Heart Of Stone - Episode 9&10

 

HEART OF STONE

Heart Of Stone - Episode 9&10

 (..Sold•To•The•Pit•Of•Hell..)

All rights reserved 

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.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Shayla didn't have the balls to stare up at him, but his gaze stayed on her, demanding the right reaction to what he had ordered her to do.

Her head only went up once, and the moment she did, their eyes met for the first time. She fell on her knees.

"I... Was. I was wrong. It was wrong to play with your words. Please find somewhere in your benevolent heart to pardon me." She rushed the words then bowed again, her forehead meeting the ground.

"Benevolent?" Ryker's voice picked up. Her head raised.

"You said I was arrogant and wicked. Benevolence and those two can never go hand-in-hand. I ordered for your continuation, not your knees on the ground." He said without mincing words, taking his seat on the windowsill that's on the corridor.

He looks damn serious, and it's not like she was expecting a joker, but still... telling her to continue mimicking him is a little—

"Keep me waiting for one more second, and your blood will be on my face." He interrupted her thoughts.

Shayla swallowed, bringing her legs together before standing. 

The restraining chains rang as they dragged against the ground, but that wasn't enough to soak the silence that followed.

She cleared her throat again, tilting her head before continuing her mimick.

"Drag her out, make sure she gets the heaviest workload at the labor camp everyday. And clean this Groove thoroughly. Clean out her smell." She said in his voice, and she surprisingly didn't sound awkward.

Ryker sat there, watching silently without a word, so she released a long needed breath...

"I do not smell though. If I do, you wouldn't be able to sit in this corridor for two straight minutes when I'm also here." She said boldly.

"You've been counting the minutes? Bold." He stood back.

"No no I dare noy. My mind just keeps records very accurately, and it tells me the time even if I don't see any clock. I memorize things pretty fast." She said gently.

"Is that why you still remember all the words I said this morning at the Groove?" He replied, voice still powerful but less intimidating now.

"I don't have to memorize it, things simply stay in my memories."

Silence followed that statement, and Shayla's eyes blinked again as the weight of his gaze settled on her.

It felt like forever before he talked again...

"And stop reading nonsense in that language. It's disturbing to the ears."

"Disturbing? But it's your... family... language." Shayla muttered.

"It's disturbing coming from YOU. You're reading nonsense." He replied blankly, and she went quiet.

He started walking out of the corridor, taking his looming presence with him, but then he suddenly turned back...

"And the correct pronunciation is krasavitsa, meaning beauty in the Morozov family language." He corrected.

Shayla smiled lightly, taking a bow. "Thank you, My Lord."

"Durak..." Ryker muttered gloomily before taking his leave completely, leaving the corridor the way it was before he came.

"Durak? What's that?" Shayla muttered, checking the paper with her. It's not one of the words Xena wrote, and she's dying to know what it means cos she's sure it's not something good. 

He probably insulted her.

"Well i'm luckily alive. Maybe he's in a good mood today, and that's why he didn't hurt me after catching me mimicking him." 

She folded the paper into her skirt and left for the Slaves Hall.

She knocked again, but she still got no answer from inside, so she lay on the corridor ground.

The stones and sand prickled her back since the ground is not concreted, but it meant nothing.

She was staring up at the almost broken planks on top of the roof, muttering durak repeatedly before she fell asleep right there.

It didn't take long before Jude entered the corridor.

He left Granny's chamber long ago, and he has been hanging around the Slaves Hall since then.

He saw when she went to the other corridor and when Ryker came to meet her. 

He watched everything from afar then he followed her here and waited till she fell asleep before coming out.

He did a squat beside her, bringing out his phone and shinning the flashlight to see her better.

Seeing the ground she's sleeping on made him nearly shed tears.

'C'mon, Jude. She's not the first slave to get sold here, so why feeling this bad for her?'

He stopped the tears before they could fall, his lids lifting when he saw her knotted stomach wound and the wounds on her palms.

