Heart Of Stone - Episode 13&14

 

HEART OF STONE

Heart Of Stone - Episode 13&14

 (..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.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

The fall was fast. Dark. Perilous. 

Despite dragging the short devil along with her, Shayla's heart was thudding faster than winter rain thrums as she fell in the darkness.

She didn't scream. Her eyes just stayed terrifically wide, but Lilith was wailing till they both landed at the bottom of the pit.

Shayla's body took the largest hit though. She was at the bottom, Lilith's body landed on her.

They found themselves on top of dried rotting leaves and fallen stems. The place looks beyond time with the strange trees with insane heights.

It's suspiciously calm, but the sounds of their fearful breaths kept interrupting the calmness.

Lilith stood from Shayla's body, her stunted figure looking evil and scared altogether.

"Did I really...fall into the beast forest? Oh no, am I gonna get eaten? Am I? No no...this can't be reallll!"

She remembered she's not here alone, so she turned face to Shayla who's still laying flat on the ground.

Her eyes are open, but she can't even stand. It's like her backbone got fractured since she received the weight of Lilith's body during the fall.

"You actually pulled me with you?" Lilith grinned. "You're much more bolder than I think, your tiny appearance is only a facade. You're a bî+ch!"

"It feels bad taking a dose from your own medicine, right?" Shayla muttered tiredly from the ground.

"And you think you can escape death here? Even if the wild boars don't kill you, I'll do it!" Lilith picked a large stone from the ground to throw.

Shayla struggled to stand, leaving that spot. The stone missed her and fell against the leaves.

"I can't die yet. I've been a slave all my life, and I have to at least live a good enjoyable life for a bit before accepting death, so I won't let you or the wild boars kill me." Shayla shook her head, holding her waist with two hands as she talked.

Lilith laughed out loud, pointing an hand forward.

"We were all born slaves, and our parents were executed immediately we were born. Afterwards, we were sent to the census office as babies. We grew up in the census office till we were 5yrs old before we were sent to the dark room cages. That's the normal protocol for all slaves, but you... you're a different one, aren't you?"

Shayla gulped, knowing where she's going.

"I heard your mother is a popular fashion diva in this city. She fell in love with a human and had you, but—"

"Stop, Lilith! Stop talking about me!" Shayla warned sensitively, dropping her arms from her waist.

"What?" Lilith laughed again, her expression so unyielding. "Are you scared to hear your own history?"

"You should probably tell me why you are a dwarf instead." Shayla replied, knowing that's gonna trigger her, and it did.

Lilith's neck nearly bursted, resembling a cobra's as she stalked towards her.

"How about I kill you instead?"

Shayla moved back, continuously walking backwards without taking her eyes away from the short lady.

"Remember I told you the other time that I have the ability to block noises? Well I also have the ability to create them. Now take this." Lilith smiled evilly, opening her mouth wide.

The scream she let out shook the whole forest, and shockingly, it uprooted several trees, making them fall all-over each other.

The trees fell exactly towards Shayla's spot, and she didn't wait for calamity before running away from there.

As she ran, Lilith chased, screaming and falling more tree logs which rolled after her, going after her life.

Shayla was relentlessly running for her life too, not bothering to even look back for once.

Looking back in danger will only make the danger come closer, so she ran faster, her calves nearly hitting her occipital lobe.

She didn't even notice when the bandage fell from her arm.

Lilith's screams, the falling trees, and the shaking forest pumped her adrenaline more, but she came to a standstill when she sighted a pack of wild boars coming in front of her.

They're mighty, tall and huge.

So it's true. This forest is really a beastly place.

With trembling sweaty body, she turned back to see Lilith is still coming with her screams.

Lilith at the back, and boars in front of her. There's really no hope anymore, is there?

She just stood there, awaiting the upcoming doom.

Her new dream to become a ballerina?

Shattered.

Her lifelong dream of going to the human world?

Ruined.

Her wish to see her mother again?

