THE DEVIL'S BRIDE
Episode 15: The Shadow in the Walls
By Rapwizzy Debaron
It started with a whisper in the kitchen.
Then a broken seal on the war plans.
Then Evelyn's bathwater steaming with cursed ash.
"Someone's still inside," she said, gripping her dagger.
Lucien nodded grimly. "And they're not just feeding Seraphina secrets. They're sabotaging us from within."
---
That night, Evelyn couldn't sleep.
She walked the halls alone, her hand brushing the cold stone, her eyes scanning shadows.
The blood oath with Ethan weighed heavy on her.
He kept his distance now, afraid of hurting her again.
She didn't blame him.
But trust didn't grow back overnight.
---
Down in the underground armory, she heard it.
Breathing.
Fast. Uneven. Wrong.
She spun — and caught a glimpse of a black cloak vanishing through the side door.
"Show yourself!" she shouted.
No answer.
She chased the figure through winding halls until it vanished into the old chapel ruins.
There, on the altar, sat a familiar face.
Lady Nyla.
The court healer. The one who once saved Evelyn from fever. The one who always smelled of lavender.
She smiled sadly.
"I never wanted to betray you, Evelyn."
"You?" Evelyn whispered. "You were there when I buried Caleb. You held my hand—"
"I did," Nyla said. "And I meant every moment. But Seraphina… she has my son. He's only seven."
Evelyn's fire flickered.
Nyla dropped a scroll on the ground — the final battle plan.
"I had to give it to her," she sobbed. "I thought maybe she'd let him go."
Evelyn's heart cracked.
Lucien stepped from behind the ruined pillars, sword drawn. "We end this now."
"No," Evelyn said.
Lucien froze.
"She saved me. She bled for us. She's not evil—she's desperate."
Nyla looked up, stunned.
Evelyn stepped forward, pulled out a vial from her pocket — a flame charm.
She pressed it into Nyla's palm.
"Take this. Find your son. When you're free… come back. Help us end her."
Nyla cried. "You'll let me go?"
"I'm not Seraphina," Evelyn whispered. "And I won't become her."
---
As Nyla fled into the woods, Lucien stared at Evelyn.
"That was merciful," he said.
"It was strategic," she replied. "She's our last chance to find the child prisons."
Lucien smiled.
But later, alone in her chamber…
Evelyn sat by her mirror.
And whispered, "Am I still human?"
The mirror didn't answer.
But the flame inside her pulsed once.
Yes.
---
To be continued…
A spy forgiven.
A war delayed.
And a devil's bride clinging to the last light inside her soul.
Vote if Evelyn's mercy moved you.
Comment: Woul
d you have let Nyla go?
Follow @RapwizzyDebaron — Episode 16 will reveal Seraphina's wrath… and a message sent in blood.