Chapter Warning: ⚠️ R17 – Dark Magic, Psychological Horror & Violence
This chapter contains intense scenes of dark magic, hallucinations, self-harm, blood, and emotional trauma. It depicts high-stress situations with life-threatening danger. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
-----
Eyan's breath caught in his throat. The boy before him—silver hair shimmering under the candlelight, crimson eyes glowing like fading embers—was no longer a stranger.
Leo looked straight at him, his small frame trembling yet his voice firm.
"I know you have a lot of questions," he said calmly, "but right now… focus on your wife."
Eyan's eyes softened. He swallowed hard and gave a slow nod.
Leo climbed onto the edge of the bed and placed his hand over Eva's forehead. A faint red light pulsed beneath his palm, seeping into her skin like waves of warmth.
Suddenly, Eva's body jerked violently.
"Ahh!" she cried out, her voice cracking through the room.
Leo's voice shook, but his words were gentle.
"It's okay, Mother. You'll be alright. Everything's fine…"
Gradually, her body stopped trembling. Her fingers loosened from the sheets, her breath evened out.
Leo sighed deeply. "You two can let her go now."
Both Eyan and Luca released her arms. Leo's shoulders slumped as sweat trickled down his temple.
Luca stepped closer. "Leo, are you alright?"
Leo nodded weakly, panting. "Yes… Uncle."
Eyan's gaze snapped toward Luca. "Uncle?" His tone sharpened. "Why is he calling you that?"
Luca hesitated.
Eyan took a step closer, his voice tightening. "You knew about him from the start, didn't you?"
Luca exhaled. "Yes."
Eyan's tone turned cold. "Then why did you hide it from me?"
"It was Sister-in-law's decision," Luca said quietly. "She didn't want you to know about Leo."
"Why?"
Luca looked down. "Wait until she wakes up, Eyan. Then you'll know everything."
Eyan's fists tightened, but his gaze fell to the bed. Eva lay still, pale and motionless, as if the storm had passed. But deep down, he knew—this was only the calm before another storm.
---
(Inside Eva's Dream—)
Eva was falling. Again and again, through darkness, through shadows that clawed at her skin.
Her lungs burned. "What's happening?" she whispered, clutching her chest.
The world around her shifted—bright one second, dark the next—until she landed on cold, cracked ground.
Eva's chest tightened. "I… I can't breathe…" she gasped, clutching at her throat.
Her eyes fluttered open—and a dark silhouette loomed over her. Cold fingers were wrapped around her neck, squeezing the air from her lungs.
Eva's hands flew up, grabbing the man's wrists, her nails digging into his skin as she fought back. "W–Who… who are you?" she choked out, her voice barely a whisper.
The figure's face was hidden in the shadows—no features, no eyes, only darkness.
The man's grip tightened. His voice was deep, merciless, echoing through the dream like a curse.
"Die."
Eva's legs kicked weakly, her vision blurring at the edges. The world around her began to fade, swallowed by the void as she gasped—
"Someone… help…"
Tears streamed down her face. Eyan… where are you?
From somewhere far away came his voice—hoarse and desperate. "EVA!"
She turned, and there he was—Eyan—pinned to the ground, chains around his arms. His eyes burned with anguish.
"Let her go!" he roared. "Don't hurt her!"
Eva's heart pounded. I have to do something… or my child will die too.
---
(Back to Reality—)
Eva's body twisted violently on the bed. Her breath came in harsh, broken gasps.
"Eva!" Eyan rushed forward, holding her shoulders. "Eva, open your eyes!"
Leo's eyes widened, glowing red. "She's still trapped in the nightmare!"
Luca frowned. "But you already used your power—why is she still suffering?"
Leo's voice trembled. "I don't know. The spell isn't gone… it's still tied to her somehow."
He scanned her body, searching for the source. Then his gaze fell on her hand—on the glowing black hue of her wedding ring.
"The ring," he whispered. "The curse is bound to her ring!"
Without hesitation, Eyan reached to pull it off—
"Stop!" Leo shouted. "Don't touch it!"
Eyan froze. "Why?"
"If you remove the ring now, she'll never wake up," Leo said breathlessly. "She'll be trapped in that nightmare forever."
Eyan's heart raced. "Then what can we do?"
"We have to lift the curse," Leo replied firmly, "from within."
---
(Inside Eva's Dream—)
Eva lay gasping for air. The shadowed man loomed over her, laughing cruelly.
"You deserve to die, Eva."