Broken.

She was already crying even before the boars got to her.

She fell on the ground, eyes slamming short as she pointed her arms forward.

The boars should at least eat her arms first and let her stay alive for more minutes.

But instead of feeling their sharp teeth on her arms, she felt cold water on her skin.

Extra cold water.

Her eyes opened back, then they went up fast to see the figure in black. The only one who wears robes in the palace.

Of course it's the demigod.

Shayla stood to her feet, and she was more shocked to see the wild boars are already in ice form.

He froze them.

His eyes are the usual melancholic nature, but with a dash of anger this time. He looks angry, and his hand is in a dull stretch in front of him.

Right in front of her, the frozen boars shattered to pieces.

More cold water splashed, and her skin received another wetness.

With one smooth turn, Ryker faced the back where Lilith is standing shockingly too. She has stopped screaming, and her falling trees already stopped too.

"You were also in the Groove the last time, weren't you?" Ryker questioned, his anger still prevalent.

Like a naive innocent saint, Lilith fell on her knees.

"No. I've never entered the Groove!" She lied through her teeth.

"And today?" Ryker intentionally asked, voice hardening.

"Shayla and i...we were thrown here by the supervisors! I was trying to scare away the wild boars with my screams, believe me!" 

"Enough!" Ryker snapped, glaring with simmering intensity.

That one glare did it.

Lilith's head immediately felt like a thousand nails and rocks are slamming rhythmically in there.

She grabbed her head, her eyes popping out as the headache scratched her skull, tickled her brain.

"Arghhhgg!!!!! Please please please!!!!! It's... it's too pain...arghhhhggg!!!!!"

One more second, she was already rolling on the ground, her watering eyes a confirmation of her hellish pains. 

Blood was rushing in another second, and it's coming out of every hole in her body including her private parts.

Ryker's glare didn't drop, his torture didn't stop. He even heightened it, and it got worse cos Lilith began sweating blood too.

"Please please please!!!!!....it hurts!!!!!!!!! Arghhhgg!!!!!!!"

Shayla stayed speechless beside him, watching the torture with twisted feelings.

Lilith is a mean girl who almost killed her, but still...

"Please, please...let her go." She found herself begging on Lilith's behalf.

"You think I'm doing this for you?" Ryker's eyes hit her hard, and she shifted back.

"Huh?"

His force went back to Lilith's body again, and Lilith's eyes began shedding blood too.

Shayla swallowed.

Looks like she's really gonna die cos Ryker doesn't look like he wants to let her go at all.

When the torture got unbearable, Lilith passed out, her body going completely limp on the leaves. Her blood pooled around her.

"A banshee?" Ryker muttered with crumpled brows.

His glare stopped, and he went closer to Lilith's body, standing beside it.

Shayla just stood behind, watching like a spectator.

He called Lilith a banshee, no wonder her screams were that powerful.

Ryker stood beside the dwarf's body for a little while before coming back.

Shayla's face went down, but he didn't look bothered by it. His eyes went to her wounded arm.

It was definitely done by nails. No wonder he smelled blood from Cheyenne's nails earlier.

His gaze moved to Shayla's face, but she's still looking down.

"What happened to the bold beggar? You were mimicking me fine that night, now you can't even look up?" He said, but that only made her shove her face to the ground again.

"Look up!" He ordered.

Slowly, her head came up, and he saw the wetness on her face. This isn't from his ice water. They're her tears.

He took a black embroidered handkerchief out of his pocket, throwing it at her.

She caught it to her chest, and he didn't say another word before starting to walk away.

Shayla looked at the handkerchief, then at his backside as he walked.

She smiled before looking at the handkerchief again, bringing it to her face.

She wiped the tears then rushed after him to catch up, but she made sure to keep space between them so their bodies won't touch.

Getting him angry would be dangerous, and she definitely doesn't want that after he showed mercy by giving her his handkerchief.

The walked in silence for a while, just the sound of their footsteps, singing birds and her own breaths.

