Count Viktor paced anxiously within the dimly lit, velvet-draped chambers of his castle. The flickering candles cast eerie shadows upon the walls, making his angular face appear even more sinister. The air was heavy with the scent of decay and rot, a reflection of Viktor's own twisted soul.
Finally, Valois, the spy arrived, his eyes downcast as he bowed deeply.
"My lord, I have returned with the information you requested," he stammered, his voice trembling.
Viktor's eyes narrowed, his voice low and menacing. "Speak, then. What news do you bring me?" he growled, his words dripping with venom.
Valois swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "I-I have confirmed that Valentin's castle has been unlocked, my lord. The seal that bound it for so long has been broken."
Viktor's face turned a deep shade of crimson as he slammed his fist upon the nearby table. The sound echoed through the chamber like a crack of thunder.
"How could you let this happen, you too l!" he bellowed, his eyes bulging with rage. "Who dares to defy me so?! I will have their head on a spike, I swear it!"
He stormed across the room, his long coat billowing behind him like a dark cloud. He seized a nearby vase and hurled it against the wall, where it shattered into a hundred pieces. The sound of shattering glass was like music to his ears.
"Valentin thinks he's so superior, doesn't he?" Viktor sneered, his lips curling into a snarl as he began pummeling the poor spy. "With his perfect face and his perfect castle and his perfect life! But I'll show him. I'll show them the all."
Valois cowered, his eyes wide with fear. "P-please, my lord, I had nothing to do with it, I swear. I am but a humble servant, carrying out your will."
Viktor's tantrum showed no signs of abating. He kicked over a nearby chair, sending it crashing to the floor. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the chamber.
"You will find out who did this, and you will bring them before me," Viktor snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. "Do you understand?"
The spy nodded fervently, his eyes shining with tears. "Y-yes, my lord. I will not fail you."
Viktor's gaze lingered on the spy, his eyes burning with an inner fire. "See that you do not," he warned, his voice dripping with malice. "For if you fail me, you will suffer a fate worse than death itself."
The spy's face went pale, and he backed away slowly, bowing deeply. "I will not fail, my lord. I swear it."
Viktor's anger solely gave way to a cold, calculating calm. He smiled to himself, a thin, cruel smile. "Yes, I will have my revenge," he whispered, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "And all the precious things Valentin holds so dear will soon be mine to command."
He turned to the spy, his eyes blazing with fury. "And when I find the person who unlocked the curse, I will kill them myself," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "With my own two hands."
The spy swallowed hard, his eyes wide with fear. "Y-yes, my lord," he stammered, backing away slowly.
Viktor's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "I can hardly wait," he whispered, his voice dripping with anticipation.
Meanwhile,
Back in the castle,
Temitope was humming the "Sub Tuum Praesidium" (Under Your Protection), a Latin hymn of protection, as she unpacked her and her twins' clothes in the wardrobe. The dimly lit room was shrouded in shadows, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden furniture and the soft hum of Temitope's voice.
As she sensed the presence, she quickly grabbed her trusty rosary from her blouse and held it tight, ready to defend herself. But she was too spooked to turn around and face the intruder, so she just stood there, frozen in fear, facing the wardrobe. The air was thick with tension, the shadows on the wall seeming to twist and writhe like living things.
The young man, with an evil presence, sprang at her like a predator.
"You're a long way from home, little one," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and his skin was deathly pale.
But Temitope was not your average human. She had a secret weapon - a fancy spray bottle filled with holy water from Mecca, courtesy of her friend Aisha. The bottle was now adorned with tiny crosses and a picture of the Virgin Mary, and it seemed to glow with a soft, holy light.
As the man pounced, she then whipped out the spray bottle and gave him a face full of holy water.
"Olorun mi, o gba mi o!" (My God, save me!) she shouted, as the man let out a blood-curdling scream.
The sound echoed through the castle, causing the shadows to tremble and the furniture to creak in protest.
The man stumbled backward, clutching at his face.
"Ahh! What the...?!" he exclaimed, as Temitope continued to spray him.
The holy water seemed to burn his skin, causing him to howl in agony.
Temitope, still holding the spray bottle, began to chant a prayer of deliverance in a mix of Latin and Yoruba. "Ave Maria, ore mi o! Olorun mi, o gba mi o!" (Hail Mary, hear my prayer! My God, save me!)
Her voice was loud and clear, ringing out through the castle and causing the shadows to tremble with fear.
As she chanted, she continued to spray the man, chasing him out of the room and down the stairs. The man stumbled and staggered, tripping over his own feet as he desperately tried to escape the holy water. Temitope was hot on his heels, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Ole! Ole!" (Thief! Thief!) Temitope shouted, as she chased after him.
"You wicked spirit, leave this house!"
She waved the spray bottle wildly, causing the holy water to splash everywhere. The man howled in agony as the water burned his skin.
Temitope continued to chase the man down the stairs, her heart pounding with fear and adrenaline. She was determined to protect herself and her family from this evil presence. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Temitope was gaining momentum, ready to take on whatever evil force was before her.
"You're going down, demon!" Temitope shouted, as she sprayed the man with holy water.
The man let out a deafening scream as he stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet. Temitope stood over him, the spray bottle still clutched in her hand.
"It's not over yet, demon!" Temitope shouted, as she prepared to deliver the final blow...