"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
Rain fell silent in surprise. Then she began to speak in a passionate voice. "So basically, you're saying that my dad was a warlock? And he got involved in the rebellion to eliminate humans and rule the world?" No answer from anyone. Ralph, the old tree, only moved his branches faintly and Jace remained hidden in the black rose thorns. "Then my dad ran away with something crucial for the peace of this world?" Rain laughed. "It was as if I had just heard a fairy tale about American superheroes. It is bizarre. I'm sure you're talking about someone else. That's not my father." Rain almost screamed to express her anxiety and anger. There was the sound of Ralph the tree sighing. Then Rain turned in the direction where Jace was shrouded in vines of thorny roses. She walked stiffly, stomping and avoiding the tangled roots and vines on the floor of Jace's bedroom. "Jace..." "Please don't come to any closer, Rain. I don't want you to see me in this state." "Then why did you bring me her
"You guys still joke about silly things like that?" Ben smirked and replaced his spoon with a new one. After breakfast, they didn't know what to do. Rain was supposed to be working. She felt uncomfortable if she had to perform in front of Benjamin and serve Jace like a king. "Yeah, he's the king here, and I'm his servant. I feel awkward if I have to do all that in front of Ben," Rain complained in front of Erica. Erica just stared at Rain coldly with no expression at all like usual. Then the women said something that made Rain really couldn't believe it was coming out of Erica's mouth. "Miss Orwell, you technically still have your day off for the next few days. It's just that you really can't leave Darkwood no matter what." Rain stared. "Does that mean I'm free to do anything as long as I don't leave this palace?" "Yes, that's right. Randall can drive you if you want to go into town and take a walk. But I don't recommend it if you want to go to the forest. Do you remember the la
"Who knows? I suddenly felt uncomfortable. Maybe I caught a bit of a cold or something. Do you mind if we go home now?" "Yes, of course. Maybe we've gone too far, and you're exhausted. Your face is ashen. You're sweating quite a lot. I thought you were sick." Ben reached over to Rain's forehead and felt the girl have a slight fever. Ben suddenly knelt in the middle of the cabin with his back to Rain. "What are you doing, Ben?" "Get on my back. I will carry you back to the old palace." "No, Ben. I can walk. I'm fine." Rain is still forced to walk. Rain's footsteps suddenly faltered as they passed through the cabin door, and her vision darkened. Benjamin caught the girl's body just right before she wholly collapsed to the floor. "You're always stubborn. I told you you had a slight fever. Let me carry you until we get back." "No, Ben. Do not! My body is too heavy." Rain blushed. "I don't want to keep bothering you." "There's nothing heavier than my own life," whispered Ben. Wit
"More than anyone, your father knows best what will happen if the Flynns get the key." Rain couldn't hide her doubts. All looked very strange. She tried to imagine her father escaping in the dark with a key in his hand and failed, and now everyone is after him. "Your father used to be a confidant of the Flynn family. But in his last moments, he fought the Flynn family and fled to save himself and the future of humanity. He even mingled with mortals." West returned to the words inside Rain's head. "If you want the truth from me, you will get it, but I must ask the same of you in return." "You think I'm keeping the truth? You think I'm hiding my father on purpose?" Rain said with great emotion. "Rain," it was Erica. Her tone was unusually soft. "West means that memories may be hidden or buried in your subconscious. West says he can't dig into your memories. We all believe something is deliberately covering or sealing it." Rain remembered the witch's words at her father's house. Ra
He didn't look at Rain but looked around the block, which was so empty that afternoon. Snow seems to be still piling up in some parts. Rain shivered even though she was wearing a thick coat. Jace suddenly reached out to check Rain's forehead. "What is it?" asked Rain. "Your fever's gone. The healing power of the army of darkness cannot be doubted." "Oh… And Jace, why do I feel like the winters here are much longer and colder? Even though we are only a few miles from the city where I live. We're not separated by the equator or anything like that." "Perhaps you forgot that this city has been shrouded in so many kinds of magic. Outsiders see Westlake the way we see it from the inside. Don't complain too much; we better hurry to get to the City of Darkness before it gets dark." "How did West get to the City of Darkness? Does he use a car? Or fly like you?" Jace smirked. His golden brown hair looked like bronze in the slightly dim midday sun. That day he covered his runes using make
The scenery changed to thick fog that shrouded the entire street, and she could only see the tops of towering buildings in the shrouding fog. "I'm fifteen," Jace said. "When the rebellion took place." "Wait, Jace, if there was such an important and very historical event of that magnitude a few years ago, I might have been around ten years old. How could the news never spread to the city where we live? Aren't Westlake and my town not too far away?" "You forgot the veil, Rain? I told you before that this city is filled with a veil of magic. Once upon a time, humans and shadow creatures lived alongside each other. We are separated by a veil so that there is no interplay between shadow beings and mortals until the rebellion breaks out. The number of humans in this city is increasing. At the same time, the shadow creatures are increasingly being driven into the forests and remote places." Jace sighed. "Unfortunately, I have always been in the palace since my birth. I never left it. My
It felt like his hands were enveloped in a black shadow, but it was cold. "Don't be afraid," said West's voice inside Rain's head. "Suppose you're walking into a room with no electricity." West let go of Rain's hand. The girl was nervous and immediately jumped across the marble threshold to run after Jace. The girl's heartbeat was behind her ribs as if ready to fall to her ankles. Bruck! Rain hit something that felt very hard. She nearly fell to the ground in shock before Jace grabbed the girl by the shoulders. "It's me. You hit my back," Jace said. "Sorry, I'm not used to being in the dark." Jace snapped his fingers, and suddenly the dark room was dimmed by the many lanterns lined the walls. Rain thought it was a large empty room. They were in a room that resembled a long tunnel in a cave. Lanterns were hung along the hallway walls. The color is purplish. Slowly, the light began to illuminate even though it was very dim. "Why didn't you tell me there was a lantern here?" Rain
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