“When he dies.” Carl reached out and plucked a jasmine flower, twirling it in his fingers. “Even if my dear cousin is on his last breath, we can’t afford to be careless. The moment he dies, we move.”
Then, a thought crossed Carl's mind.
“Is there any word from Ivana?” he inquired.
“No.” Isolde shook her head slightly. “Recently, John left Cloud City, and we suspect Ivana went with him.”
She frowned slightly as she finished speaking.
“Ivana was never really one of us. Do you think she might betray us?”
A flicker of light passed through Carl's eyes, which then hardened with resolve.
“Find out where John went as soon as possible.”
John's sudden departure from Cloud City was indeed suspicious. Was there someone else out there who could save Diana?
...
Deep in the Forest
Nightfall had draped its inky blanket over the forest, casting an eerie silence.
In front of the Hag's cave lay a large clearing, where
"Yes, I have. Nothing serious," John replied, his voice softening slightly. "Thanks for all your hard work."Jacob, feeling a bit guilty, responded, "It’s no trouble... When do you think you’ll be back?""I can't say for certain, but we'll return as soon as possible," John said coolly. "Just get that song translated quickly.""Understood."…Jacob was efficient. Early the next morning, John received the file from Jacob. It contained the translated lyrics of the Hag's song:“Tonight, I wait in vain. Yesterday, you held me close. Now you’re gone, my love. Where are you now, my love? You said you'd be here tomorrow...”As he read the translation on his phone, John's brows furrowed, deep in thought. He scrolled down further, finding the song's origin and explanation.While he was engrossed in reading, there was a sudden commotion near the cave. John turned slightly to see the Hag, carrying a basket and wrapped in a headscarf, totte
But John didn't move.Instead, he stepped forward.“For my wife, I’m willing to give up everything, but that doesn’t mean I’ll make a foolish sacrifice.”His voice was calm and steady. “Just because you were betrayed, you think all men are liars and all love is fake. You hide in this dark cave, but what are you really running from?”A flicker of surprise passed through the Hag's eyes.“I don't know what you're talking about!”John didn't reply.He continued to slowly advance towards her. “Everything I’ve told you is true. For my wife, I’d give up everything, including my life.”He stopped right in front of her, his eyes full of emotion, radiating an irresistible presence.His piercing, unyielding gaze made the Hag freeze for a moment.His eyes were sharp, firm, and fearless.“As long as I see my wife safe with my own eyes, you can take my life if you want it.”The Hag's face darkened.“Why sho
Inside the cave.The Hag sat listlessly next to a tattered bronze mirror, her gnarled face reflected in its tarnished surface. Her lips trembled as she stared at the grotesque image before her. With a sudden snap, she slapped the mirror down onto the table, as if to suppress the painful memories it evoked.Every glance at her own face reminded her of the deep betrayal she had suffered.Her lover, Poma, had betrayed her.She remembered how her father had disapproved of their relationship. She had threatened to end her own life, leaving her father with no choice but to relent. On their wedding day, her father gave her a pot of flowers, saying that this "Heart's Desire" could test a person’s true feelings. He wanted Poma to water it with his own blood to prove his sincerity.But she couldn’t bear to see her beloved hurt. She trusted the sweet promises he made, so much so that she taught him the long-lost secrets of voodoo medicine herself.And
Xavier was furious: ... Like I want to beg you, you jerk!In reality, they didn’t have any kind of romantic relationship at all!Xavier screamed internally, but the more anxious he got, the worse his stuttering became, and he couldn’t manage a single coherent sentence.Just when he felt like he was about to explode and punch this infuriating guy, John spoke up.He cast a glance at Mitbahl. “What are you doing here?”“Uh, I was worried little Thomas might wet the bed, so I brought him out to go to the bathroom. I didn’t expect to overhear your conversation with... with Xavier.”Xavier looked at him.Wow, he sure changed his tune fast.For some reason, seeing Mitbahl's quick change in attitude left him feeling...a bit unsettled.Mitbahl blinked and stared at the thing in John's hand, exclaiming in surprise.“Boss, is that a... a pebble in that 'Heart's Desire' flowerpot!?”He frowned deeply.“I
Diana’s tone shifted as she cleared her throat.“Since Doctor Myers said the baby is fully developed and can come out now, do you think I should choose a good day and have him come out early?”“No.”John’s refusal was immediate.He knew what she was thinking.She was worried—worried she might not make it to the day of delivery.She wanted to ensure the baby was safe first.But that wasn’t an option.Her health was already fragile, and a premature delivery could be dangerous.“Just five more days.”John’s voice crackled through a burst of static.The signal on his end seemed to be deteriorating.Diana asked, “What’s in five days? Are you coming back?”“Yes… I’m coming back… and you just…”More static followed, and the call dropped.Diana tried calling back a few times, but the signal was completely gone.She sighed softly.It seemed the rain had indeed affected the s
“Being turned into a Voodoo Lwa by your own father, not much of a future left for you. Don’t you hate him?”Ivana slowly pressed the candy into the Hag’s hand, her expression calm. “Of course I hate him... But now they’re all dead. What’s the point of holding onto that hate forever? Besides, I’ve realized that life isn’t just filled with bitterness; it can be sweet too.”Ivana squinted her eyes, thinking of Jacob, a soft, tender look overtaking her gaze.The Hag let out a cold, dismissive snort.“You’re running out of time yourself, and yet you’re still so optimistic.”Ivana hesitated, lowering her head without a word. She knew all too well that as a Voodoo Lwa, her days were numbered.“Take this.”A sudden cold voice broke the silence. Ivana turned to see the Hag holding a small vial out to her.“What’s this?” Ivana asked, a note of surprise in her voice.“Take one pill a day,” the Hag said, her face remaining stony and
The Hag's once-clouded eyes were now shining with disbelief.“It’s blooming… do you see that… am I dreaming?!”John lowered his gaze.He spoke softly.“Yes, I see it.”In the center of the dark soil, a small green shoot had emerged.It was like a faint light in the endless darkness, symbolizing a glimmer of hope.The Hag held the flower pot, muttering to herself.“How is this possible… Is there really true love in the world? How could this flower bloom…”“I... I’ve waited a hundred years, a hundred years…”She seemed almost delirious, rambling incoherently.Jackson stepped forward, his face lighting up with joy.“Now that the Heart’s Desire has bloomed, does that mean you'll keep your promise and come down the mountain with us to save those people?”The Hag seemed not to hear him. She cradled the flower, mumbling incoherently to herself. Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, two tears slid down he
Carl’s eyes glinted, and he snapped the laptop shut with a decisive click. A cold smile spread across his face. "I knew it... She couldn’t stay loyal for long."Lowering his head, a dangerous light flickered in his eyes. "Betraying me has dire consequences."Doom asked, "Boss, what’s the plan?""She’s just a pawn. Her life was in my hands from the start. If she won’t obey, there’s no point in keeping her around." Carl glanced at Doom. "You know where the male Voodoo insect is. Kill her."...After narrowly escaping the mudslide, John and his team found themselves safe and sound. The torrential rain that had plagued them suddenly ceased, and the sky cleared, revealing a bright rainbow. It seemed like a sign that things were finally looking up.They started their descent down the mountain. Ivana, soaked from the rain, was feeling a bit under the weather, so Mitbahl carried her on his back. Despite her cold and dizziness, Ivana was in high spir