"No…" she whispered, one hand trembling over her swollen belly. My Leo…
Her gaze darted to the side—there, gleaming faintly, was a dagger.
"If I must die," she thought bitterly, "then I'll end it myself before he does."
Her fingers wrapped around the cold hilt. She raised it, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry, Leo…"
But as she tried to thrust it into her chest, her arm froze midair.
"What… I can't move?" she thought frantically. "Let me die… let me end this pain!"
---
(Back to Reality—two minutes earlier)
"Is there no other way to break the curse completely?" Luca asked, turning to Leo.
Leo hesitated, his voice low. "There is… but it's dangerous."
Eyan's tone was sharp. "How dangerous?"
Leo's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll have to transfer the curse to one point—just above her heart. Then, using a magic spear, pierce that point and stop right before it reaches her heart."
Eyan's eyes widened in horror. "No. If you miss, even by an inch, she'll die!"
Leo nodded solemnly. "I know. That's why I said it's dangerous… but it's the only way."
Eva's fingers trembled as she clawed at the sheets, gasping for air. Then—her hand moved, searching blindly beneath her pillow.
Eyan's eyes widened. "Eva… what are you doing?" he asked, panic rising in his voice.
Her hand stopped. The cold glint of metal flashed in the dim light. She had found it—the dagger he had given her.
"Eva, no—!" Eyan lunged forward just as she raised the blade, aiming straight for her chest.
Steel met resistance—his hand closed around the dagger's edge inches before it pierced her heart. Blood welled between his fingers, dripping onto her gown, onto her skin.
"Eva, stop!" he cried, his voice breaking.
But her eyes were glazed, distant—trapped. "Let me die… let me die in peace," she whispered, her voice hollow.
"Eva, don't do it!" Eyan's tears fell freely now, his body shaking as he forced the dagger away from her.
"Eyan, don't let go!" Luca's voice thundered behind him.
Luca turned to the boy beside him. "Leo—what's happening to her?"
Leo's eyes glowed faintly red, trembling with fear. "It's an illusion. Mother… she can't tell the difference between dream and reality. She's trying to harm herself in her dream—" his voice broke, "and she's doing it in reality too."
Eyan's voice cracked with desperation. "Leo, do something! She's suffering—there must be a way to break the curse!"
Leo hesitated, thinking quickly. "We can transfer it," he whispered.
Eyan's head snapped toward him. "Transfer… the curse?"
Leo nodded. "Yes. But it has to go to someone else."
Eyan didn't hesitate. "Then give it to me."
Leo's eyes widened. "To you?"
"Yes!" Eyan's voice trembled. "I can't watch her suffer anymore. Transfer it to me!"
"But—"
"Do it now!" he shouted.
Leo swallowed hard, then nodded. "Keep your ring close to hers."
Eyan pressed his trembling hand to hers—their rings brushed, glowing faintly. Leo's eyes turned pure red as dark light surged between them, wrapping around Eva before spiraling into Eyan's chest.
Eva's body slumped back onto the bed, her breathing steady once more.
Eyan collapsed to the floor, blood spreading from his chest.
"Eyan!" Luca rushed forward, catching him as his body went limp. "Leo—did it work!?"
"Yes.." Leo, panting, nodded weakly. "The curse… is transferred to father."
---
(Inside Eyan's Dream—)
The grand throne room appeared before him, drenched in shadows.
Eyan stood in silence, staring at a scene unfolding just a few steps ahead—himself, standing tall and cold upon the dais, sword in hand.
At the foot of the throne, a woman knelt—her body trembling, her voice raw with fear.
"Eva Elvaris…" the other Eyan declared, voice echoing mercilessly. "You will be executed for treason."
"Your Majesty, please… forgive me," Eva sobbed, tears streaking down her pale cheeks.
The other Eyan raised his sword.
The real Eyan screamed, "No—don't do it!"
The blade fell. Blood splattered across marble. Her head fell, lifeless, to the floor.
Eyan froze, his scream echoing in the empty hall. "EVA!"
---
Eyan's eyes snapped open. He gasped for breath, clutching his chest.
Leo collapsed beside him, drained.
Luca exhaled sharply in relief. "You're back…"
Eyan's chest burned—blood soaked through his shirt.
"What… what were you dreaming about?" Luca asked carefully. "You were screaming sister in law's name."
Eyan's eyes were glassy, his heart heavy with guilt.
He pushed himself to his feet, staggering toward the bed. He reached for Eva's hand, trembling.
"Eva…" he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "I'm so sorry."
---