Rosie's Games

Ena Thun ventured further into the depths of the cave, her steps muffled by the soft earth beneath her boots. The air grew heavy and damp, clinging to her skin like a shroud. The darkness enveloped her, swallowing the surrounding space in an impenetrable cloak. The only flickering light illuminating her path came from the scattered candles that lined the uneven walls of the underground corridor.

The corridor itself seemed to stretch on endlessly, its rough-hewn walls bearing the marks of time and nature's relentless touch. Moisture dripped from the ceiling, forming glistening droplets that echoed through the silence as they splashed onto the uneven ground. The earthy scent of dampness permeated the air, mingling with the faint aroma of aged stone.

Undeterred by the eerie atmosphere, Ena pressed on, her determination guiding her through the labyrinthine passage. The dancing flames of the candles cast dancing shadows, creating a spectral dance of light and darkness. Each step she took echoed through the confined space, reverberating like whispers in the oppressive silence.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of navigating the subterranean maze, Ena arrived at her destination—a hidden room nestled deep within the cave's embrace. Before she could even raise her hand to knock, the door swung open, a creaking echo shattering the stillness. Surprised, Ena hesitated, her senses on high alert.

As the door swung open wider, a soft glow spilled out, revealing the interior of the room.

"Enter," the voice echoed from within, beckoning Ena into the room. Ena strode forward with determination, her presence filling the space. "You knew I would come," she declared firmly. A heavy silence enveloped the room as Ena's eyes met those of her father. The man she had looked up to her entire life, was now confined within the prison-like walls of iron bars.

"Why have you come?" he whispered, his voice tinged with a mixture of sadness and resignation. Ena's gaze hardened as she took in the sight of her father's deteriorating state. Though his appearance suggested a healthy middle-aged man, she knew the truth. The Howling Mountains had cast a shadow over his life, thrusting him into a prolonged comatose state from which he had awoken only to face unpredictable episodes of agony and danger.

Frustration tinged her words. "Federico Lux is no longer an option to aid you, Father. He has vanished without a trace." A crease formed between her father's brows. Howling Mountains had changed her father. Ena, faced with the unbearable reality, had made the difficult choice to confine him deep within the palace, shielded from the prying eyes of the influential families.

To keep the pretense, she asked Federico Lux to pretend to heal her father. In exchange, he would give Federico the support that he needed for his obsession with the past.

"I might consider reaching out to Martin Lux, although I doubt his feeble strength and limited influence would provide any relief to your wretched existence," she coldly stated a hint of disdain evident in her thoughts towards him.

Her father's voice broke the silence, his words echoing with a haunting tone. "Then perhaps it is time for me to embrace the sweet release of death, for it is an inescapable part of life."

Ena's revelation pierced the air after a pregnant pause. "I braved the treacherous Howling Mountains," she disclosed, her true intention for coming to this place unveiled. "But the relics you spoke of were nowhere to be found. Instead, the mountains harbored hideous creatures, demonic entities that would attack mercilessly." The image of the white-haired man flashed before her eyes, stoking the flames of anger deep within her.

As anticipated, her father's breathing grew shallow, and a flicker of fear danced in his eyes. Sensing his agitation, Ena spoke in a reassuring tone, attempting to calm him. "Father, find solace in the knowledge that I have returned unharmed. There is no cause for alarm."

"I warned you! Stay away from that place!" Her father's words were filled with urgency, his once-calm gaze now sharp and feral. "They have laid eyes on you. They will pursue you relentlessly, stopping at nothing to find you."

Perplexed, Ena inquired, "What are you talking about? Who will seek me?"

Her father's voice erupted in a mixture of anger and fear, reverberating through the room. "Ena Thun, you fool!" he bellowed, the fury in his eyes burning bright. "You have no comprehension of the gravity of your actions! Why did you insist on seeking those accursed relics? Didn't I warn you they would bring only misery to your life?"

Ena's heart pounded in her chest as she witnessed her father's transformation. The once-prison-like room now seemed suffocating, its oppressive atmosphere closing in around her.

