Present day332Please respect copyright.PENANAExaBI9KG8c
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZezTLPGwjX
Zambia 332Please respect copyright.PENANANayzumJMkY
332Please respect copyright.PENANAtIrpWs1vRf
332Please respect copyright.PENANAcj191uGF6R
Narrator’s P.O.V:332Please respect copyright.PENANAR17B6nJWHD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAYGMXhKzLsi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAl7RM56Sihq
She sat upright in her bed with a gasp. She just had a terrible nightmare. Not only that, she fumbled by the bedside table, trying to find her phone in the dark, but couldn’t find it. She knew she left it there.332Please respect copyright.PENANAfzh4ftljfY
332Please respect copyright.PENANAWQRmwnCi6X
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFSq45Cz1z3
Someone on the other side of the bed, stirred in their sleep upon hearing the ruckus and turned to look at the person fumbling in the dark.332Please respect copyright.PENANA8e45DJYZUl
332Please respect copyright.PENANALvpdb8dOGP
332Please respect copyright.PENANASqDmgG7JZc
"What the-?" a bed lamp light soon turned on as the person who had been woken switched it on. "Nicani kanshi? (What is wrong now?) What are you looking for? And in the early hours of the morning?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAV7z1nZtRiJ
332Please respect copyright.PENANABUX7bx834P
332Please respect copyright.PENANAa2NDEzCEmB
She didn’t answer at first until she realized that her phone isn’t anywhere nearby. She turned to look at her husband beside her.332Please respect copyright.PENANA2hcZdbIx01
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnTVlwI1tEA
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQPYKX484bZ
"Pepani (sorry)," she apologized. "I was looking for my phone, have you seen it?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAJAKsY5j1EB
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0rwqU09xBd
332Please respect copyright.PENANABZWDVEQdlA
"Mm?" her husband can’t believe this. "Who do you want to call at this time?"332Please respect copyright.PENANASqYQVFXk0Y
332Please respect copyright.PENANAxJmLyuDp2a
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8I6WYYtFdM
"It's urgent," she said as she pushed the covers aside to get out of bed.332Please respect copyright.PENANAu4KssSGoFF
332Please respect copyright.PENANAdEyVQKRNfe
332Please respect copyright.PENANACGuDj2bQOe
"Check your dressing table," her husband muttered as he dropped his head back onto the pillow. "That’s where you left it last night."332Please respect copyright.PENANAQfR54suOPV
332Please respect copyright.PENANAUXVHEgr8zP
332Please respect copyright.PENANAYEI2h67NKA
In her black nightdress, she went to the dressing table and found her phone there like her husband said. She quickly took it and turned around to get her black sleeping gown at the foot of the bed. In her bare feet, she quickly went to the door and left the room. Her husband growled as he lifted his head to see the door left wide open. He muttered and slowly sat up.332Please respect copyright.PENANAKb1maaAbgv
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZff1BljKuD
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0wGigW3hCn
"Yaba (Goodness)," he groaned. "Here we go again."332Please respect copyright.PENANA7TGnruU2lD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAT32Ku3x9ai
332Please respect copyright.PENANAOVcfVgt2YT
She walked down the quiet, dark hallway until she made a corner, entering a room. She flipped the switch and the lights went on in the living room. Likewise, she turned to her phone to make a call.332Please respect copyright.PENANAWQu4LScU4n
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzezFyUyRg5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAuPVtVeWQGC
When she put the phone to her ear, the line on the other end didn’t even ring as the automated phone system said the person she’s trying to reach had their phone switched off.332Please respect copyright.PENANAFnLjNhfEE0
332Please respect copyright.PENANAOest8VQrLk
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnybs3WOBej
"I told her not to be switching off her phone," she muttered angrily as she looked at her phone to make a call to someone else.332Please respect copyright.PENANAYbKpjDxNTw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAsdYNAQ7E25
332Please respect copyright.PENANAL3Ti7QmIsC
After finding the person’s line, she called it. This time it went through. She only hoped that the person would answer.332Please respect copyright.PENANAj7HX0CL7uF
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqkk16wLHdB
332Please respect copyright.PENANAxvdFk6idX9
She started to pace up and down, bypassing the glass table on the white and black zebra print carpet. Not only that, she didn’t think of sitting on the black leather seats as with each minute that passed, her anxiety increased.332Please respect copyright.PENANAEGMB4t4kx3
332Please respect copyright.PENANAWJLOjSmz2X
332Please respect copyright.PENANA4aeOkUdGDR
When the person on the other end didn’t pick up either, she sucked her teeth and tried to call again when she realized that someone is in the room. She turned to find her husband there in his blue pyjamas, looking sleepy as ever. She now felt guilty for waking him up.332Please respect copyright.PENANAcv3htt45Qg
332Please respect copyright.PENANAgVNWLo8CM7
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6jO32tirI7
"Who are you trying to call?" he asked. "Don’t tell me it's Diana."332Please respect copyright.PENANALOlA7DtcLp
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1N32Wuc1T
332Please respect copyright.PENANAbCsmC7yUNG
"So?" Diana’s mother asked. "I just want to know how she’s doing?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAooER0iyA91
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6nIU2ePOhM
332Please respect copyright.PENANArYUFeEd0F6
"At this time?" her husband approached her. "She’s asleep. And you know she switches off her phone."332Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ1m1uGfxD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQfZ7EUbGmn
332Please respect copyright.PENANAyqGBEMtxgN
"I just want to know how she’s doing."332Please respect copyright.PENANAPKGngU1yQd
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6JrjZZM6Rw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAPjd7SjNEnN
"Didn't you talk to her a day before? If anything were to happen, your mother or Katy will let us know."332Please respect copyright.PENANA8QsZBjTCdX
332Please respect copyright.PENANAV25MmgNzHr
332Please respect copyright.PENANALGOZp4tDPR
Diana’s mother growled in frustration. She quickly went over to one of the chairs to sit, her head buried in her hands. Her husband came to join her.332Please respect copyright.PENANA42nn5k2nVG
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8BDuLSE5N5
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0UF13Jz6Ld
"You don’t understand," she said, dropping her hands to look at him. "I had another dream about her and this time it felt different."332Please respect copyright.PENANAI5xryhcwSe
332Please respect copyright.PENANAtEdgg2UjPw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAKD4Emy26K7
He put his hand on her shoulder. "What could be so different about this one?" he asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANAeqasY44bWY
332Please respect copyright.PENANAv5jLUwxuHq
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJlZMo1MN1A
Before she spoke, she bit her lip. She didn’t know how to explain it. Her previous dreams over the years weren’t as vivid and intense as this one.332Please respect copyright.PENANALRInjKneFA
