Lawrence’s domain.
“Truth or dare?” Zoey turned to ask Marlie with a mischievous smile on her face.
“Truth,” Marlie answered.
They formed a circle around the center table in the sitting room, with a bottle of alcohol and a glass cup in front of each of them.
“How is the craziest way you’ve ever had sex?” Zoey asked.
“Jeez,” Tiffany twitched her lips and shook her head at Zoey.
“You have a very dirty girlfriend,” Aiden said to Declan.
“Hmm, we both got drunk and did it in the bathroom, under the shower,” Marlie answered.
“WTF!” Declan widened his eyes and covered his mouth with his palm.
“What?” Marlie rolled her eyes.
“Fûck, how did you get so dirty?!” He half yelled.
“I guess I’m the only saint here,” Tiffany said amidst laughter.
“Gosh, this is not funny. How could you say something like that with so much confidence?”
“Bro, this is a game, okay? It is truth or dare. So, stop acting like a saint and let’s continue with the game,” Marlie hissed.
“Seriously?” Declan raised a brow.
“Someone is taking this too seriously, don’t you think?” Zoey said through gritted teeth.
“Really, babe?” Declan turned to face Zoey.
“It is going to be a very long night. Who else is sleepy?” Aiden exhaled.
“Me,” Tiffany, Zoey, and Marlie said and stood up immediately.
“Let’s share a room, the three of us,” Marlie grabbed Tiffany by her arm.
“Oops, my baby and I will use a room. Get up, babe,” Tiffany winked at Aiden.
“Tsk, whatever,” she hissed and then turned to face Zoey who looked away instantly.
“What is that?”Marlie raised her brows.
“Go hug a pillow,” Zoey grinned at her.
“I hàte you guys so much!” Marlie snapped.
“We love you more,” Zoey blew her a kiss with a smile on her face.
“Guys, it’s not even 9 PM yet, let’s see a movie. Dad is not back either,” Marlie pouted.
“Baby, shall we?” Aiden stretched his palm towards Tiffany and the lady took it.
“Goodnight guys,” Aiden waved his hand at them and then walked towards the stairs with Tiffany who faked a yawn loudly.
“I personally hate those couple,” Marlie groaned and Zoey burst into laughter.
“Let’s go too,” Declan said to Zoey.
“Yeah, sure,” Zoey answered.
“Woah. You guys also?”
Declan said nothing, grabbed Zoey by her hand, and walked past Marlie who grumbled as they walked away.
Meanwhile…
Medusa stood in the corner of the sitting room with a smile on her face. She glanced at the leaves on her hand and then around the house again.
The time to get rid of Akilang is near, and nothing was going to stop her.
=
One hour later.
Lawrence looked around the sitting room as soon as he entered the house and he was sure that the kids had gone to their rooms. He glanced at the bottle of alcohol and shook his head.
He walked towards the couch and then collapsed on the single couch.
He waved his hands at the maids who starts to hurry toward him, and they understood the gesture.
*
“Chephirah, we can’t do this,” Benroy shook his head as he glanced at Chephirah and then Tiffany’s father who was already dozing off on the couch.
“We’ve got to do this, Benroy. It would be a disaster if Tiffany’s identity got revealed,” Chephirah shook her head.
“So, you’re going to appear in front of him and say what exactly?”
“I’m going to tell him to get rid of everyone who is not aware of that child’s identity,” Chephirah answered.
“You know you can’t do that. You could get punished for that, “Benroy protested.
“Don’t be a coward, Mountain guardian,” Chephirah snapped.
“How sure are you that Medusa’s plan is going to work? You should do this.”
“I know the work of those leaves gotten from dragon blood tree. Akilang will get unleashed again,” Chephirah said and then walked towards the couch, Benroy trailing hesitantly from behind.
*
Lawrence opened his eyes and gasped loudly at the beautiful woman and man standing in front of him.
He looked around hurriedly to confirm his environment and seeing where he was, he was sure there was no way these people could enter without the guards noticing them.
“Who…”
“Calm down, Lawrence,” Chephirah said.
