The disclaimer below applies to all chapters:
THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK IN THE TRILOGY. The link to the first, Out of the Darkness, can be found on my profile. Both my partner (StrangeMindEnigma) and I are not responsible for the hot mess known as Winx Club, excluding original characters, certain locations, and more presented in this storyline. We are also not responsible for any injuries, illnesses, and/or deaths caused by reading this book. Now, please enjoy, review, and proceed with caution.
Prologue
It wasn't him. It looked like him and talked like him, but she knew: this man was a stranger
There was no twinkle in his eye. There were no worry lines or stubble left on his chin. There was nothing. Just a blank expression on his face.
Adrenaline surged through her. She had to get away. Run. But her feet were weights and she was in water. All she could do was watch.
The body count was climbing higher and higher as the ground was soaked in crimson. Its salty tang must have reached out in miles. The cries of the dying filled the silence of the dead. The fire crackled as the remains fluttered in the frail wind.
In the middle of the wreckage, he stood. Blood covered him, but he wasn't the owner. His hand was wrapped around a merchant's collar and he dragged the man like a useless sack, paying no heed to the victim's feeble struggle. His eyes were on her only as he stepped back into the dark. Back to where he told her to keep watch.
She was trembling when he dropped him at her feet with a careless thunk! The man winced, eyes regarding her with fear.
She flinched when a weight was pressed into her hand, handle sticky. She gingerly ran her finger on the blade, rusty but still sharp.
She froze when he told her to slit the man's throat.
Her voice was barely above a whisper when she said, "No."
He asked her again, firmer this still refused.
This couldn't be right. He should know this couldn't be right. He would never ask her to do this, but still he pressed on.
He told her it was an easy job, nothing much. That all it took was a flick from the wrist. He coaxed her in a cool yet firm tone, saying this was a test. A quiz she could easily pass. She could get sweet rewards, he said. They could stay siblings forever.
No.
No.
No!
Her eyes were wide. She shook her head. She dropped the dagger. Her only answer was that word.
He was growing impatient. He was getting loud. He started to yell.
She clamped her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut. She was shouting too. But only…
No!
Something yanked her hands down to her sides, binding them behind her back with flesh.
No!
He grabbed her shoulder tightly with his other hand.
No!
His fingernails dug into her skin.
He shook her hard, screaming at her face. Telling her she was being naive. Insisting she was useless. Proclaiming she was pathetic.
She started to cry. She couldn't help it. She wanted to go back.
Back to the times where they were smiling.
Back to the times where they were laughing.
Back to the times where they were happy, even though they never had much.
But most of all, she wanted him back. The real him. The real him wouldn't look so lifeless. The real him wouldn't be so cruel.
The real him wouldn't kill.
He shoved her to the ground. The tears were still rolling down her cheeks. Snot was dripping out of her nose. She felt so small before him. She heard a squelch. She felt droplets splashing onto her feet. She sat upright.
He had the knife now. He was plunging it into the man's throat. His face contorted and he changed into a monster. He cursed aloud that he had to do this himself.
Finally, something inside her clicked. Her feet weren't just weights anymore.
He didn't notice when she stood. He didn't see her take off. She was gone by the time he looked up.
She thought she left him for good. That she'd never return to that place.
But now, Rilei was back.