Xena might have poured capsules on the wounds, but with this extreme cold weather, capsules won't do it. The wounds will probably open up tomorrow again.

He placed his hand close to her tummy, transmitting white fumes to her body to heal her.

Healing his own wounds takes ten minutes at least, but to heal others, it won't only take more minutes but also consume almost all his energy.

He's good at fights, but his healing ability is still very weak.

But he did it anyways. He stayed there for more than thirty minutes, healing her tummy.

By the time he was done, he was already bleeding from the throat.

He stood and rushed to the corridor edge to spit blood, then he weakly came back to squat beside her again.

Sensing she must be feeling cold, he took off his jacket and covered her with it, gently.

But Shayla changed positions, and the jacket fell off her body.

Jude covered her with it again. Still same, she shook it off sleepily as if she likes the cold.

He took the jacket and spread it on the ground instead, so when she changed positions again, she slept on the jacket.

He stood and wiped the bloodstain in his lips with his palm before leaving the corridor, returning to the main castle.

Lilith opened the hall door after he left. She came out with her contemptuous look, sucking her teeth as her short shadow appeared on the wall.

"Don't tell me he's in lov—no. I must be crazy to even imagine that." She muttered, looking down at Shayla.

"She's not all that, so why would he heal her wound despite the fact that it made him weak? What's so special about her?" She grimaced.

"He even spread his jacket on the ground for her to sleep on? This is the height of it..." She mumbled, dragging the jacket away from Shayla's beneath.

"The hell! It's the popular studded jacket he bought for millions from the family store last month!" She gasped shockingly.

"I can sell this and actually make some money. I guess it's my lucky night." She smiled, folding it had returning inside.

She locked the door again.

--

[Main Castle, Twins Room]

There hasn't been a moment of peace since the twins returned from Granny Jojo's chamber

Even Mercury couldn't calm them.

She just sat in bed, eating fries and ignoring the fit they're throwing.

"Why would Granny wake up and ask for him first? Is he the grandchild or us? I just don't understand." Sadie said by the door.

"You should have gotten used to it by now. No one likes us in this family, but they worship him like some god." Soren replied by the wall.

"He's a Demigod, so it's only normal if they worship him." Mercury said.

"Shut up!" They yelled at her, and she held her lips with her fingers.

"I'mma get some fresh air outside." Soren buttoned up his pyjamas shirt and left the room.

"You know we can't be apart, Soren Millions!" Sadie shouted.

"Nothing is gonna happen, I'm going to the lobby, not exactly outside." Soren replied, never looking back.

Sadie fell in bed, sighing heavily.

"By the way what's your plan for the slave girl?" Mercury inched closer.

"You even seem more eager than me" Sadie said, closing her eyes.

"I just can't stand servants with pretty faces..." Mercury shrugged.

"After Blaise's punishment tomorrow, we start her own plan." Sadie said.

Mercury stood from the bed, pacing the room. "At the upcoming Feast, the school is gonna perform, right?"

"Why asking me? Your mother is the owner of the school so you should be well-informed than me. But I really wish we'd perform. It's hightime I show the whole of this city how good my ballet skills are." Sadie proudly said, opening her eyes.

"I'll ask mum when I get home tomorrow, but if we're really gonna perform, it'd be you, me, and Soren in the center." Mercury sat back.

"As usual," Sadie smiled.

--

[Lobby]

Soren arrived and grabbed the remote to watch ballet practices on TV, but he was surprised to see Jude sitting on one of the sofas.

Jude is glaring vengefully at him, and for the first minute, he got so scared that Jude might try something, now that Sadie isn't here.

He easily mind-linked with her...

'Come to the lobby' he communicated through his mind, and Jude stood, coming for him.

Soren shifted back, putting space between them immediately.

Before Jude could get to him, he felt blood clog in his throat, and he stopped to spit out the blood.

