From Hell – Chapter 15&16

FROM HELL 

From Hell – Chapter 15&16

→ 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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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

The stump of Enya’s sliced wrist splurged forth blood, pumping deep-red into the river.

Her shriek definitely travelled several li from the woods. Her mouth remained apart in a wide zero as she watched the bloody terror.

But her misery was only just starting, cos the matchstick she lit earlier had fallen on her robe, and it’s now burning up her legs.

Seeing the cruel blaze, her shriek rose higher. Panic mixed with pains and fear. Her shoes slipped off the boat edge, and she dropped with a loud splash into the river.

She got sucked under.

Lucia landed in, riding the waves to the other side of the big boat.

She easily climbed inside, stepping on paddles and ropes and tins till she arrived at her mother’s side.

Phoebe’s eyes are barely open, but they’re still open with a little space between the webbed wet lashes.

“Mother….” Lucia’s voice dropped, the urgency fading into calm relief.

“I’m… so…rry….” Phoebe managed to talk, her lashes hugging. She’s wet completely from the water splash, and the fire caught her arm earlier before Lucia could put it out.

She has a small burn on her arm.

“I’m… sorry for being a … burden.” She mumbled with closed eyes, and her breaths turned slow.

She went still.

“Mother?” Lucia held her face, searching for any sign of aliveness.

When she saw her chest rising and falling slowly, she relaxed, but she needs to get her out of this boat as fast as possible and get a rejuvenation pill under her tongue if she wants her to live.

Phoebe can’t stay unconscious for long in this condition.

Lucia stood from her squatting position, her brain replaying the scenes from earlier.

The sword.

The sword that cut off Enya’s wrist.

She caught a glimpse of it before it fell in the river.

It’s a known sword.

Before she could ruminate deeper…

She heard cracking sounds from the riverside, and turned to witness an interesting scene.

Right there, a man wearing a hooded cape is repeatedly smashing the head of the last killer standing to a tree.

The head has caved in with a large bloody hole sunken into it, while what remained inside had already dissolved into a gruesome mix of blood and shattered matter.

The caped man won’t stop smashing.

The white hair poking out from the middle of his hair made Lucia think it’s another person, but when he finally dropped the disfigured body of the killer and faced the river, her doubts were cleared.

It’s Ares, and he looks…

Different?

The white strands says a lot.

He definitely threw the sword.

Apart from his hands and neck, there are bloodstains on his jaw.

Feral won’t start describing him.

He had killed the remaining thirty killers, and he’s standing on top of their bodies right now.

But the moment his eyes met Lucia’s, he took off his cape and jumped loudly in the river.

At the same time, Lucia took the one-sided paddle and began rowing the boat to the riverbank.

As she rowed, Ares swam.

Their gazes locked, crashing together like blades in mid-strike.

The lock was sharp enough to split the air between them, but only Ares felt it—the heat, the violent pressure.

As if something unseen had hooked into him and refused to let go.

He swam past the boat.

Lucia rowed past him.

No words were said.

Their eyes dragged past each other when Ares dived inside the water to go get his sword.

Lucia tied the boat at the riverside and carried Phoebe out, her shoes sinking into the wet soil.

She didn’t drop Phoebe.

She didn’t even stop.

She continued her journey, but with her footprints, she left a message for Ares, telling him she’ll be at a particular part of the forest.

Exactly five minutes after she left, Ares surfaced with his sword, and the first thing he saw was the message with the footprints.

He instantly went south, going in search of her.

His departure barely lasted a minute before a killer came out of his hiding place.

He had hidden when he saw the sword flying to Enya earlier.

He recognized the always unsheathed sword as Ares’s, so he had to hide.

Dealing with Lucia was already a death sentence, but adding Ares to the game would be disastrous.

Lucia and Ares are both evil.

So he hid, but now that they’re gone, he jumped out, leaping into the river to get Enya who was already drowning unconscious.

Her stump is still bleeding in the water, pumping hard, and she looks dead as he pulled her by her shoulder, hastily swimming his way to the surface with her.

He lay her on the sand and sauntered into the woods to get a huge stem of yarrow plant.

He grinded the leaves on a stone and covered Enya’s stump with it.

He tore a large part of his robe to wrap on her hand to quell the bleeding and clot the blood, then he carried her carefully on his shoulder and began running to the city.

—

Using her pigeon, Lucia sent a note to Doja when she arrived at that particular part of the forest.

The flowing, rocky part of the Unbridled River.