332Please respect copyright.PENANAsdwWRoXGBW
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFDXAfVnd0h
"I can’t explain, Atake Diana (Father to Diana). Everything about this dream felt real. I feel Diana could be in huge trouble."332Please respect copyright.PENANAbzGVprw4Lq
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJkkXtzrR44
332Please respect copyright.PENANAt49d3OoORK
"That’s what you always say when you have these dreams," said Diana’s father. "Aren’t they just dreams? How many have you had over the years, but they've never happened?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAMZkUBBabzg
332Please respect copyright.PENANAG5vR7OzmEV
332Please respect copyright.PENANAkHWAH2Vz19
Diana’s mother now sat upright, shaking her head. "What if they did? I believe they did. Besides, Diana doesn’t always tell us what goes on in her life. She’s so secretive."332Please respect copyright.PENANAbo41HbjEva
332Please respect copyright.PENANA5Idh3aPCFI
332Please respect copyright.PENANA2x9wAfRShG
"That’s because she’s a teen. You’re forgetting that people at such an age are difficult to make them open up."332Please respect copyright.PENANAeLEFszvTnL
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6dG8ArfRMm
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqSKMWcVx2S
"No, I’ve always had a feeling that she's been hiding something from us. She’s a good girl, but I feel there’s a lot going on in her life that we don’t know about."332Please respect copyright.PENANApJC8HoMesz
332Please respect copyright.PENANADo9rz1e57I
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmFOTxGmvib
Her husband rolled his eyes. "Please, don’t bring up those incidences that were happening in the neighbourhood. Those were explainable accidents, and you can’t point a finger at Diana. Most of the time she wasn’t even there, and they happened almost four years ago."332Please respect copyright.PENANABT5fIbI5KQ
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8xODjP65dI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAoW0j4xSdYv
"That’s what you think, but…"332Please respect copyright.PENANA36rsrLtNla
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0B7U10xte5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAx3v6vC9NLs
"Enough, please. That’s a long time ago and nothing has happened to her. You haven’t had terrible nightmares for years, so it's probably just nothing."332Please respect copyright.PENANA9tFSqhBdQj
332Please respect copyright.PENANACa0CUrG9Z2
332Please respect copyright.PENANAbc0e78mXJJ
Diana’s mother looked at her husband, still with a worried look. She looked away. As much as he might be right, her intuition ate at her terribly. She can’t just ignore what she dreamt. If anything, it felt more like the first vivid dream she had of Diana; that she had died. She remembered calling the school to check up on her, and they told her Diana was perfectly fine. When Diana came home for the holidays, there was something different about her.332Please respect copyright.PENANAbqBj4StCQQ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAb2hwlGHLkQ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAud3jygJlJ3
"Tiyeni (come), let’s go back to sleep," her husband persisted as he held her hand on her lap. "If you want, you and I can call your mother sometime in the morning." 332Please respect copyright.PENANATtfwyrjGDg
332Please respect copyright.PENANA9BUslVbArr
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0LMZvzuo9V
She couldn’t argue with him there, but she felt she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Not until she hears that Diana is alright. 332Please respect copyright.PENANA1eQ9unChIR
332Please respect copyright.PENANA5dbAfq8lXN
332Please respect copyright.PENANA1URha01s64
"Okay, can I send a message to Katy so that she calls me when she sees it?" she asked. 332Please respect copyright.PENANAUQL4ptewrc
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6rh162fIL
332Please respect copyright.PENANAMHpGQ5zBeY
"Be quick," Diana’s father stood. "If you’re not in the room in two minutes, I’ll come and drag you if I have to." 332Please respect copyright.PENANASOaT5brKaB
332Please respect copyright.PENANAAi7SagAc4B
332Please respect copyright.PENANA5XXMGuJ7h7
With quiet, steady steps, Diana’s father walked out of the room, leaving his wife still seated on the couch. She quickly sent Katy a text, but she knew it wasn’t enough.332Please respect copyright.PENANAd5OLokuh71
332Please respect copyright.PENANAafxCycJyDh
332Please respect copyright.PENANAHxltXdtYSe
Namatama stood up from her seat and slowly started to make her way out of the living room. She thought she saw a shadow pass through the window, outside. Likewise, she stopped to draw aside the curtain. A neighbour’s floodlight shone brightly in the next yard. For a moment, she thought maybe a cat had passed atop the wall fence, causing the shadow she saw.332Please respect copyright.PENANApwWAQvIAja
332Please respect copyright.PENANALEFDvxhqU6
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0NuiT4mQV6
Before she was able to push the curtains, she thought she had seen something through the corner of her eye in the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly turned to see if there’s anyone there. The only people awake are she and her husband, and she would've heard him if he had made his way back in the living room.332Please respect copyright.PENANAAHEw0JSbYk
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjd4z7jXaC8
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaO8ZVegBIn
"I must be imagining things," she told herself.332Please respect copyright.PENANA63x7uVBC9S
332Please respect copyright.PENANASZCdPgfpDi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAEUTdsMCugG
"And what if you aren’t?" came a voice.332Please respect copyright.PENANArrT9qbCx1z
332Please respect copyright.PENANAUTaCUtHa9Y
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8QfcpC85cH
As soon as she heard it, she jumped in fright and almost screamed, but someone covered her mouth with their hand from behind, holding her in place. Diana’s mother is now terrified that there's a stranger in the house. She started to breathe heavily.332Please respect copyright.PENANAIM6vFrNxoz
332Please respect copyright.PENANAORrpunFpg5
332Please respect copyright.PENANADjtSVAiumc
"Don’t move, and I won’t hurt you," came the voice in a soft, yet dangerous whisper. "Calm down. I’ll uncover your mouth. Don’t scream or else I'll kill you. Nod if you understand."332Please respect copyright.PENANAGP20XgONhh
332Please respect copyright.PENANAvza9J5OPnQ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAE8WzOlMi81
She nodded, and started to slow her breathing. Her heart beat fast like a drum that she could hear it. The person’s hand over her mouth slowly fell away, and she felt relieved. She quickly looked behind her, but no one is there.332Please respect copyright.PENANAbUeUDk4Bnk
332Please respect copyright.PENANAkoA4qTsKlW
332Please respect copyright.PENANAcOBE51MCgT
"Don’t freak out," came the voice again, this time in front of her. "I want you to slowly turn towards me."332Please respect copyright.PENANAUQBG5Ilffk
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8VP1bGMimi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAVyD7Rw6l7Y
She swallowed and slowly turned her head back. Likewise, she found someone standing in front of her, all dressed in black and floating in midair. Namatama gasped in fright as she thought she would never come across the terrifying skull-faced mask ever again.332Please respect copyright.PENANA2JtMi2H7n8
