The Truth- Part 4

Deep in the dark, thick forest, there stood a shaded and mossy building, fenced with heavy black gates. The exterior looked abandoned and lonely. Inside the enormous place, it's held only a few essential pieces of furniture such as a deep red comfy couch, a round table made up of fragile glass, and two wooden chairs at either side of the table. The dimmed place is being lit up by several torches on the walls. The mansion is desolate from any human being.

There is one lonely figure sitting on the couch. The man is staring outside of the balcony, with his sword-like brows furrowed in rage. The man has tousled, long black hair surpassing his broad shoulder and a pair of piercing scarlet eyes. His moist lips tugged into a sinister smile as he is remembering something funny from the past. He had a fit and muscular stature, despite wearing a large cloak around his body. His long and slender legs are crossed lazily on the couch, with his arms is resting on the couch handle. He hummed something under his breath.

Moon is shone brightly on the starless sky. The winds blew softly, accompanied by the singing of crickets from the nearby bushes. The tranquility of the surrounding couldn't be compared to the turbulence inside Maverick's heart. He is excited by something.

"Seth." His deep, baritone voice is resounding in the vacant living room.

"My lord," Another man appeared out of nowhere, wearing a butler uniform. He respectively saluted the man. This man had short flaming red hair with eyes as black as the night sky. There is a scar across his face. Though the whitened cut never blemished his beautiful appearance, it's somewhat adding a more masculine effect on him. This man may look younger, yet he is actually lived longer than any human out there, serving his master with utmost loyalty. "Do you seek for my assistance?"

"Tomorrow is the night we will launch a sneak attack on Grandia Empire. Had the preparation progressed well?"

"Of course, my Lord. The Twelve General also here, eagerly waiting for your order. Our army is just outside of the kingdom's border, hiding in plain sight. All the preparation is done."

"Good." Maverick praised his loyal servant. Seth had been by his side since the beginning of the time. Without him and his assistance, Maverick will probably be ousted forever by that bitch Serafina Sawyer. "I need the new vessel as soon as possible. This body regrettably had reached its limit. It could barely contain my soul. Any longer, then I will be forced to sleep for another 1000 years."

"Are you feeling uncomfortable, sir?" Seth asked. The frown on his face is evident as he lightly touched Maverick's hands. His master's skin is as soft as tofu. With the slightest force, his skin will probably tear apart, and he will be bleed to death, just like the previous night. Damn Carina! She just had to reinforce her barrier and increase the difficulty for his master to infiltrate inside the palace ground.

Maverick casually waved his hand. Dismissing his servant's worried inquiry.

"After tomorrow, I will no longer need to drink the horrendous herbal water prepped by Leticia."

"I'm sorry to disappointing you, my Lord." A beautiful lady with wavy brown hair, tied in a loose high bun, approached the two of them. Her hooded amber-like eyes gleamed in the dark. She brought out a bowl of warm and thick, greenish soup, along with a tray with her. A bitter aroma is permeating from the content. Leticia smiles as she saw the despairing looks on her master's face. "You still need to take them today."

"Ugh...This is all Sawyer's fault!" Maverick cursed. He jeered at the bowl with disdain.

"Drink it, my Lord." Leticia cooed at him. She scooped out the soup and hovered the spoon around Maverick's lips. Maverick refused to cooperate. He keeps his mouth shut. Leticia leaned closer to his ear and whispered to him in her sultry voice. "My Lord, if you obediently took the medication, then I will reward you. How about it?"

Maverick scanned Leticia from her head to her toe. Leticia is wearing a tight, bright red nightgown that hugged her curvy body perfectly. The gown is accentuating her superb and drooling figure. Maverick's eyes fall onto Leticia exposed neck and shoulders. His eyes trailed into her breast cleavage. This woman tried to entice him to play something dangerous with her. His eyes glinted with desire and lust.

Leticia licked her lips. Her eyes also turned darker. While her other free hand is seductively drawing a circular motion on Maverick's sturdy thigh.

"Please refrain yourself, My Lord." Seth wryly said. He took the bowl from Leticia's hand and harshly kicked the woman out of his way. This stupid old hag! How dare she tried to take advantage of his master?! "Your body is unwell. Please avoid doing any strenuous activity without my permission."

Leticia screamed in shock. She had face-planting on the floor due to Seth's aggressive action. Her once beautiful face was marred with dust and dirt.

