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Awakening to Darkness
Last Updated:
2024-12-27 20:08:23
John AuthurSupport with a comment at the comment section
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The Crimson Trail of Death Seeking Answers
"It's okay, Dominic. Let's go out and have a talk," Uncle Gavin interjected, standing up. As Marc turned and left the room, followed by Uncle Gavin. I noticed Dominic's gaze still fixed on me, with raised brows before finally leaving.As I found myself alone in the room, I released a sigh. Even with all that Uncle Gavin had said, I had no idea what this was all about and why I was chosen as the new Sohoe. I wasn't even a daughter-in-law of their blood-stained family. This was just a contract, and I would never be such in the first place. This place had always been hell for me, with every single day passing by, and it seemed this hell was increasing even more.I was quite sure Adrian would have heard of it and was possibly on his way back. A reminder of the questions he had thrown at me when I came back this morning.But honestly, what should I do now? Even though I had no idea about this Sohoe thing, I could tell it was a big issue and one that would draw many eyes to me. Nate turned
Last Updated : 2024-12-27The Crimson Trail of Death A Threat of Legacy
[Dominic's POV]"Why did you make her the new Sohoe, Uncle Marc? Why?" I questioned, but all I received from him were those darkening glares. I couldn't deny the fear that coursed through me. Yet, should I say I was disappointed in the same person I considered a powerful man who still left terror in his wake? Someone I wanted to surpass in power and reach greater heights than he ever did. How could he make Adrian's wife the new head of the De Santos family? How could he take such a drastic step without informing me, Adrian, or any of the other families? This was a matter that held every one of our concerns."I owe you no explanation, Dominic. She is the new Sohoe, and that's final. Understand?" he declared, yet my gaze remained unwavering. This was a death wish, I knew. He could have me killed at any moment. Even though I had the power and connections, I was in his territory, and that was something I couldn't deny. This was something I couldn't just take lightly. I held some suspicion
Last Updated : 2024-12-29The Crimson Trail of Death A Drunken Confession
[Adrian’s POV]“Come on, Adrian, let’s dance,” Elena said, leading me to the dance floor.I found myself swaying with her as we danced at one of her friends' events. Yet, I couldn’t shake off the words of the stranger who called me back then. I still needed to know who he was.“What happened, Adrian? Anything wrong?” Elena asked, snapping me out of my thoughts as her gaze met mine. I forced a smile. “Nothing, Elena. Let’s dance,” I replied.This was something I would have to handle myself and see if it was truly Dominic who plotted this or if it was just a sham from one of our enemies. One way or another, I would make sure to beat them at their own game and show them that I am not as weak as they perceive me to be.“So tell me, Elena, any further plans?” I asked, trying to let go of my thoughts for the moment. For now, I needed to help Elena forget her past life and create new memories.“My plan?” she questioned.“Yeah, you mentioned planning to settle here for the meantime. I just wan
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The Crimson Trail of Death The Sohoe's Secret
[Sierra's POV]In a blink, I felt a grasp on my wrist as he whisked me into his room, scanning the passage before shutting the door after us.“What are you doing here, Sierra? Don’t you know how dangerous it is if you are seen here? You could have both of us killed!” he sneered.But I had my reasons. I knew it was risky meeting up with him, especially here in the mansion. I had no other choice; I needed answers, and he seemed like the only one I saw that I could get some from.“What is a Sohoe, Nate?” I questioned.“What? What do you mean by a Sohoe? I know nothing of such! Now leave, Sierra; you must not be seen here with me.” he uttered.“Just answer me, Nate. I deserve answers, Nate. I deserve them all.”“Fine. A Sohoe, from what I have heard so far, is a title given to the women in the De Santos family. Only one is chosen for such a title, and the tradition has gone on in their family for many years,” He explained, but I needed more information than the little he had just told me.