"Wow, your powers are...cool." She boldly started a conversation.

"Your boldness came back?" He replied, the deepness of his voice rattling the forest.

"I was just scared earlier, you looked like a demon when you were making her bleed all-over." She said.

"And now?" He looked at her.

"Now...you still look intimidating, but less." She replied, fondling with the handkerchief she's holding.

Ryker rode his frowny eyes away from her, other features unaffected.

"Pardon me with my running mouth, I'm still a kid." She talked again.

"How old are you?" He looked at her again.

"26" she sharply replied.

"Kid at 26?" He smirked. "Durak."

"Fool?" She secretly made faces.

"Aren't you?" He's still looking at her as he said it, and she blinked away.

"How old are you then?" She asked, but then she covered her mouth with her palm, realizing she has no right to question him.

"350" He replied surprisingly.

She fell on her knees in front of him, making him stop.

She bowed her head too.

"You really deserve the worshiping and kneeling and bowing. You're like my ancestor..." She said, not realizing how funny she sounds saying that.

Ryker stayed there, staring at her funny self on the ground.

"350 with that goodlooking young youth face and model-like body? So you're an Eternal Luminarian, you'll live forever? You'll never grow old? I heard everyone in the East Palace are Eternals too. Grand Prince Jude is five years older than you, so he's...355? The twins are ten years younger than you so they're...340? Meaning Grand Supreme and his wife are thousands of years old? And Granny is probably uncountable. Omg!" She gasped.

"You want part of my long life?" Ryker rolled eyes to the side, and she quickly got up.

"No. I only want to live fine in the future and die when i grow old." She muttered, then their walk resumed.

"Though the living fine part is looking impossible, I dunno if I'll ever stop slaving here." She said to herself.

"You'll be staying with Grann from now on." He suddenly said.

It sounded like her ears were hearing trash at first, but when it resounded, she got in front of him again.

"Me? With Granny?"

"You have nothing to pack, so you're going there straight from here. Tend to her needs." Ryker stated.

"Meaning I won't be coming to the labor camp anymore?" She blinked.

"What? It's too much?" He blankly replied, and she jumped.

"No... It's not too much! Thank you! Thank you!!"

"Wake up at 5, sweep and clean her chamber. She'll stop eating from the castle kitchen, you'll cook for her in her chambers. Run her bathwater, pick her clothes out, wash the unclean ones."

"I'll do everything! I can do anything... except cooking." She muttered the last part like a secret, biting her lip inwardly.

"Then return to the labor camp." He said curtly, bypassing her and moving forward.

"I spent almost all my life in a cage so it'd be weird if I can cook! I need someone to teach me and I'll grasp it and even hone my skills myself! I promise I'm a fast learner!" She said loudly, her voice following him.

He didn't stop walking.

"My Lord!" She went after him again, her voice echoing.

They went out of sight, and the castle guards appeared from the pit entrance.

They expected to see Shayla's body torn to bits by the boars, but they met Lilith's unconscious body instead.

She's almost dead.

"Pick her up" their leader instructed, and the others obeyed.

--

[Black Swan Ballet School, 2PM]

There are no silly classes distribution here in the school.

Upgrade happens by tiers. There are Tier 1, 2 and 3.

Tier 2&3 are for the other billionaire dancers from powerful families, but 1 is obviously for the twins and Mercury.

They all practice in the same hall and receive ballet classes in the same room, but whenever it's time to perform publicly, the twins and Mercury are always at the center.

They always take the shine and glory. No one else can enter Tier One except them. They're like Diamond 3.

Presently, it's the exercising period in the gymnasium, and it's full of dancers who're stretching their bodies and sweating out their calories to prepare for the next class.

Soren sat in a corner at the gym, his hair slickly wet cos he had poured bottled water on it earlier. His armless shirt looks sweaty cos he had exercised a little too much, but he's not preparing to take it off at all.

He loves when girls drool over his sweaty body.

