Chapter 14 Memories of My Past

Leon POV

The ribbon trembled in my hand. Eli stared at me carefully now.

“You remember.” I looked up at him slowly.

And for the first time in three years—There was no confusion left in my eyes.

“They killed her.” Eli’s face darkened slightly.

“So the memories returned completely.” I stood shakily despite the pain.

“They’re alive.” “Leon—” “The Crimson King.”

The name alone made the room colder.

“And Vincent Korr. The Heir.”

My breathing became uneven again.

“They’re still alive.”

Eli remained silent for a long moment.

Then finally—“Yes.” Hatred exploded through my chest instantly.

Three years. Three years while they continued breathing.

Continued ruling. Continued destroying lives.

My fists clenched violently. “I need to go back.” Eli stepped directly in front of me.

“You’ll die.” “I almost died already.”

“You’re not ready.” I laughed bitterly.

“Ready?” My voice cracked painfully. “They murdered everyone I loved.”

Eli’s expression softened. “You still love her.”

The tears returned immediately.

I looked down at the ribbon in my hand. But somehow it carried every memory of Seraphine inside it.

“She gave this to me,” I whispered brokenly.

Eli nodded slowly.

“When we found you in the river… you were clutching it tightly in your hand.”

My chest shattered again. Even dying… I held onto her.

God.

I sank weakly back onto the bed while gripping the ribbon tightly.

“I couldn’t save her.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Eli sat beside me quietly.

“You were a dying man thrown into a river after brutal torture.”

“But I failed her.”

Eli looked at me carefully.

“No,” he said softly. “You survived her.”

Those words hurt more somehow.

I covered my face weakly.

“I don’t know who I am anymore.”

Eli became quiet for several seconds.Then finally—“Good.”

I looked at him sharply.

“What?”

“The Leon Hawke who lived in Ravenport died three years ago.”

A chill moved through me. Eli continued calmly. “The man sitting here now has another chance.”

Another chance. At first, the idea sounded impossible.

Then slowly… I understood.

Leon Hawke was hunted, broken and wanted dead.

But this face? This life? It was different now.

Eli stood and walked toward the window.

“Ravenport still fears the Crimson General,” he said quietly.

My jaw tightened. “But Leon Hawke disappeared.”

He looked back at me. “So perhaps Leon Hawke should stay dead.”

The room became silent again. Rain continued falling softly outside.

I stared down at Seraphine’s ribbon in my trembling hand.

Then I asked quietly—“What do I become now?” Eli’s eyes darkened slightly.

“Someone stronger.” I slowly lifted my gaze toward him.

“And if I want revenge?” Eli didn’t hesitate.

“Then survive long enough to earn it.” Something dangerous awakened inside me again.

Not the reckless rage from before. The Crimson King took everything from me.

And maybe that terrified them more than death ever could.

Eli walked toward a nearby drawer and pulled out several files before placing them in front of me.

Photographs, Maps and Names.

My eyes narrowed instantly. “You’ve been investigating them.”

“For three years.” I looked up sharply.

“Why help me?” Eli smiled sadly.

“Because the Crimson King destroyed my family too.”

Silence crashed through me.

Then slowly—Understanding. Hatred connected us now.

Eli pointed toward the files. “Ravenport changed while you slept.”

I opened the first file carefully.

And froze.

A familiar silver symbol stared back at me from the paper.

The Council.

“They’ve expanded,” Eli said quietly. “More powerful than ever.”

I flipped another page. Then suddenly—One photograph made my heart stop completely.

A blurry image, taken recently. A woman standing beside a black vehicle during heavy rain.

Long dark hair. Silver ribbon tied around her wrist.

My breathing stopped instantly.

“No…”

Eli looked at

the photo carefully.

“We haven’t identified her yet.” My hands shook violently.

Impossible. Because the woman in that picture—Looked exactly like Seraphine.