----
ERICA'S P.O.V.
I had the feeling I needed to follow him.
I had so many questions on my mind — and I wanted to thank him too. The only opportunity I had was now, while everyone else was still lost in the party.
I slipped into a corner and, when I was sure nobody was watching, I transformed into a dove and took to the skies.
Beneath me, I spotted him at a distance.
He had already fled far from the castle — almost to the outskirts of the kingdom.
He stopped in front of a lake to feed his thirsty horse.
I knew this was my chance.
I circled above, watching him remove a golden locket from his pocket. My heart froze — the locket looked so familiar... just like the one my mother always wore.
Curiosity gnawed at me.
Who exactly is this man?
Suddenly, I felt it — a presence.
A powerful one.
I looked around frantically but could see no one.
I needed to speak to the man they called Revenge. It seemed he sensed my presence too.
"You are pretty far from home, Erica," he said, turning toward me.
Immediately, at the sound of his voice, I shifted back into my human form. Luckily, my clothes remained intact.
"You know my name?" I asked, startled.
"I know a lot about you. But the time isn't right."
He said it calmly, boarding his horse again.
"Wait! Why the silence? I came all the way here for answers!"
"Hmm. The time is not right. Return — it's not safe here," he said before spurring his horse and riding away.
I ran over to where he had been standing and noticed something glinting in the bushes.
I picked it up — it was the locket I had seen him holding earlier.
I opened it and gasped — inside were two tiny portraits: my parents on one side, and a little girl — me — on the other.
This really was my mother's locket...
Before I could think further, I heard it — a faint, painful cry.
Alarmed, I looked around.
I'm not alone.
My instincts screamed at me to run — but curiosity pulled me deeper. I followed the sound and stumbled upon a terrible scene.
Bodies littered the ground.
At a distance, I saw a hefty man lying lifeless, blood oozing from his head.
A familiar sword was lodged deep between his eyes.
I walked over and yanked the sword free.
Immediately, images flooded my mind — visions of my father, wielding the exact same blade.
This... this was my father's sword.
But how? I thought all his belongings were under the magistrate's guard.
My mind swirled with confusion.
"Help..."
A whisper, close by, jolted me from my thoughts.
I turned to find a body — pale, thin, almost skeletal.
The man's face seemed familiar, though I couldn't place it.
"Help..." he croaked again, voice dry as sand.
Pity washed over me.
I knelt beside him and placed my hands on his chest, feeling energy flow from my body into his.
But before anything else could happen — an arrow flew out of nowhere and pierced his heart.
I gasped, stepping back in horror.
More arrows followed, whizzing past me, embedding into the ground. Armed men leapt out from the shadows.
Panicked, I snatched up the sword and the locket, lifted my dress, and ran — faster than I ever had before.
---
EARLIER, AT THE PARTY
RACHEL'S P.O.V.
I wore a dress designed to show off my curves — to expose just enough skin to make every man in the room lose his mind.
Especially Azreal.
That's how I got him in the first place, after all.
I carried two wine glasses in my hands, hoping things would go well tonight.
I could feel the hungry eyes on me as I crossed the room, and when I looked, I caught their stares — filled with desire.
Their reactions gave me more confidence.
I walked straight to Azreal, who stood in the center of a crowd as usual.
He looked so different — so... superior to the rest.
The women around him were practically drooling, but too bad for them — he was mine.
And I was ready to kill to keep it that way.
"Azreal, could we have a drink together?" I called sweetly.
He turned to me, his eyes sharp and cold.
"I don't fancy drinking with unclean women," he said loudly, his words slicing through the room.
Whispers erupted.
I felt the flush of embarrassment creep up my face.
How could he say that in front of everyone?
Refusing to lose face, I rushed over and stood beside him, pushing away the women crowding him.
"Sorry, ladies, he's taken," I said, wrapping my arms around his.
But Azreal shoved me off — then pulled out a napkin and wiped the spot I had touched.