She set Phoebe down one one of the flat rocks, and she took off her own robe, placing it behind Phoebe’s head despite the wetness.

She only needs to keep Phoebe’s head up. The wetness means nothing.

Now she’s left in her white undergarments, and unlike most women in Zura, her undergarment isn’t transparent.

She sat on the same rock as her mother, thinking about what pushed Enya to actually try that. Enya is stupid.

Everyone in the Duan family is stupid, actually. No one accepts their own blames. They always find ways to pin it on someone else.

Now she gets why Enya called her a cocksucker. She’s blaming her for how the Emperor laid with her mother? How ridiculous.

And how did Enya even find out about her wrist weakness?

Isn’t that supposed to be a secret only the Emperor and Ares knew about?

Just how many more people found out already?

She needs to do something about it real quick.

Very quick.

She thought of how her mother was in that boat when Enya poured the tung oil and set the fire, and that thought nearly made her split her own knees in two as she wrapped her palms tightly around them.

She shook with rage, fury buried deep in her viscera. The corners of her eyes flooded again with that unhinged crimson hue.

The flapping of wings made her anger screech.

The pigeon is back.

She took the paper-wrapped pill from under it’s wing, and she gently placed it below Phoebe’s tongue, then she removed her robe from the back of her head, letting her balance.

She went back to the dry plain of the area and made a clothesline with two sticks rooted in the ground and one stick crossed on the V top of the two.

She spread her robe on top of the stick, and that was when Ares appeared, jumping tall on top of one of the nearby scattered rocks.

Lucia ignored his presence and sat on another rock—right beside her mother’s rock.

Ares began taking off his robes too.

He didn’t ask for permission before peeling everything off, leaving him in his transparent white undergarment.

Lucia didn’t even look at him.

He spread his robes right beside hers on top of the stick.

Then, he gathered dried shrubs and firewood. He cracked two stones together and lit it up, setting a small fire below the stick so their clothes would dry faster.

Then he came to sit right beside Lucia. He didn’t leave out any space. He sat too close their arms rubbed.

Lucia shifted away, putting space between them.

Seeing that, he looked at her face and caught her staring off into the distance, lost in thought.

“You don’t have to thank me. You’d have saved your mother yourself even if I didn’t appear.” He said, shifting his eyes to the flowing water.

“Thank you,” she cut in, facing him immediately.

Her ponytail is still intact, but some stubborn strands already went astray from the tail. They’re sticking to her temples and jawline.

He badly wants to move them, but there’s the ‘no touching’ rule.

So he kept his hand to himself, biting the inside of his mouth before looking away.

“Yes I’d have saved her if you didn’t throw the sword, but you still threw the sword. I don’t like owing people, Calamity. Especially not you.”

“Why?” He asked after a breath.

“Cos it’s you,” she muttered, the undertone so mysterious.

“There should be a reason, Lucia,” he glared, voice suddenly hard, dark, demandingly low. “There must be a reason why you refused to talk to me despite my trying for twelve years. There should be a reason you’re now telling me you can’t owe me.”

“Darn, I hate this kind of conversations.” Lucia stood from the stone, leaving him seated.

Ares instantly forgot about the rule and grabbed her by her wrist.

He had barely touched her when she faced him, raising her sharp instinctive elbow to stab his chest.

Matching her sharpness, he blocked it with his palm.

She alternatively gripped the front of his undergarment, using it to pull him so close their breaths mingled.

His mad glare is still unyielding as their faces traded darkness borne from the alter of the owner of hell.

“You’re crossing the line, Calamity.” Lucia spat, lips tight and anger brimming. “I thought we both came to terms?” She sneered at him.

“I only asked a harmless question. Didn’t know Zura’s finest fighter could be so sensitive.” He muttered.

Lucia zeroed her two eyes on his right eye, then she zeroed them on his left eye after a dragging second.

As if trying to see beyond his sockets to the components inside.

The air around them thickened, ladened with danger and the metallic smell of blood from Ares’s sword and Lucia’s knife.

The world seemed to stop spinning, and time forgot to run.

Lucia let go of him, but the thorns in their stares never lessened.

“I’m adding a third rule,” Lucia said suddenly. “You will not ask me questions, and I will not ask too.”

“Then that cancels the first rule that I must tell you the truth about the truth of the tragedy twenty years ago. I’m not telling you.” Ares said.

“No you won’t, cos you don’t know the truth yourself too.” Lucia replied in a dreadful mutter which painted her demeanor darker.

