THE DEVIL'S BRIDE
Episode 16: Message in Blood
By Rapwizzy Debaron
The sun never rose the next morning.
Clouds strangled the sky. Crows circled the spires. And silence haunted the courtyard.
Until the scream came.
Evelyn ran, her bare feet cold against the stone, flames trailing her steps.
She reached the northern gate—and stopped.
A body hung from the tower.
General Kael.
Dead. Drained. Marked.
A black sigil was burned into his chest: the Serpent Crown, Seraphina's symbol.
But worse than his death was what hung below him.
A banner. Red. Written in blood.
"Return the healer — or this continues."
---
Lucien stormed in, rage in his eyes.
"They found out. Nyla never made it far enough."
"She didn't betray us again," Evelyn said through gritted teeth. "Seraphina planned this before I ever let her go."
"Then it's war," Lucien growled.
"No," Evelyn whispered. "It's already begun."
---
Later that night, Evelyn stood alone at Kael's grave.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I promised to protect everyone. And now… my mercy has cost another life."
She turned when she felt his presence.
Lucien.
"She's trying to break you," he said.
"She might succeed," Evelyn whispered.
He stepped closer, touched her cheek. "You gave someone a chance to choose right. That's not weakness. That's leadership."
She didn't respond. Just leaned into his hand.
His touch was warm. Real.
Reminding her she hadn't lost herself completely.
Not yet.
---
Deep in Seraphina's dark palace, the queen watched through her obsidian mirror.
"She still thinks she can save them," she said coldly.
Beside her, a cloaked child knelt — frightened, chained.
"Let her hope," the queen smirked. "I'll burn it last."
The child's eyes flickered gold.
A familiar gold.
The healer's son.
And inside him… something ancient stirred.
Something not human.
---
To be continued…
One death.
One warning.
One child holding a secret that could destroy both queens.
Vote if this episode tore at your heart.
Comment: What do you think the child truly is?
Follow @RapwizzyDebaron — Ep
isode 17 brings Evelyn to the edge of vengeance… and reveals the true reason Seraphina fears her.