Abigail sat with poise, sinking into the regal cushion beneath her, but her body was stiff with barely contained rage. Her delicate fingers traced the edges of an ancient mirror that shimmered with an eerie glow. The surface reflected an image she despised—the Lamia household.
The sight of the elegant duplex, adorned with marble steps and golden railings, made her blood boil. The environment surrounding the home was breathtaking—flowers blooming in endless colors, a courtyard bathed in sunlight, and a high, shining gate that spoke of wealth and power. The air of grandeur was unmistakable, and Abigail could not stomach it.
A sinister smile curled on her lips as her manicured nails dug into her palm.
"How dare he think he can get a happy ending after ruining mine?" she spat, eyes locked onto the mirror. "After snatching my man?"
Her chest rose and fell with fury, the dark energy swirling within her growing unstable. Then suddenly, something in the mirror caught her attention—two little children running across the beautiful courtyard, their laughter ringing like a bell.
Abigail's breath hitched. "Kids?" The word came out like venom. "They have kids? Arghhhh!"
The mirror trembled slightly in her hands as her fury burned hotter. Poor Lamia. Trapped in the Dark Trench, bound by eternal suffering. Immortality would not save him there. His god-like powers were rendered useless in that abyss, making him as helpless as a mortal. That was the most beautiful part of it all—his suffering was eternal, just as she had planned.
But that was not enough.
Her grip on the mirror tightened as she turned her attention elsewhere. The image changed, shifting to Hadrain, the demon prince. A sly grin formed on her face as a wicked thought bloomed.
"Now, Emily, why don't we take a little trip to Scotland and give Hadrain a surprise visit?" she mused, a dark chuckle escaping her lips. "Wouldn't it be a shock?"
But Emily could not respond. She was merely a shell—a body without a soul.
Abigail ran a hand through her hair, her smirk widening. Emily's soul was forever trapped in a mirror, bound by a spell so ancient and powerful that no one but Abigail herself could break it. It was the ultimate punishment, the ultimate power move.
She rose gracefully, her flowing black robes barely making a sound as she walked. Then, an even grander idea struck her.
The Book of Shadows.
The mere thought of it sent a thrill through her veins. Was it not in Hadrain's possession? If so, then she would have to take it. After all, a weapon of that magnitude should belong to someone as powerful as her. She would force Hadrain to reveal its location, and once she had it in her grasp, there would be nothing stopping her.
A cold wind blew past her as she turned her attention to her surroundings.
PARADISE HIGH
A school filled with unsuspecting mortals, completely oblivious to the growing darkness creeping through the very ground they walked upon. Abigail could sense it—the creatures lurking within the shadows, the horrors hidden between the field and the river stretching from Paradise Hill to the outskirts of Valemont City.
A devastating smile spread across her lips.
"Emily, your precious school is in grave danger." She spoke to the half-broken mirror she carried, knowing Emily's trapped soul could hear her but never respond. "See that river over there? The horrors of the sea rest beneath it. I'm surprised they haven't come out to feast yet."
Her fingers lightly tapped the cracked surface of the mirror as she continued.
"And not just them. I can sense vampires lurking in the dark… werewolves… lycanthropes… even witches. Oh, what a secret meeting they're having."
Her grin grew wider, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and malice.
"Soon, there will be no students left. The halls will be empty, the grounds drenched in blood. They will all perish… every last one of them."
With that final whisper, Abigail lifted her hand, and a sphere of dark energy formed around her, swallowing her in an instant. The air twisted, shadows contorted, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared, vanishing to a place far beyond Valemont City.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the eerie night, Ava clutched tightly onto Slyvia's hand. The torch in her other hand flickered, its dim glow barely piercing through the suffocating darkness.
The sky overhead was painted in unsettling shades of crimson, and a heavy mist rolled through the empty streets, making every step forward feel like walking into the unknown.
Despite the overwhelming unease, Slyvia's resolve remained unshaken. She had one goal—to stop Abigail from spreading her darkness any further.
Abigail's powers were growing, reaching beyond their control. The very air in Paradise High had changed. Shadows moved unnaturally, whispers lingered where no one stood, and the presence of dark forces had become undeniable.
Slyvia knew they were running out of time.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to Ava, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We need to find the main host of the Phoenix stone, according to my findings the stone was hidden in his armour, so let's go."
Ava nodded, gripping the torch tighter. "And if we can't find the armour?"
Slyvia's jaw clenched. "Then there won't be a Paradise High left to save."
Ava and Slyvia moved with purpose through the dimly lit corridors of Paradise High, the weight of their mission pressing heavily upon them. Slyvia's dream had been vivid—a statue within the school grounds, shrouded in an aura of mystery, beckoning her as the next crucial step in their quest to thwart Abigail's spreading darkness.
As they navigated the labyrinthine hallways, the oppressive silence was suddenly pierced by chilling, otherworldly sounds. Both women froze, their hearts pounding in unison. Ava's gaze shifted forward, and her face blanched, draining of all color.
Emerging from the shadows, Rowan crawled out of a nearby building, his body drenched in blood, crimson droplets dripping from his mouth. Beside him lay Simon, his form brutally butchered and torn asunder.
Ava's breath caught in her throat, her skin turning as pale as chalk. Her eyes traveled downward, noting the grotesque transformation—fins and a deadly tail. The horrifying realization struck her: Rowan was a siren, a creature of malevolent intent.
A guttural growl emanated from Rowan as he convulsed, his predatory gaze locking onto them.
Panic surged through Ava. She grabbed Slyvia's arm, her voice a frantic whisper. "We have to go! We're in danger!"
In that critical moment, Slyvia's instincts took over. Drawing upon the wellspring of her inner power, she focused intently, her mind reaching deep into the earth's core. She visualized the immense tectonic forces, the shifting of plates, and the raw energy simmering beneath the surface.
With a forceful exhale, Slyvia extended her hands toward the ground. The air around them vibrated as she channeled her energy, forging a connection with the subterranean forces. The floor trembled, then violently shook as fissures snaked across the surface. The very foundation of the building groaned in protest.
The ground beneath them heaved, creating a chasm that swallowed both Ava and Slyvia. As they descended into the abyss, the earth sealed above them, leaving no trace of their presence.
In the suffocating darkness, the sensation of falling ceased. A soft, ethereal light began to emanate, revealing a hidden cavern adorned with luminescent crystals. The air was cool, filled with the scent of damp earth and ancient stone.
Ava, still clutching Slyvia's hand, gasped for breath. "What... where are we?"
Slyvia, her energy waning from the exertion, managed a faint smile. "A sanctuary... beneath the school. A place which seems to not have been inhabited by people for a long time, this was among the vision I saw."