The Villain's Revenge - Black Crown Series #1 [BEING EDITED]

XX

I heard whispers near me. I was still in father's arms. He was holding me tight while talking to someone, just by hearing the voice, I knew he was talking with Titus, I felt the ambiance in the air turned heavy even though we were filled with deep silence from the pause father created.

I had just found out that the magic that Azazel used in the story wasn't only from him but from the family. I thought that the pause of time just now was from me that I have unconsciously triggered but when father came, I felt that this spell was his doing. It was a spell passed from generation to generation, and soon it will be passed onto Azazel.

Onto me.

Frightening.

My thoughts were cut off when Titus began to yell at us—or at father. His voice almost made me jump out of surprise, but I luckily didn't, keeping my calm and unconscious posture in father's arms. "Get that filthy hands off my nephew, you murderer!" Titus yelled, his voice strained, must be that he was being held by something.

"How dare you call me a murderer?" Father asked, his voice turned cold. "You weren't even there when the incident happened? You don't know anything." I felt his hand covering my ear while pulling me close to cover the other one with his chest, though he tried, I still can hear their conversation but only their voices muffled.

"Oh, I knew enough!" Titus hissed, his voice was mixed with anger and grief. "I know how you left Lei, I know how you ignore the only child that Lei tried to sacrifice for, I know how much of a monster you are!!" So Lei was Azazel's mother's name.

"Leave, Titus." Father exasperated. "I shall take blind eye to this. I cannot have you go to the king right now, Azazel... he might need you someday..."

Someday. I repeated the word in my head. Was father talking about the coup d'etat?

"That is why I am taking him now. I knew it was foolish of me to suddenly attack the palace with a curse weighing me but when I found out about Azazel's mana..." Titus replied, I could hear the grin spreading across his face, that sinister grin that would haunt me in my dreams. "Ooh, the things I will do if I have him! He'll be the key to everything and avenge Lei!" Just the thought of it made my skin crawl.

"DON'T you dare have this child's future to be a weapon for war you want to cause!!" Father yelled at the top of his lungs that made me flinch in fear, my brows furrowed, trying not to peek to see what his reaction was, I fear not to see. I felt anger and sadness in his voice with a hint of plea. Those emotions don't seem quite right to me.

I heard Titus laugh. "You think you won't use him as your weapon, Alex?! This child was born to destroy something right after he was born, a perfect tool to use to give revenge!!" His voice echoed through the silent town, no one could hear him except father and I, yet his voice seemed desperate that someone would hear him.

I heard a sword being taken out from its sheath and swung towards a certain direction. The silent ring that the sword left almost took my breath away then I heard nothing but dead silence. Having the world pause around you and only hear nothing feels terrifying. No matter how loud you scream, no one will hear nor help you.

"Lei never gave birth to him to become a piece of revenge, he's human. She loved him dearly, like a mother..." Father said coldly. "... I cannot let someone take Azazel just for their gain. He is my and Lei's child and gods forbid someone to use him for revenge or else they will have their blood stain my sword." His voice may be cold but his words were enough to make me wonder how my chest began to tighten and warm up.

...

"You're the reason she died..." This voice is in my head again.

"I have made a covenant to Lei until she drew her last breath and I am not going to break it..." Father's hold on me tightens gently as he said those words, every syllables that came out from his mouth made his voice grow softer, showing how sincere he is.