Present day116Please respect copyright.PENANAXfDtwk1vpa
116Please respect copyright.PENANAzFBVZzjI73
Zambia 116Please respect copyright.PENANAaRV1k1JltB
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVGIbywuBhG
116Please respect copyright.PENANA50aDJK3nLB
Narrator’s P.O.V:116Please respect copyright.PENANA1OrzCcU2WD
116Please respect copyright.PENANAKtRQpAuAWC
116Please respect copyright.PENANAGxgZPwMinl
She sat upright in her bed with a gasp. She just had a terrible nightmare. Not only that, she fumbled by the bedside table, trying to find her phone in the dark, but couldn’t find it. She knew she left it there.116Please respect copyright.PENANABCdJTB5Da6
116Please respect copyright.PENANArkslfD5X55
116Please respect copyright.PENANAaRhJ9ouIyU
Someone on the other side of the bed, stirred in their sleep upon hearing the ruckus and turned to look at the person fumbling in the dark.116Please respect copyright.PENANAknANZRswpu
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVJcBaTgaNq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAhJ4VkCyOqQ
"What the-?" a bed lamp light soon turned on as the person who had been woken switched it on. "Nicani kanshi? (What is wrong now?) What are you looking for? And in the early hours of the morning?"116Please respect copyright.PENANA4TM7QQ89M8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAyJZTbB6l6d
116Please respect copyright.PENANAOlJxNAyTOx
She didn’t answer at first until she realized that her phone isn’t anywhere nearby. She turned to look at her husband beside her.116Please respect copyright.PENANA5zSqMxcLc4
116Please respect copyright.PENANAi0zYXT7v7o
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqjCcSAMCx6
"Pepani (sorry)," she apologized. "I was looking for my phone, have you seen it?"116Please respect copyright.PENANA7YiZDSYLBh
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnYWOaIDIrO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjZDqLbLhjM
"Mm?" her husband can’t believe this. "Who do you want to call at this time?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAsHldsmV5ye
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkvGKP9yqlr
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2gYaTOdaBX
"It's urgent," she said as she pushed the covers aside to get out of bed.116Please respect copyright.PENANAYz1W08itH0
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqs37Zti0tm
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1AfjmOv76v
"Check your dressing table," her husband muttered as he dropped his head back onto the pillow. "That’s where you left it last night."116Please respect copyright.PENANAIU1m67OVfy
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9QF6QmICs
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjnr6sYIUz0
In her black nightdress, she went to the dressing table and found her phone there like her husband said. She quickly took it and turned around to get her black sleeping gown at the foot of the bed. In her bare feet, she quickly went to the door and left the room. Her husband growled as he lifted his head to see the door left wide open. He muttered and slowly sat up.116Please respect copyright.PENANAwJ1mgzvBlA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXncDBtj7MC
116Please respect copyright.PENANAva8OIdBFMj
"Yaba (Goodness)," he groaned. "Here we go again."116Please respect copyright.PENANA7XuKWdcAt2
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPn8XTpruN9
116Please respect copyright.PENANALWvR31ASOZ
She walked down the quiet, dark hallway until she made a corner, entering a room. She flipped the switch and the lights went on in the living room. Likewise, she turned to her phone to make a call.116Please respect copyright.PENANAvwSDrxICJq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2chLh6fVA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFHbiCkv6RC
When she put the phone to her ear, the line on the other end didn’t even ring as the automated phone system said the person she’s trying to reach had their phone switched off.116Please respect copyright.PENANAhU5XnKaNRI
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPdMmHQ1lRQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1aF5f4qNpV
"I told her not to be switching off her phone," she muttered angrily as she looked at her phone to make a call to someone else.116Please respect copyright.PENANAVJlIx49hoD
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4UzAwPyqSh
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXMM4oOkJTv
After finding the person’s line, she called it. This time it went through. She only hoped that the person would answer.116Please respect copyright.PENANAO6IzS86Iv9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAZI76PvOEtD
116Please respect copyright.PENANAokBEe8zGX4
She started to pace up and down, bypassing the glass table on the white and black zebra print carpet. Not only that, she didn’t think of sitting on the black leather seats as with each minute that passed, her anxiety increased.116Please respect copyright.PENANAtXRSufbJBY
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtaGgZ784ZQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAN2nrCwGywZ
When the person on the other end didn’t pick up either, she sucked her teeth and tried to call again when she realized that someone is in the room. She turned to find her husband there in his blue pyjamas, looking sleepy as ever. She now felt guilty for waking him up.116Please respect copyright.PENANALY6T0OD03K
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQRUthvFddZ
116Please respect copyright.PENANA7RQwq2HXgg
"Who are you trying to call?" he asked. "Don’t tell me it's Diana."116Please respect copyright.PENANAvIs82ssoCW
116Please respect copyright.PENANAmAGReZlnrm
116Please respect copyright.PENANAIaDSlhbk9N
"So?" Diana’s mother asked. "I just want to know how she’s doing?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAj8fYBdr1ZU
116Please respect copyright.PENANARYHnlDB7rl
116Please respect copyright.PENANACCnyjnqpZN
"At this time?" her husband approached her. "She’s asleep. And you know she switches off her phone."116Please respect copyright.PENANAHcP8mxDxXd
116Please respect copyright.PENANAf05GqioJBQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFAdxCeCvH8
"I just want to know how she’s doing."116Please respect copyright.PENANA8FweyksYn8
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4ioAZLiM6e
116Please respect copyright.PENANAIG20x57p02
"Didn't you talk to her a day before? If anything were to happen, your mother or Katy will let us know."116Please respect copyright.PENANAmddvmocUnF
116Please respect copyright.PENANAR8COhAqYgi
116Please respect copyright.PENANAmx0D82aIRy
Diana’s mother growled in frustration. She quickly went over to one of the chairs to sit, her head buried in her hands. Her husband came to join her.116Please respect copyright.PENANAtTi7YaADIA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6mBIvPFtz
116Please respect copyright.PENANAmUJC4sv0zj
"You don’t understand," she said, dropping her hands to look at him. "I had another dream about her and this time it felt different."116Please respect copyright.PENANAZlJ3xmIunq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAcRmaKvkMNN
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJe2XnLXb6q
He put his hand on her shoulder. "What could be so different about this one?" he asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAo5OMddRlYR
116Please respect copyright.PENANAF0mpsGjFNn
116Please respect copyright.PENANAordCEJbAHa
Before she spoke, she bit her lip. She didn’t know how to explain it. Her previous dreams over the years weren’t as vivid and intense as this one.116Please respect copyright.PENANAOssOTd2yWE
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbezYUU1k1l