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The Crimson Trail of Death A House Divided
My eyes caught sight of two men walking in after. They stood beside Adrian, one armed with a shotgun.“Who dares to call my name in such a tone?” Marc made his way toward Adrian. “Oh, it's you.”“Why, Uncle Marc? Why would you do such a thing? Tell me it’s a lie. How could you make my wife... How could you make Sierra the next Sohoe of the De Santos family without even caring to consult me first?” Adrian sneered as the old man let out a slight chuckle. “Consulting you? I decide what goes on in this mansion. All is based on my rules, or do you plan to go against them?”I watched their eyes locked on each other, reminding me of the same scene, the same aura that left Dominic's side after walking into the room back then, confronting Marc.“And I am her husband, Uncle. She is my wife, and therefore, I own all the rights to know.” Adrian uttered, causing me to scoff at his words.“Husband?” But yeah, I guess things had to be taken this way.“Stop this now, Adrian,” I heard Dominic cut in,
Last Updated : 2025-01-02The Crimson Trail of Death Burning Questions
[Dominic POV]"Fuck this!" I snapped, smashing some glass. All this shouldn't really be happening. Why would Uncle Marc just create such a mess out of this? As usual, Adrian reacted impulsively, but thankfully, he withdrew before he did anything stupid that might have ended with him dead."But what was Adrian wife doing, staring like that? She must be enjoying this, right? I'm sure she must be. What if that's what she wanted? I mean, she's an enemy. What if she was sent here as poison to break the great De Santos family? I honestly have to figure out everything about her—who she was and every single detail. I just..." My voice trailed off as something hit me—Adrian's last words. So her name was Sierra?"Wait, I've heard that before. But where? Where did I... Wait, Nate? He mentioned her. It can't be right. If it was her, Nate would have surely informed me about that already. I mean, he wouldn't dare hide such a thing from me. Even so, I doubt that was her. It can't be. I have to figur
Last Updated : 2025-01-03The Crimson Trail of Death The Gathering Storm
"What are you doing here, Caleb?" I asked, my gaze fixed on his as they narrowed."What do you mean? What am I doing here, dear cousin? I heard the news and decided to drop by since I was close. It seems I came at the right time.""Leave now, Caleb. Nobody wants you here, and you don't want to get on my..." I began, but he cut in."I don't want what, cousin?" He stepped closer, his eyes unwavering.This wasn't the right place to pick a fight against him, but if he tried anything or planned anything to harm Adrian, I would surely put some bullets in his damn skull. For now, I had to keep my cool. I looked around the mansion, watching the maids decorate each corner. What was happening?"Know your place, Caleb, and don't try anything funny..." I warned, leaving his side and stepping out of the mansion, only to catch sight of Uncle Gavin standing outside, staring at some of the maids who were also decorating the outside walls of the mansion.I approached his side, breaking the silence tha
Last Updated : 2025-01-04The Crimson Trail of Death Bound by Duty
[Sierra's POV]I watched as the maids decorated each side of the wall. I had just asked some of the maids about what the whole decoration was for, but their answers left me stunned. This was all for the ceremony that takes place after a new Sohoe is named. That's me... Wait, so the De Santos families would be on their way as expected.It seems my days are already counting themselves. But one thing was staring at me: how long was I going to stay hidden from Adrian's sight? I wasn't the one who chose all this, and how can I be the Sohoe? We are not truly married, and in a year, all this would be over. What am I really going to do?Managing a few steps, I made my way to my room, hoping to enter, but the voice that echoed inside caused me to halt. I heard Adrian's voice:"Coming here to Los Angeles was a big mistake in the first place. All I wanted was the property, but why does Uncle Marc have to make things so hard for me? First was the marriage party, and now this... If Sierra is made
Last Updated : 2025-01-05
Latest chapter
The Crimson Trail of Death Unspoken Confessions
[Sierra's POV]After some days staying in the hospital, I was discharged. I made my way out of the hospital supported by some men hired for my security, as I entered the back seat of the car with the driver starting the car engine. My gaze glanced through the dark street; it was late at night.It felt as though everything was complete—Uncle was in jail, and Nate was dead. Yet, why did I feel like I had nothing else to look up to?The people I most cherished were gone. The only one I saw next to me was Aunt Malisa. "I have to keep going for her sake..." I thought.The driver arrived at the mansion, and I stepped out, managing some footings. I made my way into the mansion but paused, noting the dark presence the mansion left."What happened to the lights..." I wondered. I wasn't able to tell anything—my heart raced as I took little steps. Was I maybe wrong to think everything was over?In a blink, the light came, causing me to shut my eyes suddenly from the reaction. "Welcome back, mam.
