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106 - Letting Hell Break Loose
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2024-09-23 11:51:17Related chapters
MAD END'S DECEPTION 107 - You're Cruel, Arah
ARAHShe kicked her legs off the couch and sprang to her feet, every nerve in her body on high alert. The lights in the whole block flickered on—whether by magic or not, she couldn’t tell.Drusden’s face tightened, his cigarette frozen halfway to his mouth. His brown eyes flashed with a brief glint of surprise, though something in his expression suggested he’d somehow expected this.“Is it the enemy coven?” she asked, tension crawling up her spine. Did they know she was here? Were they going to attack the prison?Closing her eyes, she exhaled sharply, clenching her hands. A part of her wanted to laugh in disbelief. After everything—the vampire encounter, Alaunus, the fog, reliving that tragic memory, remembering what she really was, and the bloodbath she’d caused...Now came the enemy witches. It felt like a cruel joke that her night wasn’t over yet. Her head throbbed, sharp pain stabbing behind her eyes. Why couldn’t she catch a break?The doors upstairs slammed open. She glanced up
Last Updated : 2024-09-24MAD END'S DECEPTION 108 - Collateral Damage
ARAHShe burst out of the back hallway, sensing the danger in the air. She froze in place, her eyes darting toward the plume of smoke curling up from the distant horizon. Fire crackled, likely coming from the direction of the main gate and watchtowers. Had the enemy blown them up with magic?Her stomach twisted at the sound of sizzling flesh and faint, agonizing screams. Someone was dying slowly over there. The guards—it had to be them. She clutched her chest, horrified at the thought of those innocent people burning alive. Why them? They were just doing their jobs. They didn’t deserve to die like that.‘We won't have to worry as much about collateral damage...’ Vienna’s words from earlier echoed in her mind. Arah hated the very idea of it. Unless those people were deliberately causing harm to others, they shouldn’t be caught in the line of fire for someone else’s fight.“The enemies did all that?” she muttered under her breath, wondering how powerful they were.“Actually, they’ve bro
Last Updated : 2024-09-25MAD END'S DECEPTION 109 - Original Battlefield
ARAHDrusden turned to her and asked, “What did he say?”She frowned. “You didn’t hear it?”“He only communicates through the mind of whoever he chooses to speak to,” he said, his tone demanding. “So, what did he say?”Arah glanced back at the man in the dark coat and hat. “Just that he wants me,” she replied softly, finding herself drawn to his blood-red eyes. His voice echoed inside her head, repeating the words, ‘I shall have you,’ over and over until her feet began to move.If Lokius hadn’t shaken her shoulder, she might not have snapped out of it. “Don’t stare too long, darling,” he warned, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek. “Elder vampires are notorious for enthralling people—human or not, I guess.”She quickly averted her gaze, wondering how a higher mortal like her could be affected so easily.“Hand over the sylph, and I shall consider sparing all your lives,” the elder vampire declared. She suddenly realized he hadn’t opened his mouth when he spoke. This time
Last Updated : 2024-09-26MAD END'S DECEPTION 110 - Bleeding Brides
GILDEONHe’d been awake since the dark chains had suddenly unlatched from his wrists and ankles. They had disappeared into thin air without a trace of magic left behind. He had a good idea of what had gone down, but right now, all that mattered was the relief of those damned shackles being gone.Looking back, he doubted he’d gotten even a minute of sleep all night. Thoughts of Arah had pounded through his head, filling every corner of his mind. Was she safe?Drusden wouldn’t let anything happen to her—knowing full well Gildeon’s wrath would be waiting if he did. Still, his mind remained restless. The inaction burned him up inside. Not having control, not knowing every detail of the situation outside the station—it kept him on the fucking edge.Ghulik hadn’t returned yet, which meant he was still out there, trying to dig up intel on that long-haired witch.The door creaked, but he didn&rsquo
Last Updated : 2024-09-27MAD END'S DECEPTION 111 - From the Beginning
