Chapter 2 HAVENLY

Chapter two(2)

In a house as vast as the sky, darkness loomed, yet a sense of kindness lingered. Gwendolyn, an extraordinary woman with flowing white hair, sat in a majestic wing chair, her eyes fixed on an empty space. She wore a long, white gown that cascaded to the ground, exuding an air of anticipation for the arrival of the Devil's bride.

By her side stood Sheryl, Gwendolyn's ever-present personal assistant, her hair neatly tied in a ponytail. Together, they awaited the mysterious bride, their roles intertwined in the enigmatic events unfolding.

"They should be on their way already," Gwendolyn uttered with a mischievous grin.

Sheryl, with an eerie tone, inquired, "Where do you think the bride will emerge from?" Her gaze remained fixed on a particular spot.

"We must wait and see," Gwendolyn replied, settling back into her chair. Suddenly, she swiftly rose, her movements regal, and Sheryl followed suit, trailing behind.

As they walked, Gwendolyn abruptly halted and turned to face Sheryl. "Something feels amiss, don't you agree?" she asked, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. Sheryl bowed her head, avoiding direct eye contact. "I dare not make any suggestions," she replied, her eyes fixated on the floor.

Gwendolyn's smirk widened before she turned her attention forward. There, she spotted a figure-a young girl, unclothed and covered in blood.

Gwendolyn took a bold step forward and, in an instant, stood face to face with the girl. Sheryl cautiously approached, refraining from using her powers in Gwendolyn's presence. Gwendolyn extended her hand, gently placing it on the girl's head. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, stepping back to observe the girl.

Raising her left hand, Gwendolyn summoned a gleaming white sword, pointing it towards the girl's trembling neck. The girl recoiled in fear, shaking her head nervously.

"She is not the chosen one, but there is something peculiar about her," Gwendolyn remarked, lowering the sword. She folded her right hand for a moment, then unfolded it, staring intently at her palm. A figure materialized on her palm, questioning, "Why am I here?" Gwendolyn quickly shook her hand, causing the figure to vanish. "The second girl has lost her way here," Gwendolyn muttered.

"Perhaps she is not meant for Lucifer," Sheryl suggested with a nonchalant shrug, never taking her gaze away from the spot she had been fixated on.

"No, even if she wasn't meant for Lucifer, she was supposed to arrive here first," Gwendolyn murmured, her breaths heavy. She knew something was amiss. She refocused her attention on the girl before her, moving closer and taking hold of her hands. Gwendolyn stared into her palm, and to her surprise, an alphabet appeared: "HAZARDOUS."

She turned to face Sheryl, who immediately bowed her head in submission. Gwendolyn gazed at her for a moment before speaking, "You will need to go somewhere now."

"As your lordship, ma'am," Sheryl replied obediently. Gwendolyn's eyes bloomed with different colors, accompanied by a thunderous crack. In an instant, Sheryl disappeared.

Sheryl found herself standing in a dim forest, fear enveloping her. She looked around, but there was no one in sight. "Where am I?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You're in the land of Mercus," Gwendolyn's voice echoed, reaching Sheryl's ears.

Sheryl looked around in shock, but she couldn't see Gwendolyn, only hearing her voice.

"You can't see me, just do as I say," Gwendolyn's voice instructed when she noticed Sheryl searching. Sheryl nodded in agreement. "Face your back and go straight," Gwendolyn's voice directed, and Sheryl followed the instructions.

After walking for a few minutes, Sheryl heard Gwendolyn's voice again. "Stop!" Gwendolyn shouted, and Sheryl immediately halted.

"Turn to your left and take five steps. You will hear the voice of a crying girl. Search for her," Gwendolyn's voice guided. Sheryl followed the instructions, taking five steps to her left. After a short while, she found a small girl crying loudly. Sheryl approached the girl, crouched down to her level, wiped away her tears, and gave her a dry smile. "Stop crying, dear," she said, gently comforting her. Sheryl then disappeared, carrying the girl with her.

"Welcome," Gwendolyn greeted as Sheryl appeared in HAVENLY.

"Drop her," Gwendolyn instructed, and Sheryl carefully set the girl down. Gwendolyn approached the girl, staring straight into her eyes. A faint thunderous sound emanated from the girl's eyes, causing Gwendolyn to shift her gaze and step back.

"What happened?" Sheryl asked, noticing Gwendolyn's reaction.

"I don't know," Gwendolyn muttered, raising her hands. A sword materialized in her grasp. She brought the sword close to the girl's neck, but the girl remained motionless, displaying no fear. She simply stared fearlessly at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn's eyes then shifted to the girl's hands, where she was holding a white piece of cloth.

Gwendolyn's eyes widened as she realized the significance of the girl's words. "Wait, you can talk?" Gwendolyn asked, surprised by the girl's ability.

The girl shrugged, responding, "Isn't that normal?"

Gwendolyn's mind raced as she connected the dots. "She's the bride for Lucifer," Gwendolyn whispered to Sheryl, her voice filled with concern.

Sheryl looked at the girl, her gaze filled with curiosity. "But something feels off about her," Gwendolyn admitted.

"What do you mean?" Sheryl inquired, eager to understand.

Gwendolyn hesitated before revealing, "She must spend more than two years here before she can speak."

As Gwendolyn moved closer to the girl, she stared into her eyes, and an image appeared on her eyeball. Gwendolyn took a step back, her voice trembling. "It's Loretta's doing," she declared.

"Loretta?" Sheryl repeated, trying to recall any information about her.

"Yeah, Loretta. She's one of the most powerful Shamans on Earth," Gwendolyn explained, her voice filled with urgency. "She can turn good into bad, and she's capable of anything. She colluded with the Ling family to turn their daughter into the chosen one, because they want her to return safely."

Sheryl's mind was filled with confusion as she tried to make sense of the situation. "What do you mean by that?" she questioned, feeling like everything was an unsolved puzzle.

Gwendolyn took a deep breath and began to explain. "I mentioned earlier that something felt strange. The Ling family is responsible for leading Lucifer's wife astray. When the first girl arrived, she was supposed to say something because she wasn't the chosen one. Because of her weak soul and fear of the Haven sword held her back."

Sheryl's curiosity grew, and she asked, "What will happen now?"

"We need to keep the chosen one here for seventh years before sending her back," Gwendolyn replied. "If we send her back after sixteen years, she'll become deaf due to what the Ling family did to her."

Determination filled Gwendolyn's voice as she turned to Sheryl. "I will make sure to deal with the Ling family for what they did to the chosen one," she added firmly.

Curiosity still lingering, Sheryl requested, "What will you do now?"

Gwendolyn's smirk turned sinister as she replied, "I will send their daughter back to the world as the chosen one, and I will make life unbearable for her until the chosen one is ready to return to Earth."

Sheryl's worried expression was evident as she asked, "What if Lucifer fell in love with her?"

Gwendolyn took a step closer to Sheryl, her tone firm. "I will never allow such a thing to happen," she declared, determined to protect the chosen one.