Chapter 7

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

It's nighttime, and I'm having dinner with my mother. The atmosphere is tense. Ariana has just arrived and told us that the Iris Devourer has claimed another victim: a seventeen-year-old girl. It happened near the hospital where Ariana works.

"I have goosebumps," Ariana says nervously as she sits down at the table. "They've cordoned off the entire street."

"I'm going to call Ana," my mother says worriedly, fiddling with her phone. "She went out and still hasn't come back."

"Ana's a black belt in taekwondo," Ariana says, helping herself to some food. "She'd probably scare the Iris Devourer right off."

"She's not answering," my mother says, growing even more concerned.

"She's fine, Mom. Don't forget that she leaves her phone in her locker when she's practicing taekwondo," I tell her.

"Good evening," Ana says as she walks in.

"Finally, sweetheart! I was worried sick!" my mother says with relief.

"I'm home now, Mommy," Ana replies, sitting down.

"Aren't you going to take a shower first?" my mother asks.

"Later. I'm starving right now," Ana says, serving herself some food.

Suddenly, the atmosphere turns chilly.

It can't be.

"Good evening, Victor," my mother says in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you."

I turn around and see Victor walking toward me.

What?

He's holding flowers.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, confused.

"Are those flowers for me?" Ana asks mockingly.

"And why would I give you flowers?" Victor shoots back. "I saw these tacky flowers and thought of you," he says coldly, looking at me as he hands me the bouquet.

"Why did you come here?" I ask coldly, taking the flowers.

"I just found out that the Iris Devourer has claimed another victim," Victor says, looking at me. "So I came to pick you up."

"He usually only kills two people a year," Ariana says between bites. "And there have already been two victims."

"Don't worry, Victor. He doesn't kill effeminate little gay boys," Ana says mockingly before taking another bite.

"Lucky me, then," I retort. "But unlucky you, because you fit the killer's type perfectly."

"Enough, you two," my mother says.

"I'm going home," I announce, getting to my feet.

"Get home safely," Ariana says.

"Thanks, sis," I reply with a smile.

I say goodbye to everyone and leave with Victor. I'll ask someone to bring my car home tomorrow since Victor came to pick me up.

On the way home, I can't stop thinking about the killer. How can someone murder people for ten years and still not get caught?

I remember the first victim as if it happened yesterday. I was seventeen and still living in England. I had just arrived with Ariana for the holidays.

Daniella, a twenty-five-year-old university student, was murdered shortly after leaving campus. Her body was found in an alley, and her eyes had been gouged out.

The city was in shock. Everyone was terrified.

Her boyfriend, Renan, couldn't bear losing the woman he loved and ended up taking his own life a month later.

Since then, the killings have never stopped.

Every time I came here for the holidays, the killer struck again. It was almost as if he were doing it on purpose.

The year I married Victor, there were two murders. And it's been the same ever since.

The year has barely begun, and there have already been two deaths.

Now the killer will probably go into hibernation for another year.

When we get home, Victor starts staring at me with that cold gaze of his. My heart begins to race.

Damn it... after everything that's happened, I still can't look away from those Sasuke Uchiha eyes.

"What's the meaning of this?" I demand, throwing the flowers in his face. "Is this another one of your little games to hurt me?"

"That's exactly what you wanted, isn't it?" Victor says, giving me a murderous look. "Or did you think I didn't know about the love potion?"

"How do you know about the potion?" I ask, stunned.

"Do-hyun, the Crown Prince, told me everything," Victor says, crossing his arms. "And you even made me drink that other potion. Now I can feel his emotions."

"Crown Prince... are you there?" I ask in shock, squeezing Victor's cheeks.

"Of course he's here!" Victor snaps, pulling away from me. "Now figure out how to make me go back to normal. I don't want to feel any of these things."

"So you can go back to treating me like you used to? No, thank you," I say, crossing my arms. "I prefer you this way, with emotions and feelings."

Suddenly, Victor steps closer and starts staring into my eyes.

"What are you going to do?" I ask, taking a few steps back.

"I spent the whole day thinking about you," Victor says, leaning closer. My heart starts racing. "I need to confirm something."

Before I can react, Victor pulls me into a kiss.

"Victor?" I gasp, trying to pull away. "I..."

"Be quiet," he says, silencing me with another kiss.

We stumble backward until my back hits the wall.

Suddenly, he stops and stares at me.

"Why did you stop?" I ask, frustrated.

"Just as I thought," Victor says coldly, pulling away. "I didn't feel anything when I kissed you."

"I may have emotions now... but I still don't feel anything for you."

