"Yeah, actually..." Rain said hesitantly, glancing at Jace. "Actually, I took this girl captive in my house as a guarantee to find a way to release the black curse from my kingdom," Jace said firmly to Chiel. "Why this girl?" asked Chiel. "Because of her father. I know her father was involved with the rebellion in the kingdom. I'm currently looking for details of their relationship to the Darkwood curse. Her father disappeared. It must have something to do with all of this." "And you think this girl has memories of that? About her father's past actions against this kingdom?" Chiel wanted to clarify his curiosity. Jace just shrugged. "Actually, I just wanted to find out about my past. I want to find out about my father's whereabouts. However, right now, my father is missing. Maybe the memory was stored in my head and was erased could answer the question of where my father is right now." Chiel sighed and clapped his hands gently. "When we're done here, I want to get back to my pa
A large wolf paced restlessly in the warehouse full of goods, stuffy, dark, and cramped. Someone knocked in front of the barn door and tried to break in. The wolf growled with fear. "What happened to me?" thought Benjamin in his wolf body. He kept circling, looking for a way out. "Why did I turn into a wolf beyond my control? It's not even a full moon. What poison has that shadow creature given me? Damn Samantha!" "Ben? You hear me?" Rain asked frantically. "Are you inside? Come out; we need to talk. You don't have to be afraid of me. We will find a way out together." The girl tried to persuade Ben. Benjamin wanted to say something in his wolf body and asked Rain to leave. However, what came out of his throat was the sound of a beast's growl which made Rain tremble in fear at the barn door. Benjamin panicked and accidentally dropped some things. "How can I show my true form to that girl? Not! Rain can't see me in this state. She knows I'm a mortal, not a Shifter." Benjamin was r
Jace's body was facing the barn door. The troops of darkness lined his right and left. They began to move the black runes from their respective bodies. They together concentrated their strength to break the transforming magic spell that had already hit Benjamin. Jace heard Rain moan behind him. Jace could feel and realize something was happening to the girl. Jace went out of control, and the monsters inside his body started to burst out from using too much rune power in his body. A pair of black wings of a chain of bones stuck out and tore at his expensive clothes. Jace's jaw was also enlarged with sharp fangs. The army of darkness that was with him lost concentration. They started to worry about Jace's uncontrollable changes. "Erica, do something!" shouted Samantha frantically. "Prepare your traps!" Erica ordered the dark forces to prepare for the worst. Jace looked half-transformed but still managed to control his consciousness. He turned to Rain. Jace didn't want to show his m
"Return!" shouted Rain. "What's wrong with you?" Jace was surprised by Rain's sudden angry reaction. Rain ignored Jace's question. She stood up and tried to squeeze into the carriage's steering wheel. Randall was controlling their carriage. "Randall, take me back to that warlock right now!" "What is this?" Jace asked, displeased. "You think we're playing around here? We're only a few dozen meters away before we reach the palace." It was Rain's turn to ignore Jace's words. "Randall, if you don't turn this train back, drop me off right here right now! Let me go back there myself to pick up Benjamin." "Benjamin?" Jace laughed. "So you're acting just because of him? You wake up thinking about him? I could send Erica or Samantha to pick him up or return him to his house this instant. However, he refused to join us again." Rain couldn't believe Jace's words. "Randall!" asked Rain. Randal looked doubtful. His hands no longer moved the horse's reins, and he glanced at Jace. The shad
"Benjamin!" Rain said at last. "Oh, who?" Chiel didn't understand. "My friend! He's the only mortal to come to your party tonight. You do remember it, right? Back warehouse?" Chiel said softly. "What's wrong with your friend?" Chiel sat in his wheelchair in the doorway. He didn't let Rain and Jace come in, but he didn't kick them out either. "We came to pick him up." Rain said in a pleading tone. "Hasn't he been released from that transforming magic?" "Pick him up?" Chiel asked back with a frown. "Escape from magic?" The warlock in the ten-year-old's body fluttered in his navy blue pajamas with a moon and stars pattern. He also wears a conical cap to sleep with a pompom at the end of the hat. "Yeah, pick him up home! I remember the last time Ben hid in the shed behind you. Somehow I've suddenly transferred to the horse carriage. I wanted to ensure he was completely released from the transforming magic spell." Chiel rolled his eyes and glanced at Jace. "Why did you bother comi
"Tell me before my patience runs out. I will demolish this house and its inhabitants with the one-hand swing." Rain believed Jace's words. This man beside her could do anything. Rain knew that after seeing the hidden power of Jace Dauntess. "And I have witnessed only a fraction of its true power. I'm sure Jace's strength is far beyond that." Chiel narrowed his cat-like eyes and shone. Behind them, all the furniture inside Chiel's house slowly started to shake and was ready to explode at any moment. Chiel knew it was Jace's doing when he saw the runes all over Jace's body which were getting darker. "Memories Plaza," Chiel said at last. He sighed and added, "North of Westlake." Jace eased his emotions and began to speak calmly. "I know where it is. We have to get there right away. Oh, Chiel, do you have a flying horse?" Chiel narrowed his eyes even more. "Not." He looked annoyed. "What kind of wizard do you think I am who still has such strange and old-fashioned toys in all these
They stopped in front of the gates of the Gothic-style Catholic Church. The arched windows reflected moonlight like silver mirrors. They sat on the car's hood staring at the wrought-iron fence that surrounded the church building and was painted dark black. "We came here too late. Of course, the church is locked," Rain said, glancing at Jace, who looked thoughtful. "Leave it to me," Jace said as he rose from his seat and headed for the tightly closed gate. He rolled up his sleeves and placed his palm on the large padlock that locked the fence. Rain watched Jace grip the lock, and a few seconds later, the heavy iron lock suddenly fell with a thud to the ground. The gate opened after Jace gave a slight push. "Wow, how did you do that? If all thieves were like you, there would be no prison. Because all prisoners can freely escape anywhere with just one touch." "Are you kidding me? You mean to call me a thief?" Jace glared at Rain. The girl was still restless. Rain occasionally looke
When Jace turned and looked at Rain, the girl simultaneously expressed shock, fear and disgust. "Is that a human bone?" Jace raised his eyebrows and said, "Yeah, it's a bone." "You used human bones as weapons?" Rain wanted to make sure that Jace was probably joking. "This is a black bone—a black human bone." Rain covered her mouth with her hand. "The colour is very intense." "This bone has strong magical abilities if used by the right person. But, if a person without magic powers touches it, it's just a normal bone that doesn't have any abilities and effects on the wielder." Jace wiped the dust on the black bones as Rain knelt beside him. Rain looked at the black bone. Upon closer inspection, Rain realized that the solid surface of the bones was engraved with beautiful, intertwined runes. Rain recognized it—the meaning of the runes was almost as easy as reading an English word when she saw it. "This is a rune that means darkness," Jace said without being asked. As Rain was i
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