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77 - Confusion and Anger
Last Updated:
2024-09-03 19:58:12
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 78 - Wasn't a Bluff
GILDEONHe couldn’t figure out why Arah had been so restless until he heard the siren in the distance. Faint at first, then growing louder, closer, slicing through the stillness of the morning. His narrowed eyes drifted to the dirt road. It wasn’t long before the cars came into view. The first one he recognized immediately—Durante’s.The police car following behind made his gut clench, a low hum of tension settling in his chest.Why were they here?He pushed to his feet, his body on high alert. Could this be about the captives? He and Roselia had already released them yesterday, altered their memories, and scrubbed the basement clean. Even if law enforcement had somehow questioned those four, they wouldn’t have found anything to tie their disappearance back to him.But with Durante leading the charge, he knew better than to get comfortable.“Gildeon…” Arah began, rising to her feet, but quickly pressed her lips together as if biting back the words. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes dar
Last Updated : 2024-09-04MAD END'S DECEPTION 79 - Too Much Alike
GILDEONBile rose in his throat. He hadn’t expected Arah to betray him so easily. Had she met with Durante yesterday? He remembered the agent leaving his card, so she must have called him after Gildeon left the house.His stomach clenched. Could he really blame her? After everything he’d put her through, she probably saw him as nothing less than a monster. The thought felt like sharp teeth tearing through his chest.He pushed the feelings aside and focused on the situation. Something didn’t add up. There was no way Durante could have secured an arrest warrant this fast based solely on Arah’s word. There had to be more at play.Durante continued, “But we’ll handle it from here.”“Can I come to the station too?” Arah asked.“We need to take your husband into custody and process him first, Mrs. Ayadi,” Durante replied, casting a sidelong glance at Gildeon. “I suggest you stay home for now.”As Durante turned away, Officer Castillo gently pressed Gildeon’s back, nudging him forward. Just
Last Updated : 2024-09-04MAD END'S DECEPTION 80 - He'd Underestimated Her
GILDEONHis eyes dropped to the folder, his mind racing through the possibilities of what it held. It had to be evidence—something Durante believed would nail him. The agent flipped the folder horizontally, keeping the cover facing Gildeon, the contents hidden from view. The rustle of paper filled the room. Then, with a calculated movement, Durante spread photos across the table—images of the four captives.Gildeon’s gaze remained steady. No flinch, no reaction, just silence. He knew Durante was watching, waiting for the slightest crack.“You know these people?” Durante asked, but Gildeon knew it wasn’t a question—it was bait.He let the silence linger, weighing his response. He had to avoid implicating himself—not out of fear of the law, but because he didn’t want to give Durante the satisfaction of pinning him down. If they were sitting in this room, it meant they needed more from Gi
Last Updated : 2024-09-07MAD END'S DECEPTION 81 - She'd Gone Too Far
ARAHShe sat on the couch, restless, her eyes glued to the phone. Each image was a bitter reminder of how easily she’d destroyed Gildeon with a single tap. She hadn’t meant to, but in that blind whirlwind of rage and hurt, she’d sent the photos and video to Agent Durante without thinking.It had felt right in the moment, like she was taking control, making him pay. But now? Now it felt like a crushing mistake. She wanted to delete them, but what for? It wouldn’t change anything. The damage had already been done.With a frustrated sigh, she threw the phone onto the couch and stood, pacing the living room, her thoughts spinning as fast as her steps. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking, rubbing absently at the sides of her robe as she tried to ground herself.Barky lay sprawled on the floor, his eyes lazily following her, tail tapping rhythmically against the hardwood. He seemed completely unaware of the turmoil inside her, oblivious to the tension that had her body trembling. At least he wa
Last Updated : 2024-09-07MAD END'S DECEPTION 82 - She's Protecting Us