Ares was silent.

“You didn’t know, I found out just now. If you knew, you wouldn’t tell me to meet you at Lotus Inn for it—you’d have told it to me at the fountain cos you do not fear! You don’t know the truth, Calamity.”

As the words rolled off her tongue, Ares remained on his spot, silent, and that just marked her words as true.

“Lies? That’s like releasing a hundred serpents to sting me to death. I won’t collaborate with you on a hill built with lies! You should leave. I’m ending this alliance before it’ll even start. Like I said at your brothel, I work better on my own.” She continued, her utterances harsh.

Phoebe coughed from the top of the rock, and Lucia turned around, glad that she’s conscious.

She ran to her.

“Mother?”

“Lulu,” Phoebe coughed again.

Lucia placed a palm on her chest, rubbing gently, slowly.

“Who were you talking to?” The old woman asked, eyes squinted.

Lucia looked back, and she felt better to see Ares is gone.

“No one, mother. Just rest. I’ll take you home after you rest well.” She said and went to the stick where her robe skirt is. She took it.

It’s dry now, thanks to the air and most importantly the fire Ares made beneath the stick.

She felt the warmth of the fabric against her skin for a minute before taking the skirt to Phoebe.

She covered her with it.

Phoebe relaxed, and Lucia was walking back to the second rock when Phoebe grabbed her sleeve.

Lucia glanced over her shoulder, locking eyes with her mother’s remorse-filled gaze which glinted faintly under the harsh moonlight.

“Sorry I can’t tell you the truth you’re desperately searching for. But above all, know that your father was innocent. Your father Ren loved me too much. He had nothing going on with Mulan. Mulan was your father’s good friend, and I was good friends with her too. Those two are innocent, the world just happened to them.”

As Phoebe said the words, Lucia looks apathetic.

Like she wasn’t listening or hearing what her mother was saying.

“I won’t look for the truth from you, mother. As a matter of fact, I’m not even expecting it from you. I’ll find out of my own. Like I said, sleep and take a good rest.” She said.

Phoebe wanted to talk again, but Lucia was already walking.

She stood in the middle of the small rocks.

From there, she stared up at the moon.

She saw her father’s face carved in.

As a kid, she always stared at the moon with her late father in their large courtyard.

Ren always said the moon holds the memories of people you hold dear.

A smile nearly forced it’s way to her face. She blinked it off.

—

[Duan Residence]

Minister Kai had a carriage convey Edwin home tonight, and now he’s settled in his large room, looking powerless in bed.

“Get some rest, you need it.” Kai instructed strictly

Edwin hit the bed desperately with his palms. “I’m telling you the Shadow Ministers did this to me! Believe me!”

“The physician said the herbs he administered on your wounds are strong, so you’re probably in psychosis cos there’s no way Lucia and Ares attacked you! They don’t even talk! I haven’t seen them talking! No one has seen them talking! Lucia hates Ares!” Minister Kai yelled at Edwin’s face.

Enraged, Edwin tried to sit up, but pains from his wounds sent him back down, groaning loudly.

“What’s happening here?” Odessa entered with lines of tears on her face, slippery and red.

“You’ve been crying?” Kai frowned.

“I was defiled, Kai,” Odessa shook her head. “I was used by His Majesty. I was even forced to moan, and I hate myself right now.”

Kai sighed.

“Where’s Enya?”

“She left since several hours ago, hasn’t returned.”

“Hasn’t returned?!” Kai’s voice went up, worry taking over.

“My Lord! Madame!” An unfamiliar voice yelled from the outer room.

Kai quickly rushed out, meeting the killer who carried Enya on his shoulder, running in.

Seeing that there’s no hand on her wrist, Kai’s eyes widened.

“Enya!!” Odessa yelled in shock when she came out to witness too.

“I administered yarrow leaves, but it won’t be enough to make her live if she’s not attended to!” The killer said, tone reeking of urgency.

Luckily, Edwin’s physician entered that same moment.

When he saw what had happened to Enya, the man gasped.

“Get to work on her, now!” Kai ordered breathlessly.

Enya was taken to her own room where her hand treatment began.

In the middle of it, she woke up.

Seeing what was going on made her cry out her voice nearly slipped away to it’s demise.

“It’s too painful!!! Agghhhh!!!!! It hurts!!!! Stop!!!!!! Stop!!!!!”

“Get her the numbing decoction!” Odessa shouted at the physician.

