Isabella Lancaster laughed softly, her laughter sounded like silver bells. She didn't answer his question. Instead, she walked over and wiped a smudge of soot from his cheek with her thumb. "You’ve always had such an overactive imagination, Adrian. Now, sit down. I made your favorite beef stew with those tiny carrots you like. You look like you haven't eaten in years."She pushed a warm bowl in front of him. The smell was intoxicating. It felt so real. Adrian sat down, the weight of the last decade suddenly feeling like a heavy coat he wanted to take off. He spent hours talking to her, pouring out his heart. He told her about the Maw, the monsters, and the years of suffering he had endured.Isabella listened patiently, stroking his hair. "Oh, my poor boy," she sighed. "You’ve been carrying so much. But you don't have to worry about your father anymore. I know you thought he hated you, but he didn't."Adrian looked up, his eyes wide. "Yes mom, I found out the truth.""Yes, son... th

The monster lunged at Adrian, attacking him with actual images of his mother’s actual death, the cold rain on the night she died, and the sound of his own screams.Adrian fell to his knees, clutching his head as the memories tore at him.The shadow creature loomed over Adrian, its many weeping eyes blinking in unison. It didn't strike with claws of bone, it used Adrian's guilt against him.Suddenly, the kitchen disappeared, replaced by the cold, rain-slicked pavement of the night his mother died. The smell of jasmine was replaced by the metallic scent of blood."You could not save me, Adrian," the monster’s voice whispered, now sounding exactly like his mother in her final moments. "You stood there and watched. You are the reason I am dead."Adrian fell to his knees, his hands clutching his head. The memory was so vivid he could feel the rain soaking through his clothes. He saw her pale face over and over again."And your father," the creature hissed, circling him like a shark. "You l

Lyra lunged. She moved like lightning... Her blade dismantled his armour with one clean stroke. Another stroke sent him crashing into his throne, the ancient stone shattering into rubble."Go back to the hell that made you," Lyra whispered.She plunged her sword into the floor. A massive wave of violet energy rippled outward eradicating the darkness.Lyra’s eyes snapped open in the real world. She bolted upright, gasping for air, her hand still gripping the sword so hard her knuckles were white. Lyra sat trembling on the grass as the violet glow on her sword slowly faded, but her knuckles remained white as she gripped the hilt. She looked around the clearing, her eyes wide and unfocused, as if she were still seeing the crumbling walls of her old palace."Lyra? Are you back with me?" Adrian said as he reached out and placed a firm hand on her shoulder."I... I think so," Lyra whispered, her voice shaking. She looked at her hands, then at Adrian. "How did I get there? It felt so real.

Before the Guardian could react, Adrian’s body erupted in a violent explosion of purple light. Massive, glowing energy chains lashed out from Adrian’s chest, wand wrapped around the monster."Lyra! NOW!" Adrian screamed.The guardian lost focua ansd she regained her feet. Lyra scrambled to her feet. She poured every last drop of her energy into her blade and swung it as hard as she could. The shockwave hit the Guardian distabilizing him even more... In the blink of an eye, Adrian dragged him through the rift.The world inverted as they went through the rift and soon they were back in the real world.They slammed into the black sands of the human beach, skidding dozens of feet through the salt spray. The air was fresh, cool, and filled with the scent of the sea.The Guardian groaned, trying to push himself up. But as he moved, a horrific sound of grinding stone filled the air.He let out a blood-curdling scream of pure agony.Without the magical atmosphere of the Maw to sustain his

"Where are we going to find that kind of money? These events are for the wealthiest people on the planet. We have six hours!"Adrian walked toward his car. He didn't look worried."Trust me, Lyra," Adrian said quietly as he opened the door for her. "Let's just focus on finding the key first."They arrived at the Blackwood Estate an hour later. The mansion was huge and every corner screamed wealth. Expensive sports cars and limousines lined the driveway. Men in thousand-dollar tuxedos and women dripping in diamonds walked up the red carpet.Then there was Adrian.He hadn't had time to change. His suit was dark and well-cut, but it was wrinkled from the battle in the Maw.There were small, singed burn marks on the sleeves from the Guardian's lightning, and his shoes were dusty. Beside him, Lyra looked breathtaking, lucky for her she could renew her clothes.They reached the front of the line, where a massive man stood like a stone wall. His name tag read Brutus, and he looked more li