Heart Of Stone - Episode 7&8

 

HEART OF STONE

Heart Of Stone - Episode 7&8

 (..Sold•To•The•Pit•Of•Hell..)

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

Copyright © 2025.

By: Naomi Cindy B.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Turning around in circles for over a minute didn't help Shayla's situation.

The confusion only got worse.

She asked 'what's going on' in her mind for uncountable times already.

"Ok, Shayla, calm down first." She told herself, placing an hand on her chest. She began taking slow steps away from her spot, moving forward.

"This palace is frozen, and it's possible that the whole city is even frozen, judging from the intensity of the blocks. Only one person here possess the ice element... Lord Ryker?" She muttered, stopping.

"Is it really him? But why would he freeze the whole city?" She blinked.

When she remembered her bleeding palms and stomach, she looked at the two, and she smiled when she saw the bleeding has stopped.. For Now.

The freezing cold temperature made the bleeding pause, and it'd resume whenever this ice melts.

It should better last for long, but come to think of it. Why did she not freeze like the others?

"Is it because I'm wounded?" She nodded, stopping in front of the Millions castle.

"Would have loved to escape this cruel city right now, but I don't even know where the crossover ladder is. Tough life, Shayla...tough life." She shook her head.

"I'll just have a tour then," she sighed, entering the castle.

She met Grand Supreme Zeke and Azura in the lobby.

They're with Kasia and Astor, about to move to the meeting room before this freezing happened, so they're all in walking positions as the ice covered them.

Shayla smirked lightly at Zeke's frozen statue. 

"You took him because his father slapped your wife's butt? Unbelievable...the more I get to know about Luminarians, the more thankful I am that I'm not one."

She went into the castle kitchen which looks like her dream bedroom. The kitchen is larger than the Slaves Wing Hall where 200+ slaves sleep every night.

And the food here? They're too good-looking, they made her mouth water.

She glanced at the kitchen wall clock, and she was surprised that it didn't freeze at all. Time is still running.

Only the people froze, time is unaffected. 

Cool.

She opened the deep freezer and got herself a turkey sandwich and a bottle of sparkling water.

She settled down in the silent kitchen and ate as much as she could, making sure she finished it all.

She washed it down with the water, disposed the bottle and sandwich bowl before leaving the castle.

When she got back outside, it's raining, surprisingly.

Ice rain, but there is a little bit of melting water in it.

She took off her skirt and blouse, now left in her old singlet and panty.

Though her hands hurts, but she still managed to wash her clothe, getting rid of the sweat and soil.

She returned to the Slaves Wing and hung the clothes on one of the hanging ropes inside.

Getting back outside, she stood under the pouring ice rain, feeling at peace with herself for the first time ever.

Even if it won't last, she'd treasure this moment forever.

She closed her eyes, hugging her almost naked body under the rain.

It's too good.

--

[Crossover Boundary]

Just like every other spot in the city, this place is frozen too.

The ice rain is still falling slightly, but it didn't affect the freezing.

The barricade steel lifted, and Ryker strolled inside, hair wet from the rain and body full of goosebumps from his own ice.

His clothes are slightly wet, especially the shirt which is literally his second skin right now. It's gumming tight to his wife chest, and he hates it.

His discomfort is obvious on his face, carving his brows as he made his move to the Managers desk.

Everyone there are frozen on their seats, and he was about to melt down one of them to ask questions when he sighted the person he came here for.

The boss.

He's holding a briefcase, going for the ladder room. His hand was already on the silver door knob before he froze there.

Ryker moved closer, touching his head slightly to give him a meltdown.

Immediately the ice melted from his body, he fell on the wall weakly, but when he saw Ryker, his back left the wall, and his knees hit the ground with trepidation.

"Lord Ryker!" 

Ryker stared down at him, his dark lashes lowering.

"One question. One answer. Where is Xena's twin presently?" 

