Present day172Please respect copyright.PENANAtVT6u9ooMY
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Zambia 172Please respect copyright.PENANAjSg9eOytwu
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Narrator’s P.O.V:172Please respect copyright.PENANA35v01CelUm
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She sat upright in her bed with a gasp. She just had a terrible nightmare. Not only that, she fumbled by the bedside table, trying to find her phone in the dark, but couldn’t find it. She knew she left it there.172Please respect copyright.PENANA6YxGdyWndS
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Someone on the other side of the bed, stirred in their sleep upon hearing the ruckus and turned to look at the person fumbling in the dark.172Please respect copyright.PENANA5CK3YtwBCG
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"What the-?" a bed lamp light soon turned on as the person who had been woken switched it on. "Nicani kanshi? (What is wrong now?) What are you looking for? And in the early hours of the morning?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAVFApegWOVX
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She didn’t answer at first until she realized that her phone isn’t anywhere nearby. She turned to look at her husband beside her.172Please respect copyright.PENANA6T2oCNO2V9
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"Pepani (sorry)," she apologized. "I was looking for my phone, have you seen it?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAlsfPweiW9r
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"Mm?" her husband can’t believe this. "Who do you want to call at this time?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAAOOJmwGvVf
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"It's urgent," she said as she pushed the covers aside to get out of bed.172Please respect copyright.PENANAcNPF8sKFPQ
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"Check your dressing table," her husband muttered as he dropped his head back onto the pillow. "That’s where you left it last night."172Please respect copyright.PENANAP1e8zxJxk3
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In her black nightdress, she went to the dressing table and found her phone there like her husband said. She quickly took it and turned around to get her black sleeping gown at the foot of the bed. In her bare feet, she quickly went to the door and left the room. Her husband growled as he lifted his head to see the door left wide open. He muttered and slowly sat up.172Please respect copyright.PENANAGtdExzM55L
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"Yaba (Goodness)," he groaned. "Here we go again."172Please respect copyright.PENANA0VzGYLtq4d
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She walked down the quiet, dark hallway until she made a corner, entering a room. She flipped the switch and the lights went on in the living room. Likewise, she turned to her phone to make a call.172Please respect copyright.PENANAVCntKUHH7x
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When she put the phone to her ear, the line on the other end didn’t even ring as the automated phone system said the person she’s trying to reach had their phone switched off.172Please respect copyright.PENANASXdXTZ4yce
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"I told her not to be switching off her phone," she muttered angrily as she looked at her phone to make a call to someone else.172Please respect copyright.PENANAfFDCYxtdWV
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After finding the person’s line, she called it. This time it went through. She only hoped that the person would answer.172Please respect copyright.PENANA3wc0nDQx8v
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She started to pace up and down, bypassing the glass table on the white and black zebra print carpet. Not only that, she didn’t think of sitting on the black leather seats as with each minute that passed, her anxiety increased.172Please respect copyright.PENANAUUKEFhF5Uk
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When the person on the other end didn’t pick up either, she sucked her teeth and tried to call again when she realized that someone is in the room. She turned to find her husband there in his blue pyjamas, looking sleepy as ever. She now felt guilty for waking him up.172Please respect copyright.PENANA1i34wPb1o4
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"Who are you trying to call?" he asked. "Don’t tell me it's Diana."172Please respect copyright.PENANApmtV6zO6qr
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"So?" Diana’s mother asked. "I just want to know how she’s doing?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAvmLkf91NUh
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"At this time?" her husband approached her. "She’s asleep. And you know she switches off her phone."172Please respect copyright.PENANA7vh6UcEM8v
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"I just want to know how she’s doing."172Please respect copyright.PENANAGrrsFbknDm
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"Didn't you talk to her a day before? If anything were to happen, your mother or Katy will let us know."172Please respect copyright.PENANAtwYIyLKKI0
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Diana’s mother growled in frustration. She quickly went over to one of the chairs to sit, her head buried in her hands. Her husband came to join her.172Please respect copyright.PENANAcbXGMpt3gg
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"You don’t understand," she said, dropping her hands to look at him. "I had another dream about her and this time it felt different."172Please respect copyright.PENANACvQTO8qTY9
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He put his hand on her shoulder. "What could be so different about this one?" he asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1Sd4MgNag
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Before she spoke, she bit her lip. She didn’t know how to explain it. Her previous dreams over the years weren’t as vivid and intense as this one.172Please respect copyright.PENANAhCjC9D3abL
