Chapter 681
“Hearing her command, the little snake took to the air and flew outside, Odalys’s talisman following as if to light the way.
“Faint screams soon turned to a piercing cry that echoed through the sky.
“Enraged, the little snake bit the figure’s bum, sending him tumbling to the ground. It hissed, a clear sign of its fury. The figure had rudely awakened the snake from a sound sleep and now faced its wrath. Darting forward, the snake slammed its head against the creature’s chest. “With a thud, another spray of blood erupted. Having struck back, the little snake turned and shot towards Odalys with a whoosh. It coiled itself around her waist like a belt, closed its eyes, and promptly fell asleep again.
“Dorian and Evander were shocked by what they saw, but Callum and Percival barely reacted. They had seen the snake before and knew it was prone to overeating and sleeping for long periods.
“What are you, and why are you trying to confuse me?” Odalys demanded.
“The half-human and half-boar creature writhed in pain as it struggled to rise, its eyes fixed on Odalys.
“Someone promised me a chance to re-encounter if I could lure you to the underworld,” it said, fearfully glancing at Odalys.
Odalys stared at him coldly, then turned to Percival and asked, “Do you know him?”
“No, I don’t.” Percival shook his head.
“Evander approached, his gaze fixed on the left side of the man’s face. “Come here,” he commanded, beckoning Dorian to come closer. “Dorian immediately approached, and together, they blocked the man’s right side with their bodies, focusing only on his left. The more they looked, the more familiar he appeared. Suddenly, they both exclaimed, “It’s him!”
“Who’s that?” Callum asked, curious. He’d grown up in the Stewart family and lived with Percival since then, but he’d never seen the man before. “Edie brought a bodyguard with her when she married into the family, but he died in a car accident a year later. I remember it clearly because he was the only bodyguard she brought,” Evander said, shaking his head.
“Yes, that’s him,” confirmed Dorian with a nod.
Callum and Percival had not been born then; they would not have known this person. Unexpectedly, the man was still wandering around after more than two decades.
“Ah, I understand now,” Odalys realized aloud. The others turned to her, curious about her revelation. “Have you ever heard of shadow warriors?” she asked.
“Evander nodded, saying, “I’ve heard that in ancient times, some soldiers were unaware of their deaths and continued fighting. Their warrior spirits, so powerful, lingered and battled each night, eventually forming an army in the underworld. Anyone who tries to stop them dies.”
“Odalys gestured to the body on the ground. ” This man should have died when he arrived at the Stewart family with Edie,” she said. “Instead of claiming he died a year after their marriage, they should have said Edie was responsible for his death.”
“Odalys continued, “He’s like those shadow warriors-you’d expect him to stay by Edie’s side after her death, her secret messenger. But she cut him off quickly.
“Maybe she doesn’t want secret communication anymore or has her reasons. Whatever the case, she doesn’t need him. A ghost without its master is just a lonely soul.”
Odalys explained, “It’s difficult for a solitary soul like his to be re-encountered. He was supposed to take someone else’s place in the cycle, but he was caught and punished by being turned into a boar. He resisted, becoming trapped between being a human and a boar.”
After speaking, the man’s expression drastically changed. Unexpectedly, he said nothing, but Odalys knew.
“Edie is so powerful?” Evander’s heart sank. He suspected Edie had something to do with his son’s death but hesitated to act. He wanted to understand her motives, uncover her secrets, and learn if they involved harming the Stewart family.
“As the head of the Stewart family, he had to prioritize the entire family’s well-being and couldn’t make decisions arbitrarily. It turned out her initial assumptions were incorrect.
“Odalys remarked, “Her strength doesn’t lie in her power but in her potential to learn and grow. The fact that she hasn’t taken the opportunity to read or learn from others speaks volumes about her lack of morals. One could even say she’s deeply reliant on external factors.”
“Odalys remarked, “Someone probably gave that to her,” though she couldn’t suppress a sneer as she spoke. He was startled when she glanced down at it.
“Shall we go find Edie?” asked Odalys.
“Startled, he shook his head quickly, but Odalys angrily yelled, “I’m simply asking-you don’t have the right to refuse!” Her outburst terrified him so much that he recoiled.
“What are you doing?” he asked. Confusion flickered in Evander’s eyes.
“Odalys smiled. “I can’t sleep anyway,” she said. ” It’s good to let it scare people. Edie is full of secrets. She runs a socialite training class, helps lounge lizards climb the social ladder, and even arranges posthumous marriages.”
“Her ostentatious displays of power, like a peacock flaunting its feathers, suggest an underlying insecurity. A brilliant person wouldn’t feel the need to be so obvious.
“Isn’t it curious that she remains unfazed despite
the closure of her socialite training and lounge lizard classes and the investigation into her posthumous marriage villa?” she explained. “Odalys suggested, “Perhaps she’s just a pawn, acting on behalf of others, and it hasn’t truly impacted her. She may not genuinely care about this, evidenced by her lack of contact or attempts to reconnect with the Stewarts. She’s not showing any worry, so let’s change that.”
Odalys pointed and said, “Isn’t he a good example? She thought he would be gone after sending him away but didn’t expect him to return after over twenty years. He’s neither human nor boar! Edie will be scared to death.” Odalys said, approaching everything strategically.
“After a long silence, Percival finally asked, “Do you want her to believe the person who sent these things has returned?”
“Odalys nodded in agreement. “Your father was drugged by her, which allowed her to marry into the family with a child. This bodyguard came with her.”
Chapter 682
“She was fine afterward, but the bodyguard didn’t survive. It’s curious. She has to break free from whatever’s controlling her. Drugging someone has to be connected to whoever is behind all of this! Let’s have him feel her out. We’ll know more then, won’t we?” Odalys’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“Evander’s urgency was unusual. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go now!”
“He had to admit she had a point. Despite his thorough investigations, he’d found nothing amiss. The Stewarts were too powerful to miss anything. The other side must be using methods unknown to him, perhaps something from the underworld that wouldn’t be detectable in the everyday world.
“Odalys said, “If this can give me nightmares, it can give Edie nightmares, too. People are most vulnerable and let their guard down in nightmares. They might never wake up.” Nightmares blur the line between reality and dreams.
“That’s how we’ll proceed. I intend to uncover her true motives,” Evander stated resolutely. “When they finished speaking, Odalys flicked her finger at the creature’s forehead, causing it to stagger back and collapse within a newly formed circle on the ground.
“Everyone inside the circle looked up. They could see Edie lying in bed, her sleep disturbed by what sounded like someone calling her name.
“Who, who is it?” Edie murmured, her eyes flying open as she took in the creature before her – a horrifying amalgamation of a human and a boar. “What are you?” she screamed, terror lacing her voice.
“The creature approached Edie and asked incredulously, “Don’t you recognize me? It was I who ensured your marriage into the Stewart family.”
“Edie’s eyes widened when he spoke of her marrying into the Stewart family and his role in it. She stared at him for a long moment, fear trembling through her, before whispering, “But you’re dead… aren’t you? Why are you here?” “The stench grew stronger as it approached, and Edie felt a hand close around her ankle, dragging her from the bed. “Ah!” She screamed and landed with a thud, cold sweat clinging to her pajamas. It seized her, and she scrambled to her feet, but every escape route led to a dead end.
“Her screams were useless; no one heard her, no one came. Panic seized Edie. “Stay away! Don’t come closer!” she cried. But escape was impossible. The thing pursued relentlessly, clinging to her like glue.
“Ah! You were already dead! I didn’t kill you. I just used your Nightmare trick to lure him into a dream, making him think he was sleeping with me.” Edie kept her face covered.
“Edie yelled hysterically, “I just made him go into the Nightmare! I didn’t do anything; I just replaced her. What’s wrong with that?” Anger flared as she rose, only to find the creature charging towards her.
