Crimson Moon: Shadows Of The Past

The night has descended and with the arms of heavy darkness, gradually, it enveloped the whole world. Although it's a summer night, tonight the night air seemed to be unusually gloomy and cold. Somewhere in the middle of the spine-chilling darkness, the heavy scent of blood curdled in the air.

The surroundings were dyed in red. Old and new puddles of blood were forming everywhere. Looking at it One could undoubtedly imagine what had transpired not long ago. Corpses were scattered everywhere. Bloodied limbs and stumps were littered across the areas, and In the midst of this nightmare someone seemed to still be breathing, although faintly.

Through his way of breathing it could be said that he didn't not have much time left, his body riddled with wounds and the blood seeping into his clothes, drenching the fabric pooled beneath him, dripping off of his body in slow increments could say he did not have much time left to live. His whole body was riddled with wounds; blood seeped into his clothes forming a puddle beneath him as it dripped off of him, in slow increments. There didn't seem to be any place on his body that was not wounded.

He is starting to lose his consciousness slowly. He is struggling very hard not to lose it. It seems like he doesn't wish to die yet. He is still holding onto his last breath desperately.

Suddenly, he hears some rustling noises coming in his direction. He immediately turns alert. Although his face is pale due to the excessive loss of blood, his eyes are fierce. From the intent of killing that is oozing out of his face, it seems as if he has been anticipating their arrival for a long time.

The rustling of the bushes and leaves behind him, alerted him to the presence of a predator stalking his nerves, he struggled to turn, to look up, to move, the realization that he was too weak, gnawed against his eyes, the desperation he felt caused his eyes to glow with remnants of his power as he glared fiercely and bid his time.

He didn't need to wait long, as several people surrounded him quickly; they fanned out in each cardinal direction,they all paused and turned as a man with a glittering green eyes and a scar from left eye to his chin, gnarly in shape and red, seemingly pulsating, strolled into the clearing.

He doesn't have to wait long. They reach him quickly and he is soon surrounded from all sides. They watch him with scorn-filled eyes for some time. After some time has passed, a man with a scar on his face comes forward and stands before him.

The man was tall, a burly muscular frame and grin crossed his gnarly features that seemed to be the very definition of evil as he looked down at him. He is a man with a burly body and a tall stature His eyes look cunning and greedy and the scar on his face only adds to the evilness in him.

The contempt oozing out of the man as he looked down at him, leaked free and he hummed with a pleasantly amused air about him, carefully crouching he scratched the sensitive part of his skin, the gesture caused hives to break out across his neck and travel down at the eerie feeling as the man clicked his tongue amused.

The man looks at him with contempt as if he is looking at someone as inferior as an ant. He unhurriedly crouches in front of the man on the ground and with a tone mixed with haughtiness and some authority, he says "Well, well, well. Look who's here?" he laughed as he snarked mockingly. A haughty tone carried as he continued, "Marcus Markie Muckerson", he taunted as he looked down at him,"I must say that you are really arrogant to think that you could avenge your pack and go against all of us alone, but I do applaud your courage", he laughed again. "For a definition of the word", he added, entertained.

He gradually rose to his feet and looked down at Mark before continuing, "Now look at what this petty arrogance has brought you, all the people you cared for have died, one after the other. Your little lover is dead because of you and now you are also dying. Do you think everything is worth it? Looking at your bravery, I always thought that you would be a good addition to our pack. You know...", he sighed heavily, "I hate to lose talents like you... If only you had behaved well, I would have taken you in, irrespective of your background. You are a true disappointment", he sighed again.

It would have seemed truly moving if it weren't for the leering grin taking up half his face and the hatred in his eyes; Listening to his words filled with false magnanimity anyone would mistake him for a kind elder. But Mark knew of his cruelty, this man wouldn't even blink an eye when killing someone.

Mark still remembered how cruelly he'd killed his entire pack within a single night. He remembered the savage look on this man's face as slaughtered his family with his bare hands, he never hesitated when it came to killing an innocent, be they children or mere babies. The man was a monster.