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMsFFbnwBbE
"I can’t explain, Atake Diana (Father to Diana). Everything about this dream felt real. I feel Diana could be in huge trouble."116Please respect copyright.PENANAjySb2PB2VV
116Please respect copyright.PENANAngEcwwSFSn
116Please respect copyright.PENANAoo0txcoGw7
"That’s what you always say when you have these dreams," said Diana’s father. "Aren’t they just dreams? How many have you had over the years, but they've never happened?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAK4EUGVJkQr
116Please respect copyright.PENANACBY7Hrh757
116Please respect copyright.PENANArB5rPcUCo7
Diana’s mother now sat upright, shaking her head. "What if they did? I believe they did. Besides, Diana doesn’t always tell us what goes on in her life. She’s so secretive."116Please respect copyright.PENANAY4VvMI8HsN
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjHwduo9TKx
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPvsZ5tocQI
"That’s because she’s a teen. You’re forgetting that people at such an age are difficult to make them open up."116Please respect copyright.PENANAPeyC4Fgsxe
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQyaedm8lUg
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbolSzrQMW3
"No, I’ve always had a feeling that she's been hiding something from us. She’s a good girl, but I feel there’s a lot going on in her life that we don’t know about."116Please respect copyright.PENANAaKaAt6ODJk
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQs2Wd1QQst
116Please respect copyright.PENANAoa0ba65VFP
Her husband rolled his eyes. "Please, don’t bring up those incidences that were happening in the neighbourhood. Those were explainable accidents, and you can’t point a finger at Diana. Most of the time she wasn’t even there, and they happened almost four years ago."116Please respect copyright.PENANA9xAtgL0WGE
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3DokSSvzXR
116Please respect copyright.PENANAR8rL7xbRea
"That’s what you think, but…"116Please respect copyright.PENANACLeJnonYcr
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqR3BA2TJBl
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2l4MzhIUIP
"Enough, please. That’s a long time ago and nothing has happened to her. You haven’t had terrible nightmares for years, so it's probably just nothing."116Please respect copyright.PENANAtydjCHOD5O
116Please respect copyright.PENANANIc1Es3MUT
116Please respect copyright.PENANAzUfH3snihd
Diana’s mother looked at her husband, still with a worried look. She looked away. As much as he might be right, her intuition ate at her terribly. She can’t just ignore what she dreamt. If anything, it felt more like the first vivid dream she had of Diana; that she had died. She remembered calling the school to check up on her, and they told her Diana was perfectly fine. When Diana came home for the holidays, there was something different about her.116Please respect copyright.PENANAczBuxRaUyE
116Please respect copyright.PENANABBXHw1EueW
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvAKN62KEsi
"Tiyeni (come), let’s go back to sleep," her husband persisted as he held her hand on her lap. "If you want, you and I can call your mother sometime in the morning." 116Please respect copyright.PENANA4IEEeeYMPm
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXLl0yk8GBx
116Please respect copyright.PENANAHMx4tTrTe9
She couldn’t argue with him there, but she felt she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Not until she hears that Diana is alright. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAF5uVPTEJm4
116Please respect copyright.PENANASgjZAWugcF
116Please respect copyright.PENANAimqm0nRjaQ
"Okay, can I send a message to Katy so that she calls me when she sees it?" she asked. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAA1wve4zFb9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAueOraFKq5E
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1mDdUkRTBC
"Be quick," Diana’s father stood. "If you’re not in the room in two minutes, I’ll come and drag you if I have to." 116Please respect copyright.PENANAsaLwbKz5bS
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQa39FOaDBc
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPKIiaiSv2r
With quiet, steady steps, Diana’s father walked out of the room, leaving his wife still seated on the couch. She quickly sent Katy a text, but she knew it wasn’t enough.116Please respect copyright.PENANAuql5BS4MHm
116Please respect copyright.PENANAc55x0sshMT
116Please respect copyright.PENANARztAnZJElc
Namatama stood up from her seat and slowly started to make her way out of the living room. She thought she saw a shadow pass through the window, outside. Likewise, she stopped to draw aside the curtain. A neighbour’s floodlight shone brightly in the next yard. For a moment, she thought maybe a cat had passed atop the wall fence, causing the shadow she saw.116Please respect copyright.PENANA6aMSs9U3a3
116Please respect copyright.PENANANRHeqQ1d3V
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVU7E3nbKBe
Before she was able to push the curtains, she thought she had seen something through the corner of her eye in the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly turned to see if there’s anyone there. The only people awake are she and her husband, and she would've heard him if he had made his way back in the living room.116Please respect copyright.PENANAe6wNAo6A3j
116Please respect copyright.PENANAsRPjDvQFS1
116Please respect copyright.PENANALXZeJj38ok
"I must be imagining things," she told herself.116Please respect copyright.PENANADWQgwGcd2R
116Please respect copyright.PENANAG6pDG4OZxq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAKSq4l3vlBD
"And what if you aren’t?" came a voice.116Please respect copyright.PENANATOYxmQHQM3
116Please respect copyright.PENANAKw1K4y9qeF
116Please respect copyright.PENANA66BYXWFgwD
As soon as she heard it, she jumped in fright and almost screamed, but someone covered her mouth with their hand from behind, holding her in place. Diana’s mother is now terrified that there's a stranger in the house. She started to breathe heavily.116Please respect copyright.PENANAfKPHCGzDIw
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnLDw7efX7u
116Please respect copyright.PENANAwjUdlgCZEZ
"Don’t move, and I won’t hurt you," came the voice in a soft, yet dangerous whisper. "Calm down. I’ll uncover your mouth. Don’t scream or else I'll kill you. Nod if you understand."116Please respect copyright.PENANAVzHSoNSuPI
116Please respect copyright.PENANAb05NvZLIBP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAlMqFBwCYAn
She nodded, and started to slow her breathing. Her heart beat fast like a drum that she could hear it. The person’s hand over her mouth slowly fell away, and she felt relieved. She quickly looked behind her, but no one is there.116Please respect copyright.PENANAGLE7tyEfeZ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAR7HZ8oCfLC
116Please respect copyright.PENANAP7NptRp8y1
"Don’t freak out," came the voice again, this time in front of her. "I want you to slowly turn towards me."116Please respect copyright.PENANAQFicWmqtC9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAz3NnV3UpCO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqkesVPspXi
She swallowed and slowly turned her head back. Likewise, she found someone standing in front of her, all dressed in black and floating in midair. Namatama gasped in fright as she thought she would never come across the terrifying skull-faced mask ever again.116Please respect copyright.PENANAoaOrCNfop8
116Please respect copyright.PENANACPtVWVSRM3
116Please respect copyright.PENANALYDHapqA1E
"Hello, Namatama," came a female voice behind the mask. "Long time no see."116Please respect copyright.PENANAe81pbMuvsj
