From Hell – Chapter 19&20

FROM HELL 

From Hell – Chapter 19&20

→ Craving•The•Unhinged ←

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.

Copyright © 2026

Naomi Cindy B.

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

[Ten Minutes Later]

With his eyes closed, Ares sat quietly in Lucia’s bed, his shirtless body covered by Lucia’s blanket, but it left out his chest which was swelling and going down repeatedly.

The wound looks bloated—the venom residues made the surface so dark. It’s like breathing on its own.

Ares’s breaths are shallow, barely reaching his chest before he’d take another one like he’s dying.

Lucia’s blood is still on his lips, on his teeth. He’s like a vampire who just finished feeding on it’s prey.

Difference is that he looks weak, lost—like he’s not even here.

Lucia left this room two minutes ago after he stopped biting into her wrist. Now she’s in Doja’s room, looking for anything to soothe him.

She scattered every drawer and cupboard in the room already, looking for just anything since Doja isn’t around to provide it.

Her wrist is still bleeding from his bite cos he bit so deep. He bit as deep as the venom was driving him, but that’s not important now.

She just wants to find something and take him out of his trance.

Her hand scrambled around the camphor wood cupboard—the last cupboard in this room.

She’s sweating on the brows, but she wiped quickly with her sleeve, eyes stretching when she spotted a really small vial in the cupboard.

She grabbed it, recognizing it as the mind regulator liquor.

She was about to dash out of the room when she heard familiar sounds from outside…

“Search every house!”

“He could be anywhere! He could kill anyone! He’s running wild!”

“Find Lord Ares!”

Lucia pushed the windows open a bit, peeping out from the middle. Imperial guards are everywhere in the city, in that street, searching relentlessly for Ares.

Before they could sight her, Lucia quickly closed the window and took a black piece of clothe to wrap around her wrist, then left for her own room where Ares is still seated in bed.

She screwed open the vial lid and tried opening his mouth with her fingers, but his eyes opened before she could do that, and he took the vial from her, bringing it to his lips by himself. He drank it all.

“You’re out of your trance?” She said, taking the empty vial from him.

He looked up, and the blanked fell off his shoulders, revealing his chest wound to her eyes again.

The way it’s swelling and going down, and the way it’s blackening.

“Darn it. The venom is too strong.” She muttered.

“I took the anti-venom, and I guess I’m past the madness stage, but it’ll still take days before I’ll be completely fine.” He responded.

With a sigh, Lucia turned and folded her arms across her chest.

“You should leave now. The search team will soon get here.”

“I’m not leaving till you tell me why I was shot on the chest!” He stood.

Lucia turned again, back this time to face him slowly.

She already explained this during his madness, why is he asking again?

Wait—

Does that mean everything that happened during the madness is out of his memory?

He doesn’t remember?

“Do you even remember how you got here? I’m guessing you killed people in the Palace before getting out, and that’s why imperial guards are all-over the city for you.” She said.

He came closer, a piece of his hair falling over his eyes as their visions seemed to conjoin darkly.

He might be out of the madness and trance stage now, but that crazed look is still in his eyes.

The manic, intense look of insanity. The red-eyes, the anger, the rage.

“I don’t care about why I’m here or how the hell I got here! I don’t want to know, and I don’t plan to care! I asked why you shot me on my darn chest, on top of my mark!”

“Listen to me, Ares Hellion. You didn’t get to know me today, and you didn’t get to know me yesterday. You’ve known me for years now, and it’s not news that I’m a selfish, Bones-centered bitch who only does things to please the Emperor. He told me to shoot you, and I simply did.”

“You’re lying!” He spat, gripping her arm which she tore free immediately, staring deep at him.

“I shot you at His Majesty’s orders! And also because I wanted something significant to mark the end of our alliance. I ended our alliance, remember? Take the gunshot as my parting gift.” She sneered.

Ares’s hand gripped her robe just the way she does to his own. He fisted the front of her robe—the V area between her breasts.

And with it, he slammed her backside on the wall behind them, his eyes crashing deviously into hers.

