Heart Of Stone - Episode 21&22

 

HEART OF STONE

Heart Of Stone - Episode 21&22

 (..Sold•To•The•Pit•Of•Hell..)

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Copyright © 2025.

By: Naomi Cindy B.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Ryker chewed slowly as if savoring the taste, trying to let his gums feel every succulence and trying to let the buds feel every taste.

Shayla couldn't blink as she awaited what he has to say, but he didn't say anything before taking another forkful to his mouth, chewing just as slowly as he chewed the first one.

"How's it, Moy Vladika?" She asked when she couldn't wait for the review any longer.

He ate the third forkful without replying her, and she smiled. Maybe that's enough to answer her.

He ate three full forks from her meal? She'd relive this moment over and over in her head.

But it didn't end in three forkfuls. He ate more, and she lost count of it. All she could do is hold the cooler and watch him eat as perfectly as every of his moves.

Is he supposed to eat this perfectly too? And oh...

It's the first time she'd actually be seeing him up close without blood on his face, so it's different in a weird kind of way.

He dropped the fork when he ate half of the meal, and she felt satisfied. At least he ate.

The teacher at the culinary school said if half of your food gets eaten, then it's a proof that you're more than a average chef.

She covered the remaining food, then dropped the cooler on the windowsill.

"I'll get you some water" she suggested, but by the time she looked back at him, he was already gone.

"That fast? I mean...he needs water to wash it down," She mumbled. "Maybe he's gonna drink when he gets to his tower."

She shrugged and opened the cooler again, then she digged into the fruits, eating with the same fork he used.

"Of course he'd eat half, It's so delicious." She smiled, licking salad cream from the fork.

"What are you eating without me!" Xena finally came.

"After three long years?" Shayla exaggerated.

"Oh please...i was only late for ren minutes." Xena rolled eyes, snatching the cooler from her.

She began eating fast, filling her mouth with the fruits.

"Hmm! This is sweet. You made it yourself?" She said as she filled her mouth for the second time.

"Of course. Should you even be surprised? I learnt cooking." Shayla shrugged.

"It wasn't even up to 24 hours learning. You went at night and came back the next morning, and you learnt these dishes? I'm seriously scared of your brain." Xena sighed.

"I'm just gifted" Shayla shrugged again.

"But what if your Luminarian parent ability suppressed your human parent? What if your retentive memory is your own power?" Xena suddenly said.

"Impossible." Shayla said immediately.

"Why? If Lilith can be a rare breed, then you can be one too." Xena insisted.

"I'm not that lucky, Xena. I'm always the unlucky one." Shayla said.

"Fine, we won't talk about your family anymore. Do you even know how far a banshee's power can go?" Xena asked.

By now, she has finished the salad, so she dropped the cooler.

"I only know their screams are dangerous and can kill. Isn't that why she was able to fall trees with them? Also, they can foresee deaths and they wail whenever someone's death is drawing near." Shayla explained.

"Good. But there's only such power limits in the human world. Here in Luminaria, banshees can't only foresee deaths and scream dangerously, they can also mark people for death, and that's why they're treasured here. Once she marks you, you die mysteriously." Xena further explained.

"Does that mean Lilith is like a walking death waiting to kill right now?" Shayla said, sudden fear gripping her.

"But we'll just be careful, let's stay away from her when she wakes." Xena said.

Shayla nodded, wrapping her arms around Xena. She still can't shake away her fear.

"You're so warm" Xena smiled.

"What about you? What's your power? Back then when I was hurt, you said your powers can't heal, so you have powers definitely." Shayla asked.

Xena looked at her, smiled before looking around. She nodded when she saw a small lizard on the wall close to the ceiling.

"Come here, friend." She said gently.

The lizard crawled down the wall, then it crawled up Xena's clothes till it came to stay at the back of her palm.

"You can speak to animals?" Shayla gasped, and Xena nodded.

"That's so cool!" Shayla clapped twice, and Xena chuckled.

