24 Hours Before Lamia's Absence
The MacLeod duplex was filled with tension. The air was thick with unspoken fears and rising emotions as Lamia and Catherine stood at opposite ends of the living room, their voices sharp with frustration. Hadrain leaned against the fireplace, his arms crossed as he silently observed the escalating argument.
"Cathy, love, I need to go," Lamia pleaded, his midnight blue eyes filled with desperation. "It's my friends we're talking about. They need me to solve this issue. I thought you would understand—it's been so long since I've spoken to them."
Catherine, her brownish eyes dark with worry, folded her arms. She wasn't convinced. A call from the past was about to disrupt their peaceful life, and she couldn't allow it. Not when the shadows of their enemies still loomed.
"That isn't enough reason to go," she countered. "You have a family here. What if something happens to you? What if this is a trap? Lamia, you're not just a friend anymore—you're a husband, a father. We will suffer if you don't return."
Lamia sighed, rubbing his temples. He turned to Hadrain, his expression pleading. "Won't you say something, Hadrain? And by the way, aren't I immortal now? So what's there to fear?"
Hadrain's golden eyes darkened. He uncrossed his arms and took a step forward.
"Didn't you say Abigail was alive?" he asked, his tone grave. "And we all know how brutal she was. She was our biggest enemy. We can't let you get scratched—not when we don't even know if you're truly immortal. There could be a weapon out there that can still harm you."
Lamia opened his mouth to argue, but Hadrain grasped his wrist firmly. "I fought through countless spells to bring you back from the dead, Lamia. Do you know what I had to do to bring you here? Please, don't go."
Catherine stepped beside Hadrain, nodding. "You're not going. End of discussion."
Lamia's frustration deepened. He ran a hand through his red hair, exhaling sharply.
"Cathy, Hadrain… I have mastered my powers," he reasoned. "I know every aspect of them. What is there to fear?"
He turned to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room, trailing his fingers along its edges. The glass shimmered, glowing faintly. His voice dropped to a whisper, sorrow bleeding into every word.
"I need to find out if Lucinda is alive. Recently, I've started feeling our bond again—it's almost like she's out there, breathing. I miss her, Cathy. I miss her so much."
Hadrain clenched his fists, his heart aching at the sight of Lamia's pain. But he hadn't even revealed his own burden yet. Lucifer, the King of Hell—his own father—had condemned his love for Lamia. The demons were whispering of war, and Hadrain knew the cost of defying them.
Lucifer would rather see Lamia dead than let his son love him.
Hadrain hadn't told anyone. How could he? Was he supposed to look into Lamia's beautiful midnight blue eyes and say, My father wants you dead. He's coming for you. No. He couldn't do that. He wouldn't do that.
Catherine, sensing the inevitable, bit her lip. Lamia had made up his mind. There was no changing it.
She sighed, stepping closer. "Just promise me," she murmured, gripping his hands. "If anything goes wrong, you'll call for us immediately. No excuses. No heroics."
Hadrain swallowed hard, his jaw tightening. "Promise us, Lamia."
Lamia smiled faintly, placing his hand over Hadrain's heart. "I promise, my love."
Catherine, trying to lighten the mood, grinned. "Besides, I haven't even gotten my final moment with you yet. The twins and I have been waiting for our turn."
Lamia exhaled softly. How could he say no?
The garden was bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. The scent of blooming roses and lavender filled the air as Lamia, Catherine, and Hadrain settled onto the wooden swing. The swing creaked as Catherine leaned her head against Lamia's shoulder, sighing contentedly.
"You better not come back looking different," she teased.
"I'll still be the same Lamia," he reassured her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter interrupted them. Julian and Jazmine, their twin children, came sprinting into the garden. Their bright blue eyes—so much like their father's—sparkled with joy as they threw themselves into Lamia's arms.
"Daddy!" Jazmine giggled, pressing her tiny hands to his cheeks.
Lamia hugged them tightly, his heart swelling with love. "My darlings," he murmured, kissing their foreheads. "Have you been good to your mother?"
Julian puffed his chest proudly. "I protected her from the garden monsters!"
Catherine chuckled. "He means butterflies."
Lamia laughed, his midnight blue eyes gleaming with warmth. But then his smile faltered. How many more moments like this would he have?
Maxandra approached, holding a basket of fresh berries. But her expression was troubled. She knew what happened to her husband, Charles, the moment they stepped into Valemont City. Misfortunes had followed them ever since. And now, Lamia was heading back.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice laced with sadness.
Lamia took her hands. "Yes, Mother. I have to go."
She sighed, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Then be safe, my son."
Hadrain, clearly troubled, stepped forward. His face was unusually serious. "I can't let you go without giving you this."
He pulled out a necklace—a sapphire pendant, shimmering under the sun. He fastened it around Lamia's neck, then smirked.
"This is so you don't forget that your sexy, handsome, charming, powerful, and loving husband is waiting for you."
Lamia chuckled, arching a brow. "You forgot annoying."
Hadrain gasped dramatically. "How dare you? I take back my gift."
Lamia grabbed the necklace protectively. "Too late. It's mine now."
Hadrain softened, pressing their foreheads together. "Come back to me."
"I will."
But deep down, Lamia feared this might be the last time. But isn't it what he said on the day of the dreadful battle and didn't he return?
With one last glance at his family, he stepped back, waved—and vanished.
PRESENT DAY
Slyvia stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat. Lamia was here, standing before her. But then—a vision consumed her.
She saw Lamia, trapped in a dimension filled with horrors beyond comprehension. His body was torn apart, blood pooling beneath his chained form. His screams echoed, desperate and broken.
And then, she saw the MacLeod household.
Hadrain—stabbed through the chest, his lifeless body pinned to the wall.
Catherine—slashed beyond recognition.
The children—mangled, their bodies pecked at by ravens.
Slyvia gasped, the vision shattering. Reality came rushing back. She stumbled, her eyes wide with terror.
"Lamia… GO BACK! NOW!" she shrieked.
Lamia frowned, confused. "What—"
But then—
A red beam tore through the sky, enveloping everything in its path. The world turned to chaos.
And Lamia knew.
The worst has come and he might be in danger..