Rain had turned around and was about to leave Chiel Burley's house. However, the warlock suddenly sat up straight while clutching his sore neck.
"Who gave you permission to leave here?" muttered Chiel.
Rain's steps stopped, and she turned back to Chiel. "No one needs your approval or permission. You don't even have the right to speak before me!"
The peak of the full moon is only a few hours away. Rain must quickly find Jace and save him. Rain didn't know that the impact of the curse she had given would be this terrible. Rain had to stop it before something worse happened.
Chiel grinned. He stood up with difficulty and challenged Rain. The face of the warlock in the body of a 10-year-old boy looks annoying.
Rain really can remember everything. Her past, especially her childhood. Rain remembered always playing together with Chiel in the Darkwood forest. There was one question that always bothered Rain's mind at that time. Chiel's body never grows old or taller, while Rain continues to grow.
Alyssa said Rain was blessed by a power that no other witch would find. Rain ability inherited from Alyssa.
"You know what's interesting about your powers?" asked Alyssa one day.
Rain gritted her teeth. Because she only remembered that fact after a long time.
Chiel stepped slowly. Step by step, he approached Rain. "The curse can be disastrous for people who don't want it, like Jace Dauntess and the Darkwood Kingdom. But I think Jace is just a naïve young man. He could have harnessed the curse's power as an uncontrollable force."
Rain tilted her head. "What do you mean, Chiel?"
"All the warlocks who know the curse's power are vying for it. Why do you think Jace Dauntess is always hiding in his palace? No, not that he was ashamed of the curse. Rather... because he didn't want to fall prey to the other shadow creatures. The human heart that is cursed by the magic power of the black rose can become very strong depending on who uses it. Maybe Jace doesn't realize that potential, but we all know it and want it."
Rain gasped. Fragments of her memory flashed back into her mind. Ralph's twin trees in front of the gates of Darkwood Palace had been deliberately set by Rain as protection.
After Rain cast a curse on Jace at 17, a massive party was still held at the palace. Jace was not aware of the impact of the curse. He invited girls from all over the country to have fun and celebrate his coming of age.
That night, Rain also came to the party as a village girl who wasn't invited. Rain felt sorry for giving the curse to Jace. She came intending to remove the curse. However, when Rain arrives at the party and meets with Jace, Rain is again humiliated in front of the audience.
"You dare show yourself in front of me again? Poor-country girl."
Rain wore the same red robe as when she met Jace in the forest. Rain also covered her face with a hood. Jace could see half of Rain's face.
"Guards, drive this girl away! I don't want to see her set foot in my magnificent palace. She's too dirty to be here."
All the invited guests who attended the party that night laughed at Rain. They competed to expel the girl.
Rain finally walked away. Before she left the door of Darkwood Palace, Rain said to Jace.
"On the full moon night at the turn of your age, you will become a cursed monster, a monster as rotten as your heart. You should feel shame, suffering, and wasting away like you did to other lowly people and me."
The entire party room fell silent for a moment.
"You curse me? Tch, you witch."
When the words "witch" left Jace's mouth, everyone was reminded of the Darkwood Kingdom's dark past. They remembered Alyssa, the witch who was cursed and died on the scaffold. Everyone instantly fell silent. At the same time, the wind was blowing very hard.
Rain left the palace. Right after crossing the gate, she moved her two hands and sprouted a pair of twin trees that sealed Darkwood Palace. From then on, the palace and the entire Darkwood forest were shrouded in a perpetual dark mist.
At night, Jace first turns into a monster feared by all the people of Darkwood. All the palace occupants and party guests also turned into silver furnishings that adorned the dark palace.
"You can't leave here, Witch!" said Chiel. "I've been waiting for your arrival for a long time. I've wanted your power for a long time."
Haramon, who was already unconscious and probably dead, suddenly his body twitched uncontrollably. Haramon's bones crackled as they grew and stretched. The muscles of his body also enlarged.
Rain glanced out of the corner of her eye. She swore silently. "So the ripping demons were your dispatch, Chiel?"
"You noticed too late, Rain Cruise. I managed to learn many things from your mom. One way is to create tearing demons out of dead creatures. Only I can do it of all the warlocks in this land." Chiel grinned with both hands moving. Then a rune was created and hovered in front of his hand.
Portals were created in the empty air. Through the holes sprung the most fearsome ripping demons. They all gathered and started to surround Rain. Their saliva dripped from their sharp, nail-like teeth.
