Heart Of Stone - Episode 67&68&69

 

HEART OF STONE

Heart Of Stone - Episode 67&68&69

 (..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.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Fireworks burned across the skies in sprinkles, sweet-smelling multicolored flames mixed with the air, the smell of alcohol and midnight snacks wafted.

Lantern Feast began colourfully.

Rumi dropped her beer cup after she drank everything.

Old Chef followed suit, but there's still alcohol below his own cup.

"You're still very good with holding your alcohol." He commented.

"I'm not lightweight like my twin." Rumi rested an elbow on the table.

"Just assure me one more time that your tears are going to work." 

"He has no idea about my poisonous tears, Xena is unaware too. I intentionally did a soliloquy about it in the kitchen one day when I was sure Zeke was listening, and since then, I've been expecting him to use the tears, and he didn't disappoint. Last week, I was made to cry inside the spring pool." Old Chef explained.

"And?" Rumi listened raptly.

"And I'm sure he's not even aware he has been poisoned. He still hasn't grown a love thread for his partner, so there are limits to his capacities. Today makes it the eighth day since the poisoning, and today is the day the poison explodes in his body. He'd disappear like he never existed." Old Chef explained further.

Rumi leaned back into her chair.

"Do I need to visit the temple and offer coconuts to Buddha to thank him for making you my father?"

Old Chef smiled, taking a small sip from his glass.

"And again..." Rumi got serious. "The blood pact you signed, how does that even work?" 

"He might be a demigod, but I'm still his birth father, and a drop of his blood is still in my system which i can never bleed away unless I use it against him. Pearl knows that, so she made me sign the pact with my blood." Old Chef said.

"Wait... meaning your blood tie with him is over the moment you use the blood against him once? You could have used it to kill him instead of using it on the marriage pact!" Rumi slammed her palms on the table.

"I had to keep pretending to be weak, Rumi. I could do nothing when Pearl captured me. Also, he's dying today isn't he?" Old Chef argued.

Rumi sighed.

"Right, but Liza... Shayla's mother, she has Shayla's drop of blood in her body too!" She suddenly gasped.

"Of course, and I'm guessing she's going to use it against Shayla today. Everything is working in our favor, Rumi. We're the best partners ever" Old Chef laughed as he drained the remaining beer in his glass.

"Let's remain the best father-daughter duo." Rumi cheered.

"Absolutely." Old Chef chuckled, his intentions murky.

They parted ways at 1am, and Rumi dragged her hoodie over her head before stepping out of the bar.

A minute after, Old Chef stepped out too, keeping his face down as he walked through the streets, a victorious smile rubbing on his lips.

He stopped in the middle of the children's park, looking back at the bar he just came out of.

He had a quick flashback.

  {350 Yrs Ago, Morozov Household}

Anatoli arrived with a full bag of blood from the alchemist shop, and he looks exhausted as he got down from the rusty taxi. 

He held the bags of blood close to his chest, entering the house.

But he was greeted by the loud cries of the twins from the top pavement, so he rushed there, meeting another one of his wife's traumatic scenes.

His wife—Dominika, is standing on the sharp edge of the top pavement, stomach so big as if she's carrying ten babies. 

She's preparing to jump down, and the three year old twins—Rumi and Xena, are crying under the pavement.

"Dominika, don't move. In fact, don't shake!" Anatoli warned, gently dropping the blood bags on the ground without taking his eyes off the pregnant woman.

This is the fourth time she'd be attempting suicide this week.

First, she stabbed herself in the stomach, but the knife didn't even affect the child.

Second, it was poison, but the poison only made the baby kick in her belly.

Third, she drank gasoline, but it was like water...it did nothing to the baby.

"Why shouldn't I jump? This baby is going to ruin us all, Anatoli! Nothing works on him! Not poison, not harmful liquids, not sharp objects! All he does in my stomach is drink blood like a beast! You spend all our life savings on blood always! And now we can barely feed the twins! I don't even know if it's a baby! I dunno what's growing inside my stomach!" Dominika cried.

Despite her tears, her eyes were on the blood Anatoli brought, and her throat was drying up with hunger.

"So far that special baby is in your belly, nothing will kill you even if you jump down, Dominika. Come down." Anatoli spread his palm for her.