“Edie was so shocked that she fainted when he rushed over and knocked her onto the bed. The room suddenly fell silent, as if nothing had happened except for the bruise on Edie’s leg from where she had hit the bed frame.
“Silence gripped the courtyard of Stewart Villa, everyone stunned by what they had witnessed. “What did Edie mean by ‘replace her ‘?” Evander was stunned, convinced his mind must be failing him. He must have misheard.
“Her gaze flickering between Percival and Evander, Odalys mused, “Perhaps Percival is a Stewart, but not Edie’s son. I’ve observed their connection-it lacks the depth and permanence you’d expect between blood relatives.
“The only explanation is that Percival’s biological mother isn’t Edie. It means that Percival’s father had a relationship with another woman, and she became pregnant. Edie knows who this woman is.”
“Edie used the Nightmare to manipulate his father’s memories, making him believe she was his lover. This deception allowed Edie to marry into the Stewart family.
“He sensed something was off, but the line between truth and lies was so blurred he couldn’ t separate them. It left him unable to give Edie a kind look.” Odalys analyzed.
“She had hoped to discuss this with Percival but hadn’t found the right opportunity. The timing was crucial.
“It was crucial to say the right thing at the right time. Going too far or not far enough could lead to unwanted interference, boundary issues, and a perception of being overly controlling. Odalys understood that going too far was just as bad as not going far enough.
“Even if she were married to Percival, there were still many things she had to be careful about saying. After all, she couldn’t afford to lose her composure.
“What? Morpheus had never mentioned another woman.” Evander was stunned and had never expected such a thing to happen.
“He didn’t say anything, but he suspected it. If his entire plan, even his death, was predetermined, he likely grasped the gravity of the situation.
“He had a nightmare and forgot things, and his suspicion of Edie wanting something from the Stewart family kept his mouth shut. I bet he got a paternity test done when Percival was born,” Odalys continued.
“Evander exchanged a look with Dorian as he listened. “It’s unusual, to say the least,” he said. ” Our children typically know instinctively, so paternity tests after birth aren’t common. But that night was different, and he insisted on one.”
“Wait!” Evander exclaimed, sprinting back towards the house. He quickly retrieved an old piece of paper from within and returned to Odalys. “This,” he said, handing her the document, “is the paternity test from back then.”
“He continued, “He and Percival both took the test, and he asked me to participate as well. I thought Morpheus was out of his mind then, but I went along with it.
“The confirmation of their father-son relationship led to a change in Morpheus. He became withdrawn, reluctant to speak, and seemed preoccupied. Sadly, he passed away in a car accident shortly after,” Evander said, saddened when he mentioned this.
“I didn’t take his concerns seriously after the accident. I assumed he was uncomfortable and didn’t trust Edie enough for a paternity test.” Tears welled in Evander’s eyes. “If I had only realized what he was going through, I would have never given up the investigation and let him die without knowing the truth.”
Chapter 683
Evander was heartbroken, while Percival remained silent, his expression unreadable. He stepped forward, gently supporting Evander to steady his wavering body.
“There’s another possibility, Percival murmured.” Edie had just married into the family when the bodyguard met his untimely end. It’s possible that Evander noticed something was off, and Edie had no choice but to let go of it.”
“Suspicion leads to clues. But then Edie acted decisively, and after the bodyguard’s death, Evander had had no more leads. That’s when his confusion began, unable to distinguish what was real from what wasn’t.”
“It was as though he had control over something, but in the end, it was all his imagination running wild.”
“The confusion lingered, leading him to question everything. Yet, he never doubted his own judgment. Only when things spiraled did the disorder truly set in, driving him to seek reassurance again and again.”
“If he truly intended to corner Edie, to push her into a position where her confusion would come to light, then he must have known from the start that it was all a trap,” Odalys went on. “He knew Percival was his son, but also knew that Edie wasn’t the one who gave birth to him-someone else did, though he had no clue who. Yet, if he died, Percival would be safe. That’s why he chose to risk everything.”
“The car accident was real, but he understood the game and played along with it,” Odalys concluded.
Everyone went quiet, their gazes fixed on Odalys, a sense of disbelief in their eyes. It felt surreal, like something out of a dream. Yet, there was a strange truth to what she said, as if her words were the only ones that made sense.
“Is that the truth?” Evander asked, turning to her with desperate hope.
Odalys shook her head. “It’s not that simple. The entity understood nightmares, but when Edie acted swiftly, it was cast aside. All memories were erased. It could invade dreams, ensnaring people in nightmares, but ultimately, all it sought was rebirth.”
With a wave of her hand, the presence vanished, leaving the room as if nothing had happened. Yet, the weight of it all hung heavily in the air. “Then who is Mr. Stewart’s mother?” Callum asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. “If Edie isn’t, does she know the woman who gave birth to him? Is she still alive?”
The crucial question was, who was this woman?
“She’s probably still alive,” Odalys replied. “I spoke with Percival before. He said his relationship with Edie is about to come to an end.
“Edie likely had frequent contact with this woman. That’s why she carries her presence-why the bond exists. But the ties aren’t between Edie and Percival.
“If I’m not mistaken, this woman might be Edie’s sister. There’s a familial bond between them, which would explain why the connection between Percival and Edie feels so fragile.
“In other words, she’s probably from the Simpson family, too.” Odalys continued.
Percival’s fist tightened, his emotions unreadable as he stared into the distance. His dark eyes held a storm of unspoken thoughts. “Edie and this woman are probably sisters, or at least closely related,” he said quietly. “Edie knew everything about her. Maybe she knew she was pregnant and felt the jealousy building inside her, which led her to replace her.”
“Being pregnant meant securing the position as Mrs. Stewart, and Edie gambled and won.”
“But when this woman gave birth, it must have triggered the switch,” he added, his voice strained. “That means wherever I was born, she must have been there, too.”
Evander listened, his mind racing to keep up. I can’t keep track of all this anymore.
“Yes, investigate it all! Look into everyone who was at the hospital that night, especially women. How many gave birth? Whether they were doctors, bodyguards, nurses, or anyone else-dig up every last detail. I want to know everything!” Evander’s voice grew more urgent as he spoke. Upon hearing this, Callum immediately nodded. “
Understood. I’ll start the investigation right away.”
The tension in the room was palpable. No one anticipated such a turn of events.
“Is this why you haven’t taken action against Edie?” Percival suddenly asked.
Odalys thought, ‘I hadn’t taken action against Edie out of a sense of family loyalty, hoping to uncover the connections and secrets she might hold. But to me, Edie was nothing but a stranger. If I had wanted Edie dead, it would have been a swift end!’
“That’s part of it. When I suspected Evander might be involved, I started watching her closely. I had a feeling she was hiding something-a secret that terrified her.”
“She was afraid of losing everything, so she desperately tried to prove herself, but the more she did, the more frantic she became. That’s when I realized that while Edie appeared arrogant, she was deeply insecure.”
“She felt inferior to everyone, no matter how hard she tried to prove otherwise. Living in constant fear made her paranoid, even willing to resort to anything to protect herself. And after things settled between us, she quickly distanced herself from the Stewart family, even marrying the Bennett family for self-preservation. I was curious-was it about the Bennet family that gave them such power? What was she so desperate to get from them?”
“Now it’s clear. The Bennet family had something she needed, but above all, she was fighting to stay alive.”
“I understand magic. The closer she came to me, the more danger she brought on herself. That’s why she fled,” Odalys said. Her gaze fixed on the bloodstain on the floor. “But she never realized- her old bodyguard hasn’t reincarnated yet. He’s still trying to use nightmares to track me down.” A spark of amusement flickered in Odalys’ eyes as she spoke.