Ignoring the tragedy his family had been wrought by this man's hand, it hurt to recall the truth, his love and the person he cared for most in the world lay dead, Blake. He couldn't even see where Blake was, what were these monsters doing to his beloved as they cackled manically behind and around him, these cruel monsters, despite knowing that Blake was only human, they'd brutally killed him.

Tears pooled, as he heard his lover's name coming from this monster's mouth, hatred crawled through his mind with energy borne from it and the will of his pain, he struggled to his feet and swaying, faced the cruel visage of a man who thought himself god-like, he barely stood when a strong kick from the man hit him straight in his sternum and he fell to his knees, his attack hardly landing, and blood vomiting he coughed weakly.

On the other hand, after releasing the last bit of his strength, Mark's body falls onto the ground once again and he soon feels his consciousness slowly leaving his body. He knows that his time has come. At this moment a figure suddenly comes into his mind and a tear slips out from the corner of his eyes. He closes his eyes little by little and enters into darkness completely.

The pain that ricocheted through him at the kick, caused what little energy he had to deplete itself immediately as the recoil of that useless attempt to double in on him, and Mark collapsed helplessly, he whined helplessly as the darkness crept in, his vision blurred and the braying cackling laughter followed him as tears slipped out, "Bla-ke", he barely whispered giving into the darkness that beckoned him home.

He wasn't ready to die just yet, he didn't complete his revenge, but he had no strength left, no resistance to put up any longer. He was tired and he lost everything now, it's better to die than to live knowing he failed.

Mark didn't want to die, he hadn't succeeded in getting his revenge, the failure of the one thing that had kept him alive all these years and the love of man he'd met, swept into him, as his consciousness began to fade, the weariness kicked in and his strength left him as the overwhelming feeling of his futile endeavor wrapped around him like a blanket lulling him into the arms of death.

He'd failed.

**********

Below the steep end of an ocean cliff,Violent waves crashed onto the rocks of a steep cliff, the wind rushed around wildly, whirling through the thicket of trees, bushes and grass. The darkened sky bursting with flashes of lightning, rumbling with deafening growls of thunder, a storm brewed, and on this turbulent night, a man rushed down a barely lit path. The path led to a large manor situated at the very edge of the cliff, surrounded by more grassy knolls and both isolated and all encompassing of the grasslands.

The man held a container, gripping it tight enough his very veins stood out as lightning lit up his way, bringing his features into view. He was tall, burly but disfigured given the scar that ran from his left eye to his chin, marring half of his face in red gnarled skin, it sparked a vicious sense of doom, if anyone were to look at him at a distance, they'd be struck in terror.

The man ignored everything around him as he ran down the pathway and crossed a cobbled pathway leading him to a dark wooden door with an ornate gold door-knocker, removing a key from his clothes he unlocked the door and made his way into the house.

Blinking at the sudden brightness as the lights lit up the foyer of where he stood, he shook his head and made his way down a corridor only to reach the bottom step of the spiral staircase leading to the second floor of the large manor. Hurriedly climbing the stairs, taking them two at a time as he bounded up the stairs and reached a darkened hallway, he briskly walked down the way passing several rooms as he headed to his destination.

The heels of his boot provided the staccato rhythm of sound that reverberated from the wooden floorboards; the only sound accompanying him as he reached the last room.

Swallowing he stopped and paid attention to his appearance, breathing in once, twice and then a third time as his heart stopped racing in his sternum, he knocked on the door, and waited even as impatience swirled in his gut.

A beat later a hoarse voice commanded his attention; "Enter!"

The man shivered and nodded once mostly to himself, he opened the door and walked into a dark office barely lit with a small desk-lamp, the occupant of the room, sat on a high-backed chair, the back of his head the only thing visible, as The scarred-man walked into the room.

Puffs of smoke, the only sign of movement filled the room and a cup of tea lay forgotten on the desk, cooling.

"And Alric, what news do you bring?" the man asked, voice dry.