***
"You're going to kill your own son, Flynn?" Marcus couldn't believe it.
"Son?" Benjamin stood at the altar door wondering.
The young man came dragged by the three Hardy brothers. Ben's face was battered, blood still seeping from his temples. They had just fought quite fiercely. Ultimately, Benjamin loses and is hauled before Mayor Flynn.
"Master Mark, who do you mean by my dad's son?"
Mayor Flynn's face turned pale. He tapped his staff once on the marble floor and then swung it through the air. A shot of blue flame-colored magic shot out to attack Markus.
Markus was able to dodge in time. Markus also uses the remnants of his magic abilities that are still attached to protect himself from Mayor Flynn's attacks.
"Do you think I don't know, Flynn? I know all the rotten deeds you have done in the past very well. Why don't you tell Benjamin and the world who you really are?"
A water-like shot shot shot from Danniel Flynn's wand and struck Mark once again. Markus was ready when he was pushed. His feet dragged on the cold marble floor. Markus vomited fresh blood due to the encouragement of Danniel Flynn's magic power.
Benjamin cast his magic. He repelled Mayor Flynn's attack when he was again about to hit Markus, who was helpless on the floor.
"Stay out of the way, Ben! You are a useless child. Didn't I ask you to bring the girl here? However, you set her free instead. You traitor!" shouted Mayor Flynn, who turned to attack Benjamin.
Benjamin jumped into the air and transformed himself into a huge gray-black wolf. His jaws enlarged and strengthened. He was ready to lunge at his stepfather. However, Mayor Flynn continues to use his magical abilities to block Ben's attacks.
"Ha Na! Ka Na! Ma Na!"
Mayor Flynn cast several spells until a magic veil locked Ben and Markus. Ben is trapped in a silver cage floating in the air. On the other hand, Markus is trapped in an invisible glass cage.
The holy place became deserted. No matter how hard Benjamin punched and kicked the silver cage, he couldn't break free. Silver is a werewolf's weakness. Mark, who had lost his magic ability, could only remain silent and resigned. An accident when he arrives in the human world makes Mark weak.
Anthony, Ethan, and Jonathan immediately knelt and saluted Mayor Flynn. Joe glanced up at the altar where Jace Dauntess lay unconscious. The three wolves wonder what Mayor Flynn is planning. But, they restrain themselves and work professionally. They never asked the reason for giving the assignment.
"Until this full moon night ritual takes place, you must keep all Westlake City safe. I don't want any attacks and interference from the outside. I will give you the Darkwood forest for your pack if you find the girl. And the most important thing right now is my son's heart, who has been tainted by the curse. Heart from Jace Dauntess. Oh, no, he should be Jace Flynn."
The three Hardy brothers and a confined Benjamin stare at Mayor Flynn in surprise. They really didn't suspect that Jace Dauntess was the biological son of Mayor Flynn.
"What do you mean, Dad?" Ben shouted at Mayor Flynn. "Master Mark, can you explain to me?" Now, Jace was screaming at Markus, who was cooped beside him.
"Well, your stepfather is having an affair with Queen Darkwood. The queen is not pregnant with the king but with Danniel Flynn. Unfortunately, the kind and blessed King Dauntess II was unaware of that fact. Before all is revealed, the Queen and Mayor Flynn work together to frame Alyssa. They sacrificed Alyssa to cover up their betrayal."
"So... Jace Dauntess is Mayor Flynn's biological son?" Ben tried to confirm what he had just heard.
"Yeah, and what's even funnier, Rain Orwell is flesh and blood of Alyssa and the King. I wonder if Rain and Jace know this fact. But, it's very interesting."
"What? Rain is not your daughter?" shouted Ben.
"So you've been asking us to raid Darkwood Palace just to get Jace Dauntess, Mayor Flynn?" Finally, Joe asked a question.
"Are you two being unprofessional, Hardy brothers? Do your job without any questions asked! But, for the sake of satisfying your curiosity, I will explain. I've been waiting until the curse really strengthened in Jace's heart. If the curse has taken over him, I can take Jace's cursed heart to increase my strength. After that, if the witch resurrects, I will rip out her heart and eat it. The combination of the two powers can produce immortality and immeasurable power."
Mayor Flynn burst out laughing.
One of the wolf hunters from Hardy's pack came to make a report. "There was an attack at the city limits. The forces of darkness are coming in large numbers to attack us."