When we arrived, everyone waited for our victory to be celebrated—but how could we celebrate with Lily like this? I followed Zyron to the Chamber of Waters, where Lily was carefully laid in the shallow, transparent lake, her body surrounded by the gentle shimmer of its magical surface. Alex went ahead to meet the leaders, leaving the two of us behind. As her body slowly sank into the glowing water, Zyron and I stood silently at the edge, just staring at her.“She’s going to be fine, right?” I asked Zyron, my voice barely a whisper, heavy with hope and fear.“I don’t know... we just have to wait,” he replied quietly. “We better head out,” he added before turning and walking away, his shoulders weighed with uncertainty. I stayed for a moment longer, casting one last, longing glance at Lily before leaving too. I needed to find my mum—I hadn’t seen her since I returned.As I stepped out of the chamber, I finally took a moment to breathe in the sight of the City of Drakemere. It stood tall
"Michael, wait up! Mum says we need to come home together.""I know, Lily, but you need to keep up.""I'm trying, but you're way too fast. And besides, why didn’t Dad pick us up today?""Because it’s your birthday. Dad is helping Mum at home—I’m sure of it.""Are you sure? Or is he just in another meeting?""I don’t know, Lily. But Mum wants us to take the bus home.""This birthday is going to suck if Dad isn’t around.""You invited your friends, right?""I’m not like you, Michael. You have friends. You’re smart and cool. But no one wants to be friends with a freak like me.""That’s not true, Lily. And you need to stop saying things that are way beyond your age.""Way beyond my age? Michael, I’m turning eleven today. I’m not a child anymore. Complaining about not having friends isn’t something beyond my age."I sighed in frustration. Why does she always have to be so sharp? It’s always been like this with Lily, and honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about her."I’m not say
Michael left, shutting the wardrobe doors behind me. The space was too small, too tight—I could barely breathe. My knees were pressed to my chest, and the scent of wood mixed with my own sweat filled my nostrils. Time dragged on, stretching into what felt like forever. My heart pounded so loudly I was afraid someone might hear it.I wanted to stay hidden like Michael told me, but fear and curiosity gnawed at me. I couldn't take it anymore. With shaky hands, I pushed the wardrobe door open and climbed out. My feet barely made a sound as I crept toward the bedroom door, every step feeling heavier with dread.Slowly, I opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. My body trembled, but I forced myself to keep going. I had to know what was happening. I had to see.Reaching the top of the staircase, I gripped the railing and peered down.Mum and Dad were on their knees, their hands restrained by two men. My breath caught in my throat. A woman I had never seen before sat before th
I woke up after the worst nightmare, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes darted around, and I found myself inside my room. A wave of unease washed over me. Without wasting a second, I rushed outside to find my mum, but the entire house was eerily silent.“Mum! Mum!!” I called out, but there was no response.Swallowing the growing fear, I walked to her room and knocked. No answer. With trembling hands, I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open—only to find an empty room. My breathing grew shallow. Something was wrong.Panic set in as I ran upstairs to find Michael, but his room was empty too. My chest tightened. Everyone was gone. I was alone.“Mum! Dad! Michael!” I screamed, my voice breaking as tears blurred my vision.Then, I heard it—footsteps approaching. My entire body froze. Slowly, I turned around, and there she was—the lady in the red dress. She stood in front of me, laughing like a maniac. The sound of her laughter echoed around me, growing louder and louder until it
Lily’s POV"Lilly! Lilly! Wake up, you log of wood!" Annabella’s shrill voice pierced through my ears as she screamed beside me.I groaned, reluctant to leave the comfort of sleep, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Anastasia standing at the door, arms crossed with an unimpressed expression. Of course, the twins. They made my mornings a living nightmare, and today was no exception."You’re in so much trouble," Annabella sneered, her lips curling in disgust. "Mum told you to wake up earlier, and it’s already 6:30 a.m. Yet, here you are, still sleeping like some useless princess."I sighed, pushing myself up from the bed and walking past them without a word. There was no point in arguing—I had learned that the hard way.It’s been eleven years—eleven whole f*cking years—since I was washed up by the sea and found by a kind farmer who took me in. But instead of the life I hoped for, he died, leaving me with his wife, who has done nothing but turn my life into a living hell alongside her chil