What?
She even knows his name?
“H… how did you get in?”
“I am the lion spirit, and he is the mountain guardian,” Chephirah introduced.
“W… What is that?” He stammered.
“Just listen carefully. The demon in Tiffany could get unleashed anytime soon. If you love her so much, I’d advise you to get rid of everyone who is not aware of her identity. If she gets unleashed here, in front of your workers… Can you handle it?” Chephirah asked and then vanished almost immediately.
Lawrence choked on nothing and then looked around the room.
“What is that?” he frowned his face.
‘ If she gets unleashed here, in front of your workers… Can you handle it?’
The words resounded in his ears and he sprang from the couch.
Is something going to happen?
==
Three hours later, Medusa appeared inside Tiffany and Aiden’s room and then strolled toward the sleeping couple. She stared at Tiffany for a few seconds before she dropped a leave at the edge of the bed.
In actuality, the leaves are invincible to the eyes of mere humans.
“Akilang… Show yourself, and let’s end this… One and for all,” Medusa whispered, threw another one beside Tiffany on the bed and then poured the rest inside the room.
Thirty minutes after Medusa had left, Tiffany stirred in her sleep, opened her eyes, and then groaned.
All of a sudden, she opened her eyes, a smirk tugged on her lips and her eyes turned red.
=
In the morning.
It was barely six in the morning and the sound of footsteps retreating around the corridor woke Aiden up.
He got down from the bed, and then covered Tiffany who was still sleeping peacefully with a blanket, and then yawned lazily.
*
Aiden frowned as he stared at the workers of Han’s mansion gathered in the living room and then looked around till he found Mr. Han who stood in front of his workers.
“What’s going on?” He heard the voice of Declan and then turned to look behind him.
“Hey, you’re awake also,” Aiden yawned and then looked in front of him again.
“What’s going on? Why did dad gather his worker by this time?” Declan asked.
“I don’t know. I woke up to this also.”
“Good morning, guys,” came the voice of Lawrence.
“Good morning, sir.”
“I’m sure you must be quite surprised by the impromptu meeting this morning. No cause for alarm. I just have something very urgent to discuss,” He started.
“I would like every worker of Han to vacate the mansion in thirty minutes,” he announced and a murmur arose.
“What is he saying?” Declan frowned.
“I am not sacking you guys, trust me. I just realized that I’ve been overworking y’all for a while without any holiday. And as you all know, my daughter is back, so I want to spend some time alone with my family so, I hope you all understand,” he addressed even though the workers still looked unconvinced.
*
“What are you doing, dad?” Declan hurried towards his dad as soon as the workers dispersed.
“I’ll tell you later, but trust me, I have to do this right now,” he answered and walked away.
Aiden and Declan stared at each other and shook their heads.
“What is your dad up to?” Aiden mouthed.
**
Two hours later…
The workers had left, and there was no single outsider in the mansion.
Marlie and Zoey woke up to the news about an hour earlier and they all waited in anticipation for the old man to explain what he did.
“Since there’s no one to prepare breakfast, chef Aiden will enter the kitchen,” Declan clapped his hands and Marlie and Zoey joined him in clapping.
“Only me?” Aiden raised his brows.
“Wait, where’s your girlfriend? Don’t tell me she’s still sleeping,” Marlie snorted.
“Why? Do you have anything to send her?” Aiden rolled his eyes.
“Huh, no,” Marlie shook her head.
“Dad, why did you send your workers away by the way?” Marlie turned to look at her father who sat across them silently.
“I’ll tell you later,” he answered and then stood up.
“What is he hiding?” Declan frowned his face as he watched the man ascend the stairs.
“Let’s order something to eat. I’m not cooking anything, trust me,” Aiden yawned and rested his head on the couch headrest.
“Lazy prick,” Declan hissed.
~~
One hour later.
The chicken and chips they had ordered had arrived and Tiffany was still sleeping.
Marlie and Zoey connived together to go carry out of the room and both giggled at their plan.
