"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.
"Shut up and come with me!" Rain suddenly felt her body stiffen. "Jace?" she thought. Jace removed his embrace from Rain's body and turned the girl to face him. "Did you forget where you belonged?" Jace Dauntess stood tall before Rain with his skin covered in black runes. Rain felt something was different. She thought the runes were showing more and more than usual. Even half of Jace's face, which was previously clean, was now covered in runes. "Is this just my feeling?" "Yes, the runes on my body are increasing—resulting in me leaving the Darkwood forest and using excessive force. I should have used makeup as you taught me, not covered it with charms. Just so you know, if this rune fills every inch of the surface of my body, then I will forever manifest as a beast." Rain gaped, and subconsciously she had her hand over her mouth. "Why do you do all that when you know the risks are so great?" "I hunt with time. My choices are only two points: time is running out, and I die, or t
"What happened to your room?" Rain looked around the room that had previously been Jace's private room. She couldn't believe that the room was now filled with lots of vines, twisted tree branches, fallen leaves, and even bits of wet soil that had been carried away. "Careful, watch the steps--" Before Jace finished speaking, Rain's head hit one of the tree branches wrapped around Jace's bedpost. Rain backed away in a panic, but instead, she tripped over a plant root. Jace grabbed Rain's waist quickly and held her back so she wouldn't fall over. Rain paled. She was confused and felt stupid. "Thank you. Can you explain what this is?" "These plants are angry because I left the palace for a few days. They swell and twist everywhere every time I use the power of the runes on my body. They are like a curse bound to my body. These plants represent the black energy that resides within my soul." "Does that mean the black energy in your body is getting bigger?" "They will get bigger with