332Please respect copyright.PENANAULJN16FsF9
332Please respect copyright.PENANAy9uDk3XJMr
"Hello, Namatama," came a female voice behind the mask. "Long time no see."332Please respect copyright.PENANA0hhOfVrjf9
332Please respect copyright.PENANAc2oBPF4yVy
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnALLvMefJ8
"What are you doing here?" Namatama asked, her voice breaking with both fear and anger. "I thought I told you not to show yourself ever again."332Please respect copyright.PENANATmCAHqgqT6
332Please respect copyright.PENANADAT94eO9Zn
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmXZTW49Aqz
The floating figure raised her hand to remove the mask. Behind it lay a young face of a woman with light, brown skin and sharp, dark eyes like that of a cat. Her lips were coloured black, and she grinned at Namatama with her white, razor sharp teeth glowing in the dark.332Please respect copyright.PENANALn10RePORJ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmsMEgniv7U
332Please respect copyright.PENANA24na1UHIGq
"I know," said the lady in front of her. "But aren’t you up thinking about your daughter, Diana?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAaA2aXXOTrf
332Please respect copyright.PENANAc3XlM2F5y6
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFvW2pS9Lod
Namatama froze, looking at the lady before finding her voice. "What do you know about her?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAyNCc59uBwE
332Please respect copyright.PENANAbVmj4b43KC
332Please respect copyright.PENANA4fh7viYN4W
The woman chuckled. "It’s sad that you don’t know what’s going on. So much has happened over the years that you’ve failed to notice."332Please respect copyright.PENANATBnTuvLkob
332Please respect copyright.PENANAKsQXtxtTg4
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaUMGHLcFFG
Namatama’s eyes widened. "What do you know about Diana?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAJBOF7MCcdw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZIN3ODvJ12
332Please respect copyright.PENANASo0z6aiNz0
"A lot more than you, that’s for sure. Diana is a very special child. You should know that."332Please respect copyright.PENANA30tUK80tfD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8gvxr1PA5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjzSAr8R8L1
"She’s my daughter, of course she’s special."332Please respect copyright.PENANAaXeTvsg395
332Please respect copyright.PENANABR4Ea24Abr
332Please respect copyright.PENANAERCDNsGwkZ
The woman floating in the air came a little closer. "You know that she’s beyond special. It’s been that way from the day she was born." 332Please respect copyright.PENANA8EeZgvXweW
332Please respect copyright.PENANAkHVfhXvf8e
332Please respect copyright.PENANABT5gbUoZrf
"Get to the point. You came here after such a long time to talk to me, and it’s about Diana. Tell me, is she in trouble?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAZHgwVHxN5e
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZQsRlcP83I
332Please respect copyright.PENANABaCR1QSupE
The woman smiled as she backed away a bit. "It’s not good news, I’m afraid."332Please respect copyright.PENANA3Aa7TuInmv
332Please respect copyright.PENANARnlRuwIwxE
332Please respect copyright.PENANATik2X9mNWn
"Tell me."332Please respect copyright.PENANAyKHYWL6K6J
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0rqhID1Jf
332Please respect copyright.PENANAtdnto7jsbn
The woman stopped smiling as she sighed. "Her destiny is catching up to her. It has been for some years now."332Please respect copyright.PENANA24WunPz2rW
332Please respect copyright.PENANArJYu7RGh8W
332Please respect copyright.PENANAR8FYcM2y1X
"What do you mean?" Namatama looks confused.332Please respect copyright.PENANAYlDKfb9nI9
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0I3NKHexq1
332Please respect copyright.PENANA7SVdyMWeeN
"Honey, why aren’t you here yet?" Diana’s father called out. Namatama almost muttered out loud, upset that her husband could call out like that when everybody else is fast asleep.332Please respect copyright.PENANA5ispMiuK0U
332Please respect copyright.PENANAfRJuq1olWj
332Please respect copyright.PENANAOEcbS4WYgx
"I think you already know how she started behaving when she came back from boarding school a couple of years ago. Some might think she was going through puberty, but you as a mother knew better."332Please respect copyright.PENANA5H60nzvDUG
332Please respect copyright.PENANA4rph59cGBs
332Please respect copyright.PENANAup6u4SbmHl
"Something happened to her back at school?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAhLB8ZV0EXr
332Please respect copyright.PENANAbATpoSd80y
332Please respect copyright.PENANAhucGk9MXlx
The woman in black nodded. "Yes. She’s been trying to act as normal as she can around you, but it's been difficult to keep it under wraps with all those weird events that used to happen."332Please respect copyright.PENANAJfjNCogAgG
332Please respect copyright.PENANAP1LC1U1STd
332Please respect copyright.PENANAPlnvyu6J95
Namatama’s eyes widened with fear. "Tell me, what’s really going on with her?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAG6QCJN9Bfe
332Please respect copyright.PENANAk8mTGRgMgV
332Please respect copyright.PENANAiwfVdr8BGu
"I can’t spare you all the details, but all this is happening because of what took place the time she was born."332Please respect copyright.PENANAsu2jSS4FCp
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8VeOEeJYqY
332Please respect copyright.PENANApfqsel1tuZ
Namatama gasped as she slowly started to back away, shaking her head. "You lie. This can’t be true."332Please respect copyright.PENANAgEylwtKqNn
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzeOuJXm8qu
332Please respect copyright.PENANANIMhZF7luO
"I’m just here to tell you to expect some bad news."332Please respect copyright.PENANAkLo4Rjla7l
332Please respect copyright.PENANABq9lE2CGEl
332Please respect copyright.PENANAMoFCKGIdjd
Namatama continued to back away as her heart started to feel heavy with grief. She felt a sharp piercing through her heart and tears already started to fill her eyes. "What have I done?" she muttered. "What have I done?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAx7VNzDFnbi
332Please respect copyright.PENANA7sk5sB4QMn
332Please respect copyright.PENANAfRSnMyLX5b
Her hand flew to her chest as she sank to her knees onto the carpeted floor. Tears quickly fell onto her cheeks as she covered her mouth. The woman in black continued to look at her as she said:332Please respect copyright.PENANAfAkDp9Wj2W
332Please respect copyright.PENANAacYe2FGBLj
332Please respect copyright.PENANA84SgFhweO5
"As heartbreaking as this is, you should know that Diana is a very strong girl. But I’m afraid the danger she is facing right now is too great that she has to brace herself."332Please respect copyright.PENANAq6WtcHNGxz
332Please respect copyright.PENANA4iLzG7mcIo
332Please respect copyright.PENANAj7SVAbT9rw
Namatama looked up at the woman. "You claim Diana is strong. How strong when she’s just a young defenceless girl?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAymSjXCXv2N
332Please respect copyright.PENANAP78kzV5TeL
332Please respect copyright.PENANAU54KAgT18b
The smile the woman had earlier plastered onto her face again. "A lot has happened over the years that has made your daughter the bravest girl I’ve ever seen. She’s been through a lot. And for a girl her age, I’m surprised she has matured this quickly, especially with her true nature coming into fruition. Many people wouldn’t have handled it as well as she has."332Please respect copyright.PENANAlwQ2OTf8tb
