Soon, the sun was up and shining on the damaged city. For some of the residents, it symbolised healing, compelling them to rebuild. For others, it gave them time for mourning. The Underworld Creatures who rampaged through the city had brutally taken the lives of family members and friends. The people's cries over the dead could not compare to the amount of blood spilt in the attack.
One man was standing on a hospital roof, watching the city's grief and currently battling his own internal conflict. The man who saved the city and killed all the demons. The man hailed as a Champion and known as The Blinking Star stood alone with his thoughts.
"I can't say I've seen you look more pathetic than you do right now." Dain turned to see Eve walking up to him with a bottle of beer. She handed the bottle to him, which he accepted, and sat down next to him.
"My wife and daughter are in the hospital, and this city is in ruin because of my incompetence. I don't know what you expect," he responded. His eyes looked groggy, and his shoulders looked as if they were carrying the world.
"You should get some sleep. You're not looking very hot right now." Dain shook his head at this.
"No, I am a Champion; lack of a day's sleep means nothing to me. Besides, it's my responsibility to watch over the city."
"You already saved it, and no, before you say it was your fault it got destroyed as much as it did, don't. No one could have predicted two more Fracture Gates opening. You're putting yourself under too much unnecessary stress." Dain was about to talk before Eve cut him off by putting her finger to his mouth. "Let's be honest here for a second, this isn't about the city or the fact that your family is in the hospital. It's about your daughter finding out about us, isn't it?"
Dain clenched his fists, wanting so badly to deny it. However, no matter how much he tried to convince himself that everything was okay, it didn't change the fact that his daughter now knew the part of himself he tried so desperately to hide. He could see it in her eyes every time he looked at her. She no longer saw him as the king she once did.
Eve stared at him. "Heh, on second thought, you are actually so cute when you stress over nothing."
"Eve, this isn't a joke—"
"And it isn't serious either, after all, according to you, our relationship is nothing more than a job, right?" Dain glared, and Eve chuckled. "Relax, would you. If you are that bothered by it, I can always just take it away."
Dain paused and looked at the woman with confusion written all over his face. Eve just stared back with the same seductive smirk she always wore. "What do you mean, take it away?"
"That isn't important. The question we should really be asking, babe, is, do you want your precious little girl back?"
― In the Hospital ―
Dain walked down the stairs, his face full of mixed emotions. 'Did I make the right decision? Elara, I really need you.'
Suddenly, a voice rang out from across the room. "Dad!" Dain looked up to see Malrik running towards him. The boy tackled the man, digging his face into his father's stomach. "Dad, is Mum and Sarah going to be alright?"
Dain stared at Malrik for a second, stunned. He then smiled and patted the boy's back. "Don't worry, they will be just fine. I promise."
Malrik gave a bright smile back, easing Dain's heart. He gave a heavy sigh. 'It was the right decision! I can't let my family be ruined due to something they can't understand yet.'
Dain placed his hands on Malrik's shoulders. "Hey, Malrik, I want you to listen carefully. The doctors need full space so that Sarah can get a full recovery. So, I don't want you going near her room till I say so, okay?"
Malrik saluted like a soldier. "Right!" Dain chuckled. "Hey Dad, I heard someone say you stopped time and kicked all those creatures' butts."
"Who said that?"
― Sarah's Room ―
In a dark room lay Sarah, unconscious. Having just come out of surgery, it was taking a while for her to wake up. The doctors had said it shouldn't be long, thanks to her Title rank as an Awakened.
That time came sooner than the doctor thought, however, as Sarah started opening her eyes. The blocked sunlight from the covered window pressed on her face. Half-awake, she slowly got up. She looked at all the wires connected to her and realised she was in the hospital. 'What am I doing here?' she thought. The last thing she remembered was seeing a bright orange light covering the stadium before she passed out.
