Chapter 1

Kianna is sitting in a bench with a small smile on her face as she observes the people of Wyverlight celebrating under the full moon. It's the 30th anniversary of their town, and the festive feast is in full swing.

As midnight approaches, only a few people remain in the park and Kianna decides that it's time for her return home.

While walking back home, she continues to watch the people around her. She appreciates the lively yet peaceful environment. No violence, no cruelty—just a sense of community.

This is what she desires: a place where she can live without fear, surrounded by laughter and warmth.

Kianna reach her home and saw her grandmother, Granny Marie is already asleep. Her grandmother left the park early due to exhaustion.

Kianna's parents have been gone for years. Kianna was only 5 years old when they died and Granny Marie has been her sole parent and companion ever since. Her granny have been taking care of her like she is her own child.

She walk towards her grandmother to kiss her cheeks before preparing for bed, as she needs to wake up early tomorrow, knowing that tomorrow is her special day. Granny Marie promised to cook her favorite dish.

"I can't wait for tomorrow." she whispers as darkness started to engulfed her.

But her anticipation turns to alarm when Granny Marie wakes her abruptly in the middle of her deep slumber. Yawning and rubbing her eyes, Kianna notices the worry etched on her grandmother's face.

Kianna's head was clouded with confusion as her eyebrows furrowed but before she can ask her grandma what was wrong, she heard a commotion erupts outside.

A lot of people are panicking. They are running, and shouting for help and some of them are even crying.

Kianna's chest tightens with anxiety. She doesn't fully understand the situation, but a sense of impending danger swallow her.

"Granny, what's happening?! Why are people screaming and running?" Anna asks as her hands tremble from fear and uncertainty.

"We need to leave, Kianna! The rogues won't stop until they've wiped us out. We need to go to the forest. I know a place where we can hide." Granny Marie urgently explains.

After she heard those words from her grandma, her body stiffened. Rouges! The rouges are attacking their town!

Her grandma is right, those rouges will not stop until they'll kill all of them. If ever those rouges will spare any of them, they will surely turn them into their slaves. Becoming slaves by those rouges is like facing death.

Kianna heart is beating faster that it seems like it was going to burst.

As they headed to the forest, Kianna can't help herself but to feel pain as she heard the countless screams of the town's people, including children.

The peace and laughters that she admired are all gone and is replaced by chaos and screams; begging for help.

Kianna and her grandmother continue running to the forest; ignoring all the pleas they hear. Because they know that they are also helpless; they can't do anything to save them.

"We're almost there, my dear. I promise that I will do anything to keep you safe. " Her grandma comforted her.

But as they rush into the forest, Kianna feels a sudden excruciating pain in her chest. It's as if her heart is being squeezed and torn apart. She collapses, gasping for breath.

Her grandma panics. "Kianna! What happened?! Are you hurt?" Her granny Marie asked worriedly.

The pain intensifies causing Kianna to curl up like a fetus and tears streaming down her face. Her vision blurs, and she hears Granny Marie's voice, telling her something but it's distant. The agony consumes her.

"AHH!" Kianna screamed in pain. Kianna's face was covered in endless tears.

"P-please... s-stop... it h-hurts" she pleads as her body tremble.

Her grandmother's soothing touch and words barely register. She would love to hear it but the pain is too much to bear.

"P-please s-stop" she pleaded once more. The excruciating pain persists until it gradually fades away.

"I'm sorry." said an unfamiliar and baritone voice. Kianna couldn't determine its source; she was too weak to give attention to the sound.

Kianna wanted to speak but her body was slowly succumbing to darkness. Before the darkness completely engulfed her, she saw her grandmother's warm smile.

"I love you, my dear. " she read on her Granny Marie's lips. And as she finally surrendered to the void, powerful arms lifted her from the ground.

°°°°°°°°

Kianna woke up in an unfamiliar room. It was white, and the scent of medicine hung in the air.

Where am I? She thought.

Anna tried to stand, but her legs wobbled.

The door suddenly opened, revealing a man and a woman. Relief washed over their faces when they saw her.

"You're awake. How do you feel?" the woman asked.

"Still a bit weak... my grandmother? Where's Grandma Marie?!" Kianna's voice trembled with fear.

The man tapped the woman's shoulder before facing Kianna. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"I'm sorry, but your grandmother has passed away. " he said, grief evident in his eyes.

Tears stream down Kianna's face. She cried in grief. She couldn't accept it. It couldn't be true.

She was with me in the woods. We were running, and— Kianna covered her mouth as the memory flooded back.

Kianna suddenly collapsed when she felt a sudden pain throughout her body, she gasped for breath.

"No, she can't be dead... she can't be. "Anna cried out in grief.

The man and woman cared for her throughout the whole day but her grief was overwhelming. She had lost her family, her home—everything.

"Thank you so much for all your help but when can I leave?" Kianna asked the next day. She had no idea where to go after this. She had no family left and no home to return to. However, she can't just stay here forever, she needs to go.

"You are not leaving, Kianna. From now on, you're with us. " the doctor said.

"Stay here with us. You'll be more safe here. " added the man who had saved her.

"Where am I?" she asked the man.

"You're in Brimstone Mountain, Kianna. Welcome to the House of Obelia." he said gently.

And then it hit her. She was in the mansion of the Serafine Pack!