LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 57: Chapter 55 : The Bargain
The forest was eerily silent after the rogues vanished. An uneasy truce settled between the four as they stood in a rough circle, all wary, each filled with questions but unwilling to break the silence first.
Luna's eyes remained on Dorothy, studying the old woman who, with a single wave of her hand, had proven her power and control over life and death.
Dorothy's gaze softened as she looked at Luna, something ancient and heavy resting in her eyes, as if she carried the weight of ages upon her shoulders. Finally, she broke the silence, her voice a mixture of resignation and sorrow.
"I suppose you deserve to know the truth, Goddess," Dorothy said, a touch of bitterness in her tone. "Not just about me but about what led me here, to this day, standing against the blood of my own line."
Luna raised an eyebrow, the sharpness of her attention unyielding. "Your line? So this isn't just about covens or territory, then," she murmured, piecing together what she could from the cryptic statement.
Dorothy's nod was slow, her expression pained. "No, Luna. It's not just that. My son, Quintz, was once like you, thrust into the world of mortals for his trial and I followed him there, desperate to protect him. He was powerful, passionate. But our world... it wasn't kind to him. Wolves... your kind... stripped him of his life, his dignity, all that he held dear. And his son, my grandson Eric—" her voice broke slightly, but she continued, "—was taken in the chaos."
The gravity of her words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. As Dorothy's story began to unfold, Luna's heart sank. How could it be possible that two immortals, from opposing races, had crossed paths during their human trials?
The coincidence was staggering, yet it begged the question of why she had never been informed of this by the other gods. Was this why, despite her desperate pleas, her elders had forced her back, believing there could be no love between their races, sworn enemies for centuries?
The weight of the revelations crashed over her, flooding her with shock and confusion. How could this be possible?
Timothy shared a concerned glance with Alex, noting the pallor that washed over Luna's face as Dorothy continued. The tension in Alex's jaw relaxed slightly, but his eyes remained dark and focused on Dorothy, awaiting the full extent of her tale. A flicker of concern grew within him, sensing the emotional toll Dorothy's words were taking on Luna.
With a heavy heart, Dorothy looked down, her voice softening further. "My trial ended when Eric and I died in your kind's blood massacre—Eric, my mortal grandson who was nothing but a human. Quintus was supposed to perish alongside us, but cruel fate intervened, and instead, he ran rampant, killing wolves wherever he went. I lost them both—my only family, erased in an instant. And you, Luna, convicted him without a second thought, casting his soul into Hell, where he endured unimaginable torment." As she lifted her gaze, something darker flickered in her eyes. "For years, I listened as he suffered, his cries echoing across the realms."
Luna clenched her fists, a tumult of anger and guilt swirling within her. "I was fulfilling my duty! You know judgment must be impartial! Your son—he killed countless wolves! You can't deny that!"
Dorothy's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger igniting within them. "Duty, you say? How simple it must be for you wolf gods to dispense justice without feeling its consequences. But for us—" she paused, her gaze drifting into the distance as if lost in memories long buried. "I saw an opportunity to give him life again. I used every ounce of my power to pull him from Hell, to bring him into my coven and give him purpose."
Alex shifted, his voice low and tense. "And now he's out there, sowing hatred and vengeance because of your actions?"
Dorothy's head bowed. "Yes," she admitted, a tremor of regret in her voice. "I had hoped he would find peace in this new life. But instead, hatred consumed him from within, far worse than anything Hell could have inflicted. He is blinded by rage, and now he threatens not only the wolves but the very existence of all witches. Every supernatural being connected to us is at risk."
Luna watched Dorothy carefully, her voice steady but weighed down by the gravity of the situation. "So, that's why you've come. To stop him before it's too late?"
Dorothy nodded solemnly. "To protect him and everyone else. He has already caused too much harm, and I can't stand by and watch him destroy himself—or anyone else—any longer."
A tense silence hung in the air as the four absorbed her words. Timothy was the first to break it, his usual sarcasm muted. "So... let me get this straight. The guy we're after is some ancient warlock you pulled out of Hell? And now he's on a vendetta against anyone he believes wronged him?"
Dorothy sighed, nodding. "Yes, and he has unleashed chaos beyond what I anticipated. He's gathering allies, warping their minds with his hatred, turning them into weapons. If he succeeds, he could unleash something that not even I could stop."
Alex turned to Luna, a silent understanding passing between them. "Then we end this," he declared, his voice resolute. "We stop him before he tears our worlds apart."
Luna took a steadying breath, the weight of her earlier decisions settling heavily on her shoulders. She had condemned Quintz to Hell, believing she had fulfilled her duty. Now, she faced the consequences of that choice in a way she never imagined.
Dorothy regarded Luna with reluctant respect. "You and I may never see eye to eye. Somewhere deep down, I know this wasn't your intention, but everything we face now is because of choices made long ago. For the sake of our worlds, I hope we can put our history aside."
Luna nodded, a sliver of uncertainty flickering in her gaze. "Then let's find him. Together."
But before Luna could say more, Dorothy raised her hand. "I must take my leave first. To held my end of the bargain - I will help the poisoned wolves first and As for Quintz, you know where to find him. I will meet you there. I hope you hold your end of bargain too"
As Dorothy spoke, a shimmer surrounded her, and before anyone could react, she disappeared as suddenly as she had arrived, the locket Luna held turning to ash and dissipating into thin air.
Timothy frowned, turning to Luna with a hint of doubt. "Are you sure she's helping us? Or is she just running away? like she is luring us into a trap and won't come there ."
Luna's expression hardened as she considered Timothy's words, her mind racing with the implications of Dorothy's departure as she said - "I just need her to cure the poisoned ones. It doesn't matter if she comes or not. I can deal with it easily as long as she doesn't back him up."
As she glanced down at the dagger Lucifer had given her, a sense of dread washed over her. Astaroth's essence thrummed within it, and while she had vowed not to kill Quintz, she felt a growing unease. If it came to that, she would be forced to make a choice.
Her thoughts abruptly halted as Alex's hands rested gently on her shoulders, grounding her in the present. He simply nodded, silently affirming his unwavering support, telling her that he was right there beside her.