332Please respect copyright.PENANAA3mK7nWiLk
332Please respect copyright.PENANA3WxF3no6it
Namatama sniffed as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Her true nature? Does that mean she’s like your kind?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAuSPtlvDVo0
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqr6M5zheij
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXPx9bKaZWi
The woman in black gave a nod. Namatama chocked, but she quickly pulled herself together.332Please respect copyright.PENANAFOv9VFTwpX
332Please respect copyright.PENANAhyrV6ySacT
332Please respect copyright.PENANArTk8fhdWIa
"Please, tell me, that she’ll be okay. That she’ll come back home."332Please respect copyright.PENANAvKCnwNHrlt
332Please respect copyright.PENANAlVWnsKfUrt
332Please respect copyright.PENANAHYdqIRjTDm
"I can’t guarantee she will survive. But if she does and manages to come home, can you do me a favour?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAUjsStNKxvY
332Please respect copyright.PENANASyp4iF5gFP
332Please respect copyright.PENANAWkepdrbAxI
"What is that?"332Please respect copyright.PENANA2GLxYJAgjt
332Please respect copyright.PENANAviFI5DVCaG
332Please respect copyright.PENANAdOUg1WB4wJ
"Tell her the truth."332Please respect copyright.PENANAbw4AkeBrUA
332Please respect copyright.PENANAhVA1y9jAnR
332Please respect copyright.PENANAdRDVV3BNlU
"What?" Namatama looked surprised.332Please respect copyright.PENANAooyOng7xef
332Please respect copyright.PENANA3yyF9OMNSt
332Please respect copyright.PENANARv7SsTzgXZ
She could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Her husband is coming.332Please respect copyright.PENANAYbnDsVUKv0
332Please respect copyright.PENANAr2fMebX8NW
332Please respect copyright.PENANABXt6DUX9ju
"She deserves it. Nothing is more painful than not knowing why you're a target to so many. That's what she has been going through for so long. You should tell her. She deserves to know."332Please respect copyright.PENANAIKQ7FWdk5m
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaBAGfB1R3O
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaF4i3owqfS
"Why are you telling me this now after all this time?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAOAmaBF6hn4
332Please respect copyright.PENANA5e2ATGMuue
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6vKlGtfJGX
The woman put up a genuine smile. "Just like you, Diana is also very important to me. Don’t make the mistake of not telling her. It's best it comes from you and not anyone else."332Please respect copyright.PENANAlwrRQPoPmu
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZvjq93xX3j
332Please respect copyright.PENANA5NuD6kIstM
"Namatama, what did I tell you about…?" came her husband, and he paused upon seeing his wife on the floor. "What are you doing?"332Please respect copyright.PENANANVlxl5XWco
332Please respect copyright.PENANADCXX37opdR
332Please respect copyright.PENANAF1ryx8HHP1
Namatama quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes and stood up. She looked in front of her and the woman in black had disappeared.332Please respect copyright.PENANAet5KXVgktB
332Please respect copyright.PENANAwBgNaE0T54
332Please respect copyright.PENANAcTKu0SXiK4
"I was just praying," Namatama lied, as she turned to her husband, but with her eyes downcast.332Please respect copyright.PENANATbutbX1j98
332Please respect copyright.PENANAdaH2qMimhM
332Please respect copyright.PENANAj7c36VvC2U
"Don’t worry too much," said her husband as he came to stand beside her and held her shoulders. "Diana is fine. I know it."332Please respect copyright.PENANA9N9dGQj2zw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnAFd9Ij2l2
332Please respect copyright.PENANATpG4vhah3F
"You’re probably right," Namatama gave a nod. "All we can do is pray for her."332Please respect copyright.PENANAoCTy34sgEO
332Please respect copyright.PENANAt98mI1uBEl
332Please respect copyright.PENANAhekwTAOGPv
"That’s the spirit. Come, let us go back to sleep."332Please respect copyright.PENANAytjfJOS3t1
332Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ1Psk6HX8
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaOy4NzzNcU
Namatama couldn’t argue there as she followed her husband who made sure to switch the lights off in the living room. As they walked down the hall, Namatama couldn’t help but let a tear in her right eye drop down her cheek, praying for Diana to come back home safely.332Please respect copyright.PENANA5jkIdrq8A1
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0bh6bzieZD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnzaZ1qNvmT
***332Please respect copyright.PENANA3eI1qWTIA0
332Please respect copyright.PENANA9xvCgCGNg5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAVVPEZmarkA
Diana’s POV: 332Please respect copyright.PENANAdA5EW6sSxA
332Please respect copyright.PENANA10G9U4B7AH
The Devil’s beach house 332Please respect copyright.PENANAi9NxbO1IRB
332Please respect copyright.PENANAfRI4UhNkOy
332Please respect copyright.PENANAGSQbF1pzfG
"You can't be serious!" Mutale looked at me in disbelief. "How can you believe him?"332Please respect copyright.PENANApVDGYtJ4At
332Please respect copyright.PENANAomV2PWNf0g
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXYuZPJuzmn
"I just know," I said as I continued to stare at Lucifer. "If he was after me, he would’ve come himself or sent his strongest legions."332Please respect copyright.PENANABMBBFkS0Kl
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnxCfhMNR8G
332Please respect copyright.PENANAq7h2OUH8eU
"But he might be the one who sent that thing after you," said Stella. "You sound so convinced that it’s not him."332Please respect copyright.PENANAzK1OqPk67s
332Please respect copyright.PENANAG0NezqktAc
332Please respect copyright.PENANAH7FVaISW3u
I turn to look at her. "If it really is him, we wouldn’t be seated here."332Please respect copyright.PENANAZLwJxUjunZ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAfc79eaCF7G
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0V6KHVpqhT
"She’s right," Lucifer joined in. "I would’ve locked you two pretty ladies up and this Elite soldier would’ve been torn to shreds by my hounds."332Please respect copyright.PENANAOT6E1Ycnma
332Please respect copyright.PENANAw76wpWCWyt
332Please respect copyright.PENANA58Yb8W4lih
"Isn’t that convincing enough?" Lucius asked, still standing behind Diana’s seat.332Please respect copyright.PENANAx8SRVyWSza
332Please respect copyright.PENANAhofVrthqlJ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAac22blmpVV
Mutale and Stella stay silent. As much as this is difficult to take in, arguing with me over something I'm so sure of will be futile.332Please respect copyright.PENANAQtw2YysVUo
332Please respect copyright.PENANAKibnKOt2ul
332Please respect copyright.PENANACwEPqbwaV7
"Okay, if it isn’t him," Stella started, "then who could it be? He’s the only one we know who can control shadow monsters. Worse, we’re talking about a level one."332Please respect copyright.PENANACx51nhLMTC
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFkQGIoiQrd
332Please respect copyright.PENANA1DyO8eCkmj
"How sure are you that the shadow monster didn’t just attack you out of nowhere, Diana?" Lucifer asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANARWpBJrsuS5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAewTVMx7K0f
332Please respect copyright.PENANA8uP5O9xrzE