"Special?" She gasped. "Did you just say special? There's nothing special about this blood drinker! He's just—"

Anatoli already pulled her away from the edge before she could finish.

Her swollen feet landed on the ground, and the twins stopped crying.

"Calm down, Dominika. Just calm. Breathe." Anatoli said.

Dementedly, she broke free from him and went to the blood bags on the ground, taking one and drinking directly from the pipe.

The blood dripped from her mouth as she drained. It stained her chest, fingers and protruding stomach.

She took another bag, crying as she started drinking too.

As she drank, the twins stared in pure horror, hiding behind their father.

Anatoli clenched his jaws, watching her with impatience.

'Drink as much blood as you want, wife. I'm going to kill you the moment you give birth to that child anyways.' he thought.

                 {Present Time}

Old Chef grinned, rolling his tongue in his mouth as he stared at the fireworks display in the sky.

"Luckily, I have two dumb daughters who're willing to die for me like their mother. I was born lucky." He sucked his teeth, laughing shortly before continuing his journey.

"By the end of today, what's mine will come to me."

--

[Early Morning, East Palace~Servants Quarters]

Luckily, the Feast food isn't cooked by Old Chef or Xena.

Yearly, the palace have special chefs from the capital who come to cook for the Feast. There are almost ten of them, so Old Chef and Xena are free.

Old Chef sat on the bed edge, eating some cake crumbs when Xena entered with a towel around her, obviously coming from the bathroom

"Don't eat too much cake. You're old, and you can't risk getting backaches." She complained immediately she saw the plates of cake with him.

"It's just crumbs, don't take it personal." Old Chef smiled.

Her eyes went to the bed, and she frowned when she saw a big golden box sitting there.

She opened it, gasping.

Inside the box, there are three robes sitting with shoes and many trinkets.

"Let me guess, this came from Heartless Tower... from Ryker?" Xena said, closing the box back.

"Yeah...Sage brought it when you were in the bathroom." Old Chef replied leisurely.

"If he thinks this is going to make me forgive him for burning your hair, then he's wrong. I'm not wearing." She placed the box down.

"What do you mean you're not wearing? You don't have a decent robe for the festival." Old Chef stood.

"I bought a thrift robe last year with my saved money, remember? But I didn't get to wear it cos I was sick during the feast, I'll just wear that." Xena scoffed.

"You'll wear it for the parade? You'll also wear it for the lantern hanging ceremony in the evening? You'll also wear it for the palace munching at night? Everyone wears three robes for the feast, you can't be different!" Old Chef argued.

"Are you telling me you forgave him for what he did to your head already? You're too simple. He needs to know that people won't bow to him everytime, geez! I'm not wearing his stuff, and that's final!" Xena glared.

"Fine, just dress up and leave for the parade...it started already." Old Chef gave up, going for the door.

"You're not going with me?" Xena blinked.

"No. I'm staying indoors throughout today. The sun will be harsh, and my head is still not properly healed, can't risk it." Old Chef said.

"That's true..." Xena nodded.

Old Chef left the room for her to dress up, and the moment he got out, he pulled out his malfunctioning phone from his pocket.

Might be malfunctioning, but it works even perfectly for him than a new phone.

He dialled Rumi.

"Yes? What will she be wearing?" Rumi's loud voice came.

"As I suspected, she rejected what Ryker sent cos she's too mad at him, such a lovely daughter. She'll be wearing a thrift robe, I'll send the picture. Also, she won't be wearing jewelries on her hair or body." Old Chef reported.

"She's too boring, and I want to just whoop her ass. Anyways, I got that." Rumi said, hanging up straight.

Old Chef pocketed the phone, sighing as he licked his tongue, staring at the lively palace.

Even the slaves hall is bustling today cos slaves won't go to the labor camp.

"Refreshing." He nodded.

--

[Heartless Tower, Shayla's Room]

In front of the mirror, Shayla sat, smile radiantly as Cheyenne helped her with dressing up.

She's done wearing her parade robe...a pink coloured one which has lots of blue flower designs, a beautiful mix.

Her hair is done too, packed in layers and designed in rolls and twists with bundles of jewelries.

Right now, Cheyenne is doing her makeup. It's her first time wearing it, and her excitement is unhidden.

