Celine's hand rapped on the heavy wooden door - two slow knocks followed by three quick ones. Their code of urgency, born of trust but now tainted by her betrayal, echoed dully through the hallway. Bitter tears stung her eyes as the finality of this moment seared through her; never again would she use this secret signal.

  After a pause that stretched for an eternity, Amelie's soft voice beckoned from within. “Come in.”

  Celine pushed open the door, guilt and shame rising like bile in her throat. As she stepped into the dim chamber, Amelie turned from the window. The waning light threw the ugly purple bruise on her cheek into stark relief, a cruel signature left by Willem's rage the previous night. Celine's heart clenched at the sight, at the fragility in Amelie's red-rimmed eyes.

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  But shock soon replaced the sorrow on Amelie's face as she took in Celine's disheveled appearance. “Celine!” she rushed forward, hands outstretched. “My goddess, what's happened? You look as if you've seen a demon.”

  Celine flinched back from her touch, shunning any comfort. “Worse,” she choked out. The words felt jagged in her throat. “I fear I've become one.”

  Amelie's brow furrowed with concern. “Please, Celine,” she whispered, grasping Celine's hands in her own. “What troubles you so?”

  Celine felt her resolve crumbling under the weight of Amelie's kindness. She didn't deserve such compassion, not after what she'd done. With trembling hands, she gently extricated herself from Amelie's grasp.

  (The rest of the chapter has been removed to prevent further copyright infringements.)