The boss's eyes blinked twice, then he swallowed emptiness before mustering a fake smile.

"Xena? Your sister? She's a twin? I didn't even know.." he chuckled awkwardly. "I have no reason to know where she is."

Ryker's lip lifted—not a smirk, but a eerie smile which made the boss shift back. However, he wasn't lucky.

Ryker's palm conjured one sharp ice spike, and he sent it to him, the merciless edge driving into his chest.

"Ahhh!!" The boss fell on his butt, grabbing the chest tightly. His eyes rotated, and his heart felt like it was squeezing out hot lava instead of blood. Another groan left his throat.

Despite the freezing world, sweat formed in his armpits.

Ryker didn't move, didn't talk. His oceanic gaze didn't leave him either.

The second ice spike formed in his palm, and the boss went back to his knees, spitting out a little amount of blood as his chest is still squeezing.

"No... My Lord! I lied. I know her. I know Xena's twin. She came to my warehouse just last week, and I even thought she was Xena cos they looked exactly like each other, but then she told me she's the twin, and that she needed me to make her a perfume to mask her body scent." He confessed.

"And?" Ryker's palm folded. He took a step closer.

"And I made her the perfume, combining garlic and ginger and lemon...I made her the rare perfume, and she didn't even pay for it. She gave me a head strike, and I passed out. By the time I woke up, she was gone." He further talked, blood drooling from his lips.

"The exact time she came? What she wore? Her accent? Body tone?" Ryker asked calmly.

"I don't know the exact time, but the sun was already dipping below the horizon. She wore a short leather gown which looked like a knock-off, and her shoes were peeling. She had the same accent as you, and her body tone? Just like Xena's." The boss explained, hoping to get out of here alive, but that's just wishful thinking.

A second later, Ryker's palm went up again, conjuring three ice spikes.

"B..ut I told you everything you asked!" The boss stood, voice shaking.

"You lied at first. That's unforgivable. Lies are ugly, and I detest it." Ryker muttered.

The boss took two steps backwards, then he turned around.

He was already running out of the boundary, but the ice spikes drove into his back.

He stopped abruptly. His legs twisted, and his arms went limp by his sides. His mouth bursted out blood, splashing Ryker's face.

That eerie smile appeared on his face again as the boss's body hit the ground, completely dead.

He left the boundary, and as he walked away from the area, he couldn't help but feel more discomfort in his chest.

This isn't about his wet clothes. It's about something else.

He's supposed to be the only one unfrozen in this city right now.

This discomfort means there's someone else, and that someone has the ability to make him feel uncomfortable?

Him?

"Great talent, whoever you are..." He muttered, stopping in the middle of the road. Water rode down his white shirt softly. 

Is it the partner?

He might have been constantly pressuring Sage and Cheyenne to bring girls from the city to check for the mark, but he's actually not interested in finding the partner.

If he finds her, it's a bonus for The Millions Family. A bonus he's never gonna give to them.

So wherever that partner is, she should either die on her own, or never cross paths with him.

He didn't leave that road, and the blood smear on his face made him look murderous as he levitated, lifting himself from the ground.

He stood in the air with his two hands stretched out, connecting back with the ice.

He started the melting process, defrosting the city all alone.

And Cheyenne was right. It's consuming a lot of his energy.

He heightened the melting rate, and the meltdown process started.

--

[East Palace, Thirty Minutes Later]

The ice melted down completely, and the frozen people got their lives back at the same time.

Everywhere dried up like ice never happened.

Sadie, Soren and Mercury staggered, but they were quick to hold each other down.

Their eyes met, and their heads shot up, then their teeth clattered with cold.

"What just happened? Someone explain!" Sadie yelled.

"We were all here together before things went blank." Soren muttered.

"Are we still in Luminaria? Are you sure?" Mercury shook her head.

Jude and Winona faced each other too, their eyes wide.

"What was that?" Winona muttered, blowing steam out of her mouth.