I look back at him, trying to relive what happened. "Well, I’ve encountered shadow monsters and also a level one." I feel Stella look at me. I must have forgotten to mention that I had faced a level one before. "And this one felt like the one I fought before. Shadow monsters might be mindless creatures that love to bring about destruction, but there’s something about a level one that has always kept me wondering whether they really do think on their own."332Please respect copyright.PENANAiN6ZNjgDLT
332Please respect copyright.PENANAtauu1N9cL5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAPUquJQ0g5O
Lucifer leaned back in his seat. "Yes, shadow monsters are mindless and can thrive on their own without me controlling them."332Please respect copyright.PENANAhqJzouMEgI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAujVhSPJ0Qj
332Please respect copyright.PENANAlpghP4OvlA
"Explains why some of them wander aimlessly around," said Stella.332Please respect copyright.PENANAkKUAsScf9R
332Please respect copyright.PENANASubc6hX4Y9
332Please respect copyright.PENANAxdi43svSNL
"True. But if I want them to do something, I can easily control them since I am the Prince of Darkness," said Lucifer with a smirk.332Please respect copyright.PENANArCNnfVcxFm
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0TCypKuBYD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAitFNRvuu85
"If he’s a prince, I wonder what that makes me," Lucius muttered.332Please respect copyright.PENANA01H18SA9lw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAIsvCaDZ1HS
332Please respect copyright.PENANAkUVg4NROva
I couldn’t help but snicker. Lucius always did manage to put a smile on my face when I least expect him to. Moreover, the look on Lucifer’s face is just priceless.332Please respect copyright.PENANA2kz6VfxJCi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAv8pMnEJiZM
332Please respect copyright.PENANAEIPFxpEtx6
"As for a level one," Lucifer continued, "they are the most dangerous, making them the most difficult to control."332Please respect copyright.PENANAIHss2QKP0V
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjPuV3dGjXt
332Please respect copyright.PENANA2SW6vUeqLX
"Are you saying you also have a hard time controlling them?" Mutale asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANA0oSTvcbEqx
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjdamoUYTPS
332Please respect copyright.PENANAp5RPgflGpj
"No," Lucius scoffed. "It’s easy for me, but if anyone tries to, it’s frustrating and requires a lot of practice."332Please respect copyright.PENANA9Z0ndbN7fg
332Please respect copyright.PENANAyr6579JqKu
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFU8902aBTq
For a moment there, Mutale, Stella and I remain silent. Did he just say "if anyone?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAkepkBSeeiw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAUcIwMqz7ct
332Please respect copyright.PENANAYdx6hhKQFY
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lucifer asked with a quizzical look on his face.332Please respect copyright.PENANAKdYGknnTcL
332Please respect copyright.PENANA4qxkWakvRy
332Please respect copyright.PENANAv700Q0PLAk
"Anyone can control a shadow monster?" Stella asked. 332Please respect copyright.PENANA5dTDU4WGXP
332Please respect copyright.PENANAENrbaMlZA4
332Please respect copyright.PENANAlCnhqCHAk0
"Yes," Lucifer answered casually. 332Please respect copyright.PENANALquAjK34If
332Please respect copyright.PENANADrWRH9ZvNb
332Please respect copyright.PENANA2a6faKSEqw
I look at Stella. She also had the same surprised look. I turn to Mutale, and he looked like he has just seen something horrific unfold in front of him. 332Please respect copyright.PENANAsN4EFTdyx8
332Please respect copyright.PENANA4MEOGCtLPk
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZwWmCmQfWd
"I’m taking that you all didn’t know that anyone can control a shadow monster," said Lucifer.332Please respect copyright.PENANAUi6Ex5SpYp
332Please respect copyright.PENANAR9wctms77i
332Please respect copyright.PENANA158bY6y2Jp
‘"No!" the three of us answered simultaneously.332Please respect copyright.PENANAeq9Frcquw1
332Please respect copyright.PENANARlEE9a9Mt5
332Please respect copyright.PENANAAWHBVRwudQ
"Wow, okay," said Lucifer, giving out a wince. "Silly me. No one is supposed to know about that. Ever."332Please respect copyright.PENANAUOmWKmgg6D
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXHq4NPZwYa
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmCsMG10taF
"Well, in my world, we’ve always known that you," Stella pointed at him, "are the only one who can control them."332Please respect copyright.PENANA2ll7ZzJr8O
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzDwjWT4dy2
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXV8T28jzGe
Lucifer chuckled. "While the supernatural world is a mystery to normal people, many supernaturals have also been blinded about their own world for years. Only a few go looking for the truth, and they don't like what they find. I hate to be so flippant about revealing the truth, but I'm not the only one who can control them."332Please respect copyright.PENANAAAaohusqca
332Please respect copyright.PENANAyZEPF5pVHJ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAgkAQb3MB8i
My eyes fell to the floor. This changes everything. Someone sent that thing after me. They must have also done so the first time I encountered it. But who could it be?332Please respect copyright.PENANATLbsUgfCNF
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZk9r1NcZYD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZdcuwNVdMs
"This is going to be tough," said Mutale. "If the devil didn’t send that thing after you, Diana, then who did?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAmsNDhMGAgF
332Please respect copyright.PENANAULBoDkIcSe
332Please respect copyright.PENANArJGcmDGr02
"Good question," said Lucius. "Controlling a shadow monster isn’t easy. I’ve been trying to do so for months now."332Please respect copyright.PENANAXLnzAborfW
332Please respect copyright.PENANAsiTPrd4vWz
332Please respect copyright.PENANAC6RuDCIzDy
"Diana, what are you thinking?" Stella asked as she looked at me.332Please respect copyright.PENANA8ixjgWPudU
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXGlr3IcqgR
332Please respect copyright.PENANAWsL0lGJxNr
My eyes first flew to Lucifer as I asked, "you’ve just confirmed that anyone can control a shadow monster. What does one require for them to do so?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAFMLVpZkCO7
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQHA4eghaSh
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzRl30M5NOY
Everyone around me is silent. I’m not so sure if I’ve asked the right question, but it’s the only thing I’ve been thinking of since the stunning revelation.332Please respect copyright.PENANAy0BiVTGqvw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAEK0TCJxN6R
332Please respect copyright.PENANAl8P5yOxTKD
Lucifer smirked. "First, you’ll have to be a supernatural."332Please respect copyright.PENANAmttLK6fnBT
332Please respect copyright.PENANAdz6nwr9PjW
332Please respect copyright.PENANA3bDq5Ye2jG
"So, I can easily control one?" I asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANAaX9aMRNfyz
332Please respect copyright.PENANADaNcq60Yz0
332Please respect copyright.PENANArAq455YeF7
"Yes. But…," he now stood up from his seat and went to one of the bookshelves in the room. "There are a few requirements that you’ll need."332Please respect copyright.PENANAGqLTlj9sLu
332Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ru976Q19G
