2025-03-23 20:59:53
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 130
The city was alive in the dead of night.Samuel moved through the streets like a ghost, his cloak drawn tight around him as he and Evelyn wove through the labyrinth of alleyways. The air smelled of soot and damp stone, the remnants of another day under Lucian’s rule. Even in the darkness, the city felt suffocating, like it had been shackled in invisible chains.Guards patrolled the main roads, their torches flickering against the walls. Lucian had fortified his grip on the capital, and Samuel could feel the weight of it with every step.“We shouldn’t be out here this long,” Evelyn murmured beside him, her voice barely audible. “If they catch us—”“They won’t,” Samuel said, though he wasn’t sure if he believed it.Their goal was simple: find any surviving allies still hidden in the city and bring them back to the watchtower. But so far, they had found only abandoned hideouts and cold trails. Either the survivors had gone deeper into hiding, or worse, they had been caught.Evelyn stoppe
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 131
The world around Samuel blurred as he met Lucian’s next strike, his blade colliding with a force that sent sparks flying. The weight of their clash vibrated through his arms, but he no longer felt overpowered.Something had shifted.Lucian’s smug expression faltered as Samuel moved, his body reacting faster than it should. His muscles burned with a power he didn’t fully understand, but he didn’t question it. He let instinct take over, meeting Lucian’s attacks with newfound precision.Lucian twisted away, his expression sharp with realization. “Interesting.”Samuel didn’t give him a chance to recover. He lunged forward, their blades ringing through the narrow alleyway. Guards swarmed around them, but Evelyn held her ground, cutting through anyone who dared approach.“Samuel!” she called between breaths. “We need to move!”She was right. This wasn’t a fight they could win—not here, not now.Samuel feinted left before spinning, slashing at Lucian’s side. The tip of his blade nicked the d
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 132
The chapel was eerily silent as the group settled in, exhaustion evident in their faces. The battle had cost them dearly, and Samuel could feel the weight of every loss pressing against his chest. But there was no time for grief. Not yet.Evelyn knelt beside a wounded soldier, tearing a strip from her sleeve to bind his bleeding arm. Cassandra sat near the crumbling altar, her eyes dark with thought, fingers absently tracing the hilt of her dagger. The rest of the survivors murmured among themselves, their voices hushed, as if afraid to wake the ghosts that lingered in these ruins.Samuel exhaled, his mind still replaying the fight with Lucian. The power he had felt—it hadn’t been natural. It had surged through him like a force barely contained, something he had never been trained to wield.But it had been his.And now, he needed answers.He turned to Evelyn, who was securing the last of the bandages. “I need to go back.”Her head snapped up. “Back where?”“The tunnels.”Cassandra sco
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 133
The weight of the sword in Samuel’s grip was unlike anything he had ever held before. It wasn’t just metal—it was alive with power, pulsing beneath his fingertips like a heartbeat. The energy from the vision still lingered, making his skin prickle as the last echoes of his ancestor’s words faded from his mind.The bloodline must endure.Evelyn and Cassandra watched him carefully. The torchlight flickered against the vault’s walls, making the ancient carvings dance with eerie shadows.Cassandra was the first to speak. “So… what now?”Samuel tightened his hold on the sword. “We figure out why my family was hiding this. And what Lucian wants with it.”Evelyn’s gaze flicked to the runes on the blade. “That vision… it wasn’t just some memory, was it?”Samuel shook his head. “No. It felt like a warning.”Cassandra sighed, pacing between the shelves. “Great. Because we really needed more problems.”Evelyn ignored her, stepping closer to the sword. “Samuel, try something.”He frowned. “Try wh
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 134
Silence hung heavy in the ruined estate. The wraiths had retreated, but their presence lingered like a foul stench. Samuel could still hear their shrieks echoing in his mind, feel the lingering power pulsing under his skin.The golden light had been his doing.It had destroyed them.And yet, he had no idea how.“Okay,” Cassandra breathed, still gripping her blades. “What the hell was that?”Evelyn didn’t speak. She was staring at Samuel, her brow furrowed, calculating.Samuel forced his hands to stop shaking. “I don’t know.”Evelyn’s voice was sharp. “Liar.”Cassandra narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, no way in hell that was normal. That wasn’t magic, not the kind we know. That was something else.”Samuel clenched his jaw. “I said I don’t know.”But the words felt hollow.Because he did know.Or at least, he had an idea.The seal recognizes you.The heir has arrived.He swallowed hard, shoving the thought away. There was no time for this.“We need to find my father’s records,” he said instead
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 135
The walls groaned, the entire estate shifting as if something massive and unseen had just exhaled. The floor beneath Samuel's feet vibrated, sending a sickening pulse up his spine.Then came the whispering.Not the voices from before.Something different.Something alive.Samuel turned sharply. The door they had entered through was gone—vanished into solid stone.Cassandra swore. “What the hell just happened?”Evelyn didn’t answer. Her fingers tightened around the book as her gaze flicked around the room. She was tense, calculating.Samuel forced himself to breathe. “It’s not an illusion,” he muttered. “The house… it’s changing.”Evelyn shot him a sharp look. “Changing for what?”A deep, guttural growl echoed from the shadows.Then—Something moved.Cassandra yanked a knife from her belt. “Oh, hell no.”The shadows coiled like living things, stretching and curling around the edges of the room. A shape materialized, shifting as if struggling to take form.And then—It stepped forward.