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEZX7tc4esA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAzsGf9iiQZ6
"What are you doing here?" Namatama asked, her voice breaking with both fear and anger. "I thought I told you not to show yourself ever again."116Please respect copyright.PENANALugKzTv6nT
116Please respect copyright.PENANAHRyui3u5zn
116Please respect copyright.PENANAoZMiVjMBgX
The floating figure raised her hand to remove the mask. Behind it lay a young face of a woman with light, brown skin and sharp, dark eyes like that of a cat. Her lips were coloured black, and she grinned at Namatama with her white, razor sharp teeth glowing in the dark.116Please respect copyright.PENANAtrfXmgf9mM
116Please respect copyright.PENANABZBYH97KR7
116Please respect copyright.PENANAdf4xizCIxv
"I know," said the lady in front of her. "But aren’t you up thinking about your daughter, Diana?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAEXkRmUI3i1
116Please respect copyright.PENANAsySmONXih3
116Please respect copyright.PENANASD4iPV9qGX
Namatama froze, looking at the lady before finding her voice. "What do you know about her?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAgPhEkFhSgr
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAx4mQNcGHi
116Please respect copyright.PENANAETLTGLM3dK
The woman chuckled. "It’s sad that you don’t know what’s going on. So much has happened over the years that you’ve failed to notice."116Please respect copyright.PENANAiFTNJttQXW
116Please respect copyright.PENANAHB2JdpL9UA
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2ILQKhB3lA
Namatama’s eyes widened. "What do you know about Diana?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAuGuNDpvo4Y
116Please respect copyright.PENANAWzgABPaBfD
116Please respect copyright.PENANAle21L1VXSB
"A lot more than you, that’s for sure. Diana is a very special child. You should know that."116Please respect copyright.PENANADBaPytv7G4
116Please respect copyright.PENANAgK1tf2Nd8J
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9OEVxkCoMp
"She’s my daughter, of course she’s special."116Please respect copyright.PENANAC98Wa5Thb9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAy5d9CONZec
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtycKkJjhYs
The woman floating in the air came a little closer. "You know that she’s beyond special. It’s been that way from the day she was born." 116Please respect copyright.PENANAeD60Beetys
116Please respect copyright.PENANAGJ47C85Xj3
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjKd4QL8GQr
"Get to the point. You came here after such a long time to talk to me, and it’s about Diana. Tell me, is she in trouble?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAooDu78Yex9
116Please respect copyright.PENANA0w60FGvy5l
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvb9jJTdX9X
The woman smiled as she backed away a bit. "It’s not good news, I’m afraid."116Please respect copyright.PENANAvn5VEXdunQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAoqW1b7zcQy
116Please respect copyright.PENANApe47FAlluR
"Tell me."116Please respect copyright.PENANA1gtZpQpnd1
116Please respect copyright.PENANAYhtH2BMYQw
116Please respect copyright.PENANAv0XOBL1DQC
The woman stopped smiling as she sighed. "Her destiny is catching up to her. It has been for some years now."116Please respect copyright.PENANA1CYj6No0ir
116Please respect copyright.PENANASJoBa29qDL
116Please respect copyright.PENANAeIeNlHBWK7
"What do you mean?" Namatama looks confused.116Please respect copyright.PENANAsGN5BmOEgB
116Please respect copyright.PENANABGD3MPsEjf
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZFQNNIoAu
"Honey, why aren’t you here yet?" Diana’s father called out. Namatama almost muttered out loud, upset that her husband could call out like that when everybody else is fast asleep.116Please respect copyright.PENANAjAobCyS5sg
116Please respect copyright.PENANANdkFjs5F5H
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1zy7g9ywHL
"I think you already know how she started behaving when she came back from boarding school a couple of years ago. Some might think she was going through puberty, but you as a mother knew better."116Please respect copyright.PENANAB6XHOICkl3
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMmYpVJjuZk
116Please respect copyright.PENANA54lOB9VonC
"Something happened to her back at school?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAF4eSQZtkuJ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPuxOmoX0Zg
116Please respect copyright.PENANAv4GdzDX2oq
The woman in black nodded. "Yes. She’s been trying to act as normal as she can around you, but it's been difficult to keep it under wraps with all those weird events that used to happen."116Please respect copyright.PENANAqPmFJbBZpm
116Please respect copyright.PENANASiS8hWuiln
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJx7hI7znO6
Namatama’s eyes widened with fear. "Tell me, what’s really going on with her?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAwogwHjRLkN
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtTN2nTMqt7
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXRY5LKBCma
"I can’t spare you all the details, but all this is happening because of what took place the time she was born."116Please respect copyright.PENANAwcNq5EQIW6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAR8c3e8OcOX
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3pID64EMeL
Namatama gasped as she slowly started to back away, shaking her head. "You lie. This can’t be true."116Please respect copyright.PENANAfaUqp3XexX
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9BF34vnLYh
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkuyWnxgv4e
"I’m just here to tell you to expect some bad news."116Please respect copyright.PENANAIZAC84tdYe
116Please respect copyright.PENANAOhvUjLGCRj
116Please respect copyright.PENANAr1xd6XDNs8
Namatama continued to back away as her heart started to feel heavy with grief. She felt a sharp piercing through her heart and tears already started to fill her eyes. "What have I done?" she muttered. "What have I done?"116Please respect copyright.PENANA9QNfUbSmlJ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAUyhtta0vwj
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8FaJtYCfg8
Her hand flew to her chest as she sank to her knees onto the carpeted floor. Tears quickly fell onto her cheeks as she covered her mouth. The woman in black continued to look at her as she said:116Please respect copyright.PENANAmHgM7W12Nw
116Please respect copyright.PENANAd2EV8tjamV
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVkfq3kZ3Dd
"As heartbreaking as this is, you should know that Diana is a very strong girl. But I’m afraid the danger she is facing right now is too great that she has to brace herself."116Please respect copyright.PENANAkqJRTqlLwm
116Please respect copyright.PENANAgCmE419dUO
116Please respect copyright.PENANA96Z67PLq8o
Namatama looked up at the woman. "You claim Diana is strong. How strong when she’s just a young defenceless girl?"116Please respect copyright.PENANA3LP6x8IQTL
116Please respect copyright.PENANAO4LOiL5JVU
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVHm7ShWYbF
The smile the woman had earlier plastered onto her face again. "A lot has happened over the years that has made your daughter the bravest girl I’ve ever seen. She’s been through a lot. And for a girl her age, I’m surprised she has matured this quickly, especially with her true nature coming into fruition. Many people wouldn’t have handled it as well as she has."116Please respect copyright.PENANANe3trzRiby
116Please respect copyright.PENANA5URQZO4DVr
116Please respect copyright.PENANAhYEgTdBnk5