"You weren't supposed to eat from the stand, and even if you do, you need to pay for it.""I will pay for it; I just need to wait until I receive my money, and then I will pay.""Are you trying to get me sacked? If you were going to eat the burger, you were supposed to pay," Sam said, sounding like I stole the burger."I told you I would pay. I just need to get my money, and I will.""Get your money? When I'm sacked?" she asked with so much anger in her eyes. She was causing a scene as people started taking an interest in our conversation."I will pay for the burger; there is no need to be all aggressive." I looked up to see a guy standing in front of me.He handed his credit card to Sam, which she took and glared at him. I didn't know what to say; before I could say thank you to the guy, he was gone.“You are so d*mn lucky,” Sam said as she brushed past me.I was trying as much as possible to hold back my anger. The rest of the day went in a rather terrible direction for me.Immediat
I walked home feeling more devastated than I was this morning. I walked inside only to find the house that I left so clean and sparkling in a total mess.I was trying to pretend like I didn't see a thing and headed to my room for a quick nap, but Annabella and Anastasia decided to approach me.“Hope your salary is complete, or you better start packing because once Mum returns, you are going to hand over that money.”“Why should I do that?” I am done condoning all this nonsense. I walked closer to both of them because I really needed an answer.“Did you just talk back to me?” Anastasia asked.“Yes, I just did. So what are you going to do about it?” I asked, approaching her, and she backed away immediately, her face looking terrified.“Gosh, I never knew you had grown so many wings." Annabella stepped in to defend her sister, but I was so done with them.I didn't hesitate as I grabbed a handful of their hair and dragged them towards the kitchen as they screamed.“Who messed up my kitche
“So, what is your business proposal?” I asked, impatient with him."We need to meet my boss,” he simply stated.“You have a boss?”“Yes, he sent me to you.”“Why didn't you bother telling me that beforehand?”“Because I didn't think it mattered."He didn't think telling me about his boss mattered. Is he kidding me right now?"Well, everything matters to me. I just quit my job, and I no longer have a home because of you."“Why is that my fault?” he asked, lifting his cup of coffee to take a sip.“You don't know what I have put on the line because of your offer, so please don't leave out any details again,” I said, not knowing I was sounding like a boss scolding his employee."Yes, ma'am, copy that,” he replied. I didn't mean to sound that way, but I couldn't help it.“So, where can I meet your boss, and who is he?”“I think you know him already; he is the world-famous lawyer in Oak City.”“The world-famous lawyer, as in Eric Sarton?"“Yes.”“Is your boss?” I asked, my mouth dropping wi
When we arrived, everyone waited for our victory to be celebrated—but how could we celebrate with Lily like this? I followed Zyron to the Chamber of Waters, where Lily was carefully laid in the shallow, transparent lake, her body surrounded by the gentle shimmer of its magical surface. Alex went ahead to meet the leaders, leaving the two of us behind. As her body slowly sank into the glowing water, Zyron and I stood silently at the edge, just staring at her.“She’s going to be fine, right?” I asked Zyron, my voice barely a whisper, heavy with hope and fear.“I don’t know... we just have to wait,” he replied quietly. “We better head out,” he added before turning and walking away, his shoulders weighed with uncertainty. I stayed for a moment longer, casting one last, longing glance at Lily before leaving too. I needed to find my mum—I hadn’t seen her since I returned.As I stepped out of the chamber, I finally took a moment to breathe in the sight of the City of Drakemere. It stood tall
Zyron's POVDad led the way inside as I followed, while the other dragons who came with us took guard outside the castle. I never knew that the curse tied to Azhadrex’s transformation into a beast was the frost—until now. And anyone who came in contact with the frost would be turned into an ice sculpture for the rest of their lives.I was so happy to finally return to Terranovae, but as we stepped into the castle, I sensed something was wrong. Dad felt it too.That uneasy feeling only deepened when we heard the cries echoing through the chamber. We made our way through the opened tunnel on the wall, and when we arrived, I froze—my heart sinking into the pit of my stomach.Lily.She was one of them.One of the people who had tragically encountered Azhadrex’s curse—just like the City of Malvaris.“No,” I breathed out, my voice breaking as I rushed to her. Her mother knelt before her daughter, her sobs filling the air like thunder. The sound tore through me, twisting something deep and p