"The hell is this cold?" Jude said, looking around to see the panicky state of everyone else.

It's like they were in a trance and just waking up. Nothing feels real.

"Shayla" Winona murmured, taking fast steps to the twins who're still looking confused.

"Where is Shayla?" She queried.

"How were you able to enter this palace with that stinky feet of yours! And you dare ask me about that slave? What disrespect is this!" Sadie charged forward.

Her one eye is still blind, and seeing the redness, Winona just knows it's her brother Blaise. Only his red hair has this blinding ability.

"I see you received a big share from Blaise. I wish he blinded your two eyes." Winona mocked.

"What did you just say?" Soren came closer, glaring.

"Is she mad?" Mercury scoffed.

"Where is Shayla?" Winona questioned again.

"Since you miss her so much, go inside the well instead of her, you powerless idiot!" Sadie pushed Winona's chest.

Winona didn't even stagger. She fell straight into the well with a piercing scream which shook the grounds.

Sadie leaned on the well edges, smiling... "If you can hear me Winona!! Your brother Blaise is dying soon! You don't really think I'd let him go freely after he messed with my eyes, right?"

She dusted her palms and left.

Soren and Mercury tagged along, all leaving Winona to her own fate.

Jude arrived beside the well some minutes later, holding a long thick rope which he suspended into the wall.

"Hold on to it, Winona!" He shouted, waiting for few seconds before starting to pull the rope up.

He felt heaviness, meaning Winona is already holding it.

He kept pulling relentlessly till he finally got her out, but surprisingly, her face is fine, and she's not soaked.

"The fishes didn't eat your face?" Jude scoffed, throwing down the rope.

"I can hide inside walls, so I hid inside the well wall. I didn't fall in the water." she sighed.

"What a useless power to have in this cruel city. Hide in walls? You're useless." Jude frowned, walking off.

"I used to be the most powerful in the Spectre family before your family stole the city from us." Winona replied.

Jude didn't stop or reply.

"Take me to the Slaves Wing to see Shayla. She wasn't in the well, so she's definitely fine." Winona went after him.

Jude quicked his steps, but Winona walked faster too.

--

[Millions Castle, Meeting Court]

The shock from the occurrence from some minutes ago is still in the bones of everyone, so even as they settled for the meeting, no one's talking.

Zeke is just sipping from his flute of wine, occasionally grunting as the liquor travelled down his throat.

Azura sat beside him, looking curious and confused at the same time.

Kasia and Astor are at the other side of the table, then a lot of clansmen from both families.

The atmosphere is always like cold this in their meetings, but it's colder tonight.

"Ryker actually froze the time?" Azura spoke up first.

"If he really froze time, then the time shouldn't be 7:36 right now. We got here at 7, so time has been running without stop." Zeke replied.

"How are you so sure?" Azura frowned.

"Whatever happened has nothing to do with Ryker. Also, he has been feeding the FrostOrb with his blood, and it consumes power, so how would he be able to freeze this whole city without his partner to meltdown for him? Do you know how big Luminaria is? You're telling me he did the freezing and did the meltdown all alone?" Zeke said.

"You're underestimating him, and I hate it! We both know the power he carries in his body, we saw it on the day he was born! He almost died cos he couldn't contain that power alone!" Azura stood angrily.

"And I'm saying it's not him! If he used that much power, the FrostOrb light would have turned off by now, but it's still bright. Calm down, Zura. I know what I'm talking about." Zeke huffed, trying to be calm.

Azura sat back, balling her ring-filled fingers. The ring in her nose glittered like her anger.

Kasia, Astor and the clansmen have been watching in silence, and they dare not talk till the meeting starts officially.

Astor is calm, but Kasia is glaring at Azura. She's not even hiding it, but Azura wouldn't even care if her eyes fell off.

Azura loves miserable people just like her evil twins.

Zeke cleared his throat before starting...

