- 17 minutes ago
He Fed Me to the Serpents, So I Came Back to Ruin Him
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Late that night, Chester knocked on my door, holding a lantern with perfect servant deference.
00:04Lady Whitmere, the old madam asks if you will enter the hall again tomorrow.
00:08Eleanor did the serpent send you, did she?
00:09Chester's expression stayed neutral.
00:11You're overthinking.
00:12I sealed the room with silver seals.
00:14Only Lucian and I remained with him.
00:16Chester finally looked up.
00:18The silver sight lives up to its name.
00:20How many years have you hidden in the Hargroves?
00:2143.
00:22He spoke calmly.
00:23The Hargroves think they can control the serpent gate, but those behind it have waited for them to walk into
00:27the trap.
00:27I asked about the silver arrow.
00:30You want the sacred relic?
00:32The serpent court wants it.
00:33Callum wants it to survive.
00:35Jenna wants it to open the gate.
00:36Everyone is waiting for you to act, Lady Whitmore.
00:39Callum, I just saw Chester enter Lady Rowena's room.
00:42Are they plotting something?
00:45Rowena, what exactly are you doing behind my back?
00:53Callum immediately accused me of colluding with the serpent court through Chester.
01:00I didn't deny seeking the arrow.
01:04It was my goal.
01:06He seized on it, turning everyone against me.
01:12You were never here to save us.
01:15You came for Hargrave possessions from the start.
01:18That relic belongs to Whitmore, not Hargrige.
01:23Jenna spoke softly.
01:26Callum.
01:28I've long felt Lady Rowena's hostility.
01:31I didn't dare say it before.
01:34I feared you'd think me petty.
01:37Her eyes reddened again.
01:39Callum's disgust towards me deepened.
01:42Hand over your silver seals.
01:46From now on, any ritual needs my approval.
01:50You want to control my power to manage the gate?
01:54This is my home!
01:56I have the right to know what you're doing.
02:00I summoned a wisp of Althea's white serpent shadow.
02:03It coiled around Callum's death mark.
02:07He cried out in pain, face paling.
02:10You have the right to know this, for example.
02:13You're still standing, only because I allow it.
02:17Jenna stumbled back in fear.
02:20Callum stared at me with a mix of rage and newfound terror.
02:23Lucian spoke quietly at my side.
02:26She saves you by choice, not obligation.
02:30Remember that.
02:38Eleanor called a family meeting, summoning all Hargroff branches.
02:44It was framed as discussing the gate, but clearly meant to force me to submit publicly.
02:51Many saw my scarred face for the first time.
02:55Whispers spread.
02:56How terrifying the scar was.
02:58How no wonder Callum preferred Jenna.
03:03I heard every word.
03:05In my past life, such talk would have crushed me.
03:09Now it was just noise.
03:11Eleanor sat at the head, voice heavy.
03:15Lady Whittemora, your power is great.
03:19But we've seen your emotions are unstable.
03:23For the family's safety, the sealing arts cannot remain solely in your hands.
03:30Callum didn't intervene.
03:33He sat silently, endorsing the ambush.
03:38Jenna added fuel.
03:42I'm only worried Lady Roeth might resent me.
03:45And take it out on the entire Hargroff family.
03:49All eyes turned to me.
03:51I stood and activated the silver sight.
03:54Behind every person, shadows of sacrificed women appeared.
03:58Maids, adopted daughters, wives offered as tribute.
04:02Those who had mocked my scar dropped to their knees in terror.
04:05You wanted to talk safety?
04:07Then look at how many lives you've trampled beneath your feet.
04:12Jenna's smile finally shattered.
04:18Chaos erupted after the ghosts appeared.
04:20Some begged me to withdraw the sight.
04:22Others accused Eleanor.
04:23She paled and instinctively protected the legacy book.
04:25I saw it.
04:26The sacrifice ledger is inside the book.
04:28Eleanor's hand froze.
04:28Callum tried to block me.
04:29Rowena, don't make this uglier.
04:31The ugly one is your family's centuries of blood debt.
04:33Jenna clutched her chest, collapsing into a chair.
04:36I can't breathe.
04:38Callum, I'm so scared.
04:39Callum moved to help her.
04:41But a white serpent shadow blocked him,
04:43staring coldly at Jenna.
04:46She stopped aggravating her sobs.
04:48I approached Eleanor.
04:50Give me the ledger.
04:51Eleanor forced a smile.
04:54Child, those are old matters.
04:56You already died once.