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"I can’t explain, Atake Diana (Father to Diana). Everything about this dream felt real. I feel Diana could be in huge trouble."172Please respect copyright.PENANAVN2Fg9VjfD
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"That’s what you always say when you have these dreams," said Diana’s father. "Aren’t they just dreams? How many have you had over the years, but they've never happened?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAvUdiGGtR2z
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Diana’s mother now sat upright, shaking her head. "What if they did? I believe they did. Besides, Diana doesn’t always tell us what goes on in her life. She’s so secretive."172Please respect copyright.PENANAVamcExoLU2
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"That’s because she’s a teen. You’re forgetting that people at such an age are difficult to make them open up."172Please respect copyright.PENANA8CnH6CfGTb
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"No, I’ve always had a feeling that she's been hiding something from us. She’s a good girl, but I feel there’s a lot going on in her life that we don’t know about."172Please respect copyright.PENANALohch1e9vh
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Her husband rolled his eyes. "Please, don’t bring up those incidences that were happening in the neighbourhood. Those were explainable accidents, and you can’t point a finger at Diana. Most of the time she wasn’t even there, and they happened almost four years ago."172Please respect copyright.PENANAO2Fu0pfRjF
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"That’s what you think, but…"172Please respect copyright.PENANAOIAPJTVStn
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"Enough, please. That’s a long time ago and nothing has happened to her. You haven’t had terrible nightmares for years, so it's probably just nothing."172Please respect copyright.PENANAevheDOWnfa
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Diana’s mother looked at her husband, still with a worried look. She looked away. As much as he might be right, her intuition ate at her terribly. She can’t just ignore what she dreamt. If anything, it felt more like the first vivid dream she had of Diana; that she had died. She remembered calling the school to check up on her, and they told her Diana was perfectly fine. When Diana came home for the holidays, there was something different about her.172Please respect copyright.PENANAKbGVDEgsz3
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"Tiyeni (come), let’s go back to sleep," her husband persisted as he held her hand on her lap. "If you want, you and I can call your mother sometime in the morning." 172Please respect copyright.PENANAix2ibxL6d5
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She couldn’t argue with him there, but she felt she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Not until she hears that Diana is alright. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAh7zZ4hYUjA
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"Okay, can I send a message to Katy so that she calls me when she sees it?" she asked. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAQjuWG7jbdp
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"Be quick," Diana’s father stood. "If you’re not in the room in two minutes, I’ll come and drag you if I have to." 172Please respect copyright.PENANAEtzl52gmnf
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With quiet, steady steps, Diana’s father walked out of the room, leaving his wife still seated on the couch. She quickly sent Katy a text, but she knew it wasn’t enough.172Please respect copyright.PENANA8gv8mm1wl7
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Namatama stood up from her seat and slowly started to make her way out of the living room. She thought she saw a shadow pass through the window, outside. Likewise, she stopped to draw aside the curtain. A neighbour’s floodlight shone brightly in the next yard. For a moment, she thought maybe a cat had passed atop the wall fence, causing the shadow she saw.172Please respect copyright.PENANAo9Bh8SjjY9
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Before she was able to push the curtains, she thought she had seen something through the corner of her eye in the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly turned to see if there’s anyone there. The only people awake are she and her husband, and she would've heard him if he had made his way back in the living room.172Please respect copyright.PENANALmJNb0HhCn
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"I must be imagining things," she told herself.172Please respect copyright.PENANAHYHHmksLhV
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"And what if you aren’t?" came a voice.172Please respect copyright.PENANAbx1edPQwHW
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As soon as she heard it, she jumped in fright and almost screamed, but someone covered her mouth with their hand from behind, holding her in place. Diana’s mother is now terrified that there's a stranger in the house. She started to breathe heavily.172Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3JzHkgOoC
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"Don’t move, and I won’t hurt you," came the voice in a soft, yet dangerous whisper. "Calm down. I’ll uncover your mouth. Don’t scream or else I'll kill you. Nod if you understand."172Please respect copyright.PENANAUfO1s39hPN
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She nodded, and started to slow her breathing. Her heart beat fast like a drum that she could hear it. The person’s hand over her mouth slowly fell away, and she felt relieved. She quickly looked behind her, but no one is there.172Please respect copyright.PENANAwahdF2MMi2
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"Don’t freak out," came the voice again, this time in front of her. "I want you to slowly turn towards me."172Please respect copyright.PENANABUMQSlQaQV
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She swallowed and slowly turned her head back. Likewise, she found someone standing in front of her, all dressed in black and floating in midair. Namatama gasped in fright as she thought she would never come across the terrifying skull-faced mask ever again.172Please respect copyright.PENANAtfz0EdjFJj