Alric nodded, "He's dead, I, we made sure he died before activating his pack's ability", he promised as he raised the container, "I brought what you asked for", he said and placed the container on the man's desk.

The man laughed raucously, "Finally! Finally", he cheered happily and turned the chair.

Alric swallowed as the only thing visible was the evil grin as the man cackled with glee.

"Alric, rejoice for you shall witness true power", he laughed, "I, Carlton Lewis, have been waiting for this moment for two decades", he laughed as he caressed the container and opened it.

The scent of blood flooded the room, and Alric took a wary step back as the man licked his lips, his arrogance from earlier as he'd watched Mark die vanished as the man, Carlton, picked up the heart, and licked his lips.

'Yeuck', he internally cursed, Alric wasn't a kind person but even as cruel as he was he'd never think to eat a heart.

Carlton, smiled happily and bit into the heart, his earlier elegance disappeared as he devoured the heart, the blood spurting out dribbled down his chin and splattered across his desk, even sliding down in droplets from the lamp looking eerily black by the light of the glow, it darkened the tea and destroyed forgotten documents.

Carlton ignored it all as he licked his lips and continued tearing into the heart, his teeth sinking into the organ as he slurped the remnants of blood and tissue into his mouth.

As the heart disappeared into Carlton's mouth the man sighed happily, "Finally", he said.

Alric nodded for a lack of anything else to do, and waited as the power of the heart would soon activate, he guessed.

Carlton waited, eyes slipping shut, only to snap open, and he choked, clawing at his throat he sent a desperate look at a confused Alric, and hissed.

"What?" Alric asked, as he watched the man curl into himself, his visage crumpling in pain before he threw his head back, his eyes began to bleed, as his pupils shrunk and he screamed.

Alric stumbled back, fear and wariness kicking in as Carlton stood up, the heat in the room escalated and Alric dove for the door, he hardly managed to open it before the screeching scream of the man behind him howled out and he turned and ducked covering himself as the man burst into pieces. Alric fell backwards as he watched the entire room, covered in body parts, blood and tissue, he quivered in fear and scrambled back as one eye rolled off of the surface of the room and made its way to the threshold of the door, staring up at him amidst the river of blood and he cursed; "What in the name of Hell?!"

Mark finds himself standing in a beautiful meadow. There was a large tree in the meadow, its branches casting a shade on the ground. The ground was covered in rich green grass and encircling the meadow were flowers of all types, sun flowers, helenium, lupines and lilies. He looks around in a daze at the beautiful scenery. To him, the surroundings look somewhat familiar. He tries hard to recollect his memories but no matter how hard he tries; he can't seem to remember.

He finally gives up and decides to put that aside in favor of figuring out where he is, he died that much he knew but that this didn't seem like hell.

Suddenly he hears some sound coming from a distance. Curious, slowly, he strode in that direction. Gradually the silhouettes of two young boys come into his sight. He unhurriedly walks towards them.

Little by little their appearance becomes clearer. They appear to be happily engaged in something. One of them looks quite sickly and malnourished.

The clothes he is wearing are dirty and tattered. His dark hair looks messy and unkempt which is in complete contrast to the other boy who looks full of life and well taken care of, with his beautiful golden locks, he looks just like an angel.

Together they look misplaced yet the harmony they are showing can melt anyone's heart whoever sees it. With a single glance, one can tell that they are enjoying each other's company with no knowledge of their differences.

Seeing their happy impressions, Mark was drawn into their world and so, he stands nearby and watches them while they were obvious to his presence.

Unaware of his presence, the children continued to play their game of tag, the younger of the two children seemingly to win each time. But he could tell that the blacked haired child, while seemingly weak, was capable of running fast and was just letting the younger one win. The children continued their game until the sun had reached the horizon. As the sky gradually turns darker, the dark-haired boy thoughtfully reminds his friend, "Blake, it's getting late. You should get back home now. If you're late, someone will know that you have sneaked out of home again, then you will be punished."

