CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I got home and went straight to the bathroom to take a long, hot shower. Afterward, I grabbed a mop and cleaned my room, making sure to erase all traces of the blood that had dripped from my body—just in case my nosy mother started asking questions.

Once satisfied, I walked over to my wardrobe, changed into casual clothes, and teleported back to the desert where Raiden's lifeless body still lay. As soon as I arrived, Velvet appeared.

"You don't have to do all this, Rockie," she said softly.

I turned to her, my face void of emotion. "You have people you want to kill, don't you? Well, so do I."

Without another word, I grabbed Raiden's severed head, teleported into Diana's house, and hid it inside her closet before disappearing again.

A Few Weeks Later

The news flashed on TV—Diana had been arrested for the murder of Raiden. The evidence was stacked against her, and she had been sentenced to juvenile prison. Once she turned eighteen, she'd face life imprisonment.

I smirked, turning off the television.

"You called me 'Rocks,' didn't you, Diana? Well… this geek rock is cooking up revenge, and you just had your first taste."

I leaned back against the couch, my mind calculating my next move. Two down. Three to go.

The Plan for Rafaal

I sat in my room, piecing together ideas on how to take Rafaal down. Then, Kyle's face flashed in my mind. Should I teach him a lesson? Or let him go? He had played me, used me, and tossed me aside like I was nothing. Was that enough to earn him a spot on my revenge list?

A Few Weeks Later

I arrived at school and acted as if nothing had changed. The entire student body was buzzing with gossip about Diana. Some said she had used Raiden for rituals. Others whispered about how she had always been shady. I kept my expressions neutral, listening without reacting.

During lunch, I spotted Kyle sitting alone in the cafeteria. I decided to approach him.

"Hey," I greeted casually.

He didn't even look at me. Instead, he stood up and walked away.

Ouch. That was rude.

I let out a small sigh, brushing it off as I returned home. As soon as I stepped into my room, I threw myself onto the bed. My life had shifted so drastically—from being a nobody to becoming a warrior.

A Few Months Later

I had been trying to reach Kyle for days, but his phone had been switched off. Something felt wrong. Maybe I still had feelings for him, and that's why I cared. Or maybe it was just my paranoia.

Determined to find out, I dressed up and stood in front of my mirror. Suddenly, Rafaal's sinister face appeared in the reflection.

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want this time?" I asked in an irritated tone.

"I should be asking you that," he sneered. "Do you think killing Raiden would stop me?"

I clenched my fists. "Yes, I do. And you can't stop me!"

He chuckled darkly. "Oh, I know exactly how to stop you."

"And how is that?" I challenged.

"Your weakness," he whispered. "Kyle."

And with that, he disappeared.

My heart stopped. Kyle.

That's why I hadn't been able to reach him. Something was wrong.

I grabbed my phone, dialing his number again and again—nothing.

"Please pick up," I whispered, pacing my room.

No answer.

Panic surged through me. I had to go to his house.

I drove there as fast as I could and rang the doorbell. The gate opened automatically, and the housekeeper gestured for me to come inside.

I sat down in the living room, waiting. A woman soon entered and took a seat beside me.

"May I help you, my child?" she asked politely.

I swallowed hard. "I'm here to see Kyle. He wasn't in church today, and he hasn't been answering or returning my calls. I was wondering if he's okay."

Her expression remained calm. "You must be mistaken, dear. I have no child named Kyle. In fact, I don't have a son."

My stomach twisted. "What?"

Was this some kind of joke?

She continued, "I have only three daughters."

"But… but Kyle has three sisters. You are his mother."

I stared at her in shock. Why was she lying?

"Mother, please… you know me," I whispered, my voice breaking.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, my child. Who are you?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Mom, it's me—Rockie! Kyle and I were close. I used to visit you all the time. Please tell me where he is. You have to help me!"

I was crying now, my chest aching.

She sighed. "I'm sorry, my child. I don't know who you are. Please leave."

"No! No, no, no! You can't do this! You can't say this! Please, I can't lose Kyle!"

She turned toward the security guards. "Take her away. She's lost her mind."

Two armed men entered the living room, grabbing me by the arms.

"No! You can't do this, Mom! Please!" I screamed, struggling against them.

She stood firm. "I'm not your mother. And don't ever come back here again."

The guards dragged me outside and threw me down in front of my car.

I pounded my fists against the ground, shaking with rage and heartbreak. "No, no, no!"

I climbed into my car and slammed the door shut.

"This can't be happening. Rafaal can't take him. He just can't!"

Tears streamed down my face.

