

01:10:37Callum seized the silver arrow

01:10:39And fled toward the main hall

01:10:41To reseal the gate

01:10:42I chased him

01:10:44To the iron door

01:10:45The same one from my past life

01:10:47Move aside Rowena

01:10:49And I'll let you go

01:10:51We can settle the past later

01:10:53The past?

01:10:54You speak so lightly of it

01:10:56Jenna screamed for rescue in the distance

01:10:59Callum barely glanced at her before turning away

01:11:02He activated the mechanism to crap Lucian and me

01:11:06Inside

01:11:06Lucian pushed me aside

01:11:08And shattered the door

01:11:09With explosive silver gold light

01:11:11A golden horned white deer phantom appeared behind him

01:11:14The serpents recoiled in fear

01:11:16At last

01:11:17I understood

01:11:18Lucian was the sacred beast guardian of the Whitmores

01:11:22Lucian knelt by the broken door

01:11:24The deer phantom fading

01:11:26Callum stared in shock

01:11:28What are you?

01:11:31Something far cleaner than you

01:11:33The serpent court envoidy emerged

01:11:35Terrified

01:11:37Moon dear guardian

01:11:39You still live

01:11:40Lupien looked at me with apology

01:11:43I didn't mean to hide it

01:11:44We'll settle accounts after we get out

01:11:47He smiled

01:11:48I grasped the silver arrow

01:11:51The huntress covenant fully awakened

01:11:54Artemis warned of the price

01:11:57Use mine

01:11:58No

01:11:59I'm the guardian

01:12:01I should pay for you

01:12:04I already died for others once

01:12:06This life

01:12:09I pay for my own choices

01:12:15The oath arrow formed in cold white light

01:12:19Jenna half serpent charged in hatred

01:12:23Why can you still stand?

01:12:27Why do you still have someone protecting you like that?

01:12:30Because I never gave myself to you

01:12:33Lucian shielded me as the deer phantom repelled the energy

01:12:37Callum begged on his knees

01:12:38Roash saved me

01:12:40I was wrong

01:12:41In the past life I had no choice

01:12:43You had choices

01:12:45Every time you chose to hurt me

01:12:48I drew the bow

01:12:49Artemis demanded a span of lifespan

01:12:52I accepted

01:12:53Lupien cried out

01:12:54But I reassured him with a glance

01:12:56Don't worry

01:12:58I still need to settle your secret with you

01:13:00I released the arrow

01:13:02It pierced Jenna

01:13:04The gate

01:13:05The blood contracts

01:13:07And buried deep into the earth vein

01:13:10Silver light exploded

01:13:12The serpent tort passages collapsed

01:13:16The gate sealed

01:13:17Althira's wound healed

01:13:22She placed a final white scale in my palm

01:13:25Before dissolving into light

01:13:28Finally free

01:13:29Jenna lay dying

01:13:30Her body rejecting the serpent energy

01:13:33I'm not willing

01:13:34Why did someone like you win?

01:13:37Because I lost once

01:13:38And I refused to lose again

01:13:40Her body was consumed

01:13:42Leaving only shattered coral

01:13:43Callum's death mark vanished

01:13:45But so did his family's power

01:13:48He knelt broken in the ruins

01:13:52Rowena

01:13:54Save me once more

01:13:58For our past

01:13:59In the past life

01:14:00You told me to hold the serpents until I died

01:14:05I left him there

01:14:09To face his fate alone

01:14:14As the hall fully collapsed

01:14:16Callum chased after me one last time

01:14:19Desperate

01:14:20Rowish

01:14:21I was deceived by Jenna

01:14:23Now I see clearly

01:14:25You weren't deceived

01:14:27You chose convenient lies every single time

01:14:30Lucien stepped forward

01:14:31Blocking Callum's view of me

01:14:34Don't look at her

01:14:35You have no right

01:14:37Callum froze

01:14:38I allowed the protection

01:14:40Embracing it fully this time

01:14:45At dawn

01:14:46Hargrove Hall sank completely into ruin

01:14:51I stood

01:14:53At a distance

01:14:55Watching the last serpent's stench

01:14:57Blow away on the wind

01:14:59My huntress mark and scar remained

01:15:03But so did my resolve

01:15:11Lucien stood beside me

01:15:13Does it still hurt?

01:15:16Why do you always ask that?

01:15:18Because you always pretend it doesn't

01:15:20I laughed genuinely for the first time in ages

01:15:23Lucien

01:15:25How long have you guarded the Whitmans?

01:15:26Long enough

01:15:27That I feared I'd always arrive too late

01:15:30This time you didn't

01:15:31Rowena

01:15:32I never loved your face

01:15:36His gaze held mine

01:15:37Never wavering to the scar

01:15:41I love that you crawled back from hell

01:15:43To claim your debts

01:15:45And still chose to save the innocent

01:15:51I took his hand willingly

01:15:53Then don't be late again

01:15:54I won't

01:15:55I won't

01:15:55We walked away from the ruins

01:15:57Together into the morning light

01:15:59This time

01:16:02I didn't look back

01:16:03I who I was so sorry

01:16:07I didn't get nor

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended