CHAPTER18: SUSPICIOUS

As Ava entered Lucus's study, she noticed a figure sitting on the sofa, engrossed in the books that lined the shelves. The person had long black hair that cascaded down their back, and their eyes, a striking shade of red, were focused intently on the pages before them. The room, with its shelves lined with books and the scent of parchment in the air, held a sense of familiarity as Ava entered, her thoughts still consumed by the mysteries that had unfolded during the meeting.

She stared at the figure, her eyes glowing blue for a second, and then realized that this person was just a duplicate of Lucus made by blood magic. After a moment, she spoke with a cold voice, "Where is Lucus?"

The duplicate looked at her and said, "Hello, my name is Linda." As he spoke, his appearance changed into a woman with orange hair and yellow eyes. After that, she continued, "You must be Lady Ava, right? I am one of the master Lucus summons."

Ava's eyes narrowed as she studied the woman before her. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Linda smiled, a cold and calculating expression. "I am here to assist you, Lady Ava. Master Lucus has sent me to provide you with any information or resources you may need."

Ava's mind raced as she considered her options. She doesn't knew that Lucus was a powerful mage, and if he had sent this duplicate to help her, it must be for a good reason. But she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of her stomach.

"Very well," she said finally, her voice firm. "I will accept your assistance, but I will be keeping a close eye on you."

Linda nodded, her smile never faltering. "Of course, Lady Ava. I am here to serve you in any way I can."

With that, Ava turned her attention back to the books on the shelves, her mind already racing with the possibilities that lay before her.

After sometime ,"Where is Lucus?" Ava asked.

"Master Lucus said he will tell you himself when he returns," Linda replied.

...................

Olivia POV

As I slowly opened my eyes, the world around me came into focus. I found myself in a dimly lit room, the air heavy with the scent of incense and the sound of distant whispers. My gaze fell upon a man standing before me, his eyes a striking shade of crimson that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

He was handsome, with chiseled features and an air of confidence that seemed to radiate from him. His voice was smooth and velvety, with a hint of amusement as he spoke. "So, you're awake, huh?" he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. "Where am I?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

The man chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You're in my domain, my dear," he replied, his eyes glinting with mischief. "And you, my dear, are my guest."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the gravity of my situation. I was in the presence of a powerful being, one whose intentions were unknown to me. But as I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity, as if I had known him in another life.

As he continued to speak, his voice took on a hypnotic quality, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. "You're special, you know," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. "And I have big plans for you."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't know what those plans were, but I knew that I was in for a wild ride. And as I looked into the man's eyes, I couldn't help but wonder what fate had in store for me.

....

..

I asked why I can't fell anyone presence

The man with red eyes chuckled softly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Ah, that's because we're in a place that exists outside of the normal realm of existence," he explained, his voice smooth and velvety. "Here, the rules of the physical world don't apply. It's a place of my own creation, where I can control everything."

I blinked, trying to process his words. "So, you're saying that this place is... not real?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

The man's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, it's very real, my dear," he replied, his voice dripping with honeyed charm. "But it's also a place where I have complete control. I can make it appear however I want, and I can keep anyone out that I don't want here."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the implications of his words. This man had created a pocket dimension, a place where he could do whatever he pleased without fear of interference. And now, I was trapped here with him, at his mercy.

As Lucus introduced himself, my heart skipped a beat. The name was familiar, but I couldn't place it. And then, as if a bolt of lightning had struck me, I remembered."Lucus Ariston Cromwell," I repeated, my voice barely a whisper. "You're... you're the one who was in a coma."Lucus nodded, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips. "That's right," he confirmed. "I just woke up two days ago."I blinked, trying to process the information. It seemed impossible, but there he was, standing before me, alive and well. And yet, there was something about him that seemed different, as if he had changed in some fundamental way.As I looked into his eyes, I saw a glimmer of something familiar, something that tugged at the edges of my memory. And then, as if a dam had burst, the memories came flooding back.

Lucus," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "You're... you're my childhood friend.also my husband

"Lucus nodded, a wistful smile playing at the corners of his lips. "That's right," he confirmed. "And now, I'm back."I felt a surge of emotion welling up inside me, a mixture of joy and relief and sadness. It had been so long since I had seen him, so long since I had even thought of him. And now, here he was, standing before me, alive and well.

..........,........

As I sit here, reminiscing about the past, I can't help but think about him.

He was my fiancé, but our engagement happened when we were just 10 years old. At first, I didn't really like him.

He was just a boy, and I was just a girl. But as time went on, I started to see him differently. I started to like him. I started to care about him. And then, just as things were starting to get good, he got into an accident. He was in a coma for 10 years.

10 long, agonizing years.

But even when he was in a coma, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I couldn't stop caring about him. And so, when I turned 18, I made a decision. I married him. Not in the traditional sense, of course. We didn't have a ceremony. We didn't exchange vows. But we did make a soul contract. A contract that bound us together, even when he was unconscious. A contract that said, "I will love you, no matter what." And so, here I am. Sitting here, in front of me is him

...

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To be continued