Chapter 112: Chapter 112

EVANGELISTA

Daran stayed silent. But I could see his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Finally, he muttered softly, his voice almost a hiss.

"Jonea’s seal... it's starting to break."

I froze. "What?!" It felt like I’d been hit by a truck. "How is that even possible?"

Daran finally lifted his head, and the pain in his eyes was unmistakable. "I let myself believe in a false hope," he said quietly. "I thought if the seal broke on its own, I wouldn’t have to force it open. I could just... consume her."

Anger surged through me instantly. "Then why did you go after those werewolves?" I demanded sharply.

Daran stared at me, his face unreadable. "They weren’t just werewolves. They were magical creatures sent by someone to kill Jonea. She misunderstood, thinking I was hunting werewolves. That’s what hurt her so much."

I clenched my fists. "Daran, you’re an idiot! Why didn’t you explain everything to her so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea?"

He gave a bitter smile, one full of self-loathing. "What difference does it make? To her, I’m still a monster."

His words left me speechless.

Daran stood from his chair and walked to the large window at the far end of the room. The sunlight streaming through the glass framed his silhouette. "I was born a beast," he said quietly. "But I dreamed of being someone’s future. Every time I look at Jonea, I feel calm. Like all the problems I face aren’t as big as I thought."

He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Over these past few months, I’ve been able to control myself. I didn’t turn into a monster even though I didn’t consume anything. But the closer I got to her, the more I realized one thing."

I held my breath. "What’s that?"

Daran lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly. "That I’m an even greater danger to her. This isn’t something I can just ignore. And that night, when I couldn’t hold back anymore... I saw hope."

"The seal…" I whispered.

"The seal started to unravel, though it hasn’t fully broken yet," he continued. "I felt like I’d found hope. But…" He shut his eyes tightly. "Fear crept into my heart. If the seal fully breaks, I could consume her. I could become immortal without worrying about turning into a monster. But I’d lose her forever."

Silence hung thick in the room. His words felt like a blade poised to strike.

I stepped closer and stood behind him. "Daran, listen to me. You can’t keep doing this. Jonea deserves to know the truth."

"Do you think she’ll forgive me after hearing it?" Daran turned to face me, his eyes full of pain. "She’s already suffering enough. I don’t want to add to her burden."

"By hiding the truth from her, you’re only making everything worse!" I snapped, my voice rising. "Do you think she’ll be happier with all these lies? Do you think staying silent will fix anything?"

Daran turned back to the window. "I just want to protect her."

I scoffed, frustrated. "And how exactly are you protecting her, huh? By sulking and wallowing in self-pity? Daran, you’re not a child anymore! You can’t keep running away from your problems."

He didn’t respond. He just stood there, silent and unmoving like a statue.

Leaving Daran’s room, my heart burned with frustration. He was so stubborn it was infuriating. How could he think everything would just resolve itself? Didn’t he realize his silence was only hurting Jonea more?

The sky had darkened by the time I stepped outside Daran’s gloomy house. I glanced back at it, hoping Jonea wouldn’t see me here. I didn’t want to see her as broken as she’d been earlier. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over.

Daran needed to face this reality. And if he wouldn’t, then I’d do it myself. I’d make sure Jonea knew the truth—and I’d make sure Daran didn’t end up becoming the monster he feared.

Because in the end, the truth is always better than a sweet lie. Lies only fester, deepening the pain.

*

DARAN

In the quiet, my thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning. The image of Jonea’s terrified expression haunted me.

"Monster…" I murmured, repeating her word.

I closed my eyes, replaying that night—the moment the seal began to crack. Hope and fear battled within me. If her seal broke completely, I’d gain eternal power. But at the same time, I knew I’d lose Jonea.

And losing Jonea… was a nightmare I couldn’t bear to imagine.

"Jonea…" I whispered softly, barely audible.

My chest ached. For the first time in my long life, I felt weak. Not from a lack of strength, but because my heart was fragile when it came to her. Jonea was my only hope, and the only reason I feared who I was.

*

OWEN

I sat in the living room, frustration bubbling inside me. This house, once my sanctuary, had become a revolving door for people I didn’t want around. And it was all because of Uncle Daran’s mess. A mess that, in my opinion, had grown too big to ignore. But no one was stepping up to fix it.

I rubbed my temples, letting out an annoyed sigh. Even Eve, who was usually calm and reliable, had been swept up in the chaos. If anything happened to her because of this, I wouldn’t stand by and watch. Being a bystander was no longer an option.

And Jonea… She frustrated me most of all. She kept avoiding us, shutting herself off. I understood she was hurt, betrayed, and probably felt abandoned. But this avoidance was only making things worse. If she kept this up, she’d sink deeper into uncertainty and despair. I couldn’t let her spiral any further.

Grabbing my jacket, I left the house.

When I reached campus, I headed straight for the university garden—the spot where Jonea often isolated herself lately. Sure enough, there she was, sitting alone under a large tree, staring blankly at the grass in front of her.

I stopped and observed her for a moment. Her face was pale, her expression tired. She looked more fragile than ever, like glass ready to shatter.

"Jonea," I called out as I approached.

She flinched, turning quickly to face me. Her face paled even more when she saw me. "Owen? Why are you here?" she asked softly.

"Come on," I said firmly. "We’re going out for dinner."

"I’m not hungry," she replied quickly, looking away.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "You don’t have a choice, Jonea. You need to eat, and we need to talk."

"I don’t want to talk, Owen. Just leave."

I ignored her protests. Gently but firmly, I grabbed her arm. "Enough of this. You’re not locking yourself away anymore. Come on."