Aria's POV
I don't sleep.
Every time I close my eyes, I see that figure in the garden. Those storm-gray eyes watching me from the darkness.
Don't tell anyone. Not even your friend with the red hair.
How does C know about Lyra? How long has he been watching me?
By morning, I'm exhausted and jumpy. Every shadow looks like someone hiding. Every sound makes me flinch.
Dad notices at breakfast. Are you okay? You look tired.
Couldn't sleep. I push eggs around my plate. Still adjusting, I guess.
He reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. It'll get easier. Give it time.
But I don't have time. Tonight at 8 PM, I'm supposed to meet a stranger who knows impossible things about me.
My phone buzzes. A text from Lyra: Found something. Meet me at the bookshop. ASAP.
I grab my jacket.
Lyra's occult bookshop sits between a coffee place and a Laundromat. The sign says Thorne's Mysteries in faded gold letters. Inside, it smells like old paper and candle wax.
Lyra is waiting behind the counter, surrounded by open books. Her red hair is tied back, and she has dark circles under her eyes.
You look terrible, I say.
Right back at you. She waves me over. I've been up all night researching. You need to see this.
She opens a massive leather book to a marked page. The title reads: The Mortivane Covenant: Resurrection of the Dead.
My stomach twists. What is this?
The only resurrection ritual that actually works. Lyra points to an illustration of a circle drawn in blood. It's forbidden. Dangerous. And extremely rare. But it can bring someone back from death.
How?
Someone has to pay a price. A life debt. They perform the ritual and offer something valuable in exchange usually their own life span, their magic, or their soul. Lyra looks up at me. Whoever brought you back sacrificed something huge, Aria. And they did it willingly.
But why? Why would someone do that for me?
That's what we need to find out. She flips to another page. Look at this part. 'The resurrected shall bear the mark of their resurrection gift or curse tied to the price paid. They may see truths others cannot, speak with the dead, or command elements. But they shall also bear a debt written upon their flesh, visible only to those who understand the covenant.'
My blank wrist, I whisper. That's the debt?
Maybe. Or maybe the debt is something else. Lyra closes the book. Aria, whoever did this owns a piece of you now. They can call in that debt whenever they want. And you won't be able to refuse.
Fear crawls up my spine. So I'm what? Their property?
I don't know. But we need to find out who performed the ritual before they come to collect.
I think about the mysterious texts. About C watching me through my window.
Maybe it's already too late.
There's something else, I say quietly. I've been getting messages. From someone who signs as C.
Lyra's eyes narrow. What kind of messages?
They know I died. They know I came back different. They want to meet tonight. I show her the texts.
Lyra reads them, her face going pale. This person was watching your house. Watching us. Aria, this is dangerous.
I know.
You're not actually going to meet them, right?
I look at my best friend. She's trying to protect me. But she doesn't understand.
I have to. They might have answers.
Or they might be the one who resurrected you! Coming to collect their debt! Lyra grabs my shoulders. You could be walking into a trap.
Then come with me.
The text said to come alone.
I don't care what it said. I pull away. If C is dangerous, I'm not facing them alone. You're coming. We'll just hide you nearby.
Lyra studies me for a long moment. Then she nods. Fine. But we're bringing protection. She disappears into the back room and returns with two necklaces made of black cord and strange symbols. Wear this. It's a ward against dark magic.
I put it on. It feels warm against my skin.
When do we leave? Lyra asks.
Six hours. I check my phone. It's 2 PM now. The address is 247 Cathedral Street. Some old church building.
I know that place. It's been abandoned for years. Or at least, everyone thinks it is.
A chill runs through me. What do you mean?
There are rumors. About someone buying it a few years ago. Someone who collects magical artifacts and rare objects. Someone who deals in impossible things.
The words from C's text echo in my mind: I deal in rare artifacts and impossible things.
Who? I demand.
Before Lyra can answer, the shop door chimes.
We both spin around.