“Didn’t you start to suspect her too? When she distanced herself from the Stewart family, you became even more suspicious, or maybe you already knew?” Odalys said, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she winked at him.
Percival thought, ‘I was far too perceptive to be easily deceived. A master of strategy, I never made mistakes. There was no way Edie’s tricks could have escaped my notice. I simply hadn’t acted yet because, in my mind, there was no need to!’
“I only suspected, but had no proof,” Percival replied.
Evander struggled to regain his composure, weighed down by emotion and age. Dorian stepped in to support him back to his room while Callum departed to activate their intelligence network and dig into past events. That left only Odalys and Percival in the courtyard.
“Has the nightmare caused you any harm?”
Percival asked, his concern evident.
Odalys shook her head. “No, it just makes it harder to sleep.”
“A couple of times before, I heard someone calling me from a distance. It wasn’t as clear then, but after drinking the blood you gave me, I feel… stronger. The nightmares can’t control me anymore,” Odalys explained.
“That’s good,” Percival responded quickly.
They walked side by side toward Stewart Villa, their silhouettes elongated by moonlight, their shadows intertwining on the ground as if bound together, unable to separate.
Chapter 684
Percival accompanied her upstairs and stood outside her room.
“You’ve given me way too much gold,” Odalys said resignedly. “With all of this, I’m not sure how many favors I’d have to do to make things right.” She pointed to the room floor, where gold bars lay scattered, their golden gleam dazzling in the light. Many dismissed ruby as a mere cliché, but for those versed in magic, it was the most coveted treasure of all.
“This night was meant to be just for two of us, but things didn’t go as planned. I couldn’t give you the romantic evening I promised. Let this be my way of making it up to you,” Percival said. He leaned forward, glancing into the room. His gaze swept over the gold and the petals scattered across the floor, and he rubbed his brow awkwardly. “It’s a bit… Well, cliché, isn’t it? Not quite the romantic evening I had in mind.” Percival thought, ‘This wasn’t quite what I imagined. Reality never measures up to fantasy!’ “Well, want to come in and experience what it feels like to sit on ruby?” Odalys teased, her smile playful.
Percival found himself momentarily caught by her grin, unable to look away. He thought, ‘I had always known she was beautiful, but in that moment, I realized how breathtaking she had become. Her beauty wasn’t just surface deep-it radiated from within, drawing me in with every word and every movement, stirring emotions I couldn’t quite explain.’
“Odalys,” Percival murmured, his voice low and husky, her name slipping from his lips with a hint of longing. Every word was charged with emotion, heavy with desire.
“Hmm?” Odalys turned toward him, her eyes locked with his.
He stepped forward, gently cradling her delicate face. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead softly, his fingers tenderly brushing a loose strand of hair back into place.
“You are beautiful,” Percival murmured.
Her mind went blank, overwhelmed by the sudden rush of emotions, as if her thoughts had shattered instantly. Her face turned a deep shade of red as she tilted her head back, locking eyes with his intense, dark gaze. It felt like she was falling into a bottomless abyss, unable to escape its depth.
“I… I should get some rest,” Odalys murmured, her voice trembling.
She quickly turned and slipped under the covers, her movements graceful as she curled beneath them.
A quiet sense of joy stirred within him as Percival watched her shyly retreat.
He stood by the door, his gaze lingering on the small part of her face visible from the covers. Rest well. I hope you have a peaceful night.”
With a soft click, he closed the door behind him.
As his footsteps faded down the hallway, she gently lifted the blanket to peek out, her wide eyes locked on the closed door. Her fingers grazed her forehead, still warm from his kiss. Her heart raced, pounding louder in her chest. Odalys thought, ‘This feels different… not like it did before. I couldn’t quite figure out what had changed, only that my heart was racing, and my body ablaze with warmth. A tingling sensation spread across my forehead, like an electric shock running through my veins, again and again!’
“Ugh, Odalys, you’re acting like a lovesick fool,” she muttered, pinching her cheek.
The small snake coiled around her waist seemed to react to the word “lovesick,” quickly darting out from the covers with a soft hiss. It slithered up to the headboard, staring at her intently.
Odalys started to speak, but the snake’s tail shot out, pressing firmly against her lips as though trying to silence her.
The small snake hissed mockingly, then spun around and darted toward the window. It perched there, swaying its head as it fixed its gaze on her. Odalys remained silent, watching it. She had almost forgotten that the little snake had been coiled around her waist since finishing its earlier task. It must have seen the kiss
Percival had placed on her forehead.
“Don’t you dare tell anyone,” Odalys muttered in a mock threat.
Then it dawned on her. She wondered, ‘It was just a snake-what could it say? Even if it could talk, it wouldn’t be speaking human words. The idea only made me realize how silly and childish I was for even thinking that way.’
Odalys lay in bed, the warmth of the kiss still lingering on her forehead.
“What am I thinking?” Odalys curled into a ball.
Turning her head, she noticed the small snake was still watching her.
Odalys turned over, her back to the snake, staring out the window, but sleep wouldn’t come. Her heart raced, and her mind was filled with images of Percival. She thought, ‘That damn man, tempting me in the middle of the night. Flowers, rubies… Who gives away this much gold and jewelry? There were two boxes under the bed from Evander, two more in the closet from Percival, and wasn’t there jewelry either? Now, even the floor is covered in golden treasures.’
“What a fool,” Odalys muttered, a soft laugh escaping her lips. She thought she couldn’t sleep, but Odalys drifted off before she realized it. Just as Percival had wished, she slept soundly that night without a single dream.
When she woke, it was already 7 AM. The snake was nowhere to be found, probably off doing whatever it did. She got up, washed her face, and changed into a light yellow sweater paired with high-waisted black pants before heading downstairs.
In the distance, she could already hear Freya’s voice.
“Don’t you have work today?” Odalys asked curiously.
As she spoke, the four people downstairs looked up quickly. Seeing them playing cards left Odalys more puzzled. “You’re on break? That doesn’t sound right. The production team can’t afford to lose a day-it’s a huge cost. Did Kenny give you all the day off?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Freya’s expression shifted, a hint of guilt crossing her face.
She had been so caught up in her emotions last night, letting her anger out on Odalys, that she didn’t realize the incident had gone viral. People were now calling her a “tigress,” and reporters were swarming them, blocking their way as they tried to leave this morning.
“Odalys, I’ve been cyberbullied,” Freya said pitifully, looking at her with wide, pleading eyes.
Odalys stepped forward, and Freya quickly poured her a cup of coffee, handing it over. ” Here, have a cup of coffee.”
“Why are you being cyberbullied? Did you do something wrong?” Odalys teased.
Freya may have appeared gentle, but she was far from it! She’d be the first to charge in without hesitation if a fight broke out.
“Uh, well…” Freya chuckled awkwardly. She thought, ‘Thinking back to last night, dragging Hannah around like that, I still can’t figure out what got into me.’
The phone call from her manager early this morning had been a full hour of scolding. Freya thought, ‘How could she, a well-known celebrity, be caught fighting in public? It was complete madness!’
“So, who did you fight?” Odalys asked again. “Freya lowered her head, guilt written all over her face. She silently stood up, walked over with a basket of croissants, and handed them to Odalys with a sweet smile. “Would you like a croissant?”
“How about a bacon sandwich instead?” Selah weakly asked.
Francis and Stellan were sitting there, watching the drama unfold. Neither of them seemed
inclined to interrupt.
“So, you two were the ones fighting, and they didn’t get involved, right?” Odalys pointed to the two of them, then glanced at the more composed pair. She thought, ‘Isn’t this obvious?’
Chapter 685
Freya lowered her head, feeling defeated, realizing there was no way to cover up the situation.
“It was me! I was the one who hit her,” Freya said, a hint of sadness in her voice, her eyes
reddening.
