Ever since our friends found themselves in the underworld, I can't find a place. I'm circling the castle, no longer intending to attend the welcome dinner that Abaddon has prepared for them.
I need solitude.
Walking down the corridor, I once again reflect on the words of the prophecy. I am disturbed by the appearance of Irene, who is undoubtedly the woman Abaddon's subjects have been waiting for. She is the one who will annihilate me in the near future, becoming the Queen of the Underworld.
How will this happen? I have no clue, but for the moment Irene is much more powerful than me. If I don't get my soul back from my previous life, I am without a chance.
I stop in front of the painting, which immortalizes my bathing in the blood of the victims. I stare at it for a long moment, paying special attention to the haughty gaze.
With such power, can I really have the whole world at my feet? Never to suffer again, never to be a naive idiot, cheated by someone?
Being Mania, I treated Seth like a toy. By becoming her, can I do it again, playing off what Thomas did to me?
I cross my arms over my chest and lean my back against the wall. I continue to observe the painting, wondering how I can recover my soul from my previous life?
- I've been looking everywhere for you, Jennie. - I look to the side when Victor's voice reaches my ears. I walk towards him, not wanting him to see this image just now. - Why are you standing here alone?
- I needed a moment of peace to think about something.
The demon forces a smile.
- Is it because of Thomas?
- Let's say.
- Our relationship no longer looks the same as before, and yet I still try to be friends with him. It's funny that this was spoiled by going to bed with his sister.
I put my hand on his shoulder, patting him comfortingly.
- You lost your head to the wrong person. Does she at least have any feelings towards you?
- I'm stuck in a friend zone all the time," he claims, which causes indignation in me. - You didn't love me either. Am I wrong?
I make an epileptic face like a child.
- Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time together, and you are suffering because of Lisa.
Victor puts his arm around me, trying to alleviate the situation.
- You are right. I shouldn't compare you guys.
I snort under my breath, to which he bursts into loud laughter.
- Should we go back for dinner? - he suggests.
- I would rather not see Thomas, Irene's presence doesn't satisfy me either, and besides, it's painful to see Lisa ignoring me. So ... Go alone if you like.
The demon stands in front of me, and embraces my hands. I look at him with puzzled eyes, as I notice the concern on his face.
- For me, it is painful to see our friendship crumbling. I would like to go back to that time when we lived in the human world, we fooled around every day, and Abaddon was Andy, who drank alcohol and chastised us for bad behavior. I miss that.
- So do I, Victor. However, this carefree time will not return, and soon everything will change around us. Get ready for us to be stuck in hell. Our friendship will no longer be the same.
- What do you mean, Jennie? - The boy crinkles his eyebrows, looking confused.
- This is the place where I, Thomas, and Lisa will regain the scraps of soul from their previous lives. We will no longer be your friends, so everything will change. Don't feel sorry if one day I start being a cruel bitch towards you. Be aware then that Jennie is no longer there.
I smile slightly at him, then slide my hands out of his grasp and walk away. I don't have to turn around to know that he is watching me until I disappear from his sight.
Victor needs to prepare before the changes come.
*
The chamber is the first place Abaddon will come to forcibly take me to dinner, so I avoid this room by a wide margin. I prefer to roam around the castle, and visit places I haven't been before.
This is how I get to the cellar. How happy I am when I find the wine cellar. I unscrew one of the bottles, and sit down on the floor, intending to console myself with alcohol.
I am nailed down. With each passing day, my feelings get darker and darker. Nothing can make me happy, maybe a bit of the wine I'm just sipping from the bottle.
I close my eyelids, and it is just a moment when I shed tears.
I would give so much to go back to the time when I was an ordinary teenager who let myself go crazy every day and had to listen to my parents' screams. I miss the moments I carelessly spent with Victor, playing until I dropped.
I miss it a lot.
Lonely tears turn into a torrent of tears, and I lower my head, unable to calm down.
- Crying is for the weak. You are not like that.
I lift my face, and look at the metal door, which is located in the wine cellar. It is from there that a mysterious voice comes to me.
Holding the bottle in my hand, I rise from the floor, with the top of my hand rubbing my face wet with tears. I walk toward the door, curious to see what is in there.
Did Abaddon trap anyone there?
I grab the handle and try to get into the secret place, but it is slammed shut.
- Don't give up. Help me get out of here, you are my only hope. - Again I hear the same voice coming from behind the door.
- Who are you?
- One of the souls who are suffering.
- Why are you trapped there?