He's still suffering backlash from healing Shayla with his powers, and he's still very weak.

A glad smile covered Soren's lips, he boldly went closer to Jude.

"What happened to you, big brother? You can't even face me when I'm alone? I bet you're even weaker than our baby of the house at this rate." He said with jest.

Jude couldn't even move. He dropped on the nearest couch, wiping his bloody lips again.

Soren left the lobby, meeting Mercury and Sadie who're just coming downstairs.

"Did Jude try anything funny? Tell me so we can kill him right here. Our parents won't even ask for his corpse." Sadie said.

"He wouldn't dare. Dude is so weak, he couldn't even face me when I was alone." Soren arrogantly said.

"I knew he was hopeless" Sadie grinned.

Mercury went to Jude, waving her hand tauntingly at him.

"So not sorry, hopeless Jude..." She mocked before joining the twins.

With continuous laughter, they went back upstairs.

Jude lay on the couch, shutting his eyes as blood drooled out of his mouth.

--

[Granny Jojo's Chamber]

Azura and Zeke are still here with the old woman, trying to coax her to sleep, but she's not listening.

Her back is in bed, but her eyes are widely open as she kept staring at the door, expecting Ryker.

"You should take your sleeping pill and go to sleep, mother." Azura's tried persuasion again.

"I just woke up from a two months coma, and you're talking about sleeping pills again? Haven't I slept enough?" Granny Jojo said wearily.

"But you still have to rest to be able to function well tomorrow morning." Zeke insisted.

"I'm not closing my eyes if I don't see him, so quit trying." Jojo replied, and then as if planned...

Ryker entered the chamber, his presence filling everywhere.

"Ryker" Granny Jojo sat up in bed, joy appearing in her features.

She stood and met him halfway when she couldn't wait anymore. She held his shoulder blades with her two hands while staring up at his face with a round smile like he's his real grandchild.

"It's so good to see you're doing well, Ryker." 

"How're you feeling?" Ryker asked, and her smile brightened.

"I'm well, even more well now that I've seen you." 

"Sit, don't exhaust yourself." Ryker said, and she nodded, following his lead back to the bed.

Azura and Zeke left the chamber angrily, unable to take the shower of affection to Ryker, a mere bastard.

Jojo sat in bed, and Ryker sat on a stool in front of her.

"Did you find Xena's sister yet?" She asked worriedly.

"No." Ryker replied straight.

"I wish I knew where Zeke hid Xena's lifeline, but one of Zeke's crazy talents is hiding things where no one would suspect, and I feel sorry that I can't even help." Jojo said guiltily.

"Quit this talk, Grann. You're not at fault. It's my fault for getting born with the millennial ice power." Ryker cautioned her.

"So what about your partner? Did you find her yet?" Jojo asked.

Ryker stood from the stool, taking few steps away from her.

"I don't wanna find her. I don't wanna see her." 

"But you need her. If you find her, then she can help you with your everyday cold. With her, you won't be needing the spring pool again. She'd shower you with her warmness and you both can become unstoppable together." Jojo stood.

"And did you forget the second option? If she's found, you know what Azura and Zeke would do to her." Ryker faced her.

"So you're protecting her indirectly?" Jojo smiled.

"Protect her? I don't care about anyone that's not me or Xena. Those are the only two lives I have to protect." He replied sharply.

"So you're still mad at your father?" Jojo sighed.

"He deserves to die the moment he decided to leave my mother in labor at home and visit that bar that night, getting drunk to the point of hitting Azura's back and causing the death of my mother, throwing I and Xena in this hellhole. I'm only waiting for the right moment to have his blood on my face." Ryker spoke without attachments at all.

His hate and resentment is too much, and it left the old woman speechless.

"Go to bed, Grann. The night is getting too old." He said, guiding her back to bed.

He lay her down and covered her with her thick pullover blanket.

There are slim slices of ice on his skin. Jojo took his hand when he saw it. She caught the flu immediately.

