Queen Of Adis

"Was it really a mere coincidence?"

Adis and Haru looked at each other as realization was finally sinking in.

"So, it was Pier all along?" Haru breathed out sadly, feeling nauseous again at the sickening reality. "And he's in cahoots with the Blood Hounds? But... I still don't understand. In the original timeline, that clan was annihilated. If I didn't accidentally go back in the past, then they wouldn't exist again, right?"

After a while of being quiet, Adis finally gave out his conclusion. "In the original timeline, when the Blood Hounds were murdered, I went to investigate the corpses before I execute my judgment. I saw the clan's patriarch's body were in pieces and his right eyeball was missing. I didn't know then that it was a seer's orb."

Aquarius tapped his chin with his fan. "I'm sure Pier has the eye in his hands. He's planning to rewrite the history. I bet he will make it so that sister-in-law will end up to him in the past, and..."

"And unleash the destructive monster that they're trying to summon in the present," she completed Aquarius' analysis.

"Argh! Did you not see this coming, old man?" Zen blurted out to Elior in exasperation.

Elior shook his head and sighed helplessly. "I'm sorry, my vision seems to be failing me recently. But, now that we surmise that Pier is in alliance with the Blood Hounds, what are you going to do, Haru?" His eyes suddenly flashed with uncertainty and sadness. "It's not yet too late. I-I can... erase your memory again."

She raised an eyebrow and looked at Eliot as though he didn't make any sense. "And then what? We'll have to play another hide and seek? And then, when my vision awakens, I will be lost in time until we'll start the same shit all over again?"

She berated and vehemently shook her head. "I'm sick and tired of staying hidden in the dark. I'm not going to wait while someone is plotting something against my family. It's either you teach me how to control this new ability of mine, or I'll figure it out myself."

Adis nonchalantly took off his soiled shirt as he stated her plan. "She wants to go back to the past. Even if I don't want to, with everything that's happening right now, I don't have a choice, do I?" He carefully put his wife down from the kitchen countertop and continued, "I think the best course of action right now is to stop them on both sides, past and present, to prevent any unnecessary wave to the future."

Haru earnestly nodded in approval. "I'll do it. Though I can't afford to stay asleep for so long, else I might give birth while still dreaming of the past. Elior, I need you to teach me how I can skip through time so I can only visit the necessary events."

"That's possible. However, let's talk to your doctor first. You know that using your vision may cause severe stress to you, right?"

"Yes, we'll do that," she agreed and instinctively c.a.r.e.s.sed her stomach.

Adis started enumerating his instructions. "Zen and Aquarius, go and investigate the Blood Hounds estate in Umbra. Make sure to prevent them from summoning anyone. Ask for grandfather's help. I also heard that General Triton has completely healed. You need more powerful allies to match the forbidden arts of that clan."

"W-wait! Why are you talking like you are not going to join us?" Zen looked confused and alarmed at the same time.

"Because I won't," he simply answered. "I will accompany my wife in going back to the past."

Everyone's head snapped at him and their eyes grew wide in incredulity.

"YOU WHAT?!"

"I once read in the Book of Yore that a seer can bring someone to travel in time."Adis subsequently looked at Haru and decisively exclaimed, "I will only allow you to do this madness if you will take me with you. And it shall happen whether you like it or not."

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In the southernmost part of Umbra where dark miasma was at its thickest and myriads of wraiths drifted everywhere to find its prey, an enormous estate stood tall amidst the cursed land. Shrill screams could be heard from within as though endless inhumane acts were currently being done.

At the backyard of the estate, a huge circle filled with dark runes made of blood was imprinted on the cold ground. Countless n.a.k.e.d women laid stiff while a few were trying to crawl out from their impending demise. Several *imps were guarding the maidens and with their nimble movements, they would stab the hands and feet of those who were able to reach the edge of the circle and drag the bodies back into the runes.

Right in the middle of the gruesome scene, a n.a.k.e.d bulky man was kneeling on the ground, unmoving and with his head tilted down. His eyes were blank as if he was just an empty shell.

Light footsteps were gently approaching the bulky man. As the blood moon in the sky shone its dim light to the spectacle below, it gradually revealed the owners of the footsteps.

"Alfred, is he dead? Why is he not moving anymore?" A scrawny demon spoke in his scratchy voice while his eyes were fixed at the lone soul in front.

"He's alright. I made sure that he won't die no matter how much he wanted to," Alfred replied indifferently.

"Tsk! I think you broke him. Well, I can't blame you, though. This one you want to summon is one tough shit. I doubt you can even control it." The demon blabbered while walking around Pier, poking him with his feet to check if the demi-god was still alive.

"Mind your own business. As long as you alter the time the way I instructed you to do so, then I assure you that you will not end up like him." His eyes narrowed as he analyzed the progress of his experiment.

As the demon smirked, his right eye glinted in a golden light. "Dang, your hypnosis is really frightening. I do hope that we don't get to a point where you have to use it on me, too." He shrugged his shoulders and started to walk away. "Time to go back to the past, then."

When the demon reached his side, he whispered playfully to his ears. "Oh, I heard the sleeping beauty is awakened. I just thought you might be interested to know. After all, we are now in the same boat. Ciao~"

Once alone, Alfred walked closer to the lifeless man who was still kneeling on the ground. When he stopped in front of Pier, he let out a melancholic smile.

"Master, the day I met you was the happiest moment of my life. I genuinely thought that I can finally be free from the shackles of hell." He paused and gazed up at the starless sky, as though it was mocking him of a life that he could never have. "I wonder... how did we become so f.u.c.k.e.d up like this."