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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 141
The voice echoed through Samuel’s mind, reverberating in the hollow spaces of his thoughts, filling in the cracks he hadn’t known were there.“You have already begun.”He staggered back, his pulse hammering. His skin burned, tingling with the same energy that had surged through him when he destroyed the Wraithborn.“Samuel?” Evelyn’s voice was tight with concern.His breathing came fast and shallow. He couldn’t answer her—not yet. The voice was still there, curling around the edges of his mind like smoke.“Do not deny it.”He clamped his hands over his ears as if that could block out something that wasn’t even spoken aloud.“Samuel!”Evelyn grabbed his wrist, forcing him to look at her. Cassandra hovered nearby, her knife gripped tight, her eyes flicking between him and the glowing altar.“What the hell is going on?” Cassandra demanded.Samuel swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus on them instead of the voice. “I… I heard something.” His voice was raw, barely above a whisper. “Some
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 142
Samuel barely had time to react before the temple broke apart.The world tilted, the walls groaning as cracks split through the stone. The force of it sent him stumbling backward, his breath catching in his throat.The figure in the doorway didn’t move. It simply watched.You are not ready.The words echoed inside his skull, not just spoken but felt. They coiled through his mind like living things, pressing against his thoughts.Cassandra yanked him backward. “We have to go!”Samuel barely heard her. His body felt sluggish, like something unseen was weighing him down.The figure took a step forward.Samuel’s vision blurred. Images flooded his mind—A battlefield soaked in blood.A tower crumbling into the sea.A throne, empty yet waiting.Him, standing at its base.Pain lanced through his skull. He gasped, dropping to one knee.“Samuel!” Evelyn’s voice broke through the haze. “You have to fight it.”He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to breathe. The figure was still there, looming
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 143
The dust settled, but Samuel could still hear the echoes of the temple’s collapse behind them. His lungs burned as he forced himself upright, his hands scraped raw from where he had clawed at the stone to pull himself out.Cassandra crouched beside him, hands braced on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. “I swear… if we barely escape one more death trap today, I’m going to lose it.”Evelyn, still gripping the edge of her coat where she had kept the silver light bomb, was staring back at the ruins with a hard expression. “We’re not safe yet.”Samuel wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, smearing dirt and blood across his skin. “What the hell was that thing?”No one answered.Because they didn’t know.Cassandra sheathed her remaining knife, straightening. “We need to move.”Samuel forced his legs to work, pushing himself up. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them. They had to get out of here.Evelyn led the way, guiding them away from the crumbling ruins, d
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 144
Samuel’s breath felt heavy, as if the air itself had thickened around him. Lucian’s words coiled in his mind, each syllable pressing against something deep inside him, something he wasn’t ready to face.But he couldn’t let this man—whoever or whatever he was—control the conversation.Samuel squared his shoulders. “You talk like you know everything, but if you really did, you wouldn’t be wasting time playing cryptic games.”Lucian’s lips curled slightly. “Ah. So you do have some fight in you.” He exhaled slowly. “Good. You’ll need it.”Cassandra tensed beside Samuel, her fingers twitching toward her knife. “I’m getting real tired of this guy’s riddles.”Evelyn didn’t move, but Samuel could feel her measuring Lucian, weighing his every word. She finally spoke. “You mentioned a choice. But you haven’t actually offered one.”Lucian chuckled, slow and deliberate. “Sharp. I like that.” His gaze returned to Samuel. “I told you—the temple was only the beginning. What you unleashed doesn’t jus
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 145
The silence in the forest felt unnatural, thick with something Samuel couldn’t name. His breathing was still uneven, his body still trembling from whatever Lucian had done to him.Cassandra was the first to break the quiet.“We need answers,” she snapped, shoving her knife back into its sheath. “Now.”Evelyn folded her arms. “Agreed. But we don’t have time to stand here and talk about it. If Lucian wanted to kill us, he could’ve done it already.”Samuel inhaled sharply. “He wants something from me.”“No shit,” Cassandra muttered.Evelyn’s gaze was sharp. “You felt something when he attacked you, didn’t you?”Samuel hesitated. He could still feel it. The pulse of something inside him, something dark and ancient. It wasn’t just a flicker anymore—it was awake.“I don’t know what it was,” he admitted. “But I know it’s not going away.”Cassandra scowled. “Great. Just what we need. More supernatural bullshit.”Evelyn glanced around. “We need to move. Now. If Lucian found us this easily, oth
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 146
Samuel’s breath was still ragged as he treaded water, his gaze locked on the figures standing on the rocky shore. Their smiles sent a chill through him that had nothing to do with the freezing water.Cassandra spat out a mouthful of river water. “Well, shit.”Evelyn didn’t say anything. She was already scanning their surroundings, calculating their options. Samuel could see the shift in her expression—the cold, precise mask of a strategist preparing for a fight.The leader of the group stepped forward, his boots sinking slightly into the wet sand. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark, reinforced clothing that suggested he was more than just a common mercenary. His sharp features twisted into an amused grin.“You gave us quite the chase,” he said, voice smooth as silk. “Didn’t think you’d survive the jump.”Samuel forced himself to stay calm. His fingers twitched under the water, the remnants of whatever power he had felt earlier still lingering under his skin. It wasn’t
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 147
The journey to the city was tense. They stayed off the main roads, sticking to hidden paths and avoiding open spaces.By the time they saw the towering skyline of Eldrin City in the distance, the sun was dipping below the horizon.Evelyn pulled her hood over her face. “Keep your heads down. We don’t know who’s watching.”They entered through one of the lesser-used gates, blending in with the evening crowds. The city was alive with noise—carriages rolling over cobblestone streets, merchants closing their stalls, the distant hum of magic-infused lights flickering to life.Cassandra exhaled. “Gods, I missed civilization.”Samuel barely heard her. His head was still spinning from what had happened.They needed answers.And Evelyn knew exactly where to get them.She led them through the winding streets until they reached an old, unassuming bookstore nestled between two larger buildings.Samuel frowned. “A bookstore?”Evelyn shot him a look. “Just trust me.”She pushed open the door, and th
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 148
---The silence in the room was deafening. Samuel felt the weight of Nathaniel’s words pressing down on him like an anchor, threatening to pull him under.---Samuel swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet Nathaniel’s gaze. “You’re saying I’m some kind of heir to a tyrant?” His voice was low, tight.Nathaniel nodded. “Not just any tyrant. The Forsaken King was a ruler feared across centuries. His magic was unparalleled, and his legacy was one of destruction.”Cassandra scoffed. “Great. So we’re traveling with the next dark overlord. That’s just fantastic.”Evelyn shot her a warning look before turning to Samuel. “This doesn’t define you. Bloodlines don’t dictate who we are.”Nathaniel folded his arms. “Maybe not, but they do dictate what kind of power runs through him. And that power is waking up, whether Samuel likes it or not.”Samuel exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. His mind was spinning. He didn’t want this. He never asked for it. “So what am I supposed to do?”Nathaniel stu
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\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
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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
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'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
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"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
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“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
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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
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"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
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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
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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