That sweat line on her brows is thicker now, and new round circle of it is forming around her lips too.

“I won’t let this slide. I never let things slide, ever. Even if you become a corpse earlier than fate decides, I’m still going to make you regret planting the most dangerous venom existing in my body!”

Lucia took over, looping her hand around his neck. With that, she pushed him back to the other wall, slamming him just the way he slammed her. She choked him hard, but he doesn’t feel it as their eyes bored, communicating poison.

His groan was low, guttural.

“I’ve never cared about threats, Ares Hellion. Just do what you have to do, it’s merrier that way.” She muttered, voice a stamp of cruelty.

“Household check!” The imperial guards shouted outside. “Household check! We’re coming in!”

—

[Zura Camp]

“It’s not proper for a unmarried woman to cook for a man, Miss Doja. I can’t take this food.” Lothar said in the gentlest tone ever.

He stood beside his tent with Doja who’s pointing the food package at him, but immediately he said that, Doja’s face fell.

It fell for a minute though, and in the next minute, she lit up again and pushed the package closer to him.

“It doesn’t matter, General. You’re the main person protecting this Empire. Since you became General seven years ago, we’ve been winning repeatedly against Fenxi and other rival Empires. Me cooking for you is my way of showing love. Besides, you also saved me from a mean guy, so it’s all love, General…”

She extended an hand to touch him, but he stepped back before she could do that, and she gulped.

“Miss Doja, i really can’t take this. Besides, I’ve had breakfast. And I can already smell garlic in the package, I don’t take garlic.” He said.

“You don’t take garlic?” She gasped. “Is that a secret about you? Does that mean you’re telling me secrets now?”

Her cheeks reddened so much, and she gave her lip a tight bite.

Lothar blinked, wondering what kind of human he had encountered today.

Why is she exaggerating everything???

“General Sir! General!” One of his comrades ran into that corner breathlessly. “General! Lord Ares broke out of the Palace after killing ten imperial guards with his bare hands! Now he’s wanted!”

“Continue taking the newbies through the trainings! I’ll be right back!” Lothar gave the comrade a pat before rushing out of that corner.

“But—” Doja stuttered. “But the…the food!” The rushed after him, and in the process, she bumped into the comrade. The package fell, opened,, and the food scattered everywhere.

Doja began crying.

“My…my General’s food…!”

—

[Valmont Residence]

Lucia opened the door, and the imperial guards gave her respectful bows before entering her room to search for Ares.

They split, so others entered Phoebe’s room, and others entered Doja’s.

Lucia didn’t change position. She sat exactly where she is, watching them do their thing while nonchalantly peeling tangerines to her mouth.

Ares left a minute ago through her window, and he should be out of the compound by now.

Two minutes was all it took to search her room, and immediately it was clear he’s not here, the guards gave her bows again before leaving.

Lucia immediately pushed away the basket of tangerines and spat out the one in her mouth.

Blood followed it out.

The sweat began forming on her face again, and her head rang. Her eyes blurred, melting everything around her to one unending object.

She managed to untie the black cloth from her wrist. Right there, the venom is spreading.

The royal musket venom.

Exactly on her weakness mark—exactly where Ares bit her at.

The venom is contagious?

Why? How??

Why is she just finding that out??

It’s slowly spreading all-over that arm already, and her eyes blurred again as she stared too much.

“Miss!” Doja gasped, rushing inside the room. She has been watching from the door for a second.

She took Lucia’s hand, and her eyes widened immediately.

“The musket venom!”

Seeing the teeth prints on Lucia’s wrist, she gasped again.

“Lord Ares was here? He bit you? Why would you allow that My Lady? The venom is contagious only by biting, and it affects the person who contacted it more than the person who was really shot! Darn it! You need the anti-venom right now but I don’t have it!” She said urgently.

Lucia took her arm from Doja, staggering a bit before she settled on the chair again.

“My Lady, you need the anti-venom from His Majesty! You need it or you’ll really run wild and die!” Doja said with concern.