Odalys looked at her expression and immediately pulled out her phone, opening the news. The headlines flooded the screen, all about Freya’s transformation into a terrifying figure.
She clicked on one article and saw Freya holding a hammer in the photo.
“What were you doing with a hammer?” Odalys took a deep breath.
Freya’s guilt deepened at the mention of Odalys. She turned away, not daring to speak, like a child caught in mischief.
“Freya, the night vigilante with a hammer, fighting for justice! The sweet girl transforms into a monster-impressive. The Fearless Four break into the underworld, taking down Hannah. Hannah left battered and bruised. The reason? She caused a scene at the police station last night.”
These headlines popped up, and Odalys clicked on one, quickly getting the gist of the situation. She looked at the group in shock.
“So, you all went after Hannah last night?”
Odalys asked, still in disbelief. She thought, Celebrities are supposed to maintain their image -how could they act so recklessly?’
Selah noticed Odalys looked upset, so she quickly stepped forward, grabbing her arm and saying, “Last night, we were outside the police station when we saw her trying to set you up.”
“She accused you of murder and said you were behind Caspian’s downfall. It was all nonsense, but Freya couldn’t let it slide. So, we followed her and ended up smashing Henry’s car.”
“We didn’t expect Hannah to keep slandering you, but we lost our cool and… Well, we gave her a little shove.” Selah’s voice grew filled with guilt. She thought, ‘It felt good at that moment, but waking up to this mess…’
Reporters were gathered downstairs, blocking the entrance. Although the news wasn’t strictly negative, they were stuck inside. Kenny had called from the studio, informing them there was no work today. To avoid the commotion, they retreated to Stewart Villa.
The reporters didn’t dare enter Stewart Villa and were content to stay outside.
“Odalys sighed. “I appreciate you standing up for me, but you can’t resort to violence. You’re celebrities-what if it backfires and ruins your futures? I’m not in the entertainment industry, but you can’t afford to be so reckless.” She thought, ‘I understood their intentions, but I couldn’t help feeling helpless.’
“But we couldn’t just sit back! Worst case, we’ll leave the industry,” Freya said with a pout. She thought, ‘When it came to Hannah, I felt like I hadn’t vented all my frustration.
“Since you’re not working today, stay home and spend time with Evander, but don’t take him out,” Odalys advised.
Inside Stewart Villa, it was a rare moment of liveliness.
Evander and Dorian were strolling when they spotted Odalys finishing her breakfast. They quickly approached her.
“Odalys, are you awake?” Evander asked.
Odalys nodded and took his hand, leading him outside for a walk. “I just saw Freya and Selah rush over here to avoid the reporters. Maybe you should stay in today, Evander.”
“Good idea,” Evander began to speak but then paused, recalling the events of last night. He instinctively fell silent. He always listened to what Odalys said.
“I need to stop by the Tillery Villa, so I won’t join you for breakfast,” Odalys said, grabbing her car keys as she headed out. She waved. “I’ll be back for dinner, so don’t forget to save me a plate.”
“Alright,” Evander responded.
Dorian waited until Odalys had driven off before speaking. “Mrs. Stewart has so much energy, always running around like this. I’ve never seen her look tired.”
“That girl,” Evander chuckled fondly.
Soon, Freya’s voice echoed from the living room. “Evander, are you finished with your walk? We’re about to start. Come join us!”
“I’m coming,” Evander replied, hearing the familiar sound of card shuffling. He turned to head back inside.
Dorian followed, smiling at the sound of Evander’s laughter. He couldn’t help but chuckle as well. The atmosphere in Stewart Villa had lightened, no longer as tense as before. Even the bodyguards appeared more at ease, though still vigilant.
Odalys drove off, stopping to buy fruit before visiting Lee in the VIP ward. Inside, she had a brief conversation with Dangelo and Sienna, and noticing that Dangelo’s recovery was progressing well, she checked on his condition before standing up to leave.
After stepping downstairs, Odalys got into her car. As thoughts of the previous night’s events lingered, she paused momentarily and dialed Percival.
“Are you busy?” Odalys asked.
On the other end of the line, voices could be faintly heard. Upon hearing Odalys’ voice, Percival raised his hand and left the room. The background noise faded away.
“I’m not, just wrapping up a meeting. It’s a break right now,” Percival replied, his mood lifting at the rare occasion of receiving a call from Odalys.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked, glancing at his watch. It was only 8 AM, and he figured she had just woken up, and it was around breakfast time.
“I’ve already had breakfast. I just arrived at the hospital and remembered something-the nightmare from last night,” Odalys said.
At the mention of the nightmare, Percival immediately grew serious.
“There’s another possibility. What if someone placed him by Edie’s side-perhaps the person who actually gave birth to you-keeping an eye on her all along?” Odalys speculated. “And in the end, she grew suspicious and turned the tables on him.”
The thought had barely crossed her mind earlier but had quickly been caught before slipping away.
“Ugh,” Percival muttered, rubbing his brow. His tall frame leaned back as he stood at the top of the skyscraper, looking down at the sprawling city below.
“Are you okay?” Odalys asked, hearing his quiet groan, concern creeping into her voice.
Percival snapped back to reality at her voice, shaking his head. “I’m fine. Just lost in thought.” “This nightmare hasn’t affected me or Evander, nor anyone in the Stewart family, yet it’s been targeting you. And Morpheus, too, only allowed you to see it, even leaving a message in your
room.
“On top of that, the family bloodline passed down through generations seems to have been meant for you,” Percival continued. He quickly stood up, walked over, and poured himself a cup of coffee, sipping it slowly.
“So, could the nightmare have been planned? What if someone knew about Edie’s past, and the nightmare was a clue that led you to see her true feelings as she panicked?” Percival pressed. Odalys remained silent, deep in thought.
“Ever since you stepped in as the bride, something was set in motion, and everything is coming to light because of you. I’m worried because your situation could be the most dangerous. You stand at the center of it all, looking safe on the surface, but in the end…” Percival’s voice faltered, his concern evident.”
Chapter 686
Thinking of Odalys’ strong nature, she would charge forward without hesitation, even when facing danger. He couldn’t help but admire her resolve.
Odalys, however, remained optimistic. Hearing the concern in his voice, she chuckled and teased, “So, are you worried about my safety, Mr. Stewart?”
“If I’m not worried about you, who else would I be worried about?” Percival replied, relaxing slightly at the sound of her laughter.
Since last night, he had been on edge, unable to relax for even a moment.
“There’s no point in worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. If a disaster is coming, no one can escape it. Don’t waste energy on things that might never occur,” Odalys said.
Odalys thought, ‘I’m not going to stress over things that haven’t happened, nor will I let them drain my energy and time!
“You’re right, Mrs. Stewart,” Percival teased.
After the call, Percival picked up his coffee and headed toward the meeting room.
Odalys drove, taking a detour toward Tillery Villa. As she approached, she was startled by the eerie stillness of the place. The last time she had been here was when Blossom had been secretly moved by Sophia using a love spell.
After the love spell was broken, the energy field of the Tillery Villa returned to normal.
She had warned Harvey not to let anyone interfere with the villa’s energy field. She hadn’t been returned since-after that call when she had asked Blossom to set things straight with Sophia. She’d seen her once more, but that was the last time.
The child was still in school, so naturally, her education had been the priority. But today, as Odalys approached, she sensed something was off at Tillery Villa.
With that thought, Odalys pressed the accelerator, speeding toward the Tillery Villa. She parked outside and noticed the bodyguards standing guard, keeping anyone from getting too close.
“Sorry, there’s an issue at the Tillery Villa. No one is allowed to approach,” one of the bodyguards stepped forward, blocking her path.