332Please respect copyright.PENANArCvTdGKnEO
"Something tells me it must be dark," said Mutale.332Please respect copyright.PENANAi7XmGJxAqi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAlpyLTTkFaK
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnbWQCrwO8g
Lucifer ignored him by not commenting. He looked through the bookshelves at the thick books with hard black covers. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but you can tell nothing good comes from those books.332Please respect copyright.PENANAqNTCe8xGyg
332Please respect copyright.PENANALnpuAyj7XX
332Please respect copyright.PENANAV9GpjTlH0C
"Okay," he took one thick book on the shelf and brought it to the desk. It looked so thick that I’m glad I’ll never get to read it. Who knows what dark things it holds.332Please respect copyright.PENANAzXX8yMwQN8
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaoAMcvqQ5m
332Please respect copyright.PENANACx2CMhxVaD
He started to flip through the pages and I couldn’t help but take a peek. The pages are old, and I noticed that whoever wrote the book, had a pretty sharp, cursive handwriting. There were many drawings and illustrations on some pages and a few of them looked quite gruesome. Stella didn’t fringe away from looking at it. I turn to Mutale and I see him look the other side. Some Elite soldier, he is. 332Please respect copyright.PENANAZDPuE7Kg8L
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjBxPQnMk9l
332Please respect copyright.PENANAU7KwjUmx0q
"So," I turn to look at Lucius behind me while we wait for Lucifer to find the page, "you say controlling a shadow monster is difficult. How difficult?" 332Please respect copyright.PENANAs3Oz2kRWxq
332Please respect copyright.PENANAeEIwKj8D2A
332Please respect copyright.PENANA0BIaZSQs5t
"Like my father put it, it’s frustrating and depending on what level it is, it gets painful," Lucius answered.332Please respect copyright.PENANA1nvqtfqTOp
332Please respect copyright.PENANAX7fvXyt5Ul
332Please respect copyright.PENANAk3jVjBsdTN
"Painful, how?" Stella asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANADQT8UTeMnA
332Please respect copyright.PENANAuu4YHNPcXC
332Please respect copyright.PENANA81iD1GZlx3
"The way you control it is almost similar to the way you can mind control a human being. It’s easier on humans because you can manipulate the mind. We already know shadow monsters are mindless, so you really have to dig a little deeper to take control of them, meaning it takes up a lot of your energy."332Please respect copyright.PENANAU9gow034aW
332Please respect copyright.PENANA5DgSOXMN8W
332Please respect copyright.PENANAY2Yilb6uN2
"And if you aren’t careful," Lucifer chirped in as he continued to flip through the pages, "you might end up breaking your mind."332Please respect copyright.PENANA8IjfHVNtd2
332Please respect copyright.PENANAaVNSWP4VWr
332Please respect copyright.PENANAD5m40h98ox
"I’m guessing whoever brought up the rumour that only the devil can control such things, must have done so to prevent us from ever thinking that we can control one," I said.332Please respect copyright.PENANAPuukM5yHyN
332Please respect copyright.PENANAwAMEYLsQXB
332Please respect copyright.PENANAhI9x8mfSR2
Lucifer chuckled. "True. We did that because we know if many supernaturals broke their minds, we would’ve a lot of them causing havoc when that’s my job. And I am at least a little lenient." I gave him a look on that last part.332Please respect copyright.PENANAyTp2av9FR3
332Please respect copyright.PENANAurGOBfuzHA
332Please respect copyright.PENANAsPYdbMndhF
"Wait, you said ‘we’ just now," I quickly said. "Who else were part of this rumour?"332Please respect copyright.PENANA4NQB4u8Wvg
332Please respect copyright.PENANArkhbtJ2dUe
332Please respect copyright.PENANA3MgF0bkts9
"The Immortals of Old," he answered as he continued looking through the pages. "Those who have lived from the beginning of time, so to say."332Please respect copyright.PENANAbtLTZZBZKr
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXX3JTxfHh1
332Please respect copyright.PENANA01xxJrLez5
"Like you and the man upstairs?" He nodded. "Who else?"332Please respect copyright.PENANA6peya3hKn5
332Please respect copyright.PENANA2Vb5IgRsxm
332Please respect copyright.PENANA7S304tkXXF
"If I can recall, the person who was in charge of the Butterfly Island before her Highness was there too," Lucifer looks up at Stella.332Please respect copyright.PENANA790w4qD0Jf
332Please respect copyright.PENANAIMMZA5Wm1s
332Please respect copyright.PENANAPqdTawUs8b
"Her Highness’ father," Stella answered.332Please respect copyright.PENANAXVG7VvWZSz
332Please respect copyright.PENANAOiT17WAbx7
332Please respect copyright.PENANA9nQhlX3tB9
"What happened to him?" I asked. "Did he die or something?"332Please respect copyright.PENANA0xLGA50CkT
332Please respect copyright.PENANAAC1uHtQ1gi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAVAzrXYOXGA
"Killing an immortal is hard, and you know that better than anyone, Diana," said Lucifer. "That old fella is probably somewhere either in this world or the other in a peaceful place chanting mantras or something."332Please respect copyright.PENANAzkjkk8Kz43
332Please respect copyright.PENANA3QqaNUfhvq
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmQa6mXEtAX
"True," said Stella. "No one has actually heard from him in ages after leaving Her Highness in charge. I actually have never met him."332Please respect copyright.PENANAOZ7h3c3XCT
332Please respect copyright.PENANAga17CEu5Hc
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFcEnbsoOMM
That’s a shock. Whatever reason he had for leaving his position and going elsewhere must have been genuine. The world of the supernatural is just as confusing and chaotic as the human one. If also given the chance, I would also disappear.332Please respect copyright.PENANAWrGzUmIEnv
332Please respect copyright.PENANAorZmqyirpY
332Please respect copyright.PENANAE6flhb2Tba
"Ah, here it is," said Lucifer as his right finger landed on the desired page.332Please respect copyright.PENANAauP4111xTi
332Please respect copyright.PENANAHUvlT1104P
332Please respect copyright.PENANA3i39niKmkv
Stella and I quickly stood up from our seats to look. Mutale remained where he is. Lucius slowly came to join us at the table.332Please respect copyright.PENANAEQtxwgmdDW
332Please respect copyright.PENANAq0zK6ksuPB
332Please respect copyright.PENANAO90iBDQr4p
"Okay, so," Lucifer pointed to the paragraph on the page. "Like I said, you must be a supernatural. It says here for you to control something as dark as a shadow monster, you must join the dark side."332Please respect copyright.PENANAmZkev2c0Zx
332Please respect copyright.PENANAsPYXRuU0Ee
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZLmKR7zbSt
"Meaning your side, right?" I asked, looking at Lucifer.332Please respect copyright.PENANAVeVeM1aJ3C
332Please respect copyright.PENANAPx3RT5YOPM
332Please respect copyright.PENANAvpEHMGuHe3
"Yep. Selling your soul to me, that kind of thing. And…, it says here you must also sacrifice the one thing that means precious to you and there are some blood rituals you’ve to perform with all the symbols and stuff."332Please respect copyright.PENANAvBogNDnHG1
332Please respect copyright.PENANAxmUYQwF20y
332Please respect copyright.PENANAxwUS6vSGdm
"Okay, but these are just the basic stuff that a lot of us could’ve already guessed," said Stella. "What we really want to know is who could it be."332Please respect copyright.PENANAi8qEnDqarI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQyjOEVbJhs
332Please respect copyright.PENANAF8O8R6X87h
