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Chapter 68 - The Visions Of The Enemy

The mistress leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with malice and amusement. She seemed to enjoy playing with Casey's emotions, toying with her insecurities and fears.

She whispered, "I mean, maybe he's not your mate at all. Maybe he's just using you for his own purposes. Maybe he's lying to you, deceiving you, betraying you. Maybe he doesn't love you as much as you love him. Maybe he doesn't love you at all."

Casey felt a surge of anger and pain, mixed with a hint of confusion and disbelief. She wanted to deny the mistress's words, to defend Aricen's honour and loyalty, to prove her love and trust.

But she also felt a nagging doubt, a tiny voice that asked: What if she's right? What if Aricen is not who he seems to be? What if he has a hidden agenda, a dark secret, a sinister plan?

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts and focus on her mission. She remembered why she was here, what she had learned from the Nexus, what she had to do.

She remembered that she had a powerful ally by her side, Merl, who had helped her through this ordeal, who had shared her vision and goal, who had supported her and cared for her.

She glanced at Merl, who nodded at her with a reassuring smile. He seemed to sense her turmoil and offered his strength and comfort. He seemed to trust her and believe in her. He seemed to be her true friend.

She gathered her courage and spoke with conviction, "You're wrong. You're the one who's lying, hiding, betraying. You're the one who uses people for your own purposes. You're the one who doesn't love anyone but yourself."

She opened her mouth and spoke with a clear and steady voice. She told her everything she had seen from the Nexus, using the words and symbols that had filled her mind. She told her about the smuggling ring's operations, the hidden passages, the secret meeting places, and the coded messages.

She told her about the other domains that were involved, the alliances and rivalries, the plots and betrayals. She told her about the shadow essence that was being traded, the source and the destination, the purpose and danger.

She paused for a moment, gathering her courage for the final revelation. She looked at the mistress in the eye and said, "And I saw you. I saw you in the nexus, in the visions. I saw you as the leader of this ring, as the mastermind of this scheme. I saw you as the enemy of this realm, as the traitor of this cause. I saw you as the one who's playing with shadows, hiding in darkness, betraying your own kind. I saw you as the one who exploited people for your own gain. I saw you as the one who doesn't care about anyone but yourself."

She expected the mistress to react with anger or denial, to lash out at her or try to defend herself. But instead, the mistress smiled a cold and cruel smile that chilled Casey to the bone.

She said, "Oh, Casey, you're so naive. You think you know everything, but you know nothing. You think you've seen everything, but you've seen nothing. You think you've done everything, but you've done nothing."

She reached for a lever on the side of her throne and pulled it. A hidden door opened behind her, revealing a dark and ominous room.

She said, "Come with me, Casey. Let me show you the truth. Let me show you what I've been hiding. Let me show you what I've been using. Let me show you what I've been loving."

She got up from her throne and walked towards the door, beckoning Casey and Merl to follow her.

They hesitated, unsure of what to do. They felt a mix of curiosity and fear, of hope and dread, of courage and caution.

They looked at each other, searching for a sign of agreement or disagreement.

They decided to follow the mistress, hoping to find answers and justice.

They didn't know that it was a trap.

They didn't know that it was a mistake.

They didn't know that it was the end.