"Not a big deal, i bet there's gonna be a family meeting tonight, so we better stay here till 10. Their family meetings are always chaotic. Last meeting, Sadie threw a cleaning maid outta the castle window." Xena said.

"Is she always angry?" Shayla blinked.

"She's even angry when she's asleep. Somehow, I feel like Soren is still better. At least he cools down once a year." Xena said, and Shayla laughed.

"Once a year?"

"Well I have a news, and don't scream. Don't scold me. Don't do anything. Just listen." Xena cleared her throat.

"Yes?" Shayla said expectantly.

"I applied for the two of us. The ballet school will be taking in new dancers and I happened to see it. So I applied. Final audition happens next week, but first and second audition happens this week. In fact, it's starting tomorrow."

"What!! Xena! You're lying." Shayla held the pillar, stepping away.

"I'm real. I've been watching them practice for years and there's no move I dunno. Also, you only watched once and you already know that much, so we're qualified. We only have to wear masks and look untouchable whenever we're going. I have permit to leave the palace, and you can just ask Granny to help you with a permit too. C'mon, you said you wanted to be a ballerina too. Are you giving up already?" Xena persuaded.

"You could have told me before applying for me. What if Lord Ryker gets angry? What if Granny doesn't like it?" Shayla said worriedly.

"I'll take all the blames if any of them have a problem with it. Trust me and just prepare." Xena assured.

--

[Heartless Tower]

Ryker stood beside a tall treasure chest in his Domain, eyes staring into space but lips still fresh with the taste and sensations of the fruits.

His arms are folded behind him, and he had listened to her conversation with Xena.

Not like he wanted to listen, but his ears just wouldn't stop bringing her voice. And he actually ate the fruits salad? Surprisingly, he only got back on his usual high horse after he ate half of the fruits.

And that's because even as he stood beside her without touches, he was still feeling heat.

It might not be as much as when touches are involved, but at least it was still warm, and it was soothing.

Whoever she is is not an issue to be left flat anymore. It's hightime he digs, and that's gonna start tomorrow.

He needs to travel.

"Sage" he coolly called, and sage rushed into the Domain.

"My Lord!"

"Contact Eternus in the clouds castle, and tell him I'll be coming for a visit tomorrow. Not a quick one, I might take days before leaving his residence." 

"Sudden travel? Why?" Sage asked respectfully.

"I have questions, and I need full pages of answers." Ryker replied stiffly.

"Understood. I'll make the call." Sage said and left,but Cheyenne entered almost immediately.

"Family meeting, you're required to be at the main castle." She reported.

"Lead the way" Ryker said as if he has been expecting this.

Cheyenne obeyed, and he followed.

--

[Soul Hall]

"I was seriously ready for death, didn't expect to be alive at all." Lilith said, sounding stronger than before.

She's sitting back in bed, and there's a small bowl of medicine which she's drinking from.

"And I was saved by Grand Supreme and Madam Azura?" She looked up at the two.

"I still don't understand."

"You know what you are, Lilith. And you know how much power you carry. We need you, and you can be useful in many ways." Azura smiled.

"But I'm a halfbreed, aren't I supposed to be a slave?" Lilith dropped the medicine plate.

"You'll stop being a slave from now on. Your sufferings is ending as we speak. We can adopt you to be a part of the Millions Family if you want, and you'll become a proper member of this East Palace." Zeke said.

"A member of the family?" Lilith got up with a gasp and dreamy eyes.

"Yes. You work for us, we cater for you. Quid pro quo." Azura assured.

"Agreed, I'll because a part of the family and work for you, but I also have a request." Lilith said.

"And it's?" Zeke asked.

"I'm aware that Lord Ryker can't get attached to anyone that's not his partner, and I know I can't ever and will never be the partner, but can I at least be his second wife? I'll occupy the space till his partner arrives. He doesn't have to like me, I just want the title of his wife." Lilith said.

The couple exchanged glances, and Lilith's head went angled.

"What? You both promised you'd do anything."

"It's done. We'll plan the wedding as soon as possible, but he assured that you're the only one who's gonna attend the wedding." Zeke said.

