Present day100Please respect copyright.PENANAzmf1tDO8jj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAm8mVyqjidA
Zambia 100Please respect copyright.PENANAnOePnFkmv8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAKcLnu2Wsu7
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8GudTxQOFv
Narrator’s P.O.V:100Please respect copyright.PENANAF1kvso7spp
100Please respect copyright.PENANAMNJJgVvany
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZW7QU07Z8B
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAXBfFBKyXLN
100Please respect copyright.PENANA6z5UENwZ9d
100Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZnYT1O6Ok
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAJzyFBfzsGj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFkdxcgIOaD
100Please respect copyright.PENANAyDSAtDe9Lq
"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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANASTGA0hz0w0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAepdhkRIVQE
100Please respect copyright.PENANAW5QdAXohMd
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANASQv1h1BoTS
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsggxzdknrP
100Please respect copyright.PENANAYwqLQfQ6yE
"Pepani (sorry)," she apologized. "I was looking for my phone, have you seen it?"100Please respect copyright.PENANA8LTPJIRpo1
100Please respect copyright.PENANADXoiXIvxKm
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhOwmAAwRkp
"Mm?" her husband can’t believe this. "Who do you want to call at this time?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAnCUvSL29XV
100Please respect copyright.PENANA6AChwPNmZo
100Please respect copyright.PENANAwRontqLfUT
"It's urgent," she said as she pushed the covers aside to get out of bed.100Please respect copyright.PENANAXUEGNcRl9Z
100Please respect copyright.PENANAcFl9SLVM4z
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhIF5FAIk99
"Check your dressing table," her husband muttered as he dropped his head back onto the pillow. "That’s where you left it last night."100Please respect copyright.PENANAyjnKIrqYJZ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAN26dKXSsS1
100Please respect copyright.PENANAkTtzy1eGtU
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAOBiZiIuQcH
100Please respect copyright.PENANAw5d3ri8ONH
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8Uk7s9NxTE
"Yaba (Goodness)," he groaned. "Here we go again."100Please respect copyright.PENANAytdBgmNgSG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxsigBc0Y2C
100Please respect copyright.PENANAwZCsW41l7k
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAoHT52yNwui
100Please respect copyright.PENANAdTcwKpFDOL
100Please respect copyright.PENANAnJRdpYEgWm
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAst7CGkxIbx
100Please respect copyright.PENANAUC7dmnhSpw
100Please respect copyright.PENANAVZLA2n40sq
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAEeBS0wzvb8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxaqMk3KOD2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfQHDDPwVaN
After finding the person’s line, she called it. This time it went through. She only hoped that the person would answer.100Please respect copyright.PENANAhOF3AWmn3t
100Please respect copyright.PENANAG0d4Ca6JgF
100Please respect copyright.PENANA3nNZ0B9tmU
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAbmp7O4oaC0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxskG5mcaDu
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4VZE89yGiI
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAkFl6QDMLDu
100Please respect copyright.PENANAR2LylZJykr
100Please respect copyright.PENANApBO9VFxLak
"Who are you trying to call?" he asked. "Don’t tell me it's Diana."100Please respect copyright.PENANAb6ivvRKtI3
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0pbZBAshWM
100Please respect copyright.PENANAow08izRGPv
"So?" Diana’s mother asked. "I just want to know how she’s doing?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAf0O7mb32rP
100Please respect copyright.PENANAlcxmh0H5Ug
100Please respect copyright.PENANAVmAuZbnNQw
"At this time?" her husband approached her. "She’s asleep. And you know she switches off her phone."100Please respect copyright.PENANAuBeznROyVs
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8lBerczjXq
100Please respect copyright.PENANAOLjzHZZHPP
"I just want to know how she’s doing."100Please respect copyright.PENANArPX8VOZ8mh
100Please respect copyright.PENANAoC2DdiYvAb
100Please respect copyright.PENANApaaLqiVZlq
"Didn't you talk to her a day before? If anything were to happen, your mother or Katy will let us know."100Please respect copyright.PENANAd4v6DrxfEO
100Please respect copyright.PENANAAGRlHW9nWw
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0UpVkmb0p7
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAuMjVHxneTr
100Please respect copyright.PENANASTCwN7oFHH
100Please respect copyright.PENANAWw1LHhMsc9
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAxRm8QnM9my
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhsPOjLx1A9
100Please respect copyright.PENANA7UWkyGEIhu
He put his hand on her shoulder. "What could be so different about this one?" he asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANATnMbclBIOo
100Please respect copyright.PENANA6VB5V1o3p4
100Please respect copyright.PENANAYKkJCiXdzJ
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAqgzeyigVP6
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxsWWmM4ajG
100Please respect copyright.PENANA5Oay6NRv1j
"I can’t explain, Atake Diana (Father to Diana). Everything about this dream felt real. I feel Diana could be in huge trouble."100Please respect copyright.PENANAg6GSxQENZa