“I have to go to the south woods tonight. I need to meet someone!” Lucia replied, shaking her head.

She stood, taking the mind regulator liquor vial.

Ares drank it all, but there’s still like three drops below the vial.

She drank it and shattered the vial, then she changed into a black robe.

Her lips are pale already, so she rubbed a little lip tint to cover the paleness before leaving the house.

“My Lady! But you can’t be outside! Air speeds up the spreading of the venom! My Lady!” Doja shouted.

But Lucia was already gone.

“Where’s she… going??” Phoebe’s sick voice came from the door of her room. She stood there with her walking cane under her arm.

Seeing her, Doja gasped, running quickly to her.

“Why are you up? Miss Lucia is risking her life, and you’re risking yours too? Are you both trying to kill me? The fact that General Lothar refused my show of love is already so hurtful! Everyone should stop hurting me!!” She cried, taking Phoebe by the sides.

Phoebe went silent, just following her lead to the bed till they arrived.

Phoebe was made to lay back in bed, and Doja sniffled, wiping her tears.

“Is Lulu okay?” Phoebe whispered.

“She’ll be free of stress if you just tell her the truth of the tragedy!” Doja snapped at her. “Sometimes, I want to understand you, but I just can’t! Why are you doing this to your daughter? Why hiding the truth from her when she needs it? Seriously…I don’t understand you…”

“Lulu and Ares might be stronger than anyone, but don’t forget that they both had trainers in their camps when they were young, and the trainers are still alive, and they’re stronger. What if the truth slips and Bones sends those trainers to take them down? What if I lose my daughter?” Phoebe said.

“You really think those trainers are still stronger than Lucia and Ares?” Doja scoffed. “You know nothing, Phoebe. I’m on your daughter’s side only because I admire her. Don’t make me regret it and change my mind and start rooting for His Majesty to win!” She spat and walked out of the room with a loud hiss.

—

[Lothar’s House]

Lothar came straight here the moment he left the camp, and as predicted, he met Ares waiting inside his inner room, shirtless.

He quickly pulled down the curtains, throwing the room in darkness before he joined him on the chair.

Ares looked up, slowly.

“You killed ten guards?” Lothar muttered.

“I don’t remember killing anyone of them,” Ares replied.

“Seriously?” Lothar gasped. “The venom must be very strong, but I heard the madness duration is hours or even days. How come your madness ended already? Where did you go after you left the Palace?”

“The madness duration is supposed to last hours?” Ares frowned.

“Yes! I don’t know much about the venom, but at least I know the madness takes long and the victims don’t only hurt people, but they also hurt themselves. You didn’t hurt yourself, Ares. Your only wound is still the one on your chest.” Lothar muttered, shifting close.

Ares’s mind went back to Lucia’s house, but he has no memory or whatsoever. His memory started from when he opened his eyes and took the vial from her to drink.

Before that? Nothing.

But he raised his palm. There’s a cut there which is definitely from Lucia’s knife, but how did he get it?

Probably part of his lost memories.

“I swear to the gods, Lucia won’t go free for this. I can’t believe I once stood up for her in court.” Lothar muttered. “But what if you get locked up for the guards you killed? This isn’t the time for you to get locked, Ares. War is coming, and I need you.”

Ares looked at his chest. The swell is going down, and the blackness is reducing too, but something still doesn’t feel right somehow.

His head is a mess right now. It’s a scattered chess board, needing a rearrangement as soon as possible.

“The whole world still thinks I’m the General and also the strategist of Zura army. What they don’t know is that you’re my strategist who draws war plans for me, and you’re the reason we’ve been winning wars against Fenxi for years. War is coming in few days, and you can’t get locked up.” Lothar talked again.

“I can’t think. It’s a mess up here.” Ares pointed at his head.

The rough opening of the doors interrupted them. No one was warned before imperial guards entered, spears held upright.

They expected to still meet him in the madness situation, but seeing he looks normal, their spears went dowm, and Princess Ina came in last, walking through the middle of the guards who lined in the two sides of the room till she got to Lothar.