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 136
Samuel’s breath turned shallow as the voice slithered through the darkness."Heir of the Ruin… step forward."The shadows thickened, curling around the edges of the room, writhing like something alive. The walls groaned under the pressure of unseen forces.Evelyn stepped closer to Samuel. “You don’t have to do this.”“Yes, I do.” His voice was steady, even as his pulse roared in his ears. “If this thing wants me, avoiding it won’t change anything.”Cassandra muttered a curse. “This is a terrible idea.”Samuel ignored her. He took a step forward.The shadows reacted instantly. The room tilted, and for a moment, it felt as if the floor beneath them had disappeared entirely. His stomach lurched.Then—The darkness parted.And suddenly, Samuel wasn’t in the study anymore.He stood in an entirely different place.A grand hall stretched before him, lined with massive, decaying pillars. The ceiling was impossibly high, shrouded in darkness, and the floor was cracked marble, stained with some
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 137
The silence inside the temple was suffocating.Samuel’s heartbeat pounded against his ribs as he stared at the waiting throne. The dark stone shimmered with an eerie glow, veins of silver light coursing through the intricate carvings. It was ancient, powerful… and calling to him.“Samuel,” Evelyn’s voice was tense, cautious. “Don’t.”He blinked, realizing he had taken a step forward.“I’m not…” He exhaled sharply. “I wasn’t—”“You were.” Cassandra’s tone was sharp. “And we all saw it.”Samuel turned to them, frustration bubbling under his skin. “Do you think I want this? Do you think I asked for any of it?”Evelyn shook her head. “That’s not the point. The magic—this place—it’s pulling you in. You have to fight it.”Samuel clenched his jaw. He was fighting it. But the longer he stood here, the more he felt the power clawing at his mind. It was whispering to him, promising control, dominance.Promising understanding.Cassandra sighed, rubbing her temples. “We need to figure out where w
Latest Chapter
165
\The road to the Vale of Remnants wasn’t marked on any map. It was hidden, buried beneath centuries of secrecy and natural camouflage. Eli had given them a tattered scroll, ink faded but still legible, containing coordinates only someone with the sigil could decipher. As they left the last paved road behind, the air grew heavier, laced with static. Trees loomed taller here, their twisted trunks like sentinels watching every move.Samuel sat in the backseat, staring out at the encroaching forest, his mind reeling. The Mark of Ascendance pulsed under his sleeve with quiet insistence, as if reacting to their proximity to the boundary. Every time he blinked, he saw that throne again—ancient and immense, its surface etched with glowing veins of light and shadow.Joey drove in tense silence. He had stopped cracking jokes two hours ago, when the GPS died and the radio began spitting out bursts of static mixed with those same whispered voices Samuel had been hearing. Sarah sat beside him, ey
164
The handshake lingered longer than it should have, and when Marcus finally let go, Samuel wiped his hand on his coat, as if trying to rid himself of something foul. The warehouse hit had gone clean, precise, but that didn’t matter now. Callahan’s warning refused to quiet in Samuel’s head. The real players—the ones who truly run this city—are still out there.Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was no warmer than when they had left. Olivia was asleep on the couch, her breathing shallow but even. Rafael stood by the window, watching the street, while Evelyn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the lines of tension etched deeper into her face.“You okay?” Samuel asked, stepping beside her.She didn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, “We just shot a man in cold blood, and I don’t feel a thing. That’s not normal.”Samuel glanced at her. “Normal left the building a long time ago.”Rafael spoke up. “We’ve stirred something up. Marcus might be useful, but he’s no ally. He plays sides, not
163
'Hey, how about now? I am hungry'.There really was no other choice but to send a message to Gelael and go out with him. I couldn't possibly have to whine to Adrian, he might get really angry with me, because earlier he had offered to buy food straight away.Luckily, in no more than five minutes, Gelael arrived. I immediately got down and opened Gelael's car door when I saw that he had come with his friend. I immediately closed the front door and moved to the back. Unlucky! It's really embarrassing."Eh, sorry Emma, I forgot to tell you that I invited my brother, his name is Bon," said Gelael, Bon then extended his hand towards me."Emma," I said, shaking Bon's hand."Where are you going, sis?" Bon asked Gelael."Whatever, just a place to eat, a relaxed cafe, something delicious, if possible with live music," said Gelael.I sent a message to Gelael.'Why didn't you say that you would invite your brother, I was embarrassed because I suddenly opened the front door''Why should you be em
162
