"Oh, the clothes are already damaged. You can throw it away!" Jace said casually.
Rain turned around to find Jace standing in front of the bathroom door, wearing only a towel around his waist and the other covering his head and face. In Rain's hand was a white shirt that was torn at the chest and covered in blood like the claws of a beast.
Rain knows how it feels to be ripped apart and torn by wolves, even though she's unsure if it's reality or a dream. When she saw the clothes and the blood, Rain immediately panicked. Rain ran over to Jace.
"What's wrong with you?" Jace backed away uncomfortably.
But, Rain continued to approach him. Rain put her hands on Jace's chest and stomach. She checked for parts of Jace's body that might be injured but didn't say anything.
"Are you hurt, Sir? Your clothes are bleeding. Are you okay?" Rain panicked.
Jace froze. He'd never gotten that kind of attention. He didn't even notice that Rain was touching his d
The Hardys' house was shrouded in a thick fog that could only be seen from the roof of one wing of the building. The chirping of birds was heard softly in the cold morning. The remnants of snow were seen clumping together around the tightly closed windows.Knock. Knock. Knock."Benjamin?" called Antony at the guest room door.There was no answer from within. The room at the end of the hall was silent and tightly closed. The windows were also tightly closed by curtains for the past few days. From under the gap in the door, black smoke could be seen that occasionally came out to caress the toe of Antony's sports shoes."Hah!" he sighed. He parted his long hair that hung down to his face while holding his arms. "Make sure you rest well. Good night, Ben..."This morning, Antony was wearing his favorite dark gray tracksuit, the same color as his hair. Behind Antony Hardy came the sound of approaching footsteps. Antony turned and saw his little brother&m
Jace Dauntess wasn't there, and his private room was empty. Rain stood alone like a confused person."Master Dauntess?" called Rain while looking around for the man's whereabouts. Rain thought Jace was making a joke and hid.The wind was blowing hard from the wide-open window. The dark curtains floated in the wind. Rain had to cover her face while walking there."Where is he going? Jumped out of the window?" thought Rain.Rain stood in front of the window staring at the darkness of the Darkwood forest with a shivering body."Hah, this is ridiculous! He would definitely die if he actually jumped from here, right? I'm sure it's just a trick." Rain pulled the window and locked it tightly again."Humph!" she sighed. Rain began to pay close attention to the interior of Jace's room. "He must be hiding here."Rain walked around looking for gaps, secret rooms, or whatever Jace might use to hide. She also checked any wall panels that might hav
Ethan's body fell to the floor. Suddenly, Ben released his noose on the dark brown-haired teenager, who tends to be black. Ethan took a deep breath to eliminate the tightness that ensnared him a moment ago."No need, Ethan." Ben held his hand to Ethan, and the teenager instantly shuffled away."I don't care if other people always think of us as the Flynn family's guard dogs. If that's what we can do for this family and Papa's cause, why not? You guys were always kind and protected us." Ethan felt so bad for Ben."Ethan, you don't have to worry. I'm fine." Ben tried to calm the young werewolf.After ensuring all is well, Ethan resigns and leaves Ben's room. Ethan walked down the hall where the lights were out. The hallway was a little dark even though there was a light source from the gaps in the room's door."Yo," said Anthony, leaning against the side of the hall.Ethan looked at his brother in annoyance and looked away. "What?""Not
"What happened, Your Majesty?" Erica almost got hit by Jace, who ran away in a hurry as she was about to knock on Jace's door. Jace was surprised to see Erica standing there casually. Jace became flustered and tried to hide his embarrassed face. "But, what a coincidence if we meet here. I don't have to go in there, do I?" Erica smirked. "You don't want your secret to be out, do you?" Jace hissed. "You know I don't keep any secrets in my room!" Erica snorted. "Not until last night, yeah!" Jace's face was red and very embarrassed. He seemed caught in the middle of sin. "Ahem! What's the point of you coming here so early, Erica?" Jace's eyes narrowed. "Did you come to stalk me? This early?" "Hey, you're looking at me like I'm the villain here!" Erica raised her hands in disappointment. "How about we have breakfast together downstairs?" Outside, it was snowing heavily. Jace could see the snow from the east tower window. "Not!" Erica tried to look disappointed. "Too bad, I though