04:57Why keep pursuing?
04:59I leaned close.
05:02Because I died once,
05:04I know exactly what being chosen by you feels like.
05:09Callum watched with fleeting complexity
05:11before Jenna's sobs pulled him away again.
05:14My cold laugh deepened.
05:18He was never worth it.
05:20Callum tried a softer approach that evening,
05:23coming to my room with a gentler tone.
05:27Roland.
05:27Roland, we can cooperate.
05:30You want the silver arrow?
05:32I want the Hargroves to survive.
05:34Our goals...
05:35McLean.
05:36I knew what came next.
05:38The same fake, fake concern from my past life.
05:41I know some words hurt you before,
05:43but now isn't the time to dwell on it.
05:46Some words?
05:47I turned my face so he could see the scar clearly.
05:51You mocked my face.
05:53Protected Jenna as she harmed me.
05:56Demanded.
05:57My seals.
05:58And you call it some words?
06:01Callum frowned.
06:02You're too sensitive now.
06:04Lucien entered with medicine and overheard.
06:07She died once because of you all.
06:09And now you call her sensitive?
06:11Who do you think you are?
06:13Her servant?
06:14Guard?
06:14Or just the dog she keeps?
06:16Lucien remained calm.
06:18I can be anything she wants.
06:20But you?
06:20You're different.
06:21How?
06:22Even when she bleeds,
06:23you only ask why she didn't protect others.
06:26The room fell silent.
06:28I looked away,
06:29no longer wanting to hear Callum.
06:32Give me the key.
06:33Tomorrow we enter the underground chamber.
06:37Callum gritted his teeth
06:39and placed the key on the table.
06:44The underground chamber lay behind Hargrot Hall.
06:48Dust and serpent energy rushed out as the door opened.
06:51Whitmore hunting tools,
06:52silver blades,
06:53short bows,
06:54chains,
06:55hung on the walls like trophies.
06:57My chest tightened.
06:58These belong to my family,
07:00displayed as Hargrot spoils.
07:03As I approached,
07:04the tools hummed in recognition.
07:06Several blades tilted toward me.
07:08Callum's eyes gleamed with greed.
07:11If these can suppress the gate,
07:13why not lend them to the Hargroves first?
07:16After stealing them for centuries,
07:17you still want to borrow more?
07:19Jenna followed us in.
07:21Seeing the tools respond to me,
07:23jealously flashed in her eyes.
07:25Impressive.
07:27Too bad it all came at the cost of your face.
07:31Lucien took a loosened silver blade from the wall
07:33and placed it in my hand.
07:35They recognize you,
07:36not because of your face,
07:39but because you are Whitmore.
07:41His words settled warmly in my heart.
07:43I gripped the blade.
07:45Silver light bloomed.
07:46All the tools vibrated in univine.
07:48Jenna's expression soured completely.
07:50What she hated most wasn't my strength.
07:53It was that even scarred,
07:54I still had someone standing by my side.
07:56Deepest in the chamber hung an old painting.
07:59The first Whitmore lunar huntress
08:01beside a golden-horned white deer.
08:03The deer shielded her from serpents,
08:06its antlers wrapped in moonlight.
08:09Lucien's face changed when he saw it.
08:11He looked away too late.
08:13You've seen this painting?
08:14No.
08:15He answered too quickly.
08:16Callum noticed,
08:17his expression turning dangerous.
08:18Seems your servant knows quite a lot.
08:19I stepped in front of Lucien.
08:21None of your concern.
08:22Callum sneered.
08:22Rowena, you'd shield a mere servant from me?
08:24Lucien's eyes chilled.
08:25I spoke calmly without turning.
08:26He is not a mere servant.
08:27Lucien fell silent.
08:29My own heart stirred unexpectedly at the words.
08:31Jenna watched with a light laugh.
08:32Lady Rowena is so enviable.
08:35Face ruined, yet still so protected.
08:38How much of that protection is real, I wonder?
08:41At least more than what you stole.
08:43Her face darkened.
08:45Suddenly, her bracelet glowed.
08:47Serpent energy corrupted the tools,
08:49turning them against me.
08:52Jenna cried out in fake alarm.
08:54Callum, watch out!
08:55The tools have gone out of control!
08:57But excitement burned in her eyes.
08:59The tools lunged at me.
09:03They heard their silver lament.
09:06They didn't want to harm their true owner.
09:09Jenna's serpent energy forced them.
09:11Callum's first instinct was to shield Jenna.