Mercury sat beside him. Her face is into her phone, but she's secretly peeking at Soren's sweaty body.

Sadie is standing on pointe not far from them, looking as devious and devilish as ever with that black lipstick and her short skirt that barely covered her arse.

She still can't get her mind off what happened at the thunder arena. It gets more and more upsetting when she thinks about it.

The other ballet dancers around her kept quiet, exercising in silence cos whenever Sadie is like this, then it's gets messy with noise.

"Sadie, enough with the venting, don't break your toes. You've been standing on pointe for an hour now." Mercury said.

With a loud heave, Sadie dropped on her full foot, but just as she was about to go grab a bottle of water, she sighted a girl who's photographing Soren with her phone.

With three long steps, she was with the girl. She snatched the phone from her, scrolling through her gallery to see she snapped over thirty pictures of Soren already.

She looked up glaringly, and the girl gulped emptiness.

"I was just...I was..."

"What's going on?" Soren and Mercury joined them. 

"The bî+ch was snapping your pictures!" Sadie barked, showing them the phone screen.

"I bet I'm the only one on her gallery. Gawd, It's always the ugly ones." Soren said rudely.

"Don't tell me you have a crush on him? You're not aware that you can't like Soren without Sadie's permission?" Mercury pushed the girl, and she fell back.

Sadie shattered the phone on the ground, and the girl started running out of the gym, but Sadie attacked her halfway.

Her eyes did the glow, and Soren joined her, both striking her down at the same time.

She didn't bleed. She didn't scream, but it was instantaneous.

She fell down and died on the spot, and the worse part?

Her body started smelling immediately.

Sadie picked a bottled water, pouring the water on her dead body.

"That should be enough to row you to hell where you'll burn to ashes" she laughed, dumping the bottle on her body too.

The other dancers converged around, covering their noses to block the smell.

"Well-deserved." Mercury scoffed.

"Let this be a deterrent to the rest of you! Don't like my sister, and do not fall for me!" Soren announced.

It didn't take long before morgue attendants rushed into the gymnasium, and as usual, the body was carried away.

No one questioned the twins.

No one dares.

"Let's go, Soren." Sadie raised her shoulders, going for the door.

Soren followed her, and the other dancers released the breaths they've been holding.

Mercury didn't follow the twins. Instead, she went to the Head Teacher's office.

She slid the silver door open, going inside with a large smile.

Her mother—Esme, sat on the swivel chair behind the large desk, her beauty so feral.

She has been crowned the most beautiful woman in Luminaria twice, and no doubt she's gonna take the award this year again at the Feast.

She's really beautiful, and that makes her pride skyrocket all the time.

Her bright yellow nails dropped from the laptop in front of her. She relaxed on her chair till Mercury got to her and sat on her desk with one part of her butt.

"Your evil twin friends killed another dancer again? They really won't stop till they kill every ballet dancer in this school, right?" Esme said, removing her eyeglasses.

"But she started it by snapping Soren's pictures. You know how much Sadie hates phones right? So they killed her, and it's even better. People fear Ryker cos he kills everyday, they should make people fear them by killing everyday too." Mercury shrugged.

"People fear Ryker cos he's a demigod who carries the millennial ice inside him, and his aura is ultimate. His bloodthirst is just a bonus. They wanna be like him?" Esme scoffed.

"Whose side are you on? Our side? Or Ryker's?" Mercury said.

"Why are you here?" Esme went back to working on her laptop.

"The Feast...the upcoming Lantern Night Feast, we're performing, right? We didn't perform last year and you promised to make it happen this year! Motherrr" Mercury held her hands.

"It's been confirmed, my dancers are performing, happy now?" Esme sighed, taking her hands from Mercury.

She picked her iced tea cup and had a short sip while brushing her hair with her fingers.

"You're the absolute best! And make sure I and my twin friends are in the center!" Mercury kissed her cheek before rushing out of the office.