Namatama sniffed as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Her true nature? Does that mean she’s like your kind?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAZTkN2GEqDq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAaopBQm5rer
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEy8Mre81jD
The woman in black gave a nod. Namatama chocked, but she quickly pulled herself together.116Please respect copyright.PENANAprS0R6RMco
116Please respect copyright.PENANALfhjE2pw9M
116Please respect copyright.PENANAgm6IqkdcII
"Please, tell me, that she’ll be okay. That she’ll come back home."116Please respect copyright.PENANAk0xnj0S7Ip
116Please respect copyright.PENANAA3fB9RYNnN
116Please respect copyright.PENANAzcgGSUxvEZ
"I can’t guarantee she will survive. But if she does and manages to come home, can you do me a favour?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAgjREAiPoi1
116Please respect copyright.PENANAthrCKYEEUh
116Please respect copyright.PENANAcKOrovOTyd
"What is that?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAPd4Bb16QsD
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9TTwlLV2tP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAa32NlbavKH
"Tell her the truth."116Please respect copyright.PENANAb29Wi75w6G
116Please respect copyright.PENANAexc5a4KLpu
116Please respect copyright.PENANAX0whJQ6ly3
"What?" Namatama looked surprised.116Please respect copyright.PENANA6jsATMmn69
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtx5WevtW5H
116Please respect copyright.PENANAiaJJjvNOkD
She could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Her husband is coming.116Please respect copyright.PENANAnfEHakhjpM
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVsLYGYTUS0
116Please respect copyright.PENANAoDiDYjlFHO
"She deserves it. Nothing is more painful than not knowing why you're a target to so many. That's what she has been going through for so long. You should tell her. She deserves to know."116Please respect copyright.PENANAhNVz0huAUS
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAuhch7RtgH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnDxUe04LR9
"Why are you telling me this now after all this time?"116Please respect copyright.PENANADxpVjYWhIW
116Please respect copyright.PENANAfSwM5Mcbdo
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXBbyip9kKw
The woman put up a genuine smile. "Just like you, Diana is also very important to me. Don’t make the mistake of not telling her. It's best it comes from you and not anyone else."116Please respect copyright.PENANAPRxCceqaDd
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqqzGRz5fnx
116Please respect copyright.PENANAxAOyzoRlqi
"Namatama, what did I tell you about…?" came her husband, and he paused upon seeing his wife on the floor. "What are you doing?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAD1pUk6yTe2
116Please respect copyright.PENANAezMOnQtzPf
116Please respect copyright.PENANAUDGnXM0esI
Namatama quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes and stood up. She looked in front of her and the woman in black had disappeared.116Please respect copyright.PENANAcFIEaU0kI4
116Please respect copyright.PENANATXAPf5DTQq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAS83IHPNQdO
"I was just praying," Namatama lied, as she turned to her husband, but with her eyes downcast.116Please respect copyright.PENANAoftsbF4oHM
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtXzQH8m0nK
116Please respect copyright.PENANAv9VNue2WU8
"Don’t worry too much," said her husband as he came to stand beside her and held her shoulders. "Diana is fine. I know it."116Please respect copyright.PENANAEWdILiJEr8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjYuSuK0x53
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVvdm9kecgW
"You’re probably right," Namatama gave a nod. "All we can do is pray for her."116Please respect copyright.PENANAjEwKqrBT9w
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFR8Oupssci
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFqZ1LVIsC4
"That’s the spirit. Come, let us go back to sleep."116Please respect copyright.PENANAvjO3j3MrBN
116Please respect copyright.PENANA40mRo9PrYJ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMOlYWukb4q
Namatama couldn’t argue there as she followed her husband who made sure to switch the lights off in the living room. As they walked down the hall, Namatama couldn’t help but let a tear in her right eye drop down her cheek, praying for Diana to come back home safely.116Please respect copyright.PENANAc3AMfp7VdO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbTxlWdJ6Rm
116Please respect copyright.PENANAKwIuOyKAeM
***116Please respect copyright.PENANA15HUKXHENv
116Please respect copyright.PENANAajBzcWFIN5
116Please respect copyright.PENANAwflJ4SmPKF
Diana’s POV: 116Please respect copyright.PENANAuYGjSfqKKc
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkzpLGchUlJ
The Devil’s beach house 116Please respect copyright.PENANAXd9YlQ5niI
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8K0IOE0z5A
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6FWEjqbDCx
"You can't be serious!" Mutale looked at me in disbelief. "How can you believe him?"116Please respect copyright.PENANApq1J2XopWz
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0MosJS9iM
116Please respect copyright.PENANANpKaD1bLyT
"I just know," I said as I continued to stare at Lucifer. "If he was after me, he would’ve come himself or sent his strongest legions."116Please respect copyright.PENANAo87YZ55FVe
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnBDbnsrbo0
116Please respect copyright.PENANAffjckeOT1i
"But he might be the one who sent that thing after you," said Stella. "You sound so convinced that it’s not him."116Please respect copyright.PENANAcsY9reMkBS
116Please respect copyright.PENANAn2fuw24xSQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mrn9SgBj4
I turn to look at her. "If it really is him, we wouldn’t be seated here."116Please respect copyright.PENANAnuk8UFrz95
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1f7y4XaWb6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMIiWwPClhn
"She’s right," Lucifer joined in. "I would’ve locked you two pretty ladies up and this Elite soldier would’ve been torn to shreds by my hounds."116Please respect copyright.PENANAXtyU3vsxv8
116Please respect copyright.PENANACvRPQrvfyr
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8VA5sWCz8b
"Isn’t that convincing enough?" Lucius asked, still standing behind Diana’s seat.116Please respect copyright.PENANAavWaqDofY4
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8JgO7aeDkH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAskzVl0Mj8z
Mutale and Stella stay silent. As much as this is difficult to take in, arguing with me over something I'm so sure of will be futile.116Please respect copyright.PENANAEAtEI0c44V
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjhXmUgapZ7
116Please respect copyright.PENANATC3xOxUD6q
"Okay, if it isn’t him," Stella started, "then who could it be? He’s the only one we know who can control shadow monsters. Worse, we’re talking about a level one."116Please respect copyright.PENANAIjcf4byZWQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXrHZMQuhRr
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMj92AXNN2W
"How sure are you that the shadow monster didn’t just attack you out of nowhere, Diana?" Lucifer asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAWXcACG2okl
116Please respect copyright.PENANAGAJpoV7fVh
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3ksRljOkEE
