“Damn it!” Ashlee hissed, getting a cut from the knife she was working with. Her mind had been lost in those complicated words of The Devil Mother. The look she gave Ashlee while uttering that prediction was unforgettable.

It looked as if she loathed her. As if she wanted Ashlee to leave these people alone for their own good. As if she wanted Ashlee to end herself before someone else could use her for their own gain.

“Where is your head, Ashlee?” Kyle sighed, his breathing labored. He took her finger and opened the tap, letting the cold, calm water flow over it.

Ashlee’s eyes locked onto him. His expressions and the terrified look on his face spoke volumes. He felt the concern for her deep within his heart. Even if the Devil Mother was right, was Ashlee willing to leave for his safety? Should she leave or not?

“What is wrong, baby? Talk to me. You’ve been acting weird for two days. Now it’s getting really concerning.” Kyle caressed her cheek with his warm hands, letting her melt into his touch.

“I…” Before Ashlee could say anything, the room suddenly started filling with the scent of something burning. They looked around, and the fire had started because Ashlee had put oil in a pan to warm up but forgot to turn it off.

“Shit!” Kyle cursed under his breath. Grabbing Ashlee, he pulled her out of harm’s way. Guards and maids flooded into the room, trying to douse the flames with water.

“It’s all my fault.” Ashlee suddenly remembered the voice in her head when The Devil Mother looked at her with agony in her eyes. She remembered it clearly.

It kept telling her to run. To let it out. To yell. To scream. And, most of all, to take control because she is the most powerful among them all.

“What?” Kyle turned to her, his grip loosening for a moment.

“I need to leave. She was right.” Ashlee muttered, glancing around at the floor.

“What are you talking about? Ashlee, it’s just a fire. It’s alright. It happens. Calm down, okay?” He stepped closer to her, embracing her tightly in his arms.

“You’re fine.” He whispered, holding her close.

“No, Kyle.” A tear rolled down her cheek, “She was right. I never told you anything about it. I… I might be the one who hurts you. I…” She stuttered, getting lost in her own thoughts.

“Stop babbling, sweetie. You can never hurt me. I know.” He cupped her face, giving her a soft, gentle smile, staring deeply into her eyes.

“But you don’t know. If it gets out, it will hurt you, and…” She couldn’t stop, as if The Devil Mother had played with her mind. She kept thinking she would hurt the one she loved the most.

“Ashlee, listen to me. Don’t let it consume your mind. Anything she said isn’t true. You are not misery to us. Not to me or anyone. You are a blessing. The one I don’t deserve, but since I have it, I’m going to protect you with my life.” Kyle’s eyes never wavered, his words firm and certain. She could feel the truth in them. And he could feel her pain, too.

“I love you, alright?” He finished with the only words that could calm her. She nodded and shook her head, pushing those roguish thoughts out of her mind.

“Mother, do you think your spell will work on her?” The intellectual witch, known for her sharp mind, might have a guess about Ashlee’s true identity.

“No, it won’t.” She replied, holding her head high, her eyes fixed on the sky, as calm as the sea.

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“Huh?” The witch was a bit taken aback, “Then shouldn’t we do something?” She asked, growing concerned about the potential consequences.

“No. We don’t need to.” The mother replied, slowly closing her eyes.

“Why not? Isn’t she a threat to the entire underworld?” The witch asked, suspecting Ashlee’s identity from the start.

“Yes, she is. Didn’t you see her eyes?” The mother asked, smiling at the witch.

“What do you mean?” The witch tilted her head, confused. “Did I miss something?” She questioned herself. That can’t be. She never misses anything.

“That fair child. She is holding back. Which means she is capable of controlling the beast inside her. I’m sure Hagatha knows that. That’s why she is playing this role so that the child will eventually give in to her constant attempts.” The mother spoke bluntly, as if it were clear in her mind. As if she could see the future and the worst possible outcome.

“Well then, if Hagatha knows it can harm her, why would she want the beast to come out in the first place?” The witch, known for her intellect, was confused by the older generation’s experience.

