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95 - Definitely Not Gildeon
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-09-18 07:11:46
Bab terkait
MAD END'S DECEPTION 96 - Headwitch
ARAHThe room Alaunus led her to was one of the cells, but it was larger than she’d imagined. Spacious, even, for a place meant to cage someone. The air was cold, a stark contrast to the warmth below, even without air conditioning. It smelled better here, with smoke drifting from a bundle of burning herbs—the same thing Roselia had used to cleanse their house.A small rectangular window was cut into the stone wall above. A metal cover with tiny holes lay over it, filtering the moonlight into thin, white beams. The light trickled down like rain, pooling onto the crystals lined up across wooden tables propped against the wall. The glow bounced softly from crystal to crystal, spreading like a delicate web of light, shimmering faintly on the walls.Symbols—dozens of them—were scrawled across the stone walls. Most were open-palmed hands, each with a spiral in the center. Her eyes followed them, and she swallowed hard when she noticed the deep red stains marking the designs.“Is that... blo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-18MAD END'S DECEPTION 97 - Looks Could Be Deceiving
ARAHHeadwitch. She wondered… How powerful could they be to lead a coven full of witches with such crazy abilities—each strong in their own way?She glanced at the table of crystals across the room, the familiar black pyramid in the middle catching her attention.“I’ve seen that before. Roselia has one exactly like it. I just didn’t ask what it was,” she said absentmindedly.Arah had promised herself she wouldn’t mention Roselia, but then again, these were the people who had wronged their witch friend first. Why should Arah care if it stirred up unpleasant memories for them? She didn’t know the full story, but she trusted Roselia’s words far more than those of these witches.Alaunus stood silently behind her, then moved to grab the pyramid and held it out to her. She took it, surprised by how heavy it felt despite fitting in her palm. The surface was smooth, like glass, and she could see her messy, exhausted reflection in it.“It’s used for protective spells,” he explained, sitting do
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-19MAD END'S DECEPTION 98 - Missed You Too
ARAHJoy swelled in her chest. Gildeon being beside her was all she needed to feel completely safe.He looked puzzled for a moment before a smile spread across his face. “How are you feeling?”She bolted upright, wrapping her arms around him, burying her nose into his shirt, into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent. He smelled a bit different, but she assumed it was just the strong smoked herbs from the room clinging to his skin.“Are you really here?” She cupped his face, staring into his reptilian eyes, which seemed colder and lacked their usual glow. “How did you get out? Did the witches help you?”She squirmed slightly when his hands found her waist, caressing her before sliding to the small of her back.“You missed me?” he asked, his tone affectionate.She narrowed her gaze. “Of course I did. What do you think?”“I’ve missed you too, Arah.”She had never expected to hear those words from him, but she didn’t want to question it. Not tonight. Leaning in, she pressed her lips
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-19MAD END'S DECEPTION 99 - Secret Weapon
ARAHJust when she thought the strange encounters of the night were over, fate threw another twisted joke her way.“Why are you…” Her voice wavered. “Are you one of them?”Agent Durante didn’t respond. Maybe he didn’t need to. His silence and steady gaze were confirmation enough. He stepped inside, and she instinctively retreated. Her mind flashed back to the day she and Gildeon had first met him... to her conversation with him in her studio. She had always felt uneasy around him, but she never would have anticipated this revelation about him.Arah felt even more violated than she had minutes ago. A burst of anger shot through her as full realization set in.“You arrested Gildeon, you son of a bitch!” she roared, hammering her fists against his chest. Agent Durante didn’t flinch. He absorbed the blows for a moment before grabbing her wrists, his brown eyes darkening, turning into orbs of black glass.She gasped and stilled. When Agent Durante blinked, his eyes shifted back to normal.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-20MAD END'S DECEPTION 100 - About to Relive It
ARAH“Dammit!” She slammed her hands against the steel gate, the impact ringing out with a dull, metallic thud. Running her fingers through her hair, she fidgeted in place, pinching her lower lip, trying to figure out her next move. Her pride wouldn’t let her return to the witches’ block on her own. And it wasn’t like she could ask one of them to open this door for her.But she had to get out, no matter what. Her hand hovered over the access panel on the side. It looked old, like it hadn’t been in regular use before the witches arrived. Maybe she could break it open. She lifted the hem of her dress, wrapping it around her fist, and punched the control panel. Nothing. She struck it again, harder this time, each blow stronger than the last—each strike sending shooting pain up her arm. But Arah endured it, biting back her cries. Adrenaline rushed through her and on the final hit, sparks flew. The panel wires and chips sizzled.Arah stepped back, rubbing her bruised fist, her mouth droppi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-20MAD END'S DECEPTION 101 - Pity Was Forbidden