I look back at him, trying to relive what happened. "Well, I’ve encountered shadow monsters and also a level one." I feel Stella look at me. I must have forgotten to mention that I had faced a level one before. "And this one felt like the one I fought before. Shadow monsters might be mindless creatures that love to bring about destruction, but there’s something about a level one that has always kept me wondering whether they really do think on their own."116Please respect copyright.PENANAMUe7Dl8jqC
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1Mvtkoh4MP
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9mlfi3f5pj
Lucifer leaned back in his seat. "Yes, shadow monsters are mindless and can thrive on their own without me controlling them."116Please respect copyright.PENANAVTLGCuEpd8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAhdU0vAIvAt
116Please respect copyright.PENANANg6qjx1wNt
"Explains why some of them wander aimlessly around," said Stella.116Please respect copyright.PENANA0VCm1JZK2z
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQdqpbUGjUz
116Please respect copyright.PENANASxQOR0lQAF
"True. But if I want them to do something, I can easily control them since I am the Prince of Darkness," said Lucifer with a smirk.116Please respect copyright.PENANARzpuKjj804
116Please respect copyright.PENANAoMcE0lsuAS
116Please respect copyright.PENANAo4Gr8gupnP
"If he’s a prince, I wonder what that makes me," Lucius muttered.116Please respect copyright.PENANA28rspkrweg
116Please respect copyright.PENANAozgZmvETlp
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3mvSMirIUe
I couldn’t help but snicker. Lucius always did manage to put a smile on my face when I least expect him to. Moreover, the look on Lucifer’s face is just priceless.116Please respect copyright.PENANAxNZ8et2xdr
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3QGEfQr33h
116Please respect copyright.PENANAeACxQFOFOZ
"As for a level one," Lucifer continued, "they are the most dangerous, making them the most difficult to control."116Please respect copyright.PENANAyPtXpDGpfT
116Please respect copyright.PENANAsd6MAQVDrj
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMvdGKhnWAD
"Are you saying you also have a hard time controlling them?" Mutale asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAGzCjKWT59m
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbr8iF1Wznh
116Please respect copyright.PENANACqnvXypzGz
"No," Lucius scoffed. "It’s easy for me, but if anyone tries to, it’s frustrating and requires a lot of practice."116Please respect copyright.PENANALDvJvnzB2d
116Please respect copyright.PENANAk1Waaxtfha
116Please respect copyright.PENANAd0vaO89OPC
For a moment there, Mutale, Stella and I remain silent. Did he just say "if anyone?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAPr5FD9CINo
116Please respect copyright.PENANACS9FUsnNIL
116Please respect copyright.PENANA83iV65B6QC
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lucifer asked with a quizzical look on his face.116Please respect copyright.PENANAeutgltvYxC
116Please respect copyright.PENANADDumkuGvkD
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtwr7fe3THm
"Anyone can control a shadow monster?" Stella asked. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAzeAnqUAr01
116Please respect copyright.PENANAE5CEtNwnF9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAktvjcQ0J3O
"Yes," Lucifer answered casually. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAwywlQWyKPB
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvwIAmdIaJ8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAwRIk5O325q
I look at Stella. She also had the same surprised look. I turn to Mutale, and he looked like he has just seen something horrific unfold in front of him. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAT9pkDNrbRb
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXT0hgRm07i
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2NNrJaNLVr
"I’m taking that you all didn’t know that anyone can control a shadow monster," said Lucifer.116Please respect copyright.PENANAUZuQfTgCtu
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2JRAaAvu6o
116Please respect copyright.PENANAKqOb9czinQ
‘"No!" the three of us answered simultaneously.116Please respect copyright.PENANAItBkV6fpZy
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXPhoXKG0sg
116Please respect copyright.PENANAKLx07bAjOB
"Wow, okay," said Lucifer, giving out a wince. "Silly me. No one is supposed to know about that. Ever."116Please respect copyright.PENANATetLyCy4nH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAyM1J5rFmaq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAI9QAx91GpK
"Well, in my world, we’ve always known that you," Stella pointed at him, "are the only one who can control them."116Please respect copyright.PENANAYHTgeJogeO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAeu27kSHzH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAKDrwYVaJv
Lucifer chuckled. "While the supernatural world is a mystery to normal people, many supernaturals have also been blinded about their own world for years. Only a few go looking for the truth, and they don't like what they find. I hate to be so flippant about revealing the truth, but I'm not the only one who can control them."116Please respect copyright.PENANA8xT40f7jt9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAC23HHeYy2
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAjel25H2kx
My eyes fell to the floor. This changes everything. Someone sent that thing after me. They must have also done so the first time I encountered it. But who could it be?116Please respect copyright.PENANASVjPgBE3NN
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEXGsksAMmM
116Please respect copyright.PENANAGVOiFfIUqT
"This is going to be tough," said Mutale. "If the devil didn’t send that thing after you, Diana, then who did?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAgrfAGNPsmK
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvVWVCKqm8d
116Please respect copyright.PENANApTNLTqa2gM
"Good question," said Lucius. "Controlling a shadow monster isn’t easy. I’ve been trying to do so for months now."116Please respect copyright.PENANAy3PM3k3w5p
116Please respect copyright.PENANAe2NaeGVszK
116Please respect copyright.PENANAN0aHDaLh3g
"Diana, what are you thinking?" Stella asked as she looked at me.116Please respect copyright.PENANAzumJCosscd
116Please respect copyright.PENANAxNEcJKkEhH
116Please respect copyright.PENANActeNkY6aQz
My eyes first flew to Lucifer as I asked, "you’ve just confirmed that anyone can control a shadow monster. What does one require for them to do so?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAbaC2KRn7lz
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z5NSzhGNZ
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3pNuNErXXB
Everyone around me is silent. I’m not so sure if I’ve asked the right question, but it’s the only thing I’ve been thinking of since the stunning revelation.116Please respect copyright.PENANAT0S1RYN5JH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAykiGzXyN4h
116Please respect copyright.PENANAWzyEDoyjIi
Lucifer smirked. "First, you’ll have to be a supernatural."116Please respect copyright.PENANACrjOcIeP03
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9DoW9FEtsU
116Please respect copyright.PENANAN5hAwZ86DW
"So, I can easily control one?" I asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAtTtvvQNXJ5
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXCMLJYTHG5
116Please respect copyright.PENANA65S9Dv6V1j
"Yes. But…," he now stood up from his seat and went to one of the bookshelves in the room. "There are a few requirements that you’ll need."116Please respect copyright.PENANAfkRS2GUxLS
116Please respect copyright.PENANA5QXGElO2il
116Please respect copyright.PENANAaAu49Ow8P9
"Something tells me it must be dark," said Mutale.116Please respect copyright.PENANAsBriRk0JaJ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqP9n050HqH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXstEB7aT01