GILDEONThere was no point in denying ownership of the cabin, much less pretending he wasn’t behind the entire spectacle. But the fact that Durante hadn’t mentioned an accomplice yet was a relief. They either hadn’t noticed Roselia, or she was simply good at staying hidden. Still, Gildeon needed to tread carefully. He couldn’t afford to expose her—whether to witches or anyone else.He began piecing together a believable excuse in his head, but he couldn’t give in just yet.“What’s the obstruction of justice charge for?” Gildeon asked, knowing it was a stalling tactic, but needing the answer all the same.He expected pushback, but it didn’t come. Instead, Durante opened the folder again, revealing more photos: Plumber Paul’s body from the coroner’s office, a dead blonde girl lying on the shore, and then solo shots of both of their fading Clover Wish tattoos.But
Last Updated : 2024-09-09MAD END'S DECEPTION 83 - Gravity of Her Past
ARAHThe growl softened into a deep grunt, and finally, Barky’s posture eased. He sniffed her hand tentatively, his eyes still wary but calmer. She let out a slow breath of relief as his body relaxed. His nose nudged her fingers, and then, in a quick, fluid motion, his tongue lapped at her hand. She smiled, her muscles unclenching as she scratched his head, his ears folding back in that familiar way.She slumped onto the floor and kissed the top of his head, scrunching her nose at the smell of earth and death lingering in his fur. “I thought you didn’t recognize me anymore, Barky. You scared me. Don't do that again, okay?”He huffed softly, almost in agreement, his tail wagging slightly. Her hand moved to scratch behind his ears—rough but gentle, just the way he liked. He leaned into her touch, pushing his head under her hand.“What do you say I clean you up now, huh?”Barky gave a small whine, and she chuckled softly. “Come on now.” She stood up and snapped her fingers, guiding him i
Last Updated : 2024-09-10MAD END'S DECEPTION 84 - Truly Cares About You
ARAHA coven war was coming. The thought made her stomach churn. Witches fighting over the chance to steal her alleged power… It sounded so ridiculous. So unreal. But after watching Barky die and come back to life because of her tattooed Clover Wish, she was past rationalizing everything.Roselia then revealed that she had once been part of one of those covens. The confession caught Arah so off guard that she nearly spilled her tea. She wanted to ask more about the hooded witch, but Roselia had emphasized there was some kind of vow at play, one that could cost her life if she broke it. She couldn’t reveal anything about the other witches—not their identities, not their secrets. But they were already on the island, lurking in the shadows, waiting… stalking Arah.The very thought of it sent a shiver down her spine.“Did you leave the coven on your own?” she asked, curiosity mingling with unease. “Or did they force you to?”“You could say both,” Roselia replied with a shadow of anger fli
Last Updated : 2024-09-11MAD END'S DECEPTION 85 - I Betrayed Him
ARAHHer throat tightened. “But I betrayed him.” Its weight settled heavily in her chest as the memory surfaced. “I got him arrested.”“Your anger was justified,” Roselia said. “I nearly cursed My Lord when he took Filippo’s head.”Arah leaned forward, about to put her cup down on the table. “Who’s Filippo? Your pet?”“My lover.”Arah nearly dropped the cup, and her gaze narrowed. “He killed your lover?”“Yes,” Roselia said as if it were a matter of fact. “But Filippo wasn’t human to begin with.”Arah stared, her mind scrambling to catch up.“He was a vampire.”Her mouth fell open, her fingers gripping the armrest to keep herself grounded. “V-vampires are real?” she blurted out, blinking rapidly.Roselia stifled a laugh. “I think that’s enough for today. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”Arah’s mind swirled, but the question slipped out anyway. “Why did he kill your lover?” She wondered if Filippo was the one who had hurt Roselia in the past, but somehow, it didn’t feel like it.Roselia
Last Updated : 2024-09-11
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 187 - Remember Me
