When we arrived at my dad’s company, I was so tensed. I was scared of facing Uncle Phillip after all these years, but most of all, I was raged with anger.He was involved in what happened to my family, but yet he lived a comfortable life while I suffered.“Hey, are you okay?” I turned when I heard Eric's voice behind me.“Yeah, I'm good. Are the reporters ready?”“Yes, we just need to wait for Jess to give us an entirely permit."“Okay, I can do this,” I said to myself as I kept taking a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves down.“Hey, relax; you look so tensed.” Eric said, holding my hand in his. I looked up at him and found him staring at me with nothing but concern in his eyes.“I just don't know how to face him. It has already been eleven years, but it still feels like it all happened yesterday.”“I know it's difficult, but I want you to know that I will always be by your side.” He said, pressing a kiss on my cheeks. I smiled at him as I stepped into his arms, lovin' the warmth I
"Congratulations, Lilly,” Jess said as she pulled me in for a hug.“Thank you so much, Jess. It wouldn't have been possible without you three. I bless the day Alex found me.” I said, hugging her back.“I made a fist,” she said and dragged me to the dining room while Eric followed.“I also helped,” Alex said, raising his hand like a child seeking permission to talk.“I know Alex, and I'm very grateful.” I said and hugged him. He hugged me back as he slightly patted my back.“You are welcome, Lilly, but I think it is time we pull away because someone's eyes are shooting daggers at me.” He said as we pulled away from our little hug. I found Eric glaring at Alex and couldn't help giggling.“Guys, let's eat; our food is getting cold.” Jess called after us as we all took our seats. Anna helped us in ditching out the food as we gisted and talked over our success.I have never been this happy in years. It almost felt like a dream. When we were through with dinner, Alex insisted the men do the
She was wearing my oversized shirt, her hair dripping wet and tangled from the shower. The fabric clung to her curves, accentuating her feminine form. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at me, a hint of mischief dancing in their depths.She padded softly across the floor, her feet bare and her movements graceful, as if she were gliding towards me. I couldn't help but be drawn to her, my heart racing with anticipation. I set my laptop and glasses aside, watching her every moment.As she moved closer, I could see the faint outline of her legs beneath the shirt and the way the fabric hugged her hips. Her hair dripped water onto the floor, creating a tiny puddle that reflected the light. She didn't seem to notice, her eyes fixed on mine with a playful intensity.I felt my pulse quicken as she drew nearer, the air between us electric with tension. The shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of her chest, and I found myself wondering what lay beneath. She stopped in front of me as
I sat on the bed with my legs hugging my chest. He was fine, and we were both perfectly fine until that side of him showed up.He is probably angry at me; I never should have pretended not to know what he was going through.I know he told me to stay away, but I don't think I can. I need to talk to him. It's been over twenty minutes since he went to the bathroom, and I just can't help being worried.I summoned my last courage and went in search of him. I stood at the bathroom door without knowing what to do. Should I knock or call out for him?With how quiet it's in there, he could hear me. Wait a minute, why is it so quiet in there? He usually has the shower on whenever he is going through this, or else he passes out. My eyes widened in shock as I started banging at the door after noticing it was locked from the inside.“Eric! Eric! Please open up.” Just like I thought, there was no response. I panicked and continued banging and pushing the door with all my strength.I don't know how,
I woke to find myself in my room. I was confused and a little scared when I remembered what I saw in the bathroom. I panicked as I pushed myself up into a sitting position. My body ached all over.I was surprised to find Jess sleeping beside me. Thank goodness she was okay.“Jess,” I called out, shaking her awake slightly.“Lilly, you’re up,” she said. I could see how worried she was.“What happened?”“I found you and Eric passed out in the bathroom.”“Eric! What about Eric? Is he okay? Was he taken to the hospital?”“Hospital? What do you mean?” Jess asked, confused.“He was massively bleeding when I saw him passed out in the bathroom.”“What? He was bleeding, but his wound was just a cut. It wasn’t that much.” The expression on Jess's face was that of someone curious about something.I was surprised because I knew what I saw. Or was I hallucinating? No, this doesn’t make any sense. I know what I saw.“Lilly, are you sure you’re okay?” Jess asked.“Yeah, I'm fine. What time is it?”“
When I entered the house, I found her asleep on the couch in the living room. A wave of guilt washed over me—she must have fallen asleep waiting for me.I sat beside her, watching her peaceful expression. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at her. She looked so beautiful. I reached out, brushing a few strands of hair from her face and tucking them behind her ear.I didn’t mean to wake her, but her eyes fluttered open, locking with mine. I jumped to my feet, taking a few steps back.For a brief moment, I had forgotten how dangerous I could be to her.“You’re back,” she whispered, sitting up and hugging her knees to her chest.“Yes, I just got in,” I answered, avoiding her gaze.“I waited for you. I even made dinner. Are you hungry?” Her voice was calm, almost emotionless. She didn’t sound angry, but I couldn’t read her either.She stood and began walking toward the kitchen. I reached out, grabbing her hand to stop her. She turned slowly, her eyes drifting from my hand to my face.“I t
“Alex, where are you going?” My voice carried a sharp edge as I watched him, fully dressed and ready to leave, leaving me behind without a second thought.“To hook up with some girls,” he replied, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.I marched up to him, planting myself firmly in front of him, our faces mere inches apart. “You wish,” I said coolly, spinning around and heading back to the couch. I picked up my phone, pretending to be engrossed, even as irritation bubbled under my skin.“You don't believe me, do you?” he asked, amusement lacing his tone.“Nope, not one bit.” My gaze didn’t leave my phone.“Do you actually think I can’t get any girl I want straight into bed?” His voice grew more playful, daring me to rise to the bait.“Do you actually think any girl in her right mind would want anything to do with you?” I shot back, smirking as I caught the widening grin on his face.He approached me with deliberate steps, bending over until his hands rested on the couch on either side o