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"Hello, Namatama," came a female voice behind the mask. "Long time no see."172Please respect copyright.PENANAzkIhFLQqfn
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"What are you doing here?" Namatama asked, her voice breaking with both fear and anger. "I thought I told you not to show yourself ever again."172Please respect copyright.PENANA1oKvvhwFGy
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The floating figure raised her hand to remove the mask. Behind it lay a young face of a woman with light, brown skin and sharp, dark eyes like that of a cat. Her lips were coloured black, and she grinned at Namatama with her white, razor sharp teeth glowing in the dark.172Please respect copyright.PENANAEUjj0yHFgK
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"I know," said the lady in front of her. "But aren’t you up thinking about your daughter, Diana?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAN6XmrNAg61
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Namatama froze, looking at the lady before finding her voice. "What do you know about her?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAZwp2HoBOXQ
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The woman chuckled. "It’s sad that you don’t know what’s going on. So much has happened over the years that you’ve failed to notice."172Please respect copyright.PENANA8Db7EHScQW
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Namatama’s eyes widened. "What do you know about Diana?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAnH8xXD23gy
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"A lot more than you, that’s for sure. Diana is a very special child. You should know that."172Please respect copyright.PENANA9BXRpRV06i
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"She’s my daughter, of course she’s special."172Please respect copyright.PENANAcqegzLrypL
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The woman floating in the air came a little closer. "You know that she’s beyond special. It’s been that way from the day she was born." 172Please respect copyright.PENANAeJzTVckS4s
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"Get to the point. You came here after such a long time to talk to me, and it’s about Diana. Tell me, is she in trouble?"172Please respect copyright.PENANADHZsWJABih
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The woman smiled as she backed away a bit. "It’s not good news, I’m afraid."172Please respect copyright.PENANAtId7PevDZt
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"Tell me."172Please respect copyright.PENANALBLGcKvXUO
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The woman stopped smiling as she sighed. "Her destiny is catching up to her. It has been for some years now."172Please respect copyright.PENANAATB1WEsNak
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"What do you mean?" Namatama looks confused.172Please respect copyright.PENANAY7vguMqOGM
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"Honey, why aren’t you here yet?" Diana’s father called out. Namatama almost muttered out loud, upset that her husband could call out like that when everybody else is fast asleep.172Please respect copyright.PENANAoLmqO6P1k7
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"I think you already know how she started behaving when she came back from boarding school a couple of years ago. Some might think she was going through puberty, but you as a mother knew better."172Please respect copyright.PENANAv3RTIjF7NC
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"Something happened to her back at school?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAqbtfVxD4C3
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The woman in black nodded. "Yes. She’s been trying to act as normal as she can around you, but it's been difficult to keep it under wraps with all those weird events that used to happen."172Please respect copyright.PENANACcEAY5xpW6
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Namatama’s eyes widened with fear. "Tell me, what’s really going on with her?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAcEIHgAjUaG
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"I can’t spare you all the details, but all this is happening because of what took place the time she was born."172Please respect copyright.PENANAGabpZQgJpF
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Namatama gasped as she slowly started to back away, shaking her head. "You lie. This can’t be true."172Please respect copyright.PENANAIYaiavbP45
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"I’m just here to tell you to expect some bad news."172Please respect copyright.PENANA9IdsLvKitS
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Namatama continued to back away as her heart started to feel heavy with grief. She felt a sharp piercing through her heart and tears already started to fill her eyes. "What have I done?" she muttered. "What have I done?"172Please respect copyright.PENANALhDFfWrHiu
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Her hand flew to her chest as she sank to her knees onto the carpeted floor. Tears quickly fell onto her cheeks as she covered her mouth. The woman in black continued to look at her as she said:172Please respect copyright.PENANAnqlFiUR3YP
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"As heartbreaking as this is, you should know that Diana is a very strong girl. But I’m afraid the danger she is facing right now is too great that she has to brace herself."172Please respect copyright.PENANALv5g35mpYj
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Namatama looked up at the woman. "You claim Diana is strong. How strong when she’s just a young defenceless girl?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAvzduXloz9p
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The smile the woman had earlier plastered onto her face again. "A lot has happened over the years that has made your daughter the bravest girl I’ve ever seen. She’s been through a lot. And for a girl her age, I’m surprised she has matured this quickly, especially with her true nature coming into fruition. Many people wouldn’t have handled it as well as she has."172Please respect copyright.PENANA5keygQfX2B
