the curse

Chapter 25: "The Curse of the Inner Demon"

Eden's grin faltered as he faced Priestess Diana's wrath. He felt a shiver run down his spine, but his reckless determination propelled him forward. With a deep breath, he unleashed his powers, and the temple erupted into flames.

Diana's anger was palpable, her eyes blazing with fury. "Why would you two demigods desecrate my temple?" she thundered.

Eden's smile returned, but it was laced with defiance. "Why not?" he taunted.

Diana's expression twisted in rage. "You will pay for your transgression," she spat. "Your inner demon will consume you, piece by piece, until you find your soulmate."

As she spoke, Diana's hands weaved intricate patterns, and a dark energy enveloped Eden. He felt an unfamiliar presence stir within him, a presence that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.

But the curse didn't stop there. Diana's eyes locked onto Adam, and her voice dripped with malice. "And to activate the curse, you will kill your dear brother."

Eden's eyes widened in horror as he felt an irresistible force take hold of him. His hands moved of their own accord, grasping Adam's head and twisting it with a sickening crunch.

The sound of Adam's neck snapping echoed through the night air, and Eden's world shattered. He stumbled backward, his eyes fixed on Adam's lifeless body.

A scream tore from his throat as he realized what he had done. He cradled Adam's head in his lap, tears streaming down his face. "No, no, no...what have I done?"

Olivia's anguished wails echoed through the temple grounds as she discovered the carnage. She wept uncontrollably, her heart shattered into a million pieces.

Eden's gaze met Olivia's, and he saw the horror and sadness reflected back at him. He knew he couldn't blame Diana alone; he had been the one to take Adam's life.

From that day forward, Eden's personality underwent a drastic transformation. He became emotionless, stoic, and icy, a shell of his former self. The curse had awakened a monster within him, a monster that would haunt him for eternity.