Lucifer ignored him by not commenting. He looked through the bookshelves at the thick books with hard black covers. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but you can tell nothing good comes from those books.116Please respect copyright.PENANAWuev6s7P8c
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPllLfEP68L
116Please respect copyright.PENANAK1vUJcDpyJ
"Okay," he took one thick book on the shelf and brought it to the desk. It looked so thick that I’m glad I’ll never get to read it. Who knows what dark things it holds.116Please respect copyright.PENANAuogxEhrEdi
116Please respect copyright.PENANAh1w1Ep8hBI
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPA7HwS7o0G
He started to flip through the pages and I couldn’t help but take a peek. The pages are old, and I noticed that whoever wrote the book, had a pretty sharp, cursive handwriting. There were many drawings and illustrations on some pages and a few of them looked quite gruesome. Stella didn’t fringe away from looking at it. I turn to Mutale and I see him look the other side. Some Elite soldier, he is. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA0WAEtYCylx
116Please respect copyright.PENANAABvMkqZIwo
116Please respect copyright.PENANAfGCoYypXC9
"So," I turn to look at Lucius behind me while we wait for Lucifer to find the page, "you say controlling a shadow monster is difficult. How difficult?" 116Please respect copyright.PENANA4c65NAJSjW
116Please respect copyright.PENANA89ZWx8w1tW
116Please respect copyright.PENANA0dWnqgFpCL
"Like my father put it, it’s frustrating and depending on what level it is, it gets painful," Lucius answered.116Please respect copyright.PENANARrJrtOW05U
116Please respect copyright.PENANAOutQvrDg5O
116Please respect copyright.PENANA88XOvKHGky
"Painful, how?" Stella asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAKjBLLzOuE4
116Please respect copyright.PENANAN0z2F7u3Ie
116Please respect copyright.PENANAT4ODgPIrPH
"The way you control it is almost similar to the way you can mind control a human being. It’s easier on humans because you can manipulate the mind. We already know shadow monsters are mindless, so you really have to dig a little deeper to take control of them, meaning it takes up a lot of your energy."116Please respect copyright.PENANAoBuUU4h51U
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4tJb06NTMo
116Please respect copyright.PENANA349MO4qN5e
"And if you aren’t careful," Lucifer chirped in as he continued to flip through the pages, "you might end up breaking your mind."116Please respect copyright.PENANAIVxv88SitK
116Please respect copyright.PENANAcOKvdhJkVQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAy5r1Lk8ygb
"I’m guessing whoever brought up the rumour that only the devil can control such things, must have done so to prevent us from ever thinking that we can control one," I said.116Please respect copyright.PENANAJoiClTalbC
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVp1SuKylyL
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbwEzlv2xZd
Lucifer chuckled. "True. We did that because we know if many supernaturals broke their minds, we would’ve a lot of them causing havoc when that’s my job. And I am at least a little lenient." I gave him a look on that last part.116Please respect copyright.PENANA4bMEaRRXKE
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQmJTK5zQoM
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2GHsL81Iql
"Wait, you said ‘we’ just now," I quickly said. "Who else were part of this rumour?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAVe3Riw2IoT
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMcHVx7DwRT
116Please respect copyright.PENANARRWC62bI4H
"The Immortals of Old," he answered as he continued looking through the pages. "Those who have lived from the beginning of time, so to say."116Please respect copyright.PENANAfJenNSKwXq
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbrMk41U4Fu
116Please respect copyright.PENANAOuTa1vU1CQ
"Like you and the man upstairs?" He nodded. "Who else?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAiWBXaJiQES
116Please respect copyright.PENANAurmiVX4Q72
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6aqF0aUZ8k
"If I can recall, the person who was in charge of the Butterfly Island before her Highness was there too," Lucifer looks up at Stella.116Please respect copyright.PENANAwUQESxsqp6
116Please respect copyright.PENANArt4dyn3sqk
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4XJqAKscfX
"Her Highness’ father," Stella answered.116Please respect copyright.PENANAZA6hWH0iSa
116Please respect copyright.PENANApV4DFt0Ce1
116Please respect copyright.PENANAm59ZEnOKnX
"What happened to him?" I asked. "Did he die or something?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAPWlKLSYjQP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVAdxzORoU3
116Please respect copyright.PENANAURcMF0SwAa
"Killing an immortal is hard, and you know that better than anyone, Diana," said Lucifer. "That old fella is probably somewhere either in this world or the other in a peaceful place chanting mantras or something."116Please respect copyright.PENANAkZzkrHteap
116Please respect copyright.PENANAi2I23iTHcA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9Mp38Wx2G
"True," said Stella. "No one has actually heard from him in ages after leaving Her Highness in charge. I actually have never met him."116Please respect copyright.PENANAFHaVoUQCne
116Please respect copyright.PENANAmS4BsN1Asj
116Please respect copyright.PENANAG0ZJrm9ZuN
That’s a shock. Whatever reason he had for leaving his position and going elsewhere must have been genuine. The world of the supernatural is just as confusing and chaotic as the human one. If also given the chance, I would also disappear.116Please respect copyright.PENANAatOpdkok7i
116Please respect copyright.PENANAO31X3wXi0E
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqnei7hVmd3
"Ah, here it is," said Lucifer as his right finger landed on the desired page.116Please respect copyright.PENANA1ILCzvqk4V
116Please respect copyright.PENANAHx6TwFgt5b
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvAhGZJYNqp
Stella and I quickly stood up from our seats to look. Mutale remained where he is. Lucius slowly came to join us at the table.116Please respect copyright.PENANAFWYbmbJWLF
116Please respect copyright.PENANALphBI1U5wq
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4oLPpkHQcx
"Okay, so," Lucifer pointed to the paragraph on the page. "Like I said, you must be a supernatural. It says here for you to control something as dark as a shadow monster, you must join the dark side."116Please respect copyright.PENANAJQefKHRXC0
116Please respect copyright.PENANATvHpiGoaMY
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2ETQcZou5i
"Meaning your side, right?" I asked, looking at Lucifer.116Please respect copyright.PENANAJcX4fma5Wg
116Please respect copyright.PENANABoXbE1FdEd
116Please respect copyright.PENANAzkKmkpvMaf
"Yep. Selling your soul to me, that kind of thing. And…, it says here you must also sacrifice the one thing that means precious to you and there are some blood rituals you’ve to perform with all the symbols and stuff."116Please respect copyright.PENANAWzj8bhtjrD
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPu5j1YuzMG
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6dKGbHKSS8
"Okay, but these are just the basic stuff that a lot of us could’ve already guessed," said Stella. "What we really want to know is who could it be."116Please respect copyright.PENANAPadzpIQVYT
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEvnSFAFcJ6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAxsv0DheCIr