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Namatama sniffed as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Her true nature? Does that mean she’s like your kind?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAe90ZLPKMnI
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The woman in black gave a nod. Namatama chocked, but she quickly pulled herself together.172Please respect copyright.PENANAwlN3nxuQei
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"Please, tell me, that she’ll be okay. That she’ll come back home."172Please respect copyright.PENANAX2MFlBTZN5
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"I can’t guarantee she will survive. But if she does and manages to come home, can you do me a favour?"172Please respect copyright.PENANA3P9oiaNnKX
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"What is that?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAGSJ83VjHMV
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"Tell her the truth."172Please respect copyright.PENANA2rcRa02plh
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"What?" Namatama looked surprised.172Please respect copyright.PENANAyYViIx39rS
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She could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Her husband is coming.172Please respect copyright.PENANAmKrwNwSUcM
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"She deserves it. Nothing is more painful than not knowing why you're a target to so many. That's what she has been going through for so long. You should tell her. She deserves to know."172Please respect copyright.PENANA2QSpnvoqlY
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"Why are you telling me this now after all this time?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAUpFXkSFCLg
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The woman put up a genuine smile. "Just like you, Diana is also very important to me. Don’t make the mistake of not telling her. It's best it comes from you and not anyone else."172Please respect copyright.PENANAxLk6Ap5wUC
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"Namatama, what did I tell you about…?" came her husband, and he paused upon seeing his wife on the floor. "What are you doing?"172Please respect copyright.PENANALE9pYAAyLh
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Namatama quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes and stood up. She looked in front of her and the woman in black had disappeared.172Please respect copyright.PENANAXmfuweW6ch
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"I was just praying," Namatama lied, as she turned to her husband, but with her eyes downcast.172Please respect copyright.PENANAfabaUjO5ho
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"Don’t worry too much," said her husband as he came to stand beside her and held her shoulders. "Diana is fine. I know it."172Please respect copyright.PENANAiULoNe1Mjd
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"You’re probably right," Namatama gave a nod. "All we can do is pray for her."172Please respect copyright.PENANAXZHQG8oLeg
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"That’s the spirit. Come, let us go back to sleep."172Please respect copyright.PENANAu4B6jGGfLg
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Namatama couldn’t argue there as she followed her husband who made sure to switch the lights off in the living room. As they walked down the hall, Namatama couldn’t help but let a tear in her right eye drop down her cheek, praying for Diana to come back home safely.172Please respect copyright.PENANAQYslV0xqxu
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***172Please respect copyright.PENANA770YO8L3RT
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Diana’s POV: 172Please respect copyright.PENANAqwlqd9gO0O
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The Devil’s beach house 172Please respect copyright.PENANAaPQDcDXUIZ
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"You can't be serious!" Mutale looked at me in disbelief. "How can you believe him?"172Please respect copyright.PENANASLQ6z9Dl1Z
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"I just know," I said as I continued to stare at Lucifer. "If he was after me, he would’ve come himself or sent his strongest legions."172Please respect copyright.PENANAG8IuGVnuR4
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"But he might be the one who sent that thing after you," said Stella. "You sound so convinced that it’s not him."172Please respect copyright.PENANAaLEFfRXt59
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I turn to look at her. "If it really is him, we wouldn’t be seated here."172Please respect copyright.PENANAlnihM0wXyo
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"She’s right," Lucifer joined in. "I would’ve locked you two pretty ladies up and this Elite soldier would’ve been torn to shreds by my hounds."172Please respect copyright.PENANAMBX79k48Ht
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"Isn’t that convincing enough?" Lucius asked, still standing behind Diana’s seat.172Please respect copyright.PENANAWunhpMDsUn
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Mutale and Stella stay silent. As much as this is difficult to take in, arguing with me over something I'm so sure of will be futile.172Please respect copyright.PENANAZETSDoR32S
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"Okay, if it isn’t him," Stella started, "then who could it be? He’s the only one we know who can control shadow monsters. Worse, we’re talking about a level one."172Please respect copyright.PENANAj3yPAuBN4W
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"How sure are you that the shadow monster didn’t just attack you out of nowhere, Diana?" Lucifer asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANA8wCTM1z2wn