The younger boy replied making no move to get off the grass"Don't worry, no one will notice it. I made proper arrangements before coming here". Although Blake answers the boy carelessly, the little bit of disappointment that rises in his eyes doesn't go unnoticed from Mark's eyes.

The dark-haired boy still cannot feel assured. He doesn't want his friend to be punished because of him. Noticing his friend still fretting over this, Blake sighs and finally gives in and gets to his feet. He doesn't want his dear friend to worry anymore. He brushed the dust and grass of his pants and stood before his friend and spoke at last, "Fine. I will listen to you but promise me that we will meet again tomorrow!"

The dark-haired boy hesitated for a few seconds but finally with a big smile on his face, he said,"I promise."

Mark continues to watch as the two children say their goodbyes to each other and half-heartedly leave for their respective homes. The dark-haired boy suddenly stops at the edge of the small meadow, turns around and follows his friend back through the forest, and watches his friend who sneaks in through a small gap in the fence and heads towards the back door of what seems to be a large manor. His eyes follow him until Blake's figure has completely disappeared, he seems reluctant to leave but after a while he turns around and vanishes into the depth of the forest on the other side of the meadow.

The surrounding gradually returns to its usual quietness.

"Did watching those two children remind you how lacking your childhood was?"

Mark, since he was young, has trained himself to detect even the smallest disturbance in his surroundings, but he didn't even realize when this mysterious voice has invaded his defenses which is too dangerous. He immediately becomes alert and looks around to detect any presence nearby.

Suddenly, he looks upward into the branches of the big tree in the middle of the meadow unconsciously, there he sees a woman sitting on a branch of the tree, swinging her legs back and forth, she looks very comfortable.

The woman was ethanal, her body was surrounded by light blue light, her blond hair glowing with white light, where eyes should be filled with golden light, he stumbled back a bit in shock but hurriedly composed himself. He then immediately becomes cautious, looking very defensive.

Watching his guarded reaction, the woman looks amused. She chortles and says lightheartedly "Oh my... I seem to have startled you. Fret not, my boy, I'm not here to harm you."

Although she looks carefree and easygoing, Mark's instincts tell him that this person is dangerous, she was not a human that much was clear not to mention that he could tell how powerful she was. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" With caution, Mark questions her coldly.

"I am Glinda, a Spirit and I am here to help you" she replies. Seeing Mark so defensive, she cannot help but chuckle.

After knowing the woman's identity, he became even more vigilant, there was no way she was a simple spirit. "What is your purpose in bringing me to this place? As far as I know, I should have been dead by now."

"I am innocent" she swears, giving him an innocent look. "You brought me here and now I am here, stuck with you, but you are the one accusing me. Ah! my life is sooo miserable!" she immediately gives him an exaggeratedly pitiful look.

Listening to her dramatic remarks, Mark can't help but roll his eyes inwardly. At the same time, he feels a headache coming.

Spirits, especially the old ones, are known to be extremely nosy who love to meddle in others' business solely for their entertainment. Now, looking at this old busy body, he feels that he is going to have tough days ahead. "I am not here of my own free will." he retorted.

Glinda, the old spirit, who has been waiting for an exciting reaction from him could only jump down from the branch disgruntled, "you're no fun you know"

She floated off the tree and to his side and spoke, "Well...you are not wrong to say that I brought you here. But I am not lying either." She harrumphs "It's your fault that I am here. Your life was so pitiful that I couldn't help myself from intervening and bringing you here. I worked so hard to bring your soul here so that I could save you and you..." She looks away unhappily "Not only did you not thank me but instead accused me repeatedly of you being here, you're Such an ungrateful brat!" she keeps on mumbling "I worked so hard for nothing humph...keeps on accusing me... treating me so harshly humph... accused me... ah! I am so pitiful...young people these days. no respect for the old at all humph..."

Mark was very speechless. He has only questioned her a bit but from what's coming out of her mouth, why does it seem like he is harassing the old. Moreover, any normal person would be defensive like him if an old spirit pops out of nowhere and claims to be his benefactor.

