PROLOGUE
The smoke had grown so thick that breathing itself had become painful.
Everyone ran in every direction, desperate to escape the burning church. Amid the chaos, one lone figure remained kneeling before the altar, clutching a worn rosary as quiet prayers escaped her trembling lips.
"Ahhh!"
The screams echoed through the sanctuary, shaking her to her core, yet she refused to move. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
The wooden beams groaned overhead. One by one, the stained-glass windows exploded into showers of colored shards. Smoke scorched her lungs, but Angelica only tightened her grip on the rosary.
"Angelica..."
A nun, barely able to breathe through the smoke, reached toward her with a trembling hand.
"Leave... while you still can..."
Angelica didn't answer.
There was nowhere left to run.
It wasn't only the church that burned.
The entire town had already been consumed by flames.
The nun couldn't understand her stubbornness. Since arriving at the church as an orphan six years ago, Angelica had barely spoken a word to anyone. She had never joined the sisters in prayer.
Yet now, as death closed in around them, she knelt before the altar, praying with every ounce of strength she had left.
The screams outside grew louder. The heat became unbearable.
Still...
Angelica did not move.
Her strength slowly abandoned her. Her vision blurred, and her body could no longer support itself.
She collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Calm.
Each step echoed through the burning church, drawing closer until they stopped before her.
With what little strength remained, Angelica forced her eyes open.
Through the veil of smoke, she could barely make out the silhouette of a tall man standing over her.
He calmly lowered himself to one knee.
A silver chalice rested in one hand.
A single crimson rose in the other.
He looked at her and gave a devlish smile
Then...
Everything went dark.
Author's Note : Hola! If you're reading this, it means you've decided to give my story a chance, and I just want to say thank you. It really means a lot to me. ❤️
This is only the beginning, so I'd love to hear your first impressions. What caught your attention? Any theories already? Feel free to share them in the comments—I read every single one!
I hope you enjoy the journey. Happy reading! ✨