GILDEONInstinct told him to shift his hand back to normal, but when Arah’s eyes flicked to it without a hint of reaction, he knew it didn’t matter. Everything was out in the open now. There was no point in trying to hide it anymore.He couldn’t tear his gaze away as she approached. She met his bewildered stare without blinking—no fear, no revulsion.She was calm. Too calm, and it bothered the fuck out of him.Her hand stroked the amulet, and he wondered if that kept her steady. Either that, or she was gauging if he was a threat. The thought that she might think he’d harm her ripped at him.“Let him go,” she said, softer this time, though her voice still had a guarded edge.Gildeon loosened his grip, claws retracting slowly from the Headwitch’s neck, the blood vanishing into the tips.As he let go, Drusden slumped forward, choking and gasping, his body folding at the waist.“Damn it, Mr. Ayadi,” Drusden rasped, followed by a broken chuckle. He staggered, clutching his bleeding neck, e
Last Updated : 2024-09-28MAD END'S DECEPTION 112 - Coven War Code
ARAHShe stirred, her body feeling as if a boulder were pressing down on her. Her mind was hazy, her muscles sore, and her joints cracked with even the slightest movement. How long had she been asleep? Her mouth felt like sandpaper, and the bright light stung her eyes, tears pooling in the corners.A broken moan escaped her. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a wisp of smoke. It smelled like burnt herbs—just like the ones from Alaunus’s infirmary.Was that where she was now?Turning her head slowly, she glimpsed two white pillows piled beside hers. Her hand brushed the soft bedding, and she breathed in a familiar scent that filled her senses in the sweetest way possible.Gildeon.When she finally regained control of her body, she pushed herself up slowly. Another moan escaped her as her stomach twisted painfully—a hollow ache from days without food—yet she wasn’t hungry. She felt clean from head to toe, dressed in fres
Last Updated : 2024-09-29MAD END'S DECEPTION 113 - I'm Not Powerless
ARAHHer face felt numb under the weight of their attention. She hadn’t meant to make a scene, but the argument was about her, so it just made sense to get involved.“Sleeping Beauty finally speaks,” Zylas snarked, breaking the awkward silence.“How long have you been up, Arah darling?” Lokius asked, standing beside Vienna, one hand on his hip.“A little while.”“You alright?” Gildeon said, his tone more intimate, as if they were the only two people in the room. Tension knotted in her stomach as their gazes connected, reminding her that they still hadn’t gotten closure from their last conversation. She had likely blacked out halfway through Gildeon explaining how Roselia had helped them adjust to the human tongue. There were still questions and unspoken feelings between them, though it didn’t feel like this was the right time to address them.“I’m fine,” she replied, rubbing the side of her neck. “Just a little sore—” She frowned. “How long was I asleep?”“Two days, Lady Arah,” Vienna
Last Updated : 2024-09-30MAD END'S DECEPTION 114 - War to Plan
GILDEONIf it were up to him, he wouldn’t bring her at all. It’d be hard to focus on the battle if he had to constantly look over his shoulder, making sure she was safe. But on the other hand, he’d rather keep her in sight. Drusden’s coven was strong, but Gildeon trusted no one more than himself to protect Arah.“Let’s head back,” she said. “The others are waiting.”He grabbed her arm before she could reach the door. “They can wait.”Arah stared at him with wide eyes, waiting for what he was about to say.“Why aren’t you mad?”Her lips parted for a second. “I was mad, Gildeon.”“No. Not about you staying here.” He pulled her close, his hand firm on her face. “What we talked about at the station.”She tilted her head slightly. “You mean the part where you kidnapped me, pretended to be my husband, and dragged me to Earthland without my consent?” Her words were sharp, but there was no trace of outright anger.Gildeon narrowed his eyes, studying her face. No resentment. No sign of pain fr
Last Updated : 2024-09-30
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 172 - Tainted
GILDEONHe panted, surprised at the effort to land that punch on Drusden. Being trapped in the witch’s domain clearly had its disadvantages. Still, watching the bastard skid across the ground, his boots kicking up dirt and his body crashing against a jagged rock, was satisfying as hell.Drusden let out a grunt and propped himself up. Blood trickled from his split lip, and a dark bruise was already forming along his jawline where Gildeon’s clawed fist had connected.“You don’t have a fucking clue what she went through,” Gildeon growled low, the urge to end the bastard clawing at him. But he couldn’t ignore the possibility of more traps lurking around. Drusden wasn’t the type to leave himself defenseless. A reckless attack could backfire, and Gildeon wasn’t about to let it blow up in his face tenfold.“I’ve got to hand it to my ex-wife,” Drusden said with a small chuckle, sitting up and swiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “She managed to wrap a higher mortal arou
