---
The night air was cool, carrying a subtle chill that clung to Emily's skin as she stood face to face with Abigail. The tension between them crackled like static, and Abigail's appearance only heightened Emily's unease. She wore all black—tight-fitted jeans and a sleek leather jacket, her long brunette hair flowing effortlessly over her shoulders. Her look was almost cinematic, like a villain from the dark thrillers Emily used to watch. She was undeniably stunning, but there was something about the cold confidence in Abigail's eyes that made Emily's stomach churn.
"What do you want from me?" Emily's voice cracked under the weight of her frustration. "Haven't you done enough?"
Abigail responded with a low, mocking chuckle. "Keep shouting, Emily," she said, her voice dripping with amusement, "let the whole world know we're partners in crime."
Emily's heart lurched. Partners in crime? The very thought made her recoil in horror. She shook her head, glaring at Abigail. "Partners? I had no idea what I was doing!" she shouted, her hands trembling with fury. "You deceived me, Abi. Why did you do that?"
Abigail's smirk faded, her expression darkening as she took a step closer. Before Emily could react, Abigail's hand moved swiftly, cupping Emily's cheek with surprising gentleness. The sudden touch stunned Emily, silencing her abruptly.
"You may never believe it," Abigail said quietly, her voice softening in an almost tender way. "But I like you, Emily. I see myself in you—a girl trapped in a world ruled by men. Evil men who will do whatever it takes to control us. What you did, Emily, isn't something to be ashamed of. And by the way, Catherine didn't die. She's alive."
Emily blinked, her throat tightening. Sniffles escaped her as tears welled up in her eyes. Abigail, of all people, reached out and wiped away the tears, her fingertips warm against Emily's skin.
"You were abused," Abigail continued, her voice now laced with an intensity Emily had never heard before. "Not just by your parents, but by your so-called brother. Didn't you tell me how your mother starved you? How your brother… ruined you? All because of Lucinda?"
Emily could barely process Abigail's words. She felt like the ground beneath her was giving way, like she was drowning in a sea of painful memories and guilt. Abigail was crying now, her icy exterior cracking to reveal something raw and broken. Emily's mind reeled. How could Abigail, someone she had feared and despised, show such vulnerability?
"I was just a little girl," Abigail began, her voice trembling. "Nine years old. And my father… he hated me. All because I wasn't a boy."
Emily stared at her, unable to speak. Abigail's confession tumbled out, the words laced with pain and bitterness.
"My dad always wanted a son, but instead, he got me. A disappointment," Abigail spat, her eyes darkening. "He beat me. He beat my mother. He despised us. And after he made his money, he abandoned us for a maid. A maid, Emily! He left us for that woman, who gave him the son he always wanted."
Emily's heart ached as she listened. Abigail's voice broke, the pain in her eyes deepening as she continued.
"When my mother got sick, I went to him. I begged him for help. She was all I had, but he didn't even look at me. He threw me away like garbage. And that night… that night, I was raped. Four men. They took everything from me. My innocence. My dignity. Everything."
Abigail's hands clenched into fists, her voice shaking with rage. "And my mother died shortly after. I vowed that night, Emily, that I would destroy everyone who made me this way. I'll crush them, every single one of them, and I'll make sure women matter in this society."
Emily felt tears streaming down her face, her heart breaking for Abigail. How could people be so cruel? She had been only nine, a child. Emily cried, too, her sobs mixing with Abigail's as they embraced each other, their shared pain binding them together in that moment.
"You know, Catherine's injury wasn't your fault," Abigail whispered, pulling back slightly to look into Emily's eyes. "You wanted your parents' love. You thought… you thought getting rid of Cathy would make them love you more. It wasn't your fault."
Emily shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it doesn't change what I did, Abi. I wished my best friend dead. I wished Lucinda dead out of jealousy. I almost killed Lamia, if not for Damian…" She let out a shaky breath. "I'm a beast."
Abigail's arms wrapped around her again, her touch gentle, almost sisterly. "You're not a beast, Emily. You're human. You made mistakes, but that doesn't define who you are."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Emily allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't beyond redemption.
"Why didn't you tell Slyvia all of this?" Abigail asked softly.
Emily's face twisted with pain. "She wouldn't understand. If she knew I tried to kill Lucinda and Cathy, or that I let Michael go when he was tied to the pillar… she'd hate me forever. I can't lose her, Abi. I've already lost Hadrain."
Abigail sighed, shaking her head. "Don't worry, Emily. You've got me. I've got your back. But remember what I told you—don't let anyone know we're close. I'll pretend to bully you if I have to. I don't want anyone to suspect anything."
Emily gave a small, grateful smile. Abigail was right. No matter how twisted things had become, she still had someone who cared. "Thank you," she whispered.
"And remember," Abigail added with a smirk, "you're beautiful just the way you are. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Emily's heart warmed, but the moment was cut short as Abigail's expression darkened once again. She turned away, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone.
"I have to destroy them, Emily," Abigail said, her fists clenched. "Ruth, her children Joakim and Alexa, and my father. They will all pay."
Emily hesitated, her voice soft. "Please, Abi… you don't have to destroy them."
But Abigail's resolve was unshakable. "I do. I'll show them the power of a woman." She took a step back, her tone final. "Go back to your lodge, Emily. Sleep tight. Goodnight."
Emily whispered a soft "Goodnight" as she watched Abigail walk away, disappearing into the shadows. She stood there for a moment, her mind racing with the revelations of the night, before finally turning to head back to her lodge.
---
As Emily approached the corner of her lodge, a figure lunged out of the darkness. The moonlight revealed a face she knew all too well—Alexa.
"Not again," Emily groaned, pushing the crazed girl away. But Alexa wasn't done. She lunged again, this time brandishing a dagger, her eyes wild with fury.
Emily and Alexa clashed violently. The dagger sliced into Emily's hands as she struggled to defend herself, but she fought back with all the strength she could muster. She kicked the dagger away, but Alexa was relentless. She grabbed Emily by the hair and slammed her face against a nearby pillar.
Pain exploded in Emily's skull as she screamed, blood pouring from her forehead. Alexa's voice was a vicious snarl as she smashed Emily's head against the pillar again and again.
"That's for stealing my man!" Alexa screamed, her voice filled with hatred. "I hate you, Emily! Die! Die!"
Desperation surged through Emily's veins. Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she pushed Alexa away with a powerful kick. Alexa stumbled back, losing her balance. She teetered on the edge of the upper floor, her eyes wide with shock, before falling. The sickening crack of her skull hitting the marble floor echoed in the night.
Emily stood frozen, gasping for breath, her body trembling. The moonlight bathed the scene in an eerie glow, casting long shadows over Alexa's lifeless body below.
Her hands shook as she wiped the blood from her face. The reality of what had just happened settled in like a heavy weight on her chest.
Alexa was dead. And Emily… she had survived.
And she realized the implications she had just killed the leader of the black dragons and now she was doomed..