09:14Rowena!
09:14Control them!
09:15Don't let them touch Jenna!
09:17I ignored him,
09:18and summoned the moon's silver bow.
09:21Moonlight formed the string.
09:24I fired arrows,
09:25tearing serpent energy from the blades one by one.
09:30They fell obediently at my feet.
09:33Each shot burned my scar like a fresh blade cut.
09:35Pain seared through me.
09:37I grit my teeth and kept drawing.
09:39Lucian suddenly grabbed my hand.
09:40Enough!
09:41Not yet cleared!
09:42I said enough, you're hurting.
09:43Everyone else fixated on my scar,
09:45fearing, hating, using it.
09:46Only Lucian cared if it hurt.
09:48This isn't the time for your intimacy.
09:49Rowena, continue.
09:50Lucian turned on him.
09:52Shut your mouth.
09:54Callum's face darkened.
09:57I released the bowstring,
09:59refusing his order for the first time.
10:01The rest can wait until I decide.
10:03Jenna looked furious.
10:04She had wanted to exhaust me.
10:06She never expected Lucian could make me stop,
10:09or that I would choose to for him.
10:12I followed Jaina into the underground water chath.
10:15She stood on the stone steps before the outer serpent gate.
10:18Her innocent mask finally debardened.
10:20Do you know where the silver arrow really is?
10:23I remained silent,
10:24gripping the hilt of the silver blade,
10:25see the sound echoing coldly off the walls.
10:28It's not in the chamber.
10:29It's buried in Althea's heart.
10:32The first Hargroves used it to nail her into the earth vein
10:35and create this gate.
10:37My fingers tightened painfully.
10:39The weight of generations of betrayal pressed down on me.
10:42Jenna stepped closer,
10:43her voice dripping venom.
10:45If you want Whitmore's relic back,
10:47you'll have to pull the arrow.
10:49But the moment you do,
10:51the gate opens.
10:52Everyone will blame you for destroying Hargrove Hall.
10:55Callum will hate you.
10:56Eleanor will hate you.
10:57They'll say you did it because no one could love your scarred face.
11:00The words stung,
11:01but not as deeply as they once would have.
11:03I met her gaze steadily,
11:05the lunar scar on my cheek pulsing with silver light.
11:07You still think I care what Callum thinks of me?
11:10Jenna's smile faltered for a split second.
11:12I continued,
11:14my voice low but firm.
11:15You're wrong.
11:16I didn't come back to prove I'm worthy of love.
11:19I came to make sure all of you pay what you owe.
11:22Her expression turned ugly.
11:24She spat one last barb
11:25before leaping deeper into the waterway.
11:28You really think Lucien will keep protecting you?
11:31Men are all the same.
11:33Once he gets tired of looking at that face,
11:35he'll leave too.
11:37I stood there as her footsteps faded,
11:39the cold water lapping at my boots.
11:41Her words tried to burrow into old wounds,
11:43but Lucien's steady presence in my mind pushed them back.
11:46I turned and climbed back to the surface,
11:48the truth now clear in my heart.
11:50The silver arrow rested in Althea's chest.
11:53Back above ground,
11:55I found Lucien waiting in the shadows of the hall.
11:57His quiet strength grounded me
11:59as I told him what Jenna had revealed.
12:01He listened without interruption,
12:03his eyes never leaving mine.
12:05Will you pull it?
12:06I have to,
12:08but not recklessly.
12:09I'll use Callum's blood,
12:11Jenna's serpent contract,
12:13Chester's serpent court mark,
12:14and Eleanor's sacrifice ledger to form a new seal.
12:17Lucien studied me carefully,
12:19no fear in his gaze,
12:20only unwavering resolve.
12:22Then we do it.
12:24A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.
12:26You won't ask if I'll turn into a monster?
12:29You won't.
12:30How can you be so sure?
12:32He paused,
12:33then stepped closer,
12:34and gently re-wrapped the bandage on my palm.
12:38Because even when you could have let Callum die tonight,
12:41you still saved the entire estate.
12:43His words pierced through the armor I had built around my heart.
12:46I had hated them all so fiercely,
12:49yet I refused to become the destroyer they feared.
12:52Lucien saw that in me when no one else did.
12:54The scar on my face burned less fiercely in that moment.
12:57Tomorrow we go to Eleanor.
12:59Good.
12:59I lingered in his presence a moment.
13:01I lingered in his presence a moment longer,
13:02drawing quiet comfort from the way he stood guard beside me,
13:06unflinching.