"You passed out from blood loss." A feminine voice suddenly appeared. Sarah looked up to see a woman sitting on the other side of the room with a mug. "You were pierced through the stomach by that creature. You lost a lot of blood from it. You're only alive because it was healed from your Title Rebirth." The woman walked beside her bed and placed her mug on the table next to it. She then turned back to Sarah, who was still just barely awake. "Still, the blood in your body was already so low; using magic after waking up was a bad idea. Then again, you had to survive. You and your father have a lot in common."
That last comment jolted Sarah awake. She gazed at the woman before it finally clicked. "You're my dad's mistress."
Eve sighed. "Man, you don't know much. I wish those words came out of your father's mouth." Sarah's glare deepened. "I think he prefers us to be known more as partners in crime, you know. Kinda like you and your brother."
Sarah's face morphed into disgust. Every inch of her body itched to jump at the woman. "Don't compare Malrik and me to you and my dad's creepy relationship. What the hell do you want from me?!"
"Oh, nothing much actually. Just a small piece from you. Trust me, you've lived long enough, you won't even notice it after it's done." Sarah looked at her in confusion as Eve raised her hand to her head. "Oh, by the way, this will hurt."
As Eve started moving her hand away from her head, Sarah's eyes started widening. A trickle of red slid from the corners of her eyes as a white orb appeared out of her head, moving with Eve's hand. The orb felt alive, like a piece of Sarah was being dragged out like a root torn from the earth. Sarah couldn't let out a sound; the pain was sheltered in her, unable to escape.
Eve grabbed the orb before disappearing, then finally—finally—Sarah let go of the pain and screamed to the heavens.
The piercing scream reverberated across the hospital, alerting everyone. Every available staff member dashed towards its owner. Dain, on the lower floor, looked at his scared son.
"Listen to me, stay here! okay?" Malrik nodded obediently as Dain disappeared in the blink of an eye. He was the first in the room as he turned to his daughter, who was violently shaking. Tears flew all over the place, and her arms swung around her. The other doctors arrived, staring in shock. Dain quickly grabbed his daughter, pulling her towards him.
"It's alright, Sarah! I got you! I got you!" Sarah started calming down as she wept in her father's arms. Her rapid breathing was growing heavier by the second.
"Dad! Dad, I had a bad dream." Sarah clenched her father's shirt, seeking comfort in it. The doctors tried separating the two so they could find out what happened, but the girl refused. Dain looked out of the window. From across the other building's roof, he could see Eve sitting down proudly. Her legs were crossed; her hands were waving seductively, and her smirk stayed present the whole time.
Dain let out a heavy sigh.
― Two Hours Later ―
Sarah was on the hospital roof, sitting on a pipe and staring at the sky. She heard the roof door open behind her, but she didn't move. Malrik appeared from the door and walked over to her. He sat on the pipe next to her, also looking up at the sky.
He turned to her. "Are you okay?" Sarah nodded. "You sure—"
"I already said yes, idiot."
"Okay, was just making sure," said Malrik with his hands up in defence. Sarah sighed.
"Sorry, my head is still in pain. I guess I'm just a little grumpy from it." Sarah clutched her head as Malrik looked at her worriedly.
"I did read that waking up from surgery can be painful, but it's supposed to be rare."
"Guess I'm just unlucky," responded Sarah. Malrik nodded and placed a hand on his sister's back. "Hey, wanna know what I heard? Apparently, that bright light we saw earlier was Dad literally stopping time for a few minutes. Isn't that so awesome!"
Sarah's face instantly brightened upon hearing this. "Really?! That's amazing. Dad is so strong. Wait, where did you hear that?"
"Some of the doctors were talking about it." Malrik looked up at the sky. "One day, I'm going to be just as strong as Dad. That's a promise."
Sarah scoffed. "Please, as if an idiot like you can get as strong as Dad. He is the king; if anything, a princess like me should surpass the king."