She lifted her hand to hit his face, but Ares got in-between, causing her hand to go down.

“I knew you’d be here! I knew you’d just come here! Why didn’t he apart the Palace when you came here?” She glared at him.

“And if he alerted the Palace? What would you do? Come here to drag me out like a bull?” Ares muttered.

“Noo!” Ina denied. “You’re my husband! I’d never have you dragged no matter how many people you killed! They’re a bunch of guards anyways. Who cares about them?”

“And now?” Ares smiled flirtatiously, using the back of his fingers to brush her cheek.

Ina smiled widely. “I came to take you back. You’re stronger than most men, look! The venom madness didn’t even last an hour in your system. I’m glad you’re fine, hubby. Let’s return to the Palace.” She snapped her fingers.

A guard brought forward a robe jacket with a black fur, and Ares put it on his shirtless body.

Ina’s eyes met with his chest wound, and she nearly touched it, but she held back so she won’t make the sensitive wound widen.

“The venom wound will dry up in few days. Just that…your weakness mark will widen.” She said.

“Let’s leave,” Ares responded, and she nodded as he took her hand.

She followed him like a puppy as he pulled her out of the house.

The guards followed them.

By the door, Ares looked back, his gaze meeting Lothar’s.

He secretly communicated with his eyes that he has everything under control, and that made Lothar calm.

Outside, Ares helped Ina climb up the carriage before he got in too—right beside her, but she got up from her seat and came to his laps.

Ares from two days ago would have pushed her off, but this Ares needs everything he can get his hands on about the truth, so he held her laps and kissed her chin.

The red hue descended on her cheeks again. Her head swelled, literally.

She palmed his face, ignoring the pain from her elbows.

She got peeled elbows when he threw her earlier in the hospital, actually. But she doesn’t care.

Her eyes were closed as she came for his lips, aiming for a kiss.

“How close was your father and his late father?” Ares asked.

That was enough to make her eyes shoot open.

“My father and my late grandpa? They were terribly close like I heard, and my grandfather loved father so much he didn’t allow grandmother to give birth to another child after father. He wanted father to be the only child.” Ina replied.

“On the day your grandfather died, where was your father?” Ares asked carefully, caressing Ina’s neck as he threw the questions.

Ina melted into his touch as if bewitched.

“Nobody told me where father was when grandfather was dying. I only heard he died after eating the meals served by your mother and Lucia’s father, and then those two proceeded to set the chamber on fire too and burnt his body. Isn’t that so cruel?”

Ares looked on, so Ina continued.

“I know you feel your mother and Lucia’s father are innocent, but trust me they’re not. They really killed grandfather despite his goodness to them and—”

“Stop talking,” Ares glared, getting irritated.

“But it’s true,” Ina insisted. “That’s why I can never like that bî+ch Lucia. I know you feel guilty about what your mother did, and that’s why you’re living quietly and humbly, but her? She’s so proud and doesn’t know how to take accountability for her father’s sin. To me, not paying her salary isn’t enough. She should be killed and her head should be hung in front of the Cold Court for—”

“I told you to stop talking!” Ares yelled, pulling his sword and slicing her head off her neck.

Her blood splashed around the carriage interior, and her head rolled on the carriage ground.

Ares’s jaws clenched, eyes fiery as he stared at that ground.

No Ina’s head.

No blood.

No sword.

Ina’s head is still intact on her neck.

The cutting off was just his own imagination.

He looked at her and met her eyes on himself cos he really yelled at her.

He pulled her closer again, pressing her head to his chest.

It’s only the start of his use for her cos he’s sure she’s not telling him something. Princess Ina might look easy, but she’s just as crafty as her father, so it won’t be easy to crack her open. He’d do it bit by bit.

But despite the fact that he’s already getting under Ina’s skin, something just doesn’t feel right.

In fact, everything doesn’t feel right. Why did his madness last for just few minutes? What really happened in Lucia’s residence?

“I love you,” Ina’s voice creeped into his ears, and he nearly bled from his two ears. It sounds like lead.

She looked up at him, but he just pushed her head back to his chest.

