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54 - Vow of Silence
Last Updated:
2024-08-04 04:55:16
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 55 - Are You Happy With Him
ARAHJeric offered to escort her home. He admitted to overhearing her conversation with Gildeon and catching the word “threat.” She tried to assure him everything was fine, but he insisted. Eventually, she agreed. Maybe it was a good thing. Whoever meant her harm might think twice when they saw her with a man.Not that she wouldn’t defend herself if someone came after her, but she would rather avoid another life-and-death situation. She preferred to run in the other direction than push herself to the limit again. Who in their right mind would want to be on the brink of death or cause someone else’s death anyway? Maybe someone without a conscience? Someone who’d already lost it? The memories of that tragic night still haunted her, but she was thankful that they were now rarer and more tolerable.Jeric asked Ella to cover his shift, and then they both went home—her on her scooter, him on his motorbike.Back at the house, she prepared some snacks. “Do you want juice? Coffee? Tea?” she as
Last Updated : 2024-08-06MAD END'S DECEPTION 56 - Jumping to Conclusions
ARAHRelief washed over her as she recognized the ash-blonde strands of hair peeking out from the rider's white helmet.“Who is it?” Jeric asked from behind. She heard a soft clatter of glass on the table and Barky's whimpering.“It’s Mabel.” Arah pulled open the door and waited for Mabel to dismount and stroll toward the porch. Strapped around her was a leather messenger bag, contrasting with her bright crop top and shorts.“Hi, sis!” Mabel greeted with a teasing smile. “Why the intense look? Expecting someone else?”Arah relaxed and shook her head. “No, come in,” she said, widening the door. “I didn’t expect you to drop by today.”“Oops, my bad. Forgot to call you first.” Mabel reached inside her messenger bag and pulled out a fancy-looking card. “You weren’t at the studio, so I came straight here.” She handed it to her.The card had intricate floral patterns along the edges, colored in rich brown, and gave off a sweet fragrance. It was an invitation to an engagement party on Friday
Last Updated : 2024-08-06MAD END'S DECEPTION 57 - Burn With the Rest
GILDEON“Why did Master choose this job?” Ghulik’s raspy voice cut through the room as he lounged on Gildeon’s desk, looking like a mole rat ready for a witch’s sacrifice. “Ghulik is bored, Master!”If Gildeon had his way, he’d have Ghulik shadow Arah nonstop until this witch business blew over. But with her always keeping Barky by her side, even in the studio, it wasn’t possible. Any confrontation would just confuse her. Besides, Gildeon had needed Ghulik for more critical tasks these last few days.Ghulik spewed a string of curses, taunting the students and mocking them one by one. No one could see or hear him anyway. Eventually, the goblin tired of his own antics. He vanished from the desk, crawling under the chairs of every girl in a skirt.Gildeon let out a slow, controlled breath and turned to the whiteboard to write something briefly, masking the sudden dead air.‘Get out of there, or I’ll burn your eyes,’ he warned telepathically. ‘I already told you to stop doing that.’The g
Last Updated : 2024-08-07MAD END'S DECEPTION 58 - Chaotic Mystical Energy
GILDEONA thick silence blanketed the class. It could’ve been the confident look on Lexi’s face, the conviction in her voice, or her bold words that had everyone on edge.He watched her for a moment. This wasn't shallow defiance or a whim—she meant every word.Then she giggled, the playful sound cutting through the quiet. Tossing her black hair over her shoulder, she rested her arm on the back of her chair, glancing around with an amused glow in her eyes.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound intense,” she said coyly. “Come on, loosen up, guys!”The bell rang.Murmurs and soft laughter rippled through the class.“Let’s wrap it up here.” Gildeon straightened up and clapped his hands. “We’ll continue the discussion next class. Have a great day, everyone!”“Bye, Sir!” the students chorused.Chatter filled the room as students grabbed their things. Some guys whispered about Lexi. Chairs scraped the floor, pens clattered, bags zipped, and feet shuffled out.Gildeon walked behind his desk
Last Updated : 2024-08-08MAD END'S DECEPTION 59 - Hit So Close to Home