"You stinky old man!" She yelled.

"Go away, bitch. Stop tempting my master with your cheap trick and fake boobs." Seth sneered at her.

"What? How dare you compare my D-cup breasts with..."

"Go away! Shoo!" Seth ignored Leticia's rants, and he makes provocative shooing gestures toward her.

Leticia's face flushed in embarrassment and anger. She glared dagger at Seth. However, she didn't have the gut to attack him in front of their master. Seth and master held an unfathomable relationship than anyone else in their organization. He treasured Seth more than he treasured his life. Not once or twice, Leticia saw the lingering affection between the two of them. If anything happened to Seth because of someone else mistakes, could you imagine their master's wrath? No, right?

Leticia gripped her nightgown before vanished silently in the air. She managed to throw a disgusting look towards Seth.

Seth smugly smiles as he successfully drove the evil bitch away from his master. Mission accomplish!

"Seth..." Maverick shook his head while smiling in amusement. Seth sometimes acted as immaturely as a child, contrary to his decisive looks. He is the older one, yet, his guileless and naive behavior put Maverick's heart in an unrest state. Seth will focus his entire attention on him rather than himself, spoiling him to the core, and recklessly react if the other's provoking Maverick. It is a sight to behold when Seth is angry. "You shouldn't treat her like that. Stop making enemies everywhere. By the way, give me the medicine. We had important work to do tomorrow."

"Oh, right." Seth puts the bowl on Maverick's lap. "Please go ahead."

Maverick sighed. He picked up the bowl and finished the content in a gulp. The bitter taste of the herbal tonic instantly overwhelmed his tongue. His nose scrunched in disgust. And, he wanted to puke!

"Here, my Lord. Your favorite sweet." Out of nowhere, a cup of warm Darjeeling tea appeared on the round, glass table in front of Maverick.

Maverick immediately took the tea and sipped it out as he cannot stand the after-taste of the herbal soup. Disgusting! He hates it. He hates the medicine, yet he despises the Sawyer more. If not because of them, his regal and beautiful appearance will not be rendered to this pitiful state. Damn Athena and her bloodline. He swore to wipe out their existence from this world!

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Carina woke up because of sudden pain in her stomach. She felt her gown drenched as her amniotic water broke out.

"Dear!" She tried to call her husband, but Alex is nowhere to be found in the big bedroom. She groaned in pain as constriction keeps assaulting her every five to ten minutes. "Is anyone out there?!" She desperately yelled for help.

However, only silence is answering her question. The palace also eerily calm, and Carina unable to grasp any sound around her. What happens? Where is everyone?

"Well, well, well. The time has finally come." The familiar voice, and yet to her horror, sounded in the room.

Carina stared at the silhouette that standing beside the opened window with a disbelief expression.

"Maverick! How...how can you..."

"Surprise?" Maverick slyly said. "Hello, Carina."

"Where is my husband?!" Carina's brown eyes gleamed dangerously. White powerful energy burst out from her body and enveloping the room. However, before the light reached Maverick, the light dissipates, and Carina plopped on the bed, clutching her stomach tightly. Beads of cold sweats started rolling down from her forehead.

"Your husband?" Maverick gestured toward the outside. "Can't you hear that? Your people's pleas and screaming for help? Had the curse progressed by this far for you to be unable to discern anything through your hearing? It's seemed you are still able to feel the pain, though."

"What are you talking about...?! What scream?" Carina scooted closer to the edge of the bed. Her legs are shaking and wobbling like jelly when she forced herself to walk. But, she needs to perceive the truth.

"What a troublesome woman." Maverick teleported beside her and instantly appeared beside the window again, shoving Carina to the balcony. "Look there? Isn't it such a marvelous sight to see?"

Carina gasped. She almost stumbled on the floor, had it not because of her hands holding the windowpanes.

From far, bright purple fire mixes with red color burning vigorously in the air. The forest, the building, and the residential area were engulfed in a big burning fire. Nothing is spared from being swallowed by the intense smoldering, thick smoke. Pleas for help, screaming and crying were echoing in the starless night. But, no one offered those desperate civilians any assistance. Chaos erupted. Hell had descended in Grandia.

"Don't worry. Soon, you will also follow suit those people to hell." Maverick maliciously grinned at Carina's shocked expression.