13:08Eleanor refused to surrender the sacrifice's ledger.
13:11She sat in the main study,
13:13cradling her peach blossom tea.
13:15Her grandmotherly facade finally stripped away to reveal cold calculation.
13:18Rowena,
13:20you already know too much.
13:22A smart girl knows when to stop.
13:24The memories flooded back.
13:25Her smiles as she fed me poison.
13:28Her indifference as she watched me die.
13:31Anger surged through my veins.
13:33When you sent me into the serpent gate,
13:35in my past life,
13:37did you also think I should have stopped?
13:39Her hand trembled slightly on the teacup.
13:41Do you remember?
13:41I remember everything.
13:43Your sweet words.
13:45The poisoned tea,
13:46how you locked me inside,
13:48without a flicker of remorse.
13:50I sealed her teacup with a silver seal.
13:53The liquid inside turned black.
13:55Serpent shadows thrashing wildly.
13:58Lupien stood behind me.
14:00His presence a wall of silent fury.
14:03Eleanor's composure cracked.
14:05What do you want?
14:07The ledger.
14:08She resisted.
14:11I stepped forward
14:12and sealed her throat with silver light.
14:16Her mouth opened,
14:18but no sound emerged.
14:20You lied so many people to their deaths.
14:23This mouth of yours deserves rest.
14:25I retrieved the ledger from her hidden compartment.
14:28Page after page listed women's names.
14:30The final entry was my own.
14:32Rowena Whitmore.
14:34My fingers clenched until my knuckles whitened.
14:37This life,
14:38I would cross it out myself.
14:42Callum learned of the stolen ledger quickly.
14:44Instead of confronting Mimi directly,
14:46he lured Lupien away
14:48and trapped him in the old underground chapel
14:50beneath Hargrove Hall,
14:52an ancient altar etched with serpent arrays
14:54designed to suppress Lunar Hunt blood.
14:57When I arrived,
14:57Lucien knelt in the center of the array,
14:59covered in wounds,
15:00yet his eyes glowed with a faint golden light.
15:02Callum stood outside the formation,
15:04a silver blade in hand.
15:05Don't come closer, Rowena.
15:06One more step and he dies for you.
15:07Eyes alight with vicious excitement.
15:09Lady Rowena,
15:10you're so powerful.
15:11Choose the silver arrow or him.
15:14Lucien looked at me through the pain
15:15and shook his head wiltly.
15:16Leave me.
15:17The plea tore at my chest.
15:19In my past life,
15:20I had told Callum the same thing,
15:21only for him to abandon me.
15:23I would not repeat his cruelty.
15:24Power erupted from my Huntress mark.
15:26Silver light shattered the serpent array,
15:28inch by inch.
15:30Callum paled.
15:31You're mad.
15:32The Covenant will backlash.
15:34That's not for you to decide.
15:37I rushed into the formation,
15:39grabbed Lucien's hand,
15:40and dragged him free.
15:42His silver gold blood
15:43touched my pie palm,
15:45and the lingering dark energy
15:47recoiled as if burned.
15:51Lucien's blood was not red.
15:53It shimmered with faint silver gold light.
15:55The realization hit me
15:57as the serpent array's rainness fled from him.
15:59Who are you, really?
16:00Lucien remained silent
16:01for a long moment
16:02before answering softly.
16:04I promised to stay
16:04by the Whitmore heir's side.
16:05Promised whom?
16:08He didn't reply.
16:09But Callum had seen the blood.
16:11Greed twisted his features.
16:12So he's even more special than you.
16:14She laughed cruelly.
16:16Callum, if we use him
16:17as the new living lock,
16:18we won't need Rowena anymore.
16:20Callum didn't deny it.
16:22Cold fury settled in my chest.
16:24Touch him,
16:26and I will end
16:27the hog rave bloodline tonight.
16:30You care about him that much?
16:32So even you can feel fear.
16:35I helped Lucien to his feet,
16:36my voice steady
16:38despite the storm inside.
16:40Yes, I fear.
16:42I fear him suffering
16:44the same fate I did.
16:45Being sacrificed by people like you
16:48who treat lives as disposable.
16:50Lucien glanced at me,
16:52emotion flickering in his eyes.
16:54I avoided looking back,
16:56afraid my own feelings
16:58would spill over.
17:01Callum and Jenna
17:02united against us.
17:04They spread rumors
17:05that Lucien's non-human aura
17:07was the true cause
17:09of the gate's instability.