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I look back at him, trying to relive what happened. "Well, I’ve encountered shadow monsters and also a level one." I feel Stella look at me. I must have forgotten to mention that I had faced a level one before. "And this one felt like the one I fought before. Shadow monsters might be mindless creatures that love to bring about destruction, but there’s something about a level one that has always kept me wondering whether they really do think on their own."172Please respect copyright.PENANACXXTn4GTvs
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Lucifer leaned back in his seat. "Yes, shadow monsters are mindless and can thrive on their own without me controlling them."172Please respect copyright.PENANAsTldOI9bw6
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"Explains why some of them wander aimlessly around," said Stella.172Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4NRfdkCTh
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"True. But if I want them to do something, I can easily control them since I am the Prince of Darkness," said Lucifer with a smirk.172Please respect copyright.PENANAczCEvQhq1z
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"If he’s a prince, I wonder what that makes me," Lucius muttered.172Please respect copyright.PENANAVDXiNXucYV
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I couldn’t help but snicker. Lucius always did manage to put a smile on my face when I least expect him to. Moreover, the look on Lucifer’s face is just priceless.172Please respect copyright.PENANAdlchaonmhv
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"As for a level one," Lucifer continued, "they are the most dangerous, making them the most difficult to control."172Please respect copyright.PENANAw3xYkbVlg7
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"Are you saying you also have a hard time controlling them?" Mutale asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANAim9g5U6Kez
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"No," Lucius scoffed. "It’s easy for me, but if anyone tries to, it’s frustrating and requires a lot of practice."172Please respect copyright.PENANA6t5bEZtzNK
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For a moment there, Mutale, Stella and I remain silent. Did he just say "if anyone?"172Please respect copyright.PENANABuDuzqJNrV
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"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lucifer asked with a quizzical look on his face.172Please respect copyright.PENANAgkLXQxfk27
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"Anyone can control a shadow monster?" Stella asked. 172Please respect copyright.PENANARZjxq8u17d
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"Yes," Lucifer answered casually. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAISw9IwnyQz
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I look at Stella. She also had the same surprised look. I turn to Mutale, and he looked like he has just seen something horrific unfold in front of him. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAqTIEOu0mVH
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"I’m taking that you all didn’t know that anyone can control a shadow monster," said Lucifer.172Please respect copyright.PENANAXOVdt1aAHf
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‘"No!" the three of us answered simultaneously.172Please respect copyright.PENANA3JLpJlfALj
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"Wow, okay," said Lucifer, giving out a wince. "Silly me. No one is supposed to know about that. Ever."172Please respect copyright.PENANAdSF6feoLxL
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"Well, in my world, we’ve always known that you," Stella pointed at him, "are the only one who can control them."172Please respect copyright.PENANAtntor2enRb
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Lucifer chuckled. "While the supernatural world is a mystery to normal people, many supernaturals have also been blinded about their own world for years. Only a few go looking for the truth, and they don't like what they find. I hate to be so flippant about revealing the truth, but I'm not the only one who can control them."172Please respect copyright.PENANAhGsjfmnkeB
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My eyes fell to the floor. This changes everything. Someone sent that thing after me. They must have also done so the first time I encountered it. But who could it be?172Please respect copyright.PENANAqWdZLdcyqU
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"This is going to be tough," said Mutale. "If the devil didn’t send that thing after you, Diana, then who did?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAN6LNaBGa8e
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"Good question," said Lucius. "Controlling a shadow monster isn’t easy. I’ve been trying to do so for months now."172Please respect copyright.PENANAgTFm8lkdBH
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"Diana, what are you thinking?" Stella asked as she looked at me.172Please respect copyright.PENANAosiYPrThet
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My eyes first flew to Lucifer as I asked, "you’ve just confirmed that anyone can control a shadow monster. What does one require for them to do so?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAPhi9esyG7n
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Everyone around me is silent. I’m not so sure if I’ve asked the right question, but it’s the only thing I’ve been thinking of since the stunning revelation.172Please respect copyright.PENANAaaujzDiMFm
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Lucifer smirked. "First, you’ll have to be a supernatural."172Please respect copyright.PENANAyqlsXwmjcM
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"So, I can easily control one?" I asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANA5plddiLDLH
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"Yes. But…," he now stood up from his seat and went to one of the bookshelves in the room. "There are a few requirements that you’ll need."172Please respect copyright.PENANAr1jbMf52yv
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"Something tells me it must be dark," said Mutale.172Please respect copyright.PENANAXrtCCBmWTS
