Venom of the Past: Rebirth of a Vengeful Heart

The night was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and burning metal. Elena St. James, the deadliest assassin and spy to ever serve the shadowy organization known as the Black Serpent, staggered through the labyrinthine halls of their once impenetrable headquarters.

Her vision blurred, and her limbs felt like lead, consequences of the poison they'd slipped into her drink hours earlier. She had been betrayed by those she trusted most.

As she neared the control room, her mind raced through the events that had led to this point. The mission, the setup, the ambush—it was all orchestrated to eliminate her. The moment she realized the betrayal, she fought back with every ounce of strength she had left, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. But it wasn't enough. The poison was taking its toll.

With a final, desperate effort, Elena reached the central console. She had prepared for this contingency, planting explosives throughout the building over the past months. If she couldn't walk away from this, neither would they. Her fingers trembled as she punched in the activation code.

A siren blared, and red lights flashed urgently as she set the final timer. She allowed herself a grim smile, her vision narrowing to a tunnel as consciousness slipped away. She collapsed, hearing the distant thrum of the first explosions. Then, darkness.

…🌸…

The blinding light of midday pierced Elena's eyelids, dragging her back from the void. She bolted upright, heart pounding, expecting the chaos of the burning headquarters. Instead, she found herself in an unfamiliar bedroom, the air heavy with the scent of lavender.

There was no pain. There was no smell of smoke. Elena had felt the fire upon her skin and the smoke in her lungs, yet here she was. It could be the brain processing death and having her dream of something pleasant.

This can't be right. She thought.

Elena's sharp eyes took in the surroundings. The mirror across from the bed reflected a frail, pale girl with wide, frightened eyes. She reached up to touch her face, feeling the unfamiliar contours of a body that wasn't hers.

Memories flooded her mind, not her own, but of the girl whose body she now inhabited.

Eighteen years old, weak and despised, the scapegoat for her father's and stepmother's cruelty. Her name was Lily Harrington. Her real mother had died under suspicious circumstances, and Lily suspected foul play but had no proof.

This pathetic girl truly lived a tragic life without love, care, or affection. Elena never knew such a thing, having had her emotions buried deep within. The only thing Elena cared for was survival and herself. The only will to live in such a world after being transmigrated into this frail girls body.

There was barely any fat on her!

Such a pathetic little thing. She thought to herself.

The door to the room burst open, and a man she recognized from Lily's memories—her father—stormed in, and a girl who could only be her stepsister, Rachel, who was limping.The animosity in their eyes was palpable.

It would seem that she had woken up to nonsense already. Lily, you poor wretched girl, this life of yours is truly miserable.

"You wretched girl!" Her father spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Pushing Rachel down the stairs out of jealousy and just now waking up, while your sister lay in pain! You're a disgrace to this family!"

Rachel clutched her side, pretending to be in pain, her eyes glinting with malice and triumph.

"Father, please," she said weakly. "It's not Lily's fault she can't control her emotions."

Elena—now Lily—felt a surge of anger, but she forced herself to stay calm. The evil stepsister who has the face of an angel, but the heart of a devil. Play with fire and see who gets burned.

"I didn't push her," Elena said quietly, her voice steady and cold. "And you know it."

The previous host was always blamed for something trivial. Elena had to quickly come to terms that she was now in someone else's body and had taken over their life. Rachel was the one who threw herself down over something simple. Lily was going to grow a back bone, but the moment Rachel flung herself, Lily ran into her room and wished to no longer live this life.

I want to be loved! I want to be strong!

Her father's face turned purple with rage hearing the cold icy voice. His blood pressure was going to rise even more because this girl from his first wife was nothing but trouble. "How dare you! We will be going to the hospital and as soon as the doctors check on your sister, you will apologize to her, or you will suffer the consequences!"

Then, a woman who was tall and shapley, whose cruelty matched her husband's, sneered. "You're lucky we don't throw you out on the street where you belong."

The woman, the stepmother of the former host, had appeared and held Racheal in her arms. Such a scene was something out of a drama film. All that was missing is the music score and theatrics.

Elena needed to understand the dynamics of this new world that she was thrusted into. She needed to assess her enemies and their weaknesses. She needed much more information and the memories of the former host was not enough for her. For now, playing along would be her best strategy.

"Fine," she said, rising to her feet. "I'll go to the hospital. But I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

Rachel's eyes narrowed, but she quickly replaced her glare with a pained expression. Elena did not miss that expression and gave Rachel her own cold stare that sent chills down Rachel's spine.

"Thank you, Lily. I just want us to be a family." Rachel said as she looked away and held onto her mother. Her voice was sweet like honey, almost baby-like.

…🌸…

The hospital loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the inferno Elena had left behind. The sky was shining bright upon the large city. This place was nothing new to Elena and had estimated that she was in the city in which she had her last mission.

The weak body Elena now inhibited had trouble breathing and keeping up with the people pressuring her into apologizing to Rachel. This body needed to become strong and fit in order for Elena to get revenge. This family was just a bump in the road for her.

Trailing behind the frantic rush of Lily's parents and stepsister, Rachel, who was treated as the main priority. Her father and stepmother had whisked Rachel away as if her very life depended on it, leaving Elena, now in Lily's body, to fend for herself.