"I know that, I just want his real last name Morozov." Lilith smiled.

"And you'll get that." Azura smiled.

Zeke received a text, and he pulled his phone out of his pocket, then he went outside to read.

--

[Main Castle]

Family meetings happen at the royal dinning table, and every member is on seat already, including Ryker who looks like he's the maker of everyone of them with his poker egocentric face.

Jude is present too, and his headache is much better now, though it's still lingering.

Granny Jojo is sitting not far from Ryker, and she looks calm but stern, her hat sitting in the middle of her grey hair.

The twins and the parents are at the left side of the dinning table, and they're all glaring at the right side.

Everyone is eating except granny and Ryker who're only here to listen to the next gibberish.

"301 citizens are gone, and it's only because twelve of them bullied your 150 billion slaves?" Zeke said, cutting his steak while raising an eyebrow at Ryker.

"I killed them cos I wanted to, bit it's true that their bullying was the needed excuse. And I'm not done killing. There are still two members of their generations in the human world, and I plan to hunt them down and kill them too to complete the number...303." Ryker replied.

"Gutsy, and it's annoying." Soren muttered.

"You shouldn't be talking here right now, considering the fact that you and your twin only joined the ballet school because you both are too dull to learn how to read and write. Family meetings shouldn't include dullards." Ryker flatly replied.

Sadie stood, picked a glass of water and poured it at his face, but the water froze before it could even get to his face. The ice cubes landed on the table.

"Shut up!! You aren't even a part of this family you bastard! If there's anyone who shouldn't even be here in this meeting at all, it's you!" Sadie pounded her palms on the table angrily.

"Seems like I hit home." Ryker muttered. "Sit down, Sadie."

"You f+ckin—"

"Down." Ryker interrupted her, and her butt landed on the chair.

Soren and Jude gasped.

Even Azura and Zeke.

"Sadie actually...sat?" Granny Jojo said shockingly.

"Different new abilities comes with this stage 2. So far you absorb from my FrostOrb power, you're bound to obey whatever I say." Ryker said.

Sadie stood, staring at Ryker with wide eyes before running upstairs.

Soren was looking at Ryker in awe as he went after Soren, leaving give people at the table.

"Seems this meeting has been pointless from the beginning, I'll take my leave now." Ryker said and stood, walking out with Cheyenne who's by the door.

"I hope things like this will keep happening. Someone really needs to put everyone in their place, don't you think?" Granny Jojo stood, smiling as she took her leave too.

Jude remained there, thinking...

Does this mean his headache earlier was because of Ryker?

Did Ryker give him that?

Why??

He has always treated Ryker like a true brother, so why??

He stood and left the dinning too.

"I was wondering why he came to the meeting without rejecting, so this is his plan?" Azura stood.

"You said this stage would mean nothing to us, but he's already commanding my babies?"

Zeke just sat there, looking too shocked.

"Zeke!!" Azura yelled.

--

"This stage 2 comes with command-obey ability? Then you could have used it on Zeke earlier. He'd have told you where he kept Xena's lifeline." Cheyenne said as she made her way back to the Heartless Tower with Ryker.

"It doesn't work that way, Cheyenne." He faced her.

"Why?" She asked.

"Azura and Zeke don't only draw powers from my orb, but they also suck souls, and that's enough to strengthen their minds." Ryker explained.

"Oh...I get it." Cheyenne nodded. "Of course the ability won't work on them. They're smart after all."

"Ryker" Granny Jojo joined them, and Cheyenne stepped back.

"You look like you want to tell me something." Jojo said suspiciously.

"I'll be on a trip to the Cloud Castle tomorrow. Not sure when I'll be coming back." Ryker replied.

"Then I'll hope for your quick comeback." Jojo smiled.

Behind them, Cheyenne smiled too, knowing an opportunity just presented itself.

--

[Twins Room]

Sadie has thrown everything she could see across the room, and they're all broken.

Soren isn't even ready to start calming her down cos he's still in shock too.

"That bastard has control over us now? Why!!" Sadie yelled, looking madly deranged.