100Please respect copyright.PENANAmKxPFNov5q
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZA9Awr9Qne
"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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAUePYpsbnl3
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0q63WTVzZf
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQHqCJH9UYn
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANASibGt3SR7d
100Please respect copyright.PENANA7f5FCU9irx
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4SSXnYL9An
"That’s because she’s a teen. You’re forgetting that people at such an age are difficult to make them open up."100Please respect copyright.PENANAKMOB64APqQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAeejfWz2lLh
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxn5jeKwpG8
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANADF5XzlG3Hc
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFsu9GV51CD
100Please respect copyright.PENANATFrSV6wXxE
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANADApHRDO1X0
100Please respect copyright.PENANACpV67heXNR
100Please respect copyright.PENANA5DdKDXWQB2
"That’s what you think, but…"100Please respect copyright.PENANAW12EMe46vT
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8BZec6qOMw
100Please respect copyright.PENANAB73ScNPLwv
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAXLokyTVQ6U
100Please respect copyright.PENANAUA0LZ5hFTJ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAKW1PRirtK9
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA92KmxCmvmi
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxrInSwxEgl
100Please respect copyright.PENANAdBuwasR7jT
"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." 100Please respect copyright.PENANA1Nfpzzyv6L
100Please respect copyright.PENANAWGSu0b0lNv
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4S5voXPaS6
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. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAypbAmgqDyt
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxT9Z4zqMgq
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJVhLOadchU
"Okay, can I send a message to Katy so that she calls me when she sees it?" she asked. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAXQXy3zbcc0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHHzTAZbWCj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAqa6uxtoefO
"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." 100Please respect copyright.PENANA8ORQr351c8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAcpwbqVBH8a
100Please respect copyright.PENANAVjgMaRen3o
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAMKzgBBkrQN
100Please respect copyright.PENANAg5HDQG4bFN
100Please respect copyright.PENANASzI8h6JMsc
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA3AgWCL4Kef
100Please respect copyright.PENANApIy1T2hohK
100Please respect copyright.PENANAyhU74p2fNc
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA0ya3SqqbSl
100Please respect copyright.PENANApnCl8lJ0SD
100Please respect copyright.PENANATEvxhZrcyE
"I must be imagining things," she told herself.100Please respect copyright.PENANAhyyZgTRjUr
100Please respect copyright.PENANAIxF8Qn7ysY
100Please respect copyright.PENANABSSE4s2M8h
"And what if you aren’t?" came a voice.100Please respect copyright.PENANA9LnQk32SjG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAmqzdxX1CrI
100Please respect copyright.PENANAUKAROIIDYk
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAYKTrQ2msq2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAggwxsUxlYt
100Please respect copyright.PENANAkfoUgmP52n
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANA40vwdYzeFq
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZW3xd7o7fG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAM0J2xnd3Sn
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA4qhDHKkuwF
100Please respect copyright.PENANAkTucEHgunb
100Please respect copyright.PENANASH3UPoZsOw
"Don’t freak out," came the voice again, this time in front of her. "I want you to slowly turn towards me."100Please respect copyright.PENANAD1DFOU8iCC
100Please respect copyright.PENANAnncuVfXmb0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAeSEJLattAR
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAGFJt1Bd5Vg
100Please respect copyright.PENANAwF9HZ3X9Ea
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvGqalqPVeV
"Hello, Namatama," came a female voice behind the mask. "Long time no see."100Please respect copyright.PENANAxMLSNC71Pv
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHXOp8OjsjK
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxVwVd956Ib
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAhXMxIqG35p
100Please respect copyright.PENANAoNMKfPzMU4
100Please respect copyright.PENANAqAnUzxsD2b
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAl0PTb5fUuQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANApStxqkpRfB
100Please respect copyright.PENANAe5nI4w7YXi
"I know," said the lady in front of her. "But aren’t you up thinking about your daughter, Diana?"100Please respect copyright.PENANACFVoMYA0ok
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxECzADSlfZ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAneb6MGJMO9
Namatama froze, looking at the lady before finding her voice. "What do you know about her?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAmDZss2Usij
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgFTqmwdrer
100Please respect copyright.PENANAebIwAuAAbw
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANARWOWOhNElO
100Please respect copyright.PENANAz7F1UXNYVm
100Please respect copyright.PENANAswODRgBTmz
Namatama’s eyes widened. "What do you know about Diana?"100Please respect copyright.PENANANaaoJQ6WXn
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0fF7WSTGQo
100Please respect copyright.PENANAWoTq4kuwLL
"A lot more than you, that’s for sure. Diana is a very special child. You should know that."100Please respect copyright.PENANAGT51F9y970
100Please respect copyright.PENANAPsK9akRCgA
100Please respect copyright.PENANA3A7RHY7q1O
"She’s my daughter, of course she’s special."100Please respect copyright.PENANAA20i1XHDDt
100Please respect copyright.PENANAe9Ki3FydpX
100Please respect copyright.PENANA7GelfOyLiP
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." 100Please respect copyright.PENANAYZAI2LJWds
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsuUP2toJOr
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxw3oeOq926
"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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANA3TZmdFwXNV
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4UszpLVFgj
100Please respect copyright.PENANADRlgdK19Ii
The woman smiled as she backed away a bit. "It’s not good news, I’m afraid."100Please respect copyright.PENANAMQyEhdByt7
100Please respect copyright.PENANASxwWuREONm
100Please respect copyright.PENANAmfelvayjk3
"Tell me."100Please respect copyright.PENANAhSgBUGiNk3
100Please respect copyright.PENANAGtWpYHnLql
100Please respect copyright.PENANAqBktvrJFF5
The woman stopped smiling as she sighed. "Her destiny is catching up to her. It has been for some years now."100Please respect copyright.PENANAIIBctPZI9I
100Please respect copyright.PENANA7QpTn9Vnaa
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxap3iSG39M
"What do you mean?" Namatama looks confused.100Please respect copyright.PENANAKKjcLphWE9
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgBh75eiPKA
100Please respect copyright.PENANAH3breEYPsZ
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAxHGlPeJxfD
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8bHaIn5JNx
100Please respect copyright.PENANANnaw6THTvd
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANASzeNVh0btq
100Please respect copyright.PENANALMK2tu2ahe
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8CR1fnS7Xw
"Something happened to her back at school?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAtDXKzAbi2r
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8F8Z3dD6rq
100Please respect copyright.PENANAt8iA64HWXV
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAwsT4MCCqJw
100Please respect copyright.PENANAIgZKoY9Thg
100Please respect copyright.PENANA18zsxGBAQt
Namatama’s eyes widened with fear. "Tell me, what’s really going on with her?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAdBzou2cTCR
100Please respect copyright.PENANAPluOGR7k9u
100Please respect copyright.PENANAMnFO2iBieQ
"I can’t spare you all the details, but all this is happening because of what took place the time she was born."100Please respect copyright.PENANAFvC5dpkQ9H
100Please respect copyright.PENANAGbz3Qj7fK8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQ55EkrTrPo
Namatama gasped as she slowly started to back away, shaking her head. "You lie. This can’t be true."100Please respect copyright.PENANAA7XGwnQxjz
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJYil12rY3Y
100Please respect copyright.PENANAiIxW1HlvtU
"I’m just here to tell you to expect some bad news."100Please respect copyright.PENANAv1LV5qmeo2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFclWd7DW4m
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHWYUp3LVMR
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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANA8BqYPpOCOY
100Please respect copyright.PENANAx8Ma2BfMBI
100Please respect copyright.PENANAK4zrR17u2M
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:100Please respect copyright.PENANAAQQqCJZGOG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgPQWvUiEKJ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAN58SEd33b5
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAmprywDOL6E
100Please respect copyright.PENANAUOnFSDwZy3
100Please respect copyright.PENANAyCMGu2VvG7
Namatama looked up at the woman. "You claim Diana is strong. How strong when she’s just a young defenceless girl?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAkbw1IGeTm2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvf5QvrEG4C
100Please respect copyright.PENANAB4tjr19J6u
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANA8O88ev3NpP
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQSqbHTOR3A
100Please respect copyright.PENANALEhwtGMu1z
Namatama sniffed as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Her true nature? Does that mean she’s like your kind?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAfQgNyHtDJr
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvW3aQHLFnR
100Please respect copyright.PENANA2Gx6qVRkIk
The woman in black gave a nod. Namatama chocked, but she quickly pulled herself together.100Please respect copyright.PENANAFu5jhn1kxm
100Please respect copyright.PENANAnFVJarnAOO
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZT5jfkwdbU
"Please, tell me, that she’ll be okay. That she’ll come back home."100Please respect copyright.PENANA0ALYx1Iu31
100Please respect copyright.PENANA3L9VuFhnrG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvEN55p0asB
"I can’t guarantee she will survive. But if she does and manages to come home, can you do me a favour?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAsrADWpWnQb
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxgUyrpOFt5