GILDEONNot long after, they were driving toward La Calma. He glanced at the snoring goblin through the rearview mirror. Ghulik was sprawled on the backseat, hands interlaced on his chest, one ankle casually resting on the opposite knee.One of these days, he might need to put Ghulik into hibernation to prepare him for a potentially intense battle. Gildeon would need his utmost help more than ever.Turning his attention to the man sitting next to him, he asked, “Is that a tattoo?” He gestured briefly at the tip of exposed black ink below Nowak’s shoulder blade.The old professor stared blankly for a second before uttering an “Oh!” as if he’d just remembered what it was.Nowak pushed aside the collar of his white shirt under the blazer. “You're very perceptive, Mr. Ayadi,” he said, though Gildeon already knew the tattoo's placement from Arah's records.“But yes,” the professor added. “A spur-of-the-moment decision. It’s not really me.” He chuckled. “Seems some women these days like men
Last Updated : 2024-08-09MAD END'S DECEPTION 60 - Another Man
GILDEONThis conversation wasn’t supposed to affect him, but Nowak’s words tightened around his gut like a noose. Memories of Arah broke through his mental barriers: the resentment in her words, the hurt in her eyes every time she was desperate for clarity. She’d been patient with him for so long, and in that regard, he had to agree with Nowak.But their situation wasn’t as simple as most human marriages.The Arah he’d been living with was merely an echo of someone he knew nothing about. It was pointless to even think about who and what kind of person she was before her fall behind the Mad End’s Wall. All sylphs were the same—no sense of individuality, just soldiers loyal to their duties to a fault.What would happen when her memories returned? Would she still be the same woman he’d come to know, the one he’d spent time with?Doubtful. Arah would be a stranger then. She’d probably try to kill him on the spot.A loud noise from outside jolted him back to the present. They were passing
Last Updated : 2024-08-10MAD END'S DECEPTION 61 - A Puppet Wife
ARAHThe cabin was right where Mabel had said it would be—off the empty road, nestled beside the river. It was at least a mile from any other houses or establishments. Only the gentle sounds of water, chirping birds, and rustling leaves reached her ears. The heat had subsided, and the sun was about to set.Gildeon had come home late again last night and slipped out early this morning. He’d left a note, about dealing with threats and keeping them safe. She believed that. But the picture Mabel had shown her gnawed at her, every fiber telling her something else was going on. Each time she remembered that image of her husband standing so close to another woman, it felt like a needle was being dragged across her chest.Arah was getting tired of Gildeon always keeping her in the dark.Her eyes widened as she spotted his car parked under the shade of the trees.“He’s here?” she murmured, slowly pulling into the front yard and parking her scooter beside the car.Her pulse quickened, the grave
Last Updated : 2024-08-13MAD END'S DECEPTION 62 - He Had to Choose
GILDEONFrowning, he stared at the plain black home screen, his thumb restlessly tracing along the phone edge. It hadn’t been a minute since Arah hung up on him. It shouldn’t have bothered him.But it did.“You really need to wise up about women, My Lord,” Roselia’s voice cut through, sighing and shaking her head just within his line of sight.“If she gets upset again, I can bring her more flowers from your farm,” he muttered absently, half his mind still on the phone, the other half on Arah’s confounding words—“not coming home starting tonight”—as if she’d overheard his exact conversation with Roselia earlier.He shifted in his chair, pocketing the phone. His gaze lingered on the red vines coiled tightly around his dragon-shifted arm, leeching his energy and funneling it into Roselia. She sat on her heels on the cold stone floor, inside a ritualistic circle, her own arm bound by the same writhing vines. Tendrils snaked between them, pulsing with a faint black-and-gold glow as they fe
Last Updated : 2024-08-15
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 201 - Let Everything Sink In
