First message
The throne room burned without fire.
That was the first thing anyone noticed.
Heat rolled through the vast chamber in suffocating waves, warping the air above the black marble floor. The towering pillars—carved like twisting dragon spines—glowed faintly at their edges, as if they might melt if pushed any further.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because at the center of it all stood Draco VonRed.
Still.
Too still.
The messenger lay crumpled at the base of the throne steps, trembling violently, forehead pressed to the ground.
“M-My prince… we searched the eastern wing, the gardens, the sky routes—she’s—she’s gone—”
The last word cracked.
Silence answered it.
Draco’s back was turned, his long crimson hair cascading down his shoulders like liquid flame. His hand rested loosely at his side, fingers curled just slightly—as though he were holding something invisible… or resisting the urge to destroy something very real.
The torches along the walls flickered.
Then flared.
Then bent inward—toward him.
“…gone?” Draco repeated.
The word was quiet.
Soft.
That was worse.