"Is this the place?" Ben asked Ethan, who was standing beside him with an umbrella. Ethan smiled stiffly as he fiddled with his umbrella. "Just a minute, Ben." "Hah? What?" Ben turned. "You could get burned for refusing to use an umbrella!" snapped Ethan. His brown hair swayed in the winter breeze. Today, Ethan wore a suit of black pants and a beige sweater overlaid with a handmade knee-length coat on the outside. He looks equally charming in both human and wolf forms. "Ethan, you're so unfit to carry around an umbrella in an expensive men's suit like that," Ben slurred behind his sunglasses. "Would you rather I be a wolf and wag my tail?" Ethan teases Ben. "If you don't get things done here quickly, you're going to be in trouble!" shouted Anthony from behind the wheel of the chariot waiting behind them. "Remember, we are already in human territory even though this place was abandoned long ago!" "Yeah..." Ethan and Ben replied at the same time. Ethan and Anthony got an assign
Rain stopped in the middle of the ground floor of the old hall alone. At the bottom of the stairs, she saw a man sitting barefoot in this cold winter. Rain froze, with her whole body almost shaking. The man looked at her with a mischievous grin. His face is handsome, like a model in a fashion magazine that Rain often reads. However, the man's pair of sharp white fangs were sticking out with a bloodthirsty gaze. The handsome man instantly transformed with fur all over his body and an elongated muzzle. "Werewolve?" shouted Rain. "O, a friend of the beast came?" teased the werewolf with a slightly bent body position, ready to attack Rain. "You... the monster that attacked me in the forest," Rain said softly as she put her hand in her coat pocket. "Would you like to party with me, young girl? I am very hungry and long for the sweet flesh and blood of humans!" the werewolf pleaded with a pitiful face. The blood all over Rain's body immediately bubbled up as soon as she remembered how
"Your Majesty, what happened to you?" Erica panicked as she welcomed Jace home. "Why her? How did you get to be with her?" Erica saw Rain unconscious in Jace's arms. Many black tendrils completely covered Jace's body. The buffalo head reappeared in the daytime like that was an unusual thing. Jace carried Rain's body which felt light as if he was lifting a cotton doll. Jace's black coat was swept away by the wind as he stepped. Jace didn't answer Erica's question and continued walking up the stairs to the second floor to Rain's room. Erica just followed behind Jace. She wanted to make sure all was well. "He's very angry isn't he?" whispered one of the paintings as he saw Jace pass him. "You're right. Jace hasn't been like this in a long time. What do you think made him so angry?" replied the armor on display in the second-floor hallway. Jace opened the tightly closed Rain's bedroom door with just an eye movement. The door slammed with a pretty loud sound. "God, he can destroy th
Erica stood on the edge of the bed where Rain was lying. Rain fell asleep like the dead. Silently, Erica raised the sword she pulled from the armor display in the hallway. Erica's eyes blazed like embers, ready to explode. Her pair of hands clenched tightly on the hilt of the long sword. Erica lifted the heavy sword with all her might and prepared to swing at the supine Rain. In her sleep, Rain felt something push her to wake up immediately. When Rain opened her eyes, she saw a ray of light reflecting off the tip of the sword Erica was carrying. Erica swung the sword at Rain's chest. At that very instant, Rain rolled to the side, and the blade just dangled. "Erica!" shouted Rain, full of anger. "You're trying to kill me?" Rain rolled over and tried to run away from there. Erika sighed and threw the sword on the floor carelessly. "Oh, I was just trying to wake you up. You sleep like the dead. Yet here we are experiencing many difficulties. Can't you do a good job? You're paid to do
