Chapter 22

Sarah's POV

The mansion felt unnaturally still that evening, as if the very walls were holding their breath. The usual creaks and groans of the ancient house seemed muted, replaced by an oppressive silence that pressed against my chest. A tension had settled over the night like a shroud, one I couldn't shake no matter how I tried to distract myself.

I stood at the top of the grand staircase, half-hidden in the shadows, watching the Blackwoods below. They moved in hurried, tense motions, their voices low but sharp. The light from the chandelier reflected off Eleanor's necklace, the diamonds flashing like cold fire as she gestured emphatically toward Victor.

"The summons is clear," Victor said, his voice a deep, resonant growl that seemed to echo through the hall. "We have no choice. The time has come."

Eleanor's expression twisted, her carefully composed mask cracking. "It's too soon. Things aren't stable. She's-"

"It doesn't matter." Victor cut her off, his words sharp enough to draw blood.

"She" had to be me. Who else could they be speaking about with such urgency? My stomach churned, a mixture of dread and curiosity keeping me rooted in place.

Eren stood apart from the others, his hands clasped behind his back, his face unreadable. He hadn't spoken, hadn't even moved, but his presence dominated the room. His shadow stretched across the floor like a dark omen, and for a moment, I felt a pang of unease I couldn't place.

Axel, leaning casually against the wall, broke the tense silence. "We're wasting time. You all know what happens if we don't answer the summons." His tone was light, mocking even, but there was an edge beneath it, a bitterness that made my skin prickle.

"Then we leave now," Victor declared, and with that, the decision was made.

One by one, they gathered their coats and stepped out into the night, leaving without a backward glance.

I waited for the sound of the heavy doors to close before slipping down the stairs. The foyer was empty, the air still heavy with the tension they'd left behind. My heart raced as I hesitated at the door, my hand hovering over the cold brass handle.

I shouldn't follow them. Every instinct screamed at me to stay put, to lock the doors and pretend I hadn't overheard their cryptic conversation. But I couldn't. Not after everything I'd seen, everything I'd felt.

I stepped outside into the cold night air, the chill biting through my thin shawl. The full moon hung low in the sky, casting the sprawling estate in an eerie silver light. The Blackwoods were already disappearing into the woods, their lanterns bobbing in the distance.

I followed them, keeping to the shadows, my breaths shallow and quiet. The fog curled around my feet, thick and cloying, muffling my footsteps as I moved deeper into the forest. The trees loomed overhead, their bare branches twisting like skeletal fingers against the sky.

I kept my distance, but not too far. The faint sound of their voices guided me, though the words were lost to the wind. My mind raced with questions. What could be so urgent, so secretive, that they had to sneak away in the dead of night?

The forest seemed endless, the twisting path winding deeper and deeper into darkness. My heart pounded against my ribs as I stumbled over roots and fallen branches, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

Finally, the trees thinned, and I found myself at the edge of a clearing. At its center stood a crumbling stone structure, its ancient facade covered in moss and ivy. It exuded an aura of foreboding, as though the very ground around it recoiled from its presence.

The Blackwoods approached the mausoleum without hesitation. Victor led the way, his lantern casting long, flickering shadows. Eleanor followed, her face pale and set, and then Axel, his usual swagger replaced by a wary tension.

Eren was the last to enter, his shoulders rigid, his expression unreadable.

The heavy stone door groaned shut behind them, and I was left alone in the oppressive silence of the clearing.

I hesitated, my body trembling with both fear and determination. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, to leave this dark place and forget I had ever followed them. But I couldn't.

Summoning every ounce of courage, I crept forward, pressing myself against the cold stone wall of the mausoleum. My fingers found a narrow crack near the door, and I leaned in, peering into the chamber beyond.

The interior was stark and ominous, lit by flickering torches mounted on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something sharper, metallic-like blood.

The room was circular, its walls lined with carvings that seemed to writhe in the firelight. Symbols I didn't recognize, grotesque figures locked in eternal torment. At the center of the chamber stood an altar, its surface stained dark with years of sacrifice.

Victor placed a massive, ancient tome on the altar, its leather cover cracked and worn. He opened it with reverence, his hands steady despite the weight of what he was about to do.

"The pact must be upheld," Victor said, his voice deep and commanding. "The bloodline demands it."

Eleanor crossed her arms, her sharp gaze flicking toward Eren. "And what of Sarah? If she learns the truth-"

"She won't," Eren interrupted, his voice cold and steady. "I'll take care of it."

My breath hitched, my chest tightening with fear.

Eleanor's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Like you've taken care of the others?"

Axel snorted, his tone laced with bitterness. "Let's not pretend you're the reluctant savior, Eren. You've always been the most... enthusiastic about your role."

My stomach churned as their words sank in. Others? What others?

Eren's face darkened, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Axel. "Don't push me."

Axel stepped closer, his smirk replaced by something colder. "What's the matter, little brother? Don't want Sarah to know how many women have died because of you?

The air in the chamber grew thick with tension.

Victor slammed his hands onto the altar, his voice booming. "Enough! This is not the time for petty squabbles."

He began to chant in a guttural language I didn't recognize, the harsh syllables reverberating off the stone walls. The torches flared brighter, their flames casting monstrous shadows across the room.

Eren stepped forward, drawing a gleaming blade from within his coat. The firelight caught the edge of the blade, illuminating its wickedly sharp surface.

"By blood, the Blackwood line endures," Victor intoned, his eyes locked on Eren.

Eren pressed the blade to his palm without hesitation, drawing it across his skin. Blood welled up, dark and viscous, dripping onto the altar.

"For every generation, a price must be paid," Victor continued. "By blood, by sacrifice, the curse binds us and sustains us."

Eleanor moved to the altar, her expression grim as she held out her own hand. One by one, they all followed, adding their blood to the dark ritual.

---

As the ritual continued, Axel's voice broke the chant as he looks towards the dark corner where i could make out 2 figures, it was undeniably clear that they were women. "Let's not forget the real price of this curse. The women, the innocents-do you feel their blood on your hands, Eren?"

Eren didn't flinch. Instead, he turned to face Axel, his eyes cold and empty. "They were necessary."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

"They were people," Axel snapped, his voice rising. "You didn't have to kill them."

"They were weak," Eren said, his tone sharp and unfeeling. "And they served their purpose."

My knees threatened to buckle as the truth unraveled before me. Eren-the man I had loved, the man I had trusted-had killed. Not out of desperation or necessity, but as part of some twisted tradition.

"They didn't deserve it," Axel continued, his voice quieter now, filled with anger and pain. "But you've always been good at justifying murder, haven't you?"

Eren's expression didn't waver. "This family survives because of sacrifice. If you can't stomach it, maybe you don't belong here."

_

I couldn't bear to hear another word. My vision blurred with tears as I stumbled away from the chamber, the weight of their words pressing down on me like a physical force.

The forest seemed darker now, the trees closing in as I fled. My breaths came in ragged gasps, the cold air burning my lungs.

I had married into a nightmare.

And there was no way out.