To the left of the inn was a counter with three stools next to it. Behind the counter was a man whose skin was wrinkled across, and his hair was greying and receding. He locked eyes with Ethan

  “A room and some food. Nothing too expensive,” Ethan said slowly and quietly.

  “10 silver,” The man responded in a rough tone. Ethan puts half of his silver coins on the counter.

  The innkeep grabbed a bowl and moved to an iron cauldron sitting over a fire with a wooden ladle sticking out of it. He poured a bowl of what seemed to be stew and placed it on the counter.

  Ethan's stomach grumbled as he looked into the bowl. Carrots, potatoes, and beef were strewn about, not well seasoned but still a sight for hungry eyes. He grabbed the spoon sticking out and took his first bite.

  The flavor of beef and potatoes was simple but satisfying and warm. Nothing gourmet but filling, and more importantly, it was nourishing. He chowed down the stew in mere minutes.

  A small metal clang hit the table. “Your rooms upstairs. The first one” Ethan grabbed the iron key. And got off the stool. “Thank you”

  To the right of the counter sat a wooden stairway leading up to three rooms. Ethan walked up the stairs, each step making a creaking noise that was barely audible with the sound of drunkards masking it. Ethan put the key in the hole, twisting it around quickly. He wanted nothing more than to rest in quiet sleep.

  The door opened with a creak as Ethan quickly got in and closed the door. Yet the sounds of the drunken conversation still pierced his eardrums. Fucking bastards.

  The room was small and cramped; the only notable object in it was a yellowish brown bed. He plopped down on the bed. His body eased up as relief washed over him. was what he had hoped would happen. Instead, the bed was as hard as a rock. He shuffled around in different positions, but nothing was comfortable, and the sound that was coming from outside just made it worse.

  As he jostled around, the familiar rune on his arm glowed again. This time brighter. He touched the rune with his other hand.

  Darkness surrounded him. No objects, no sight, no smell, pure nothingness. The hell? A blue glowing orb appeared and rapidly expanded, engulfing everything. He blinked.

  He was somewhere new but familiar. A large, sleek wooden table in the middle with one leather seat at its end and many others surrounding. The floor was lined with a blood-red carpet, a sign of luxury. A large golden chandelier hung from the roof, illuminating the whole room. The walls were wooden, painted with white and gold regal patterns. Several windows were in the walls, all covered by white curtains. And a large wooden double door sat at the end of the room.

  Why am I here? This place. The De Luca Family headquarters—our headquarters. This isn't possible; this place was burned to the ground. Ethan pried open a window and tried to look outside. Nothing. Just black void stretching as far as the eye can see. Well then. Either a dream or some other mystery of this world. His eyes gleam over the room. Stopping at the singular chair at the end of the table.

  I always wanted to sit there. As that thought crossed his mind, his vision changed. He looked around. He was in the same room, but instead of his previous position, he was now seated in the chair. What the fuck? Did my thought do that?

  I want to be next to that door. His vision changed again; this time he was in front of the door. When he looked around the room once more, he noticed two mutated and deformed hearts sitting in a corner. One purple, and one scarlet red. It's the nightmare hearts.

  I wonder.

  I want that heart in my hand. The purple heart suddenly appeared in his hands.

  What about destruction? I want that chair to be destroyed. Ethan points at one of the chairs. It disappeared, leaving not a single trace of its existence. Can I bring it back? The chair appeared in the same spot it had left.

  I'm like a god here. Could I reach this level of power in the real world?

  Blue, glowing letters came into existence in the middle of the room.

  “I failed. The world will end soon. You have to stop them. Ethan”

  This thing knows my name. This has to be connected to whatever brought me here. But what's all that cryptic shit about the world ending and failure?

  “Are you in here with me? Did you bring me here?”

  The letters fade out of existence. Then nothing.

  It either doesn't want to respond, or it can't. I'm leaning more towards the latter.

  This place is connected to the one that brought me to this world, i guess. Which means he was strong, although he doesn’t seem intelligent since instead of a proper message he left me a fucking riddle or something. No why. No who. Just the fact that the world will end soon and i gotta stop it.

  when even is soon, fucking tomorrow? And if hes strong and he failed to stop whatever it was the hell does he expect me to do? Whether I want to get involved in this or not, my goal is clear. Climb up the grades no matter what it takes. Whether it's the end of the world or just normal life, power is king.

  …

  In a manor very far away, Lucian Duskwind’s chest erupts with piercing pain as every memory of his life flashes past his eyes. I just wanted to live in comfort. Was that too much to ask for? God or whatever is out there, please just let me live.