Rain walked out of Chiel Burley's private residence after single-handedly defeating the ripping demons. A few steps after crossing the street, Chiel's house exploded. Enormous flames soared into the night sky. Rain grinned while wiping the blood dripping down her forehead."The ripping demon must be buried with their maker. They must be ripped apart together and put into the deepest hell."Gazing up at the dark sky, the full moon shone brightly above her head. Black clouds rolled across the sky. Rain felt a very strong magical energy coming from somewhere.Erica had just arrived at the city of darkness, where she met West and briefly explained everything. Point in seconds, the entire army of darkness from the city of darkness rose and appeared at the border box together; they attacked the pack of wolves trying to protect the city. War is unavoidable.A large, dark creature with wide wings landed right before Rain. Rain had never seen this creature before, but she often heard its name
Rain had turned around and was about to leave Chiel Burley's house. However, the warlock suddenly sat up straight while clutching his sore neck."Who gave you permission to leave here?" muttered Chiel.Rain's steps stopped, and she turned back to Chiel. "No one needs your approval or permission. You don't even have the right to speak before me!"The peak of the full moon is only a few hours away. Rain must quickly find Jace and save him. Rain didn't know that the impact of the curse she had given would be this terrible. Rain had to stop it before something worse happened.Chiel grinned. He stood up with difficulty and challenged Rain. The face of the warlock in the body of a 10-year-old boy looks annoying.Rain really can remember everything. Her past, especially her childhood. Rain remembered always playing together with Chiel in the Darkwood forest. There was one question that always bothered Rain's mind at that time. Chiel's body never grows old or taller, while Rain continues to g
"You were born from a forbidden relationship between King Dauntess II and the palace witch—Alyssa Cruise," Chiel said to Rain."King Dauntess II? Jace Dauntess' father?" Rain almost screamed. "Not!"Rain's eyes flashed red. Something burst from within the girl."Markus Orwell is not your father! Your name should be Rain Cruise. Your mother—Alyssa Cruise, never married a king. You have no right to inherit the Dauntess name."Rain shook her head vigorously. A demonic figure that was uncontrollable and which Rain never realized was stored inside her is now present and wants to take the girl's consciousness.Rain choked Chiel's neck suddenly, very strong and fast. Rain pushed Chiel until he fell from his wheelchair. Rain forced the warlock against the wall as she continued to choke him.On the other hand, Haramon was lying unconscious with a pool of blood seeping from his head. Moments ago, Haramon tried to attack Rain, who threatened to kill Chiel. With just one swing of Rain's left hand
Rain stood up, panting. She held her stomach, which felt like it was being stabbed. God knows how long and far she ran from the Darkwood forest to Westlake City. All the way in Rain's mind, there was only one name. Currently, the distance between Rain and the owner of that name was only separated by a double black door.Without hesitation, Rain immediately pressed the button beside the door hard, fast, and repeatedly. The owner of the house did not appear to answer the door. Rain has no more time. She's racing against time.Rain clenched her fists and started pounding on the black door with all her might. She no longer cared about the throbbing pain in her knuckles. She kept banging on the door like a madman.On the umpteenth bang, the door finally swung open. It was still too dark when the house owner was forced awake to receive a disturbing visitor."Where is Chiel?"Haramon, Chiel Burley's personal assistant, answered the door. He stood confused. His pair of sleepy eyes could not b
The wolf's lips were drawn back so that its sharp teeth showed clearly. Rain saw his red tongue sticking out. There was hatred in his eyes when he saw Erica. It was hatred that was pure and uniquely human.Rain started to think. "The wolf is no stranger! But, where have I seen him before, huh? Was he the pack that attacked me in the Darkwood forest? Or is he part of Hardy's pack?"Rain's thoughts were broken when she heard Erica's voice."Are you coming for the girl or me?" With sweat pouring from her temples, Erica asked, but her hands were steady and tightly gripped by the whips in her hands.The wolf stepped towards Erica with a low growl."There's still time," Erica said. "Markus will definitely want to take you back. Just leave Mayor Flynn."With a growl, the wolf lunged. Erica shouted as she swung her whip in the air to chase the wolf into the wolf's side. The wolf backed away, and Rain saw the blood dripping between the dense fur. Blood flowed again as the wolf tried to attack
