Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 285: Mastering hellfire

Inside an empty ballroom.

Esme sat on the floor, sweat trickling down her neck as she focused on the pillar at a distance.

Grey scales sparkled on the back of her hand as she focused harder.

Her body burned, chest constricting as she joined her hands, fingers twirling in a swift movement, ’’Summon hellfire...’’

Just as the two words escaped her mouth, a small glow appeared in between her hands and lingered on the tip of her fingers.

Esme’s eyes widened and, in her excitement, the fire disappeared, leaving black smoke in its wake.

After she woke up, she surprisingly found herself on the bed when she remembered dozing off on the floor. She did not have to think much to understand who picked her up from there.

It comforted her a bit knowing that he had been to her room after their argument. Yet, she did not go looking for him.

She had felt that dark aura of black magic around Jeremiah a few times in the past year when they were together but only after she regained her memories did she realize that it was black magic. She hid that matter from Aleister on purpose because she had her own concerns.

Duke Maverick’s life was in danger. He was Aleister’s only remaining family from the maternal side and even though the man did not show it often, he cared for his uncle so she knew that they could not make a mistake.

Like he has always protected her and prioritized her needs, she tried to do it this time but he was offended. Angered because she put herself at risk.

Instead of being touched by his care, Esme felt bitter. He dared to be furious about it when in the past, he kept everything a secret from her. Till he died in front of her eyes and the world around her crashed, she had no idea what happened. He revealed everything at the last moment and closed his eyes, shattering her heart in the process.

Esme could not forget the agony she had felt. That incident left her paranoid. She wanted to protect him from everything. What was so hard to understand about it?

After waking up in the morning, she went to the royal library. The guards let her in, probably under the King’s order which she was thankful for.

She looked up a book about hellfire.

Esme remembered that the last time she had encountered Marilyn, she had injured the woman with her hellfire.

She wanted to master the art of mind-controlling but she needed living beings to practice it on hence she decided to learn how to summon hellfire.

After reading a few books, she realized how rare it was for someone to summon hellfire, even in the heavens.

When the serpent clan was on the verge of losing a war with the demons, the God of serpents begged the water God Zephyr for help and with a wave of his finger, Zephyr summoned hellfire that wiped away all the demons.

The God of Serpents had since then, felt indebted by the favor bestowed upon his clan by God Zephyr.

Even after she realized her identity, she did not know she could summon hellfire. Not until the moment she was pushed to her limits by Marilyn.

So, other mers could have this ability too. Esme thought. But since they have not come across an entity like Marilyn, they never probably discovered it.

Deciding to talk to Luciana about it when she came back, Esme went to practice it in an empty ballroom of the Crystal Castle.

After hours and hours of failed attempts, this was the first time she saw the spark of hellfire even though it disappeared just as quickly as it came.

Esme stabilized her emotions and tried it again but only black smoke seeped from the gap between her fingers as if mocking her for her failure.

Esme bit her bottom lips and endured the exhaustion as she went at it again.

After countless failed attempts, a small spark appeared on her fingertip.

Esme detached her joined palms and looked at the spark calmly, not letting her emotions fluctuate and it gradually grew.

It stopped when it was the size of the ball. The burning heat of the hellfire made her skin turn red and her breaths came in shallow gasps.

Sweat trickled down her face.

Esme panted but her eyes calmly stared at the fire.

It continued growing.

At this moment, Esme heard approaching footsteps from outside.

Her eyes widened.

She lost focus but instead of disappearing, the hellfire continued growing on her fingertip as if it was going to consume her.

The closed door of the ballroom was pushed open and Esme waved her hand, aiming the hellfire in the opposite direction.

The fire on her hand disappeared. The pillars and curtains started burning like a blanket of an inferno.

Esme looked at her empty hands before tilting her head to the side, to look at the intruder.

Jeremiah stood there, eyes squinted and hands shielding his body, ’’What is this, Esme?" he put his hands down, face looking uncomfortable as he strode towards her.