"You can't keep suffering in cold like this, Ryker. Find your partner. Azura and Zeke truly have plans for her when you find her, but you can still protect her in your own way. You can do it, and you know it. You're not scared of the Family, I know you're not that frail. You're only scared that if you find that partner, she'd become a even bigger weakness." She said.

"Go to sleep" Ryker replied, slipping his hand away from hers and tucking it under the blankets too.

He left the room after putting the lights out, but the moment he got out, he received a text on his phone.

He rarely touches his phone, so it's still as sleek as the day he started using it.

He slid it open, seeing a pleading message from the West Palace.

It's definitely from Kasia and Astor.

He heard Blaise got 50 thunders as punishment, and he's not even surprised.

Azura and Zeke are very overprotective of the twins, so touching them means death.

They must be wanting him to intervene tomorrow during the punishment.

Why would he even intervene when it'd be fun to watch another death?

--

[Heartless Tower, Knights Quarters]

Thanks to Ryker, there's a really big playhouse in the quarters, majorly for Cheyenne and Sage's power practices.

They're both inside, testing each other's abilities and energies.

Cheyenne's nails are out, and Sage is holding a small black rope.

Their practice uniform should be soaked with their sweats right now if this place is not a home of ice. They've been practicing for more than an hour.

Cheyenne ran forward, leaping in the air with too much ease and coming down for Sage with her nails, but he was smart to back the wall intentionally.

When she landed at his face, he curved his rope on her wrists.

That small rope turned long, and he wrapped it on her arms too, up to her elbows.

"I only allowed you to catch me, don't be arrogant later." Cheyenne laughed.

"You're the arrogant one here, so you're saying I can't beat you? Your nails are useless against my rope." Sage smiled with a lip bite, unwrapping the rope from her arms.

The rope went back to the small form, and he wore it on his wrist like a bracelet. Cheyenne's nails retracted too, and they both lay on the floor together, catching their breaths.

"You think Blaise is really gonna die tomorrow? Honestly I want him to die. It's been long since I watched thunder punishment here." Cheyenne said.

"You and Lord Ryker are so the same. Why obsessed with blood?" Sage faced her.

"When you kill someone suddenly, their blood is always warm, and he loves that warmness on his face, so he loves killing to spill blood. And besides, he's always more goodlooking with his bloody face." Cheyenne shrugged.

"I just hope we find his warm partner soon. Him soaking in that Spring Pool for half of his days isn't making me happy." Sage said.

"He doesn't look like someone who wants to find a partner...I don't see him in any romance boat soon... it's unimaginable." Cheyenne lay back.

"What do you mean? If he's not interested, then why always telling us to gather females to check for the mark?" Sage said.

"You don't understand him, but I do." Cheyenne sighed.

Sage just went quiet.

--

[West Palace]

It's another sad night, and no one is sleeping. Blaise is still in captivity at the East Palace.

It was Kasia who messaged Ryker earlier, and they're still awaiting his response.

"He never replies texts, I'm telling you. Ryker never types." Winona said.

"I don't want him to reply, I want him to come!" Kasia snapped.

"So what if he comes? You think he'd agree to help? He loves seeing people die and I'm sure he'd take the front seat at Blaise's punishment arena tomorrow." Winona argued.

"Stop talking badly, Winona. There's still time before daybreak, meaning we can still save Blaise. Don't jinx it." Astor said.

"And Faye, why have you been silent?" Winona faced her.

"My words wouldn't make Blaise come back, just leave me." Faye replied.

"Faye!" Astor cautioned.

"I get that you hate me and Blaise, but showing a little concern won't kill you." Kasia said.

Before Faye could reply, Ryker entered the lobby, steps deliberately slow but precise.

Kasia met him halfway, blocking him completely with teary eyes.

"You have to help us tomorrow. Blaise can't die.  You're the only person I could think of. I can't lose my only son." She sobbed.