"Press your lips on the lip tint paper." Cheyenne instructed, and Shayla did just that, painting her lips deep pink.

"And that's the end of the makeup, you're good to go." Cheyenne sighed, raising her back.

She's already wearing her robe too, dressed in green.

"Spasibo" Shayla said cleanly, standing from her chair.

"Did you just say THANK YOU in his lordship's family language?" Cheyenne blinked.

"I've been learning secretly" Shayla shrugged, and nodded.

"Where's Sage?" Shayla looked around.

"He went to deliver robes for Xena" Cheyenne replied.

"And here I am,she rejected it." Sage came in exhausted.

"She did?" Cheyenne gasped.

"Why would Xena... reject?" Shayla muttered, guessing this must because of the fight with Ryker.

"I really really dunno why his lordship is being this lenient with her, someone needs to slap her back to her senses. Is she actually acting mad right now? Does she even have the right to stay mad when the man she's defending is a—"

Cheyenne stopped talking, realizing she's saying too much.

"Anyways, let's get out." Sage led them out of the room after adjusting the belt of his robe.

Getting outside, they met Ryker approaching from the down corridor, looking dashing in his robe.

He wears robe everyday, so today is just like every other day to him,but he made a difference though.

His hair is longer with few white tints, and it's decorated with jewelries too, robe twinning with his aura.

He looks exactly like that night when he came to buy her at the dark room.

His eyes never wavered from her till he got to them.

"Have fun at the parade," he said, shifting a jewel back in her hair.

Her face squeezed a little. "You're not coming with me?"

"The parade is for kids, like you." He teased, and she made faces.

He held her chin up, smiling softly. "Go with Cheyenne, I'll join in the middle of it."

"Promise?" She blinked.

"Trust me, and make sure to never come down from the carriage." 

"I won't," Shayla nodded.

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, knowingly staining it with her lip tint before stepping back.

She was waving at him with an hand till she left the tower with Cheyenne.

"Whose lead are we following?" Sage asked Ryker.

Ryker faced him to talk, but like a thorn, he suddenly felt a stab sensation on his chest, and he grabbed it quickly.

"Your lordship!" Sage gasped, eyes widening as Ryker grabbed the railings with his second hand.

"I'm fine," he said.

"But you look—"

"I said I am fine." He glared at Sage who immediately gave up on asking.

"We're following Azura's." Ryker answered the question, and they both left the tower.

--

[Main Castle, Lobby]

"Pretty sure he's feeling the sensations right now," Zeke said, sweeping his hair back with a palm.

He's all dressed in his regalia robe, standing with Granny Tara behind a black couch.

"You mean Ryker?" Tara asked as maids balanced her matriarch crown on her head.

"Who else? But the day is just starting, main event happens at night during the munching." Zeke replied.

Maids sprayed him with perfume as the last part of his attire, and he was already marching out of the lobby with Tara when the old woman pulled him back.

"Don't you think your wife's silence is disturbing? Especially since her mother woke." She said suspiciously.

"Why are you even bothering yourself with her? She's a cobweb you should tear away with your fingers, not worth it." Zeke replied.

"The carriages are ready, Grand Supreme." A bodyguard came in to report.

"Let's go, we can't be late for the parade." Zeke said.

Tara followed him out.

--

[Twins Room]

Sadie and Soren dressed up like foes in the same room.

None of them said a word to each other despite the fact that they're wearing the same robe material.

Mercury is here, but she just sat silently in Sadie's bed, looking dumb.

If she misspeaks at all, then the twins will explode on her . Also, she still isn't over how Soren called her c+k sucker, so she'd rather keep quiet.

Soren was the first to finish dressing up. His rabbit is asleep in it's cage, so he left it and carried his qin instead.

Nonchalantly, he left the room.

Sadie threw her body lotion at the wall, spilling everything.

"You said you'd write Xena off on your skin scroll, I expected you to do it overnight!" Mercury stood.

"It's not that easy... I'll have to flay my own skin and sew it with the oblivion thread. It'd be painful as f+k! I'll do it after the feast." Sadie replied, storming out too.

"Wait for me!" Mercury ran after her like a lapdog, but Sadie was already gone from the hall.

"She couldn't even wait for me?" Mercury stumped her foot.