100Please respect copyright.PENANArJJEFU12tK
"What is that?"100Please respect copyright.PENANA5SInsBZoIK
100Please respect copyright.PENANAGPUfcFl0uV
100Please respect copyright.PENANABVYDFt6lgU
"Tell her the truth."100Please respect copyright.PENANAXMR1npOCih
100Please respect copyright.PENANAB2n8FIkhwS
100Please respect copyright.PENANACcqotuDKuC
"What?" Namatama looked surprised.100Please respect copyright.PENANAlvuwlRmbgx
100Please respect copyright.PENANAmX4FwCz8Vt
100Please respect copyright.PENANAu7utip0txV
She could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Her husband is coming.100Please respect copyright.PENANAyJ2tXvJf0c
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhYcq3enSxW
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJGBes4OS1a
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAnKjXfy7Mha
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJwSh3Tk7Oy
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgx7MmDxwH5
"Why are you telling me this now after all this time?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAYh4czpaS7t
100Please respect copyright.PENANAL1PqW9fGRv
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFbGhXbXJ5i
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAVW7n57V7Oc
100Please respect copyright.PENANAnPfE7Laqyb
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxqS5u2gh1I
"Namatama, what did I tell you about…?" came her husband, and he paused upon seeing his wife on the floor. "What are you doing?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAIiU4vuwpkS
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0y5UicknVI
100Please respect copyright.PENANA9uBe0Ev7ZY
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA6NkP2sH33b
100Please respect copyright.PENANA9HdEnhzvsH
100Please respect copyright.PENANApf7Y42keCF
"I was just praying," Namatama lied, as she turned to her husband, but with her eyes downcast.100Please respect copyright.PENANA7FNfccNfMS
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQSLRNRW7F8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAW0d9mPZiT9
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAASS9mxG9Yk
100Please respect copyright.PENANAccSZADM1Ej
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4gKbYFFPGQ
"You’re probably right," Namatama gave a nod. "All we can do is pray for her."100Please respect copyright.PENANAwgtkcLjM3U
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfwEyZQrITI
100Please respect copyright.PENANAjaLCicVjrZ
"That’s the spirit. Come, let us go back to sleep."100Please respect copyright.PENANAi4fx4MG2V0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAp2ySp2iIje
100Please respect copyright.PENANAVpnUufhO98
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAq8bhscEeSj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAwRczwzgw2Z
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHXBmIkYrw7
***100Please respect copyright.PENANAVnBTxRDCgE
100Please respect copyright.PENANAjAkwP14hsQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAa9Jc91zOQO
Diana’s POV: 100Please respect copyright.PENANADyhJbEB6ZQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsJlTjILC2z
The Devil’s beach house 100Please respect copyright.PENANA5Pp1hqycOj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXgN3PsxNGO
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsNqFNkZjbJ
"You can't be serious!" Mutale looked at me in disbelief. "How can you believe him?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAfOUYmkgb40
100Please respect copyright.PENANAVAtXXR4Cgq
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHz3hSaNA4e
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAKEGjFYmXHN
100Please respect copyright.PENANA6hgSwdbCoz
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgozgZQ6FwO
"But he might be the one who sent that thing after you," said Stella. "You sound so convinced that it’s not him."100Please respect copyright.PENANAT3mn9yFWgJ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAPva3jqZJOE
100Please respect copyright.PENANAV0PBycUxM1
I turn to look at her. "If it really is him, we wouldn’t be seated here."100Please respect copyright.PENANATzI0n015yf
100Please respect copyright.PENANAD7y8ZEChYd
100Please respect copyright.PENANAAOzaHdhnNT
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAslTh0TT7XL
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQfK59TLJAY
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0WFfhATKHM
"Isn’t that convincing enough?" Lucius asked, still standing behind Diana’s seat.100Please respect copyright.PENANAHm73yARpv2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAegMpSxC9NZ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAPegqWAVEbB
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAx21275HDJr
100Please respect copyright.PENANA2uxya2Q30Y
100Please respect copyright.PENANAc30jVisfJI
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAhcUetFaeek
100Please respect copyright.PENANALJZNzzNT9e
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvWauzrR6aV
"How sure are you that the shadow monster didn’t just attack you out of nowhere, Diana?" Lucifer asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANAw4hGnaSZ7p
100Please respect copyright.PENANAu8uO8B2mPX
100Please respect copyright.PENANATSNI0FFkUy
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANADaiMkiPk5P
100Please respect copyright.PENANAwliaPzHUys
100Please respect copyright.PENANAWL0bBmgheW
Lucifer leaned back in his seat. "Yes, shadow monsters are mindless and can thrive on their own without me controlling them."100Please respect copyright.PENANASL06kyhcR8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAyC3IirjTZW