Seeing this, Odalys held her breath. She quickly called Celeste, but the phone was turned off. She then tried calling Harvey, but there was no answer.
“Could you please tell Harvey that Odalys needs to speak with him? I was hoping he could meet with me,” Odalys said politely and calmly.
The bodyguard looked uneasy, glancing between her and Tillery Villa, clearly hesitant to speak. “Is something wrong?” Odalys asked, a hint of concern rising in her voice. The atmosphere around the Tillery Villa felt off, and something had clearly happened.
“Ms. Stone, to be honest, there have been some strange happenings at the Tillery Villa over the past few days. We’re not sure of the details, but it might be related to death. No one’s been leaving the Villa recently,” the bodyguard explained, looking at her uncertainly.
“But, you saved my child last time! Brandon made it clear that I owe you, and I must repay you no matter what,” he added.
Odalys was momentarily stunned, as she had no recollection of him.
Odalys remembered when the bodyguard mentioned it. It had been in a small neighborhood where she had sensed something was wrong and stepped in to help clean up the situation. As she was leaving, Brandon approached her, holding a child and asking for help.
She had noticed the child had a tiny puncture wound on his head and treated him without asking for payment. Later, she passed by on another occasion and seemed to brush shoulders with Brandon. She had assumed it was just a brief encounter, never expecting to run into his son here.
“It was nothing, just a small favor. You don’t need to worry about it,” Odalys said, feeling awkward. She hadn’t expected anything in return for her help.
“Go on in! Just don’t mention I let you through,” the bodyguard said, stepping aside and handing her a card.
Odalys took the card, nodding as she walked toward the side door. She pressed the card against the scanner, and the door clicked open with a quiet beep. Slipping inside quickly, she made sure to remain discreet.
Having visited the Tillery Villa twice, Odalys was familiar with the layout. She navigated past the other bodyguards and reached the main door. As soon as she pushed it open, a wave of oppressive, unsettling, wicked energy washed over her, nearly stealing her breath.
The air was thick and suffocating, charged with a malevolent force that seemed to cloud her vision.
Odalys reached into her bag, retrieved a talisman, and tossed it into the air. It ignited, burning brightly and dispersing some of the wicked energy. While most people wouldn’t sense the sinister presence, Odalys could feel it vividly. The weight of wicked energy made her stomach tighten.
Sure enough, as she reached the second floor, the sharp scent of blood filled the air.
“Oswald?” She heard Harvey’s voice call out.
Then, Celeste’s frantic voice followed, accompanied by faint cries from Blossom.
The chaos inside was palpable. Odalys hurried forward, pushing the door open.
The scene before her was a dimly lit room, the curtains drawn tightly, blocking out any sunlight. A soft, yellow bedside lamp illuminated a frail, older man lying in bed. Blood oozed from his mouth, staining his thin nightshirt. His hands were bony, his eyes hollow, yet he gripped Harvey’s arm with desperate strength. His mouth hung open as if to speak, but blood spilled from the corners of his lips, choking the words.
“Oswald, Oswald!! We need to take you to the hospital. Otherwise, I’ll have someone from the Lark family come over,” Harvey said, his voice strained with urgency, his eyes reddened.
He was a devoted son, and seeing Oswald in this condition devastated him. But Oswald refused to go to the hospital, even insisting on locking down the Tillery Villa, preventing anyone from entering as if he had resigned himself to dying there.
Once a pillar of strength, Oswald had deteriorated overnight. Harvey thought, ‘ Something’s not right. I wanted to reach out to Odalys, but he refused. If this goes on, I know he might not survive, but I can’t go against his wishes. I’m at my breaking point. Watching Oswald suffer like this, feeling helpless and
unable to do anything, is tearing me apart.’
“Odalys?” Blossom’s voice trembled with urgency. She stood up to pour some water but froze when she realized Odalys had entered the room without noticing.
Seeing her, Blossom hurried toward her, tears filling her eyes. She struggled to keep herself composed as she sobbed, “Odalys, please, can you help save Oswald? He’s been coughing up blood-so much blood-and refuses to go to the hospital. He doesn’t want to trouble you, but he’s such a good man,” Blossom sobbed, her voice shaking with emotion.”
At just 16, Blossom had never faced anything like this before. She wanted to save him but didn’t know what to do.
“Don’t worry, Blossom. Stop crying; I’ll take a look,” Odalys reassured her gently.
Hearing Odalys’ calm words, Blossom’s tears flowed even more freely. Odalys gently patted her head before moving past her and heading toward the room.
Harvey and Celeste froze when they heard Blossom call out to “Odalys.” In disbelief, they turned to see Odalys standing there. Their mouths opened, but no words came out.
Harvey, usually so composed and dignified, and Celeste, always the picture of grace, now looked utterly drained. Their clothes were wrinkled, and they lacked their usual elegance, clearly worn out by the stress of the situation.
Chapter 687
“I was just driving by and realized I hadn’t seen you all in a while, so I thought I’d stop in,” Odalys lied smoothly.
Seeing the guards outside, Odalys immediately sensed something was wrong with the Tillery family. She didn’t want anyone else to get involved, but something inside her urged her to come. She couldn’t explain why, but when she left home that morning, the first place she thought of visiting was the Tillery family. She hadn’t seen Celeste in days, and it didn’t feel right for some reason. Little did she know, the Tillery family was in a crisis.
“Odalys,” Celeste called softly, her voice tinged with relief.
The usually composed Celeste quickly stepped forward. Without saying a word, she embraced Odalys as if finding a source of comfort. In a quiet, desperate voice, she pleaded, “Odalys, can you help us check on Oswald?”
“He’s very sick, gravely sick.” Celeste’s voice cracked as she spoke, barely holding back her tears. But being older and more experienced, she could control her emotions better than Blossom.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take a look,” Odalys reassured her.
Celeste finally let go of Odalys. She stepped closer to the bed, where Oswald lay. His eyes were distant, his gray hair starkly contrasting with his pale, fragile frame, resembling a body drained of life.
Sensing a stranger approaching, Oswald weakly lifted his hand. Odalys reached out to hold it, sensing he was trying to say something. She quickly leaned closer, her ear near his lips.
“Don’t… don’t come any closer. You… go… now.” Oswald’s words were barely audible, his voice weak and strained with effort.
He squeezed Odalys’ hand with the last of his strength, and as he spoke, blood began to seep from the corners of his mouth, staining the pillow deep red.
Ignoring his words, Odalys pressed her hand firmly against his chest.
She ripped open his shirt swiftly, revealing his skin, marked by visible veins and dark, irregular patterns beneath the surface. Her fingers moved quickly, pressing on key points with practiced precision.
As soon as she touched Oswald, his lips moved slightly before he lost consciousness, his body going limp in her grasp.
Odalys narrowed her eyes, studying the dark marks on Oswald’s skin. She pressed her fingers gently against his wrist, searching for his pulse -weak and almost undetectable, as if it might stop at any moment. His heartbeat was just as faint as if death were looming close.
“Ms. Stone,” Harvey called softly.
Seeing this, Celeste quickly stepped forward and gently pulled him back, shaking her head. “Don’t interrupt her. Let her take a look.”
The two of them stood behind Odalys, anxiously watching her. A mix of hope and dread filled them. They desperately wished she would have a solution, but they were terrified that she might say it was too late.
The Tillery family had always been small; by Harvey’s generation, there was only one daughter. Their family was few in number, but their family ties were deep and unshakeable.
Minutes ticked by, and Odalys sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Tell me what happened,” Odalys finally asked, breaking the silence.
Harvey adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, with Celeste supporting him as he settled beside her, then began to explain. “A few days ago, Oswald gave Celeste a rare emerald and asked her to pass it along to you. That night, he started acting strangely. He locked himself in his room, refusing to come out. It was Blossom who brought him food later that evening and found him collapsed on the floor.”