“I already fed it to her in her unconscious state, but I don’t think the pain can be masked by the decoction. She’ll have to endure it.” The physician said.

Odessa clamped her palm over her mouth, crying pitifully as she stared at her daughter struggling and screaming with one hand.

“Save me!!! Help!!!!! It can’t stand this pain!!! My hand!!!!!”

It was deafening.

Kai dragged the killer out of the room, making him kneel in the outer room. “Tell me everything, clearly!”

“She came to the academy to hire us, saying she wanted us to come with her to capture Lucia’s mother, lure Lucia with it and kill Lucia. We knew no one would ever match up to Lucia, so we declined, but she offered thirty silver taels to everyone who’d follow, and that made hundred men follow her up, including me.”

“And?” Kai looked down.

“We successfully killed Lucia’s horse, but she was untouchable herself. She killed like a beast starving for blood—she wasted us. Miss Enya told us her weak point on her right wrist, and when we punched it, it only weakened her for a second before she turned more beastly. Then..”

“Then?” Kai urged again.

“Then suddenly, a sword came flying when Miss Enya wanted to set the boat on fire with Lucia’s mother. The sword sliced off her hand, and I had to go hide when I saw the owner of the sword was Ares.”

“Did you just say Ares?” Kai’s expression turned blade-like.

“I swear!” The killer yelled, desperate to be believed. “They are in cahoots! Ares and Lucia, the Shadow Ministers are working together!”

“I said it!” Edwin shouted from his room. He has been hearing everything from his bed. “I darn said it! I knew I wasn’t drunk!”

Kai looked at the killer on the ground, and before the guy could say one more thing, he plucked his sword from the wall and slit his throat.

The killer collapsed lifeless onto the floor, his blood pooling beneath him.

“Won’t be fair if the rest died but you survived. Now it makes sense.” Kai muttered, throwing off the sword.

Then, Dakota entered in a rush.

“They’re all dead! All hundred student killers from the Academy… Their bodies littered the shore of Unbridled River! Lucia killed them!”

“And Ares,” Kai sighed gloomily. “They’re working together. Their public hate show is only for show. Your suspicions were true.”

“Then do something!” Dakota shouted.

By now, Enya’s screams has stopped. Seems she was sedated.

Edwin crawled out of his room on his chest since he can’t stand yet.

“Tonight, unfailingly. Something must be done. They can’t do this to Enya and I and go free!” He bit out.

“Get me a trustable person who can build a wooden hand for Enya. The first part of this is keeping her sliced hand from the public. No one must find out, forever.” Kai said.

“I understand,” Dakota replied.

“And now I need to visit the Palace. Tonight.” Kai continued.

By the door, Edwin smiled.

—

[Ares’s Manor]

Getting home, Ares met Lothar at his place, waiting, but he paid him no attention. He walked past him in the outer room and went inside to the his library, opening the door by moving a figurine on the table.

He entered the library, and his hands dug into the stacks of book sitting there neatly. He took them one by one, opening one by one, throwing them off one by one.

They’re books he has been gathering over the years.

Histories and stories and routines about the former Emperor.

The books has been refusing to give him answers about the truth no matter how many he gathered.

He can’t move forward without knowing what really happened.

He can’t just start working on the claim that his mother was innocent.

If she was innocent, that means she and Ren didn’t poison the Emperor, and they didn’t set the chamber fire.

Someone else did it, but who?

And what if his belief that his mother was innocent is wrong?

What if his mother really committed the crimes?

What if….

As the thoughts widened in his head, he growled, sending his fist to the shelf. His punch broke the wood with a round dent, and he punched again, remembering when his mother used to bake him the best cookies.

When she would sing him lullaby that’d make him sleep.

When his father used to teach him how to calligraph and spell.

He nearly sent his fist into the shelf wood again, but Lothar entered just in time, standing between him and the shelf. He took Ares’s hand down.

“Punching things when you’re mad won’t purge the anger. Your punches are destructive, don’t break this house.” He said jovially.

“Why can’t I find just one truth? It’s been years.” Ares muttered, expressionless.

“You work better when you’re calm, Ares. The truth will crawl out eventually.” Lothar said.

“When?” Ares smirked, eyes bloodshot. “After I serve Bones for thirty more years?”

“You married the Princess. Use her to your advantage.” Lothar frowned.

“I can’t stand that bî+ch. I can’t spend too much time in a room with her. I’ll kill her.” Ares nodded.