"Stella is right," I said, looking up from the book to Lucifer. "You say anyone can control a shadow monster and these are the requirements. Isn’t there anyone who can naturally control them like you do? What if the person we seek never had to perform this ritual?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAYNFb9VLgR3
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9e1P0flTAg
116Please respect copyright.PENANANwIfYLaJyM
Lucifer now looked at me and this time, he had a grim look. "I was afraid you were going to ask me that," he said. He looked down at the book and flipped through a couple of pages. "Apparently, you’re right. I’m not the only one who can control them naturally. There are two more beings that can."116Please respect copyright.PENANAUL3UDtTcS4
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4DN0w11SAS
116Please respect copyright.PENANAytLShru3uJ
"Two more?" Lucius also can’t believe it.116Please respect copyright.PENANAVAKKowQ9DQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFmNOZhEi85
116Please respect copyright.PENANAS4KSmKNvJ9
"You really should be reading more," Lucifer threw his son a look. "Let me skip to the last part."116Please respect copyright.PENANAFnXLTOxGRn
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkeOWubzotp
116Please respect copyright.PENANAf7R5ZHOajA
Lucifer pointed to the top left side of the book where there’s a list of names. His is the top. The second and third made my insides freeze. I should’ve known better, especially with the third.116Please respect copyright.PENANAEFYQ2fFprP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqzByHP2GQ7
116Please respect copyright.PENANAC3WgPW3ElN
"No way," Stella said, bringing the words right out of my mouth. "This isn’t true, is it?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAUd9KLSMs06
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVtvhRVsXa3
116Please respect copyright.PENANA7hg8JcXpuH
I see Mutale lift his head and Lucifer now threw him a smirk. "You want to see it for yourself, don’t you? Lucius, help him up."116Please respect copyright.PENANAVJ7HUuE29f
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2w0uXHkaxs
116Please respect copyright.PENANAxMAr7capmz
"I don’t think it's necessary," I said.116Please respect copyright.PENANAyubjDShCMH
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMVwWePYNaz
116Please respect copyright.PENANAjkKJ2v8Lih
"Oh, I think it is." Lucifer brought his left hand up in midair and at the same time, Mutale is lifted off his seat and brought forward. He flinched at first, trying to get away from Lucifer’s invisible grip, but he knows it's pointless. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAzDE9O4UL2S
116Please respect copyright.PENANATxs5oozsPs
116Please respect copyright.PENANAhlxOhqUsKW
"Let me go," Mutale demanded.116Please respect copyright.PENANAJF0T3sUe0F
116Please respect copyright.PENANAB1MnZ19h2T
116Please respect copyright.PENANAHb5Ycaod9M
"Come on, dad," said Lucius. "You can’t force him to look if he doesn’t want to."116Please respect copyright.PENANARVnveiUyIU
116Please respect copyright.PENANARgAM3Jywjc
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9uILjIG9Z3
"But he has to. Today is a day of revelation."116Please respect copyright.PENANAUx1sQylVmV
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8qAQW9dLo0
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvA0m8RG3Z3
Lucifer turned the book the other way around for Mutale to look at. Mutale did his level best to look upwards, but with a simple bend of his index finger, Lucifer made Mutale’s head point downwards. The look on Mutale’s face as his eyes fell on the book said it all.116Please respect copyright.PENANAB2rgX1Uim1
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1LXIjJBU7i
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9jubfmbK4X
"No, no," Mutale muttered shaking his head. "This is a lie. This book holds nothing but lies."116Please respect copyright.PENANA2c6BbkrDiA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAseDmWvvXZP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2Ae8yu7DZ
"I’m sorry, but this book was written centuries ago," said Lucifer. "Like I said before, so many things have been hidden from us that we only know what we think is relevant because it’s been set that way for ages. No one likes to know the truth. We all just like to hide in the sweet bliss of ignorance."116Please respect copyright.PENANA4gkYAa67AF
116Please respect copyright.PENANArosoUISZdt
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFOd8hw9gf0
"This must be a mistake. You’re lying. You’re a liar. That’s what you are."116Please respect copyright.PENANAbEv9Pw9R9G
116Please respect copyright.PENANASspu48uJ5H
116Please respect copyright.PENANAril2mbp6YA
"I take it that I lie, but there’s so much you don’t know about your world and ours."116Please respect copyright.PENANAhKHtEUK1C5
116Please respect copyright.PENANA26wtUZUA2e
116Please respect copyright.PENANAN84yqtrNcz
"Enough," I said, taking the book and turning it away from Mutale’s eyes. "There must be a reasonable explanation for this. May you please put him back down?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAyJbK8nzQJO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAX3EJWqevna
116Please respect copyright.PENANAswCN9ljZ4N
Lucifer dragged Mutale back to his seat, making him land onto the chair. This time, gently.116Please respect copyright.PENANARHPYA6gGI0
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1SISf69omd
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAKASjGgFhP
"Well, I think I’ve taken in a lot of these revelations for one day," said Stella as she looked at me. She soon went to sit back down on her chair.116Please respect copyright.PENANACu8Ujpp3rO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAlPHKcA10AG
116Please respect copyright.PENANA5gXvmH1hUJ
I look at Mutale, and he still looked horrified. I feel bad for him. It’s not easy receiving the truth like he did just now. Even I’m trying to take it all in.116Please respect copyright.PENANAWksecAuGpr
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFOkCTovi95
116Please respect copyright.PENANAqNdCsmRL45
I went back to look at the list and I realized that just after the first three were a few more. But the names were written in a symbolic language that I couldn’t recognize.116Please respect copyright.PENANALVk4ban2NX
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAF9RQxDejE
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6pgSpK02mi
"What does this mean?" I asked Lucifer as I pointed at the other names. "I can’t seem to recognize the words."116Please respect copyright.PENANAtf66TcX48I
116Please respect copyright.PENANAYIP5ylK8ph
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnbLBpZ5QKj
"Whoever has control over shadow monsters has his name automatically written in the book," he answered as he looked at the page.116Please respect copyright.PENANAwdNAcLGpH9
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6qaGbmv1Ln
116Please respect copyright.PENANAyOE8ZPIRY3
"Okay, but can you tell me who they are?"116Please respect copyright.PENANAyIVMAIy8lY
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkB06k0lee2
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEEc1tNf78P
Lucifer now looked at me and that charming smile of his came back. "It’s not necessary. If I were you I should be more worried about number 3."116Please respect copyright.PENANAxhIgdwYQKZ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAvcr32VsufX
116Please respect copyright.PENANA0nWsZzR4Ts
"He’s right," said Lucius. "I'm not surprised if he so happens to have sent the shadow monster after you."116Please respect copyright.PENANA4f9wuL36jf
116Please respect copyright.PENANAwrUM2R5yVL