But that was the last action she could do, cos from the back...she was gagged by unknown hands.

She couldn't even scream till she was knocked unconscious.

Strange men took her away.

--

[Granny Jojo's Chamber]

Granny Jojo and Azura came out of the chamber, both looking ready to get in their waiting carriage.

They were chatting as they walked the thin corridor.

"Are the men ready?" Jojo asked.

"Ready? That shouldn't be the question right now, considering the fact that she has already been captured." Azura replied.

"You're faster than I thought," Jojo replied, and Azura smiled.

"Esme is about to have the most juicy feast ever."

"Isn't today your 700th birthday?" Jojo suddenly said.

"You remember?" Azura faced her surprisingly.

"You might be bad, but you're still my only daughter." Jojo rolled eyes, and Azura smiled.

They got into the same carriage.

--

[Underground Palace]

Despite the festivities unfolding in the city, Pearl remained as calm as a lake in here.

She's completely relaxed on her throne, drinking directly from a gourd of alcohol.

She looks too composed, just taking sips after sips.

"Are you saying we're not visiting the city today? We're just gonna sit here and do what? Drink all day?" Jude complained, jumping into the palace from the stony roof.

"Why do we need to go into the city when father will do the job for us. After today, we'll both get what we want and won't even lift a finger." Pearl replied, dropping her gourd.

She rose.

"Also, the main event starts tonight...this morning parade is just the beginning. Calm down, and keep trusting me." She said.

Jude took the gourd she dropped, he drank every drop of alcohol inside, and Pearl sat back, smiling.

"There's one more secret that's unknown to anyone in this city, even Ryker himself. A secret that'd drag him back to me no matter how long it takes." She mumbled.

"What secret?" Jude frowned.

"I called it a secret for a reason, you'll find out in due time." Pearl sneered.

--

[West Palace]

Everyone is dressed and ready to leave for the parade, but Kasia insisted on making them drink Old Chef's tears before they'd leave, so they're all surrounding the center table at the lobby.

Faye was the first to take the cup, drinking from the hot tears.

"Geez! Must it be this sour?" She clenched her fists as she swallowed.

Astor drank too, then Winona, then Blaise.

Kasia drank last.

They stayed around, staring at each other for more than ten minutes after drinking, but nothing happened.

No one confessed anything, no one talked. No one acted strange.

"There's no traitor then, meaning whoever is ruining our investigation is an outsider." Winona said.

"Let's get this feast over with, but remember, we have to get everything done and leave the East Palace before 12am." Kasia said.

"That's a no-brainer." Blaise shrugged.

Everyone left the palace, but Faye and Astor were the last to step out.

They smiled darkly at each other before joining the others.

"Hey! Your hair clip!" Blaise picked one from the ground, and Faye snatched it from him.

"Snatching it wasn't necessary, I was going to give it to you, mean girl." Blaise said.

"No thanks" Faye flipped her hair, and it slapped him in the face as she marched to the carriage.

Blaise stood there for a heartbeat, sniffling the scent of her hair wash in his nostrils till Winona nudged him.

"Oh...I spaced out" He said, awkwardly getting into the carriage.

--

[Liza Kings Mansion]

"Everyone in Luminaria knows that Shayla is your daughter now, so there's no way they'd vote for you to win the beauty contest, just give up." Kade said, brushing his hair.

Liza is behind him, dressed in the most gorgeous robe combination ever. She looks as good as always.

"I'm not going to this feast for the beauty competition this year. I'm going because of what we need to do. Don't twist it." She replied.

"And you mustn't get it wrong, at all. Our family legacy depends on this." Kade said sternly.

"I know, I only have to sign a blood pact on her in the crowd, quit the sternness and move." Liza walked past him, going out of the door.

--

[Streets Of Luminaria]

It's loud, joyous and celebratory.

Wealthy carriage convoys and horses, alcohol in the hands of everyone and several drunk people.

Music from the city tower is shaking the whole city, pounding on the walls,  drums of joy and dancing crowd.

It's a mood-brightening galore, and there's no single sad face.

It's historical, so no car in sight today... just carriages and horses and poor pedestrians.

Zeke and Azura are in the same carriage in the front, but no words were spoken.

Granny Jojo and Tara are occupying the next carriage as the palace matriarchs, but also... malice filled the carriage, no words spoken.