The Crimson Trail of Death True Feelings
[Adrian's POV]"Uncle Gavin! I did it, Uncle Gavin!" Why was I seeing this memory now? I guess it's because of what occurred so far. The same man I saw as a father figure, the one I trusted so much, turned out to be the enemy.He trained me to be who I am today, but in the end... "Why, Uncle Gavin? Just why did you have to be the enemy?"I woke up, feeling the intense pain in my head. I tried sitting up, only to find Dominic sitting next to my side."You're awake, Adrian..." he said. Yet, I found only my gaze downcast."What happened? So it's over..." I questioned as Dominic replied, "Yes.""He died?" Should I be happy, knowing he was gone, or sad? A side of me claimed this was a victory, knowing all he had done, the fact that he was behind Mom's death from the very start. But why does my heart say something different? Those little tears that never ceased from falling down splattered on my hand."I know this is all hard to take in, Adrian. I also can't seem to understand everything th
The Crimson Trail of Death The Final Battle
All this while, I had thought it was Dominic. I wanted to make him pay so much, but, in the end, I teamed up with my mother's true murderer."Okay, that's enough now, Nate. Let her take it all in slowly. What more of a death would be greater than having them regret the whole life they have lived?" Damien said."Mom... I'm sorry, mom..." I whispered, those tears not ceasing. I felt something on my head. It was Nate aiming a pistol at my head. "Now, why don't I do you a favor and take you to that old hag?" he said, and my eyes shut in those moments as I heard a loud gunshot, causing my eyes to open back up."Do you think you can take down the De Santos that easily?" I heard Dominic, with a smirk playing on his lips. "I knew you would make a move, so I had a tracker inserted in my skin, and now you took the bait, dear Uncle Gavin," he said as more guns echoed through the area. They were coming from outside the room."We have to kill them fast, Father. We need to leave now," Damien said.
The Crimson Trail of Death Heartbreaking Betrayal
[Sierra's POV]"Sierra, wake up, Sierra!" I heard a voice as my eyes sprung open. I found myself tied to a chair, as Adrian and Dominic were also tied to chairs beside me."What are you doing here, Sierra?" Adrian asked, but shouldn't I be asking the same question? I had heard that he and Dominic went to attend the burial of one of the De Santos, but now I found the two of them here."That bastard; he must have spiked the wine," Dominic's voice cut in. He was also awake.But wait, does this mean they were both kidnapped and brought here from the burial? Who honestly was this enemy?I noticed another man tied to a chair, but his face was blindfolded with a sack mask, so I wasn't able to tell who he was.Just as I hoped to let a word out to Adrian, the door creaked, and I watched some men make their way inside."Who the hell do you think you all are to have Adrian De Santos here?" Adrian questioned, but was he expecting his name to help out here? I mean, these were people who had been h
The Crimson Trail of Death Spiked Party
[Adrian's POV]It had already been four months, and yet I found myself still unable to figure out who this enemy was. My mind still echoed the words I heard from Raglan after I paid him a visit. He mentioned that there was a third man; he was the one who seemed like the boss. But none of them had ever seen his face anywhere.After hearing that, I tried looking for any information, something that could tell me more about this third man, even visiting the experiment building again, yet I found nothing.The only thought I found myself guessing was that this third man was possibly the enemy, or he was working with the enemy, and the experiment seemed to be carried on.I had hired more men to help me figure out and fix this puzzle, conducting research and gathering information they could find."We have to go now, Adrian..." Dominic said. But why should we go? I wasn't even in full support of his death in the first place. One of the De Santos members had been killed again, and he wants us t
