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
Gabriel was thrown back into his dark, cold cell, his body bruised and battered. The guards had shown no mercy, following Queen Seraphina's orders to the letter. They took turns flogging him, their harsh laughter echoing off the stone walls. He had barely any strength left, yet he forced himself to stay conscious, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing him break. After the beatings, they chained him up, suspending his arms so he couldn’t lie down. The heavy chains cut into his wrists, but he bit down hard, swallowing his pain. As if that wasn’t enough, cold water was splashed on him, drenching him, making the chill seep deep into his bones. It was all part of the queen’s relentless torment. Meanwhile, Thelma watched from the shadows, her heart aching. Her mother’s cruelty had gone too far. But she had been powerless to stop it, her powers restricted under strict orders from Seraphina. She clenched her fists, unable to bear seeing Gabriel in this condition any longer. Gath
In the dimly lit hall of Noctura, Seraphina’s laughter echoed against the stone walls, her eyes gleaming with a sadistic delight. Gabriel stirred, groaning as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the sight before him—Seraphina, standing there with a mocking grin, her shoulders shaking with laughter.“Why are you laughing?” he asked, his voice hoarse, barely masking his confusion. “Do I look amusing to you, lying here wrecked like this?”“Not really,” Seraphina replied, her lips curling. “Actually, I played a little trick earlier, and it seems to be working. I can hear the cries echoing all around. They’re devastated… those weak humans.”Gabriel frowned, trying to process her words. “What do you mean?”She stepped closer, her dark eyes glinting as she leaned down, speaking in a low, deliberate tone. “I gave you a claim mark,” she said, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. “It’s imprinted right there, on your skin.”Gabriel’s eyes widened as he looked
Gabriel’s eyes remained steady as he faced Thelma. Her expression was tense, eyes flickering with a mix of urgency and despair. She had tried reasoning with him, threatening him, yet he stood firm, his gaze unwavering. “Gabriel, this is the last chance you’d get. Forever,” Thelma's voice trembled, but it was clear she meant every word.Gabriel let out a slow breath. “Let it be so. Please, go save your mother. She doesn’t deserve to die at my expense.”Thelma blinked as if she hadn’t expected such calmness. Her eyes, filled with confusion, fixed on him. “The life is ebbing from you,” she said, stepping closer. “And my mother… for her to be restored, she needs the magical ring you’re putting on.” Gabriel glanced down at the ring, a simple yet powerful artifact, now glinting in the dim light. He looked back up at her, his lips curling into a sad smile. Without a word, he slowly slid the ring off his finger and held it out to her. “You can use it to save her.”Thelma was stunned. “Are y
The day of Camella’s delivery was a difficult one. The air was thick with tension, and Gabriel paced the hospital corridor, his face lined with worry. His heart pounded each time he heard footsteps approach, hoping for news. Dan stood beside him, trying his best to calm him down."She's strong, Gabriel. She'll get through this," Dan said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Zoe nodded in support. "Remember how well she did with Jessie? She can do it again."Gabriel nodded but his eyes were distant, full of concern. "I know, but this is different. The doctors said there were complications. It wasn’t like this with Jessie."Dan sighed. "Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but she’s in good hands. You have to trust that."Time dragged on, each minute feeling like an hour. Then, finally, the door to the delivery room opened, and the doctor emerged. His expression was serious, almost grave, and Gabriel's heart sank."Doctor, is she okay? Is the baby okay?" Gabriel asked, his voice almost bre
Gabriel's return was like a sudden burst of light piercing through the darkness that had settled in the room where his body was laid before he left, making his way downstairs. His family had been sitting in silence in the living room, weighed down by a sense of gloom, each lost in their thoughts when his voice echoed softly from the doorway."I'm back," Gabriel said, his tone gentle but firm, as though those two words were enough to bring peace to the chaos that had lingered. Everyone's heads snapped up, eyes widening in disbelief. Camella was the first to react, tears spilling down her cheeks as she rushed toward him. "Gabriel! You're...you're here!" she choked out, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Yes, I'm here," he whispered, holding her close. "I’m back, and everything is going to be alright." Soon, the others joined in, surrounding him, their faces a mix of relief, joy, and astonishment. Marie, his mother, was tearful as she cupped his face, studying him as if she couldn
Gabriel’s eyes remained steady as he faced Thelma. Her expression was tense, eyes flickering with a mix of urgency and despair. She had tried reasoning with him, threatening him, yet he stood firm, his gaze unwavering. “Gabriel, this is the last chance you’d get. Forever,” Thelma's voice trembled, but it was clear she meant every word.Gabriel let out a slow breath. “Let it be so. Please, go save your mother. She doesn’t deserve to die at my expense.”Thelma blinked as if she hadn’t expected such calmness. Her eyes, filled with confusion, fixed on him. “The life is ebbing from you,” she said, stepping closer. “And my mother… for her to be restored, she needs the magical ring you’re putting on.” Gabriel glanced down at the ring, a simple yet powerful artifact, now glinting in the dim light. He looked back up at her, his lips curling into a sad smile. Without a word, he slowly slid the ring off his finger and held it out to her. “You can use it to save her.”Thelma was stunned. “Are y
In the dimly lit hall of Noctura, Seraphina’s laughter echoed against the stone walls, her eyes gleaming with a sadistic delight. Gabriel stirred, groaning as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the sight before him—Seraphina, standing there with a mocking grin, her shoulders shaking with laughter.“Why are you laughing?” he asked, his voice hoarse, barely masking his confusion. “Do I look amusing to you, lying here wrecked like this?”“Not really,” Seraphina replied, her lips curling. “Actually, I played a little trick earlier, and it seems to be working. I can hear the cries echoing all around. They’re devastated… those weak humans.”Gabriel frowned, trying to process her words. “What do you mean?”She stepped closer, her dark eyes glinting as she leaned down, speaking in a low, deliberate tone. “I gave you a claim mark,” she said, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. “It’s imprinted right there, on your skin.”Gabriel’s eyes widened as he looked
Gabriel was thrown back into his dark, cold cell, his body bruised and battered. The guards had shown no mercy, following Queen Seraphina's orders to the letter. They took turns flogging him, their harsh laughter echoing off the stone walls. He had barely any strength left, yet he forced himself to stay conscious, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing him break. After the beatings, they chained him up, suspending his arms so he couldn’t lie down. The heavy chains cut into his wrists, but he bit down hard, swallowing his pain. As if that wasn’t enough, cold water was splashed on him, drenching him, making the chill seep deep into his bones. It was all part of the queen’s relentless torment. Meanwhile, Thelma watched from the shadows, her heart aching. Her mother’s cruelty had gone too far. But she had been powerless to stop it, her powers restricted under strict orders from Seraphina. She clenched her fists, unable to bear seeing Gabriel in this condition any longer. Gath
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
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
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
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