“The door and windows were all tightly shut. After he collapsed, his appearance was off-like when Blossom had her incident, as though something had taken control of him.
“I wanted to contact you, but Oswald seemed to sense something was wrong. He kept holding
me back, insisting that we couldn’t involve you and wouldn’t allow us to take him to the hospital.
“It’s been three days, and just now, I noticed his breathing-he exhales more than he inhales, like someone on the brink of death. He also instructed that, aside from family, no one else was allowed into the Tillery Villa.
“I don’t understand why Oswald did this, but over the past three days, his condition has
deteriorated rapidly. A healthy man has withered away like this-his body looks as though all life has been drained from him,” Harvey said, his voice filled with disbelief.
Harvey thought, ‘Such an unbelievable event-if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it myself!’
“Are you saying that after he gave me the rare emerald, this happened to him?” Odalys asked quickly.
Celeste nodded. “Yes, after he gave you the rare emerald that night, he suddenly became ill,” Celeste explained.
Blossom hesitated before bringing Odalys a glass of water. “I even asked Oswald if the rare emerald was our family’s protective charm and if we could ask you to take a look at it.”
“But Oswald stopped me. He said the emerald was meant for you and couldn’t be taken back, that it was all fate,” Blossom said, her voice breaking as she started to cry.
She collapsed beside the bed, gripping Oswald’s arm tightly, refusing to let go.
Oswald had lost consciousness, and his expression was less tortured than before.
“Odalys, do you have any idea what’s going on?” Celeste asked, her voice tinged with worry. She didn’t want to overwhelm Odalys but desperately needed to understand. It was unbearable to remain in the dark, not knowing what was happening.
Odalys sat quietly, holding the glass of water without drinking it, her gaze fixed on the cup for a long while. Finally, she spoke. “I mentioned before that the energy field around the Tillery Villa was strong,” she said calmly.
“After the love spell on Blossom was broken, the energy field here returned to normal, and the wicked energy disappeared.
“But when I arrived, I noticed something unsettling. The wicked energy surrounding the Tillery Villa was thick, suffocating even, and the wicked energy inside the house was far stronger than outside.
“It seems like this wicked energy is emanating from within the Tillery Villa,” Odalys said thoughtfully. “Perhaps the rare emerald was meant to stabilize the energy here. But now that it’s been given to me, it seems some force could no longer be contained and broke free.”
“But why did Oswald give me the rare emerald?” Odalys wondered aloud. She hadn’t had the chance to study the emerald yet, and with her health issues, it had been delayed.
“I don’t know,” Celeste replied. “That day, Oswald suddenly called me back, saying he had something important to tell me. I didn’t think much of it then, but now, looking back, it feels like he gave me his final instructions.”
Celeste wiped away a tear as she spoke, clearly moved by the memory. It was a painful subject for them both.
“He kept insisting that I deliver the rare emerald to you, that no one else should have it,” Celeste continued, her mind drifting back to that moment.
Odalys listened in silence, her gaze focused.
Minutes ticked by before Odalys finally spoke again. “Maybe it truly is connected to the rare emerald. As for why he gave it to me, perhaps there’s a deeper connection between it and myself.
“However, the fact that it can contain something means the rare emerald opposes the wicked energy of the Tillery family. I need to understand what this force is to see what could be bold enough to act this way,” Odalys said with determination.
Harvey watched her closely, his hesitation evident.
Chapter 688
“Odalys, could you please check on Oswald’s condition?” Harvey asked, his voice tinged with concern. “We can discuss wicked energy later. If we don’t treat him soon, he may not survive.”
He never asked for help, but for Oswald, he made an exception.
Odalys shook her head, her expression serious.” Everything must be resolved at the root. Oswald’ s illness isn’t caused by his body, doesn’t stem from his body, but from something trapped beneath a rare emerald.”
“This force has been suppressed for years, but now that the rare emerald is gone, it has become bold enough to break free, seeking revenge on Oswald, worsening his condition. Once we deal with this, Oswald will recover,” Odalys said with conviction.
“From the moment she entered, she could see that Oswald wasn’t sick; he was tormented by something unseen. The relentless presence had drained him, leaving him a shell of himself overnight. He might not have lasted much longer if she had not arrived in time.
“What do we need to do? Is there anything we should prepare?” Celeste asked urgently. They didn’t have any weapons at home. She thought, ‘I’ve bought magic dust and charms before, but none worked.’
“Hurry, buy some magic dust or whatever you can find-get as much as possible!” Celeste urged, pushing Harvey toward the door. She thought, ‘We can’t let Odalys handle this empty- handed.’
“Harvey, jolted into action by her words, quickly nodded. “Magic dust? Charms? Alright, I’ll go get them now.” He said, grabbing his car keys and heading for the door.
“But Odalys remained quiet. “We won’t need magic dust. What I need is a slaughtering knife- preferably one used to kill many pigs,” Odalys said.
Her words made Harvey nearly stumble. He collided with the door with a thud, adjusting his glasses in disbelief. Slowly, he turned to face her, his expression one of confusion.
“A slaughtering knife?” Harvey asked, wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him.
Celeste and Blossom were stunned, standing there silently, exchanging wide-eyed glances. Harvey, who had rushed to gather supplies earlier, stood frozen. His gaze at Odalys was filled with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. He lowered his voice, asking, “Odalys, what did you just say?”
“I need a slaughtering knife. The older, the better. One that’s been used to slaughter over a hundred pigs,” Odalys repeated.
The Tillery family exchanged looks, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion. They were accustomed to buying things like magic dust and charms, but a slaughtering knife was entirely different.
“Hurry, go now! It’s best if you buy a few more” Celeste urged, pushing him toward the door.
Harvey, still disoriented, stumbled as he hurried downstairs. He almost tripped but was caught by Celeste, who quickly urged him, “Hurry, go find a butcher”
“A butcher? Where am I supposed to find a butcher?” Harvey asked, clearly puzzled. He thought, ‘We’re businesspeople, none of our usual contacts deal with butchery. I have no familiarity with this!
“Maybe we should ask Mr. Drake or Mr. Stewart?” Celeste hesitated. She thought, ‘We’ve kept to ourselves lately, mostly interacting with the Drake and Stewart families. Given the seriousness of this situation, I don’t want to ask just anyone for help!
“That could work.” Harvey felt uncertain. He thought, ‘I have no idea where to find a butcher or even a pig farmer. If it were a major business deal, I’d know where to turn, but this is beyond my expertise!
In the bedroom, Blossom sat at the edge of the bed, gently grasping Odalys’s wrist. “Odalys, do you think Oswald is going to die?” she asked softly.
“No, he won’t,” Odalys replied, her voice reassuring. She gently stroked Blossom’s soft hair, feeling a surge of sympathy.
“You’re only four years older than me but much stronger. You seem to understand everything, know everything. I’m still depending on my parents for everything, and it makes me feel so helpless.”
“With everything happening at home, I can’t help at all. I’m sixteen, but I feel like a complete failure. I can’t even help with the family business. Last time, I almost got everyone into trouble. Now that Oswald is in this condition, all I can do is stay by his side. I can’t do anything else,” Blossom said, her voice heavy with defeat. Blossom thought, ‘Odalys is only 20, yet she already has her unique talents. Sometimes, I envy her. But with Oswald’s illness weighing so heavily on me, this feeling of helplessness has reached its peak.
“You’re only sixteen, yet you’re already ahead of many others your age. Growing up too quickly isn’t always a blessing. Honestly, I think you’re doing just fine,” Odalys said gently.
Blossom looked at Odalys, reassured by her words, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in her eyes.
“You’ll be fine. You’ll get through this,” Odalys said, her voice firm and confident.