"The Grand Feast has been scheduled and marked in the city calendar. I called you here from the West Palace to discuss the date, but it seems that's gonna be for another day cos right now, there's a more pressing issue." 

"What could that be?" Astor asked politely.

To answer his question, Blaise was pushed into the Court. His hands are tied to his back, legs tied together too. Even his mouth is gagged, and he's bleeding from the face. He was slashed there with a cutlass obviously.

"Blaise!" Kasia spranged up.

"Blaise?" Astor stood too.

Blaise wanted to talk, but his gag stopped him, so he shook his head frantically, his slashed face looking terrible as his flesh is out.

"What have we done to deserve this scorching hostility? What!!! He's my only son, Azura!!" Kasia shouted.

"Shut up, Kasia!" Azura stood.

"This is beyond keeping quiet about. He's our son!" Astor raised his voice.

"He's not your son, Astor. Faye is the only child you seem to have" Zeke scoffed, grabbing his smoking pipe.

"But i married Kasia, and that means Winona and Blaise her children are mine too!! You've done your worse by snatching the city from us and dumping us in the West Palace! We didn't complain, and now you're gonna start killing our kids too? Grand Supreme!!" Astor yelled.

"One more word, and I'll force Ryker to freeze your tongue." Zeke warned.

Astor swallowed, biting the inside of his mouth.

"You should have brought him up well. How dare he blind Sadie's eye with his hair!" Azura howled.

"What! Blaise did what?" Kasia gasped.

Blaise wanted to talk again, but his gagged mouth wouldn't let him, so he just made unintelligible noises.

"I'm sure Sadie did something to deserve it. We all know how evil the twins are. Blaise wouldn't get angry just like that." Astor defended.

"I do not care, Astor. Blaise's hair is to be shaved completely, and he's getting fifty thunder strikes. That'd be his punishment tomorrow, and I don't care if he dies." Zeke pronounced.

"What! Fifty? He won't survive it!" Kasia's eyes widened.

"You should be glad I didn't order acid rain. Prepare to come watch his punishment tomorrow." Zeke glared.

Kasia and Astor went on their knees, begging...

"I'll take the thunder strikes instead." Kasia said.

"And you can shave my head instead." Astor said.

Azura chuckled cruelly.

"It's Blaise himself or no one." Zeke said with no room for negotiation.

Kasia began crying, and Astor had to hold her as Blaise was taken out of the court.

A messenger guard entered, going to Zeke and Azura's seats.

"Granny Jojo is awake." he reported.

"Granny?" Azura stood, smiling delightedly.

"Finally some good news" Zeke sighed.

--

[Sadie And Soren's Room]

The twins are in their pyjamas, both dark black like burial outfits.

They're laying in their different beds at each side of the room, pillows on their backs to tilt them up.

Mercury is laying in Sadie's bed with her, both sipping from the same cup of pineapple drink with straws.

Soren is on his phone, looking bored.

"I should have known you'd take it this far earlier when you were telling us to leave Blaise alone. He's gonna have his hair shaved and receive 50 thunderbolts? I can't just wait! He won't survive it, let's make a coffin gift for his parents." Mercury said.

"He should have known his place." Sadie shrugged.

Mercury looked over at Soren who has been quiet.

"Why is Ren always on his phone? Is he dating?" She asked.

Sadie's angry eyes met her immediately.

"Ren? It's Soren! Call it in full, you're not entitled to shorten it. And dating? No one can date him without my permission, just the way no one can date me without his permission. Besides, love? We'd rather eat poison." She said.

"I love the sound of that... poison." Soren chuckled from his bed.

"By the way...what about that slave girl... please tell me she's still gonna get fucked up." Mercury said.

"Don't you trust me?" Sadie smiled.

"Grand Prince and Princess! Granny Jojo is awake!" A guard announced by the door.

"What!!" The twins jumped down from the bed.

--

[Slaves Wing]

Xena is currently stepping out of the hall with Shayla, and Shayla looks better than before.