100Please respect copyright.PENANAb8vp7XX7rj
"Explains why some of them wander aimlessly around," said Stella.100Please respect copyright.PENANAYVnrMOMG1N
100Please respect copyright.PENANAx0q0XqcCAD
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxy3uH8FvEO
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAtFucgVDnq9
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvHe2HgdrQo
100Please respect copyright.PENANANVh8ca6paO
"If he’s a prince, I wonder what that makes me," Lucius muttered.100Please respect copyright.PENANAYdP137JSMS
100Please respect copyright.PENANA5hAnit1Y5c
100Please respect copyright.PENANA1D9J4ymngv
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANADf5b0iQZoA
100Please respect copyright.PENANAkfxPTrbmU7
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFCVGEazySC
"As for a level one," Lucifer continued, "they are the most dangerous, making them the most difficult to control."100Please respect copyright.PENANAwPT5cC8SlS
100Please respect copyright.PENANAl2jTDUM84t
100Please respect copyright.PENANA9lpabAgLN2
"Are you saying you also have a hard time controlling them?" Mutale asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANA8lmzHrK62k
100Please respect copyright.PENANA51AkJPuu78
100Please respect copyright.PENANArRJc4336R1
"No," Lucius scoffed. "It’s easy for me, but if anyone tries to, it’s frustrating and requires a lot of practice."100Please respect copyright.PENANA0q6sD9gURM
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvAQUbGW8lm
100Please respect copyright.PENANAiNo6KpLmuP
For a moment there, Mutale, Stella and I remain silent. Did he just say "if anyone?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAfOcLClbxsG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAeZ6ljs1YBZ
100Please respect copyright.PENANARL9Q4D3zrd
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lucifer asked with a quizzical look on his face.100Please respect copyright.PENANApofKpe5Ew5
100Please respect copyright.PENANAiqjmQw9FF8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvxmEK7exuk
"Anyone can control a shadow monster?" Stella asked. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAe6UQKeDaCc
100Please respect copyright.PENANAWDvaO2KdYN
100Please respect copyright.PENANAbC2cosOnS7
"Yes," Lucifer answered casually. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAmp25UN7j5o
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZMUSeSFYb
100Please respect copyright.PENANATL9xecPfGP
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. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAEs1wg1MimN
100Please respect copyright.PENANAOcXXlI339T
100Please respect copyright.PENANAWvJooWCsY2
"I’m taking that you all didn’t know that anyone can control a shadow monster," said Lucifer.100Please respect copyright.PENANAb25gJkZxR7
100Please respect copyright.PENANA15jPIXGPPr
100Please respect copyright.PENANAiWq1S6pXQm
‘"No!" the three of us answered simultaneously.100Please respect copyright.PENANAajjKIFfemE
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvrpIZmNkO1
100Please respect copyright.PENANANKwD1J2PZV
"Wow, okay," said Lucifer, giving out a wince. "Silly me. No one is supposed to know about that. Ever."100Please respect copyright.PENANAxqyQfyywxU
100Please respect copyright.PENANA8eZZSOeCUW
100Please respect copyright.PENANACVFnBaNTnY
"Well, in my world, we’ve always known that you," Stella pointed at him, "are the only one who can control them."100Please respect copyright.PENANA9ei0M2uwW5
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXEirYMrb0D
100Please respect copyright.PENANADpu0v7n864
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAqJePFpD7eo
100Please respect copyright.PENANAb9VGy19Fnf
100Please respect copyright.PENANA20uqQPrrBH
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?100Please respect copyright.PENANAiuHYPuHdYg
100Please respect copyright.PENANA12RaZBgwN6
100Please respect copyright.PENANAojM0W8yDDQ
"This is going to be tough," said Mutale. "If the devil didn’t send that thing after you, Diana, then who did?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAiVivvNiSff
100Please respect copyright.PENANAyqJtDZPWjQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAnMnFaxvNVu
"Good question," said Lucius. "Controlling a shadow monster isn’t easy. I’ve been trying to do so for months now."100Please respect copyright.PENANAu99Yw7Jbyq
100Please respect copyright.PENANARyGjvDyB8m
100Please respect copyright.PENANAI8YLA4QquU
"Diana, what are you thinking?" Stella asked as she looked at me.100Please respect copyright.PENANAentvc5sCFR
100Please respect copyright.PENANAnYH0jBKnt6
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXTa50Qsjed
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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAllki2wd75n
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHnlD6jRwHf
100Please respect copyright.PENANAB41DgBjW82
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAYOmBjlFb3w
100Please respect copyright.PENANAjo17QWEGWM
100Please respect copyright.PENANAlTnAkC4Gg1
Lucifer smirked. "First, you’ll have to be a supernatural."100Please respect copyright.PENANAEqfHNIKqp6
100Please respect copyright.PENANA5mdSxCTMfj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAOiPzKZseZa
"So, I can easily control one?" I asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANAMmOAY6ffvS
100Please respect copyright.PENANAA5n1kU5Arb
100Please respect copyright.PENANAoDGY7w0O7O
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAtOZFpu4tdj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfOVXEbxokl
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0FecAt4XZp
"Something tells me it must be dark," said Mutale.100Please respect copyright.PENANAuZcv84Z0n8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAeZ6AfX9f7X
100Please respect copyright.PENANAtEHpdzCTis
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAP3Zg16eO2T
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0aUphhEaA9
100Please respect copyright.PENANAYvnUluH1op
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAnWGQtVCRmP
100Please respect copyright.PENANAf4LtM0z8Jj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZIdEsfIM0G
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. 100Please respect copyright.PENANArEpZeJ22CN
100Please respect copyright.PENANALj1al87kM2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZMaVMsVg2c
"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?" 100Please respect copyright.PENANAbSxE7wGrbE
100Please respect copyright.PENANA1Qwx6PvUCP
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHH8HTeHlPH
"Like my father put it, it’s frustrating and depending on what level it is, it gets painful," Lucius answered.100Please respect copyright.PENANAFGejDMC6hp
100Please respect copyright.PENANAEpDxxfUMe5
100Please respect copyright.PENANA2FTZM5P7jC
"Painful, how?" Stella asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANAG1QUhuAD6d
100Please respect copyright.PENANAEhquFtf2SN
100Please respect copyright.PENANAYTbr1wwc1o
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAOW12TRVMWR
100Please respect copyright.PENANAvQRK7W9W2L
100Please respect copyright.PENANAlTllD92BBi
"And if you aren’t careful," Lucifer chirped in as he continued to flip through the pages, "you might end up breaking your mind."100Please respect copyright.PENANAmZWOcWIUJJ
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4xwbsyNEUd
100Please respect copyright.PENANApDIcPtrni1
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAocCmlIF3Z5
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJHIpnUYV1V
100Please respect copyright.PENANAUoVizdJhn9
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA9i4qwdUdKq
100Please respect copyright.PENANASrY9bXiyPU
100Please respect copyright.PENANAn1jxVVzLOu
"Wait, you said ‘we’ just now," I quickly said. "Who else were part of this rumour?"100Please respect copyright.PENANA6qZa7vQh48
100Please respect copyright.PENANAuaEjq0pDtg
100Please respect copyright.PENANAGBnFBYdlhy
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANA8CdpQSUOC4
100Please respect copyright.PENANAD6tNzkRB0I
100Please respect copyright.PENANA6XkvUJCxdQ
"Like you and the man upstairs?" He nodded. "Who else?"100Please respect copyright.PENANADUbaivAwDj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAEjSxy4PXRR
100Please respect copyright.PENANADKs4BRfrBy
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAB9nmITkMGJ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxZlyOeakQe
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXga3odRTq0
"Her Highness’ father," Stella answered.100Please respect copyright.PENANAG0SXl5Gk4B
100Please respect copyright.PENANAP0IKS1aj2s
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfXNSgILsLX
"What happened to him?" I asked. "Did he die or something?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAkjyciuLFhm
100Please respect copyright.PENANA40RPNBQAw9
100Please respect copyright.PENANARj3l8Yvddc
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANA6JWDqU79Wx
100Please respect copyright.PENANAIv8Xn9IveV
100Please respect copyright.PENANAD12qH1Hezy
"True," said Stella. "No one has actually heard from him in ages after leaving Her Highness in charge. I actually have never met him."100Please respect copyright.PENANAUisQ4PeuJp
100Please respect copyright.PENANAmZyPge8Y5P
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhNa9UPBImQ
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAE8Sb0QXEhr
100Please respect copyright.PENANAG3hXuEjyRv
100Please respect copyright.PENANAAgzhxzG8Zi
"Ah, here it is," said Lucifer as his right finger landed on the desired page.100Please respect copyright.PENANAXicTkafLVK
100Please respect copyright.PENANAn28yRqbGih
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhmKzmuMz5Z
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAK1nbswQi8q
100Please respect copyright.PENANA1JkbA4SNtf
100Please respect copyright.PENANAMhuUtD7TPJ
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAnxCLhH7x3O
100Please respect copyright.PENANArjWXDMAY56
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4qygVkLfeH
"Meaning your side, right?" I asked, looking at Lucifer.100Please respect copyright.PENANAwWA6z3UlSc
100Please respect copyright.PENANA9W6Ur9FgvG
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxqasj1NdFe
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAqjeRVj1crn
100Please respect copyright.PENANA55Ew4vB5Ok
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfOeHug85D3
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANARzLgEY25gY
100Please respect copyright.PENANAinS8wu7ftQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAt3NmTrXI9s
"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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANABQ6PbjVSsu
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4p0sqdvHeW
100Please respect copyright.PENANAZN9guWqfSR
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAxeIlhGBCh8
100Please respect copyright.PENANA41K645AqCW
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhjEFZQDTMx
"Two more?" Lucius also can’t believe it.100Please respect copyright.PENANAU9hrWNhVQS
100Please respect copyright.PENANAjuRrOeqJ5V