Odalys thought, ‘Blossom is only sixteen, but she’ s already far more capable than someone like Sophia. It’s not fair to compare them, but despite being raised in wealthy families, their characters couldn’t be more different. Blossom is ambitious, mature, and responsible, while Sophia is selfish and cruel.’
“Blossom, stay in Oswald’s room,” Odalys instructed, her gaze firm. “No matter what happens outside, you stay by his side. Don’t go anywhere or speak to anyone-keep watch by his bed.”
Blossom nodded quickly, her understanding clear. As Odalys stood to leave, Blossom grabbed her wrist again.
“Are you going to be alright? There’s no magic dust here, no protective charms. Will you be in danger?” Blossom asked, her voice trembling with concern.
Odalys reassured her, “I’ll be fine for now. Just remember-stay by Oswald’s side. Don’t leave, and don’t let him go anywhere.” With that, Odalys walked out, leaving the room in silence.
Blossom sat on the edge of the bed, her hands nervously twisting together. Her breath became shallow as anxiety crept in. She had never felt so alone, so burdened with responsibility.
“Don’t do anything, don’t go anywhere. Just stay with Oswald,” she whispered to herself. “I won’t go anywhere, and I won’t let Oswald step outside.”
She kept repeating the words to herself, trying to steady herself so she wouldn’t forget.
A loud bang echoed from outside as soon as she spoke those words.
Blossom jolted, sitting up instantly, her body stiff with shock. Only moments ago, the room had been dark and still, and she hadn’t felt a hint of fear. But now, her heart raced uncontrollably, and she stood up, pacing the room in a restless panic.
“Ah!” A scream cut through the silence, and it sounded unmistakably like Odalys.
Blossom froze, her fingers gripping the fabric of her clothes. She swallowed nervously as her eyes remained fixed on the door. She couldn’t see anything through it. As she paced the room, the sound of knocking broke the silence.
Knock, knock, knock. The sharp rhythm of the knocks was unmistakable. Blossom stood frozen, her gaze locked on the door, her body tense, reluctant to move closer. Odalys’ words echoed in her mind. She thought, ‘Don’t leave, and don’t let Oswald step outside.’
Lost in her thoughts, Blossom suddenly heard Odalys’ voice from the other side of the door.” Blossom, it’s me.”
“Hurry, open the door. Things are getting complicated outside. Harvey and Celeste aren’t back yet, and I’m struggling to keep them at bay. Open the door quickly,” Odalys’s urgent and strained voice said.
Chapter 689
Her voice echoed outside the door, each word hanging in the air. Blossom took deep breaths, trying to steady herself and keep her mind clear. “But don’t be afraid. I’m here to protect you,” Odalys’ voice called out. “Stay inside. Even if I die out here, I won’t let anything happen to you. I promised I’d keep you safe, and I won’t break that promise.”
Odalys didn’t knock again. Instead, she stood guard outside.
Blossom’s lips parted, and she stepped forward, her hand reaching for the door handle. But as Odalys’ voice echoed in her mind, she hesitated and quickly pulled back.
A sickening sound echoed. “Ah!” Odalys’ agonized scream pierced through the silence once more.
Blossom could hear the chaos outside, the sound of a violent struggle unfolding. A loud crash echoed, followed by Odalys’ desperate cries. The noise slammed into Blossom’s chest, her heart tightening with fear.
“Blossom, I can’t hold on much longer… This force is too powerful. You need to take Oswald and escape through the window. I’ll hold them off. Take Oswald to the Stewart family. Find Percival. He’ll keep you safe,” Odalys’ voice whispered, faint and strained.
Blossom’s tears began to flow freely as she gripped the door handle tightly. She turned, hearing soft movement from the bed.
“Oswald, are you awake?” Blossom asked, her voice quivering with a mix of relief and worry as she rushed to his side.
As she helped him sit up, she noticed his gaze was unfocused, staring blankly at the door. He reached out a hand, pointing toward the door, silently asking her to open it.
Blossom jumped, startled, and quickly silenced herself. Her gaze focused intently on Oswald. Seeing him awake brought her a sense of relief, but Odalys’ words echoed in her mind.
Blossom thought, ‘Don’t let Oswald step outside. Don’t leave. Don’t speak. He was unconscious just moments ago-how could he suddenly be awake? And there’s the sound of fighting outside. I’m not sure if Odalys is in danger, but if she is, why hasn’t she come in? I remember when she left, she just gently closed the door. The door isn’t locked, yet someone’s knocking from the outside as if they can’t get in.’
Blossom’s tension grew with each passing moment. She firmly pressed Oswald back into the bed, shaking her head as he tried to sit up. He struggled, and Blossom, with all her strength, nearly lost her balance from the force of his push.
“Don’t let him leave. Don’t let him leave.” The words echoed in her mind relentlessly.
Blossom’s face tightened with determination. Without hesitation, she ripped off her shoelace and swiftly tied Oswald’s wrist. She made sure his blanket was tucked tightly around him and stood at the edge of the bed, watching him struggle. His eyes, filled with longing, were fixed on the door as if he were desperate to get outside.
“Ah!” Odalys’ anguished scream echoed once more.
Blossom could feel Oswald growing increasingly anxious. The sounds from outside seemed to affect his emotions, and as Odalys’ scream filled the air, he almost tried to get up. Blossom quickly stepped forward, forcefully pressing him back into bed.
“Knock, knock, knock.” Odalys continued to pound on the door, her voice growing weaker as if she were on the brink of death. “It’s fine if you don’t open the door for me,” she said in a fragile whisper. “But if I die, make sure to take me back to the Stewart family. I just want to meet Percival… one last time.”
Her voice carried a sense of sorrow.
Blossom slowly closed her eyes, a sudden realization striking her. She quickly rushed to the side, grabbed her phone, and anxiously opened an app.
She thought, ‘Maybe it’s because of the time when Sophia set me up and drained my luck, that my parents became so cautious. They had the surveillance installed at the house, syncing it to their phones so they could always monitor everything at home!’
Blossom’s fingers flew over the screen as she launched the surveillance app. The display was obscured by a strange, dark mist that distorted the image, making it nearly impossible to see clearly.
She quickly held the phone under the desk lamp, using its warm yellow light to focus better on the screen. When the view shifted to the area outside Oswald’s bedroom door, her heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t Odalys standing there, but a strange woman. The woman was contorting in unnatural positions, crouching just outside the door.
She raised her hand intermittently, knocking loudly on the door, her long nails scraping against the wood with a chilling, eerie sound. The woman’s mouth twisted into a grotesque grin as she spoke, “Blossom, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
“No matter who comes, don’t open the door, do you understand? Don’t worry about me getting hurt. You’re too kind, but don’t come out.” She paused, as if sensing something.
The woman suddenly turned her head, eyes locking on the camera. A wide grin spread across her face as she moved closer, then stuck her tongue out at the surveillance, almost as if taunting it. Her long tongue flicked repeatedly, giving off an eerie sense of something foul and unsettling.
Her obnoxious laughter filled the feed, followed by her grabbing a nearby vase and throwing it at the door. The vase crashed against the door, making it tremble violently.
“Ah!” She pushed the door with all her strength. The door seemed to burn under her touch, causing her to wince in pain and quickly retract her hand.
“Blossom thought, ‘The force outside appeared to be afraid. It can’t even touch the door, which is why it doesn’t have the strength to open it. No wonder it’s been calling for me to open it.’
“A sigh of relief escaped her as she processed this realization. She wondered, ‘Did Odalys place a charm or protection on the door before leaving to keep the malevolent force away? Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so afraid.’
“Just as she relaxed, she saw the figure outside staring at the door for a long time, almost as if it were studying it. Blossom’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes fixed on the phone screen as the figure remained silent for what felt like an eternity. Then, suddenly, it picked something up and pushed it toward the door.