"Brat" Esme smiled, dropping her tea cup. She received a call from a known number, and the smile that perched on her face showed that she has been expecting the call for long.

She picked up, turning her swivel chair to back her desk.

--

[West Palace, Blaise's Room]

Going to the ballet school after escaping death would be stupid, so Blaise has been resting at home.

He's laying in bed, facing the ceiling while caressing the fur of his fluffy pet dog that's beside him.

When he was chained to the thunder arena chains on the pinnacle, he was ready to hug death but like a dream, he's suddenly saved?

Whatever Ryker is planning to use him for is definitely not anything nice. Ryker isn't nice.

And as for Sadie... Maybe he's just gonna fight her from the shadows from now on. Physical fight isn't advisable, he'd only get hurt.

His door opened, and he sat up in bed  as Faye came in with a tray of syrup in a small cup.

"Your mother said you'd feel more at ease if you drink it." She said, dropping the tray beside him.

"I'm not drinking" Blaise pushed the tray away from the bed, wasting the syrup on the ground.

"She made so much effort before she was able to squeeze this syrup out of the honeycomb herself!" Faye snarled.

"Then maybe she shouldn't have let you bring it." Blaise got down from the bed.

"Oh...so this is about me again? This is about my father marrying your mother? I'm not comfortable with it too! I don't like you or your mother, but I still tried to speak up for you when the bastard was invited here, and he froze my tongue because of you!" She shouted.

"He should have left it frozen forever, he shouldn't have melted it." Blaise muttered, throwing on long pants.

"What!" Faye's arms dropped.

"Let's go, Faye!" Blaise gestured at his pet dog. 

The dog jumped down from the bed too, following him towards the door.

"You gave your dog my name?" Faye said unbelievably.

"Cos that's what you are? A dog?" Blaise replied, leaving with the dog.

"Damn you! Blaise Spectre!" Faye yelled, but it wasn't enough to bring Blaise back.

She was panting as she flung his antiques bowl yo the wall.

In the lobby downstairs, Kasia and Astor are seated, drinking happily from small cups of liquor while staring at Winona who's currently packaging a gift.

"Who's the gift for?" Kasia asked.

"Shayla. I heard she was the one who asked Grandmother Jojo to intervene." Winona smiled.

"You like the slave girl that much?" Astor smiled back.

"Gawd forbid a lady wants to say thank you." Winona said.

Astor grinned. The weight of Blaise's misfortune that's off his shoulder made his maid lighter.

"But I like her. Even if I can't have her for now, I believe I'll have her later. We'll still get this city back, and by then, she'll be mine." Winona said.

"I see you have a plan" Kasia chuckled.

"As always" Winona shrugged.

"Ryker helped save Blaise, and Jojo. Those two seem like the people who'd bend to our side..." Kasia said.

"Jude too. I might know how to persuade him." Winona sat, placing the gift box on her laps.

"Making three of them. We can actually use the three of them to take the East back. If we use them well, it'd be productive." Kasia said.

"I'm not bothered about Jojo or Jude, but Ryker? Are you serious? You think he's easy to get to? He saved Blaise cos he wanted to, not because we begged him, so don't think he's on anyone's side." Astor said.

"But we're in this situation cos of him. The FrostOrb was born with him, and the Millions Family snatched the city from us with it." Winona said, supporting Kasia.

Astor went silent.

"I don't care whichever tactic or gimmick I'm gonna apply. I'll rein him in here." Kasia said, downing another small liquor cup.

--

[East Palace, Soul Hall]

Soul Hall was made for preserving bodies of dead palace maids or slaves or guards.

Not because they're important, but because after their deaths, Azura or Zeke takes out their souls and merges with them.

Their powers don't only come from the FrostOrb, but also from the souls they eat here.

Lilith's body was brought from the forest. A little life is still hanging on her throat as she lay on a bed.

Azura is the only one inside with her, and she's busy checking out the body.

She'd have killed her completely to eat her soul, but there's just something about her.

