Scarlet chains

Chapter 10-----Wings of light

The massive white-bricked house towered ahead, polished and pristine on the outside—just like the lies inside.

Nova stepped through the tall iron gates without hesitation. The gravel crunched beneath her boots as Dominic and Wolf followed silently behind.

She pushed the grand double doors open.

Her stepmother turned at the sound from the luxury armchair, sipping tea like a queen. She choked when she saw Nova.

"You—! You're supposed to be—!"

"Dead?" Nova finished coldly. "Yeah, I was. Almost."

Her stepsiblings peeked from the curved staircase, whispering.

"Where is she?" Nova asked.

Her stepmother scoffed. "Where she always is—*in the back room*. Scrubbing."

Dominic's jaw clenched. Wolf's hands flexed behind his back.

Nova didn't respond. She walked down the hall she knew too well, past gold-framed portraits and marble floors, straight to the cramped room tucked at the back of the mansion—the room she and her sister had been stuffed into like forgotten things.

She opened the door.

Her little sister turned, eyes wide, a rag still in her hand. "Nova?!"

Nova rushed in, scooping her up. "We're leaving, sweetheart. Forever."

Back in the grand living room, her stepmother stood. "You are not taking her anywhere!"

Nova set her sister down gently.

"Try to stop me," she said, voice icy.

Flames flickered at her fingertips—black edged with silver.

Her stepmother's face went pale.

Wolf stepped beside her. "You really want to test a hybrid with alpha blood and hellfire in her veins?"

Dominic crossed his arms. "I wouldn't."

Nova's voice dropped dangerously.

*"Try anything… and I'll end you."*

No one moved.

Nova took her sister's hand, lifted her chin, and walked out of that mansion like it had never been a home—but would always remember the day *its victim became its reckoning*.

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The sky outside the mansion was stormy, thick clouds gathering fast as Nova stepped out with her little sister's hand in hers.Her hospital gown fluttering in the wind.

Then something inside her shifted.

Pain bloomed across her back—burning, stretching, like her bones were breaking and reforming.

"N-Nova?" her sister whispered, sensing the tension.

Nova dropped to one knee, gasping. Her hands trembled. Dominic rushed forward. "Nova!"

Wolf's eyes widened. "It's happening… again."

From her back, light burst.

Blinding, divine.

Two massive, *glowing white wings* tore through her skin, unfolding like blades of light. Pure energy radiated from her, golden feathers drifting in the air like snowflakes from heaven itself.

Dominic staggered back. "What… what is she?!"

Wolf whispered, almost in awe, "Chosen by Hell. And now… Heaven answers."

Nova floated inches off the ground, wings outstretched, eyes glowing pure white. Her skin shimmered with celestial symbols for just a moment.

Then—*CRACK*—the power snapped.

She collapsed.

Dominic caught her just in time.

Her wings vanished into light.

She was unconscious, but peaceful. Her sister clung to her hand, eyes wide in wonder and fear.

Wolf stepped closer. "The seal is breaking. She's becoming what they feared most."

Dominic stared down at her. "She's not a weapon. She's a miracle."

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