The humiliation stung.
"Taken by who?" he said mockingly.
"Azreal... why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong?"
"It's enough for me to allow you into my house. Don't push your luck," he said sharply, then turned and walked away.
I stood there, everyone's disgusted eyes burning into me.
I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
Just then, the doors opened — and in walked Eve and Erica, side by side.
Instantly, the attention shifted to them.
I burned with jealousy and rage. That lowborn girl is stealing all my attention.
I noticed Azreal — how he couldn't take his eyes off her.
My jealousy boiled over. What does she have that I don't?
Why her?
Fuming, I watched the party unfold from a distance.
And when I couldn't take it anymore, I left early — and bumped into a handsome man.
He was refined, magnetic, his voice deep and commanding.
Not quite Azreal, but still... impressive.
"Hey," I said, trying to catch his attention.
He barely glanced at me before walking away.
"Wait, you look good..." I started to say.
"Thank you," he said curtly and kept walking.
Arrogant, I thought — but intriguing.
I decided to follow him quietly.
To my horror, I noticed his eyes were also on Erica.
Again her. Why always her?
After Erica's performance, I saw him leave the hall.
I followed, hiding in the shadows.
When he confronted Erica outside, I listened carefully.
What I heard shocked me.
Ecstatic, I realized I could finally ruin Erica's life.
If I told Azreal about her secret relationship with another man, he would surely cast her out.
I couldn't wait to find him.
---
BACK IN THE FOREST
ERICA'S P.O.V.
I was gasping for air when Azreal burst from the shadows, slicing down the attackers.
Something was different about him.
His aura radiated violence, his eyes burned with raw flames.
He cut down the men mercilessly — and those he didn't touch... burst into flames from afar.
The scent of burnt flesh and blood filled the air.
Azreal stood amongst the carnage, a wicked smile curling on his lips, flames dancing in his eyes.
Madness.
This was madness.
I turned to run, but before I could take a step, he appeared in front of me — pinning me against a tree.
I stared up at him, trembling.
His spicy scent was mixed with blood now — overwhelming and terrifying.
"Why did you leave without my permission?" he growled.
"I-I'm sorry... I didn't want to disturb," I stammered.
"So... you are working with them?" he asked darkly.
"No! No, my king. I don't know them!"
"Then why are they after you?"
"I... I don't know, my king," I said, almost whispering.
He stared at me in deadly silence.
I felt like a trapped bird about to be crushed.
Then suddenly — he staggered back, clutching his head, screaming in pain.
"Not now... not now!" he roared.
I watched in horror as long talons erupted from his skin. His body grew larger. His clothes ripped apart. His muscles twisted grotesquely.
His burning gaze locked onto mine — full of desperation.
"Run, Erica!" he growled.
But my legs were frozen in fear.
I stepped toward him instead.
I placed my hand on his burning-hot body — trying to calm him.
But suddenly — he flung me across the clearing.
I slammed into a tree, pain ripping through my back.
I groaned but forced myself to stand.
He was no longer Azreal.
He was the Beast.
"Azreal!" I cried out.
The monster's answer was a vicious punch to my chest — making me spit out blood.
I collapsed to my knees, coughing, the world spinning.
Still — I didn't give up.
I could feel him struggling inside that monstrous form.
"Azreal! I know you're still in there!" I yelled through the pain.
He grabbed me, flung me to the ground again.
But when I struggled to stand — I saw it.
A flicker of humanity, deep in those flaming eyes.
I ran to him and threw my arms around him, despite the pain, despite the fear.
"Azreal! You can fight it! You are strong! You can win!" I cried.
He pulled me away — staring at me.
Then...
I felt a sharp pain tear through my stomach.
I gasped — looking down — seeing blood stain my dress.
Why?
I tasted blood in my mouth as my vision blurred.
I heard a broken, pained voice scream, "No!"
Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.
Then — everything faded to black.
---
(To be continued...)
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