After finishing her long monologue, Glinda turns to him, and with the attitude like an understanding elder, she says "Forget it...I am a good-hearted person. So, I choose to forgive you today for your behavior towards an elder humph..." She then turns to look at him. Her eyes turn serious for a moment. "Your life shouldn't have been like this." Then, her eyes quickly become playful once again. It happens so fast that one would only think of it as an illusion.

"Your life seems to be more pitiful than I have imagined if your so-called happiness is when you didn't have enough to eat and wear" she says teasingly. Mark's body stiffened in shock.

Through her words, Mark finally realizes something. He looks around once again. Finally, he realizes why this place feels so familiar to him. This is the place where he met Mark for the first time, his dearest friend and also his mate.

He looks back at the little figure behind the widow which hasn't moved at all, "Is that Blake?"

"Finally, you remembered Blake, your childhood friend whom you left at the back of your memories." Glinda comments.

"No no..... didn't. I didn't leave him behind, I... I just didn't want him to be hurt because of me, I didn't want to taint his happy life." he hurriedly tries to justify himself not knowing why needed to, just that he wanted to make it clear.

"We both know what the truth is" Glinda snickers slightly and continues "You did it because playing with a human would make you an outcast in your pack, so you choose to leave him behind."

Mark can still remember everything clearly. It's true, he indeed abandoned his only friend. Mark was then 7 years old when they met each other for the first time. He just got adopted by this new pack. He didn't know why no one wanted to play with him. He was strong, fast and he was good at playing games, but no one would invite him to play with them, he was an outcast that no one wanted to play with.

He was bored of having nothing to do everyday and no one to play with so one day he decided to see what was outside the barrier. The pack's beta was married to a witch, and she was responsible for setting this barrier around the pack's territory, the first thing that Mark was taught by his new father that no one was allowed to go outside of the barrier. It was there for their protection and if you went outside the barrier, you would be in danger from other creatures.

But Mark didn't care, he was lonely, and he was curious about what was on the other side, and he left the barrier one day. He walked through the forest looking at everything curiously, he unknowingly walked very far from the pack territory and suddenly he heard someone sobbing from farther up the forest. He found it strange, so he followed the sound until he reached the edge of a Meadow. The edges of the clearing were full of different kinds of flowers. The ground was covered in grass, there was a large tree in the middle, it cast a shade over the meadow, the sunlight was streaming through the branches of the tree giving it an ethereal look.

In the middle of the clearing, he saw a young boy who was sobbing so hard that his small frame was shaking. When Mark saw this particular scene, unknowingly he became depressed.

"Why are you crying?" After he asked, Blake didn't even seem to care that there was someone else there with him. He simply held on to him and started bawling his eyes out even more. After much crying and comforting, Blake's tears stopped. "So... tell me why you are crying?" Mark slowly inquired.

Blake hesitated a bit "My cousin bullied me, so I pushed her. Everyone only saw this ...hic...hic... No one listened to me and instantly sided with her. They even grounded me in my room. I was angry... hic...hic so I decided to run away from home."

Mark felt bad for him he knew how it felt to be ignored and pushed aside but he couldn't let Blake run away from home, he was just a little boy he wouldn't be able to survive outside alone especially since he is just human so without much thinking, he suddenly promised Blake that if he stopped crying and returned home safely, he would come to play with him the next time. Blake was just a little boy of five, he was easily comforted by Mark's words. Just like that the two started to meet every day and became fast friends.

On the other side, Blake's situation in the pack worsened. When they came to know about his little human friend, they looked down on him even more. In a year, his life in the pack turned from bad to worse. He was just a child then. He couldn't handle the social pressure. So, he, one day, decided to abandon his only friend. That day after playing with him for a whole day he couldn't bring himself to tell him that he didn't want to be his friend, so he just decided to leave and then never looked back. Luckily or unluckily, today seems to be the every day he breaks his friendship with Blake and abandons him without a word.