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Lucifer ignored him by not commenting. He looked through the bookshelves at the thick books with hard black covers. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but you can tell nothing good comes from those books.172Please respect copyright.PENANAtqz3FOcQCU
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"Okay," he took one thick book on the shelf and brought it to the desk. It looked so thick that I’m glad I’ll never get to read it. Who knows what dark things it holds.172Please respect copyright.PENANA6WkKZH84ZJ
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He started to flip through the pages and I couldn’t help but take a peek. The pages are old, and I noticed that whoever wrote the book, had a pretty sharp, cursive handwriting. There were many drawings and illustrations on some pages and a few of them looked quite gruesome. Stella didn’t fringe away from looking at it. I turn to Mutale and I see him look the other side. Some Elite soldier, he is. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAQkXoM9qtJH
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"So," I turn to look at Lucius behind me while we wait for Lucifer to find the page, "you say controlling a shadow monster is difficult. How difficult?" 172Please respect copyright.PENANA9oWLM2Rd69
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"Like my father put it, it’s frustrating and depending on what level it is, it gets painful," Lucius answered.172Please respect copyright.PENANA3fDJC9NnRi
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"Painful, how?" Stella asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANArnkQ7MbWKf
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"The way you control it is almost similar to the way you can mind control a human being. It’s easier on humans because you can manipulate the mind. We already know shadow monsters are mindless, so you really have to dig a little deeper to take control of them, meaning it takes up a lot of your energy."172Please respect copyright.PENANALj9b4jyp7H
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"And if you aren’t careful," Lucifer chirped in as he continued to flip through the pages, "you might end up breaking your mind."172Please respect copyright.PENANA3E1fHdz6XP
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"I’m guessing whoever brought up the rumour that only the devil can control such things, must have done so to prevent us from ever thinking that we can control one," I said.172Please respect copyright.PENANAtcDBLycMio
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Lucifer chuckled. "True. We did that because we know if many supernaturals broke their minds, we would’ve a lot of them causing havoc when that’s my job. And I am at least a little lenient." I gave him a look on that last part.172Please respect copyright.PENANAMMF0Wqz92G
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"Wait, you said ‘we’ just now," I quickly said. "Who else were part of this rumour?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAj6irf2wqWp
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"The Immortals of Old," he answered as he continued looking through the pages. "Those who have lived from the beginning of time, so to say."172Please respect copyright.PENANAhio5WsOMye
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"Like you and the man upstairs?" He nodded. "Who else?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAYkbbKuFfXl
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"If I can recall, the person who was in charge of the Butterfly Island before her Highness was there too," Lucifer looks up at Stella.172Please respect copyright.PENANAGN0el4Ebbm
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"Her Highness’ father," Stella answered.172Please respect copyright.PENANA8IrPhLgZb7
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"What happened to him?" I asked. "Did he die or something?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAz2LvcJo0SA
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"Killing an immortal is hard, and you know that better than anyone, Diana," said Lucifer. "That old fella is probably somewhere either in this world or the other in a peaceful place chanting mantras or something."172Please respect copyright.PENANAs8k1xg9wEJ
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"True," said Stella. "No one has actually heard from him in ages after leaving Her Highness in charge. I actually have never met him."172Please respect copyright.PENANA8GvzhukUTF
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That’s a shock. Whatever reason he had for leaving his position and going elsewhere must have been genuine. The world of the supernatural is just as confusing and chaotic as the human one. If also given the chance, I would also disappear.172Please respect copyright.PENANAR7rhaZCOsK
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"Ah, here it is," said Lucifer as his right finger landed on the desired page.172Please respect copyright.PENANACX9wRP8wxc
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Stella and I quickly stood up from our seats to look. Mutale remained where he is. Lucius slowly came to join us at the table.172Please respect copyright.PENANA8ga4yTi1nz
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"Okay, so," Lucifer pointed to the paragraph on the page. "Like I said, you must be a supernatural. It says here for you to control something as dark as a shadow monster, you must join the dark side."172Please respect copyright.PENANA7tXiPLMsvp
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"Meaning your side, right?" I asked, looking at Lucifer.172Please respect copyright.PENANAj9SYb55cgs
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"Yep. Selling your soul to me, that kind of thing. And…, it says here you must also sacrifice the one thing that means precious to you and there are some blood rituals you’ve to perform with all the symbols and stuff."172Please respect copyright.PENANADWaYn7GCqR
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"Okay, but these are just the basic stuff that a lot of us could’ve already guessed," said Stella. "What we really want to know is who could it be."172Please respect copyright.PENANA7dt2TngsVj