MAD END'S DECEPTION 171 - That's Human Nature
GILDEONHis mind raged with questions. Kana wasn’t special—just a pure human. But what truly gnawed at him was Zylas’s father. He had to be a higher mortal. A salamander.Gildeon couldn’t begin to wrap his thoughts around the idea of a salamander coming down to Earthland and mating with a human. There had been stories of deserters—salamanders who had gone rogue and vanished. Copulating with a lower mortal was plausible. But to conceive a hybrid offspring? That was something else entirely.The shamans led Kana into a cave not far from the village. They moved through a narrow, twisting passage before emerging into a wider chamber. At its center lay a shallow pool of water, its surface rippling faintly. Sunlight streamed through holes in the ceiling, casting shifting light patterns across the water and the rough cave walls. It gave the space an almost otherworldly glow—reminding him of the caves in Shamibar.But what seized Gildeon’s attention the most was the limestone formation shaped
MAD END'S DECEPTION 170 - Keep Watching, Salamander
GILDEONHe followed Drusden’s gaze upward. They watched Dragon Zylas as it roared and thrashed against the fog restraints. Each movement of the beast was a futile clash against the binding force.“You know,” Drusden said, breaking the silence, “I couldn’t figure out what you were at first. Had my suspicions, of course.” He shrugged. “But it wasn’t until I saw you like this that I knew for certain.” He leaned forward in his seat, clasped hands dangling loosely between his knees. “I thought Zylas was the only one.”Gildeon had wondered the same, but there was no way he’d share that with the bastard. “Where did you find him?” he asked, crossing his arms. Deep down, he burned to know. Uncovering Zylas’s origin might shed light on his own existence.Drusden tilted his head, his cryptic smile widening. “If I show you, will you answer a question of mine?”Gildeon’s brow furrowed, instincts kicking in as he studied the Headwitch. That smile, the gleam of curiosity in his eyes—it all felt like
MAD END'S DECEPTION 169 - Now That They're Gone
GILDEONHe could still feel Zylas’s dragon spirit, but Drusden had clearly disrupted his connection to the beast. The Headwitch had likely managed it while Gildeon focused on freeing himself and Roselia and keeping track of Arah.When Zylas had been about to attack Arah, Gildeon had been on the verge of shifting into his full beast form, consequences be damned. But Alaunus had beaten him to it. Unexpected, but favorable. Arah had been safe, and another of Drusden’s witches had fallen.Fortunately, Roselia had escaped the moment they broke free from the fog restraints. Gildeon was deeply worried about Arah, but he trusted Roselia to keep her safe.Gildeon glanced around the fog enclosure Drusden had trapped him in. He stood in the heart of it, a space eerily calm—like the eye of a storm. Dense mist coiled around him, lit by flashes of lightning cracking through the shrouded skies above. The air reeked of sulfur, every breath a sharp sting that burned his throat. Beneath his feet, the gr
MAD END'S DECEPTION 168 - The Plan's Changed
ARAHShe rolled hard to the side, her movement barely outpacing Tiger Lokius’s crushing pounce. His claws swiped through empty air as she scrambled to her feet, snapping into a defensive stance. She put as much distance as she could between them, her breath tight in her chest.The striped beast skidded to a halt beside Vienna’s lifeless body. His growl vibrated through the air before he began to shift. In a blur, his massive form condensed, fur melting into skin, until Lokius stood in his human form—tall and lean.His green eyes softened as they fell on Vienna. He knelt beside her, his fingers brushing tenderly over her blood-soaked blonde hair. “You rest well now, my darling Vienna,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. Then he lifted his gaze to Arah, one arm resting loosely across his bent knee. He appeared relaxed, but his eyes remained guarded.He didn’t look like he’d attack her outright—but his calm was unnerving. Her instincts screamed for her to stay ready.