“Don’t wake Anny!” Aiden half yelled as he watched Zoey and Marlie ascending the stairs to do only God knows what.
“It’s past nine. A wife material shouldn’t sleep till this time,” Declan hissed, unwrapping their meal.
“Shut the fûck up, she’s marrying into my family,” Aiden hissed.
“No, you’re marrying into ours,” Declan shook his head.
“What?” Aiden raised his brows.
“Yes.”
==
“Hey, bîtch, get the fûck up!” Zoey yelled as soon as they barged into the room.
“See how she’s even sleeping,” Marlie shook her head.
“I know, right? How could she cover herself with a blanket from head to toe?” Zoey shook her head.
“I’ll pull the blanket,” Marlie smiled.
“She’d be so pissed when she wakes up, I swear,” Zoey giggled.
“As if I care,” Marlie rolled her eyes, tiptoed toward the bed, grabbed the blanket, and then pulled it.
“Ta-daaaa…” Zoey’s voice trailed off as she saw Tiffany.
“Tiffany?” Marlie called out.
Tiffany sat up slowly and Zoey fell to the ground, shivering, and running out of breath.
“R… run… Marlie, run! That’s not Tiffany. RUN!” Zoey screamed and her eyes locked with Tiffany’s.
No. Akilang.
That person was no longer Tiffany.
That is Akilang, for her hair had turned white and her eyes had turned red.
This was exactly how she looked in the mountain in Orlando, Ruthless.
“What…” Marlie started
Zoey gathered her strength, stood up, and then dragged Marlie out of the room not forgetting to jam the door from behind.
Tiffany got down from the bed slowly, and then cracked her knuckles which gave out a loud sound.
She walked towards the door, pushed it down, and then step on the broken door.
**
“What is that?” Lawrence glanced up as he heard the loud bang coming from the room.
“Did she really change? Are you sure of what you saw?” He asked Zoey and Marlie who wouldn’t say any more words and kept shivering.
“Dad, it’s dangerous to stay here if that is it. We should get out before it gets too late,” Declan said.
“And leave her all alone?” Lawrence asked.
“You have no idea…” Declan was still saying when he saw her descend the stairs gently.
“She’s here,” Declan hiccuped.
“That… that is Tiffany?” Lawrence stuttered as he watched the frightening figure across them.
“Anny…” Aiden whispered in disbelief.
Why is this happening again?
“I was wondering where the smell of sweet meals was coming from. Was it from here?” Tiffany’s voice echoed around the room.
“Are you hungry? We got chicken and chips. Do you want to eat?” Lawrence asked innocently, grabbed a chicken, and hurried towards Tiffany.
“No, dad!” Declan shouted.
“How about I have you?” Her red eyes shone brightly and in a blink of an eye, she stopped in front of him and grabbed his neck immediately.
Declan and Aiden dash toward them and before they got where they were, Akilang created a barrier that would stop them from getting to where she was.
“T… Tiffany,” Lawrence whispered.
He closed his eyes shut and waited for his end.
All of a sudden, he felt a strong force push him to the ground and he turned to look back at Tiffany.
All of a sudden, a woman appeared in front of him and he remembered her to be the woman from last night.
Chephirah walked towards the rest and opened their inner eyes to see them.
This was against the rules but she was going to receive her punishments later.
“Long time no see, Medusa,” Akilang smirked darkly.
“Yes. Long time no see, former mountain guardian of Sabalem. Akilang,” Medusa smiled.
“Today is your end. I’ll get rid of you with all of my power,” she vowed.
“Take me down if you can. I’ve waited for thousands Of years to get rid of you also.”
Outside the barrier Akilang had created, Chephirah and Benroy summon their territory and waited for the fight to begin.
Zoey, Marlie, Declan, and Aiden watched what was going to happen with their hand clutched on their chest.
Tears fell uncontrollably on Aiden’s eyes as he watched his girlfriend.
He could only imagine the pain she was feeling.
“Baby, you can do this. Let’s get rid of the demon for you… for us,” he whispered.
TBC…
Xoxo?
Writer;
Zohaa.