The twins occupied the next carriage, they're also not talking to each other.

Soren is playing his qin, and so many city girls from his window side are gassing him up as their love.

The following carriage belongs to Pearl and Jude, but it's empty since they're both absent.

Shayla and Cheyenne occupied the next one, and it even beats the royal carriages.

This one is decked with treasures, and it's glossing with the sun.

Shayla couldn't stop buying from the street foods, filling her stomach while watching the parade through the carriage window.

The people began running their mouths nonstop.

"The partner? She's so pretty!"

"Oh to have that face!"

"Her hair, oh heavens! It's so healthy!"

Shayla waved slowly at them, and many waved back.

Cheyenne quickly pulled her head away from the window.

"I was just waving," Shayla complained.

"You can't just smile at everyone, your ladyship. These people don't like you or the demigod, they're only obsessed with the beauty of the two of you." Cheyenne said.

Shayla ate a piece of strawberry, and someone peeped into the carriage from the right door.

"Xena!" Shayla brightened up.

"Shay" Xena chuckled, and when she tried to enter, Cheyenne stopped her.

"You rejected the robes he sent...this carriage belongs to him so you shouldn't enter." 

"I know you have beef with me, but this is going too far, Shay is here and I just want to say hi." Xena replied.

"Cheyenne, please let her in." Shayla said quickly.

"No. She'd probably come in here to defend that old wuss again." Cheyenne declined.

"The old wuss is my father!" Xena barked.

"Same father who planned the killing of your damn mother?" Cheyenne replied angrily.

There was  dead silence in the carriage after Cheyenne said that.

Shayla's eyes depicted shock, but Xena looks offended.

She punched Cheyenne in the face, and Cheyenne's head slammed on the carriage body.

"No... Cheyenne! Xena stop!" Shayla shouted, pushing her snacks bowl away from her laps.

"Is that the lies Ryker fed you and Sage with? Don't talk shit about father or I'll kill you!" Xena spat.

Cheyenne touched her burning face, then she looked at Xena, boiling with blind anger.

"That'd be the last time you ever punch someone you deadhead!" 

And with that, she jumped out of the carriage, following Xena.

In just one minute, she landed close to ten punches on Xena's face, making her bleed.

That angle of the parade scattered so much. Some started hailing Cheyenne while some shifted back.

It's the demigod's sister and knight fighting, so it might escalate.

Shayla came out of the carriage when she couldn't take it anymore.

She only waved her hand, and the two fighters separated magically, one to the right and one to the left.

"Stop! Just stop! Please! Stop fighting!" She shouted at the top of her voice for the first time.

She was panting even more than the fighters.

Xena's face is completely bloody now, and Cheyenne looks like she still wants to throw more punches.

"Cheyenne!" Shayla cautioned.

Cheyenne sighed, facing her reluctantly. "I'm sorry, your ladyship."

Shayla started walking to Xena, but in the middle of the crowd, someone touched her arm.

She halted, quickly bringing the arm up to look at.

Shockingly, there's a blood pact on her arm. It's like someone placed a thumb print there.

"What's this?" She muttered, quickly wiping it.

Inside the twins carriage, Soren stopped playing his qin when he noticed something is going on.

He peeked out the window, and he was shocked to see Xena's bloody face  in the middle of the parading crowd.

He made to come down, but Sadie pulled him back.

"Don't"

He freed roughly himself and came out, pushing past the crowd.

Rumi is in the crowd, watching with hooded eyes till he got to Xena and pulled her to his side.

Cheyenne pulled Shayla closely to her side too, though Shayla is starting to feel dark weirdness in her bloodstream which she can't explain.

From the Grand Supreme carriage, Zeke clicked his tongue, sighing out as he watched Soren through the window.

"Are you really into the Old Chef's daughter, Soren?"

He expected Azura to talk, but nothing came, so he turned to see her seat is empty.

"Where did she...go?" He muttered, stepping out of the carriage.

Everyone around bowed with their knees and head to the ground.

Inside the Grannies carriage, Tara suddenly couldn't find Jojo anymore too, so she stepped down, meeting Zeke in the front.

"I told you... didn't I?" She muttered.

Zeke looks disheveled immediately.

