Remy hurried through the dimly lit streets, his heart racing as the evening sun dipped below the horizon.

The shocking news of Tristan’s father’s guild being razed to the ground and the father and son’s deaths at the hands of demonic cult members had shaken him to the core.

He still couldn’t believe they were raped and killed by demonic cultists, and their corpses were said to be in such a horrible state that they didn’t reveal any more details.

However, something equally shocking was the corruption of Gary’s guild had become public knowledge, with their ties to various demonic cults and illegal, shady deals laid bare for all to see.

As he approached his home, Remy’s emotions were a whirlwind of relief and happiness, tempered by disbelief and concern.

Tristan, his best friend before the truth of his dark nature had been revealed, had finally met his end, but the cost of this revelation was still unknown.

He also never expected Tristan and his father to be involved in so many wicked things. Now he felt as if everything was beginning to make sense and why Tristan’s true nature was so vile.

Remy knew he had to share this news with his grandmother, the one person who mattered most to him. He burst through the front door, calling out for his grandmother, “Grandma! Are you here? I have news about Tristan and his father!”

But the house was empty and quiet, devoid of the warmth his grandmother’s presence always brought.

Anxiety gripped Remy’s heart as he rushed to her room, hoping to find her there. He was worried that something had happened to her.

Instead, all he found was a single note addressed to him.

With trembling hands, Remy unfolded the paper, his heart pounding as he read his grandmother’s words.

His shock deepened as he realized that she was the one behind the chaos that had befallen Tristan and his father.

He could hardly believe that his grandmother, the woman who had raised him, had played a role in such a brutal series of events.

“Why, Grandma… why did you do it?” Remy whispered to the empty room, tears welling up in his eyes.

As he continued reading, the truth of his parent’s death hit him like a thunderbolt. Anger and grief roiled within him, knowing that Tristan’s father was the one responsible for his parent’s death.

He couldn’t believe the true villain had been present before him all this time, and thinking about it made him feel his blood boil.

He didn’t know why his grandmother had never told him about this earlier. If only he knew, he never would have become friends with Tristan, let alone be a part of the guild of the person who murdered his parents in a horrible way.

Tristan took deep breaths to calm himself down and felt that maybe his grandmother had never told him since she was planning to get vengeance for all these years.

However, he didn’t want her to shoulder it all alone. He wished he could have been there for her.

But there was more – his grandmother’s confession that she would not be returning.

Remy’s vision blurred with tears as he read her final words: “I have sacrificed everything to get justice for your parents. Though I will not be beside you, know that I will continue to watch over you, my dearest Remy. But one final piece of advice from your grandmother…Forget Isabella because if she hurts you again, then I will punish her even if I have to come back as a ghost. You deserve only the best.”

The note slipped from his fingers, fluttering to the floor as Remy collapsed to his knees, overcome with a torrent of emotions. The woman who had been his rock and his guiding light had departed, leaving him with a tangled legacy of love, vengeance, and loss.

In that quiet room, Remy mourned the end of an era and the beginning of a future shaped by the sacrifices of those he loved most.

*Ring!*

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, pulling Remy from his grief.

He wiped the tears from his eyes and opened the door, not expecting to see Isabella standing there. A complicated mix of emotions flooded him, as she was his childhood friend and the girl he had long harbored a crush on.

But thinking about the recent events that happened with her, he wasn’t exactly feeling the same anymore.

Remy stepped out into the corridor, his eyes guarded as he asked, “Isabella, what brings you here?”

Her eyes were wide and filled with concern. “Remy, have you heard the news? About Tristan and his father?”

He nodded slowly, his voice heavy with emotion. “Yes, I know.”

Tears welled up in Isabella’s eyes, and she moved to stand behind Remy. “I’m so sorry, Remy. I had no idea they could be so evil,” she choked out, her voice trembling. “And I’m sorry I didn’t believe you that day. Are you doing alright? This must be very hard for you to take.”

Remy swallowed hard, memories of their argument still fresh in his mind. “I’m fine, Isabella. Don’t blame yourself. You couldn’t have known.”

But Isabella stepped around him, determined to meet his gaze. “You knew, Remy. But I didn’t believe you. I was so confused when both of you were blaming each other… Can you ever forgive me?”

He looked at her for a few moments, his eyes searching hers. Finally, in a low, sad voice, he said, “I forgive you, Isabella. But I am leaving this place for good. I may never come back,” Remy inwardly already decided to join the Hunter Academy and pursue his dreams just like his grandmother would have wanted.

For the first time, he was free, and there was nobody to stand in his way.

It was now up to him to bring the Eleanor Family back to its glory. At least that way, he could make his parents and grandmother proud.

Shock and sadness registered on Isabella’s face, “Will you…at least keep in touch, Remy?”