"Don't overstress, it's a condition that can be mended with just one talk with mother and father." Soren said from the door where he leaned casually. Even the dinner aftertaste is sour in his mouth.

"I don't care if there's a solution to it, but the fact that he made me sit in front of Granny and Jude? I don't wanna think about it!" Sadie threw another antique across the room, nearly breaking Soren's head with it.

"I'll go have a talk with mother and father. Try to calm down before I return." He said, going out of the room and descending the staircase.

Thinking the parents would still be at the dinning room, he went there, but they're not there anymore.

Instead, he met Xena who's packing the dinner plates for washing.

Her head quickly went down, but he just ignored her since kicking her is not even appealing to him right now.

He was already leaving when he suddenly stopped, turning around.

Xena froze, the tray she's holding shook in her hands, and the used plates on it clattered.

"I ordered you to come to the school earlier." He questioned.

"I came, I swear on my life. I did! But Mercury told me to go back. She said you wouldn't want to see me!" Xena quickly said.

"Mercury?" Soren frowned.

"Yes! I met her at the hallway!" Xena swallowed.

Soren rolled eyes, the intensity showing how annoyed he is, then he went back upstairs.

Xena dropped the tray, sitting on the ground and holding her chest.

"Damn! I wasn't breathing!"

--

[Next Morning, West Palace]

Everyone is preparing to go to one place or the other, so everyone is dressing up for their appointments.

Astor and Kasia are preparing to go meet Granny Jojo at the conference.

Winona is preparing to meet Jude and try to sweettalk him.

Faye and Blaise are preparing for school, and Kade is preparing with them cos he came home with them last night. He spent the night here.

He came out of Blaise's room with him, and at the same time Faye came out of her own room.

The rooms are right beside each other actually.

They all look gothic in their black outfits which attached to even their earrings and necklaces.

Blaise gave Faye the usual look of disapproval, then he made to leave, but Kade pulled him back.

"Come back here, bud. The practice for the Feast starts today, and auditions starts today too. You both should at least mark today as the first day you'll get along. I can't stand opposing siblings." He said.

"We're not siblings." Faye and Blaise chorused, their hate shimmering.

"Faye! Let's go!" Blaise hollered, and his dog sauntered out of the room, following him downstairs.

"Scum..." Faye muttered, masking her hurtfulness.

"We can be besties instead. Let's leave Blaise the redhead to his antics." Kade said, placing an arm over her shoulder.

"Aren't you just the same as him?" Faye rolled eyes, pushing his arm away.

"At least I don't hate you," he chuckled, and she scoffed, going downstairs too.

Kade followed them with a run.

"Faye, Blaise...is it possible for you both to try to get along with the twins?" Kasia asked when they got downstairs.

"Don't even think about it" Blaise glared, drinking from a cup of milk and taking from the toasted bread before leaving.

Kade did the same, then he took a bite from the bread...

"Getting closer to a cluster of nails us better than the twins. Sadie on her own deserves to be in what humans call psychiatric hospital." He said, then waved before going after Blaise.

"He's interesting" Astor grinned on his seat.

"You guys still aren't over your obsession about taking the city from the Millions?" Faye shook her head.

"Just know that I don't wanna die. Whatever you're gonna do, have me excluded." She added.

She didn't bother to take from the breakfast, but Winona took some and dropped it in her backpack.

"Eat them in school." She smiled.

"Thank you. You're the only reason I'm still in this house." Faye smiled back, giving her a peck before leaving.

"Isn't it weird that your daughter loves my daughter but not me?" Kasia faces Astor.

"Double standards?" Astor smiled.

"Are y'all done dressing up? The conference is starting soon." Winona alerted.

"More than ready." Astor stood, smoothening his suit.

Kasia readjusted her shoes by slamming them on the polished ground, then they left the house together.

Winona was the last to leave.

--

[East Palace, Park]

The twins threw their backpacks into the car, both looking sullen.

They didn't eat breakfast, and their parents already assured that there'll be solution to the problem on ground before they return from school, but they're both still unable to think.