—

[Southern Zura Woods]

After journey an hour in the woods, Lucia began regretting why she didn’t wear a cape of cloak.

Seems the venom works with the air cos the deeper she travelled, the deeper her cold got.

She’s shivering from the inside.

But she still has to see what the note she received meant.

She had to go rent a horse to take this trip since her own horse got killed by Enya and her killers, and somehow, she’s glad it got killed.

Riding on it was hard.

If it didn’t get killed, she was going to throw it off a cliff herself.

She pulled the reins of her rented horse, and the animal neighed forward, jumping a stump.

Lucia’s condition got worse she nearly fell off the horse, but she had to tie the reins to her fingers.

All her life, she has never felt this weak. Not even when her father was executed and her mother got bedridden. Not even when she trained like an animal and was starved severely for stony buns in the Pain Camp.

Whatever this venom is, it’s probably the strongest existing like Ares said, and there must be an history behind it. Who made it?

Definitely not Bones.

Bones is smart, but not smart enough to do this masterpiece.

So…is it his father? The late Emperor?

If it’s the late Emperor, it’s rumoured that every of his success is connected to Mulan and Ren, so is this musket also connected to them?

Maybe she can start her investigation from there?

But she’s too weak right now she needs the anti-venom, and if she’s ti get it, she has to ask Bones for it.

Asking Bones would make Bones aware that Ares came to her.

What’s the next step?

She needs an alternative.

She jumped down from the horse when she arrived at the spot mentioned in the note.

Right there, she found another note buried in the dirt with a part of it pointing out.

She pulled it swiftly…

★ Find the maker of the royal musket gun, you’ll get closer to the truth you’re looking for.

She read it with blurry eyes and staggered, but her sidekicks appeared just in time, and they looked shocked to see her like that for the first time ever. Lucia? Sick?

Even her lip tint couldn’t hide the paleness of her lips.

“Horror!” Falcon gasped.

“My Lady!” Limon added, taking Lucia’s tied arm. “Is the weakness mark acting up again? But it’s not always like this…”

“I’m..I’m fine…” Lucia assured, but her voice said otherwise.

She staggered again.

“Horror!” Falcon held her.

“This isn’t your weakness mark,” Limon frowned. “It’s the musket venom.”

“What!” Falcon’s eyes widened.

—

[Duan Residence]

Silence won’t explain the serenity in here right now.

Odessa got defiled by the Emperor again three days ago, and as a result, Edwin got released.

Edwin is getting better, thanks to the physician’s good work. At least, he’s now able to get up from the bed.

Enya is still unconscious. Her wooden hand is ready to be worn, but not without her consciousness.

Odessa herself is eating nonchalantly on the outer table while Minister Kai sat in front of her, glaring.

She kept peeking at him, expecting him to actually talk, but nothing cam, so she dropped her chopsticks and faced him completely.

“Now why are you glaring at me like that? I’ve saved your nephew twice with my body! If anyone deserves additional respect in this place, it’s definitely me!” She spat.

Kai was up from his chair in a breath, and when his palm smacked her cheek, she fell with a gasp.

“Kai!”

Edwin stayed seated, not even moving an inch as the play unfolded.

“You!!!” Kai pointed a finger at his wife. “I’ve been holding back for three days cos I didn’t have anything to say to you! But you’re talking about respect? Yes I asked you to do it the first time, but the second time, you offered yourself without my permission! Are you that eagar to take His Majesty’s c+ck everytime? Are you? Shamelessness is nothing to hide! I smell it!”

“Yes!!” Odessa stood with a yell. “Yes I’m eagar to take his c+k if that’s what you’re eagar to hear! I want His Majesty, and I crave his baby in me! You and your nephew can continue your tomfoolery, but me? I’m making a way for me and my daughter Enya!”

“Odessa—”

“Don’t call my name!!” Odessa yelled again, barging into Enya’s room.

Minister Kai faced Edwin.

Edwin smiled, nodding.