He sighed, a pained expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Isabella. I don’t think I can do that.”

Isabella’s lips pressed together, understanding the unspoken reason behind his decision. She didn’t feel she had the right to ask him to change his mind, but the thought of losing him was unbearable, “Is there anything I can do to make things go back to the way they were?” she implored.

Remy shook his head slowly, his voice laced with regret. “Things can never go back to the way they were, Isabella. Not after everything that’s happened,” He then looked at her one last time, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and longing, “I wish you the best of luck in your future. Goodbye, Isabella.”

With that, Remy turned and walked back into his apartment, closing the door behind him. Outside, Isabella stood in the dimly lit corridor, her hand covering her eyes as she tried to stifle her sobs, the weight of her regrets heavy upon her heart.

…

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the half-deserted town as Grace carefully made her way through the desolate streets. In her arms, she cradled the doll that housed Asher’s spirit.

As they approached an inconspicuous building, Asher couldn’t help but ask, “Grace, what are we doing here?”

She chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “We need a hideout, dear. A base of operations, if you will. I can’t exactly live like a normal person anymore, nor can any of your future cult members.”

The building they approached was an old, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the town. Its crumbling walls and rusted metal doors bore the scars of time and neglect. Yet, as Grace pushed open the heavy door, the interior revealed a stark contrast to the dilapidated exterior.

Inside the warehouse, the space had been ingeniously transformed into a hidden underground lair. A large metal hatch in the floor led down to a dimly lit subterranean chamber.

He was surprised some lights were still working.

The walls were lined with various magical artifacts and books, and the air buzzed with an energy that spoke of the powerful forces at work within this secret refuge.

“How the hell do you know this place, and what’s the guarantee nobody else is going to intrude?” Asher asked as he scanned the interiors.

Grace smirked and said, “That’s the last thing you have to worry about since this warehouse belongs to my family. It was abandoned when we lost our wealth and power. However, it was already installed with enough safeguards to keep away those who have no business to be here. I also doubt anybody with some kind of power would bother to wander into this town. This is almost like a ghost town these days.”

Asher felt it was a good thing Grace had this place. At least it would be quite useful to have a place to run his cult.𝗈𝑣𝗅xt.𝐜𝚘𝓜

“That’s all good, but does this place have wifi?” he inquired. Grace chuckled at his question, finding it a bit peculiar, “Is that why you asked me to bring a laptop? You are quite the odd demon, aren’t you?” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Asher responded offhandedly, “No need to sniff around it.”

Grace smirked, casually replying, “I was only being curious. I’m not the type to pry into other people’s secrets.”

She then changed the subject by reminding him, “I have to first show you something, as I mentioned earlier.”

Asher raised his brows and asked, “So the hideout wasn’t the only thing you wanted to show me?

Intrigued, Asher paid close attention as Grace led him deeper into the hideout. The dim light flickered off the walls, casting eerie shadows around them as they made their way through the mysterious underground lair. Their footsteps echoed softly, adding to the suspense that built with each step they took.

As they reached the far end of the hideout, Grace gestured towards a heavy wooden door, half-hidden in the shadows. “This is it,” she announced, her voice filled with a sense of importance. With a creak, the door swung open, revealing a dusty, cobweb-filled cellar.

As Asher stepped into the cellar, his brows raised as he was surprised by what he saw.

Huddled together in one corner of the room were two young, pretty girls, their age looking around 17 or so.

The two of them sat side by side. The first girl, with her sharp features and fierce expression, had a bob haircut that framed her face perfectly and a huge bust that rested on her slim frame.

Her black eyes, though filled with fear, held a glint of determination and seemed protective of the other.

The second girl had a more demure and gentle demeanor. Her long, flowing black hair cascaded down her back, softening her features and giving her an air of vulnerability.

Her black eyes were large and filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension, making her seem like a cute flower. Her body frame was slender, accompanied by a medium bust.

However, despite her delicate appearance, there was an underlying strength in her eyes that remained firm.

Together, the girls seemed to be an inseparable pair, holding on to each other.

Their clothes were tattered, and their pretty faces were smeared with dirt, a testament to the dire conditions they had been subjected to. Their eyes, wide with fear, were fixed on the possessed doll, and their bodies trembled with anxiety.

They hugged their legs close to their chests, as if attempting to protect themselves from some unseen threat. Their feet nervously scraped against the dusty floor, kicking up small clouds of grime as they instinctively tried to inch away from the possessed doll.

The sound of their movements echoed through the otherwise silent cellar, amplifying the tension that hung thick in the air.

The girls’ vulnerability was palpable, and it was clear that they had been through a harrowing ordeal.

Asher glanced at Grace, searching for an explanation, “Is this supposed to mean something?”