"Stella is right," I said, looking up from the book to Lucifer. "You say anyone can control a shadow monster and these are the requirements. Isn’t there anyone who can naturally control them like you do? What if the person we seek never had to perform this ritual?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAwGAS9x17nD
332Please respect copyright.PENANAN2Ut34lpVh
332Please respect copyright.PENANABtNSEQjI5c
Lucifer now looked at me and this time, he had a grim look. "I was afraid you were going to ask me that," he said. He looked down at the book and flipped through a couple of pages. "Apparently, you’re right. I’m not the only one who can control them naturally. There are two more beings that can."332Please respect copyright.PENANAvw91gA9nbZ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAigVrsZt3KY
332Please respect copyright.PENANAV0DeTWykuT
"Two more?" Lucius also can’t believe it.332Please respect copyright.PENANAt3xIjuJ1JJ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAG5XcQYitL2
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZJbLPQwx4S
"You really should be reading more," Lucifer threw his son a look. "Let me skip to the last part."332Please respect copyright.PENANAwOIoYGo0qh
332Please respect copyright.PENANAMsI7C8VlNe
332Please respect copyright.PENANAisOwmtNN2l
Lucifer pointed to the top left side of the book where there’s a list of names. His is the top. The second and third made my insides freeze. I should’ve known better, especially with the third.332Please respect copyright.PENANAr1ray6e1vO
332Please respect copyright.PENANAcbI2bySERm
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqnSs9Y9IMh
"No way," Stella said, bringing the words right out of my mouth. "This isn’t true, is it?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAxLKMwYDIBs
332Please respect copyright.PENANAKX0xpZKbMO
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJqPLznVzVm
I see Mutale lift his head and Lucifer now threw him a smirk. "You want to see it for yourself, don’t you? Lucius, help him up."332Please respect copyright.PENANA3UZCZmZ3fH
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFWtlFW9O4e
332Please respect copyright.PENANAp5EnKSBWkQ
"I don’t think it's necessary," I said.332Please respect copyright.PENANAlwALcgFjjM
332Please respect copyright.PENANAH3KrYvFIWX
332Please respect copyright.PENANAfmVfkSVQSu
"Oh, I think it is." Lucifer brought his left hand up in midair and at the same time, Mutale is lifted off his seat and brought forward. He flinched at first, trying to get away from Lucifer’s invisible grip, but he knows it's pointless. 332Please respect copyright.PENANAAT8OpvYJRp
332Please respect copyright.PENANAwIgHppDZLw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6mOUIHDN9
"Let me go," Mutale demanded.332Please respect copyright.PENANAGRrhtoNRfX
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJxaU09yzGN
332Please respect copyright.PENANApDGJee1a6U
"Come on, dad," said Lucius. "You can’t force him to look if he doesn’t want to."332Please respect copyright.PENANAvynJa3No87
332Please respect copyright.PENANAi8Lnuhp8ro
332Please respect copyright.PENANAuBGrYRRxj0
"But he has to. Today is a day of revelation."332Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6d1POxqUr
332Please respect copyright.PENANAVeIR5a2sY3
332Please respect copyright.PENANAwkYcEuLrID
Lucifer turned the book the other way around for Mutale to look at. Mutale did his level best to look upwards, but with a simple bend of his index finger, Lucifer made Mutale’s head point downwards. The look on Mutale’s face as his eyes fell on the book said it all.332Please respect copyright.PENANAET6zIZZ2Ml
332Please respect copyright.PENANAF7VnlTawjH
332Please respect copyright.PENANAHFkNs0XsTi
"No, no," Mutale muttered shaking his head. "This is a lie. This book holds nothing but lies."332Please respect copyright.PENANAAMuN4mUXLq
332Please respect copyright.PENANA314rDj6tzu
332Please respect copyright.PENANAviILYev9f6
"I’m sorry, but this book was written centuries ago," said Lucifer. "Like I said before, so many things have been hidden from us that we only know what we think is relevant because it’s been set that way for ages. No one likes to know the truth. We all just like to hide in the sweet bliss of ignorance."332Please respect copyright.PENANAglzyq9OawI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAMz08LVJVGf
332Please respect copyright.PENANAVnkdX4UY1I
"This must be a mistake. You’re lying. You’re a liar. That’s what you are."332Please respect copyright.PENANAR8CDIvhUc6
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjZ2vVCIqDX
332Please respect copyright.PENANABGiJDqNxhR
"I take it that I lie, but there’s so much you don’t know about your world and ours."332Please respect copyright.PENANAc3UVm6C8p4
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7jEvUOkOE
332Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ns5V9kC9M
"Enough," I said, taking the book and turning it away from Mutale’s eyes. "There must be a reasonable explanation for this. May you please put him back down?"332Please respect copyright.PENANAuwRTFHfe8p
332Please respect copyright.PENANA1UpLngXwcJ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZ912I2bc7x
Lucifer dragged Mutale back to his seat, making him land onto the chair. This time, gently.332Please respect copyright.PENANAG6MqU8bnMS
332Please respect copyright.PENANAv081vlSyKv
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXtPuVbhX88
"Well, I think I’ve taken in a lot of these revelations for one day," said Stella as she looked at me. She soon went to sit back down on her chair.332Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ2K361lJS
332Please respect copyright.PENANASVZSJwhgYm
332Please respect copyright.PENANAvWsyLBDsc7
I look at Mutale, and he still looked horrified. I feel bad for him. It’s not easy receiving the truth like he did just now. Even I’m trying to take it all in.332Please respect copyright.PENANASSYkQCvnLc
332Please respect copyright.PENANAThIFmawQef
332Please respect copyright.PENANAinC1j6unz0
I went back to look at the list and I realized that just after the first three were a few more. But the names were written in a symbolic language that I couldn’t recognize.332Please respect copyright.PENANAQNaz3e7lgI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAQLktzz5ICZ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ3StCwu5i
"What does this mean?" I asked Lucifer as I pointed at the other names. "I can’t seem to recognize the words."332Please respect copyright.PENANAyhQungNV0R
332Please respect copyright.PENANAHPm0ZxZ1ER
332Please respect copyright.PENANAxaQjMO3M8A
"Whoever has control over shadow monsters has his name automatically written in the book," he answered as he looked at the page.332Please respect copyright.PENANA5LJzt2kWbD
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6bz5Rn8DuV
332Please respect copyright.PENANAOVZgBbqVmY
"Okay, but can you tell me who they are?"332Please respect copyright.PENANA2d6cttt4fA
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8yTlsMcns
332Please respect copyright.PENANAb0yYtESroc
Lucifer now looked at me and that charming smile of his came back. "It’s not necessary. If I were you I should be more worried about number 3."332Please respect copyright.PENANAMsK6ur2B0c
332Please respect copyright.PENANAWvxcHT4cUw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAe904nHQQCf
"He’s right," said Lucius. "I'm not surprised if he so happens to have sent the shadow monster after you."332Please respect copyright.PENANARkJeQK0g1P