Esme pushed herself to her feet, her fingers moving behind her back as she tried to disperse the fire.

She could not let him notice that it was hellfire. Everything would go awry if he knew that she was pretending to be powerless all along. It would put Duke Maverick in danger.

’’I...’’ Esme swallowed, ’’You do not look so well.’’

’’Mers will not look well in the presence of fire. We do not tolerate heat,’’ he said through gritted teeth as he strode towards her.

Esme wanted to say that it was not just discomfort on his face, it was the dread and pain as if he was affected just by the heat in the air. Just the way Marilyn had reacted but instead, she said, ’’Let’s go out of here.’’

’’What is this, Esmeray?" his tone was aggressive and she noticed the way he said her full name, ’’I saw you waving your hand. Has this fire got something to do with you? You...’’

His voice trailed off and he looked towards the fire that was growing like an inferno.

Jeremiah waved his hand and a black shield appeared around him as he walked towards the fire.

No, he could not notice that it was hellfire.

Esme waved her hand intensely but because of her lack of focus, the fire went wild instead of diminishing.

The more it happened, the more anxious she became.

Just as Jeremiah began to examine the fire from a distance, it disappeared, leaving no trace behind. The pillars and curtains were still intact as if they were not meant to be wrecked by the hellfire.

Esme was bewildered. What happened just now?

Jeremiah turned around to look at her, ’’Explain,’’ one word left his mouth, his fake gentle behavior wavering.

Explain? Esme’s lips thinned. She needed an explanation too. How did the fire disappear without leaving a trace?

’’You are idle early in the morning, heir apparent,’’ a lazy voice drawled from one of the empty chairs on the empty layer of the dark ballroom where distinguished guests usually sat during the balls.

Esme recognized the voice before she could see the face.

In the next moment, someone flew from the chair, appearing right behind the air.

Jeremiah panicked when he saw the man, ’’Your Majesty, I...’’

’’You want an explanation from her?" Rezeph’s eyes narrowed. Just as Jeremiah started shaking his head, the man said, ’’She will give it to you.’’

Esme’s eyes widened. She turned around and looked at the man in disbelief. For how long has he been sitting there? She had no idea. Just like she always failed to notice Aleister’s presence, she did not notice when the King came to the ballroom.

It was as if the men around her had the habit of sneaking in.

But regardless of it, she was almost feeling grateful to him for coming to her rescue yet he just had to be this unpredictable.

’’Your Majesty,’’ With a nod from the King, Jeremiah turned to look at her and repeated, ’’What was that, Es?" His voice sounded softer this time, like his usual self.

"You misunderstood me,’’ Rezeph shrugged a shoulder, a small frown appearing on his charming face, ’’She will give you an explanation but not when you demand it in that tone.’’

If confusion had a face, it would resemble the way Esme and Jeremiah glanced at the King when they heard his words.

’’Beg for it,’’ Rezeph said calmly, his charming eyes rolling upwards as if he was appalled by their slow understanding.

Jeremiah’s lips parted in disbelief.

Esme was stunned too. In the past, the King rarely interacted with Jeremiah but this was blatant humiliation.

’’You are marrying her in 3 days. And you have the audacity to raise your voice at her,’’ Rezeph smiled amicably but that smile was scarier than a sword, ’’Get on your knees and beg for an explanation.’’

Esme closed her eyes for a moment. This...

Wasn’t it extreme?

At the same time, she felt something like warmth in her heart.

Her Aunt and elder brother protected her without knowing the extent of her abilities. They shielded her from everything as if she was fragile. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

But the King knew what she was capable of yet he was doing this. He knew that she did not need it.

This was something that only Aleister had done for her before. He knew her strength, and never underestimated her for it but at the same time, he never stopped backing her up.

The thought of Aleister made her feel like going to find him and run into his arms. Why were they fighting in the first place?

’Thump’

The sound distracted Esme.