The slit in Madeline's irises thinned as her jaw tightened, her anger barely contained. She exhaled slowly, the golden aura fading from her body, though the displeasure on her face remained.

"I'm going to pretend this never happened. Don't ever do it again."

Her voice was clipped, cold. Then she turned and left the room.

Diane lingered by the doorway, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Seamus thought she wanted to say something, but she didn't.

She only looked at him once before following Madeline out.

'I need to apologize to her too…' he thought bitterly as the silence settled again.

Maria lay motionless in his arms, her breathing steady, her eyes closed as if sleep had finally claimed her. Perhaps she'd fainted from shock.

Seamus leaned closer, resting his forehead gently against her temple. Her skin was cold, colder than any human's should be.

He could feel the chill seeping into his fingers, an icy reminder of what he'd done.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice trembling. "I'm so sorry."

He wished the words could mean something, that they could somehow reach her, but deep down he knew the truth.

What he'd done was unforgivable.

The weight in his chest pressed heavier, suffocating him. Like any desperate man, he had convinced himself it was the best choice, the only one.

Maria would live. She could stay by his side. What difference did it make whether she lived as a human or a vampire?

He had told himself that lie again and again, thinking her heart would only grow colder, harder, like every vampire he'd met before.

But seeing her like this now, limp in his arms, her pain lingering in every breath she took, that illusion shattered.

His hands trembled as he brushed away the tears on her cheek

It hit him then, he hadn't saved her. He had only changed the way she would suffer.

The guilt was thick and choking, dragging him down into a dark, sticky place he feared he would never escape.

***

Seamus stepped out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him before heading down the dim hallway in search of Diane.

The house they were staying in was old but spacious, with two floors and windows draped in heavy black curtains.

Though traces of dust clung to the corners, the place was remarkably tidy, thanks to the lone butler who kept it in order.

He descended to the first floor, finding the living room empty. A faint murmur caught his attention from the drawing room nearby.

He paused, took a deep breath, and tried to steady himself. Then, knocking softly, he pushed the door open.

"May I?" he asked.

Madeline turned her head toward him, her frown deepening before she looked away, clearly uninterested in seeing him.

Diane, however, smiled and gestured for him to come closer.

"Come here, Seamus. We're discussing our plan to move," she said, patting the space beside her on the sofa.

He nodded and sat down, the softness of the cushions sinking beneath his weight.

The exhaustion in his body caught up to him all at once, his shoulders slumping as his head tilted back slightly.

Every thought and emotion in him felt frayed.

Diane must have noticed because she stood behind him, her hands gently pressing into his shoulders.

"You don't need to do that," he murmured.

"It's fine," she said softly. "I know you're tired. Madeline told me what happened."

Her touch was too firm. He flinched, half in pain, half in surprise.

"Oh? I thought you two didn't get along," he said with a weary grin. "Considering, you know… you and Isolde."

Diane chuckled faintly. "She's kind of my mentor, actually. Since Madeline's a bibliophile, I ask her about a lot of things."

"Really? That's good. At least now I don't have to feel awkward around you two," he said, his tone light, almost joking, until Madeline's voice cut through.

"Stop it, Seamus." Her words were sharp enough to silence the room.

"Are you seriously going to sweep it under the rug? After what you did to Maria?"

Seamus froze. The guilt twisted inside him, but no words came out.

Madeline's glare softened, her frustration giving way to something quieter.

She sighed, walked toward him, and reached out, brushing her hand through his hair.

"Some decisions shouldn't be made with emotion," she said gently.

"I know she means a lot to you. But death… is inevitable."

She paused, her golden eyes dimming. "And immortality isn't a cure for it."

His fingers trembled against his knees, the bitterness in his mouth thick as he swallowed.

"I just… didn't know what to do. What if she slipped away from me like Viviane did? What if I regret it forever?"

Madeline's expression softened. She hesitated, then wrapped her arms around him.

"I know, darling. It's not something an eighteen-year-old should have to decide."

Seamus slowly returned the embrace. Her body was cool, yet somehow still warm, comforting in its stillness.

"But what if…" his voice cracked, "what if I made her suffer for the rest of her life? What then?"