"Why did you bring your brother? That's really cool," I asked."He was the one who wanted to come, he said he was bored at home, lazy about being told by his older brother, so I just invited him, do you feel bothered?" Gelael asked back."No, it's up to you, whoever you want to invite," I answered.Gelael smiled, he kept looking at me, I became uncomfortable."What now?" I asked Gelael."Nothing, I'm just happy to see you again, forgive all my stupidity yesterday, I think I was possessed by the ghost of a woman, that's why I acted so annoyingly," said Gelael."There's no need to discuss it any further, just assume that if you're crazy, I understand," I said.Gelael laughed, he looked back at me while supporting his chin. A very annoying pose for me, I ignored it and immediately played with my cellphone.Adrian sent photos of the food being served at Sandra's house, lots of it. It looked like they were having a luxurious party, Sandra was also seen smiling holding a lobster. I'm gratef
161
“Why, just because I said something wrong earlier? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, don't be angry like this, we can discuss other things that are more interesting," replied Gelael."What else can I discuss with you?" I asked."What, I don't know either, there are many things I could tell you but you won't hear them, you understand what I mean," said Gelael, he looked at me sharply."Yeah, thank you, I don't want to hear it one bit," I answered.Gelael raised his eyebrows, he then opened his cellphone. Likewise with me. I also kept myself busy by opening my cellphone.I looked around, people seemed to be chatting with each other, sharing stories, laughing, and making memorable memories. Meanwhile we were both just busy with our own affairs. There are no more words, no more stories that we can talk about, it's all over.Likewise with this relationship, it should be completely over, it cannot be forced. Between the two of us we still have wounds and hopes, I have wounds that have not yet h
160
Adrian sat on the sofa in front of the television, leaned his head against the sofa cushion, he closed his eyes, from his expression I could tell that Adrian felt very tired and depressed."Sandra apologized to me earlier, she told me about how all this could happen, I was very touched," said Adrian, still with the same expression."That's all he said?" I asked.Adrian opened his eyes, he squinted at me."What else did he tell you? Is there anything else?” Adrian asked me with a confused and curious face."Yes, she told me how she broke up with Hudson, and how all this madness started," I answered, I sat next to Adrian.“Hudson? What did he tell you? "He just said that, all of this has nothing to do with me, all the mistakes that exist are proof that he was guilty and negligent, he was just being hit by anxiety and worry about his life, so he finally chose a shortcut to calm himself down," said Adrian."I don't want to talk about this problem because it is Sandra's personal matter, bu
159
"Whoever is stressed, it seems like he is talking about himself," I said quietly. I then closed the door and locked it.What should I do now, it was still very early, I looked in the refrigerator, there was some ice cream that I hadn't eaten. Because I was hungry, I decided to cook instant noodles.After a few minutes, the instant noodles I made were ready and I brought them in front of the television. I turned on the television and ate the noodles I made. It's really delicious.Days like this are sometimes very enjoyable, maybe you know what I mean, I haven't lived a normal life like someone without problems for a long time, so this sometimes becomes an interesting habit.Gelael sent me a message saying good morning, I ignored it. I've really decided to keep my distance from Gelael, I don't want to have to play with everything at my young age all the time.By the way, it's December 28th, it's great that Adrian is still working at the end of the year, what a busy businessman. Sometime
158
We arrived at the mall where Gelael and I met again for the first time after we separated."Let's just go straight to the salon, okay? My head feels very heavy," said Sandra, she then took my hand and we started walking along the mall."So how did that happen, I really can't comment reading what you just showed me, I'm very happy," I said, Sandra's smile couldn't hide her feelings which were also very happy."Why did I ask Adrian to come home last night? Because I really opened my mind, I apologized to Adrian and asked him not to think about all the things I did, I thought there were things I had to finish before it was too late. So after Adrian came home, I immediately called Tommy and talked to him. Including my meeting with Adrian, Hudson and what just happened, maybe we talked for almost three hours, I have become relieved and open since telling you, so I am really grateful that because of you I can have the courage to admit those things. At first I was hesitant to call Tommy, but
157
The safe house felt colder than usual. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled in your bones and refused to let go. Samuel sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, his fingers lightly tapping against his knee. Evelyn was across from him, tending to Olivia, who lay on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her.Damon paced near the window, his agitation barely contained. “This doesn’t feel like a win,” he muttered. “We took out Vincent, got Olivia back, but something feels... off.”Samuel knew exactly what he meant. The words of the dying man at the warehouse still echoed in his mind. There are worse monsters coming.“We don’t have time to celebrate,” Samuel said finally. “Vincent may be dead, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Power like his doesn’t just disappear—it shifts.”Evelyn looked up, her expression tired but determined. “Then we make sure no one else takes it.”Damon scoffed. “That’s a nice thought, but how? We’re just four people against an entire city of crim