I say nothing. I simply look away, trying to hold back my tears.

"Please, don't be sad," Victor says, lifting my chin and forcing me to look at him.

He gazes at me differently... almost gently.

For a moment, he even looks like the Crown Prince.

It's as if the prince has taken control of his body, if only for a brief moment.

"Even now, with emotions... you still don't feel anything for me?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"That's just who I am, Ariel. I have no feelings," Victor says coldly. "The emotions I'm experiencing aren't mine. They belong to Do-hyun."

"But you're his reincarnation," I argue.

"I may be, but I'm not him," Victor replies firmly. "I was born this way: cold and incapable of empathy."

Victor gives me one last look before heading upstairs.

I remain where I am, watching until he disappears on the upper floor.

Friday, January 19, 2024

The days have gone by, and the Crown Prince's personality still hasn't returned. Victor has changed. He's still cold and serious, but now he's polite and shows a certain degree of empathy.

During the first few days, he completely lost his mind over these sudden emotions. He kept pestering me to find a way to block them. Eventually, though, he came to terms with them.

I have to admit, I really like this new version of him: cold, but capable of feeling emotions. He's almost like Sasuke at the end of Shippuden, after he finally regrets his actions. I can't blame Sakura... I'd forgive Victor too if he confessed his love to me.

Victor told me that Prince Do-hyun is still inside his head. It's as if they're two voices sharing the same mind.

Do-hyun, my sweetheart... I have to admit, I miss you. You were playful and always smiling.

Victor cares about me now and shows concern for my well-being, but he doesn't love me. Our relationship is more like an older brother looking after his younger sibling.

How frustrating.

I want more. I want my husband.

We're married, damn it!

It's afternoon, and Victor hasn't gone to the office. He's in his study with Carlos. Carlos is acting strangely... he seems so down. I wonder if something happened.

I'm in my bedroom, the spellbook resting on my lap.

I open it.

"I just want to find a way to make Victor fall in love with me!" I say in frustration, staring at the pages.

Suddenly, the book begins flipping through its pages by itself before stopping on one that leaves me completely confused.

"Love potion?" I say, puzzled. "But I've already used this... why is it showing up again?"

Could the pages regenerate over time?

"Show me the Soul Unification Potion," I say.

The book starts flipping through its pages again until it stops at the potion I'm looking for.

"That's it... the pages regenerate!"

I flip back to the page with the love potion.

"I'm going to make you fall in love with me... Sasuke Uchiha's redemption arc version," I declare, staring at the page. "One way or another."

I gaze at the page with a triumphant smile.

I buy the ingredients for the love potion. After boiling everything together, I tear out the page from the spellbook and place it over a cup, using it to strain the tea. Then I pour the liquid into a small vial.

I head downstairs and make my way to the kitchen.

"Have you taken anything for Victor to drink yet?" I ask, keeping the vial hidden behind my back.

"I'm making cupuaçu juice. It's Mr. Victor's favorite," the housekeeper says as she prepares the drink.

Once it's ready, she pours the juice into two glasses and places them on a tray. The moment she turns toward the refrigerator, I pour the potion into one of the glasses.

"Let me take it," I say, picking up the tray.

"But, sir..."

"I'll be right back," I say, already heading toward the study.

"Victor, can I come in?" I ask, knocking softly on the door.

Carlos opens it. He still looks down. His eyes are slightly puffy, as if he's been crying.

"I brought you some juice!" I announce, lifting the tray.

I walk in and see Victor concentrating on his laptop.

"This one's for you," I say, placing the glass containing the potion beside his hand. "And this one's for you," I add, handing the other glass to Carlos.

"Thank you, sir," Carlos says with a faint smile.

"Thanks, Ariel," Victor says, giving me a brief glance before returning his attention to the laptop screen.

I leave the room, my heart racing.

I didn't want things to come to this...

But you left me no choice, Victor.

I grow anxious and pace around the house, unable to sit still. Night finally falls, and soon Victor and Carlos leave the study.

"You seem to be feeling much better," Victor says as he steps out of the room.

"Having something sweet cheered me up," Carlos replies with a smile.

"Could you bring me another glass of juice, please?" Victor asks the housekeeper. "This glutton drank mine."

"What?!" I scream in horror.

Everyone turns to look at me, confused.

"Is something wrong, Ariel?" Victor asks, giving me a puzzled look.

"N-no... nothing," I stammer awkwardly.

Carlos gives me a look... but this time, it's different. His eyes are filled with tenderness.

My heart starts pounding.

So the secretary drank the love potion.

The secretary is now in love with his boss's husband.

What have I done?!

#romance