Gabriel hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “I... don’t know,” he said finally, his tone low. “Maybe it wasn’t as bad as we thought.”“Stop lying,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “I saw the blood. I saw you...”Gabriel glanced at Tamara again, a silent exchange passing between them. Camella caught the look, her suspicion growing. “You’re hiding something,” she accused in a low tone. “What happened in there?”Tamara stepped in, her voice calm. “Camella, maybe we should talk about this later. Let’s get everyone home safely first.”Gabriel seized the opportunity to divert attention, standing up and moving away from the stretcher.Camella’s eyes were fixed on Gabriel, her mind buzzing with questions. She couldn't shake off the images of him, wounded and bleeding, just less than an ago. But now, there was no trace of any injury on his body, and it troubled her deeply. She needed answers.“Gabriel, tell me what happened,” she pressed, her tone a mix of concern and determination.
During dinner, Gabriel picked up his glass, taking a sip before setting it down. He looked across the table at Camella, trying to gauge her mood. "Camella," he began, his tone calm, "I need to let you know that I'm going to the capital tomorrow. There's some business I need to check out."Camella froze, her fork hovering mid-air. "What? You can't travel tomorrow, Gabriel," she said, her voice edged with concern. "You almost lost your life yesterday, and now you want to casually leave the city?"Gabriel sighed, trying to keep his expression neutral. "I understand you're worried, but I need to go. There are important matters that can't wait."Camella’s face tightened with frustration. "No, Gabriel. I don't understand. You barely recovered. This isn't the time to go running off on business trips."Before Gabriel could respond, Tamara, who had been quietly listening, interjected. "Don't worry, Camella," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "He will be fine. I’m going with him."Ca
Anna entered the visiting room in the prison, her eyes scanning the cold, grey surroundings until they landed on Jarod. He looked up, a smirk forming on his lips as she approached."I'm pregnant," she said, her voice trembling, trying to hold his gaze.Jarod's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Oh, really? Should I congratulate you?" He chuckled, leaning back. "You know, I always wondered how naive you were. And to think I even slept with you without protection… too easy."Anna’s face burned, and she felt a lump form in her throat. "I know. I was a fool. But what do I do now? Gabriel… hates me. He abandoned me. His family sees me as nothing but a plague," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Jarod’s eyes gleamed with a hint of malice. He saw an opportunity, a way to strike back at Gabriel. "Oh, poor Anna," he said mockingly. "You let Gabriel treat you like this? After everything? And now you’re just going to let him be happy, without any consequences?"She bit her lip, her
Tamara paused, her eyes still closed, her face focused. But when she opened her eyes and looked at Gabriel, there was no change. “What’s going on, Tamara?” Camella asked, her voice strained.“He’s not waking up,” Tamara said, her expression grim. “I think he’s already crossed over.”“No. This is nonsense!” Camella cried, standing up suddenly. “We should be calling a doctor, not standing around talking about realms and spirits! Father, get an ambulance!”Tamara grabbed Camella’s arm firmly, her eyes intense. “Listen to me, Camella. Nothing about this is scientific. This is magical. Fantasy. He is in a world we can’t reach, not with doctors or medicine. The place he is now is a battle of his soul, and nothing can pull him out except himself.”Camella’s face crumpled, and she slumped back down beside Gabriel. “There has to be something… anything…”Tamara softened, but her voice remained firm. “The only thing we can do is wait and hope he finds the strength to come back.” Camella’s heart
More machines attacked, but Gabriel was relentless, his mind focused on one thing: survival. He fought with a ferocity he didn’t know he had, each blow more powerful than the last. For every machine that attacked, he countered with swift, brutal precision, his eyes glowing brighter with every strike.As he stood amidst the shattered remains of the machines, his chest heaving, he heard Seraphina’s voice echo through the realm. “Impressive, Gabriel. But this is only the beginning. You will break, and you will serve me… or you will die.”Gabriel looked around, wiping the sweat from his brow, his breath ragged but steady. “I’ll never be yours,” he shouted defiantly, his voice echoing through the dark, empty expanse of Noctura. “I will find a way out of this place, and I will destroy everything you throw at me.”Seraphina's laughter echoed, dark and mocking. “We shall see, Gabriel. We shall see.”As the darkness around him deepened, Gabriel steeled himself, knowing that this was only the b
Gabriel stood there, his breath heavy, the dark silhouette of the creature looming over him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—a twisted mix of shadows and fangs, with eyes that seemed to glint even in the darkness. His heart pounded as he gripped the hilt of an available sword tighter, the sweat from his palms making it slick. He knew he had to act fast, but the creature’s movements were unpredictable, darting around him, taunting him.“Come on,” he muttered to himself, trying to steady his breathing. “Just one opening… that’s all I need.”The creature lunged, and he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its sharp claws. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and his muscles ached from the strain of dodging and countering. He swung his sword, managing to nick the creature’s side, but it only hissed, unfazed, and retreated into the shadows. The brief moment of reprieve was shattered when he heard the snorting and stomping behind him. Turning, he saw the massive bull charging toward him
Zoe felt a chill run down her spine, and she struggled to find words. "I... I didn’t know," she said, barely able to process what Tamara was saying.Camella, though lost in her own world of grief, heard Tamara’s last words and turned, her eyes wide with horror. “What are you saying?” she whispered, her lips trembling. “Someone has to die... for him to wake up?”Tamara hesitated, seeing the fear in Camella's eyes. "I wish it wasn't true, but... yes. That’s how it works. It’s a cruel trade," she said softly, her own voice betraying her sadness.Camella felt the room spin for a moment, her heart pounding. She looked at Gabriel, her lips quivering as she whispered, “No... there has to be another way. There has to be.”Zoe moved closer to Tamara, her mind reeling from the revelation. “Is there really no other way?” she asked, almost pleading."I've searched, Zoe," Tamara said, shaking her head. "But the truth is, in his condition, if he wants to return, a life must be taken. It’s not someth
Thelma stood there, her gaze fixed on Gabriel, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of determination and longing. Gabriel, shackled and weary, looked up, confused. "Why are you here, Thelma?" he asked, his voice rough from exhaustion.Thelma hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "Why? Do I need a reason?""Yes," Gabriel replied, his eyes narrowing. "Answer that. I'm sure your queen won't want you to be here.""Yes, my mother would be furious," Thelma admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But I don't care. I just care about you."Gabriel's expression softened, but he was still cautious. "What?""Yes," she said, her eyes shining. "I care about you and... I want you to marry me."Gabriel's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face. "Marry you?"Thelma took a step closer, her gaze unflinching. "Yes. Marry me. I can help you." He stared at her silently, trying to read her intentions, but she continued, her voice pleading. "I promise you, Gabriel, if you marry me, I can vouch t