"What's going on?" Zeke asked as he entered the hall.

"What took you so long to come?" Azura asked.

"There was a report that the twins killed a fellow ballet dancer in school, so I was sending condolence money to the deceased parents." Zeke replied like it meant nothing.

When he arrived at the bed, he frowned cos he was expecting Shayla's body instead.

"Why her?" 

"According to the supervisors, she took it upon herself to do the killing, but the slave pulled her down the pit with herself. Ryker went in there to save the slave, and he wounded this one fatally. Her heart bursted, and her lungs are intertwined already. Also, most of her body bones are broken, and her brain melted too. He must have tortured her too much." Azura explained.

"Ryker saved the slave?" Zeke frowned. "Strange, that bastard never saves, he only kills. His 150 billion cash is important to him after all."

He returned his eyes to Lilith in bed.

"Why is she still alive?" 

"The guards reported that there were abnormally fallen trees in the forest, and there were sound waves echoing. Also, look at the splits on her lips." Azura analyzed.

Zeke looked at it, his eyes shadowing.

"She's a banshee?" 

"Exactly, we have to bring her back to life fully. Ryker destroyed her body parts, it's impossible to repair them, but we can change them. Order the parents of the girl that was killed by the twins and tell them to bring her body here. We're gonna give this banshee her organs." Azura said.

"Smart enough, it's been centuries since I came across a banshee. And she's a slave?" Zeke said.

"She's a rare breed, her Luminarian parent gene must have suppressed the human one. We'll be needing her, so get the body." Azura sighed.

"Sure," Zeke pulled out his phone to make the call.

--

[Granny's Chamber]

Shayla's new room is small, but she can't even ask for more. It's more than enough.

Though, there's only a bed inside since she has no clothes except the one on her body.

Still, she's happy. Maybe her life is gonna change after all. Maybe she won't die being a slave.

She's currently in the room, checking everything out and smiling loudly, her cute set of teeth flashing.

"I have a room?" She sat on the bed, pressing the mattress with her fingers. "And a bed too!"

"Shay!" Xena's voice made her stand from bed. Xena rushed inside.

"Xena!" She rushed to meet her.

"Goodness! You're really gonna start living here from now? I'm so happy for you!" Xena hugged her tightly, swaying side to side as Shayla's small arms wrapped around her too.

"I heard Lilith tried killing you and you pulled her, I love you!" Xena broke the hug, and Shayla smiled.

"I did well?"

"Of course! And your buyer came to save you? The news is all-over the palace." Xena gushed again.

"He was cool with the powers, and I got terrified when he was torturing Lilith. I had to start begging, but he was like; You think I'm doing this for you?" Shayla mimicked, and Xena laughed, pushing her forehead with a finger.

"How dare you even beg for her?" 

"Where's she by the way?" Shayla asked.

"She's in the Soul hall, and her soul is probably getting sucked out now." Xena shrugged.

Before Shayla could question further, Jude strolled inside.

"Grand Prince Jude?" Xena shifted back and went out to give them privacy.

Jude came straight to Shayla, and she tried to bow, but he placed a finger below her chin, raising her face up.

"Don't" he muttered.

Shayla carefully stepped away from his touch,. His hand dropped.

"Thank you for healing me, I've been wanting to thank you but no chance." She said, but his eyes stayed on the tear wound on her arm.

"How did this happen again?" He asked, wanting to touch it.

Shayla slowly shifted back again before he could.

"It's nothing, it's not painful." She said. His hand dropped again.

"Are you allergic to touches?" He asked, sounding offended.

"Sir?" She blinked up.

"Shay! I think you should dress up!" Xena came back inside, holding a dress. It's not new, not colourful, but it's ok. Must be one of Granny's clothes when she was still a youth.

"Lord Ryker is taking you somewhere I guess." Xena said as Shayla took the dress from her.

"Somewhere?" Shayla blinked.

Xena just left wordlessly.