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzsCYY5e1gr
332Please respect copyright.PENANAGkAdDQEuxB
"I’m worried about number 2," said Stella. "The thought of Him sending a shadow monster after Diana creeps me out."332Please respect copyright.PENANA6B6AtCbld7
332Please respect copyright.PENANAgpxXaGV9O4
332Please respect copyright.PENANAvWYlgx8fC4
"Don’t say that," Mutale spoke up. "He can never do such a thing. That book says nothing but lies."332Please respect copyright.PENANA8m07uxp6mF
332Please respect copyright.PENANAEcRtUaGtTK
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmiM244KbrP
"I’m sorry," said Lucifer, raising an eyebrow at Mutale. "But isn’t He the same person who created day and night? Light and darkness?" He sighed. "Let me tell you a little something to ease your mind a little."332Please respect copyright.PENANAxqP5AOY0ui
332Please respect copyright.PENANABe8FAlCZY1
332Please respect copyright.PENANAugQUlwU8Uc
Everyone now turned their attention to Lucifer. So did Mutale.332Please respect copyright.PENANAmSyvhf7nxI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqo18ZrkoUy
332Please respect copyright.PENANAVnEIlL8aMb
"As much as He can control shadow monsters, He wouldn’t do it just to get to Diana," Lucifer continued. "He has you Elite soldiers for that. If He wanted to, I bet He would’ve sent his angels to do the job, but the Golden Elite decided to take up the role."332Please respect copyright.PENANAccziEnahk6
332Please respect copyright.PENANAlAVVopK5ab
332Please respect copyright.PENANADOJZeQzhfk
I’m trying to take this all in, and I bet the rest are too.332Please respect copyright.PENANArpeIjODLPS
332Please respect copyright.PENANAdxuImrNdEM
332Please respect copyright.PENANAKgVImQtnM0
"How do you know all this?" I asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANAlr2L7ynuBq
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqgWMF4YdTL
332Please respect copyright.PENANAlM2MvtNDZk
"He can’t control a shadow monster without me knowing about it, so he’s already out of the question. It’s just the way it is. Moreover, if I try to do something similar to the light, he would know. That’s why the two of us have always stayed in our lane to not bring about confusion. But I do like to give him a challenge once in a while."332Please respect copyright.PENANAGKrEkuausL
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzBqKBi8aFD
332Please respect copyright.PENANADdRDy1M3VP
My heart felt at ease. Stella looked relaxed and Mutale exhaled in relief. 332Please respect copyright.PENANAWXdg2JTkyN
332Please respect copyright.PENANAqqYw88FR0z
332Please respect copyright.PENANAZAqNUMCKVK
"So, how do you know that the Golden Elite chose to take on the task of capturing me?" I asked.332Please respect copyright.PENANADXWpCy6UxP
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXnseqLmbIw
332Please respect copyright.PENANAzIRLt3vMhs
"Nothing hides under the sun from me," said Lucifer with a smile.332Please respect copyright.PENANAbQeD1AHs6B
332Please respect copyright.PENANAjO5m0JQ2WN
332Please respect copyright.PENANAM2xIr4CZs3
"That’s just to say that he has many informants," said Lucius.332Please respect copyright.PENANATrU6d1F4ou
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFbecLFh78w
332Please respect copyright.PENANAUcylkLucec
Lucifer threw his son another look showing that he’s annoyed with him. Before he could throw a comment, a knock came at the door. For a moment, I forgot about where we were and that there are people in the house. Lucifer told whoever was at the door to come in, and the door flew open. A woman in a black dress and white apron stood there. She is short and plump with her blonde hair tied into a bun. This must be the house help.332Please respect copyright.PENANAoUS4wByybP
332Please respect copyright.PENANAowwuZZzxyf
332Please respect copyright.PENANAYUPmZvVPLR
"Morning, sir," she greeted Lucifer. "I’ve brought in food for our guests."332Please respect copyright.PENANASiaW7UQ6xo
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmWrIEuSjKp
332Please respect copyright.PENANADYD9tiYqNT
"Yes, bring it in. I want you to tell the guards to get everyone out of the house," Lucifer ordered. "The place looks like a hellhole."332Please respect copyright.PENANAjC4fJ9Dwee
332Please respect copyright.PENANAXmS3dl6Pv1
332Please respect copyright.PENANAYK7bM9QCTk
Apart from the help, we all look at Lucifer with a questioning look. This place just happens to be one of his many hellholes.332Please respect copyright.PENANA3axk5jiemo
332Please respect copyright.PENANAgFlXKslfdq
332Please respect copyright.PENANAahdpFGup7D
The help dragged in a movable tray behind her and there are all sorts of delicious breakfast treats: chocolate chip cookies, eggs, bacon, bread and cereal for any of us craving for it. There were plenty of white teacups, plates and bowls to go around. And after all that’s happened in the last few hours, I now feel hungry.332Please respect copyright.PENANAhV2D6rown2
332Please respect copyright.PENANAGe75jsfNco
332Please respect copyright.PENANArq3ekIuoh3
The help soon left and Lucifer said, "please, dig in. As for you," he turned to Mutale, "you also better eat up after receiving the news that your wonderful Being isn’t involved in this mess."332Please respect copyright.PENANA8fmFOgOupQ
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFhiEs4Nnbb
332Please respect copyright.PENANAMvZ2Pu2hk9
"Are you seriously asking me to eat?" Mutale asked, sounding surprised.332Please respect copyright.PENANAokl4PXfrD8
332Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZMJz5glGL
332Please respect copyright.PENANA9hYBT83Csn
"Don’t make me change my mind. I can do that very quickly."332Please respect copyright.PENANA8PUwYIRkz2
332Please respect copyright.PENANARzxRP3CzwW
332Please respect copyright.PENANAuhalQKVnca
"I’ll help serve you," said Stella as she stood up and approached the tray. "Now that I think about it, I’m starving."332Please respect copyright.PENANAhV07pSiRWV
332Please respect copyright.PENANARc38fUsxPa
332Please respect copyright.PENANAKARv4XUTcw
"I’ll have some cookies and tea, please," said Mutale.332Please respect copyright.PENANATcREdAm6y4
332Please respect copyright.PENANAB5R4alPiD0
332Please respect copyright.PENANAFlSRfGLzAW
"I need to eat too," said Lucifer as he also went to the tray. "I drank too much last night, I didn't have a bite to eat."332Please respect copyright.PENANAIhXcX33xeo
332Please respect copyright.PENANAoa9VRHiXjA
332Please respect copyright.PENANASOyXGYtjfv
"Want me to get you something, Diana?" Lucius asked as he looked at me.332Please respect copyright.PENANAcb0yngtxrI
332Please respect copyright.PENANAh5naSRSlEe
332Please respect copyright.PENANAOl5CHhFR29
"I'll serve myself, thanks," I said with a smile.332Please respect copyright.PENANA8RB24ArIvL
332Please respect copyright.PENANAJte2i6caY2
332Please respect copyright.PENANA08WDoZSxOM
He gave me a concerned look before he gave a nod and went over to join Stella and his father.332Please respect copyright.PENANAjgsF0XPGXZ
332Please respect copyright.PENANANCJQzt372Y
332Please respect copyright.PENANAmvni4MjRCg
I watched the three surrounding the tray before my eyes flew back to the open book before me. My eyes are gravely fixed on the name that's third on the list and my hunger quickly dissipated. I should've known earlier that there's only one being who really wants to get rid of me with all their might:332Please respect copyright.PENANAvaLJ2FGGBu
332Please respect copyright.PENANA6lKbT6ro10
332Please respect copyright.PENANAEj5N5vpP4H
Death.