"What do you mean, Father?" she demanded, her voice quivering with a mixture of anger and confusion. If her intuition served her right, this was yet another one of her father's delusional episodes. If he didn't want her to pursue the relics, why did he expose her to them? Why did he reveal their existence and allow her to study them? "Who will come after me?" she pressed, her patience wearing thin.

With a tight grip on the iron bars, her father leaned forward, his knuckles turning white. His words dripped with dread as he whispered, "They are ancient, powerful, and unrelenting."

Ena's mind raced, attempting to grasp the significance of her father's ominous words. Since his awakening, he had been rambling about prophecies and demons, all of which had irked and frustrated her. She wanted to tell him that she was already aware of these matters, but the words remained unspoken, trapped within her.

Instead, she found herself locked in a gaze with his blood-red eyes, searching for answers. "They have seen me, you say? And they will stop at nothing until they have me in their clutches? My life is in danger, and those close to me will suffer their wrath?" she questioned, her disbelief threatening to give way to exasperation.

Ena felt the urge to roll her eyes, tired of her father's repetitive warnings. But she held her composure, for beneath his fragile state, there lay a hidden truth that demanded her attention. A truth she couldn't afford to dismiss.

"Do you speak of the white-haired man?" she inquired her true motive for visiting her father finally surfacing. "The one who possesses the power to defeat me in an instant? Tell me about him, Father! Who is he?"

To her exasperation, the old man remained silent, his gaze fixed upon her. Soon enough, his eyes glazed over, his expression turning vacant.

Observing this all too familiar scene, Ena let out a heavy sigh. She knew exactly what was to follow.

As expected, her father collapsed onto the cold floor, his body wracked with convulsions and tremors. His eyes rolled back, and his fingers clenched tightly, a testament to the torment he endured. He would remain trapped in this comatose state for days, rendering any further conversation with him impossible.

How utterly frustrating!

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she left the oppressive underground facility without sparing her father another glance. Determined, she made her way to her study, her thoughts still consumed by the hateful white-haired man who had mercilessly slain the sorcerer. The loss of the sorcerer's knowledge posed a formidable obstacle to the completion of her experiments.

Should she abandon her audacious plan of forging an army capable of harnessing the power of lightning? Should she redirect her efforts toward a different avenue?

The mere contemplation of such a choice weighed heavily upon her, intensifying the throbbing ache in her head.

She sighed wearily, sinking into her chair as her weary eyes fixated upon the scattered papers strewn across her desk. The weight of her decisions bore down upon her like a suffocating burden.

"It is time..." a chilling voice suddenly echoed from behind her, its presence jolting her senses. Startled, she flinched, though she refrained from turning around. Experience had taught her that there was nothing to be seen. No use in wasting her time.

"What do you want this time?" she demanded, her voice laced with irritation and defiance.

"The one you promised," the voice responded, its tone dripping with insidious intent. "I want to begin the process now."

"You expect me to deliver Brinley Fleur so you can possess his body?" she questioned, her voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and resignation.

"And what other choice do I have?" the voice retorted, a note of desperation seeping through its words.

In response, Ena couldn't help but snort with derision. She already had an abundance of burdens on her plate, and this demand only served to stoke the fire of her anger.

As the formless presence dissipated once more, Ena couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and annoyance.

Demons, she scoffed inwardly as she thought of the dead sorcerer who introduced her to those creatures!

Without wasting another moment, she reached for her communication device, her fingers trembling with anticipation. With calculated precision, she dialed a number and issued a series of instructions to the person on the other end. Her intentions needed to remain concealed from prying eyes.

She had them arrange a secret meeting with Brinley Fleur of the esteemed Fleur Family.

Ena knew that Brinley had a weak and cowardly character. With the knowledge she held about Lachlan Blaize's whereabouts, it was a perfect leverage to ensure his compliance.

Oh, how the mighty Fleur scion would come running to her, driven by a desperate need to protect his kin. Little did he know that once he entered her web, he would never be the same again. Ena reveled in the prospect of molding him into her pawn, an instrument of her ambitions.