Blair Bathory

Her knees buckled as if gravity had turned cruel. Somewhere, a candle flickered out without wind. She collapsed mid-aisle in a heap of silk and sequins. Her father caught her and smiled tightly for the guests. The ceremony continued. Magnus barely blinked. The guests whispered, but no one left. Later, during the reception, Cassia was gone. There was a crash, glass high above, and then silence.

Her knees buckled as if gravity had turned cruel. Somewhere, a candle flickered out without wind. She collapsed mid-aisle in a heap of silk and sequins. Her father caught her and smiled tightly for the guests. The ceremony continued. Magnus barely blinked. The guests whispered, but no one left. Later, during the reception, Cassia was gone. There was a crash, glass high above, and then silence.

Gasps rippled through the guests as all eyes turned toward the bell tower. The stained glass window had exploded outward. Shards rained down like jagged confetti. The old frame groaned. Cassia stood there, silhouetted by the moon, her veil fluttering like it was underwater. Her dress was torn, soaked in something darker than wine.

Gasps rippled through the guests as all eyes turned toward the bell tower. The stained glass window had exploded outward. Shards rained down like jagged confetti. The old frame groaned. Cassia stood there, silhouetted by the moon, her veil fluttering like it was underwater. Her dress was torn, soaked in something darker than wine.

Gasps rippled through the guests as all eyes turned toward the bell tower. The stained glass window had exploded outward. Shards rained down like jagged confetti. The old frame groaned. Cassia stood there, silhouetted by the moon, her veil fluttering like it was underwater. Her dress was torn, soaked in something darker than wine.

Her face was blank, but her eyes glowed faintly, catching the moonlight in a way no living eye should. Then she vanished. No one saw her fall. No one heard her scream. But outside, beneath the bell tower, the ornamental fence had split open, blood pooled at the base. Her body was found moments later, impaled cleanly through the chest on one of the iron spikes. Her spine had snapped on impact.

Her face was blank, but her eyes glowed faintly, catching the moonlight in a way no living eye should. Then she vanished. No one saw her fall. No one heard her scream. But outside, beneath the bell tower, the ornamental fence had split open, blood pooled at the base. Her body was found moments later, impaled cleanly through the chest on one of the iron spikes. Her spine had snapped on impact.

Her face was blank, but her eyes glowed faintly, catching the moonlight in a way no living eye should. Then she vanished. No one saw her fall. No one heard her scream. But outside, beneath the bell tower, the ornamental fence had split open, blood pooled at the base. Her body was found moments later, impaled cleanly through the chest on one of the iron spikes. Her spine had snapped on impact.

Her neck twisted. There were no witnesses, no cameras, no answers. Christopher didn't scream. He roared, guttural, animal, like something old and dying. The alliance collapsed that night. Magnus raged about reputational damage. Christopher roared about betrayal.

Her neck twisted. There were no witnesses, no cameras, no answers. Christopher didn't scream. He roared, guttural, animal, like something old and dying. The alliance collapsed that night. Magnus raged about reputational damage. Christopher roared about betrayal.

Her neck twisted. There were no witnesses, no cameras, no answers. Christopher didn't scream. He roared, guttural, animal, like something old and dying. The alliance collapsed that night. Magnus raged about reputational damage. Christopher roared about betrayal.

The next morning, housekeepers found bloody footprints in the hall, small, bare, walking away from the chapel stairs, then stopping at a wall. No return prints, as if whoever left them never turned back. Cassia's suite was cold. Her mirror was fogged over despite no heat. When it cleared, a handprint remained on the glass, delicate, feminine, pressed like someone had been watching.

The next morning, housekeepers found bloody footprints in the hall, small, bare, walking away from the chapel stairs, then stopping at a wall. No return prints, as if whoever left them never turned back. Cassia's suite was cold. Her mirror was fogged over despite no heat. When it cleared, a handprint remained on the glass, delicate, feminine, pressed like someone had been watching.

The next morning, housekeepers found bloody footprints in the hall, small, bare, walking away from the chapel stairs, then stopping at a wall. No return prints, as if whoever left them never turned back. Cassia's suite was cold. Her mirror was fogged over despite no heat. When it cleared, a handprint remained on the glass, delicate, feminine, pressed like someone had been watching.

That night, Christopher stared into the mirror above the fireplace. The light flickered once, then again. Then he saw her. Cassia stood behind him. Her neck was bent wrong. Blood dripped down her chest. She cradled Lucio's severed head like a child might be a favorite toy. Her smile was small, too calm. I just wanted to make you proud. He rasped, frozen in place.

That night, Christopher stared into the mirror above the fireplace. The light flickered once, then again. Then he saw her. Cassia stood behind him. Her neck was bent wrong. Blood dripped down her chest. She cradled Lucio's severed head like a child might be a favorite toy. Her smile was small, too calm. I just wanted to make you proud. He rasped, frozen in place.

That night, Christopher stared into the mirror above the fireplace. The light flickered once, then again. Then he saw her. Cassia stood behind him. Her neck was bent wrong. Blood dripped down her chest. She cradled Lucio's severed head like a child might be a favorite toy. Her smile was small, too calm. I just wanted to make you proud. He rasped, frozen in place.

The lights went out. When they found him the next morning, he was sprawled in front of the mirror. His head had been severed cleanly, deliberately, and placed in his lap like a grotesque crown. Across the mirror, written in blood, were the words, You may now kiss the bride. The investigation stalled. Security footage was corrupted. Staff resigned en masse. Witnesses left the country.

The lights went out. When they found him the next morning, he was sprawled in front of the mirror. His head had been severed cleanly, deliberately, and placed in his lap like a grotesque crown. Across the mirror, written in blood, were the words, You may now kiss the bride. The investigation stalled. Security footage was corrupted. Staff resigned en masse. Witnesses left the country.

The lights went out. When they found him the next morning, he was sprawled in front of the mirror. His head had been severed cleanly, deliberately, and placed in his lap like a grotesque crown. Across the mirror, written in blood, were the words, You may now kiss the bride. The investigation stalled. Security footage was corrupted. Staff resigned en masse. Witnesses left the country.