  …

  A fishing village, Brineholt, had been burnt to the ground. Maeve Winters watched as her parents died resisting the pirates. She and 14 others were tied up and awaited their fate, whether it was to be killed, sold, or whatever it was. The cold wind blew down on the survivors as they were gathered in the snow. Five pirates stood in front of the survivors.”I lost so many men because of you, little bastards. I'm going to make sure whatever happens to you lot will be hell.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Let me kill him. Let me kill him and every other fucking pirate bastard plaguing this world. I'll make them suffer and beg for death.

  Maeve and Lucain’s visions both turned to black. Nothingness.

  Then suddenly, a new place appeared before their eyes. A dark wooden table was in the middle of this luxurious and foreign room. Seats surrounded the table, but only one of them was filled: the one at the end. A man

  The man wore a black striped suit with a yellow tie and a grey shirt underneath. His face was obscured by a black polygonal mask, a sharp and smooth mask that resembled the face of a human in minimalist fashion. the eyes of the man peeked through two small slits in the mask.

  Maeve looked to her left. There was another man, one draped in his black nightgown. With a vertical hole cut through it. The two locked eyes as they tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

  “Welcome.” The relaxed voice of a man cut through the silence.

  Who the hell is that? Lucian thought.

  “Who are you?” Maeve shouted at the masked man.

  “You both wished. I'm here to deliver.”

  Lucian gulped down his dread and asked with a shaky voice. “Are you here to save me?”

  “I may. I'm here to help you attain your greatest desire. However, my help has its condition”

  If I get to kill those bastards, I don't care what it costs; I could die happy.

  “I don't care, I accept. Just let me kill them,” Maeve shouted.

  What type of idiot tries to accept a deal they haven't even heard yet? I get you want revenge but fucking hell are you dumb. But dumb is what I need for them to not see through this dogshit persona. Ethan thought.

  “My condition is your undying servitude. Every second for the rest of your life will be spent in service of the Black court.”

  “I accept,” Maeve reiterated.

  “What happens if I don't accept?”

  Ethan looked at Lucian.“I won't interfere. Your life will end as if you never had this opportunity.”

  What type of choice is this: either serve him or die now? Well, anything is better than death, I guess.

  “I accept.” Lucian’s voice trembled as he barely got the words out.

  A purple and scarlet red heart appeared in the air.

  “To you, Lucian Duskwind, I grant the tainted heart of illusion. And to you, Maeve Winters, I grant the tainted heart of thorns.”

  Lucian's and Maeve’s chests burst with pain. They both looked down, but no wound could be seen. They looked back up as they clutched their chests. The mutated hearts had been replaced by normal human hearts. Soothing energy rippled through their veins; they felt as if they could do anything.

  “Go on. Take care of your situations; we shall continue after.” With a wave of Ethan’s arm, their vision went black again. They appeared in their previous circumstance but with a newfound power.”

  A man clad in black gear stood above Lucian. he stepped back in fear as Lucian’s body appeared again. Shit how does he expect me to get rid of this assassin with illusions? I'll try to scare him.

  Lucian conjured the mask of the mysterious figure he had met and made it say. “You have tried to kill a member of the black court. ”

  “I'm sorry. I'll fix this as soon as I can.” The assassin said with a shaky voice as he dashed out the room as fast as he could.

  Ethan erupted into laughter as he watched from a circular portal-like view into Lucian's room.

  Let's see what the other one did. He turned his view to the opposite side of the table. The same portal-like view greeted him, but this time into a snowy, burnt-down village. 4 pirates were laid on the ground. Dead. Maeve lunged at the pirate's captain with a silver blade like needle that had pierced through and was sticking out the back of her arm like a rose's thorn; it had torn through her skin, leaving it bloody and red. The pirate slashed wildly with his sword as he moved back in fear. Maeve moved her hand towards the sword, the two blades interlocking as she went for his neck with the other hand. The blade completely pierces through his neck as his life fades out of his eyes, and he falls to the ground.

  Well then. Time to bring them back. With that thought, the two were now once more in his presence.

  “Well done. Take a seat. Both of you.” Ethan gestured to the seats on his left and right.

  Lucian’s feet shook as he sat down as gracefully as he could.

  Maeve jumped and plopped down to her seat.

  “A lack of manners is a bad trait to have and may lead to. He pauses slightly. Unpleasant things”

  Maeve straightened her posture and went as still as a statue.

  “Now then, you both must have some questions. Ask away. I shall deem what deserves an answer.”

  “Who are you?” Maeve immediately blurted out.

  “I have many different names, but to you, I am the Chairman.”