The Devil Smiled Upon Dozahr (1)

"Darnell Serphent," said Kalliope as she emphasized each syllable of her beloved uncle's name.

Meanwhile, Dozahr's jaw was held in a tight grip. He winced in pain, gritting his teeth with deep hostility dripping through his eyes. His entire being was screaming of desire to hack the woman in front of him to pieces, especially when he looked at the same condescending smile on her face.

'Valkyrie,' he spat in his heart.

"Are you clear now who's asking and who needs to obey?" Despite her polite address, there wasn't a hint of respect in Kalliope's voice. Her face remained void of emotions.

"Ufgh…" Dozahr tried to get the words out but Kalliope tightened her grip even more as though she had every intention to dislocate his jaw in the next moment. In the end, he could only nod his head.

The corner of her lips lifted as she praised him tenderly with one hand stroking Dozahr's head. "There, what a good dog."

Listening to her sincere compliment, Dozahr felt like throwing up blood. He was so angry yet he could only glare at her. He was completely under her mercy. Never would he imagine this troublesome girl would come back to bite him like this.

He thought he was safe since the incident had happened a century ago. Many things had been concealed by the councils and from the beginning, there were only two people who knew, his brother and Helliot. So, he could only relent within the prison and perhaps wished that one day he had the courage to visit death himself. After all, he had obtained his wish.

Unfortunately, today came. Kalliope stood before him, 'begging' to return his 'favor'.

"Now… do you not recognize me?" She questioned him once more.

Dozahr trembled when he caught a glimpse of dead mana slithering down her arm which was currently holding him. It flowed slowly but inch closer towards him as it went. He immediately yelled out, "Yes! Yes, I do!"

"Who am I?"

He felt his heart pounding and though he was burning with rage, he was hopeless against Kalliope in this dungeon where he couldn't use magic. He could only comply like the obedient, pathetic dog he was.

"N-Niece…" He stammered in her grip. His knuckles turning white from him clenching them too much. His eyes drooped as Dozahr continued in a weak voice, "My niece."

When the words rolled off his tongue, silence ensued for a moment before a series of chuckles broke out from her mouth, "You forgot the word 'troublesome'."

Dozahr shuddered when he heard that as he knew what she meant. Guilt surged into his heart but even more so fear. Even the most powerful man would cower at the face of death, so how could the current magicless Dozahr not tremble? He was absolutely terrified.

"Look at me," her voice was stern as she ordered him.

Dozahr immediately raised his eyes again to look at her. The curvature of her lips was forbidding, cold, as if she would kill in the next second. She closed the distance between them before speaking in a condescending tone but still, carrying with it a hint of laughter.

"How is it, dear uncle?" she asked, "Did I live up to your expectation?"

She laughed madly before continuing, "All along everyone thought I'm just a troublesome kid like how you wished it to be. And they hail the great Isadora Helliot, thinking she holds the leash, believing she has control over the mad dog."

Her smile turned even more dreadful. "Aren't you proud, Uncle?"

From the start, Dozahr had been shaking his head at every question she poured on him. He tried to deny it with all his might. "It wasn't me. I swear."

But, regardless of his denial, Kalliope continued, "I've been shunned…"

"It wasn't me," Dozahr kept shaking his head while repeating his words.

"Looked down, pitied…"

"It wasn't me."

"No matter what I do, ever since I was a kid, I've always been the pitiful troublesome kid."

"No....I really didn't do it."

Kalliope chuckled softly, still ignoring Dozahr as she continued recounting her past. "Oh, uncle, do you still remember that day when I blew up the mansion?"

Dozahr shook his head relentlessly. "I, I don't know any--"

"I remember that was the day when I received an anonymous letter telling me that my parents' graves are fake. It's only a formality with empty caskets buried under it because they abandoned my parents behind."

Tears began to stream down his face as Dozahr groaned in pain. The dead mana had reached the tip of her fingers and slowly seeped into his veins.

"They covered it well but the fact remains," Kalliope sniggered. "I did kill half of the staff in my mansion."

Dozahr's lips trembled and his body was starting to spasm for the second time. However, he obstinately shook his head.

Kalliope let out a derisive scoff as she watched the old man struggle in her grip. Then she leaned to his ear while she asked viciously, "Did you laugh happily that day, Uncle?"

"You planned it well for the letter to be kept by one of the servants." She chuckled menacingly.

But, he shook his head and dove straight to his end. "It wasn't me! I swear!!"

In that moment, Kalliope's hand swiftly shifted to his neck and she strangled Dozahr mercilessly.

"Words are not to be trusted."

The words fell and following that, a loud crash exploded within the dungeon. Dozahr's body was easily flung across the prison cell and he smashed through the corner of the ceiling before landing on the wet ground outside.

He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, coughing despairingly in the pouring rain. He felt his organs churning and some of his bones cracking from the attack. He couldn't feel his limbs though mana had begun to accumulate within his body.

Blood kept spurting out of his mouth, choking every word that threatened to come out. But, when Dozahr saw the emerging shadow from the dark hallway across the field, he gritted his teeth and recited a healing spell.

A white halo quickly appeared and showered him in a warm blinding light. His wounds gradually healed up in a speed visible to the naked eyes.

In the next moment, Dozahr swiftly rolled to the side, dodging a giant black root that smashed out of the ground beneath him. As he stood up, he saw a green magic crest hovering before Kalliope.

His eyebrows scrunched up. 'How the hell could she still use earth magic on top of black magic?'

"You shouldn't daydream, old man."

Dozahr widened his eyes at the sudden appearance of a black shadow in front of him. He immediately erected a defensive barrier. Unfortunately, it was pointless. His body flew back in a fast movement and he smashed back onto the ground with a loud bang.

"Pfftt…" He spat out a mouthful of blood as he clutched his chest.

"Ku..ku..ku...so weak," a distorted laugh echoed in Dozahr's ear. It was strangely clear amid the pouring rain. But, the danger hidden behind the voice was chill-inducing. It sent his heart into a jolt as his heartbeats began to synchronize with the approaching footsteps.

Then…

Dozahr came face to face with his eternal nightmare. Pitch-black hair and a pair of sterling silver eyes. A cold indifferent visage that he was so familiar with. An arrogant smile came to his thin lips as he greeted Dozahr.

"Hello, Darnell..."