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"Stella is right," I said, looking up from the book to Lucifer. "You say anyone can control a shadow monster and these are the requirements. Isn’t there anyone who can naturally control them like you do? What if the person we seek never had to perform this ritual?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAWAGC3vebUg
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Lucifer now looked at me and this time, he had a grim look. "I was afraid you were going to ask me that," he said. He looked down at the book and flipped through a couple of pages. "Apparently, you’re right. I’m not the only one who can control them naturally. There are two more beings that can."172Please respect copyright.PENANAEdQhR4bTTf
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"Two more?" Lucius also can’t believe it.172Please respect copyright.PENANAwhxeMoHJ0A
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"You really should be reading more," Lucifer threw his son a look. "Let me skip to the last part."172Please respect copyright.PENANAelrswNRwXF
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Lucifer pointed to the top left side of the book where there’s a list of names. His is the top. The second and third made my insides freeze. I should’ve known better, especially with the third.172Please respect copyright.PENANAM07kmCgxDr
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"No way," Stella said, bringing the words right out of my mouth. "This isn’t true, is it?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAIctZKWAEhN
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I see Mutale lift his head and Lucifer now threw him a smirk. "You want to see it for yourself, don’t you? Lucius, help him up."172Please respect copyright.PENANAYuvsB9peNr
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"I don’t think it's necessary," I said.172Please respect copyright.PENANAwvKpHrQ8k9
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"Oh, I think it is." Lucifer brought his left hand up in midair and at the same time, Mutale is lifted off his seat and brought forward. He flinched at first, trying to get away from Lucifer’s invisible grip, but he knows it's pointless. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAYWV8yDi6dI
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"Let me go," Mutale demanded.172Please respect copyright.PENANAecQ5C5uYoS
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"Come on, dad," said Lucius. "You can’t force him to look if he doesn’t want to."172Please respect copyright.PENANAwBRIOpoLhV
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"But he has to. Today is a day of revelation."172Please respect copyright.PENANANvWpGefItE
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Lucifer turned the book the other way around for Mutale to look at. Mutale did his level best to look upwards, but with a simple bend of his index finger, Lucifer made Mutale’s head point downwards. The look on Mutale’s face as his eyes fell on the book said it all.172Please respect copyright.PENANA9NdppsKtLp
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"No, no," Mutale muttered shaking his head. "This is a lie. This book holds nothing but lies."172Please respect copyright.PENANAaisrbUanJS
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"I’m sorry, but this book was written centuries ago," said Lucifer. "Like I said before, so many things have been hidden from us that we only know what we think is relevant because it’s been set that way for ages. No one likes to know the truth. We all just like to hide in the sweet bliss of ignorance."172Please respect copyright.PENANAAOKPu19RgJ
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"This must be a mistake. You’re lying. You’re a liar. That’s what you are."172Please respect copyright.PENANA4dDh2MeNiO
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"I take it that I lie, but there’s so much you don’t know about your world and ours."172Please respect copyright.PENANA72YleNMuq9
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"Enough," I said, taking the book and turning it away from Mutale’s eyes. "There must be a reasonable explanation for this. May you please put him back down?"172Please respect copyright.PENANABWz7CoQ5er
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Lucifer dragged Mutale back to his seat, making him land onto the chair. This time, gently.172Please respect copyright.PENANAueV856Jrmq
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"Well, I think I’ve taken in a lot of these revelations for one day," said Stella as she looked at me. She soon went to sit back down on her chair.172Please respect copyright.PENANAeFmsMkO4sk
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I look at Mutale, and he still looked horrified. I feel bad for him. It’s not easy receiving the truth like he did just now. Even I’m trying to take it all in.172Please respect copyright.PENANAgvA6TDn9To
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I went back to look at the list and I realized that just after the first three were a few more. But the names were written in a symbolic language that I couldn’t recognize.172Please respect copyright.PENANAvGKkfgQ3oU
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"What does this mean?" I asked Lucifer as I pointed at the other names. "I can’t seem to recognize the words."172Please respect copyright.PENANAAnMDyWWhWu
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"Whoever has control over shadow monsters has his name automatically written in the book," he answered as he looked at the page.172Please respect copyright.PENANADrODRYjg3q
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"Okay, but can you tell me who they are?"172Please respect copyright.PENANAEGSpvu705c
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Lucifer now looked at me and that charming smile of his came back. "It’s not necessary. If I were you I should be more worried about number 3."172Please respect copyright.PENANAmE2Dh7aann
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"He’s right," said Lucius. "I'm not surprised if he so happens to have sent the shadow monster after you."172Please respect copyright.PENANAtEut8do5m6
