Silently, his subordinates moved swiftly. Strong ropes wrapped around wrists and ankles, tied tight with quiet precision. Each knot sealed the sleepers' fates, leaving no chance to resist.
When they reached Felicia, William turned to the hooded woman behind him. Rapi, his most precise executor, stared blankly, awaiting command.
"Rapi," William murmured, nodding toward Felicia. "Use chains for her. She's not an ordinary human. She's one of us."
Without a word, Rapi pulled out a chain of iron. The sound of metal rang softly in the stillness as she bound Felicia swiftly. Each coil locked firm, impossible to break. Even in her sleep, Felicia seemed buried under an unseen force.
Once finished, Rapi looked at William, her eyes questioning. "What about the Tome of Omnicent?"
William smiled, a cunning gleam hidden beneath his calm. "Leave it. Only Kaivan can open it. If we take it, we'll only invite disaster."
Rapi nodded briefly. She knew William was not a reckless man.
Everything was ready. William nodded once more. "Take them. I'll deal with them myself."
In the dark, the bodies began to lift slowly. Like spirits carried by silence, they were taken away. Kaivan, bound the tightest, was separated first. One by one, they were placed into black vehicles waiting quietly outside.
Cold air shrouded the convoy as it moved away, leaving the villa empty. Only the night wind remained, carrying whispers of the tragedy that had just begun.
The night deepened as Isabel and Raphael walked along the narrow path toward the villa. The gentle breeze brushed Isabel's pink hair, framing her face like a dream in motion. Moonlight danced upon the ground, casting long, faint shadows to follow their steps.
After a long, silent journey, they finally arrived. That night, both seemed calmer, though the weight in their hearts had not fully lifted. Isabel looked at Raphael softly; she knew there were wounds in him that had yet to heal.
Raphael stopped under the dim garden light. His gaze at Isabel was faint, as if searching for an answer he wasn't sure existed.
"Raphael," Isabel whispered softly but with quiet conviction. "You're not a stranger here. Everyone knows your heart now, we've all accepted the change in you."
Raphael lowered his gaze. Her words sank deep into him. "You know, Isabel," he murmured, voice heavy, "I still feel... unworthy."
She could see the fatigue in his eyes, not of the body, but of a soul that had once lost its way.
"I've hurt so many people. Kaivan... the others. I even made him suffer. Do I still deserve to stand here?"
Isabel stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "If Kaivan can forgive you, then why can't you forgive yourself?"
Raphael's expression softened; warmth flickered in his eyes once more. But their steps halted as the villa came into view. His gaze sharpened, body tensing.
The front door was slightly ajar. Silence hung thick in the air. They exchanged wary glances before moving forward.
"Something's wrong..." Raphael muttered. He advanced cautiously and pushed the door open.
What they saw inside made their skin crawl. The living room was in disarray, pillows scattered, chairs overturned, glasses half-filled with water.
Raphael's instincts kicked in. "Kaivan? Zinnia? Felicia?" he called out.
No answer.
Panic flickered in Isabel's eyes as she rushed to open the other doors, but every room was empty. The familiar scents of life had vanished, replaced by the chill of absence.
"Raphael..." her voice trembled as she returned. "Did they... leave us behind?"
The words echoed, making the silence even heavier.
Raphael's jaw tightened. He stepped forward and spotted something on the coffee table, a wooden-bound book. He recognized it instantly.
The Tome Omnicent.
He brushed his fingers across its surface carefully. Isabel's voice trembled. "Kaivan would never just leave it here..."