100Please respect copyright.PENANA0tK5AVqkjj
"You really should be reading more," Lucifer threw his son a look. "Let me skip to the last part."100Please respect copyright.PENANATGOjD7TYkX
100Please respect copyright.PENANASQMyZzsww4
100Please respect copyright.PENANANINt8c494a
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAd4oGu7BlCd
100Please respect copyright.PENANAGb7RfJy9QQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXqw57SjNG7
"No way," Stella said, bringing the words right out of my mouth. "This isn’t true, is it?"100Please respect copyright.PENANABFcM59bFXv
100Please respect copyright.PENANANN910lhvov
100Please respect copyright.PENANAX5HiPXLetb
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANATGZhbIDIxm
100Please respect copyright.PENANAeS7hSuRb6D
100Please respect copyright.PENANAe8WQPxKXdi
"I don’t think it's necessary," I said.100Please respect copyright.PENANAR2G2BVqz4M
100Please respect copyright.PENANAuNzIgm9sel
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFGo3RTKPV8
"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. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAVSNtUj3mTd
100Please respect copyright.PENANA4fLTVGaj7a
100Please respect copyright.PENANA5vVXM08gCa
"Let me go," Mutale demanded.100Please respect copyright.PENANANt9a53l4jz
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgvPqfYfbU6
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfSz7oSBdbe
"Come on, dad," said Lucius. "You can’t force him to look if he doesn’t want to."100Please respect copyright.PENANAjZipueLghf
100Please respect copyright.PENANAh5fSnxsJm0
100Please respect copyright.PENANADoGE6FadDu
"But he has to. Today is a day of revelation."100Please respect copyright.PENANAFdxJoODaHS
100Please respect copyright.PENANALJ7B385cfD
100Please respect copyright.PENANAYyZjiqyed1
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAuRQVqnUFdO
100Please respect copyright.PENANASFxP41760y
100Please respect copyright.PENANA9AxJJWeKkM
"No, no," Mutale muttered shaking his head. "This is a lie. This book holds nothing but lies."100Please respect copyright.PENANAb5KPsZhXBJ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAydtiAgmZkx
100Please respect copyright.PENANAPEqTQzkbWE
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAQIU9JyfJPo
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhbDGE8jMLo
100Please respect copyright.PENANAH6rYUbDSlw
"This must be a mistake. You’re lying. You’re a liar. That’s what you are."100Please respect copyright.PENANANVUOmXISei
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQd101CFH9N
100Please respect copyright.PENANAiX8Fp61U9j
"I take it that I lie, but there’s so much you don’t know about your world and ours."100Please respect copyright.PENANA7FT9xfk5Ui
100Please respect copyright.PENANADzFGHUFVn8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAC1EKCk1KmI
"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?"100Please respect copyright.PENANAr2Uax6UZho
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJFJEKJxshc
100Please respect copyright.PENANArAvYhRkAap
Lucifer dragged Mutale back to his seat, making him land onto the chair. This time, gently.100Please respect copyright.PENANA79biqy0P1y
100Please respect copyright.PENANAuAMJYz30Tt
100Please respect copyright.PENANAFzJKv7G4yq
"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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA4zXKkd4iTx
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsETfgoQwY0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAYdcwP5kEU0
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA7zS40TH4js
100Please respect copyright.PENANAIpd6Zs7mZ1
100Please respect copyright.PENANAjbR6xyh26I
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAZNMY4JDr7M
100Please respect copyright.PENANArxH8mJhh4O
100Please respect copyright.PENANAAiXuRZ9RU9
"What does this mean?" I asked Lucifer as I pointed at the other names. "I can’t seem to recognize the words."100Please respect copyright.PENANAtl2jH4gWyw
100Please respect copyright.PENANAPoY3oh1w9V
100Please respect copyright.PENANAshgCDL9jRR
"Whoever has control over shadow monsters has his name automatically written in the book," he answered as he looked at the page.100Please respect copyright.PENANACoPMGzFwRs
100Please respect copyright.PENANAkHt3ImKYlL
100Please respect copyright.PENANAggMGWb0tV7
"Okay, but can you tell me who they are?"100Please respect copyright.PENANARj5VOVwDLK
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJQNiTAJNhN
100Please respect copyright.PENANAtdZT4qhKU6
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANApNXS002ZSV
100Please respect copyright.PENANAUckvSX9Lnn
100Please respect copyright.PENANAycoiKkzQT4
"He’s right," said Lucius. "I'm not surprised if he so happens to have sent the shadow monster after you."100Please respect copyright.PENANAO2R7QsxOE1
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXoemrk0WaS
100Please respect copyright.PENANAdkINZ8oQ0t
"I’m worried about number 2," said Stella. "The thought of Him sending a shadow monster after Diana creeps me out."100Please respect copyright.PENANAQYKMwuObj5
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsJVMTcnjc4
100Please respect copyright.PENANALK79ZYSNvY
"Don’t say that," Mutale spoke up. "He can never do such a thing. That book says nothing but lies."100Please respect copyright.PENANAY0MnJLFdT1
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2HIeAt5tG
100Please respect copyright.PENANA5RaaAbSFUn
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAAwiX9FFOuH
100Please respect copyright.PENANAAC4LJ9vDjz
100Please respect copyright.PENANABnS45X0oni