--

[Vega Mansion]

Esme planned to be the center of the parade, she knowingly left her mansion very late.

She's rocking better robe than Liza's this year, and she's so proud of it, impatient for when Zeke would take it off from her body tonight.

She's becoming the new Palace Madame tonight.

It's historical, but she's going in a car. No one can stop her anyways.

Maids were carrying her long robe behind like a wedding dress as she walked to the car, but her phone suddenly beamed.

Her smile cracked.

It's Mercury.

"Baby, are you enjoying the parade without me?" She picked.

"The Mirror Maze, be there in five minutes, and you're to come alone, or your daughter goes off." A husky voice said.

Esme's eyes popped wide.

"I dunno who you are, but if you dare touch my daughter! If you dare to—"

The line went flat, and she gasped, throwing the phone to the ground.

She jumped into the car, closing the door on some of her robe material.

She drove off on her own.

--

[Mirror Maze]

Mercury is tied to the ceiling, but the rope is on her ankles instead of her neck, so her body is upside down.

The maze is hot, reacting to the sun outside, so she's soaked with sweat.

"I swear if you touch a hair on my head, my mother will kill you!!! Do you even know who my father is? You have no idea!!!" She yelled psychotically.

"Ain't no one getting freaked with that dry threat. Your Pa is dead, and that's why your mother is a husband thieving bî+ch so shut up!" A harsh voice creeped in.

Mercury's hearts skipped.

She recognizes that voice even if she's not seeing the face from her upside down position.

"Madame Azura?"

"You're sharp," Azura replied from where she stood beside the wall.

Granny Jojo is sitting on a chair beside her, and the old woman looks as determined as her daughter.

"Why the hell would you abduct me? I'm best friends with your twins and I did nothing wrong!" Mercury cried.

"Did you not hear when she said your Mama is a bîtch who's having an affair with Grand Supreme Zeke?" Granny Jojo said.

Mercury recognized her voice too.

"Wait... Grandmother Jojo? Please tell me it's not you what have I done!!!" She yelled, feeling like her heart is sitting on her throat.

She vomited the cream puffs she ate cos her stomach got upset so fast.

"And did you just say my mother is having an affair with the Grand Supreme? Find another lie you old fools! Let me go!!" She screamed.

Azura pulled the rope on her ankles, and Mercury swung left, right without stop.

Her eyes turned wildly, her ankles peeled as the ropes digged in, her hair swept the floor, and she vomited again, crying.

"Let go of me!!!"

"Mercury! Mercury!!" Esme's voice came from outside.

Mercury gasped.

"Mother!!" She yelled in tears.

Esme ran inside,gasping.

"Oh my goodness! Baby!" She started running to her.

Azura appeared with a thunder-charged metal which she pointed at her with sharp aim.

Esme stopped, frowning.

"It's you? Madame Azura?"

"Yes, the woman you share a husband with." Azura said, pushing the metal closer to her head.

Esme's eyes went to the right, and when she saw Jojo sitting, she laughed out suddenly, the sound so shameless and high.

"So...this is a mother and daughter thingy? Aren't you both ashamed? I'm dating your husband? So what!! He met me by himself, proposed an affair to me and I got on the wheel with him cos I'd be insane to not actually accept! I mean...my husband has been dead since long, and I needed a new man to cure my longing! He chose me over you not only because I'm more useful, but because I'm also prettier! You can't even compare to me, shameless old dog!" Esme spewed.

Angrily, Azura slapped the metal on Esme's head.

Esme flew to the ground, but the thunderbolt didn't work on her... She looks fine.

Azura's eyes widened.

"You have nothing but this useless thunder ability which you stole from your idiotic mother, and you think it'd work on me? Do you even know who I am? Azura, do you?" Esme spat.

She stood from the ground, laughing derisively.

The metal fell from Azura, and Jojo stood from her chair, looking too stunned to speak.

Mercury is still crying on her hanging rope, her body dangling side to side.

"Talking about usefulness, what else did you do for my sweetheart Zeke except giving him children like a baby making machine? What else!!" Esme demanded to her face.

Azura couldn't speak, but she's shaking.

"I knew you'd soon get suspicious, and my secretary would be your surest bet, so I told him to tell the truth whenever you came. I expected this! You're nothing but a tool and a fool to my Zeke, wake the hell up!" Esme yelled.