ARAHFear coiled around her ribs like a vice.“I-it’s me,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.Gildeon didn’t flinch. His lips remained curled back, exposing sharp teeth. His expression was predatory, enraged. In his eyes, she was someone else—an enemy.What had Drusden done to him?She tried to choke out his name again, but her throat tightened, the pressure crushing her windpipe. Her pulse pounded—a frantic drumbeat against his grip. The steam curling from his scaled body rolled over her in suffocating, blistering waves.How the hell was she supposed to stop this?Through tear-blurred eyes, Arah caught a flicker of movement—an outline shifting, pulsing like a mirage behind Gildeon. Her eyes widened as she remembered her creature-helper.Gildeon hissed, his body tensing as his free hand shot back, claws poised to seize whatever had latched onto him. The creature clung to his neck, jaws clenched, its form flickering in and out of focus.The grip around Arah’s throat sl
MAD END'S DECEPTION 186 - Been Happy Once
ARAHDays passed. Drusden had recovered, but he remained at Roselia’s farmhouse.Roselia taught him about the old world and the ways of hedge witches. Drusden then hunted the dark witch responsible for the devastation—and eventually killed him.Together, they worked to cleanse the village of its plague and heal the people.Arah witnessed something shift between Roselia and Drusden. It was likely during this time that they began developing feelings for each other.Drusden also bonded with young Alaunus, though their connection was anything but paternal. He spoke to Alaunus about mankind’s corruption and the rewards of embracing a higher power as a witch.Roselia noticed it too, and Arah was sure it bothered her.Then came the day Drusden told Roselia everything—about Zephyr, about the vision of an army—an elite force of witches transformed into higher mortals meant to help Zephyr rule over Earthland.Arah wouldn’t have been surprised if Roselia had kept this knowledge even from Gildeon
MAD END'S DECEPTION 185 - Source of More Power
ARAHTo say this was a massive shock would be an understatement. The idea of a lower mortal becoming a higher mortal was probably the last thing she had ever expected to hear.How could that even be possible? Flying to Shamibar in Zylas’s dragon form was already mind-blowing. But the idea of altering the very nature of a mortal by merely passing through the Mad End’s Wall? That was a whole different realm of insanity.No matter how she tried to make sense of it, the logic eluded her. Unless Zephyr was lying to Drusden. Maybe the sylph simply said whatever he needed to get what he wanted.“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” she whispered.In the next memory, Zephyr was gone. Arah barely had time to take in her surroundings before Drusden crumpled to the ground. Blood seeped from his ear as he fought to stay conscious.The stench hit her—a suffocating, sickly blend of rotting meat, unwashed bodies, and the sharp tang of smoke. She swallowed hard against the bile rising in her throat
MAD END'S DECEPTION 184 - Seize Greater Power
ARAHThe next memory swept her onto the battlements, where she had a clear view of the invasion unfolding below. This was a different place, a different time. A different nation. The people spoke in foreign tongues.Men in ragged clothing, their faces twisted with barbaric fury, slaughtered civilians with swords and axes. Limbs were severed, bodies crumpled in pools of blood. Women screamed as they were dragged away—some ruthlessly stripped of their clothes, preyed upon by these animals. Children’s throats were slit without hesitation.Arah grimaced in horror at every atrocity, her stomach churning. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to forget—to block out the carnage. But every anguished scream, every whispered prayer of the helpless, cut through her like a blade, carving into her heart and twisting her gut.Zephyr’s voice interrupted her thoughts.“Look at them,” he said to Drusden as he stood on the parapet ledge, gazing down at the massacre below. “Look at how your kind d
MAD END'S DECEPTION 183 - Worst Death
ARAHZephyr brought Drusden to Yonah’s temple. And as she had with Marianne, Arah watched Drusden enter the Dark Plane with Zephyr’s help. It took longer this time, and at one point, she thought Drusden would die right there on his knees.When Drusden snapped back to consciousness, his palms slapped against the stone floor. His breath came in ragged gasps, sweat beading on his forehead. His skin was ghostly pale, his wide eyes unfocused—like a man who had stared into the abyss and seen something stare back.“What have you sacrificed, human?” Zephyr asked, crouching before him.Drusden slowly lifted his head, fat tears streaming down his cheeks. “My spirit will live on even after death,” he said softly. “I will never be able to reunite with my family.”Arah couldn’t begin to imagine the misery Drusden would endure for the price he paid.A small smile appeared on Zephyr’s lips. “For that sacrifice, the power you obtained must be great. Show me.”Without a word, Drusden exhaled, and a bi