Shayla looked at Jude, he stared at her with folded palms, then he took out a candy from his pocket and emptied it in his mouth before leaving.

Shayla finally had the opportunity to dress up in the dress which balanced below her knees cos it's so long.

She was adjusting the dress when the black handkerchief fell from her.

She quickly took it and dusted it, folding it neatly and placing it under her small pillow.

--

[Outer Chamber]

Granny Jojo sat in front of a mirror, posture so energetic and fingers stretched.

She's trying to speak to her own shadow through the mirror, but it seems the coma aftereffects is still in her body. Her powers are still kinda weak.

The mirror only became blurry, her shadow refused to appear no matter how much she tried.

"Guess I still need more sleep. Urg! I hate weakness." She complained.

"Go to the FrostOrb room and absorb some energy." Ryker came in.

"The FrostOrb contains power from your own blood, Ryker. I'd be greedy to actually absorb energy from it. I might be part of the Millions Family, but I'll never share in your power, keep that in mind." Jojo stood.

"Inspirational much." Ryker sideyed, and she smiled.

"Thank you for sending her here." 

"Where is she?" Ryker squinted.

Jude came out of the inner chamber, smiling when he saw Ryker.

"You're too scarce these days. You're hard to see." He complained.

"What are you doing here?" Ryker asked, his squint still there.

"He's the only sane one among my grandchildren, of course he's welcome here anytime." Granny said.

"Of course" Jude hugged her lightly by the side.

Ryker's squint faded, but he stayed as stiff as a stone.

Shayla came out of the inner chamber, looking much better in the dress.

"Nah...she looks like a granny in that old-fashioned dress. There should be better ones." Jude said in disapproval.

"Leave her—for now. I know what I'm doing." Granny said immediately.

Jude blinked in confusion, and Shayla faced Ryker, awkwardly adjusting her dress on her shoulder.

Jojo took off her flat shoes, giving it to her to wear.

"Thank you," Shayla smiled appreciatively and slipped them on.

Luckily, her feet is just as small as the Granny's, so the shoes fit.

When she looked up, Ryker's palm is already spread.

She looked at the palm, then at Ryker's stoic face, wondering if she's supposed to take it.

"Come here" Ryker ordered, and that was when she moved to him. She gently placed her palm on his cold palm, and he made them teleport.

"Did Ryker just touch someone? For real? Where did they go by the way?" Jude asked.

"Secret" Jojo winked at him.

Jude rolled eyes.

Behind the door, Cheyenne stood with Sage, and her nails are digging into her palms as she folded them.

Her blood dropped on the ground from her bleeding palm.

"We're gathering the hundred maidens before tomorrow, it's hest if we go for the selection now." Sage said, stepping away.

Cheyenne followed with madly hardened jaws.

--

Shayla and Ryker reappeared in front of a Cooking School.

She took a long look at the signboard in front of it...

EASTSIDE CULINARY SCHOOL. She's gonna be learning cooking here, and she should be able to grasp the concept within 24hrs.

She faced Ryker.

"Did we just teleport?" She smiled, but her smile faded when she saw his eyes, staring down at her differently.

They look hard, thorny. Something between disbelief and rummage.

Then she noticed he's still holding her hand too. 

He's holding it tighter than before.

She softly tried removing it, but he held tighter, and she looked up at him again,...with a gasp this time.

"My...Lord?" She drawled, voice slightly shaky.

Ryker's eyes dropped lower. He's still not letting her go.

Not when her warmness is much. Her hand is warm—very warm.

It's the warmest he has ever felt.

"My Lord? You're scaring me again." Shayla repeated, gulping again.

Ryker let go of her, and his dagger appeared on his palm.

He unsheathed speedily it and cut his palm with it. He bled out.

"My—"

Shayla couldn't say 'Lord' before he grabbed her, turned her around and pulled down the zip of her dress.

Cold breeze hit her bare back, and her mouth widened with her eyes.

TBC.

Next Episode 

Previous Episode