“Because she wants it. The fair child has a beast, no doubt, but she also has the ability to control it. Don’t you think that’s a rare combination?” The devil mother smiled, turning back on her path to hunt down Hagatha.

“Now that you say it, it does make sense. Oh, wait.” The witch ran to catch up with the mother’s pace. “It means if Hagatha captures those abilities, she would become even more powerful than any of us.” She had figured it all out.

Ashlee stepped towards the rock in the garden. It faced the town. Even though she couldn’t see it clearly, the stars of the city mattered more to her.

She laid on the rock, pinpointing some stars she used to think of as her father’s guiding light when she was a kid. Now, her mother would be closer to those stars, somewhere.

“Admiring the night sky?” Heather approached with quiet steps, halting near Ashlee.

Ashlee suddenly got startled, “Oh, yeah.” She awkwardly smiled.

“Would you mind if I?” Heather pointed to the empty space near her.

“Oh, no-no. You are more than welcome.” Ashlee said generously, letting her sit beside her.

Both gazed at the sky, sighing and smiling. “You know, when I was a kid, I used to stare at the moon a lot,” Heather muttered, keeping her eyes fixed on the moon.

“Because it’s beautiful?” Ashlee asked, furrowing her brows.

“Because I wanted to be Luna,” Heather replied, sighing again, still staring at the moon. “But now I know, maybe, I’m not just meant to be the one.”

“Huh?” Ashlee was surprised by this sudden confession. “Well… uh… I’d say like my mother. Never underestimate yourself before you fully know who you are.” Ashlee smiled calmly, turning her head toward Heather.

‘This bitch! What does she think she is? Looking at me with those sympathetic eyes! Just wait for the breaking news, you idiot. Let’s see then who will have sympathy for whom.’ Heather smirked to herself internally. She knew exactly why she came here.

“You’re really kind. No wonder Alpha Kyle and everyone else keeps praising you.” Heather grinned. This was the first strike. Make her believe she’s unbelievably amazing, then shatter her hopes.

“Thank you for that, but lately, it occurred to me… maybe that’s not the case.” Ashlee frowned, keeping her eyes on a specific star.

“I don’t think so. You’re incredible. It’s just that Alpha might be a bit reckless sometimes. I know it must’ve hurt you really badly to know he was sleeping around while he had you. But you are still ama…” Heather was cut off by Ashlee.

“What?” Ashlee quickly straightened her back and looked at Heather in disbelief.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You didn’t know?” Heather’s overdramatic abilities had reached their peak. “My stupid mouth!” She gently slapped her mouth, her expression almost comically innocent. Looking at Ashlee’s reaction, it was becoming quite interesting.

“What do you mean, Kyle is sleeping around? With who? What the hell are you talking about?” Ashlee stepped down from the rock. She began to wonder if maybe she shouldn’t have forgiven Heather. Now, she was pulling these tricks. “You know what? Maybe you should stop deceiving people so they can actually come to like you.” Saying that, she turned around to leave.

“I’m not lying. I can prove it.” Heather insisted. Ashlee shook her head and kept walking. “The night before your mother’s funeral, he slept with a girl. Left you alone.” Heather shouted after her, hoping to make Ashlee stop and listen.

Ashlee was stunned to hear that. How did Heather know she had been alone that night? Something didn’t add up. Now, it all sounded fishy.

“That night…” Heather approached Ashlee, her voice laced with insinuation. “He didn’t return to your room, did he?” Heather asked, watching Ashlee’s eyes widen with each word.

“Believe it or not, that’s your choice. But he was with her that night. And from what I’ve heard, they shared a… rather unforgettable and private evening together.” Heather smirked maliciously, gesturing toward Ciara, who was assisting a maid with sweeping up the fallen leaves.

“No, that can’t be true. Kyle would never do something like that. He told me he has eyes only for me. So why…?” Ashlee’s voice faltered as she fell deeper into Heather’s web of deception.