Many Years Ago (Part 1.1)ARAHEENShe had not intended to stop before the cell, yet her feet slowed of their own accord. Before she could command them otherwise, her gaze had already settled upon the prisoners. She wasn’t entirely certain what had drawn her. Pity was forbidden. Perhaps it was curiosity. After all, she had never ventured this far into the Crescent Tower before. Not even as a child, when she had used to sneak in, longing to see a living, breathing salamander up close—rather than just the figures from stories or the illustrations in her books.The tower reserved this depth for salamanders considered to be the highest threat. Her entry here had been a hard-earned privilege, granted after she had passed the trials to become part of the sylph army—both as a sigilmaker and a warrior.Today, her father had finally allowed her to join his inquisition work, though he had given her no clue as to what awaited.“Araheen!” her father called.She turned swiftly, catching a fleeting s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-21MAD END'S DECEPTION 102 - Fractured Sylph
Many Years Ago (Part 1.2)ARAHEENShe exhaled a quiet, controlled breath. She suppressed any hint of troubled reaction even as Theobald sidled up to her, blocking her path—far too close for comfort. His gaze met hers, with the faintest trace of arrogance on his lips. The thought of striking his disdainful face crossed her mind. It was a temptation she had long harbored since the day her father brought home his second wife and her two insufferable children.But she was no longer the naïve, defiant girl she had once been. After everything she had endured to regain her father’s favor and elevate her status in society, she could not afford to be seen as a Fractured Sylph anymore.“Let me pass,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. Theobald lingered for a moment, as though testing her patience. When she did not waver, he at last stepped aside, offering a subtle gesture of his hand as though to grant her passage.“You can’t fool me, dear step-sister,” he whispered, falling into step behind h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-21MAD END'S DECEPTION 103 - Greatest Threat
Many Years Ago (Part 2.1)ARAHEENThe Dragon.Years ago, stories of a winged creature flying through the night sky spread like wildfire. Their people said the salamanders had unleashed it as a weapon, striking down garrisons and supply ships once thought to be impenetrable. Yet no survivors emerged from those attacks to confirm its existence, so their people had conveniently dismissed it as a myth.Until recently.In the past couple of years, a few sylphs had managed to survive a garrison attack—though barely—to recount their encounters. They spoke of a salamander with the power to shift into a colossal beast, its wings vast and its scales as hard as steel. Unfortunately, they had died before offering more details.The stories had consumed her father ever since. To him, the Dragon was the greatest threat the sylphs had ever faced. He was determined to find it, capture it, kill it—whatever it took.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-22
Bab terbaru
MAD END'S DECEPTION 204 - I'm The Only One
ARAHShe heard the unmistakable flutter of wings in the distance—heavy, powerful. They sounded too large to belong to the owl.And then she heard something else. A loud, familiar, inhuman heartbeat.Gildeon’s.Her own heart pounding, she rushed out of the house and into the front yard—just in time to see Gildeon land in his beast form. His wings beat the air, whipping gusts of wind against her face. Then, slowly, they began to shrink—until they vanished completely from his back.She had a thousand questions, but they all slipped away the second she met his gaze.She sprinted toward him and threw her arms around his massive form. She didn’t care about the roughness of his hide or the searing steam rising off his scales.“Where did you go? Why did you disappear? I was worried,” she blurted, her voice trembling with emotion. Everything was welling up inside her, and for a moment, she thought she might cry. She only pulled away when the heat between them became too much.“I had to take car
MAD END'S DECEPTION 203 - Pathetic And Predictable
GILDEONHe’d first crossed paths with Sharko during his and Arah’s early weeks on Caylao Island. Back then, he’d been sweeping the place—mapping the terrain, scouting escape routes, tagging danger zones. Getting a feel for the land.That had been when he saw it—a woman being assaulted by Sharko’s men.He hadn’t come to Earthland to play hero. Meddling in human filth hadn’t been part of the plan. But that scene had reminded him of what happened to Nalini. So he’d made an exception. He’d beaten the bastards and saved the girl.A day later, he’d stumbled onto one of Sharko’s operations—human trafficking, on top of drug dealing and whatever other scum-work the gang ran. That was also when he met Donny’s brother and helped free him from their clutches.Gildeon had confronted Sharko directly—broke enough bones to make him piss himself and swear he’d shut down his human trafficking ring and leave helpless women alone. Gildeon had thought the warning had landed.But after what had nearly happ
MAD END'S DECEPTION 202 - That Was All It Took
GILDEONHe still had a few days left in his hibernation. But then he heard Ghulik’s voice. Said bad men were trying to hurt Arah.Sharko’s bad men.That was all it took.He tore out of his cocoon without a second thought.In the past, he might’ve held back, avoided tapping into the rest of his abilities. Not anymore. He’d nearly lost Arah one too many times, and he’d sworn never to restrain himself again. So, he sprouted small-scale wings and flew through the night in his dragon’s mortal form—with Ghulik on his back.As long as Gildeon wasn’t in his full beast form, the island would be safe from his destruction.Not long after, he landed atop a jagged rock outcrop with a clear line of sight to Cora’s house. His dragon eyes locked onto Arah’s flickering blue-green aura in the distance. She stood with Cora, Mabel, and another woman he didn’t recognize, all being questioned by the police.Another unfamiliar woman lay on a stretcher, getting loaded into the back of an ambulance. Body bags
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