“Did you forget who you are?” Lothar grinned. “Number one flirty man of Zura. Just do your thing and pretend. I hate when you get this anxious.”

Ares saw the moon shifting under the clouds through the library window, and he stepped back.

“Need to return to the Palace.” He said, moving out the door.

Before Lothar could talk again, he was gone.

“Came here to brainstorm with him on how to save the 500 youths. He’s too busy these days.” Lothar sighed, setting the books back to the shelf.

His mind went back a notch to the fairy sho bumped into him at the marketplace earlier, and he smiled slightly, tucking the next book in.

And that was when he noticed a earring hanging on his upper sleeve.

—

[Valmont Residence]

Lucia only dropped Phoebe before leaving for the Palace cos she got summoned by the Emperor.

So, it’s just Doja inside with Phoebe, and she kept all the doors closed to avoid a reoccurrence of what happened at dusk.

But she can’t sleep.

Her mind couldn’t stop wandering to the marketplace when the General saved her from the mean guy.

She threw the blanket over herself again, shifting giddily under the covers, biting her lip.

“He’s too handsome. Does he like me too?” She asked herself, pressing her slim palms to her cheeks excitedly.

“He looked like he likes me. If he doesn’t, why would he give me a heavy silver ingot just like that?” She muttered, sitting up.

She took the silver out of her pocket, bringing it to her lips to kiss.

“I love you Lothar!” She gushed, returning under the sheets to roll herself childishly with the blanket.

—

[A Fighting Arena]

There’s a light spring drizzle happening outside, but inside….

There’s a tournament going on for the best fighters of Zura.

While people watched the fight, fed their eyes, placed bets, screamed, stumped their foots in the upper room, the sidekicks are at the front room bar, and they’re all eating.

Their table is decked with dishes of meat and delicious soups.

Pots of wine and ice.

Meng and Limon ate and drank moderately, but Qui and Falcon did it like it’s their last meal on earth.

As they tore the full chicken into their mouths, they drank too, tapping their bowls everytime.

“If you both continue living with frowny faces like this, you won’t live long,” Falcon pointed his chicken at Meng and Limon.

“Just continue eating. It’s what you were born for anyways.” Meng said.

“Seriously? Meng?” Qui cautioned.

“Tell him to stop talking to me! The fact that their Lord is aligning with My Lord is already enough ick!” Meng snarled crankily.

“Your Lord is the one trying to badly form alliance with My Lord, though.” Limon talked for the first time, bringing his bowl of wine to his lips to sip slowly.

“And that’s right!” Falcon slammed the table, supporting Limon. “Your Lord Calamity is the one who kept trying to talk to our Horror!”

“That’s because Calamity wants things to go more smoothly for them! They need each other!” Qui spranged up quickly.

“Horror has never needed anyone except us!” Limon snarled.

“And Calamity doesn’t need your Horror too!” Meng spat. “My Lord has never needed anyone, and that’s why Qui and I are only his operation ladies in the woods. We stay off his public personal life! My Lord doesn’t need Lucia. He’s only using her!”

“Who’s using who?” Limon snickered. “Horror sees through your Lord’s unnecessary fakery, and that’s why she refused to talk to him for twelve good years!”

Meng moved with the speed of thunder, already nocking an arrow before the moment fully settled.

In one fluid motion, she leapt onto the table and released it straight at Limon.

Limon reacted instantly.

His dagger flashed upward, striking the arrow aside just before it reached him.

Meng didn’t hesitate.

Another arrow was already in her hand.

But before she could loose it, Qui surged onto the table as well, grabbing her and yanking her down, breaking her aim and momentum.

“Stop it! We came here to relate with each other, not fight!” Qui glared.

“I hate them both!” Meng breathed.

“We hate you too!” Falcon shouted.

He’s back to Limon’s side now.

“Told you this alliance was nonsense,” Limon muttered, shooting his eyes piercingly at Meng.

“Let’s go!” He told Falcon.

Falcon followed him.

“Falcon!” Qui called.

Falcon didn’t turn.

He didn’t look back to the echo of her voice till he disappeared down the deafening noise with Limon.

“Why are you calling him?” Meng complained, glaring.

“I was cool with Falcon till you and Limon started your fight!” Qui glared back angrily, hissing.

“And where the hell is your second earring?” Meng noticed.

Qui touched her second ear to feel emptiness.

It’s really gone.

“Darn, I loved this earring set.” She complained, pained.

