Suddenly in the middle of the stairs, Jace raised his hand and made a stop motion. Rain couldn't quite see Jace's gesture, but because the man had stopped, she stopped too halfway up the stairs. "What is it?" Rain whispered in fear. "Did you find anything up there?" "I don't know, but I don't feel any demons present at the moment. I don't think there's any trace of them in this old house." Rain took a deep breath. "Then why did you suddenly stop?" "Is there a specific place you want to go? Because there's no way, we can go around all day looking for something we don't even know what it is?" Rain sighed. "Okay. I want to try to see my room." "And where exactly is it?" Asked like that, Rain froze. She had no memory of where her room was or anything that connected it to the house. She only remembered the willow tree in the front yard and that too vaguely. Before they could go any further towards the top floor, suddenly, the door on the ground floor where they had entered creaked.
Another black-winged creature swooped down on Jace out of nowhere. This creature looks like a woman's figure, black hair is tied to the top of her head, and her biceps are lined with rugged iron. "What kind of monsters are these?" Jace thought. Erica and Randall stepped in front of Jace to protect him. However, the creature's target was not the prince. The beast came to capture the dark forces of the prince's guard. "That black-winged creature came to hunt down my troops?" Jace cursed. With one broad movement, the black creature released something like a shimmering web in the air and wrapped Randall and Erica together. The monster knocked Randall and Erica to the ground due to the weight of the metal net. "Silver net?" mumbled Jace. The winged creature dragged Randall and Erica, trapped in the net, along the ground. The monster seemed to be taking steps to lift them into the sky. Jace didn't hesitate. There is a time to act quietly, and there is a time to go on the offensive.
"What happened? What creatures are they? And where did they come from? What for?" Rain kept asking Jace. She demanded as detailed an answer as possible. "Do you see my hands, face, and body?" "What do you mean they came from your body?" Jace was annoyed. "See these black tendrils that resemble tattoos? All over my skin?" "Okay? Then?" "Yeah, these are cursed runes. The creatures that just caught you and flew like half-bird humans were also humans. They turned into that because of the same cursed rune. Did you notice the black color all over their bodies?" Rain is stunned. "So… they turned into monsters? Did that happen to you too, Jace?" Jace shrugged his shoulders. "The difference is, I can control some of my power because of the magic roses in Darkwood. Those who just caught you can't do it. They were completely controlled by something or someone who inscribed those cursed runes onto their bodies and souls." Jace continued. "The runes are excruciating. People who are marked
Adaline returned to the living room with a tray of tea and cookies that had just been removed from the oven. The tea and cookies were even still steaming warm. But, as soon as she passed the curtain of shells, the tray of tea and cookies fell to the floor. Adaline, who originally had a smiling face, suddenly pursed her lips tightly. She got furious. The living room of the house is empty. Jace and Rain had left without saying a word. "You won't be able to get away with it!" Adaline growled furiously. Suddenly, black runes were all over her skin, turning her body into a terrifying monster. Rain and Jace had already made their way back to town. They went to the address where Mr Orwell's apartment was located. They were standing in front of a small brown row house. Mr Orwell's apartment was near the other row houses lining St. Marie Ann. A sharp breeze blew against their faces and shook the sign on the post box near the steps. Jace read the print aloud, "The Orwells' Home." Jace
"Get away from me, you bastard!" shouted the assailant as he struggled to free himself from Jace's grip. Rain recognized the voice even though it was in the dark. "Benjamin? Is that you?" Jace looked very disappointed and let go of his grip while pushing a little bit roughly. "You bastard! Though I hope to catch someone. So that you know, today I am distraught and need an outlet." "Stop it, you two! It's enough." Rain stood in the middle of the two men, her hands raised and her face as serious as possible. "Ben, what are you doing here? Why are you at my father's house? I don't even have the key. How did you come here and get out of the house?" Benjamin received Rain's very gloomy and piercing gaze. The girl really couldn't believe that Ben was there. Jace leaned against the balcony railing, pretending to ignore them. He looked away from Rain and Benjamin. Jace tried hard to cover his face with a hoodie. Just a moment ago, when he used the power to flap his wings, the runes all
When Rain turned to Ben and tried to clarify whether the figure she met in the forest was Ben or was it just Rain's dream and imagination? However, at that moment, someone rattled the latch on the gate until it made a loud sound. Ben immediately went to the second-floor window directly opposite the gate. Ben could see who was making a fuss ahead through the window. "Guys!" Ben ran back to where Rain and Jace were. "Someone's coming." Rain and Jace were shocked. "Is that my dad?" Ben glanced out the window and looked at the fence someone was trying to open. He shook his head. "Not Mr. Orwell. However, there was a woman and two men there. Rain, do you know them? Or do they live on the ground floor?" "Woman and man?" The curious Jace finally ran across the room and peeked through the window. Jace hissed. "Those two men are warlocks!" "Warlocks? What do you mean?" Ben was confused. "Is that a cool term for someone?" No one answered Ben's curiosity. "Why would a warlock come to my
"Two weeks ago, I've come here and checked the whole place. I didn't find it anywhere. Now you insist on asking me to bring you here. You can look it up yourself if you don't believe me." Clarissa's voice sounded very nervous and desperate. "Don't play dumb," said one of the warlocks in a snarling voice. "We know that bastard has a daughter. My men found her pictures in the hospital bed where he was being treated." At that moment, Rain's pair of eyes opened wide. "Jace, they're talking about my dad! Those who brought my dad? That woman betrayed my dad?" Rain is very emotional. She would almost disappear if Jace didn't hold herself back and cover Rain's mouth. "Please, don't make a sound!" whispered Jace. Rain could only shed tears silently. She was eager to know where her father was now and how he was doing. The two warlocks turned towards the bookshelf where Rain and the two men were hiding. They were suspicious because they thought they heard voices from there. Clarissa quick
The three were in the carriage heading to the Darkwood Kingdom via Westlake Station. Jace looked still angry at Rain. He sat away from the girl. "Thanks for bringing me along," said Ben. "I thought you would choose to go with him and ignore me." "Don't get excited just yet, Ben. I don't fully trust you, either. Sorry. I brought you along because I wanted to prove Jace's words wrong." Ben looks both disappointed and grateful. "At least you still have a little bit of faith in me. I'm so scared now. Where have you been all this time? What kind of work are you doing? Eventually, I'll find out." Rain looked around the train that was taking them to Westlake Station. There were no passengers in the carriage other than the three of them. Rain glanced at the window. Outside it began to be shrouded in thick fog. Even though no other passengers were in the carriage, they were riding in. Rain was sure that the dark forces were around. Only they didn't show up because of Benjamin's presence.