The cold air stung as we were pulled through the winding passages beneath the palace. Naomi clung to my arm, her grip tightening with every step, as if she could feel the weight of the words we had just heard. The guards didn't say much, their faces grim, their hands firm as they ushered us through dark, narrow corridors that seemed to go on forever.

My mind raced, trying to piece together what the advisor had said. "Marked? What did he mean by that?" I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.

One of the guards turned his head slightly, his expression hard to read in the dim light. "You'll find out soon enough. But for now, we need to get you to safety."

Naomi's breathing was ragged, and I could feel her trembling beside me. She was trying to hold it together, but the events of the past hour were taking their toll. I squeezed her hand in reassurance, but inside, I was just as terrified.

Finally, we reached a heavy iron door, the guard in the lead pushing it open with a grunt. The door creaked loudly, revealing a small chamber with a single, flickering torch mounted on the wall. The guard motioned for us to enter.

"This is as far as we go," he said, his tone final. "Stay here. Someone will come for you soon."

Before I could ask who or why, the door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the chamber. We were alone.

Naomi collapsed onto the cold stone floor, burying her face in her hands. "Abigail, what are we going to do?" she sobbed, her voice filled with despair.

I knelt beside her, my own fear threatening to overwhelm me. But I couldn't break down—not now. Naomi needed me to be strong, and there was no way I was going to let whatever was out there take her from me.

"We'll figure it out," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Whatever this 'mark' is, we'll deal with it together. But first, we need to find out what it means."

The torch flickered as if responding to our uncertainty, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The room was small, barely more than a cell, with no windows and only one door—the one we had just come through. I stood up and began pacing, trying to shake off the sense of impending doom.

Naomi looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy. "Do you think Sebastian is safe?" she asked, her voice quivering.

I hesitated. The truth was, I didn't know. "I hope so," I finally replied. "But I'm not sure we can trust anyone right now. Not after what the advisor said."

We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the occasional drip of water somewhere in the distance. My thoughts kept returning to the advisor's words: "You have no idea what you've unleashed." The more I thought about it, the more it felt like we were part of something much bigger, something we couldn't possibly understand.

After what felt like hours, the iron door creaked open again. Naomi and I jumped to our feet, tense and ready for whatever might come through. But instead of guards or another ominous figure, a woman stepped into the chamber. She was tall, with sharp features and long, silver hair that flowed down her back. Her eyes were a piercing blue, filled with a strange mixture of sadness and determination.

"I am Zara," she said, her voice soft but commanding. "I've been sent to help you."

"Help us?" I asked, not trusting her sudden appearance. "Who sent you?"

Zara looked at us, her expression unreadable. "I serve the queen, but not in the way you might think. There are forces at play here that go beyond what you can see or understand. The advisor was right about one thing—by saving Sebastian, you've set things in motion that cannot be undone."

Naomi looked at her, fear and confusion written all over her face. "What do you mean? What have we done?"

Zara sighed, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. "Sebastian was never meant to be saved. His life was tied to something ancient, something dark. By saving him, you've awakened that darkness. And now, it's coming for you."

My heart sank. "What are we supposed to do? How do we stop it?"

Zara stepped closer, her blue eyes intense. "You can't stop it. Not entirely. But you can delay it, buy yourselves time to find a way to break the curse. You'll need to leave the palace, go far away from here. There are people who can help you, but they are few and far between."

Naomi gripped my arm tightly, her nails digging into my skin. "Abigail, we can't do this alone," she whispered, her voice trembling.

I nodded, swallowing my fear. "We won't be alone," I said, looking at Zara. "But we need to know who we can trust."

Zara gave a small, sad smile. "Trust is a luxury you can't afford right now. But I will guide you as best as I can. There's a place, deep in the mountains to the north. It's hidden, protected by old magic. If you can reach it, you might find the answers you need."

She reached into the folds of her cloak and pulled out a small, ornate key. "This will get you into the sanctuary. But be warned—getting there will not be easy. And once you arrive, you may not like what you find."

I took the key from her, feeling its weight in my hand. "We don't have a choice," I said, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides. "We'll go."

Zara nodded. "Then you must leave now. The longer you stay, the more dangerous it becomes. I'll cover your escape, but you need to move quickly."

As Zara turned to leave, Naomi and I exchanged a look. We were terrified, uncertain, but there was no turning back. We had to survive this—together.

With one last glance at the small chamber that had been our refuge, we followed Zara into the darkness, knowing that whatever lay ahead, we would face it side by side.

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I'm so sorry for the late update wasn't expecting to let the stress of my job block me from writing but do enjoy see next chapter in next update.