Chapter 2: Ashes of the Celebration

The explosion echoed across Blackridge Valley, shaking every window of the ancient manor.

Flames swallowed the decorated garden in seconds.

Smoke rolled across the estate like a living monster.

Evelyn struggled to breathe as dust and ash filled the air.

"Lily!" she screamed again.

Ignoring the pain in her legs, she stumbled through the burning debris.

Pieces of broken stone and shattered glass covered the ground.

Everywhere she looked, people were helping the injured.

"Get everyone away from the fire!" Orion shouted.

His voice carried over the chaos as he lifted a fallen pillar from two trapped guests.

Nearby, Ryland emerged from the smoke carrying Lily safely in his arms.

"Mama!" the little girl cried, reaching toward Evelyn.

Tears instantly filled Evelyn's eyes.

She rushed forward and wrapped Lily in her arms.

"You're safe... thank God you're safe."

Lily buried her face against Evelyn's shoulder.

"It was loud," she whispered.

"I know, sweetheart."

"It's over now."

But Evelyn knew she was lying.

This was only the beginning.

"Where's Thaddeus?" she suddenly asked.

Ryland looked around.

"He was beside you before the blast."

Panic settled over everyone.

"Thaddeus!" Orion shouted.

No response.

Several guards immediately began searching through the burning ruins.

Minutes felt like hours.

Finally, one of the security guards yelled.

"Over here!"

Everyone rushed toward the collapsed stone wall.

Half buried beneath broken marble and wooden beams lay Thaddeus.

His body shielded the place where Evelyn had been standing.

Blood trickled from a deep cut across his forehead.

"Move these beams!" Ryland ordered.

Three guards helped lift the heavy debris.

As soon as Thaddeus was free, his silver eyes slowly opened.

"Evie..."

"I'm here," Evelyn answered, kneeling beside him.

"Are you hurt?"

Instead of answering, he looked toward Lily.

"Our daughter?"

"She's safe."

Only then did he allow himself to relax.

"Good."

Orion examined the surrounding area.

"This wasn't an accident."

"Definitely not," Ryland agreed.

"The explosive was placed beneath the platform."

"Someone planned this."

A security officer approached carrying a small metal fragment.

"Sir, we recovered this near the blast center."

Thaddeus accepted the object.

It was a black steel coin engraved with an unfamiliar symbol.

A crown surrounded by three intertwined serpents.

"Have you seen it before?" Evelyn asked.

Thaddeus stared at the symbol for several long seconds.

His expression hardened.

"Unfortunately... yes."

"What is it?" Orion asked.

"The mark of the Obsidian Circle."

Silence fell over the group.

"I thought they disappeared decades ago," Ryland said quietly.

"So did I."

Marcus, the captain of the royal guard, hurried toward them.

"Your Majesty, we've secured the estate."

"Casualties?"

"Several injuries."

"Thankfully... no deaths."

Everyone released a sigh of relief.

"Search every inch of the property," Thaddeus ordered.

"No one enters or leaves until I know who did this."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Hours later, emergency crews continued clearing the destroyed garden.

The once beautiful celebration now looked like a battlefield.

Burned decorations lay scattered across the ground.

The birthday cake had been reduced to ashes.

Evelyn stood quietly beside the broken fountain.

"You should be resting," Thaddeus said as he approached.

"I can't."

"Every time I close my eyes, I hear the explosion again."

He gently placed a hand over hers.

"I failed to protect you."

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

"You saved my life."

"If you hadn't pushed me..."

Neither of them finished the sentence.

Across the courtyard, Marcus suddenly called out.

"Sir!"

"We found something else."

The group hurried over.

One of the guards held a small black envelope that had somehow survived the explosion.

"There wasn't any address," the guard explained.

"Only this symbol."

The same three-serpent crown.

Thaddeus carefully opened the envelope.

Inside was a single piece of paper.

Written in dark red ink were only eight words.

"The King will fall before the next moon."

Ryland cursed under his breath.

"Someone's declaring war."

"No," Thaddeus replied coldly.

"They already started one."

Before anyone could speak again, another guard rushed toward them.

"Captain! We've found footprints leading into the northern forest."

"Fresh?" Marcus asked.

"Less than thirty minutes old."

Thaddeus looked toward the dark forest beyond the estate walls.

His silver eyes slowly darkened until they were almost black.

"Prepare my horse."

"You're going after them tonight?" Evelyn asked.

"Every second we wait gives them time to disappear."

"Then I'm coming too."

"Absolutely not."

"This attack was aimed at our family," Evelyn argued.

"I deserve answers just as much as you do."

Thaddeus looked at her silently.

Finally, he sighed.

"Fine."

"But you stay beside me every second."

Ryland smirked.

"Looks like the family reunion just turned into a manhunt."

Within the hour, the four of them rode toward the northern forest.

None of them realized that hidden among the trees, someone watched their every movement.

A hooded figure smiled beneath the shadows.

"Exactly as planned," the stranger whispered.

"The hunt has begun."