"What! Who made you the princess? Besides, if Dad is the king, then I'm the prince, so I'm next in line." Malrik smirked in victory as Sarah paused, realising his logic.
"We-well, how about this?!" Sarah got up and faced Malrik. "As soon as we turn 20, we will have a duel, and whoever wins will get to call themselves prince or princess."
Malrik blinked, considering the proposal. He then smiled, got up and said,
"Deal!"
― A Week Later ―
On the other side of the world, a large building stood under the glistening moon. The building was a casino. Men and women drinking down their problems and gambling their lives away. The place looked completely normal. A few guards in black suits, but nothing looked out of the ordinary.
The door opened to reveal Eve walking in. She looked slightly different from before. She wore a side-slit, sleeveless, black dress and long fishnet arm sleeves. The dress had a flower pattern on it. Her long earrings dangled on her ears, and her black high heels clicked softly against the red carpet. Her piercing red eyes gazed across the rooms as if searching for something.
One of the guards walked up to her. "Are you alright, ma'am?" Eve didn't even look at the man. Her eyes landed on a door at the far back with two more guards standing in front.
Eve smirked. "Oh, what a hot man you are." Eve finally turned to the man. She moved closer and placed her hand on his chin. "I am just deliciously fine today, you want to know why? I shall let you in on a little secret." Eve leaned forward on her tiptoes to reach the man's ear. Her red lips were mere inches away from him. The woman's breath made the man shiver. "I am about to meet a new boss."
Eve walked away, leaving the man a little too excited. As she reached the door, two guards moved forward to block her path. "Sorry, miss, you can't go in here."
The woman looked at the two. "How cute of you guys, but I got a meeting with your boss, so how about you two run along like good kids."
"Miss, please, if you do not leave, we will have to force you out." Eve raised her eyebrows.
"Really now? Well, I would certainly love to see you try." Eve smirked as the two guards moved to restrain her. However,
"Hey, hey now, ladies, please, no need for violence here. We are all friends now, aren't we?" Upon seeing the owner of this new voice, the two guards instantly froze. Next to them stood a man in luxurious attire. He wore a white silk shirt underneath a black silk satin tuxedo vest with long black tuxedo trousers. He had red glasses and silver three-bar earrings on. Hanging over his shoulders was a white formal overcoat that resembled a military-style officer's coat.
The man had a glass of red wine, and two girls tied to his arms like jewelled ornaments on a nobleman's sleeves.
The guards quickly bowed to him as he shooed away his women.
"Well, if it isn't my good friend, Eve. I assume you are here because the job is done."
Eve nodded as she stared at the man. "The infamous Dr Helmbrecht. A few friends of mine are handing over the creatures to the location as we speak. Now, are you going to keep up your end of the bargain or what?"
The man smiled. "Aah, yes. You wish to meet the big bad boss, isn't that right? I am a man of my word. Come, come, don't mind these two buffoons, they are just doing their jobs."
The two walked past the confused guards and entered through the door, which turned out to be a lift. Eve raised an eyebrow upon seeing the numerous floors. The fact that they were somehow on the top floor made no sense.
Dr Helmbrecht clicked onto the lowest floor as the lift started moving down. The man looked back at her, a bit too excited. "So, did you meet the boy?!"
"You are talking about the boy Dain found in your little facility. I saw the boy, but I never got the chance to introduce myself." The man looked down dejected.
"Man, I miss him, you know. All the experiments and research, he was my favourite lab project. So much potential he has." Eve shifted away slightly as the madman continued ranting. "If Darkness allowed me, I would go over there and slaughter that man and his whole family just to get him back."
"Wait. Is that why you wanted me to take the girl's memories of me and her father?"
"Hmm? Oh no. Let's just say that… that is for future assurances." The lift stopped. "Aah, here we are."
The door opened to reveal a completely darkened room. Eve looked at Dr Helmbrecht, who gestured for her to go inside. "You two have fun. Oh, and Eve, welcome to the Court of Darkness."