ARAH
The creature that burst from her palm hit the floor with a heavy thud. It was a towering thing, plated in segmented, iridescent armor that glimmered faintly like oil on water. Steam hissed from its blue shell where her blood still clung. Behind it, a spiked tail swept around, smashing into vases and forcing her to jump back to avoid being hit.
Six limbs anchored the creature, but the forward pair—its forelimbs—twitched restlessly, the jointed claws folding and unfolding with an audible click-clack that carried across the air. Its head—part insect, part reptile—swiveled toward Jeric, three unblinking blue eyes locking on him.
Arah stared at the aquatic mantis-looking creature, hardly able to believe something like this had come out of her own hand. She glanced down at her palm—the sigil there had shifted to a deep, luminous blue, glowing and pulsing with a strange rhythm. The power it radiated felt both foreign and achingly familiar, as thou
GILDEONThat afternoon, after his last class was canceled, he felt an urge to swing by Roselia’s place. The witch had returned. He could sense her energy pulsing faintly from the workshop. Confirming it through his dragon sight, he strode straight inside.The smell hit him first—a heady mix of herbs and simmering animal bones that burned the inside of his nose.“I told you to see me the second you returned,” he growled low.Roselia stopped stirring the cauldron and spun to face him. He froze at the sight of her eyes that had turned eerily white.“What happened?” he demanded, the hardness in his voice cracking with worry. Whatever this was, it didn’t look like something magic could simply mend.Roselia’s hand swept across the table, searching until her fingers brushed a chair. She pulled it out and lowered herself onto it with quiet control.“I found other witches abroad,” she said. “We worked together to locate the br
ARAHShe drove to the other side of the island—somewhere no one would recognize her. But more than anything, it was to make sure Gildeon wouldn’t find her too quickly if he decided to follow. Her phone rang a few times before she powered it off completely.Arah ended up at a quieter beach. A few locals lounged under trees, chatting. Children splashed in the shallows, their laughter distant but warm. The sand wasn’t as white as the sand from the tourist spots, but it was just as soft beneath her hands. She sat down and stared out at the horizon.The sky was beginning to change. Muted shades of copper and bruised violet stretched across the clouds. The hue felt heavy, like the weight pressing down on her chest.The wind was still reacting to her restraint anger, tugging at her hair in restless gusts. But here, it blended into the stronger afternoon breeze—easier to lose, harder to trace.She took a long breath and closed her eyes, bi
ARAHShe padded toward the edge of the porch, her footsteps feather-light on the wooden planks as she strained to listen.“I can’t bear staying under the same roof as the enemy anymore,” Yadira said, her words stinging Arah’s chest. “The sooner the Captain gets his Awakening, the better.”Her breath caught. Awakening? Gildeon had never mentioned anything about that. What did it even mean? Was it like accessing the Dark Plane?“These things take time, Yadira,” Eitan replied.“How long?” the female lieutenant snapped. “Why isn’t it working yet? Captain said he’s already coupled with the sylph several times.”A flush crept up Arah’s neck. The word ‘coupled’ may have sounded clinical in Earthland, but the implication landed clearly. But why would Gildeon share stuff about their sex life with his comrades?“Even Capt
ARAHShe wanted to run after Mabel and explain herself, but Cora grabbed her arm, shaking her head.“Give her time,” she said. “What you told her isn’t something she’s going to believe right away. Besides, you just admitted to making her a widow on her wedding night.”Arah sighed, clutching her collarbone as she watched Mabel storm off through the window.“Gotta give it to you,” Cora said. “I didn’t think you’d actually say it to her.”Arah sank into the couch. “I didn’t want to lie. And honestly, I wanted to see how she’d react. I needed that.”Cora sat beside her. “You’re planning to alter her memories, aren’t you?”Hearing it out loud made her stomach twist. She looked down and gave a small nod, shame creeping in. She had hurt their friend, knowing full well she could just erase it afterward.Cora exhaled deeply and leaned back into the couch. “It’s a shitty thing to do, I’ll tell you that,” she said. “I sti
ARAHThey’d been productive over the past several days. Gildeon had been training her, Yadira, and Eitan in combat. They didn’t know exactly when Commander Haemos’s forces would arrive, but they had to be ready for anything. Ghulik was still in hibernation, and Roselia was still abroad, so for now, they only had each other to rely on.At the same time, they were helping the two lieutenants adapt to human life. Both Eitan and Yadira had deserted and would be branded traitors back in Shamibar. Staying on Earthland was their safest option now. And if they were going to live here long-term, they had to learn how to navigate the world of lower mortals.Eitan had picked things up fast. He was always eager, always curious. Everything blew his mind—TVs, coffee makers, smartphones... He called it all human magic, and said it was more impressive than the kind the higher mortals possessed.Arah had to agree. Most of the magic sylphs and salama
MABELAlmost two weeks had passed, and there was still no news about her husband. Part of her thought the police were just incompetent—not doing their jobs properly, wasting the taxes people worked so hard to pay. But another part of her felt relieved that he hadn’t been found yet. The thought of Nick in jail, sentenced to life for murdering their helper... that would destroy her.Someone knocked at her door, but she didn’t move an inch from the bed. Her eyes were fixed on her mom’s garden outside the window, watching a butterfly flutter in and out of the sunflowers and gumamela.“Mabel, how long are you going to stay locked up in there?” her mom called. “You’ve got to eat at least.”She didn’t respond. Instead, she curled up tighter and cried into one of Nick’s shirts which still smelled like his cologne. Her gaze fell to her wedding ring—her beautiful, shiny ring. All she’d ever dreamed about, since she was a little girl, was to marry a