I lay in bed with Lily nestled in my arms, her soft breath steady as she slept. A sense of peace washed over me since I had shared my past with her, but there was still a heaviness in my chest. I hadn’t told her everything. I wanted to, but something held me back. Maybe it was the sadness in my eyes that she had sensed, because she wouldn’t let me say another word.“You should tell me tomorrow,” she had whispered earlier, but I couldn’t wait. This secret had been eating at me for too long.“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Her small, hoarse voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the moment. I stared at her, feeling her warmth against me, her body pressed into mine.“I just have a lot on my mind,” I replied softly, cupping her cheek and brushing my thumb over it. The simple touch felt like a lifeline, something to hold on to. “There’s something I need to tell you, Lily. If I don’t say it, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”Our eyes locked, both filled with unspoken words. I co
As we made our way back to Aquoris, the last standing water demon city, I couldn't shake the unease creeping into my chest. This was where most of the leaders had chosen to remain, guarding the shattered remnants of their fallen cities. Yet, something felt off.The dragon heart in my hands continued to glow, its soft pulsation steady and unwavering. Why? That question lingered in my mind, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.But as we drew closer to the palace, the unease deepened. Something was wrong.The moment we rode through the palace gates, I saw them—King Calyx, along with Jess’s and Alex's father, standing outside. Their expressions were unreadable, a mix of emotions swirling beneath their stoic facades.As our horses came to a stop, we dismounted and approached them cautiously.“I see you all succeeded,” King Calyx spoke first, his gaze settling on me for a long moment. “I knew you would, and I'm glad you did. But we have a guest. A guest we couldn’t let in because of the bar
Eric's POVIt didn’t take long before I finally found the Witch Queen’s chamber, but getting here required snapping the necks of more witches than I cared to count. With one swift move, I sent the chamber doors flying open, crashing loudly into the room. As expected, the Witch Queen was already aware of my presence—she stood at the far end, shielded by a legion of her minions, all ready to fight for her.“Wow, it's almost tragic how willing they are to die for you,” I remarked, my voice dripping with mockery as my gaze locked onto her piercing silver eyes. Fury burned within them, her rage barely restrained. I could tell they hadn’t expected to be attacked—at least, not like this.“So, you truly are alive,” she said, her voice smooth yet laced with an unmistakable edge. She rose gracefully from her seat and approached me with measured steps.“Yes, very much alive,” I replied, stepping forward to meet her. “I even heard you planned a little surprise party for me. So, here I am. And gue
Lily's POVHere I was, staring at the ancient castle submerged beneath the water—a place where the Water God was said to have kept the Heart. I made my way toward the gate and was taken by surprise when it pulled open on its own, as if it knew I would be here.I took a deep breath and clutched the stone I still held as I entered the castle. The eerie quietness that surrounded the structure sent shivers down my spine, yet I had seen much worse than an abandoned, ancient castle. As I swam further inside, I couldn’t help but notice the cracks along the walls. It wasn’t long before I found it: at the center of the chamber stood an obsidian altar, pulsating with molten veins as if the very core of the earth breathed through it. There, the Heart glowed—a ball of fire encased in a cocoon of golden flames and surrounded by four dragon statues reminiscent of those I’d seen in Drakemere, the spirit realm. In Drakemere, Azhadrex’s statue accompanied them; here, though he was absent, the circular
Eric’s POVThey dragged me behind their horses, the rough terrain scraping against my already battered body. My arms hung uselessly at my sides, the chains digging into my wrists, but I kept my expression impassive.The walls of their stronghold loomed ahead—tall, ancient, covered in unbreakable magic. This had better be worth it. Every bruise, every drop of blood spilled along the way.I had seen the witches on my way here, scouting the perimeter, watching like vultures. There was no way to break into their fortress undetected, so I did the next best thing—I made myself their prey.I told them I was a demon fleeing the chaos that had befallen Terranovae, that I had valuable information their queen would want to hear. They didn’t believe me at first. They tested me, casting every spell they could summon, trying to break me. When their magic failed to work against me, they decided to beat me until I was too weak to fight back.It almost worked. Almost.The only problem? The pain only s
Lily's POVIt felt like I had been swimming east for ages, every little sound sending a jolt of fear through me. The water was eerily silent, but no monstrous creatures had surfaced—yet. That didn’t mean they weren’t there, lurking beneath, waiting.I didn’t have much time. I needed to reach the Heart and return to Terranovae before it was too late.Drakemere was growing colder with every passing moment, the icy grip of the deep tightening around me. My mind had wandered, lost in anxious thoughts, when something suddenly caught my eye—a glimmering fragment of light against the dark water.A small, diamond-like stone was embedded in the jagged surface of a massive rock, its crystalline glow hypnotic, almost calling to me.Curiosity pulled me forward. I reached out, my fingers brushing against the smooth, shimmering surface, but as I shifted my gaze beyond the rock, I froze.A veil of liquid silver wavered before me, stretching across the depths like a living curtain of light.I gasped.