The Crimson Trail of Death The Final Confrontation
(Four Months Later)"Aunt Sierra! Aunt Sierra!" Zara's voice echoed in my mind. The last moment I heard her voice.I woke up as it was already morning, stepping down from the bed. I made my way to the bathroom and washed up.It had been four months already, and the bloodshed never seemed to have ceased. Many of the De Santos members were already gone, each dying in a cruel way.I wore my cloth, intending to step outside my room, only to find Aunt Marisa waiting."You should rest; you're not yet feeling well, Sierra." she said.I had a high fever last night, so it was expected of her to be this worried. After we met back at the party, I allowed her to live with us in the mansion."I have some things to attend to, Aunt Marisa. I will rest once I am back..." I said."Don't tell me you're going out to find the enemy, Sierra. I know it's not about work." she said. But I should expect her figuring things out. I had my father's company closed temporarily a month ago due to everything that oc
The Crimson Trail of Death Rope of Betrayal
[Sierra's POV]I made my way up the stairs, entering my room, as I sat down on the bed, processing what had occurred today. "So he had killed another De Santos..." I thought.I never expected the plan to fail, and I was almost killed. If I hadn't reacted by pulling the gun trigger at that moment."Mam, are you there..." I heard Colt's voice, followed by a knock on the door. "Come in," I replied. Colt made an entry as he approached my side."Mam, I don't think it's safe for you to step out again. I'm sure you saw what had happened and how you were almost killed that day..." Colt said, but I understood he was making sure I was safe at all costs, but hiding, I doubt, would be of any good."I can't stay in hiding, Colt. That's what this enemy would want..." I explained."But Mam..." he wanted to say."I have a plan, Colt. I want to learn how to protect myself better..." I cut in, standing up from the bed. "I will have things taken care of again so that at least Zara will be able to go to
The Crimson Trail of Death Seeking for more Answers
I sat down in my office, checking my phone as I read what was portrayed by the news regarding Laxton's death, and it seemed like another twisted story turned to see us as the main issue at hand."I must say, nice game, whoever you are..." I said, taking a glass of wine as I heaved a sigh.I received a call from one of the men I had hired to investigate this case regarding the experiment. It took a lot, deciding to hire one, knowing I couldn't trust any of them, but instead, I only requested him to obtain some information regarding the experiment. Could there have been a successful experiment that brought the outcome father wanted so much?I picked up the call, placing it against my ear."Speak," I said."Boss, I have just finished doing my research on all that you told me about..." he started."So, what's the update?""Among the prisoners, there seemed to be one man; he was the only one I could tell who managed to flee from the building. It was hard getting the footage and records bac
The Crimson Trail of Death The Deadly Message
The incident back at the conference meeting with Sierra didn't seem like it was going to die down anytime soon.As the news just seemed to be spurring the little fire that the coward had lit up."You asked to see me, Adrian..." Dominic said, standing before me. I wondered if I was making the right choice by telling him all this. I mean, why should I even bother telling him?But if there was a chance that maybe this was connected in some way, I needed more answers."Are you there, Adrian?" Dominic's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I responded, "Yes."I scanned the area before my gaze returned to Dominic. "I'm sure you don't mind doing a little walk to my office, dear brother..." I said as I noticed those eyes seeking the reason behind my words and behavior.We both walked through the hall as we arrived at a corner, and my legs paused for a moment. I checked our backs."What's going on, Adrian? Why did you call me?" Dominic questioned, seemingly eager, more than expected."Why