The ice had melted right in front of her, and though her clothes didn't dry up yet, she wore them like that.

At least they're clean now.

Xena came immediately the ice melted earlier, and she helped her remove the stem from her tummy wound. She sprinkled the capsule on it before wrapping another scarf on it since there's no bandage.

She also capsuled her palm.

If she's lucky, the wound will improve before tomorrow, but if she's not, then she's just unlucky.

"It was like time stopped one hour ago, I still don't understand." Xena said, looking confused.

"I'm still confused about it, too." Shayla lied, though she feels bad for not telling her the truth, yet.

She's just not ready to say it yet. She's very sure Ryker did the freezing, so if anyone especially him hears that she didn't freeze, that's additional trouble.

"You better come back earlier. We're going to the camp very early tomorrow, and also... I'll be locking the Slaves Hall door by 9" Lilith said vengefully behind them.

Both turned around, and Xena scoffed with disgust.

"The Slaves Hall closes by 10, stop this bullying." She told her, then pulled Shayla away.

They came across Jude and Winona right in front of the building.

The two of them are smiling gently, staring at Shayla like she's some jackpot to be won.

Shayla went behind Xena quickly.

"You got it wrong, my girl. I'm not gonna hurt you." Winona said.

"Your...girl?" Shayla frowned behind Xena.

"I'll call you that, hope you won't mind." Winona said warmly, her smile widening.

"Don't listen to this wall gecko, Shayla. How're you doing?" Jude asked kindly.

Ok...this is weird.

'Why are they behaving like rivals?' Shayla thought.

"You can talk to them, Grand Prince Jude is nice, and Winona is not bad too...she's from the West Palace." Xena said.

"I know them, they were bidding aggressively during the auction." Shayla said, coming out.

Winona nearly touched her hair, but the arrival of a guard stopped her.

"Your brother Blaise got 50 thunder punishment for messing with Sadie." He reported.

"What!" Winona screamed.

Another guard came by, bowing to Jude.

"Granny Jojo is awake" he said.

"Seriously?" Jude gasped surprisingly.

A minute later, Winona and Jude were already gone to tend to the news they received.

"Now some breath of non-toxic air" Xena inhaled.

"They don't look bad" Shayla said.

"I know, but listen... Shay. In this our world, trust no one. Not even me." Xena replied.

"I trust you," Shayla held her hand.

"Don't" Xena chuckled.

She led her to the Slaves kitchen.

--

[City, 8pm]

Ryker waited inside his car, sitting in the silence and breathing through the unrivaled serenity.

The car windows are down, and he's staring out of it, expression so ruffled and lacking warmth like his ice.

After the meltdown earlier, he was exhausted like he suspected, so he had returned to the car to rest.

He already recharged, though he'd still have to go soak himself in the hot Spring Pool later.

He has always felt Xena's twin in this city, but the problem is he couldn't trace her location with her scent.

Now he gets it.

Sage and Cheyenne entered the car from the two different sides, both panting like they ran here.

"My Lord, I forgot to ask about the FrostOrb. The light probably went off already, and if the Grand Supreme and his wife finds out that you're behind the freezing..." Sage said.

"The last time I wet the orb with my blood, I over-wet it, so no matter how much I exhaust myself, it'd stay aglow." Ryker said simply, winding up with his fingertips.

"I forgot you always have a backup. I was worried for nothing." Sage smiled, feeling relieved.

"Are you ok though? That freezing went too hard" Cheyenne asked.

"I'm fine. Ryker assured, and she smiled too.

"Did you find anything from the warehouse boss? Judging by the blood on your face, you definitely killed him. Is it because he didn't give you any info?" Sage asked.

"Xena's twin visited him last week for a masking perfume. She doesn't wanna be found, she has been masking her traces." Ryker said softly.

"But why?" Cheyenne asked.

"Obviously scared of the Grand Supreme. But now I know the perfume she got, and I know the scent to trace." Ryker stated.