After abandoning him, he felt even more guilty.He went back to the Meadow everyday since making sure that Blake was okay, watching him as he waited for him at the meadow day after day, his quilty continuing to grow until Blake stopped coming. Then he was the one coming to the meadow until he too stopped. When he grew up he deliberately tried to forget these memories and ignored his feelings, the quilt haunted him, ever present in the back of his mind. He would find making his way to the meadow before he would stop remembering that Blake would not be there to wait for him.Then, on his birthday, he regained his memories. He remembered how his entire family was killed and the entire pack, regardless of gender and age, was massacred in front of his eyes. He was the only surviving member in the entire pack and that was also because of his mother, who covered him with her own injured body that he miraculously survived. After that, he lost all his memories, until that day.

When he finally recovered those dark memories, he was consumed by hatred and revenge. He left everything behind and started to live solely for revenge.

When he tried to take revenge on those who participated in that massacre, the news that a member of the Ever Night pack was still alive spread like wildfire through the whole supernatural world. His presence stirred up the supernatural world and turned it upside down, he was a fugitive that no one wanted anything to do with, he had no harbor and no ally, he was utterly alone.

He was hunted down by everyone. He was not strong enough to face the whole world alone and exact his revenge, so his mission for revenge became even harder and he had to live the life of a fugitive.

As the years passed he remained on the run while trying to work out everyone that had anything to do with his family's massacre. In that time he had become a monster killing anyone that came after him regardless of who they were or what they wanted. He didn't care all that much and as the years passed it became easier and easier to kill. Tearing apart anything that wanted to harm him. Six years later, he made his way to New York City where he met Blake once again. The guilty that he had finally buried beneath his blood lust was suddenly present in his mind once again

He wanted to leave to get as far away from Blake as possible but he couldn't get himself to leave, there was something in Blake that drew him in, he couldn't resist and he found himself stalking Blake and watching.

But that wasn't enough, he needed more so he went to the bar Blake goes to ahead of time hoping to be a little closer to him. He started drinking while waiting for Blake to arrive, he didn't know how much he drank until he suddenly found himself in bed with Blake the next morning, he fled the place hurriedly, everything was too real too sudden so like a coward he ran away again. He was both worried and ashamed. Ashamed, because he acted like a total jerk, who didn't want to take responsibility after their passionate night. And he was worried that they would harm Blake as well and they would use Blake to get back at him. He hoped that no harm would come to him.

The very day he decided to leave New York City for Blake's safety. He thought that if he left that place, they would not realize Blake's presence. But he still seemed to underestimate them a little and he was destined to be disappointed.

That very same night he saw the news of Blake Worthington, Ceo of Grid tech enterprises, being murdered at his own house. That night he felt that something in him broke, he became numb, he didn't feel sad, angry or any other emotion, just empty. He stopped running, he didn't care about living anymore, because he lost everything. But as the hours passed the pain set in, like a wave crashing over and sweeping him under the surface and he couldn't resurface. He decided that if he's going to die, he might as well take as many of those bastards to hell with him as he could. With these murderous thoughts, he entered a bloody battle with those bastards and he slattured them all, that night he killed more than he had since he started his revenge.

He killed many of his enemies but he was not better off, he sustained a lot of damage. He was heavily injured with only a single breath hanging onto him. He couldn't hold on any longer and fell on the ground, counting how many seconds apart each heart were from each other.

"How do you feel about making a deal with me?" At Glinda's sudden question, Mark snaps out of his stupor, the memories of his past receding to the far corner of his mind. Raising an eyebrow, Mark asked, "A Deal?"

Mark looks at Glinda. He tries to read her expressions seriously, attempting to find any clue. But Glinda's face does not give away anything. Frustrated but curious, he queries "Deal, you said?"

"Yes, a deal", Glinda nods gently, "I can give you another chance to start things over again. But, in return, I want you to do something for me".