“At least she’s useful. Her body saved me twice, and now I’m going to return to work as if nothing happened. No plans, no going after Lucia and Ares. They’ll be the ones to come after me now.” He said.

Dakota whistled by the door, and Kai went out to meet him.

“Midnight court will open tonight,” Dakota reported.

“I know. I heard.” Kai faced him. “It’s probably to talk about the upcoming war and the approaching Dragon Festival.”

“Ares survived even after killing ten guards. He wasn’t killed.” Dakota whispered.

“He’s Ina’s husband, of course he’s meant to be spared. That is to tell you you have a lot to do if you want to take him out. That bastard is dangerous.” Kai said.

“There has been no attack on the road or tomb raiding for close to a week now.” Dakota muttered.

“You’re not negligent. Whoever Horror and Calamity are, they’re probably scared of you too. It’ll take a while before they strike again.” Kai folded his arms behind.

“And twenty years ago—”

“Twenty years ago,” Kai interrupted. “Wise people are aware that Mulan and Ren didn’t poison the late Emperor and they didn’t set the chamber fire. Someone else did, but the popular victims are Mulan and Ren, who are we to dispute that?”

Dakota frowned, looking confused.

—

[Void Palace, Empress’s Chamber]

The note from the special guards indicating the fineness of Prince Fadey and his mother Devora.

As Empress Sally sat in her balcony and read in silence, she made sure her maids are far from her.

The guards wrote the fineness of Fadey and his mother in bold letters, meaning they’re doing better than they should be doing in the dessert.

Something has to be done.

But she can’t afford to be suspected by the Emperor.

Odessa slept with him again, and with his fertility, Odessa is meant to get pregnant for sure.

Now, she’s not going to kill Odessa like she planned initially.

Now, she’s going to let Odessa get pregnant peacefully.

Odessa will be the one to carry the baby, but Sally will be the mother of the child when it’s born.

She has to find a way to sleep with Bones tonight, unfailingly.

—

[Zura Army Granary]

“Twenty bags! Make sure they all weight twenty Jin!”

Lothar’s voice rang through the area as he supervised the transportation of grain with his comrades.

They’re taking them from here to the camp kitchen. The armies need as much food as they can consume now.

But after they loaded twenty bags from the granary, there were only two bags left.

They need a restock.

“Why do I feel like His Majesty would say no to the restock? I don’t trust him at all.” A comrade said.

“So he’s going to tell us to go to war with empty stomachs? Bull.” Another one said blatantly.

A small argument occured, but in the course of it, Lothar suddenly rushed off like he was pushed.

“General!” The comrades shouted after him, but he didn’t stop.

He was too focused on the person he saw to hear their voices, but when he arrived at the point he saw her at, she wasn’t there.

He came to a standstill, staring around like a lost fool.

Wasn’t she just here? The owner of the earring he has.

He definitely saw her here.

“General!” His comrades caught up, and he turned to see them sweating.

“Is something wrong? You scared us?”

“I need to get to the Palace.” Lothar replied and took the other way.

“What’s wrong with General?” The comrades exchanged looks.

On top of the overhead bridge, Qui stood with Meng, and from there, they stared down secretly.

“Why the hell is the General looking for you?” Meng frowned.

“I once bumped into him at the marketplace. Is bumping into someone enough reason to look for someone?” Qui replied.

Meng didn’t say anything more. Her mind worked towards Ares instead, wondering if he’s fine.

—

[Midnight Court]

At the first hour of the night, the court is already full of the Ministers and officials that should be here.

There’s no absence of anyone since it was mandated for everyone to be here in time.

No lateness either.

Lucia was among the first arrivals, and she just sat alone as usual, sipping her wine, but eyes are on her cos for the first time ever, she wore makeup—to cover her paleness.

She had to drink another vial of the mind regulator liquor before coming here, and that’s what’s keeping her standing now. Also, the court windows are closed, so there’s no air.

She’s managing the pain well.

Edwin and Minister Kai and Dakota sat on a line, and Edwin is among the officials staring at Lucia with a mocking smile on his face.

“That one knows the meaning of makeup? I nearly forgot she’s a woman.” He muttered.

