122. Guilt
After Marcelline hung up the call with Aiden, the silence felt heavy—too heavy.
She stood still, phone in hand, staring at the floor as an overwhelming wave of guilt washed over her.
That entity…
It wasn't here for the Brooks family.
It wasn't here for random bloodshed.
It was here for her.
Unable to track her exact location, it lashed out, tearing through anyone connected to her—trying to force her out of hiding.
Ten innocent lives ruined.
A mansion living in constant fear.
Aiden's trauma.
Chloe's silent tears.
Maximilian's restless eyes.
Adrian and Liana's sleepless nights.
And it was all because of her.
Marcelline's jaw clenched as guilt twisted inside her chest like barbed wire.
Leo watched quietly from across the room, his golden eyes softening with concern. His sister—his fierce, divine, terrifyingly powerful sister—looked small for the first time in centuries.
"Elli…" he called gently.
No answer.
He stepped closer. "Elli, look at me."
She lifted her head—her eyes glowing faintly, swirling with suppressed wrath.
Her aura crackled like a storm barely contained.
Leo's heart dropped.
She was reaching breaking point.
"Those ten lives…" Marcelline whispered, voice trembling with rage and guilt. "Their blood is on me. Their fear—because of me. That monster is hunting me… and they are paying the price."
Her fingers curled into fists.
Her aura flared.
The temperature around them dropped sharply.
She took one step forward—already ready to march out, hunt the entity, tear it apart limb by limb, end everything in a burst of divine violence.
Leo instantly moved in front of her, blocking her path.
"Elli, no."
"Move, Leo," she warned, voice low and dangerous.
He did not.
"You walk out now, in your true form, in your true power—every celestial hound, every demonic scout, every hungry curse will sense you. The whole realm will know you're active again."
Marcelline froze.
Leo continued, firm but pleading:
"You're not human. You're not invisible anymore. You can't act rashly. Not now."
She stepped back, chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.
Her mind felt like fire.
Her heart like ice.
Leo reached out and gently held her shoulders.
"Elli… you're acting emotional. Careless. Unlike yourself. This isn't you."
Marcelline's eyes widened a fraction.
He was right.
Why was she acting like this?
Why was she losing control like a foolish novice?
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"If Amara were here…" she muttered, rubbing her forehead, "she'd drag me to that big lake behind the temple and drown me in it until my brain starts working again."
Leo snorted.
Of course he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"…Yes," he sighed. "She absolutely would."
Silence settled for a moment.
Then Leo softened, placing a hand on her head the way he used to centuries ago.
"Elli… call them."
She blinked. "Call who?"
"Mother. Amara. Mia."
His voice was gentle, grounding.
"Talk to them. You need warmth… not rage."
At the mention of Mia, Marcelline's eyes melted for a second.
Her precious little girl.
Her sunshine.
Her home.
Leo continued:
"Let them stabilize you. You're carrying too much alone. Let them share the burden, even a little."
Marcelline finally nodded, shoulders loosening—not fully, but enough for a breath to enter her lungs again.
"Fine… I'll call them."
Leo exhaled in relief.
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