Hellwalkers

Parents

Octavia almost thought that her encounter with the talking hellbeast had been just a dream as she awoke the next morning. However, the flickers of gold energy in her arm and the tray of meat being carried down the hall told her otherwise.

All night, she'd debated whether she should ask Dad about the hellbeast—Brash, he said he was called—or not. Eventually, she decided against it. Asking would mean he'd find out she'd gone inside the forbidden room.

But why is Brash being held inside the castle, to begin with? Is he really a Hellwalker? Are they actually real?

Overall, what's happening to her arm?

She thought about it during breakfast, but she managed to keep up her usual, uninterested facade to ward off any suspicions.

Truthfully, she didn't pay attention to mom's talking on the phone and dad asking her all about what she'd been doing in the months they didn't see each other.

"So what do you think of the castle, Via? It hasn't changed that much since the last time you were here, has it?"

"It's hard to tell, considering I don't remember much of those times." Octavia pointed out. "I was, what? Six years old?"

"Five, to be more precise." Stella scoffed in disgust. "I can't believe your father convinced me to allow you to come to this stinking, Lucifer-forsaken ring."

Stolas frowned. "We walked about that. If Via will eventually take her own responsibilities, she must engage in them."

"She could have done so from the palace with clean bathrooms and spas available!"

Octavia rolled her eyes at yet another pointless debate between her parents. Why didn't just get a 'D' and be done with it? Good thing she brought her earphones anticipating this.

♪Go row the boat to safer grounds♪

♪But don't you know, we're stronger now♪

♪My heart still beats and my skin still feels♪

♪My lungs still breathe, my mind still fears♪

♪But we're running out of time♪

♪Oh, all the echoes in my mind cry♪

♪There's blood on your lies♪

♪The sky's open wide♪

♪There is nowhere for you to hide♪

♪The hunter's moon is shining♪

♪I'm running with the beasts tonight♪

♪I'm running with the hellbeasts♪

♪I'm running with the beasts tonight♪

♪I'm running with the hellbeasts♪

♪I'm running with them♪

Octavia scoffed internally. Speaking of irony! A song about hellbeasts right when she's still processing last night's discovery.

A flash of gold caught her eye. Her arm was glowing again.

Shit!

Octavia quickly stuffed the rest of her breakfast into her mouth.