Everyone now turned their attention to Lucifer. So did Mutale.100Please respect copyright.PENANA5nGD3mvxnY
100Please respect copyright.PENANAA8qQAGQc5U
100Please respect copyright.PENANAyOnLeTn2ml
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANA73Hzx6Z98g
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfcRh6acHwH
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhfrnpSSX5a
I’m trying to take this all in, and I bet the rest are too.100Please respect copyright.PENANAABWLzgavqc
100Please respect copyright.PENANAcrRFdhvjj7
100Please respect copyright.PENANAxgwwqN4uQx
"How do you know all this?" I asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANAhvLbIJIWoM
100Please respect copyright.PENANAMGeS2aHecg
100Please respect copyright.PENANAEX8Ux2PzjV
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANALAuRzx11vd
100Please respect copyright.PENANApsdzX4O99V
100Please respect copyright.PENANAJupqewbebq
My heart felt at ease. Stella looked relaxed and Mutale exhaled in relief. 100Please respect copyright.PENANA0xeMJkCyOR
100Please respect copyright.PENANAlmvbGhkzHI
100Please respect copyright.PENANArW3b7SjDko
"So, how do you know that the Golden Elite chose to take on the task of capturing me?" I asked.100Please respect copyright.PENANAjtlyt5NkAQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAG5QfBKTxNs
100Please respect copyright.PENANAGlgngqN4IC
"Nothing hides under the sun from me," said Lucifer with a smile.100Please respect copyright.PENANACOVP3mFGlp
100Please respect copyright.PENANAt8DonrwFhQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANASh6dHyrWOY
"That’s just to say that he has many informants," said Lucius.100Please respect copyright.PENANAWIyug54oqj
100Please respect copyright.PENANAkJ5xH1WlMr
100Please respect copyright.PENANAb2WpUyFHqN
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANA0GCEP4S03Y
100Please respect copyright.PENANAHyhN26LkYH
100Please respect copyright.PENANASVmx8fBbo0
"Morning, sir," she greeted Lucifer. "I’ve brought in food for our guests."100Please respect copyright.PENANA0W1CNg0UVE
100Please respect copyright.PENANAukFTjVevAo
100Please respect copyright.PENANA380uiaXEhk
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANA5z4Pw803Fh
100Please respect copyright.PENANA07HHCROJb6
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQwKjI7uVou
Apart from the help, we all look at Lucifer with a questioning look. This place just happens to be one of his many hellholes.100Please respect copyright.PENANAubBco6tfrB
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsCj41wWl1a
100Please respect copyright.PENANA2pBgoD6Zqs
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.100Please respect copyright.PENANAgo9Nwv1huq
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQogy4I7Tr0
100Please respect copyright.PENANAx42UTAeFZA
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."100Please respect copyright.PENANASqgELGnFOQ
100Please respect copyright.PENANAqZcUamNcs8
100Please respect copyright.PENANAhnqa0GRLgW
"Are you seriously asking me to eat?" Mutale asked, sounding surprised.100Please respect copyright.PENANAwFe7mTJbnv
100Please respect copyright.PENANAgMs1UO2jpv
100Please respect copyright.PENANAfsAbY78kCk
"Don’t make me change my mind. I can do that very quickly."100Please respect copyright.PENANAgKDCVlaYx2
100Please respect copyright.PENANAdAtz6hQNkw
100Please respect copyright.PENANAoW4METOtc7
"I’ll help serve you," said Stella as she stood up and approached the tray. "Now that I think about it, I’m starving."100Please respect copyright.PENANAotKCJIAV0f
100Please respect copyright.PENANAcymHDcmgWB
100Please respect copyright.PENANAsGetxT3PzH
"I’ll have some cookies and tea, please," said Mutale.100Please respect copyright.PENANAx78Aue9Axs
100Please respect copyright.PENANAXXxyoMph48
100Please respect copyright.PENANATGqWc97PrJ
"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."100Please respect copyright.PENANAPK8CnFRY2G
100Please respect copyright.PENANAF9MIgxS3GM
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQQo8WdZwrd
"Want me to get you something, Diana?" Lucius asked as he looked at me.100Please respect copyright.PENANAVAyWq0OTnY
100Please respect copyright.PENANARj3O3S1VKb
100Please respect copyright.PENANAtioIGTeaP5
"I'll serve myself, thanks," I said with a smile.100Please respect copyright.PENANALRxJxdWH7V
100Please respect copyright.PENANA9VyO2vNUpg
100Please respect copyright.PENANAKqEJhCRYyG
He gave me a concerned look before he gave a nod and went over to join Stella and his father.100Please respect copyright.PENANAvz7JkoEZS6
100Please respect copyright.PENANAg2CyTeamah
100Please respect copyright.PENANAQl5wAmUzC8
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:100Please respect copyright.PENANAtjxIJWuRHU
100Please respect copyright.PENANADpAbiE8Gfa
100Please respect copyright.PENANAk0f9sU5xZR
Death.
arrow_back
A Dark Destiny
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
Sponsor
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
A Dark Destiny
Author:
Namwezi
ISSUE #26
Chapter 24
LIKES 0
READS 96
BOOKMARKS 4
campaign
Request update 0
Sponsor
Suggest Edits
Login with Facebook
or Sign up/Login to comment or bookmark!
Click to load the next chapter
X
After each update request, the author will receive a notification!
smartphone100 → Request update
X
Sponsor again
Click to login
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.
Thank you for supporting the story! :)
Please Login first.
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:
Font Size:
Line Spacing:
Paragraph Spacing:
Load the next issue automatically
Reset to default
×
People Who Like This