ARAHRoselia hadn’t been able to remove the bullet, but she managed to stop the bleeding, prevent further damage, and numb the pain. Mabel’s friend would still need to be taken to a hospital for proper treatment. Roselia explained that if she tried to heal her using supernatural methods and alter her memory at the same time, it could cause unpredictable side effects.Mabel’s friend had fallen unconscious. They bandaged her wound and gently moved her to the couch. Cora brought over a blanket and draped it over her.“W-What are we going to do with them?” Mabel’s sister asked, staring at the three corpses lying across the living room.Arah handed her a glass of water. “I think it’s better to leave them as they are. The police will take care of it.” She figured the authorities would arrive soon, especially if they believed Sharko’s gang had already finished whatever they came here to do.Thug Number Two would be a problem. He’d definitely run back to Sharko and report what happened. Then
MAD END'S DECEPTION 200 - Alter Your Memory
ARAHShe had a narrow window before any sudden movement might make one of the thugs pull the trigger out of pure reflex.Or panic.Before she even realized it was possible, her wind tattoo split into two. One lash coiled tightly around the ankle of the thug who was about to assault Mabel’s sister, dragging him down. He hit the floor face-first with a grunt, arms flailing to catch himself. The other streaked across the room and smacked the gun from the hand of the man holding Cora.Arah bolted down the stairs, snatching the fallen gun mid-run, and aimed the gun at Thug Number One. She’d never held one before and had no real idea how to use it. But she’d seen enough movies to get the general idea.Still, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. To her, manmade weapons felt far more volatile than anything supernatural.She saw Cora grab a coat rack from the corner and swing it hard at the back of Thug Number One’s head. The man let out a stunned grunt, stumbling forward from the blow. He turn
MAD END'S DECEPTION 199 - Would She Kill Him?
ARAHThug Leader motioned to his men to let the girls go, but then pointed at Mabel, her sister, and the girl who’d offered Arah a cocktail earlier.“Those three, and of course, Cora—they all stay.”He turned back to Arah, sneering, probably waiting for her to object. But she stayed silent. He seemed like the egotistical maniac type. If she pushed him too far, he’d only make things worse.Arah settled for glancing at the girls as they whimpered, shuddered, and ran out of the house.“Don’t you dare snitch, or we’ll come after you,” one of the thugs growled, stepping aside and pointing his gun at each of them as they passed.Arah hated how calm they all looked. Like they weren’t worried at all that the girls might bring help. It said even more about the kind of power Sharko’s gang held over the island.“Now…” Thug Leader lifted her chin with the muzzle of his gun. “You said you’d give me a night I’d never forget?”“I need assurance they won’t be harmed,” she said carefully, nodding towa
MAD END'S DECEPTION 198 - Night You'll Never Forget
ARAHShe stared at the lifeless body of the male stripper, sprawled out across the unfurled cardboard box. Blood seeped from the bullet wound in his back. He’d tried to run after the thug leader warned him not to.And they killed him. Just like that.To scare the hell out of them even more, the thugs had dragged his corpse back into the house—for everyone to see. It looked eerie under the strobe lights.The room was tense. The music was still playing, but one of the thugs had turned the volume down. All the girls were huddled together in the living room, clutching at each other like their lives depended on it. Some were curled up on the couch, the others slumped on the floor with their knees drawn to their chests. Everyone was shaking and crying. No one said a word.Their phones had been taken, so there was no way to call for help—unless, of course, Mabel’s call to the police had gone through.One of the thugs paced behind them, gun in one hand, a slice of strawberry cake in the other
MAD END'S DECEPTION 197 - Why Zephyr
ARAHShe leaned against the chair, staring out at the dark stretch of sea. The waves lapped softly at the shore. Their rhythm tangled with the thump of club music and the high-pitched laughter of girls still partying inside the house.It all felt far away now.After that embarrassing moment in the living room, Cora had pulled her out. She was grateful for the breather.Mate. Bride. Little Rabbit—these words looped in her head like some bad joke.Had she imagined the whole thing? Maybe there was something weird in the cocktail she drank. Or maybe it was Barky’s bite, twisting her thoughts most strangely.Why Zephyr, though? Had she personally known him before? Back in Shamibar?Arah slid her hands down her face and let out a heavy exhale. She couldn’t picture herself ever being close to someone like him. Zephyr was dangerous—she knew that much. And whatever his game was, it didn’t involve good intentions. He wanted to raise an army for goodness sake.Behind her, the back door creaked o