Sadie hopped in the car, looking more hateful than usual.

Soren nearly followed her, but his phone buzzed. 

It's a text from Mercury.

Mercury: I'm already in school, and I brought my father's ashes like Sadie requested. Kade is surely dying.

Soren showed the text to Sadie before getting in the car with her.

"Why would she text you and not me? I'm the one who told her to bring it. That snake." Sadie muttered with irritation.

"Ask her when you get to school." Soren said as the car rolled out of the palace.

Some minutes after they left, Granny Jojo arrived at the park with some maids, and she's dressed for the conference.

She left in her car too, easily slipping out of the palace with her driver.

Shayla emerged from the chamber, dressed in a different outfit.

This one is a black gown which covered her whole body cos it's long sleeved and free, and her hair is thoroughly washed. She used some of Jojo's shine cream on it, so it looks better than the normal greasy state.

She asked Jojo for a permit last night, and Jojo gave it to her without even arguing or asking what she needs it for, and she's still thinking why.

The permit only allows her to leave the palace for two hours though, so she has just two hours to spend at the ballet school.

According to granny, Ryker travelled, and he left with only Sage, so she has to be careful to not cross paths with hot tempered Cheyenne or Lilith the banshee.

Immediately she thought that, she sighted Lilith not far from the main castle, and she quickly hid behind a pillar.

Thanks to the pillar again.

Her heart was skipping beats as she stayed there, counting the minutes to calculate just how much longer she has to hide.

She came out at two minutes, and she ran the remaining meter to the slaves kitchen where she met Xena looking like she's in a dilemma.

She's dressed too, but there's a tray of food in front of her. Also, there's a tray of capsules.

"Aren't we going anymore?" Shayla asked.

"We're going, but my father is slightly sick, and I need to give him his medications before leaving. At the same time, I need to take food to the basement." Xena explained.

"Basement?" Shayla said in confusion.

"Yunno what? Take the food. Take the side door beside the castle second staircase. Go up the staircase or use the lift. Open the door you see and go down the basement. Just drop this tray of food there, don't open the basement door. I'd have finished administering the medications when you come back, then we can go." Xena explained in a hurry, then she took the capsule tray and left the kitchen in a hurry.

Shayla took the food tray too. If that's all she's able to help with, then why not, but who the hell lives in a basement?

She went into the castle using the second staircase like Xena described. She didn't use the lift, she climbed by herself till she arrived and opened the door that leads to the basement.

She went down the short flight of stairs and blinked when she saw the door she met.

The place is silent except for the Granny sounds of breathings that's coming from inside that room.

Shayla squatted, dropping the tray below the door as instructed.

A rough blistered hand stretched out from under the door, dragging the tray inside the room.

"Ahh!!" Shayla shuddered, falling back on her butt and shifting away from the door with wide eyes.

"What...what was...that?"

She stood as fast as she fell, and she was already going upstairs when she suddenly stopped, looking back again.

Who was that?

The question hung in her chest as she left the staircase and went back to the door, placing her ear on the wood to listen to the sound of breathings.

Her weight was resting too much on the door, and she nearly screamed when the door opened and she fell inside the darkness.

She threw her palm against her mouth, muffling her own sounds.

The lights in the room came on, bright and white.

A young girl sat in the corner of the room, looking like the most miserable person existing.

A white cloth is tied over her eyes, and despite that fact, her misery and sufferings weren't covered.

She's definitely blind, but why is she here? In this dark cold room that smells like hell?

The food tray is with her, and she's currently drinking from the water.

Shayla stood quickly, going for the door and deciding to leave her mind questions unanswered.

"Thanks for making me feel warmth for the first time in years. Your presence is soothingly warm." The voice of the girl came, and that was enough to stop Shayla.

She turned back, not hiding her fear since she still doesn't understand.

"Who're...you?" She asked breathlessly, sweating.

"Pearl." The girl said.

"Pearl?" Shayla whispered.

"Pearl Millions, I'm the last child of the Millions family, but I was born blind, so I'm a sign of weakness. I've been locked up since birth." 

TBC.

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