Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 365: Are you really Esme?

A cold gust of breeze swept past Esme and her body trembled.

She curled up in her sleeping position as she hugged her body.

’’Cough.. Cough...’’

When the sound of persistent coughing lingered in her vicinity, Esme spoke up without opening her eyes, ’’If you are unwell, you don’t have to force yourself to come here to serve me. Go back to your chambers and take a rest,’’ she said, believing the coughing sounds to be originating from one of her maids.

Esme turned to the other side and continued sleeping peacefully until some time later when she heard a groan from behind.

’’Why do you sound so masculine today?" Esne slowly opened her eyes only to be greeted by a vast stretch of darkness.

She remained frozen for a moment before she ran her hand on the surface she was lying on. It was not the usual comfort of her soft bed or silken sheets, she could feel the hard rocks and ground beneath her soft palm.

And suddenly it occurred to her that she was not in her room. She was not even in Defire anymore. She had stepped inside that portal that led them to Whispering Mist River along with Luciana.

But what kind of river was this? Why was it enshrouded in darkness?

The questions in her head came to a crashing halt when her keen ears picked up the sound of unsteady breathing from beside her.

And the noises of coughing and groaning reoccurred in her mind.

Before she could move, strong fingers wrapped around her throat, choking her mercilessly.

Esme immediately moved her fingers to summon her powers but after a few moments passed, there was no sign of hellfire on her fingertips. She could not feel her powers at all.

The person’s strength intensified and she moved to grab the tiny dagger that she hid in her dress.

’’Who are you? What are you doing here?" A groggy voice asked.

Esme’s eyes widened when she heard the familiar voice, ’’C-Cardan?" A whisper left her trembling body.

And the death grip around her neck loosened in an instant, ’’Esme?!" Cardan asked incredulously as he released Esme’s neck.

Esme grabbed her neck as she panted, breathing in a mouthful of air.

’’No, no, that sly King must have pulled some tricks to kill me. I should have been in Whispering Mist River the moment I stepped inside the portal then could this... could this be an illusion?" Cardan mumbled incomprehensibly to himself, his voice still sounded sluggish as if he had just woken up.

While Esme was catching her breath, she felt his hand approaching her again. But before he could even touch her, she swiftly dodged to the side and swatted his hand away in a harsh movement, ’’Try to hurt me again and see if I cut you into pieces and feed you to the dogs back in the mortal realm,’’ Esme warned.

Cardan froze. This... Can an illusion be this accurate?

Even though Esme had never said such things to him after his relationship with Aleister was mended but every time she looked his way, he could somehow see the intention to torture him in ruthless ways flashing in her eyes.

’’But I cannot be certain... Maybe this is a test. Who knows how powerful an illusion of Whispering Mist River might be?" Cardan mumbled as he swiftly moved.

"Cardan, it’s not an illusion!’’ Esme snapped, relying on her instincts and keen hearing to kick the man away. Even though her kick was not powerful, it hit the spot where the sun did not shine, making Cardan shudder as he shielded his family jewels, stroking them in the dark. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He sucked in a cold breath of air as he spoke, ’’Then you can say that without being so vicious to me.’’

Esme scoffed, ’’Vicious? You tried to kill me a moment ago and I am being vicious to you?" she was in disbelief, ’’Did you leave your sense of shame in heaven?"

Cardan grunted, having no words to retort to her. He indeed mistook her for an illusion.

’’Wait...’’ he paused, ’’What are you doing here?’’

There was a moment of silence as Esme contemplated her response before she spoke up, ’’I stepped inside the portal before it closed.’’

’’Are you slow in the head?" Cardan chastised, ’’Why would you walk inside the danger willingly? And did that sly old man do nothing to stop you?"

Esme remained quiet, ’’You are talking about my father,’’ she responded after a long time.

’’Heh,’’ Cardan chuckled, ’’He cannot glare at me in this place. I can do what I want....’’

He paused when he realized something, ’’I attacked you just now but you did not use your powers to stop me,’’ Cardan continued cautiously, ’’You would not have been that kind to me on usual days. Are you... really Esme?" there was a threatening edge to his voice.

Esme sighed, ’’Do you think I did not try? I cannot summon my divine powers.’’

’’What?" The man was astonished.

’’Maybe it has something to do with this strange place,’’ Esme moved her hand in the darkness, trying to touch something solid but all she could feel down beneath her was the ground, and around her was the cold air.

Suddenly, the place was lightened up dimly, encased in a black glow that sparkled like the stars in the night sky.

Esme glanced at Cardan, bewildered.

’’What?"

"I cannot summon my powers. Why can you?" As Esme raised her hand, a small turbulence formed at her fingertip but then it disappeared like fumes, leaving her disappointed.

Cardan frowned.

In the light of his magic, both of them turned to observe the place they were. It seemed like a cave but at the same time, it did not look like one. Every cave had an entrance or at least a tiny gap from where light could invade inside but this place seemed to be completely entrapped. Yet, despite being enclosed, there was a flow of rich air inside it.