MAD END'S DECEPTION 196 - Little Rabbit
ARAHShe barely recognized Cora’s house. Penis-shaped balloons were scattered everywhere, and strobe lights flashed so intensely they nearly blinded her. The music was so loud it made her ears ring. Good thing Cora lived far enough from the neighbors that no one would care, even if the guests started screaming at each other in the middle of the night.There were probably over a dozen ladies here—her, Mabel, Cora, and a handful of others Arah vaguely remembered from the engagement party.Mabel was dancing near a giant pink gift box wrapped in ribbon, right in the middle of the living room. When she spotted Arah, her eyes lit up.“Arah!” Mabel shouted, turning toward the other side of the room. “Sissy Cora, she’s here!” Then she pranced over, cocktail in hand, wobbling just slightly. Her tiara was crooked, and she adjusted it before leaning in to give Arah a double-cheek kiss.“Hey, quite a party you’ve got going on,” Arah said with a smile, handing over her gift. She glanced at the pin
MAD END'S DECEPTION 195 - Are You Magical Too?
ARAHShe checked herself in the mirror, smoothing down the pink dress covered in little floral prints—it matched the theme for tonight. It was her first time going to a bachelorette party, and everything she knew about them came from movies.And in those movies, there were usually male strippers.She’d asked Mabel if there’d be any. Mabel had just giggled and said “no” over the phone, but in that coy way that didn’t really feel like a no.That made her a little nervous.Arah wondered how Gildeon would take it if he found out she went to a party where half-naked men were out there flaunting their abs and grinding to some sexy music. Would he be annoyed? Jealous? Pissed?The thought made her smile as she stepped out of her room and passed by the study. She paused at the door, resting her hand against it, picturing Gildeon inside—still in his cocoon, still asleep.The first time he’d finally let her in, she hadn’t known what to expect. The study room had felt weird. Empty, no furniture,
MAD END'S DECEPTION II: CAYLAO FESTIVAL ARC. 194 - It's Just A Dream
ARAHShe slipped the cardstock with her printed Clover Wish design out of the binder, tore it into pieces, and dropped them into the bin. Then she pulled out a few more flash sheets—ones with patterns that looked a little too much like real sigils—and tossed those out too.She couldn’t risk setting something off again and starting another coven war.A month had passed since the incident. Life on Caylao Island had returned to normal, as if nothing strange had ever happened. The townspeople had been spared that horrific memory thanks to Roselia’s bewitching fog. If it hadn’t been for that, Arah likely would’ve lost her friends too after they found out she wasn’t human.She looked up at her friends gathered in the waiting area, swapping theories about what really happened at Baccayo Prison that night.“I heard Sharko’s gang was involved,” Mabel said, swirling her straw in her milk tea. “Maybe they tried to break out some of their old members.”Tonio grimaced, mid-chew on a massive bite o
MAD END'S DECEPTION 193 - Let It All Go
GILDEONThey brought Arah to Roselia’s farmhouse. She was still out cold, and it would likely take her a few days to recover. Roselia had set up the back room, lit herbs that filled the air with sharp smoke, and circled Arah with crystals humming with healing energy.Gildeon switched on his dragon sight. Arah’s aura flickered, blue-green, faint. But something else swam through it—streaks of deep, electric blue that came and went like a second heartbeat.Gildeon hadn’t seen that on her before, but maybe they were remnants of some buried power. Something that had awakened when her life hung by a thread—something she’d used to wipe out both Zylas and Drusden.The aftermath of that fight still gnawed at him in strange ways, but none of it mattered for now. Answers could wait. He’d talk to Arah when she woke up.Gildeon pulled the blanket over her shoulders, then glanced at Ghulik, who was curled on a cushion near the bed, snoring like an old man, his belly swollen.Before leaving the Bacc