Madeline drew back slightly to look at him. "Then there's nothing you can do," she said quietly.

"Just like you, she'll have to find her own way out. No one can save another person from themselves, Seamus. That's how life works."

Her words hit deep, each one settling like weight on his chest. He could feel the consequences of his choice more clearly now, but his doubt had dulled.

For the moment, all he could do was help Maria bear the pain he caused.

"Try to let go, Seamus," Madeline continued, her voice calm, almost motherly.

"Stop blaming yourself for what you can't control."

He nodded faintly, his body finally relaxing as his breathing slowed.

Maybe it was her voice, or maybe her hand tracing slow circles on his back, but for the first time in days, he let his eyes drift shut and allowed himself to rest.

Madeline sighed, easing Seamus down until his head rested on Diane's lap. The boy's face looked peaceful for once, like someone who'd run out of tears.

"Wow," Diane murmured with a teasing lilt, brushing his hair from his forehead, "didn't know you could be that gentle, Mother Madeline."

Madeline rolled her eyes and took the sofa across from them. "That's the least I can do," she said quietly.

"Poor boy's drowning in guilt just for existing, while the wicked walk around free without a care."

She lifted her cup and sipped, though the bitterness wasn't from the tea.

The room was quiet for a while. Dust floated in the thin light seeping through the black curtains.

Diane kept stroking his hair, voice soft. "Do we really have to move back to Varmeil? Into the wolves' den? Can we just stay in our castle in Varmeil?"

"Your mother made some kind of agreement with them," Madeline said calmly, "something about sharing Seamus… and other matters involving the Seven Great Covenants."

"You can't tell me, can you? Will it change fate if I know?" Diane frowned, her tone pressing for answers.

"No, it's just annoying to tell you," Madeline smirked. "You'd only run straight to your mother. You are her good little daughter, after all."

"Hmph! You're boring." Diane leaned back, crossing her arms. "The other Covenants… we can't avoid a clash, can we?"

"Avoid?" Madeline gave a quiet laugh. "Your mother wants to burn everything."

"Then why don't you stop her?!" Diane snapped, eyes flashing. "If you really care about Seamus, stop her!"

Madeline closed her eyes, arms crossing tightly as her expression darkened. "Nothing can stop it. Even if I tried, it wouldn't end well."

Her tone turned bitter. "So, the least you can do is stay with Seamus. Take care of him."

"That's what I'm planning to do! You don't have to tell me…"

Diane's voice softened. "But what about that girl, Maria? What will become of her?"

"She'll have a rough life for a while," Madeline said, glancing toward the window draped in black curtains.

"Then she'll move on. That's how everyone does, eventually."

***

Maria's eyes fluttered open to the sight of a high ceiling.

Even in the surrounding darkness, her new vision pierced through it easily, she could see every corner of the room as if daylight still lingered.

She lifted her hand and dug it deep with her own nails, staring as black, viscous blood oozed from her palm and dripped onto her face.

It wasn't human blood. And this… this wasn't a dream.

She had turned into a vampire.

The memories rushed back all at once, burning through her mind. The last moments before she lost consciousness. Seamus's face. His voice. His choice.

Hatred ignited in her chest, spreading like wildfire until it drowned every other feeling. He had done this to her. Seamus had made her into this thing.

The betrayal cut deep, but she refused to keep crying. Not anymore.

She pushed herself to her feet, realizing her body felt… different. More stronger as her senses sharpened, her sight so perfect she no longer needed her glasses.

Her heart, however, felt filthy, her very existence a stain she couldn't wash off.

"I want to die… I will die," she whispered.

Her trembling fingers reached for the curtain and pulled it open, only to see the silver hue of night pouring through the window.

Maria laughed softly, the sound breaking halfway between a sob and a snarl.

"Of course. The universe mocks me, too."

She turned toward the open window. The cold night air rushed in, slapping her face as if daring her to move.

"I can't stay here," she muttered. "Not when he's still trying to keep me alive."

Without another thought, Maria stepped onto the sill, spread her arms to the wind, and jumped from the second floor, her body landing soundlessly before she disappeared into the darkness.

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