17:11Jenna wept publicly,
17:14claiming she saw
17:14his golden blood
17:15and couldn't sleep from fear.
17:19Callum played
17:20the responsible family head.
17:21I don't want to hurt anyone,
17:23but for the Hargroves,
17:25I must uncover what he is.
17:27The hypocrisy made me want to laugh.
17:30This was their old game.
17:32One crying,
17:33the other forced to act.
17:35Only now,
17:36the knives were aimed elsewhere.
17:40I stepped in front of Lucien.
17:42Anyone who wants to investigate him
17:44goes through me first.
17:46Callum's face darkened.
17:47Rowena,
17:48you'd abandoned
17:49the entire Hargrove family's
17:50safety for him?
17:52I protected him.
17:54You don't deserve it.
17:55Lady Rowena,
17:57have you forgotten
17:57Lucien's just an outsider
17:58you picked up?
17:59An outsider cleaner
18:00than you'll ever be.
18:02Lucien spoke quietly behind me.
18:04You don't have to shield me like this.
18:06I want to.
18:10The words surprised even me.
18:12We retreated to the forest
18:14behind the hall.
18:15Serpent energy
18:16pursued us to the edge
18:17but dared not enter.
18:20Moonlight filtered through the trees
18:22as I tended Lucien's wounds.
18:25Why do you remember the past life?
18:27He was quiet for a long time.
18:30Because when you died,
18:31I was there too.
18:33My hands stilled on the bandages.
18:34I was trapped in the formation.
18:36I heard you begging him
18:37to open the door.
18:38I couldn't break free.
18:39I could only watch it close.
18:42The memory of that freezing night
18:43crashed over me.
18:45Not everyone had abandoned me.
18:48Someone
18:49had tried.
18:51My throat tightened.
18:53I always thought if I were stronger,
18:55you
18:55wouldn't have died.
18:56That wasn't your fault.
18:58But I was still too late.
18:59I looked at him,
19:00the urge to embrace him
19:02nearly overwhelming.
19:03Instead,
19:04I whispered,
19:05this time,
19:06you weren't too late.
19:08Lucien met my eyes
19:09and smiled faintly
19:10for the first time.
19:11It was small,
19:13but it lit up the darkness around us
19:15like moonlight on water.
19:17My huntress mark
19:18began spiraling out of control.
19:22Visions of blood deeds
19:24and deaths
19:25flooded my silver sight.
19:28I saw Eleanor dragged
19:30by ghosts.
19:35Chester devoured
19:37by the serpent court.
19:39Jenna consumed
19:40by her own power.
19:43And Callum begging
19:44on his knees.
19:47Ardus' voice
19:49echoed in my mind,
19:51commanding me
19:52to hunt those.
19:57who fed the serpents.
20:01I nearly summoned
20:02the oath arrow.
20:04Lucien seized my shoulders.
20:06Rowena, look at me.
20:07The silver light
20:08and blood
20:08blurted my vision.
20:10Pain tore through
20:11the scar on my face.
20:13Move!
20:14I need to kill them!
20:15Lucien held firm.
20:17You can take revenge.
20:21But don't give yourself
20:22to the covenant.
20:23He cut his own palm
20:25and pressed the silver-gold blood
20:27against my scar.
20:28The divine fury
20:30retreated.
20:30I could breathe again.
20:32You are not
20:33the goddess's blade.
20:34You are Rowena.
20:36Tears stung my eyes.
20:39He had shown me
20:40I could hurt,
20:41hate,
20:41and still remain myself.
20:44I closed my eyes.
20:46Don't let go.
20:48I will.
20:49Chester stole
20:50the sacrifice ledger,
20:52hoping to trade it
20:53to the serpent court
20:54for freedom.
20:56We tracked him
20:57to an old underground room
20:59where he knelt
21:00before a black serpent mirror.
21:03A pale hand reached out
21:06and took the ledger,
21:07offering no promise.
21:11Executors have no freedom.
21:13Only the next order.
21:18Chester protested
21:19his 43 years of service.
21:22The mirror cracked
21:23and dark energy
21:25retaliated,
21:25rotting his brand.
21:33I didn't save him immediately.
21:36Lady Whitmore,
21:37save me!
21:39I can tell you
21:40how to close the gate!
21:44How many have you
21:46helped kill?
21:47Let him die.
21:49I stabilized the energy
21:51in Chester's body
21:52with a silver seal.
21:55You won't die yet.
