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
Jeremy crashed onto his bed, lying face down as the weight of the day finally broke him. Tears began to silently fall, streaking his face as his body shook with suppressed sobs. He had worn the mask of strength all day—had to, for everyone around him. But now, in the quiet solitude of his room, his weakness was laid bare. Inside, he felt fractured, fragile."Who am I?" he whispered to the empty room, rolling onto his side, eyes fixated on nothing.The more he tried to push away the chaos in his mind, the more his thoughts seemed to spiral. Vengeance was growing inside him, a dark force swirling in the pit of his chest. The anger felt like a living thing, something he couldn't ignore any longer."Relax..." he muttered to himself, trying to stay calm.But it was impossible to silence the storm inside him. He could no longer deny it: Burke was a part of this mess. Burke had known the truth, or at least parts of it, and had planned to use Jeremy for his own gains. Jeremy had no doubt now
“Is this what it takes?” Jeremy thought, his consciousness slipping in and out of focus.And then, as abruptly as it had begun, the agony ceased. Darkness overtook him, blinding and cold, like plunging into a frozen abyss. For a moment, Jeremy thought he might have died, the pain too much for his body to endure.Then, in a flash, his eyes snapped open.The ground beneath him trembled as though the entire world acknowledged his transformation. The room he stood in—an ancient, abandoned castle with crumbling walls and forgotten tapestries—seemed to pulse with life in response to his awakening. The air thickened, oppressive, as if the very atmosphere had weight. Jeremy felt it all, a strange awareness flowing through him that he had never experienced before.He didn’t realize it yet, but his left eye now glowed an ominous red, while his right shimmered with a piercing yellow. His breath came in ragged gasps, and for the first time in what felt like y
Jeremy stayed home the next day, the weight of everything that had transpired settling heavily on his shoulders. He refused to go to school, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming reunion. Beside him, Sophie sat quietly, her eyes distant as they waited for Celicia’s return. The house was tense, brimming with emotions yet unspoken, and Jeremy wasn’t sure how he’d face the next few hours.By the afternoon, the sound of tires crunching gravel outside announced Celicia’s arrival. A sleek car parked in front of the house, and Jeremy could see Celicia through the window. She stepped out, her expression conflicted—confused, lost, and hurt. Jeremy could see it all in her eyes, in the way her shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world had been dropped onto her back.Sophie stood at the door, waiting with nervous energy radiating off her. There was a pause, a long, silent moment where Celicia just stood there, staring at Sophie. Then, as if the dam had finally broken