Chapter 115: The Past’s Shadows
Melissa’s POV
Behind me, flames continued to crackle, and the air was heavy with the smell of molten gold and burning stone. The throne, which represented all that had governed this realm, was no longer there. Destroyed.
However, it was insufficient.
Deep within me, I sensed a hollow aching that would not go away.
“Melissa,” Kane said, breaking through the confusion. He spoke in a quiet, cautious tone, as if addressing a stranger.
I gently turned to look at him. His silver eyes were burning with worry, but beneath that was skepticism.
Sternly, “We need to talk,” he said.
I folded my arms. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
He tightened his jaw. Melissa, you set fire to the throne. You ruined it.
I snarled, “Because it deserved to be destroyed,” “Lies were the foundation of this kingdom. On blood. On shackles. We must start afresh if we wish to make things better.
I remained motionless as Kane took a step closer.
“You don’t sound like yourself,” he said at the end.
I tensed up.
“I am exactly who I need to be.”
Kane gave a headshake. “No. You’re colder. Sharper. The Melissa I-” is not this one. I knew what he would say, but he stopped himself.
He loved Melissa.
I averted my eyes as my heart twisted.
“I have to do this, Kane,” I muttered.
He bawled his fingers into fists. “Destroying everything won’t fix the past.”
I raised my chin. “Then I’ll destroy the past, too.”
Around me, the room dimmed. The fire cooled. The globe, Kane, and the voices of the people all disappeared.
A voice that I had assumed I would never hear again murmured in the solitude.
“You think you’re free?”
My breath caught.
No. No, he had left. I had witnessed his demise.
Melissa, you can burn a throne. You can’t burn me, though.
With shaking hands, I closed my eyes. It isn’t authentic. It isn’t authentic.
“Oh, but it is.”
Chills ran down my spine as cold air curled around me.
I whirled around, but nothing was there. Only the familiar, low, mocking echo of his laughing.
“You’re doing exactly what I would have done,” he said. It’s nearly lyrical. Despite your hatred for me, you are now completing the task I began.
I tightened my jaw. “I am nothing like you.”
The laughter encircled me like chains as it got louder.
“Aren’t you?”
A piercing ache stabbed my consciousness, causing me to gasp. The world became hazy, with darkness engulfing me.
When I opened my eyes, I discovered that I was in a different era.
Smoke was heavy in the air. My nostrils were flooded with the smell of burning wood. In the distance, there were screams.
This was a location I knew.
I was aware of this moment.
I had visited this place previously.
A tall, strong woman who looked frighteningly familiar stood in front of me. Her bright eyes gleamed with resolve, and her long silver hair blew in the breeze.
She looked like me.
She was standing in the center of a kingdom that was on fire.
Before her, people bowed and begged and pleaded. She didn’t listen, though. The flames increased as she raised her hand.
“Burn it all,” she ordered.
My stomach turned over.
No. It wasn’t real.
This was
A previous existence.
A memory that has been forgotten.
It was a mistake I had already made.
As I staggered back, I gasped for breath.
The words “History is a circle, Melissa,” came softly into my ear from Darius. “No matter how hard you try to break free… you always end up right back where you started.”
I gripped my skull. “No, this isn’t the same. I’m unique.
“Are you?”
I looked back at the kingdom in flames. To her.
She turned abruptly, her golden eyes meeting mine.
She stated, “You can’t stop it,”
Then she grinned.
And I sensed that I was plummeting.
I awoke with a gasp, my body shaking.
Kane was standing in front of me, shaking me with his hands on my shoulders.
“Melissa!” His voice was piercing and terrified. “What took place? You just-passed out!”
I blinked quickly as my eyesight adjusted. The room of the flaming throne. The faces of fear.
My people.
I took a trembling breath.
Once more, I was doing it.
I was turning into her.
With my heart racing, I stepped back.
No. I wouldn’t allow the past to happen again.
I wouldn’t-
“Melissa,” Kane repeated, his tone suddenly quieter. “Look at me.”
Yes, I did.
And I saw the truth in his eyes for the first time.
I was becoming less of myself.
I took a deep breath. “Kane, I-”
His face hardened as he let out a sharp exhale. “If you’re not going to stop… If you refuse to hear reason…
He took a step back and reached for his sword.
“Then I’ll stop you myself.”
The room went cold.
The air became dense.
My heart stopped beating.
My Kane, my Kane, had his blade aimed at me.
Unable to move or breathe, I just stared at him.
I muttered, “You don’t want to do this.”
His gaze grew gloomy. “Then stop me.”
Between us, the tension crackled.
In my ears, my heartbeat screamed.
And I recognized the man I had once placed the greatest amount of trust in.
This was just the start.