21:59You'll watch
22:00what you served
22:00devour you.
22:03I reclaimed the ledger.
22:06The path
22:07to the silver arrow
22:08lay clear.
22:08The path
22:10to the silver arrow
22:11clear.
22:12Jenna publicly
22:13revealed the arrow's
22:14location in Althea's heart.
22:16She stood in the meeting hall,
22:19crying convincingly.
22:22If we get that arrow,
22:24can the Hargroves
22:25be saved?
22:27Callum,
22:28I don't
22:29want you
22:30to die.
22:34The branches
22:35went wild
22:36with desperation.
22:37Callum
22:38pretended to
22:38restrain them,
22:39but I saw
22:40his agent
22:41slipping toward
22:41the hall depths.
22:43I blocked
22:44the entrance.
22:45Call them back.
22:47Callum
22:48stayed silent.
22:49Jenna
22:50tried to
22:50soften it.
22:52Lady Rowena,
22:53why must you
22:53think the worst
22:54of Callum?
22:55He only
22:56wants to
22:57save his
22:57family!
22:58Shut your
22:59mouth.
23:00I faced
23:01Callum
23:01directly.
23:02Do you
23:03want to
23:03save your
23:03family
23:04or steal
23:05my arrow?
23:06If it
23:07can save
23:07the Hargroves,
23:08it shouldn't
23:09belong only
23:10to Whitmore.
23:10His true
23:11nature stood
23:12bare.
23:13The man
23:13who once
23:14wore affection
23:15like a
23:15mask,
23:17now showed
23:19his greed
23:19openly.
23:21I descended
23:22into the
23:22Earthvein
23:23with Lucian,
23:24crossled as
23:25the strage,
23:25and several
23:26clansmen
23:26forced their
23:27way after
23:27us.
23:28Serpent
23:28energy
23:29parted
23:29before me
23:30and recoiled
23:31even more
23:32from Lucian.
23:34At the
23:34core,
23:35Althea was
23:36pinned to
23:37the gate,
23:37the silver
23:38arrow buried
23:39in her
23:39heart.
23:40She lowered
23:40her head,
23:42exposing the
23:42wound,
23:43begging for
23:44release.
23:45I grasped
23:46the arrow's
23:47hilt.
23:47Lucian
23:47stepped
23:48protectively
23:48behind me.
23:50Careful.
23:53Callum
23:53pressed a
23:54silver blade
23:54to Lucian's
23:55throat.
23:55Pull the
23:56arrow,
23:56Rowena,
23:57or he
23:58dies.
24:00I held
24:01the hilt
24:01motionless.
24:02Blood,
24:03silver gold,
24:04trickled from
24:04Lucian's
24:05throat,
24:05exciting the
24:06gate further.
24:07Jenna's eyes
24:08lit with
24:08greed.
24:09Callum,
24:10his blood
24:11can replace
24:11hers.
24:12Use him
24:12as the
24:13new lock.
24:13Callum
24:13didn't deny
24:14it.
24:14Choose
24:15the arrow
24:16or his
24:17life.
24:18Don't
24:18mind me.
24:19The
24:19familiar
24:19cruelty
24:20broke
24:20something
24:21inside
24:21me.
24:22Why
24:22must
24:23everyone
24:23I
24:23cared
24:23for
24:24become
24:24their
24:24leverage?
24:25Do
24:25you
24:25know
24:25what
24:25disgust
24:26is
24:26me
24:26most
24:27about
24:27you?
24:27Callum
24:28frowned.
24:29You
24:29treat
24:29other
24:29people's
24:30sacrifices
24:31as
24:31natural
24:31rights?
24:32I
24:32released
24:32the
24:33arrow
24:33and
24:33slashed
24:34my
24:34plomb
24:35instead,
24:36spilling
24:36silver
24:37blood
24:37to
24:38summon
24:38the
24:38debts.
24:39Ghosts
24:40of
24:40sacrificed
24:41women
24:41rose,
24:42their
24:42eyes
24:43fixed
24:43on
24:44Callum.
24:45This
24:45time,
24:46judgment
24:46fell
24:47on
24:47the
24:47hargards.
24:48The
24:49ghosts
24:49surrounded
24:50Callum.
24:51They
24:51whispered
24:52their
24:52names.
24:53Wives,
24:54maids,
24:55daughters,
24:56and my
24:57past
24:57self.
24:57He stumbled
24:59back,
24:59the blade
25:00leaving Lucian's
25:01throat.