After slapping Erica in such a daring manner, Rain wished she could glean some explanation about her father's connection to everything that had happened. However, Erica remained silent like an unshakable rock.The door closed behind Erica, leaving Rain alone in Jace's room. There was only Rain's heavy breathing and the sound of her fingertips trying to tug at the door handle and banging, all to no avail."Damn it! Erica locked me in here. What does she really want? And my dad, why is he involved in all this? He was behaving very strangely. He's not like my dad, but someone else who is a complete stranger."After trying various ways to escape Jace's room and failing, Rain finally smashed herself against the door again and again until she was tired. Her side ached. Rain slumped to the floor and tried not to cry."Somewhere, my dad is taking Jace somewhere, and I don't know what he's going to do with that young man. I should be more worried about my dad. But now, I feel disgusted and ang
"I want your promise first," Erica said firmly one more time."First? You don't believe me, Erica?" Markus smiled humorlessly. "I will definitely do as you have asked. A promise is a promise. Although I was a bit surprised when I received your message. I didn't think you would mind living in a palace as grand as this. You never like being in silence?""You don't know how that feels," Erica hissed. "Every time I feel afraid if the child dies.""That's right. I don't know." Mark's voice sounded sad as if he pitied Erica. But there was dislike in Mark's eyes. There was also reproach in his tone. "If you haven't succeeded in resurrecting the witch, you shouldn't have called me here."Erica's face contorted. "It's not easy to restore her strength. People have to find a way, but nothing works. Including… us." Erica's voice trembled."You mean that fragile prince?" Markus turned to Jace, who was tangled in thorns on one wall. Mark chuckled. "Kids grow up fast, don't they? The last time I saw
Rain heard Jace screaming in his room in the east tower. When Rain ran and pushed open Jace's bedroom door, she saw the room filled with swirling black mist.Rain was confused by the situation that occurred. When she approached while calling out Jace's name in panic, pain spread across Rain's arms, cheeks, and even all over Rain's body. The girl screamed. Then instinctively, Rain covered her face with her hands.Rain felt something wrapped around her body. Feels like the barbed wire that is sharp and stabbing. Rain squirmed and struggled. However, the entanglement felt increasingly piercing the skin until it penetrated the flesh."Not! What's this? Jace, are you all right? What's going on here?"Rain couldn't see anything other than the dense fog clumping around her. She thought Jace was again possessed by the monster inside him. However, Rain heard the sound of footsteps."That's enough!" shouted Erica in a calm voice.Erica waved her hand in front of her face, and instantly, the bla
Rain turned to Erica and let go of the woman's grip. Then she turned to Ben. Now, Rain looked at Ben seriously and said something only they could hear."No one knows how to cure it," said Rain. "Jace has been injured by a powerful ripping demon. No mortal doctor knows how to treat a wound like that."Ben had already opened his mouth and was about to issue words to refute Rain's statement. Ben thought he had many different ways of treatment that may be Rain didn't know about. But, suddenly, Ben chose not to speak and fell silent. Ben realized it would all be in vain. Because Ben knows that when Rain has made a decision, the girl will not turn away from her commitment.Erica felt disappointed, and she thought Rain would instead join Benjamin. Erica did not blame the girl's decision. Because of the situation, if you look at it from anywhere, Jace looks really detrimental to Rain. Thus, Erica turned around and returned to her friends."She doesn't want to come with us?" asked Samantha dis