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"I’m worried about number 2," said Stella. "The thought of Him sending a shadow monster after Diana creeps me out."172Please respect copyright.PENANA1jS1ZOkuLw
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"Don’t say that," Mutale spoke up. "He can never do such a thing. That book says nothing but lies."172Please respect copyright.PENANA7qi8zhicsR
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"I’m sorry," said Lucifer, raising an eyebrow at Mutale. "But isn’t He the same person who created day and night? Light and darkness?" He sighed. "Let me tell you a little something to ease your mind a little."172Please respect copyright.PENANAh1nJ1eeHff
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Everyone now turned their attention to Lucifer. So did Mutale.172Please respect copyright.PENANA4dMzaG7d0P
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"As much as He can control shadow monsters, He wouldn’t do it just to get to Diana," Lucifer continued. "He has you Elite soldiers for that. If He wanted to, I bet He would’ve sent his angels to do the job, but the Golden Elite decided to take up the role."172Please respect copyright.PENANAl5zxSi2Fke
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I’m trying to take this all in, and I bet the rest are too.172Please respect copyright.PENANAX1FuAD55FU
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"How do you know all this?" I asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANApYwIkId1EQ
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"He can’t control a shadow monster without me knowing about it, so he’s already out of the question. It’s just the way it is. Moreover, if I try to do something similar to the light, he would know. That’s why the two of us have always stayed in our lane to not bring about confusion. But I do like to give him a challenge once in a while."172Please respect copyright.PENANAogYbo8PQTw
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My heart felt at ease. Stella looked relaxed and Mutale exhaled in relief. 172Please respect copyright.PENANAz3x6MMXQm9
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"So, how do you know that the Golden Elite chose to take on the task of capturing me?" I asked.172Please respect copyright.PENANAwpoMM9viTF
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"Nothing hides under the sun from me," said Lucifer with a smile.172Please respect copyright.PENANAsEQrOWivu7
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"That’s just to say that he has many informants," said Lucius.172Please respect copyright.PENANA0DB2xutaod
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Lucifer threw his son another look showing that he’s annoyed with him. Before he could throw a comment, a knock came at the door. For a moment, I forgot about where we were and that there are people in the house. Lucifer told whoever was at the door to come in, and the door flew open. A woman in a black dress and white apron stood there. She is short and plump with her blonde hair tied into a bun. This must be the house help.172Please respect copyright.PENANAtyF1M3n3WP
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"Morning, sir," she greeted Lucifer. "I’ve brought in food for our guests."172Please respect copyright.PENANARCehPvCTr5
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"Yes, bring it in. I want you to tell the guards to get everyone out of the house," Lucifer ordered. "The place looks like a hellhole."172Please respect copyright.PENANA6bwuTNJQcq
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Apart from the help, we all look at Lucifer with a questioning look. This place just happens to be one of his many hellholes.172Please respect copyright.PENANAFxKospwlAV
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The help dragged in a movable tray behind her and there are all sorts of delicious breakfast treats: chocolate chip cookies, eggs, bacon, bread and cereal for any of us craving for it. There were plenty of white teacups, plates and bowls to go around. And after all that’s happened in the last few hours, I now feel hungry.172Please respect copyright.PENANA1a84itjCsW
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The help soon left and Lucifer said, "please, dig in. As for you," he turned to Mutale, "you also better eat up after receiving the news that your wonderful Being isn’t involved in this mess."172Please respect copyright.PENANAfuCoE3UWIw
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"Are you seriously asking me to eat?" Mutale asked, sounding surprised.172Please respect copyright.PENANAhT8ADVNF1F
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"Don’t make me change my mind. I can do that very quickly."172Please respect copyright.PENANAHnQjxkYD15
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"I’ll help serve you," said Stella as she stood up and approached the tray. "Now that I think about it, I’m starving."172Please respect copyright.PENANAdEnLDq4IUL
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"I’ll have some cookies and tea, please," said Mutale.172Please respect copyright.PENANAZvnYBIIL7i
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"I need to eat too," said Lucifer as he also went to the tray. "I drank too much last night, I didn't have a bite to eat."172Please respect copyright.PENANAQFdHJsQ2av
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"Want me to get you something, Diana?" Lucius asked as he looked at me.172Please respect copyright.PENANAb2Vzstv3N5
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"I'll serve myself, thanks," I said with a smile.172Please respect copyright.PENANAToH5adXdik
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He gave me a concerned look before he gave a nod and went over to join Stella and his father.172Please respect copyright.PENANAkqDDfFE8rF
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I watched the three surrounding the tray before my eyes flew back to the open book before me. My eyes are gravely fixed on the name that's third on the list and my hunger quickly dissipated. I should've known earlier that there's only one being who really wants to get rid of me with all their might:172Please respect copyright.PENANAYKThiyGuNW
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Death.