"Eric, this is insane! There is no way I’m letting you go to the Witch City just to seek their queen. It’s already obvious they’re planning to attack us like they did before, and you’re at your weakest moment. No, I think you should do as Tythorax said," Jess argued, her voice firm with defiance.I wasn’t surprised to find her waiting when I resurfaced from Drakemere. The moment she saw me, suspicion clouded her eyes, and she demanded to know why I had gone there. As we made our way back to the palace, I had no choice but to tell her everything.“I am not at my weakest point, Jess," I muttered, exhaling heavily. "I’m about to lose myself. That’s not weakness—it means I’m losing control over my powers. If I stay here, I become a danger to every demon in Terranovae.”Her expression hardened. “Then what about the Black Stone? What are you going to do about it?”“I don’t know,” I admitted, my gaze flickering toward the vine-covered barrier. The creeping plants had nearly sealed off the en
Before I could realize what was happening or remind myself that this wasn't real, I missed a step and slipped down the stairs. My body collided with the wooden steps, and pain shot through me like a bolt of lightning.When I finally hit the floor at the bottom of the staircase, leading into the sitting room, I couldn't move. The pain was paralyzing, making me question whether this was real or just another nightmare. I forced my eyes open, and that was when I saw it—a glimpse of a shadow standing in the darkest corner of the room, where the dim glow of light barely cast its reach.Panic surged through me as I pushed myself off the floor, backing away from the figure. My body screamed in agony, but I ignored it. A wave of cold air wrapped around me, sending chills down my spine, every hair on my body standing on end. From the size of the figure, I could tell it wasn't an adult—but a child. A girl."Who are you?" My voice came out small, unsteady, weak—barely a whisper."Me?" she echoed,
“What do you mean? Are you saying the Water Demon Princess is alive?” I asked, waiting impatiently for his reply.“Great, so now who am I even talking to? Because I don’t understand a thing,” Tythorax complained, but I was more focused on whether Eric’s biological mother was truly alive.“Yes, she is still alive. I thought you, of all people, would know that,” Tythorax finally answered.“I never expected her to be.” I shook my head, disbelief tightening my chest. “You and I both know how devastated she was after being forced to leave her baby at the doorstep of some random humans. I don’t even know if I should say Eric and I were lucky to end up with Mr. and Mrs. Sarton.”Memories of that fateful night came rushing back, burning through me like wildfire. I could still see the agony on the princess’s face as she made her way to Drakemere, pleading for her baby’s life. Even when she was warned of the consequences, she still agreed to them.No mother willingly gives birth only to abandon
We swam as fast as we could, the icy water pressing against us like an unrelenting force. Time felt endless, every stroke stretching into eternity, but finally, after what seemed like forever, we arrived.The first thing I noticed was the storm—a raging, untamed force swirling right in front of us. The water churned violently, reacting to our presence with a low, menacing rumble. I wasn’t surprised that the sea itself seemed to resist us, but what unsettled me was why the sea god had chosen to place a storm here, turning it into the first trial to reach the heart.The sheer power of it sent a shiver down my spine, a stark reminder of the impossible task ahead."This is it," Jess murmured beside me. "The Forbidden Abyss."I exhaled, staring at the churning waters. "It looks far more terrifying now that I’m actually here. When Tythorax spoke of it, it seemed like a legend—now it feels like a death sentence." My voice wavered slightly, but I steadied myself. "I guess this is my first tri