"And if I say no?" Ryker muttered.

"I know you don't care about lives, but please... please save Blaise." Astor came closer too.

"What if I said no?" Ryker repeated.

"Are you trying to rile us up and get on our last nerves?" Winona stepped in, crying so much.

"If Blaise dies in there, then we won't sit still!"

"You can do nothing. If you're really gonna do anything, you'd have fought and brought Blaise back home. But you know if you did that, Azura and Zeke would kill y'all in a blink, so you layed low and decided to call me... it's predictable." Ryker said curtly.

"But you have no reason to turn us down!" Faye stood finally.

"If you weren't born, this family would still be ruling the city right now. Your birth brought the FrostOrb which we were dethroned with, so basically you're the reason we lost this city! You have no reason to not help!" She said angrily.

Next minute, she tumbled on her own, landing on the ground and bleeding water from the mouth so much that it soaked her dress in the front.

"Faye!" Astor rushed to hold her up. She's panting for breaths, eyes opening and closing abnormally.

"Faye!"

Winona and Kasia exchanged glances, they stepped away from Ryker.

"Bold of y'all to think you can invite me here and threaten me with my existence. I didn't kill anyone here tonight doesn't mean I won't do it later, so mark your limits, I'm not a cliche demigod from the bright side." He warned and left as suddenly as he came.

Faye is still coughing on the ground, but her watering mouth has stopped. She still can't talk though.

"I think he did something to her voice..." Astor said.

Winona opened Faye's mouth, and just like she suspected, her tongue is frozen.

"He froze her tongue..." She muttered.

Faye was already crying before she could finish the statement.

"That bastard..." Kasia sniffled.

--

[Next Morning, East Palace~ Slaves Hall]

The chatters of the other slaves as they came out of the hall was what woke Shayla up.

She sat up on the corridor with a gentle yawn, and she expected her tummy to react to it, but it didn't.

She quickly rolled up her blouse and unwrapped the scarf.

She was shocked to see her wound has closed up like it was never there.

"What happened? I was still wounded here before I went to sleep.." She muttered, pressing the tummy.

"Grand Prince Jude probably likes you...I saw him healing you last night." Lilith said beside her.

Shayla stood. "Why would you lock me out last night?"

"Are you insane? You're questioning me? You were out late and I locked the door as the janitress!" Lilith glared.

"This is why you'll never grow taller!" Shayla said before she knew it.

Her breaths refused to calm as she stepped away from the corridor.

Lilith sighed, smirking...

"That wench, i should probably find a way to tell Grand Supreme Zeke about his son's feelings for a slave. Maybe she'd get killed?" She said, returning inside.

--

[Slaves Kitchen]

Xena was counting pies inside the serving basket, and the old chef was pouring the custard in the big bowls when Shayla arrived.

She waited patiently till they were done, and Xena came out to meet her.

"Did you sleep on the ground? Your back is dusty." She said immediately, rubbing her back with her palm.

"I was locked out, so I slept on the corridor ground." Shayla said.

"Oh dear...I'm sorry about that. Lilith is terrible" Xena sighed.

"It's fine, but my wound healed before daybreak, and Lilith was telling me it's Grand Prince Jude...I don't understand." Shayla said.

"Seriously?" Xena quickly pulled up the blouse from Shayla's tummy.

"It's really gone, oh my gawd, I knew it! I knew he had a soft spot for you!"

"For me? Why?" Shayla blinked.

"Why why? You're beautiful. Look at your luscious lips and lofty eyes." Xena said, and Shayla quickly took her lips into her mouth.

"I don't think so... maybe he just pities me...yunno?" She said.

"No he definitely lik—"

"Shh" Shayla cut her off, and Xena giggled.

"I forgot to ask who Granny Jojo is" Shayla frowned.

"She's the Granny of this place, Azura's mother." Xena explained.

"Oh... Shayla nodded."