"Why did you kill the warehouse boss though?" Sage asked.

"He lied," Ryker replied, getting down from the car.

"I'll go first" he coldly said, then he vanished as if he was never there.

"The way he hates lies needs to be studied..." Sage sighed.

"Add slaves to that list. That Shayla slave is about to cry from my tortures. How dare she enter the Groove. She was like...I'm...I'm not a slut. And it's very obvious she's lusting over My Lord." Cheyenne started the car.

"Just leave her alone," Sage said.

"I won't listen" Cheyenne shrugged, riding down the tar.

--

[East Palace, Granny Jojo's Chambers]

Granny JoJo is Azura's mother who fell into coma since two months ago as a result of her cold feet illness which seemed to be getting worse.

Luckily, she's up now, and the first thing she was given is the medicinal herb from the palace physician.

As she drank it, her grandkids stayed around her, waiting for her first speech.

The bowl of medicine went down from her lips, uncovering her face. 

She didn't age like normal grannies. Her grey hair is the only old thing about her. She looks well and agile.

"Granny!" Sadie sat by her right side.

"Granny, how're you feeling now?" Soren sat by her left.

"Welcome back, granny." Jude smiled in front of her.

"Mother, it's so good to have you back..." Azura gushed.

"Are you feeling any uneasiness, mother?" Zeke asked gently.

Granny Jojo looked around, waiting for another person to come inside. It's like their attention means nothing.

"My demigod, where's he? Where my Ryker?" She asked impatiently.

The smiles on their faces fell off, one by one.

--

[Slaves Kitchen]

Shayla has been chatting with Xena for more than an hour now.

They're doing the chats over cups of water since it's the only thing Xena could afford.

The rations of food in the kitchen always got measured and weighted, so no one can cook unless it's time to serve. The rules are tight.

The blowing fresh air made Shayla open her arms wide to embrace the freshness, but Xena hugged herself.

"Wait... Shay. With your thin clothes, you don't ever feel cold?" She asked.

"I've never felt cold all my life... even when I was in the Dark Room cage." Shayla smiled.

"I'm jealous" Xena muttered, frowning..."Your clothes look cleaner than it was before." 

"That's untrue, you just be seeing wrong. Where would I possibly get detergent and water to wash?" Shayla said, trying not to sound awkward.

She feels guilty for lying since Xena is the same person who told her her family story, but then... it's not time to burst the bubbles yet.

"Vashi plany na budushcheye" Xena suddenly asked.

"What language is that?" Shayla blinked fast.

Xena laughed, "That's our Morozov family language."

"Your family has its own language? Strange. So what did you just say?" Shayla asked interestedly.

"I asked what your future plans are. What do you plan to do if you luckily escape this city?" Xena translated.

"I want to go to the human world, eat good food and sleep and rest. That's all." Shayla said.

"What a simple-minded plan. I plan to become a ballerina." Xena said.

"Ballerina?" Shayla blinked.

"Yeah, a type of classical dance like the one the evil twins do in their school. You need to see how beautiful it is whenever they're practicing their moves at the Starr balcony. I'm sure you'd love it if I make you peek at them one day." Xena said.

"Maybe," Shayla shrugged." 

"I'll write you some of my family language and their meanings on paper for you to memorize. We can talk in secret when you get it to some point. And try to keep it from Lilith please." Xena said.

She went inside and came back shortly with a paper containing ten new words which she handed to her.

"Hide it from Lilith the short devil." Xena warned again.

"I will, thank you Xena..." Shayla took it happily.

"Time to go to sleep, Xena." The old chef entered the kitchen.

"Goodnight, Shay." Xena waved before joining the old man.

"Goodnight, and you too...sir." Shayla bowed at the old chef.

"Return to the Slaves Hall so you won't get locked out." He told her.

"Sure." Shayla nodded.

She folded the words paper and returned to the Slaves Wing, but the hall door is already locked.