MAD END'S DECEPTION 182 - Too Painful For Words
ARAHAnother death was reported—a woman who sold milk and eggs, saving every coin to buy medicine for her bedridden father.Arah watched as Drusden slammed his fists onto the desk, sending a quill and inkpot rattling, scrolls tumbling to the floor. His jaw tightened, nostrils flaring as he ducked his head, a muscle ticking in his temple. Even his men, though silent, shared his frustration.She still didn’t know how the deaths were connected to the ministers, but she believed in Drusden’s suspicions. This whole thing reeked of injustice. And more than anything, she wanted to see what he would do about it.The next day, Drusden and his men arrived at one of the ministers’ workshops. The place reeked of ink and damp parchment—likely the very goods being produced here.“Y-you shouldn’t be here, Inspector,” one of the workshop guards stammered, his face pale. “The ministers won’t take kindly to this.”Drusden barely spared him a glance. “I’m not here for their kindness, boy,” he said sharp
MAD END'S DECEPTION 181 - Nothing Too Tragic
ARAHDrusden looked almost the same as he did in the present—just younger. His brown hair was longer, and his face was more open, easier to read. There was no trace of his usual smugness. Instead, he was serious. Dutiful. His tone lacked the usual edge of playfulness she had grown so used to.How could he be the same Drusden, yet different at the same time? Maybe witch power really could change people after all.She followed Drusden through the streets until he stopped in front of a small house. Sympathy softened his features as he spoke to the victim’s wife. Inside, four children sat around a table—faces thin, clothes worn—with nothing but bowls of plain porridge in front of them.Arah felt a tug in her chest. It was obvious they weren’t eating enough. And now, with their provider gone, how would they survive?“I am deeply sorry,” Drusden said.The woman broke down, shoulders trembling as she wept.Drusden’s gaze flickered to the children, their wide eyes full of questions they were
MAD END'S DECEPTION 180 - Inspector Heman
ARAHIt was up to her to pull him out of it.The weight of that realization pressed down on Arah like a boulder. She was determined—of course, she was—but how was she supposed to do it? The thought of failing, of not being enough to help Gildeon, curled around her ribs like a vice.She shook her head, shoving the doubt aside. This wasn’t the time for uncertainty. Gildeon needed her, and that was all that mattered.She sprinted down the prison hallway, dodging jagged chunks of fallen stone and splintered beams. Behind her, the sounds of battle raged—Roselia and Lokius locked in a deadly clash.Then, a sharp cry of pain.Roselia.Arah faltered, her body twisting instinctively toward the sound. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to turn back, to help. But she knew Roselia wouldn’t want that. She wouldn’t forgive Arah for wasting time—not when Gildeon’s life hung in the balance.Gritting her teeth, Arah forced her feet forward.Outside, the fog wall loomed before her—a towering, imp
MAD END'S DECEPTION 179 - Key To Your Mind
GILDEONIn a blink, he was back in Drusden’s throne room. He dropped to his knees, palms flat on the cold floor, breath ragged. He hadn’t even realized he’d shifted back to his mortal form. His chest tightened, a storm of emotions threatening to tear free.His mysterious birth mother. His father’s death…He slammed his palms against the floor, frustration boiling over. Haemos and Kohina knew who he really was. Why the fuck had they kept it from him?Footsteps. Brown boots halted in front of him—Drusden’s. The Headwitch crouched, head tilted.“If you need a shoulder to cry on, mine’s available, salamander,” Drusden mocked.Gildeon’s glare burned as he met the bastard’s smug face.“Not gonna lie. Your father’s memory might be my favorite one I’ve delved into.” Drusden paced, dragging from his cigarette. “Learned a lot about your kind. Shame we never got the real answer about your mother.”He stopped, gaze lifting to Dragon Zylas as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke. “I really thought I’