"And the news has been confirmed. Winona's brother is really gonna get punished with 50 thunders." Xena broke the news.

"Seriously?" Shayla's eyes widened a bit. "Why? They already took the city from the parents, why trying to kill the children?"

"Cos he blinded Sadie's eye with his hair, and I heard they're gonna shave his head too." Xena fully explained.

"What! That's...too much." Shayla muttered.

"Nothing is too much in this place, Shay. This place is cruel, and that's why I told you to never trust anyone. Just hope for liberation." Xena said.

"So they're really gonna kill him?" Shayla said worriedly.

"By 10am, the thunder arena would be opened, and he'd receive the strikes." Xena said, sighing out again.

A instrumental song suddenly whirred into the air, causing Xena's eyes to widen.

"That sound! It belongs to the twins, meaning they're practicing at the Starr balcony. Let's go watch!" She pulled Shayla's wrist.

"But you're gonna serve breakfast to the hall!" Shayla pulled back.

"Not until 8, and time is still past 7. There's still time." Xena cleared.

"What about the main castle?" Shayla asked, trying to be free of trouble.

"I and father wake up at 4 everyday, and by 7, we finish cooking both in the slaves kitchen and the castle kitchen. Breakfast is completely done so stop worrying and come!" Xena pulled again.

Shayla didn't resist. She followed her, and though the chains on her ankles slowed down their rub, they shortly arrived at the back of a pillar beside the old park.

From there, they peeked out to the Starr balcony where the twins are practicing their ballet with Mercury. 

The moment Shayla set eyes on them, she couldn't blink nor look away from their moves.

Their dress up, their moods, the way they became one with the music.

It's so beautiful to watch.

"See? I knew you'd like it. I love the dance so much." Xena whispered beside her.

"Wow," Shayla muttered, looking stunned. Stars sparkled in her eyes, and she smiled as she watched.

She wants to do that.

She wants to be a ballerina too.

"My future plans restructured. I'll escape this city and go to the human world, eat good food and sleep then become a ballerina." She said.

"Future deal" Xena raised her palm.

"What?" Shayla muttered, not understanding.

Xena took her palm, slapping it with her own.

"Deal" Shayla smiled.

They parted ways at the park.

Xena returned to the kitchen while Shayla made her way back to the Slaves Hall.

She was still on her way when she saw an oldie not far from herself.

Dark hair, but her face says she's old, and as she walked, she held her sides, looking tired.

"The Granny?" Shayla muttered, then she continued her walk.

She barely went two steps before looking back again, seeing that the woman is swaying as she walked.

It's like she wants to fall and pass out.

Shayla changed lane, rushing to her. She held the woman before she could fall, and the woman also held on to her tightly.

"Ma? Ma'am!" Shayla blew air on her face, trying to keep her alive. She's also caressing her wrist, putting pressure on her pulse.

"Ma!"

Granny Jojo's eyes opened slightly, she slid her arm on Shayla's shoulder, using her as support.

"I heard you just woke up from coma, you shouldn't be walking yet, ma'am." Shayla said.

"There," Jojo pointed with frailty at her chamber route.

Shayla guided her there, making sure their bodies stayed together as anchor till they arrived at the building behind the castle.

Jojo opened the door, and Shayla further helped her in, setting her in bed. She supported her back with a pillow.

"You should rest a bit more, and drink water." Shayla poured her some water from the jug on the room table, bringing her the cup.

Jojo took the cup and drank without arguing, the young lady took the cup from her and set it down.

"Rest well, ma'am. I should take my leave. If any of the family finds me here, I'll get killed with thunder too." She bowed.

"Stop!" Jojo said before she could even take a step.

Shayla paused, their eyes meeting.

"Who are you?" Jojo asked.

"Shayla, a new slave. Lord Ryker bought me." She replied.

"Oh...it's you." Jojo smiled.

"Yes, ma'am." Shayla politely said.