25:02I pulled
25:03Lucian behind
25:04me.
25:05Jenna
25:05launched
25:06for the
25:07arrow.
25:08Serpent
25:09energy from
25:10the gate
25:10seized her
25:11instead,
25:12merging with
25:13her bracelet.
25:15Jenna laughed
25:16wildly as she
25:18began transforming.
25:19finally my
25:21turn.
25:22You knew it
25:22wanted your
25:23body?
25:24So what?
25:26At least
25:27I'll drag
25:27you all
25:28down with
25:28me!
25:29She yanked
25:29the arrow
25:30partially
25:30free.
25:31Althea
25:32screamed.
25:33The gate
25:33cracked.
25:34Jenna,
25:35stop!
25:35Now you're
25:36scared?
25:37You protected
25:38me only
25:38because I
25:39was
25:39useful!
25:40No!
25:42Their mutual
25:43betrayal lay
25:44exposed.
25:45Only I had
25:46once believed
25:46in their
25:46false bond.
25:47Lucian took
25:48my hand.
25:49Rowena,
25:50don't watch.
25:51Do what you
25:51must.
25:52I nodded,
25:53stealing
25:53myself.
25:55The gate's
25:56opening caused
25:57Hargrove Hall
25:58to collapse.
25:59Black rail
26:00tents insurged
26:01from the
26:01ground.
26:02Claxertmen
26:03fled, only
26:04to be caught
26:04by their
26:05own ghosts.
26:06Eleanor was
26:07dragged before
26:08the fireplace,
26:10forced to
26:10confront the
26:11ledger.
26:12Rowena,
26:13save me!
26:13I was
26:14forced!
26:15It was
26:16all for
26:16the family!
26:17That's
26:18exactly
26:19what you
26:19said
26:20while
26:21watching
26:21me die
26:22last time.
26:23She trembled.
26:24I was
26:25wrong!
26:26You're
26:26not
26:26sorry.
26:29You're
26:29just
26:29afraid,
26:30afraid
26:31to die.
26:32The ghosts
26:33pulled her
26:33into silver
26:34flames.
26:35Chester was
26:36devoured by
26:36his own
26:37masters.
26:38I asked
26:38Lucian
26:39if I
26:39seemed
26:39cruel.
26:40No.
26:41They
26:42owed
26:42you.
26:43His
26:43words
26:44erased
26:44my
26:44final
26:45hesitation.
26:46Callum
26:46seized the
26:47silver
26:47arrow and
26:48fled toward
26:49the main
26:49hall to
26:50reseal the
26:51gate.
26:51I chased
26:52him to
26:53the iron
26:53door, the
26:54same one
26:55from my
26:55past life.
26:56Move
26:57aside,
26:57Rowena, and
26:58I'll let
26:59you go.
27:00We can
27:00settle the
27:01past later.
27:02The
27:02past?
27:03You speak
27:03so lightly
27:04of it.
27:05Jenna screamed
27:06for rescue in
27:06the distance.
27:07Callum barely
27:08glanced at her
27:09before turning
27:10away.
27:10He
27:11activated the
27:12mechanism to
27:12crap Lucian
27:13and me.
27:15Inside, Lucian
27:16pushed me aside
27:17and shattered
27:18the door with
27:18explosive silver
27:19gold light.
27:20A golden-horned
27:21white deer
27:22phantom appeared
27:23behind him.
27:24The serpents
27:24recoiled in
27:25fear.
27:26At last, I
27:27understood.
27:27Lucian was the
27:28sacred beast
27:29guardian of the
27:30Whitmores.
27:31Lucian knelt
27:32by the broken
27:33door, the deer
27:34phantom fading.
27:35Callum stared
27:36in shock.
27:37What are
27:37you?
27:38What are you?
27:40Something far
27:41cleaner than
27:42you.
27:42The serpent
27:42court envoy
27:43emerged,
27:44terrified.
27:45Moon, dear
27:46guardian,
27:47you still
27:49live.
27:50Lupien looked
27:50at me with
27:51apology.
27:52I didn't mean
27:52to hide it.
27:53We'll settle
27:54accounts after
27:54we get out.
27:56He smiled.
27:57I grasped
27:58the silver
27:59arrow.
27:59The huntress
28:00covenant fully
28:01awakened.
28:03Artemis
28:03warned of
28:04the price.
28:06Use mine.
28:07No.
28:07I'm the
28:08guardian.
28:09I should
28:10pay for
28:10you.