Lothar and Ares are on seat too, but Ares isn’t tasting the wine tonight.

Lothar is the one drinking as he thought about the fairy he lost earlier

Ares’s eyes are on Lucia.

As much as he wants to stand on his words and stop staring like a creep, he couldn’t, cos the feeling that something isn’t right is still gnawing.

He’s holding the wine cup, but it’s empty. He didn’t bother pouring for himself, he zoned his attention to her once again—like he always does.

The announcement of the Emperor’s entry made him look away.

Bones entered, and as he did, the court windows were opened by the guards, following his orders.

And hell broke lose.

It felt like the entry of the air was meant for two people in the court.

Ares and Lucia.

Ares’s head tingled as a stinging sensation hit the corners of his eyes and the core of his skull.

His eyes squeezed, and the empty wine cup fell from him to the table as he got a tiny remembrance of how he broke into Lucia’s place when she was in her tub, and how he sat in bed and waited, and how she came out of the bathroom and lunged at her with the knife, and how he caught the blade with his palm.

That tiny remembrance opened the door for the full version of it.

His head howled like a wild animal. He groaned, the stinging sensation doubling in his brain.

His fists balled on the table, and the rings on his fingers bent.

“Ares?” Lothar noticed him.

“Darn!” Ares held his head with an hand, veins shaking.

At the same time, Lucia is getting her own madness in the center.

She’s the principal of it all, cos the moment the air hit her, she lost it. The venom spread to places it shouldn’t reach in her system, and her insanity commenced.

She got on her feet like she was possessed.

Now, her sweat has covered her robe. One would think she drowned. It was fast, instantaneous.

Lots of the officials gasped, and the other half just let their wide eyes do the talk as they stared.

“Musket gun venom?” Edwin muttered suspiciously.

“The musket? How?” Minister Kai said, eyes shadowed.

Meanwhile, Dakota’s eyes are on Ares who’s still getting his remembrance.

Lucia growled, stumbling to the center as her toes curled.

The instant the venom spread through her system, and she lost herself completely. A violent heat erupted inside her skull, as though her brain had been dropped into boiling water. Agony surged through every nerve in her body.

The table before her crashed away beneath her knees as she staggered to her feet, clutching her head with trembling hands.

The veins on those arms are poisonously black, stretching to her upper arms.

“Agghhhh!!!!” Her growl was crushing, melting, mad.

Emperor Bones didn’t move from his throne. He didn’t even blink. He watched like he does, waiting to see where these would head.

Lucia’s organs twisted like they were being cooked alive inside her, her bones swelled painfully beneath her flesh while her lungs burned with every breath. She stumbled blindly across the court, crashing crazily into pillars and walls.

Then, broken gasps and half-mad laughs began tearing from her throat as the venom poisoned even her mind, dragging her deeper into a blinding madness she could no longer fight.

“Aggghhhhhh!!!!!” Her second growl came, and the sweat from her left imprints on the ground from her robe as she slammed herself on another pillar.

Lothar’s eyes widened.

Ares’s ears twitched when her voice stirred his eardrums.

Now, he has it all.

All the memories.

They’re back.

He bit her!

He transferred the venom to her by biting her wrist!

It’s in her!

He wanted to stand, but Lothar held him back. He has somehow figured out what’s going on too.

“No…you can’t! You’ll only aggravate things! Don’t interfere and escalate her issue!” Lothar said.

But Ares just tore his arm away from Lothar’s grip and stood, ready to go down and hold Lucia down to help her through this hellhole.

But…

Things have gone bad, cos by now, Lucia is already on top of the throne staircase, climbing to the Emperor.

Now, get eyes are black too. The eyeballs disappeared completely, and her hair is a mess of cobwebs.

She pulled the Emperor up from his throne, slamming the man to the pillar below them…

“Take what you gave, Your Majesty…” She smiled dementedly, then proceeded to catching Bones lower lip between her teeth.

She bit at first, bit then…

She captured the upper one too.

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She kissed him.

TBC.