Lilith actually did what she said. She locked her out.

She could already hear different snores from inside, meaning they slaves are asleep already, but she knocked anyways.

One, twice, thrice.

No one replied.

She stepped away from the door, resting her back on the pillar. The bleak lights shadowed her figure.

She looked at the corridor ground, thinking of sleeping there tonight, but she stopped herself before she could land on the ground.

She left the corridor, stepping out of the Slaves building completely.

The lights in this area is as bleak as the lights at the corridor, so she made sure her steps are cautious.

She's gonna find a bright light in another corridor and read the words Xena gave her before going to sleep.

She stopped walking suddenly, her breaths catching in her lungs when she sighted him.

Lord Ryker.

He's on his way to the Bamboo Groove, looking as foreboding as the darkness. His dark robe is back, and there's blood on his face again!

Now that she thinks about it, she hasn't seen him without blood on his face before.

She took a look at the Bamboo Groove, it's so bright with insanely white lights. She could count the bamboo trees if she wants right now cos of the intense brightness.

"Must be extra beautiful in there right now. That Spring Pool, I wonder what it'd be like to bath inside." She muttered, taking her eyes away from the Groove direction.

It didn't take long before she found another corridor. The lights aren't bright, but better than the Slaves Wing Corridor.

She got under the light and started reading the words and their meanings out, strolling round and round under the lights and trying to memorize them.

--

[Bamboo Groove, Spring Pool]

Ryker retired to this place immediately he got back to the palace. There's no place of peace for him cos his inner ice is always acting up with the intense coldness, but sitting in this hot pool reduces the coldness a bit.

His eyes are closed with the lashes entangled, body shirtless and lower body covered by his transparent long pants as usual.

He let the silence calm him, the water steam added to the slight warmness.

His stillness was uninterrupted till sounds began entering his ears.

Normally, he has sharp hearing and an extra sharp sense of smell, though he rarely uses them unless on special occasions...for his peace of mind.

But this time, his ears didn't even ask for his permission before the sound of the voice penetrated.

And that voice is reading nonsense in his family language.

He recognizes Xena's voice, so it's definitely not Xena.

So...who?

--

[Corridor]

"Krasarvistta?" Shayla muttered, staring at the last word in the paper she's holding.

She has been reading the words with no hindrance since the first one, but this last one is posing as a problem.

Xena didn't even write the meaning in front of it. She must have forgotten.

"Krasarvi...ugh! I give up. I already have a miserable life as a slave and I'm even gonna be sleeping on the corridor tonight. I can't complicate my life further with Xena's family language." She groaned, resting her forehead on the wall.

"But then... Does Lord Ryker speak this language too?" She mumbled, taking her head away from the wall.

"He was taken away from his family immediately he was born, so he probably doesn't know the language...I get it." She muttered.

She didn't even realize she's starting to talk to herself.

"It's cool to have such unstoppable powers, but is it a must to be wicked? I can't believe he actually raised me up the air without touching me...that wicked hand of his." She scoffed, raising her hand up.

"Was it like this?" She muttered, trying to stand like him.

She cleared her throat thoroughly, deepening her voice...

"Since you love death so much and even came here boldly for it, I'll gladly give it to you." She mimicked his voice, chuckling.

"The arrogance..." She chuckled again before turning to the other side.

Then she stopped.

Her heart skipped three...

No—five beats.

Her hand dropped, and her eyes went wider than she could explain cos...

He's right there, in front of her.

Ryker.

Open chest, frosted face, tilted head, scent of doom.

Shayla stepped back—three steps away from the bloodthirsty demigod.

"Continue," his voice dropped deep, hitting her chest like a mallet.

"Sir? I mean... My Lord?" She moved back again, eyes still expanded. Her back kissed the pillar.

"Raise your hand, and continue your show. I'll be your viewer. How's that?" He ordered calmly, but it echoed.

TBC.

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