It felt like I had been trapped in nothing but darkness until now. As I opened my eyes, the cold floor pressed against my skin, and a sharp pain throbbed in my head. My body felt heavy as my gaze trailed down from my hands to my lower body. I wasn’t in my dragon form.What happened?The last thing I remembered was an unbearable pain searing up my back before my dragon took control. I pushed myself up onto my feet, my movements sluggish, and it was then that I noticed the figure standing before me."Alex?" I called, our eyes locking. But he just stood there, silent, his gaze weighed down with sorrow."What happened? What about the Dark Heart and the Witch Queen? Where are Jess and Lily?" My voice grew more urgent, but Alex said nothing. Instead, he let out a heavy, shaky breath as if struggling to speak, his chest rising and falling unevenly."Say something!" I demanded, frustration bleeding into my tone. "Stop looking at me like I no longer exist in this world!"The silence around him
“Finally, once that heart is restored, whatever the Witch Queen is going to be reborn as wouldn’t stand a chance against Eric and the other dragons,” I heard Alex say. It sounded so easy coming from his mouth, but I knew another storm was about to break through.As we made our way back to Eric, he was on the verge of breaking free. I ran toward him, but he wouldn’t let me get close. His screech had become more aggressive, making it nearly impossible to approach.“We need to calm him down if you’re going to put that heart back,” Alex said, his voice tense. “I wonder if your mum was able to set the dragons free… We could use their help right now.”But we didn’t have time to sit around waiting for help.Then it hit me—this wasn’t the first time Eric had lost control. Maybe we could call him back, just like before.“We don’t have much time,” I said urgently. “I think we should try to reach him. Do you remember how you got through to him last time—his first transformation?”Alex hesitated.
"Do you think leaving Jess behind was a good idea?" I asked Alex as we ventured deeper into the narrow, dark passageway. Even though the dragon heart still shone brightly, I couldn’t bring myself to lower my guard. My wings remained tightly wrapped around it, forming a protective shield that blocked most of its light from illuminating our path."Are you worried about Jess?" Alex asked, his tone frustratingly casual, as if we hadn't just left her behind with that witch.I clenched my jaw. I had been so consumed with worry for Eric that I barely had time to process my anger toward my so-called aunt."Yes. Aren't we supposed to be?" I shot back."She’ll be fine. It’s the lady I’m scared for. She won’t even know what hit her," Alex replied with a smirk.His confidence should have reassured me, and maybe it did for a brief moment, but the pounding pain in my head from my last injury was becoming unbearable. It wasn’t healing as fast as I expected.We walked in silence for a while before Al
Lily's POVHis massive tail lashed toward me, narrowly missing its mark—just a warning. A deafening roar erupted from him, piercing through my ears like a blade. No… this was my Eric. There had to be a way to reach him.“Eric,” I called softly, my voice barely above a whisper. Our eyes met, but the strange blue hue in his gaze felt so unfamiliar—so cold. He looked at me with nothing but disdain, as if my mere presence infuriated him, like he wanted me gone.“Eric, please!” My voice broke, raw with desperation.“Lily, don’t!” Alex’s frantic scream echoed from behind, but I was too drained—too tired of it all. I just wanted this nightmare to end. I was exhausted—physically, emotionally, in every possible way.“Lily, please, get away from him! He’s not the Eric we know. Look at him! Eric isn’t there anymore. We need to focus on keeping the Dark Heart safe and stopping him from destroying it. Once your mother frees the dragons from the Cave of the Lost, they can help us restore Eric’s hea
Lily's POVVines, like creeping tendrils, had overtaken both the exterior and interior of the city, claiming it as their own. The once-great Drakemere now resembled an abandoned, haunted ruin, swallowed by time and the depths of the sea.“We’re looking for the dragon statues—the ones that match the tattoo on Eric’s back,” Mum said, lost in thought. I immediately knew she was referring to the same statues I had seen when Drakemere existed in the spirit realm.“If we spread out, we might find them quicker. That’s why I want you two to come,” she continued.“There’s no need for that,” I interrupted. A flicker of certainty surged through me. “I think I know where they are. Follow me.”Without hesitation, I swam toward what had once been the city’s grand entrance. As soon as we neared the front door, it groaned and creaked before swinging open, as though it had sensed our presence. I wasn’t expecting that—especially since so little of this city remained intact.Time had not been kind to Dr
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