As I glanced down at the blood spilling from my side, I touched it to feel if it was real since the attack was so quick I didn't even see her.

"Ten-percent…. You want to know why I know you haven't changed?"

"W-Why?"

"You have yet to come out and say that you were such a horrible person in your past life. You didn't even own up to your mistakes, and now you just want to change? Can you get anymore selfish than that," My aunt maliciously chuckled before disappearing yet again, but this time, I felt a slash cut the side of my neck.

No…

Blood spurted out from it, nearly signaling my death as my body collapsed to the side, limp and as pale as a radish.

"I'm sorry, but you aren't dying yet," The woman's voice tickled my ears as she grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and yanked me up onto my feet.

I checked my neck to see why I hadn't died and was instead feeling better, but what I felt made me gulp down a significant drop of saliva.

My wound had been cauterized instantly by a few lingering black flames that slowly began to fall off of my neck like dead skin.

"You won't die until I give you permission, alright?" The woman smiled menacingly as she brought me close to her face by my collar.

Tears welled up in my eyes as she pushed me away, ready to start this process all over again, not even giving me a sliver of time to recover mentally.

"You died at twenty-five percent, but only because I slashed your neck… I wonder how big a hole would be opened in your torso if I went at fifty… maybe seventy-five… don't worry, you won't die, but you might be in a bit of pain,"

Her smile was terrifying as it reminded me of the devil I had always been warned about and warned to avoid, no matter the cost.

Especially in my past life, as the empress, my advisor would always say to avoid any person who looks like they would offer you a shady deal… and if I had to imagine what they looked like, I'd say this was it.

"A-Are you the devil?" I stuttered, my eyes dilated into two tiny pupils that quivered with so much fear you'd think I'd have passed out by now.

"I can be it if need be… if that is what it takes to get revenge for what you did to my little sister-"

All of a sudden, a flash of light beamed down from the sky, separating both the devil and me, acting as my savior as he looked at me with calm and welcoming pupils.

"The-The hero…" I stuttered as a man with wavy golden hair, excellent olive skin, and beautiful glowing star-like eyes appeared before me.

My heart almost began to race as he walked towards me, stretching out his hand with every bit of intention to assist me with this battle.

"Hey, move out of the fucking way… you goddamn feathery bastard," My aunt glared from behind him, but he didn't waiver as he soon reached me, and I felt a strong urge to take his hand.

But nevertheless….

"I can't. My mother said not to trust you, heroes…." I muttered, and the man's face instantly shifted into that of a disappointed glare that looked down on me.

I stumbled back onto my ass and quivered as he slowly backed away, the warm and luxurious feeling from before immediatley exiting my body.

"Disgusting little bitch," He muttered through gritted teeth before turning towards my aunt, who had lunged towards him with black daggers in hand.

Ting

He caught both of them effortlessly and stared down at the woman's cold eyes, both ready to start a war if necessary.

"You know me better… why do you hold back so much?" The man tauntingly asked, his voice like a grater as it scraped the inside of my ears from how annoying it was.

"Because this entire field would go up in flames… tch," My aunt clicked her tongue as the man let go of her weapons, and they both took a step away, staring at each other for just a bit.

But this sweet moment of narrow relaxation was more than enough for me to pass out, and the last thing I saw was a beam of light traveling up into the sky.

…

Bum bum… bum bum… bum bum… bum bum… bum bum…

My heartbeat was louder than ever, beating like a heavenly drum within my chest, attempting to break free from my ribs and grow louder than ever.

It was bodacious and grand, but it soon stopped as I swiftly opened my eyes and found a woman with dark blue hair sitting on the edge of my bed.

"A-Auntie?" I cautiously called out to her, now knowing the truth about my family.

Her face slowly turned towards me, and her calm and light smile nearly made me cry as I lunged into her arms, the warmth of her body comforting me as I was slowly soothed to a relaxed position.

"I'm sorry you had to learn this way… and Charna was way too harsh. She was the one who hated you the most since she is pretty protective of Lucy, even if that be from the shadows. And don't worry; there are only a few who hate you. Most either don't care, and the rest have forgiven you like your mothers."

"Then… what about you?"

"I genuinely don't care about what happened in the past. I mean, Lucy is right here today, so it could've only served as something to help her grow stronger than before… though, I still feel a bit uncomfortable at the thought of her being tortured."

I swiftly began to shiver from fear as I slowly looked up at the woman who quickly changed the subject and began to stroke my hair lightly.

"Just get some rest for now…."

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