—

[Void Palace]

Night in the Void Palace feels suffocatingly still like it’s afraid of sound. The air is heavy, and shadows clung too long to corners where they shouldn’t linger.

Faint movements, soft steps, and a muted clash of metal—but it’s quickly swallowed by the night.

Ares hasn’t gotten to the Palace to report his assassination yet, but the news has gotten here before him.

Emperor Bones began grinning immediately he heard about it from the imperial guards.

He’s in his third hall, and the sound of an artist playing the pipa soaked the night as her slender fingers danced on strings somewhere in the behind the curtains.

Lucia is beside Bones in the hall. She stood silently, waiting to hear what she’s here to do.

But Emperor Bones serpent-like laughter kept grating her ears, and there’s no other choice but stand there and listen.

“Minister Kai is here with a special report, Your Majesty!!” A Eunuch reported loudly from the main hall door.

Bones laughter got louder, sinister like he didn’t hear anything.

“It’s about the shadow guards, Your Majesty!!” Another report came.

This time, Bones laughter seized.

He got up, and no one needed to tell Lucia before she picked an umbrella from the storeroom.

She covered Bones head with it, and together, they stepped out of the hall, meeting the Duan Ministers outside under the light drizzle.

Minister Kai and Edwin who’s on a bench on the ground, eyes open.

He’s shirtless, so his bodily wounds are showcased.

Immediately Lucia saw the scene, she knew what had been planned out, but she didn’t stop walking, right beside the Emperor, holding the umbrella protectively over his head.

“Your Shadow Ministers are secretly working together, Your Majesty.” Kai started craftily. “Proof is the wounds on Edwin’s body. They’re from Lucia’s knife and Ares’s sword. Edwin visited the brothel last night, and this is what he was gifted with.” He pointed.

Bones eyes went to Edwin on the bench, staring darkly at the wounds sitting deeply in his skin.

He said nothing.

“They were masked, and Lucia in particular disguised as a man, but I have feelings, and I can differentiate them. They tried hard to conceal their fighting abilities and used different methods, but I’m not daft. They’re the only two who can actually beat me in a fight in this Empire. I’m not mistaken!” Edwin said, grunting after each word.

“Lucia has never said a word to Ares as far as I can tell. Aren’t you digging your own grave, Edwin Duan?” Emperor Bones spoke, powerfully.

His words came out too slow, but there’s no limit to the danger looming in it as the flames of the Palace lamps danced on his face.

“I know I tried to act smart in court once,” Edwin grunted again. “But this is different. I wouldn’t cut myself this deep just to prove my hatred for them. They did this to me, Your Majesty. Please believe me.” Edwin responded from the bench.

“I wouldn’t come here to yap with him if I hadn’t conformed, Your Majesty,” Kai bowed.

Bones eyes stayed frozen, but his attention shifted to Lucia without even looking at her.

“What do you have to say, Lucia?”

Lucia said nothing.

She’s just breathing, standing there, emptily like a shell, her hand still holding that umbrella overhead.

“Lucia!!!” Bones thundered angrily, shaking the walls with the rumble.

At the same time, Ares entered the area, intending to report the details of his assassination.

He sensed the dark air around immediately he stepped in and saw the ongoing scene, but he didn’t expect what followed his entry.

Lucia’s hand went into Bones robe, pulling out his heavy Musket gun.

She aimed.

Once.

Not twice.

Once.

Not a single second was wasted.

She fired.

Ares received the shot on the right part of his chest. His body vibrated. His shoulder jerked back as the venom sank into him.

His blood soaked his robe.

His eyes widened.

He grabbed his chest with an hand, and the moment he saw blood, his nerves shifted.

He staggered, and the venom of the musket sank deeper.

He staggered again.

Princess Ina entered the area.

She had heard the gunshot and came to see what was going on.

Seeing Ares staggering made her eyes widen, she began running to him.

“Ares!!”

Lowering the musket gun, Lucia’s face remained calm… unfeeling.

Edwin’s eyes are popping on the bench.

Minister Kai looks the same.

“What other evidence do you need to prove my hate for him? To prove that we aren’t and will never work together” Lucia muttered monotonously beside Bones.

Instead of replying, Bones laughed out.

His laughter that was interrupted when he was inside…. He resumed it.

Louder.

More disturbing.

Wicked.

Ares fell, bloodied and groaning with his half-lidded eyes.

But before his body could slam the ground, Princess Ina wrapped her arms around him, catching him.

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“Ares… please…”

TBC.