"Yes, I wanted revenge on Kyle, but not like this. Not like this."

I gritted my teeth, staring at my reflection in the rearview mirror.

"Rafaal, if anything happens to Kyle, you will suffer at my hands. You think I've been cruel? You haven't seen anything yet."

I drove back home, my mind clouded with anger and despair.

As I climbed the stairs, my mother called out. "Rockie! Where are you coming from?"

"I'm not in the mood for questions," I muttered, pushing my bedroom door open.

Velvet appeared, her expression filled with concern. "What's wrong? You look… unhappy."

I let out a dry laugh. "Unhappy?"

I laughed again—only this time, there was no humor in it.

"You have no idea."

Unhappy? That's an understatement, Velvet… I'm in pain! Can't you see?!

I cried, my voice breaking.

Velvet remained silent, her gaze filled with concern, but before she could say anything, my mom entered the room. Velvet disappeared instantly, and I wiped my tears, trying to compose myself.

"What's wrong, honey bear? Ever since church ended today, you've been acting different. You were fine just yesterday. Is something the matter?"

Mom's voice was soft and soothing, but I could barely process it.

"Mom… can I ask you something?"

"Of course, honey bear."

I hesitated, my heart pounding.

"Do you remember Kyle? The one who came here for Christmas dinner?"

Mom furrowed her brows.

"Kyle? Who's that? No one came here for Christmas dinner, sweetheart. It was just me, you, your father, and your aunt with her kids."

My stomach twisted.

"No, Mom… I know what I'm saying! Everyone thinks I'm insane, but I know Kyle! Are you all playing tricks on me or what? You're acting like he never existed!"

Mom sighed, shaking her head.

"You need to rest, darling. You're stressed."

She hugged me before leaving the room.

I stared at the door as it closed.

She really thinks I'm insane… doesn't she?

I whispered to myself.

Velvet reappeared.

"You really love Kyle, don't you?"

I shot her an annoyed look, but she ignored it.

"I can show you where he is."

My eyes widened.

"You can? Please! Please, Velvet, show me where he is!"

I pleaded desperately.

She stepped toward me and pressed her index finger against my forehead.

I closed my eyes, waiting… but saw nothing.

"What now?" I asked, confused.

"You'll see what you need to see in your dreams tonight."

Then she vanished.

Not wanting to wait any longer, I climbed into bed, pulling the covers over myself. Anxiety churned in my stomach.

And then I dreamed.

Kyle was tied up with a magic rope, struggling. Rafaal stood over him, chanting an incantation.

He was about to erase Kyle from existence.

"NOOOOOO!"

I woke up with a gasp, drenched in sweat.

"Rafaal, you won't succeed this time."

I whispered, clenching my fists.

I met with Raya and the others to discuss a plan to save Kyle. They agreed, just as they always did. It felt as though I was their leader now.

Together, we teleported to Rafaal's lair.

We arrived just in time.

Rafaal was mid-chant, his voice dark and menacing.

"Not so fast, Rafaal!" I called out.

Without hesitation, I summoned my sword and plunged it into his chest. He fell to the floor.

For a moment, I stared at his body, my mind racing.

Was it really this easy? Was he truly dead?

No.

If it were this simple, then why had no one succeeded before?

Laughter filled the air.

"Did you really think you could kill me that easily?"

Rafaal rose to his feet, smirking.

"No man-made weapon can end me!"

Dark energy surged around him. He was growing stronger.

Suzan's voice was frantic.

"Every time Rafaal is killed with a man-made weapon, he becomes more powerful!"

I turned to her, furious.

"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO TELL ME THAT EARLIER?!"

Before she could respond, dark magic wrapped around us, binding us.

Rafaal finished his incantation.

Kyle screamed.

Then… he vanished.

Kyle was wiped from the earth.

"No… not Kyle… not him."

Tears streamed down my face as I cried out in agony.

A blinding light flashed, and suddenly, I woke up in my bed.

"Kyle! Kyle! KYLE!!!"

I screamed, my voice hoarse.

Velvet appeared again, her expression serious.

"You have to find the Sword of Time, Rockie. Don't let this break you."

"The Sword of Time?"

She nodded.

"It's the only weapon capable of killing magical beings. It won't just destroy Rafaal—it will erase him and stop the killings once and for all."

She stepped closer, her eyes softening.

"Rockie… be the good girl you've always been. Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let them know…"

Then she disappeared.

I wiped my tears, exhaling shakily.

I knew what I had to do.

I stood up, determination surging through me.

"I'm coming for you, Rafaal."

Then, I teleported.