Mark is unsure if he should believe this mad woman or not. Her face looks like she is having fun by messing with him. But, keeping this aside, her offer looks quite tempting. But he doesn't let down his guard completely.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing much. Just do what you were unwilling to do previously. You will only have to follow my words, I will guide you in everything". She quickly adds, "Don't worry! This will be helpful for you as well. Also,won't ask you to do anything illegal. This will be totally within your moral ground...hehe!!!".

Looking at her face, it doesn't seem like she is simply playing with him. But, because of this creepy woman, he is hesitating to accept her offer immediately. Who knows what kind of situation she might put him into in the future! But, excluding her unreliable personality, everything she says is too tempting for him to reject. It's not every day you get such an offer. He has also been very dissatisfied with his life for a long time. Now, this chance is like a golden ticket from heaven with which he can change his destiny. Only a fool would say no to an opportunity as such.

Looking at his face, she can ascertain what he is thinking. She smirks secretly. She is very sure that he is going to accept her offer in the end. If not now, then next time but he will accept it soon. So, she isn't too bothered by it. So she decisively stops trying to convince him too much "Why should I waste my energy unnecessarily when he is going to accept it anyway!" she muses.

On the other hand, Mark is trying to look into all the pros and cons of the deal, and just like that he slowly falls into his thoughts and completely ignores her. Glinda also, understandingly leaves him be. She waits for him to be over soon. But when she sees that he is not going to be done any time sooner, she searches around for something with which she can entertain herself. She starts looking around the surroundings. However, for her, the time seems to be passing twice as slow as the regular speed. Finally, when she thinks that she is going to die of boredom, Mark speaks.

"I can accept your deal but you have to tell me first, what do you want me to do exactly? I never accept anything that I am not certain about."

Glinda is not bothered by his question "Nothing much, you just have to protect those people that you failed to protect in your last life. Most importantly..." She squints her eyes meaningfully at him and says, "...don't kill yourself or get killed. You must live."

Mark feels bewildered by her odd conditions. Is it as simple as that? Or is she scamming him? Otherwise, why will it be so easy? Mark has been expecting something exorbitant but it seems like he has simply been thinking too much. But again, if he thinks rationally, he has nothing to lose in this deal. Still, why does he feel like he has been cheated somehow? Yet, unconsciously, Mark lowers his vigilance towards Glinda, a bit.

"I accept your offer"

Finally getting a positive reply from him she aggrievedly adds "You know, I knew from the beginning that you were going to accept my deal...after all, it's not something that you get every day at such a great bargain...You should have accepted it in the very beginning itself...You made me wait for so long for nothing... My poor back...it suffered too much...ow!ow!ow!... bla bla bla..." Listening to her talking gibberish nonstop, Mark almost couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes.

After pouring out all of her grievances until satisfied, she finally turns her attention to him and says "Don't worry I will take good care of you" with a satisfied yet mischievous smile playing on her lips, she says " I wish you a safe trip back then. Wait for me there. Don't miss me too much...". Mark tries to ask what she means by this but then, his body feels like it is falling into a vortex, and he blacks out.

When Mark opens his eyes again, he finds himself on a bed. His head is still spinning from traveling through that vortex. Since his body is still weak from the journey he decides to lie on the bed for the time being. While he lay there, he tries to recall everything that has happened to him till now. The last thing that he remembers is the image of Glinda, passionately waving her hand at him.

Not wanting to remember her annoying face anymore, he, for now, decides to keep her at the back of his mind. He focuses on analyzing the situation he is currently in. As far as he remembers, he should be dead. But looking at his present situation, he seems to be in a luxurious room, on a soft bed. When he feels a bit better, he slowly tries to rise from the bed so that he can examine his body properly.

Suddenly he realizes that something is wrong with the whole situation that he is in. Only now he noticed that something hard is intimately glued to his back. His whole body stiffens. He realizes that something strong is holding his waist tightly as well. Alarmed, he lowers his gaze a bit. There, he sees a strong arm, wrapped around his waist. Slowly, he turns his head towards his back. Surprised, he exclaims:

"Blake!"