MAD END'S DECEPTION 167 - Chaos and Pain
ARAHShe didn’t know how this was supposed to work. Obviously, there hadn’t been time for Alaunus to spell it out for her. But she trusted her instincts to kick in.At the end of the hallway, Vienna stood—a shadow of the person she used to be. Her eyes locked onto Arah’s, cold and final, like someone who had already lost everything worth fighting for.Arah’s pulse hammered in her ears. The sweet Vienna she used to know was gone—she had died with Alaunus. This version had let the darkness in.“Was it worth it…” Arah broke the silence, buying precious seconds as her thumb traced the jagged edge of the mirror shard hidden behind her back. Vienna didn’t seem lucid enough to notice. “Whatever you sacrificed to gain power... to join Drusden’s coven?”No response.Arah pressed, “You wanted to avenge your parents?”Vienna’s gaze flickered. “The hunters,” she finally muttered, bitterness dripping from every syllable. “They’re cruel. They think they’re saving the world, protecting mankind.” She
MAD END'S DECEPTION 166 - Kill Her Easy
ARAHShe couldn’t move—not just because Alaunus’s lifeless, still-warm body was resting heavily on top of her, but because of shock. It was one thing to imagine killing enemies, to picture the justice they deserved for the horrors they’d inflicted on innocent people. But to witness their deaths in such unexpected ways was something she wouldn’t forget anytime soon.She was a soldier. She had torn lives apart with her own hands more times than she could remember. Yet here she was, pinned under the weight of a moment she couldn’t comprehend, her chest tightening with questions she didn’t want to ask. How had her past self survived this much violence without crumbling? Was she really that unbreakable back then, or had her time away on Earthland softened her too much?A sharp sob snapped her out of her thoughts. She blinked, disoriented, only now noticing the weight on her chest was gone. Alaunus’s body had been moved. She saw Vienna cradling him from the corner of her eye, his head resti
MAD END'S DECEPTION 165 - Vienna's Weakness
ARAHShe was still reeling. The winged beast towering before her—the one Gildeon had called out to—was Zylas. Her mind flashed back to their conversation in the kitchen, his cryptic mention of flying. Now it made sense, and yet, it didn’t.This creature definitely didn’t belong to Earthland. What kind of shifter was he?Everything had moved too fast for her to process. One moment, she’d been sure the beast would crush her; the next, Vienna had dragged her along, the other collar now clasped tightly around the witch’s neck. Whatever spell Vienna had cast had left Arah paralyzed, her body refusing to obey even the simplest command. Her feet were frozen in place, and frustration clawed at her chest.Then came the sharp, insistent pain in her temple, like tiny bolts of electricity surging through her skull. It wasn’t just pain—there was something else. A flood of emotions and thoughts poured into her mind, and they weren’t hers. Panic rippled through her. Was she connected to Vienna’s min
MAD END'S DECEPTION 164 - It Wasn't Impossible
GILDEONHe stepped back. His claws dug into the ground, shattering the concrete beneath his feet to anchor himself, bracing against the impact. Where had Zylas come from? Even with the thick fog, Gildeon should have sensed the dragon’s approach—but his attention had been drawn to Arah.Nothing else mattered to him in that moment but her.His gaze darted back to her. She had been pushed back, slamming into a concrete wall. Arah regained her footing, but she was clearly in shock.Gildeon’s pulse raced as Dragon Zylas turned its head toward her. His body burned with readiness, poised to strike the beast at any moment. Then it hit him—this was the perfect chance to test his theory. If he was right—fuck, he had to be right—this might be their only way to win.Claws launched into the air.“Zylas!” Gildeon growled, the power of his voice rattling his bones. A bolt of lightning seared through his mind as he felt a connection to Zylas’s dragon, just like the first time he had commanded Raudr.