“No!” She silently screamed.
“Blossom panicked as she realized the door couldn’t be touched directly, but something placed between them would be unaffected. She rushed to her feet, intending to move a table to block the door.
“But just as she got up, Oswald, who had been lying in bed with his wrists bound, suddenly sprang to his feet and lunged toward her. Reacting quickly, she turned to catch him.
As she reached out to steady him, a sudden realization struck her.
“You…” Blossom’s lips trembled.
Her mind raced back to Odalys’ warning: Don’t speak, don’t go out, and don’t let Oswald step outside, either. Oswald had been bedridden for three days, refusing food or drink. His body was already frail beyond belief.
How could he suddenly have the strength to get up, let alone throw himself at her? He wouldn’t look at her with that intensity, either.
A cold sweat ran down Blossom’s back as the truth hit her. She tried to steady him, but he managed to push her to the ground. The impact left her groaning in pain, and before she could react, he bolted toward the door as if something outside was calling to him.
Chapter 690
Blossom, terrified, quickly sprang to her feet and hurried over. She wrapped her arms around Oswald from behind, gently pushing him back onto the bed. She shook her head in panic but stayed silent, afraid to speak.
“Ugh… ugh…” Oswald struggled in her grasp. Somehow, Blossom found the strength to lift her hand and strike the back of his neck. The blow knocked him unconscious, and she stared at her hand, astonished. She thought, ‘I didn’t think I could do that. Just like in the movies, I knocked him out.’
“Oswald, I’m sorry,” Blossom whispered, her voice filled with regret.
Watching Oswald unconscious before her, Blossom cautiously extended her fingers to check his breath. She felt a faint breath, and relief washed over her.
Just as she prepared to withdraw her hand, Oswald suddenly grabbed her wrist.
“Ah!” Blossom gasped, startled.
She might have been strong for her age, but she was still just a 16-year-old girl. The noise outside was growing louder, and with Oswald waking up, she froze, struggling to pull her wrist free. “Bang!” The door was shattered open.
Blossom screamed in terror as the dark figure lunged toward her, its hands reaching out with the intent to tear her apart. Panicked, she grabbed the lamp from the desk and threw it at the dark figure.
With a deafening crash, everything around her fell eerily silent. The darkness swallowed the room, and Blossom stood motionless, her wrist in an unrelenting grip. She looked up, her heart pounding in fear.
“Wake up,” Odalys’ voice called out.
Blossom’s eyes welled with tears at the sound. When she saw Odalys standing before her, her mouth opened as if to say something, but she held herself back, the words unspoken.
“It’s okay, you were caught in an illusion,” Odalys said calmly.
Blossom stood frozen, stunned, as she realized the lamp she had thrown was shattered, and Oswald was still unconscious on the bed, not attacking her. Outside, the silence was unsettling.
She quickly moved toward the door, noticing its scratch marks had vanished.
“It was an illusion. That scared me. I thought something dark was out there,” Blossom said, her legs trembling as she nearly collapsed.
Odalys grabbed her to steady her.
“I warned you before-the wicked energy lingering around the house. It seems that this wicked energy could cause hallucinations, meaning everything you experienced was just an illusion of your mind,” Odalys explained.
Blossom leaned against the wall, her breath in quick, shallow gasps.
“Fortunately, you listened to me. You didn’t speak, and you didn’t open the door. If you had, that force might have attached itself to you. The situation would have taken a far worse turn,” Odalys continued, sending a chill down Blossom’s spine.
“Odalys, what should we do now?” Blossom asked, still shaken from the illusion. She wondered, ‘I’m not as fragile as I thought.’
“Stay by Oswald’s side and wait for Harvey to return,” Odalys said calmly.
Blossom nodded quickly.
Odalys took a few steps and then appeared to recall something. “I need a few strands of your hair.”
Blossom quickly reached up and started tugging at her hair.
Odalys stood in shock, watching as Blossom yanked a handful of hair from her head and handed it to her. A wry smile tugged at Odalys’s lips, though it was tinged with concern. “You’re freaking me out. What if you go bald? I’m not taking the blame for that.”
Blossom scratched her head, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. “I’ll grab more, just to be safe. Do you need some blood, too? I can spare a bit.” She turned, heading toward the knife.
Odalys stared in astonishment, a mixture of disbelief and amusement crossing her face.
“Stay here,” Odalys said, turning quickly and hurrying out of the room.
Blossom stood still, on the verge of following Odalys, but recalled her earlier warning. Instead, she returned to the bed, grabbed her phone, and opened the monitoring app. She watched as Odalys exited the Tillery Villa and stood in the yard.
Odalys picked up the hair Blossom had pulled out earlier, wrapped it in talisman paper, and set it aside. As she did, it felt like the entire Tillery Villa had been frozen. Once swaying in the wind, the branches stood still, and the world around her seemed to stop moving.
Even the bodyguards outside the door had become statues, their motionless forms a testament to the strange stillness.
Odalys stood at the Tillery Villa’s entrance, her hands clasped behind her back, eyes closed, her body perfectly still. Time passed, each second dragging on until, half an hour later, a car rushed up the driveway.
Harvey and Celeste hurried toward Odalys, moving quickly and urgently. “Odalys, do you think this will work?” Celeste asked, breathless.
There was a loud clang as Harvey dropped the bag he was carrying. It burst open to reveal a pile of butcher knives, still dripping with the scent of blood.
Celeste, holding a glass jar, twisted the lid open. This is fresh blood from a pig, and I also managed to get some additional blood from a local source. Don’t worry; no animals were harmed in the process.” She placed the two jars carefully on the ground like valuable treasures. Harvey had retrieved the butcher knives while Celeste had handled the blood. Even though Odalys hadn’t given direct orders, they understood the need to be ready.
“Step aside,” Odalys said, her voice steady.
As soon as she spoke, Harvey quickly pulled Celeste aside, afraid they might slow Odalys down.
When they stepped out of the way, Odalys raised her hand swiftly, and a butcher’s knife flew into her grip. She held it tightly and swung it toward the southeast.
A blood-curdling scream echoed through the Tillery Villa, reverberating with a deafening intensity.
Odaly’s movements were rapid, her arm slicing through the air as though she were hacking at nothing. But with each motion, another scream followed. She continued, her strikes relentless until she had made 108 cuts.
Then, swiftly, she tossed the knife into the air. It landed with precision, piercing the side of a low table and splitting it in half.
A pig, hidden beneath the table, crashed heavily to the ground. Blood splattered across the once-clean yard, staining it with dark, gory patches.
The pig, now lying on the ground, let out faint grunts. Odalys opened her eyes and stepped forward, her gaze falling on the creature’s strange wounds.
It was a disturbing sight-its body was that of a pig, but its head was human, an unsettling and unnatural combination.
The pig continued to grunt, reacting to Odalys’ approach, its cries growing more frantic. At that moment, Odalys calmly retrieved the rare emerald from her pocket.
The pig’s struggles intensified as she held it, but its strength quickly faded. Once thrashing, its body became a mangled mess, and it collapsed, twitching a few times before disintegrating into a puddle of mud.
Celeste, startled, stepped forward. “Odalys, why was it a pig… a headless one?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Odalys took the blood Celeste had brought and drew a symbol on the spot where the pig had dissolved into the earth. Odalys then picked up the butcher’s knife and plunged it into the ground.
“This place needs to be sealed off and left undisturbed. Never remove the knife,” Odalys instructed, her voice steady.
After drawing the final symbol, she gave them one last warning, her gaze unyielding.
Harvey, standing nearby in disarray, looked at the spot where the knife was lodged. He thought something didn’t sit right, his mind racing with unanswered questions.
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