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkPSBmqKnf3
"I’m worried about number 2," said Stella. "The thought of Him sending a shadow monster after Diana creeps me out."116Please respect copyright.PENANAKq9dW77vFt
116Please respect copyright.PENANAo5uaVFDU8I
116Please respect copyright.PENANAZUVprwkUvI
"Don’t say that," Mutale spoke up. "He can never do such a thing. That book says nothing but lies."116Please respect copyright.PENANAeJHK1BwkeG
116Please respect copyright.PENANAhD21TuDkRv
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6MwbdOtTfq
"I’m sorry," said Lucifer, raising an eyebrow at Mutale. "But isn’t He the same person who created day and night? Light and darkness?" He sighed. "Let me tell you a little something to ease your mind a little."116Please respect copyright.PENANAYkaldazujw
116Please respect copyright.PENANA3t2lcvwJOt
116Please respect copyright.PENANAF2ofQVmZ5X
Everyone now turned their attention to Lucifer. So did Mutale.116Please respect copyright.PENANAYxCZ3veVzQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAGm3dAFbgRi
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4acz9Hu3pu
"As much as He can control shadow monsters, He wouldn’t do it just to get to Diana," Lucifer continued. "He has you Elite soldiers for that. If He wanted to, I bet He would’ve sent his angels to do the job, but the Golden Elite decided to take up the role."116Please respect copyright.PENANASqW6T61sEI
116Please respect copyright.PENANAn5WP6PPcGB
116Please respect copyright.PENANAr4T8J1Jace
I’m trying to take this all in, and I bet the rest are too.116Please respect copyright.PENANAC7EaItGuS7
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVk1kULVZFf
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbkSNqx9zjb
"How do you know all this?" I asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAyueuA0mq5S
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAKm8VJYWFB
116Please respect copyright.PENANASdnKNkocBK
"He can’t control a shadow monster without me knowing about it, so he’s already out of the question. It’s just the way it is. Moreover, if I try to do something similar to the light, he would know. That’s why the two of us have always stayed in our lane to not bring about confusion. But I do like to give him a challenge once in a while."116Please respect copyright.PENANAiV3LVwsDPZ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAb3NjVxZYkt
116Please respect copyright.PENANAfyKu5teBK1
My heart felt at ease. Stella looked relaxed and Mutale exhaled in relief. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAX19bFAaDE4
116Please respect copyright.PENANAadJyaROaaO
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMehNTx6l4Z
"So, how do you know that the Golden Elite chose to take on the task of capturing me?" I asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAac7BSCXZk8
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4yGAhvdKdu
116Please respect copyright.PENANAs9NXH1VB6U
"Nothing hides under the sun from me," said Lucifer with a smile.116Please respect copyright.PENANARkiUn81Hom
116Please respect copyright.PENANA5c4qDeir5L
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMvDW3Zyu5p
"That’s just to say that he has many informants," said Lucius.116Please respect copyright.PENANAxnGwzlx5lm
116Please respect copyright.PENANA8IsHzbvVXK
116Please respect copyright.PENANAWsSulfks8U
Lucifer threw his son another look showing that he’s annoyed with him. Before he could throw a comment, a knock came at the door. For a moment, I forgot about where we were and that there are people in the house. Lucifer told whoever was at the door to come in, and the door flew open. A woman in a black dress and white apron stood there. She is short and plump with her blonde hair tied into a bun. This must be the house help.116Please respect copyright.PENANAkHqtPll09e
116Please respect copyright.PENANAsgWVKVooo8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAxGyAHQPERl
"Morning, sir," she greeted Lucifer. "I’ve brought in food for our guests."116Please respect copyright.PENANAgtxLLhwTA5
116Please respect copyright.PENANAA7NUXXDLoa
116Please respect copyright.PENANAR7cZCSxSJ2
"Yes, bring it in. I want you to tell the guards to get everyone out of the house," Lucifer ordered. "The place looks like a hellhole."116Please respect copyright.PENANA7FEapF6Xb8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkiJv32joys
116Please respect copyright.PENANAQCZ3RAYvct
Apart from the help, we all look at Lucifer with a questioning look. This place just happens to be one of his many hellholes.116Please respect copyright.PENANAdxXuUdtVrA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEFJOQQAK2i
116Please respect copyright.PENANAniJPzmASrH
The help dragged in a movable tray behind her and there are all sorts of delicious breakfast treats: chocolate chip cookies, eggs, bacon, bread and cereal for any of us craving for it. There were plenty of white teacups, plates and bowls to go around. And after all that’s happened in the last few hours, I now feel hungry.116Please respect copyright.PENANAa6VBd0xRkr
116Please respect copyright.PENANAeshazxj2mk
116Please respect copyright.PENANAm2Rv0FsTds
The help soon left and Lucifer said, "please, dig in. As for you," he turned to Mutale, "you also better eat up after receiving the news that your wonderful Being isn’t involved in this mess."116Please respect copyright.PENANAPTZ5qESAUQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJl0KMz6x8a
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFdfItz6LOD
"Are you seriously asking me to eat?" Mutale asked, sounding surprised.116Please respect copyright.PENANAKXDo4ITFLE
116Please respect copyright.PENANAULXlEzbhG2
116Please respect copyright.PENANAIaFf6gvIao
"Don’t make me change my mind. I can do that very quickly."116Please respect copyright.PENANAw8YO0X4p6c
116Please respect copyright.PENANAlWN96cxQZX
116Please respect copyright.PENANAkPsOJQj40F
"I’ll help serve you," said Stella as she stood up and approached the tray. "Now that I think about it, I’m starving."116Please respect copyright.PENANAu1zTpV1dP9
116Please respect copyright.PENANAYyhu0z7knE
116Please respect copyright.PENANA1rwEnk3dVb
"I’ll have some cookies and tea, please," said Mutale.116Please respect copyright.PENANAC3l3YbUzdN
116Please respect copyright.PENANADlVVxopWS3
116Please respect copyright.PENANAAt3Cdn4QnW
"I need to eat too," said Lucifer as he also went to the tray. "I drank too much last night, I didn't have a bite to eat."116Please respect copyright.PENANAkcOcJd60LP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAhzhDqXN5P5
116Please respect copyright.PENANAyBvY7T9rLA
"Want me to get you something, Diana?" Lucius asked as he looked at me.116Please respect copyright.PENANA6wWZuv6eEY
116Please respect copyright.PENANAfQLsoOX5D8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnVNhvXgAwu
"I'll serve myself, thanks," I said with a smile.116Please respect copyright.PENANA7GWmWxPFF6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAuyZlX9IEHR
116Please respect copyright.PENANA7SUFVhEJ6y
He gave me a concerned look before he gave a nod and went over to join Stella and his father.116Please respect copyright.PENANA8adXSlNl1x
116Please respect copyright.PENANAcBVAWZlw9r
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPtBwTQmbtk
I watched the three surrounding the tray before my eyes flew back to the open book before me. My eyes are gravely fixed on the name that's third on the list and my hunger quickly dissipated. I should've known earlier that there's only one being who really wants to get rid of me with all their might:116Please respect copyright.PENANAb86lA7MG0r
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbtbHjBchGT
116Please respect copyright.PENANAn0CKIf34Gs
Death.