"How did you know to rub my wrists and blow air on my face earlier? I could have passed out and slipped back into coma if you didn't do it." Jojo asked.

"It's a secret," Shayla said boldly, and Jojo smiled again.

"Secret?"

"Yes. Slaves can keep secrets too. And I'm not trying to disrespect, but I'm just...not very ... open." Shayla slowly replied, and Jojo chuckled this time, sounding amused.

"You're bold" 

"I'm not trying to be bold, though..." Shayla blinked, and the woman smiled again.

"You're oddly interesting too, and adorable. I'll reward you for bringing me back here. What do you want?" 

"Me?" Shayla touched her own chest.

"Don't ask me to free you cos I don't have that power, but ask anything else." Jojo said.

"Then can I ask... two?" Shayla said slowly.

Jojo chuckled again. "Two? Again, you're bold."

"I'm sorry, ma'am." Shayla apologized with a quick bow.

"Go on, let's hear what you have to say." Jojo got serious.

"The boy from the West Palace, can you...help him... revoke his thunder punishment?" Shayla asked.

"Someone from the West Palace is getting a thunder punishment?" Jojo frowned.

"Yes. The male child. I just feel like... it's... unfair." Shayla said firmly.

Granny Jojo stared into space for a minute, then she looked at her...

"Fine, done. What's the second one?" She asked.

Shayla's stomach rumbled in response to that, and her eyes met with Jojo again.

"I'm guessing the second one is good food?" Jojo asked.

"Can I... really?" Shayla asked slowly.

Jojo got her telephone from beside the bed, calling the castle kitchen.

"Bring my breakfast in two portions." She ordered, dropping the phone.

"It'll be here shortly, have your sit." She gestured at a stool—same one Ryker sat on yesterday.

Shayla bowed again and had her sit. If she's gonna go do the work of death at the camp today again, she needs good food, not the custard and pie.

"Who were your parents?" Granny Jojo's question made her look up.

"Huh?"

Jojo remained silent, and Shayla remained silent too, just staring into space. That's a subject she doesn't wanna say. Not now.

"It's ok, maybe it's one of your secrets.  You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Jojo said.

"Thank you, Grand Granny."

"Grand Granny?" Jojo laughed. "Just call me Granny."

Shayla suddenly shot up from the stool, remembering something.

The word Ryker said last night.

"Durak"

"Durak?" Jojo squinted.

"Don't mind me." Shayla sat back.

"That's a word from the Morozov family language" Jojo said.

"You know it?" Shayla smiled up.

"Of course. And durak means FOOL." Jojo translated.

Shayla's face fell immediately, her arms dropped.

"He... called me a fool?"

"Who?" Jojo asked, just not getting enough of her voice.

"Lord Ryker." Shayla muttered.

"Ryker? Ryker talked to you?" Jojo said surprisingly.

"Last night, I was senselessly mimicking him in a corridor. I called him arrogant, and he caught me. He ordered me to continue." Shayla mumbled, and Jojo chuckled.

"And? So what happened after that?"

"Of course I continued, and he called me durak. I'm not a durak." Shayla muttered, and Jojo laughed out louder this time.

Shayla blinked, wondering why she has been laughing and chuckling.

Is she that funny?

Meanwhile, by the front door of the chamber, Ryker stood with Cheyenne and Sage by his sides.

He came here with the purpose of discussing Blaise's punishment revoke with Jojo, but he stood by the door when he heard that disturbing voice from last night.

Shayla's.

He has been listening to her conversation with Jojo.

Cheyenne and Sage just stood by his sides, wondering why he's not going inside.

"Fine...fine... you're not a durak, ok?" Granny Jojo's voice said from inside.

"Yes I'm not," Shayla mumbled a reply, and Jojo laughed again.

Ryker's lips pressed a little bit. A soft but genuine smile hung on his lips corner, revealing his deep dimples before he knew it.

TBC.

Next Episode 

Previous Episode