28:13I already
28:14died for
28:14others once.
28:15This life,
28:18I pay for
28:19my own
28:20choices.
28:24The oath
28:25arrow formed
28:25in cold
28:26white light.
28:28Jenna,
28:28half serpent,
28:29charged in
28:30hatred.
28:31Why can
28:33you still
28:33stand?
28:36Why do
28:36you still
28:37have someone
28:37protecting you
28:38like that?
28:39Because I
28:40never gave
28:40myself to
28:41you.
28:42Lucian
28:42shielded me
28:43as the
28:43dear phantom
28:44repelled the
28:45energy.
28:46Callum begged
28:47on his
28:47knees.
28:48Roash,
28:48save me.
28:49I was
28:49wrong.
28:50In the
28:50past life,
28:51I had no
28:51choice.
28:52You had
28:53choices.
28:54Every time,
28:55you chose
28:56to hurt me.
28:57I drew
28:58the bow.
28:58Artemis
28:59demanded a
28:59span of
29:00lifespan.
29:00I accepted.
29:02Lupien cried
29:02out, but I
29:04reassured him
29:04with a glance.
29:05Don't worry.
29:06I still need
29:07to settle
29:08your secret
29:08with you.
29:09I released
29:09the arrow.
29:11It pierced
29:12Jenna, the
29:13gate, the
29:14blood contracts,
29:16and buried
29:16deep into the
29:17earth vein.
29:19Silver light
29:19exploded.
29:21The serpent
29:22tort passages
29:22collapsed.
29:24The gate
29:25sealed.
29:26Althira's
29:27wound healed.
29:31She placed
29:32a final
29:32white scale
29:33in my
29:33palm, before
29:35dissolving into
29:35light, finally
29:37free.
29:38Jenna lay
29:38dying, her
29:39body rejecting
29:40the serpent
29:41energy.
29:42I'm not
29:43willing.
29:43Why did
29:44someone like
29:45you win?
29:46Because I
29:46lost once, and
29:48I refused to
29:48lose again.
29:49Her body was
29:50consumed, leaving
29:51only shattered
29:52coral.
29:52Callum's
29:53death mark
29:54vanished, but
29:55so did his
29:55family's power.
29:57He knelt
29:58broken in the
29:58ruins.
30:03Rowena, save
30:04me once
30:04more, for
30:07our past.
30:08In the past
30:08life, he
30:09told me to
30:10hold the
30:10serpents until
30:11I died.
30:14I left him
30:14there, to
30:18face his fate
30:19alone.
30:23As the
30:24hall fully
30:25collapsed, Callum
30:26chased after me
30:27one last time,
30:28desperate.
30:29Rowish, I was
30:30deceived by
30:31Jenna.
30:32Now I see
30:33clearly!
30:34You weren't
30:35deceived.
30:36You chose
30:37convenient lies
30:37every single
30:38time.
30:39Lucien stepped
30:40forward, blocking
30:41Callum's view of
30:42me.
30:42Don't look at
30:43her.
30:44You have no
30:45right.
30:46Callum froze.
30:47I allowed the
30:48protection, embracing
30:50it fully this
30:51time.
30:54At dawn, Hargrove
30:56Hall sank
30:57completely into
30:58ruin.
31:00I stood at a
31:02distance, watching
31:04the last serpent's
31:06stench blow away on
31:07the wind.
31:08My huntress mark and
31:09scar remained, but
31:13so did my resolve.
31:20Lucien stood beside
31:21me.
31:22Does it still
31:22hurt?
31:25Why do you always
31:26ask that?
31:27Because you always
31:27pretend it doesn't.
31:29I laughed genuinely
31:30for the first time in
31:31ages.
31:33Lucien, how long
31:34have you guarded the
31:35Whitmans?
31:35Long enough, that I
31:37feared I'd always
31:37arrive too late.
31:38This time you didn't.
31:40Rowena, I never
31:41loved your face.
31:44His gaze held mine,
31:46never wavering to
31:47the scar.
31:50I love that you
31:51crawled back from
31:52hell to claim your
31:53debts, and still
31:54chose to save the
31:55innocent.
32:00I took his hand
32:01willingly.
32:02Then don't be late
32:03again.
32:03I won't.
32:04We walked away from
32:05the ruins together
32:06into the morning light.
32:08This time, I didn't
32:12look back.
32:16he剛剛 said I hadhail
32:16Khan, welche but
32:16he angeальное a
32:16window. Once
32:17you figured
32:17You
Comments