- Abaddon himself does not know of my presence here. If you don't help me, no one else will.
I furrow my eyebrows, wondering how this is possible?
- You're lying. It was Abaddon who locked you in here, wasn't it?
- No, I hid here for hundreds of years. This is how I tried to protect myself when there was a fight, and now I can't get out of here. Many have tried to kill me because I can merge my soul with my body. For enemies, I am dangerous.
There is a light in my head. After all, it is thanks to her that I can regain the lost piece of my soul, which will help me understand the past.
- So, can you please help me?
- Yes, Mania.
She knows who I am.
Chills run through my body as I put my hands on the doorknob. I close my eyelids, and attempt to focus on the thought of the power appearing, and opening the door. I am a "Faerie," so nothing is impossible for me.
For once, I need to make myself useful for something.
My intense imaginings of seeing the door open work, as a white light comes out of my hand and hits the hinges, making them weak. The door swings open, and I peek inside uncertainly, afraid of what I will actually see there.
I open my eyes wider as a beautiful woman stands in front of me, smiling serenely at me. She has long brown hair, and blue eyes. Her complexion is snow-white, and her lips are blood-red.
- My Queen," she turns to me, bowing respectfully. - Thank you.
- Did you really stay here for hundreds of years?
She lifts the corners of her mouth upward, still standing with her head lowered.
- Yes, Queen, and in return for your help I will repay you, after which I will disappear from this place, seeking a safe haven. However, please keep it to yourself that I am still alive. It will be better if no one finds out about this, especially the King.
- I promise to keep it to myself.
I watch her as she takes the bottle of open wine, I have consumed so far, in her hand, and pours into it the mysterious white powder, that is produced when she rubs her fingers together.
- What are you doing? - I ask curiously.
- One sip is enough for a lost piece of your soul to find your body and live in it. The decision is yours, Queen.
She hands me the bottle, bows respectfully, then walks away. She heads up the stairs, and looks carefully around before stepping out into the hallway.
I, on the other hand, focus my attention on the bottle that contains the white powder.
Can I really trust her?
- He who does not risk, has nothing.
I run up the stairs and walk hurriedly down the corridor, wondering if I should do it already.
- Once a goat's death," I say quietly, then take a deep breath. I put the bottle to my lips, and then took a solid sip from it.
- I already know where you died. Is it nice to drink alcohol like that without company? - I'm unable to respond, because this idiot Victor is so quick to snatch the bottle from my hand, and also drink wine from it. I have no idea if it can harm him in any way, but even more disturbing is the fact that he is not alone. He is accompanied by Thomas, who also tastes alcohol, and Lisa, who walks around groggy all the time.
- Excellent," Tom declares, handing the bottle to his sister. - Have a drink. Maybe it will at least make you feel a little better.
I am helpless as I watch them take turns drinking wine with the mysterious powder.
Thomas I will not feel sorry for, but if something happens to Victor or Lisa....
I can't stand it and beat the guys on the head, looking at them with a frantic gaze.
- Didn't anyone teach you that you don't snatch anything out of your hand? If you want alcohol, go to a wine bar, you spuds!
- They are our guests, so it is inappropriate to frequent them without our knowledge.
Abaddon is heading in our direction at Irene's side. Now I know why Lisa is in such a mood.
I smash the bottle on the floor, not wanting anyone else to drink it.
- What a character," mutters Abaddon. - Nevertheless, I am sorry that you and I did not greet our guests at dinner. You left a few minutes after the meal began.
- It is enough that you accommodate them well," I reply.
The man lowers his gaze and looks at the broken bottle.
- Since you have already found a winery, please respect my alcohol.
- No worries. Your alcohol deserves more respect than a certain person. - Saying this, I look directly at Thomas.
- Do you really want such coldness between us? - Victor looks nailed down. - What on earth is the matter with you guys?
- We are in an underground world, so we try to adapt to the local climate.
I don't understand why I'm so angry today.
- I think, Jennie, that you should go back to the chamber and rest," Abaddon says.
I see a shadow of jealousy pass across Irene's face.
- And so I will. I don't feel like looking at you guys for the moment.
I sweep past them, and head down the corridor toward the chamber I share with Abaddon. Around the bend, I lean with my hand against the wall as I begin to feel oddly dizzy.
Is the mysterious powder starting to work yet?
I squinted my eyes, as I got the impression that, I see a woman heading from the opposite direction. The closer she gets, the more blurry the image becomes.
- Finally home. - I hear a whisper before I lose consciousness.