Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 6: 6. How Far Does Fruit Fall

Read chapter 6 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

6. How Far Does Fruit Fall I am Edric Drakemore, age 56, King of Arcadia, and I live only for the day I can exact revenge for the murder of my beloved wife. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/94d9f12d-768f-4ec3-a12d-51b487be4617 My dear Arin, the love of my life, was taken from me five years ago. Since that day, the world has lost its color, food its taste, and my soul its joy. Every breath I take feels heavy. Worse than her absence is the torment I endure each day. The evil that stole her from me lives under my roof, and I am powerless to cast it out. My nightmare has a name: Ren. A demon masquerading as my son, wearing a face that mocks my Arin. It is a vile trick, a torture so exquisite it could only have been crafted by the cruelest of devils. On the day he was born, the day he ripped her soul from her body, I tried to kill him. Not out of madness, but with the clearest conviction I have ever known. What lay before me was not a child, but a monster. That belief was vindicated when he summoned an equally terrifying fae named Willow to curse me. This devil’s familiar took the form of a silver-haired maiden, her beauty an insidious mask hiding the evil within. She is a powerful, dangerous creature with the ability to enthrall mortals and bend them to her will. Despite all my strength, all my years spent mastering magic to claim the throne, I still fell victim to her curse. And what an evil curse it is. It prevents me from taking any action to harm that boy. My mouth refuses to let me speak the truth of what Lady Willow truly is. I am forced to utter the lie that I wanted her to care for that devil in my castle. It is a terrifying thing, not being able to control my own body or trust my own mind. Knowing that creature is inside me, crawling through my thoughts, silencing the truth and forcing my mouth to speak lies. At first, I wanted nothing more than for them to leave. I never wanted to see the monster wearing my wife's features or the devil that cursed me again. They are a daily reminder of my helplessness and loss. But now, the red-hot fury has consumed my soul so completely that simply being rid of them will not quench it. I want revenge. With new resolve, I battle against that demon’s curse every day, clawing back every bit of control I can. Her grip is weakening, slowly but surely. So I prefer they stay right where they are. When I do break free, they will be within reach of my righteous vengeance. I will find a way to neutralize Lady Willow. And when that day comes, the monster who killed my beloved Arin will face the full wrath of a king who has lost everything. To break her spell, I must weaken her, distract her, and loosen her grip on my mind. I have a plan, but it requires time and patience. Because of her enchantment, I must send others to gather what is needed, unable to reveal the true purpose behind my requests. Yet I have found a way to navigate the constraints of her curse. Carefully chosen words and vague instructions allow my loyal servants to act, even when I cannot explain why. To safeguard my kingdom and my plan, I have commanded all the noble families of Arcadia to avoid Lady Willow and Ren at all costs. I have ordered them to remain silent about Ren’s existence and to erase all mention of his birth. To the world, I have only one son, my true son. Until I gain the means to destroy them, my loyal lords will do whatever they can to limit Willow and Ren’s influence. They will quietly sabotage their efforts, weaken their standing, and undermine any foothold they may gain. All of this is only a prelude to the day I take my revenge. It is my duty, not only as a husband, but as a king, to avenge Arin and protect my kingdom from this monster. These are the thoughts that consume my days and haunt my dreams. I wake with a start, my chest heaving and heart racing as I pull free from the grip of another nightmare. Always the same nightmare, of her death, and the creature that mocks her mem