The man in red took a step forward, his smirk deepening as he crouched slightly, trying to meet the child’s gaze.
"You could’ve ejected them in a nicer way, you know.""I don’t care," the child replied curtly, dismissing the suggestion as easily as one might swat away an insect.The red-clad figure sighed dramatically, rising back to his full height. "You could have killed the ascendant," he pressed, his tone almost teasing.The child’s eyes snapped open, a dangerous glint flashing within the eerie white pupils. "I don’t care," he repeated, but there was a sharp edge to his voice now, a warning."You should care." The man in red spoke."This is the second time he's stuck his nose in our business. If you’re not careful, you might get more attention than you bargained for," the child replied. "Besides, he’s not an ascendant yet. When I finish here, I’ll confront the true ascendant myself on why he allowed this nonsense to happen.<"Yeah, it had to," Jeremy echoed, his voice low. "And now you're about to leave me in the cold again, aren’t you?"For a brief moment, the tension lifted as Owen chuckled lightly, but the sadness remained in his eyes. "You’re a special breed, Jeremy. Only if you were the one to lead, not Damien," Owen muttered, almost to himself. "Goodbye, student."And with that, Owen turned on his heel and disappeared into the night, his figure swallowed by the shadows before Jeremy could even fully process the exchange.Jeremy stood there for a long moment, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He fought the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him—anger, sadness, betrayal. He had been left behind by the one person he thought he could rely on. Again.As Owen’s silhouette faded into the distance, Jeremy closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. His heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the unspoken words a
Jeremy walked home with a sense of lightness he hadn’t felt in a long time. The day had been perfect—better than he could have imagined. Sarah’s kiss still lingered on his lips, the weight of the necklace around his neck a gentle reminder of the new bond they shared. For once, it felt like everything was aligning in his life, and for a moment, he believed today might just be his best day yet.But as his house came into view, a dark cloud loomed over the area, casting an eerie shadow over the street. The sharp contrast between the joyful day and the ominous sight ahead made Jeremy’s stomach twist in discomfort. His eyes narrowed, scanning the unusual sight before landing on his mother, Sophie, standing outside the house. Her posture was tense, her face pale, yet Jeremy felt a strange calm wash over him. He didn’t run toward her; instead, he walked steadily, his mind alert but his heart oddly steady.Just as he was a few feet away from Sophie, the
The world spun violently as Jeremy tried to steady himself, his head throbbing with a pain he couldn’t understand. A wound far deeper than any physical blow was forming in his heart—one that seemed impossible to heal. He stood there, reeling, as the pieces of his past began to fall into place. Everything that had confused him over the years—the strange debts, the sudden behavior shifts from people like James, the oddity of Owen’s abrupt tutelage—was beginning to make a twisted kind of sense.The man in front of him had piercing Prussian blue eyes. The woman’s hair, a bright, ethereal white, shimmered in the fading light of day. And as much as he hated to admit it, these were undeniable traits Jeremy saw in himself. Features that had always felt out of place but that he’d attributed to the father he had never known, the one his mother had described only in faint whispers of the past. But now, with every word they spoke, every look exchanged, Jeremy’s hope crumbled.
Jeremy stood there, his chest tight, his mind a whirlwind of questions. His whole life had been flipped upside down, and now, more than ever, he felt like he was caught between two worlds—one that he had known, and one that was now forcing its way into his reality."What about Mom? What about Sarah, the Guild, Celicia?" Jeremy’s voice was a mix of defiance and confusion. He watched as Colwill and the white-haired woman exchanged surprised glances at the mention of Celicia."Yes, Celicia is my friend," Jeremy continued, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Isn't it great to know I have a sister?" He glanced at Sophie, who, despite her tear-streaked face, broke into a small, relieved smile. Jeremy’s words made her feel like she hadn't lost him entirely. He still cared about her."You know where she is?" Sophie asked, her voice shaking as she sniffled."Yeah," Jeremy answered simply, nodding.Colwill, seemingly unfazed, waved a hand dismissively.
The air grew tense, thick with a primal energy as Jeremy and Owen stood side by side, facing the monstrous Soren. His crimson hair fluttered lightly in the wind, and his wicked smile showed not a hint of fear or caution. He was mocking them with his mere presence.Owen’s body pulsed with power, veins bulging and his red-rimmed eyes alight with fury. He tightened his grip on the weapon he held, ready to give everything. Jeremy, on the other hand, felt the gravity of the situation hit him like a hammer. This man—this being—Soren, wasn’t here for a simple fight. His bloodlust was palpable, and he had only one true goal: Jeremy.Without a word, the battle erupted. Owen lunged forward first, his movements a blur, every strike aimed with deadly precision. Jeremy followed close behind, katana slashing through the air with a surge of his own power. But Soren? He didn’t move an inch. With a casual flick of his wrist, he deflected Owen’s first strike, sending the v
The cool evening air brushed against Jeremy’s face as he pulled out his phone and dialed Celicia’s number. His hand trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the weight of what was to come. He wasn’t sure how things would unfold, but one thing was clear—there was no turning back now.After a few rings, Celicia’s voice came through. She was always calm, collected, the one of the people who gave him a sense of normalcy. “Jeremy?”“I’m ready. Send the car,” he said, his voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil that churned inside him.Within minutes, a sleek black car pulled up, its tinted windows concealing the driver. Jeremy took a deep breath, closing his eyes and inhaling a gust of wind into his lungs, feeling the air calm his nerves before he stepped inside. The car hummed to life, and as they drove toward the Detroit villa, Jeremy let his thoughts clear, forcing his mind to brace for what was about to unfold.When they arrived at the estate
Jeremy stood before the mirror, adjusting the clothes James had gifted him. The fabric was soft and well-fitted, a perfect contrast to the bruises and scars still faintly visible on his face. He took a deep breath, clearing his mind of the chaos from earlier. It had been a long, exhausting day, but it wasn’t over yet.He boarded a drop car that would take him to meet Jessica. His heart was heavier than usual—weighted by the events of the day and the revelations that had unfolded. As the car hummed along the road, Jeremy’s thoughts drifted. Could he really continue down this path? Did he even have a choice?When the car pulled to a stop, Jeremy stepped out and immediately spotted Jessica stepping out of her sleek purple car. She wore a stunning dress that accentuated her elegance, but her playful smile faltered when she saw him."Sheesh, Jeremy, didn’t know you preferred this look." Jessica teased at first, but her eyes darkened when she noticed the marks o
Jeremy came to a halt as soon as he reached the door of his home, his mind spinning with everything that had happened in the last few hours. His hand raised almost on its own, knocking twice out of habit before he slowly opened the door. The house was quiet, still, but not in a peaceful way—it felt like the calm before a storm. The first thing he saw was his mother—Sophie. She was standing near the door, her hand just retreating from the knob as if she’d been waiting for him. "Have you been standing here all day?" Jeremy asked, his voice low but filled with exhaustion. Sophie shook her head quickly, though her expression gave away her unease. "No, I just came here a few minutes ago... I thought... well, I thought you might need someone to talk to when you got back." "Mum..." Jeremy stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders gently, trying to ground her—and maybe himself too. "Let’s just pretend nothing happened today, okay?" Sophie blinked, confusion flashing across her f