In the waiting room, she paused, catching her breath. A television mounted on the wall caught her attention. The news was on, and the reporter's voice was urgent, filled with the gravity of breaking news.

"...explosion in the downtown area has left many questions unanswered. The building, believed to be the headquarters of a secret organization, was completely destroyed. Authorities are still investigating the cause..."

Elena's heart skipped a beat. The scene on the screen showed the smoldering ruins of the Black Serpent's headquarters. Her handiwork. The realization hit her like a tidal wave—she had truly transmigrated into a new body. The past was behind her, and this was her new reality.

So, I am not in a dream then. I am within the city of my last mission. The headquarters is truly destroyed. No doubt survivors are about and waiting to strike when they find out that I am alive, just in a different body. Elena though as she looked at the TV. Something within her knew that the organization was going to be chaotic. There will be plenty of bloodshed on who was going to become the leader.

Elena knew that she needed to train this weak body and fast. The organization was her's by right and those that had betrayed her will pay the price.

The waiting room was bustling with activity, but she barely noticed. Driven by a mix of curiosity and the need for closure, Elena decided to explore the hospital, hoping to find some trace of her former self. Security was no obstacle for someone of her skills, and she navigated the hallways with ease, slipping past unnoticed.

Her journey led her to the hospital's basement, a place few ventured without a purpose. The morgue was her destination, a cold, sterile room that might hold the charred remains of her old body. As she approached, she became aware of another presence.

He was young, no older than twenty, with a dark and mysterious aura that set him apart from everyone else in the hospital. Tall and handsome, his complexion flawless, he exuded an air of danger and intrigue. Their eyes met briefly as she brushed past him, her mind too preoccupied to care about his presence. She had a mission, and he was merely an obstacle.

However, the young man was intrigued. He watched her with keen interest, wondering why a lone young woman would be wandering the basement by herself. There was something about her, a strength and determination that piqued his curiosity. He chose not to question her, sensing that their paths would cross again.

…🌸…

Elena's search proved fruitless. The morgue held no answers, no trace of her former self. Disappointed, she made her way back upstairs, her mind racing with thoughts of her next move. She had no time to dwell on the past. She needed to focus on the present and the enemies who still surrounded her.

Returning to Rachel's hospital room, she stood outside the door, her eyes narrowed in contemplation. The scene inside was one of false concern and feigned affection. Her father and stepmother fawned over Rachel, their golden child, while Rachel played the victim to perfection.

Just as she was about to enter the room, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. She turned to see Aaron, Rachel's fiancé, his face etched with panic and concern. He stormed past her, barely giving her a glance, and burst into the room.

"Rachel!" Aaron exclaimed, rushing to her bedside. "Are you okay? I came as soon as I heard."

Rachel's face lit up with a sickeningly sweet smile as she reached for his hand. "I'm so glad you're here, Aaron. It's been awful."

Aaron turned, his eyes blazing with anger as he finally noticed Elena standing in the doorway. "What did you do to her, Lily? Haven't you caused enough trouble already?"

Elena met his gaze calmly, her expression unflinching. This was the man the former host loved with everything within her? This man that promised the former host everything and a happy life? Elena truly believed the former host lived a very miserable life.

Aaron was not even worth the breath Elena was breathing.

"I did nothing to her," she said coolly. Elena was not going to grovel beneath his feet to ask for forgiveness. The former host did not need a man like this or any man by her side. "Rachel fell down the stairs. If you have a problem with that, take it up with gravity."

Her stepmother interjected, her voice sharp and accusatory. "Don't you dare speak to Aaron that way! You're nothing but trouble, Lily. Always have been."

Lily's father added, "You should apologize for what you've done, Lily. This family has suffered enough because of you."

Elena remained composed, her eyes flicking between the people in the room. "I've already told you, I have nothing to apologize for. If you want to believe Rachel's lies, that's your choice."

Aaron's face twisted with rage. "You're unbelievable. How can you be so heartless?"

Elena stepped closer, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You know nothing about me, Aaron. And you know even less about what really happened."

Rachel, ever the manipulator, feigned a wince, clutching her side dramatically. "Please, everyone, just stop. I don't want any more fighting."

Elena watched the scene with detached amusement. Rachel was playing her part perfectly, the innocent victim surrounded by her protectors. But Elena knew better. She had seen through far more complex deceptions than this.

She turned to leave, but not before delivering a final, cutting remark. "I'll be around if you need me. But don't expect me to apologize for something I didn't do."

As she walked out of the room, she felt Aaron's eyes boring into her back, filled with suspicion and anger. Good, she thought. Let them be angry.

It would only make her victory sweeter when she finally exposed the truth.

…🌸…

Back in the waiting room, Elena found a quiet corner to sit and think. The news on the television still replayed images of the explosion, a stark reminder of the life she had left behind. She closed her eyes, blocking out the noise and chaos, and focused on her plan.

She needed to be strategic, to play the long game. There were too many unknowns, too many variables.

The past was gone, but Elena St. James was far from defeated. She had survived the inferno, and she would rise from the ashes stronger than ever. No one would stand in her way.