A man stands in the doorway. Tall, wearing an expensive suit despite the casual hour. His dark hair is perfectly styled. His face could be carved from marble beautiful but cold.
And when I look at his wrist, I don't see golden numbers.
I see shadows. Dark, writhing shadows that move like smoke and hurt my eyes to look at.
My heart stops.
Hello, Aria, he says in a voice like smooth whiskey. I'm glad you're here. Saves me a trip.
Who are you? Lyra steps in front of me protectively.
The man's gray eyes don't leave mine. Caspian Vorelis. And I need to speak with Aria. Now.
This is C. The person who's been texting me. Who was watching my window last night.
He's here. In the daylight. Not hiding anymore.
How did you find me? I ask.
I've always known where you were. Caspian takes a step forward. Everyone in the shop seems to fade into the background, like they don't even notice him. Since the moment you came back.
Stay away from her, Lyra warns, pulling out something from her pocket a small knife with symbols carved into the handle.
Caspian glances at it with amusement. That won't work on me. But I appreciate the loyalty. He looks back at me. We need to talk. About what you are. About what's coming for you.
What's coming for me?
Hunters. Magic collectors. People who would dissect you to understand how you came back. His expression darkens. You're in danger, Aria. And I'm the only one who can protect you.
Why should I trust you?
Because I'm the one who brought you back from death. His voice drops to barely a whisper. And I'm the only one who knows the truth about your resurrection.
The world tilts.
He did it. He's the one who performed the ritual. Who paid the price?
Why? The word comes out broken.
Caspian's mask slips for just a second, and I see something in his eyes that looks like pain. Because you deserved to live. And they deserved to pay for killing you.
You know about Julian and Celeste?
I know everything. He pulls out a business card and sets it on the counter. 247 Cathedral Street. Tonight at 8 PM. I'll answer all your questions. But right now, you need to leave this shop. They're coming.
Who's coming?
As if in answer, the shop windows explode.
Glass flies everywhere. I scream and hit the floor. Lyra covers me with her body.
Through the broken windows, figures in black clothes pour in. They have weapons strange devices that glow blue.
Magic hunters, Caspian says calmly, like this happens every day. He grabs my arm and pulls me up. Run. Now.
Lyra I start.
I'll handle them, Lyra says, already chanting something in a language I don't know. Light sparks from her hands.
Caspian drags me toward the back exit. Behind us, I hear fighting. Crashes. Lyra shouting spells.
We can't leave her! I try to pull away.
She can take care of herself. You can't. Caspian kicks open the back door and pulls me into an alley. They're here for you, Aria. Not her.
A black car waits in the alley, engine running. Caspian shoves me into the back seat and climbs in after me. The driver man with a friendly face hits the gas.
We peel away from the shop.
I look back through the rear window. The hunters are pouring out of Lyra's shop, looking for us.
What just happened? I'm shaking. Who were those people?
People who hunt resurrected beings. They sensed your magic signature. Caspian adjusts his suit calmly, like we weren't just attacked. You're valuable to them. Rare. They want to study you. Sell you. Use you.
How do they know about me?
Because resurrection magic leaves a trace. A signature that certain people can detect. He looks at me with those storm-gray eyes. You're broadcasting your existence to every magic user within a hundred miles. It's only a matter of time before more come.
So what do I do?
You come with me. To my estate. It's protected. Warded. They can't follow you there. Caspian leans forward. And tonight, I'll tell you everything. About the ritual. About what you've become. About the price I paid to bring you back.
My phone buzzes. A text from Lyra: I'm okay. Shop is trashed but they're gone. Where are you?
I text back quickly: Safe. With C. I'll explain later.
Her response is immediate: BE CAREFUL.
I look at Caspian. At the shadows on his wrist that move and shift like they're alive.
What's the price you paid? I ask.
Everything, he says simply. I paid everything.
The car turns onto a private road lined with iron gates.
Whatever happens next, there's no going back.
I've just been kidnapped by the man who brought me back from death.
And I have no idea if I should thank him or run.
Timeline: Day 2, Afternoon