That was followed by a thunderous slap from Azura, and it resounded as it landed hard on Esme's face.

But Esme is a rage-baiting bîtch, so she didn't retaliate.

She just laughed, and Azura slapped her again.

"Slap all you want, fool! Zeke would massage it for me with a good fûck tonight on your bed!" Esme spat.

Azura's hand stopped midair, body shaking more than before.

Esme's red eyes didn't blink, and Jojo's eyes are still wide.

Mercury's tears kept pouring.

"That was some entertaining shit-show," a deep voice bounced down from the maze top metals.

The eyes of the three women went up, and they were dumbstruck to see Ryker standing there, looking like the worse of evil with Sage beside him.

"Ryker" Jojo muttered.

"Bastard" Azura said.

Esme took the opportunity quickly. She dropped Mercury's rope from her ankles and released her.

She carried her and ran out of the maze.

Ryker moved from his spot, feeling that stabbing pain from his chest again, but he didn't care.

He descended down, landing in front of mother and daughter.

Sage used the staircase.

"You have no business being here!" Azura said, and she received a brutal strike from Ryker immediately.

Her body whacked on the mirrored wall, breaking it and pushing her into the mirror ruins.

A thick chain from nowhere wrapped on her neck like a collar, choking her.

"Zura!" Jojo gasped.

"You turned 700 today, and there's a century-old belief that if you kill a 700 year old Luminaria on her birthday, her memories will be filtered out of her offsprings head. Meaning, your kids will forget they ever had a mother." Ryker muttered, each word infused with vengeance.

"Ryker...no." Jojo gasped again, getting where he's heading with this.

Azura was already spitting blood beside the wall where she's chained.

"I intentionally made you witness Esme's real identity as Zeke's real woman, Even in death, you'd never rest. Your spirit will keep roaming the afterlife and you won't ever find peace" Ryker continued.

The words left his mouth so easily, and he strolled away from his spot, looking at the two women through his lowered dark lashes, his steps careful and calculated.

"Are you doing this cos of your mother?" Azura gagged.

Ryker stopped on his tracks, retracting the one step he was about to take.

"Your father Anatoli touched me first! Also, I was still madly in love with Zeke back then, that's why I told him to kill the man who touched me with his family, but then we got to your household and saw your wife who has just birthed you, the ice demigod...we couldn't resist the thirst for power!!" Azura cried, pitifully.

"Anatoli knew about your wickedness and your pick me dedication to Zeke, and that's why he approached you in that bar. He picked you for his plans, and you did just what he wanted cos you've always been a wench, which is why I'm starting with you! You're on the bottom of my list, and today is your last living day! I'm dedicating today to your death." Ryker smiled mercilessly.

"Happy 700th birthday, Azura Millions." 

He stretched his palm forward, and an ice sword formed on it, so long and sharp and pitiless.

"No... Ryker no!!! You can't kill my only daughter! You can't!!!" Jojo went on her knees.

Her matriarch crown fell, letting her grey hair loose.

"Ryker you can't!!! Ryker!!!"

Ryker kicked her out of the way, and she slumped back.

She pulled out her mirror, but Ryker returned the mirror flash to her. She went blind, and deaf.

"Mother! Mother Mother!!!! Mother!!!!!!" Azura cried hauntingly by the wall, shaking the maze with the painful depth.

"You don't even know what's coming for you, Ryker. I'm sure you're already feeling it!" She rushed, but if that was an attempt to stop him, it failed woefully.

Ryker's ice sword pierced into her chest, and her blood splashed his face, wetting him with satisfaction.

Azura's body went still on that wall, her blood flooded the ground till it soaked Granny Jojo's body.

The chain on her neck pulled her up till she got to the ceiling, and a quick decomposition happened.

Her body experienced decay very fast...on the spot.

As the body parts decayed, they fell to the ground, one by fuckin one.

Hands, legs, head, bowels, stomach components.

Everything fell off till only her heart is hanging on the ceiling with the ice sword in the middle.

Ryker smiled eerily, the sight so terrifying with that bloody face.

Sage looked at the body on the ground, the heart hanging on the ceiling, then at Ryker's unfeeling face.

He nearly peed on himself.

TBC.

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