VIVIAN
The flying car disappeared into the night.
Vivian stood outside her house for several seconds, staring at the empty sky.
Lucien’s final words still echoed in her head.
Caelan is meant for your sister.
When will your eyes and brain get cleared?
She clenched her fists. "I don’t even want him! Who does Lucien think he is to tell me what to do? Soon I will cut all this.men off." She spat angrily..
She turned and entered the house.
Arin was waiting in the living room.
The moment their eyes met, Vivian walked past her without saying a word.
"Miss Vivian..."
She ignored her. Her father wasn’t home.
She went straight to her room, locked the door and entered the bathroom.
The moment she looked into the mirror...
A strange memory flashed through her mind.
A man’s arms around her. Her lips pressed against his. She couldn’t see his face.
Vivian’s stomach twisted.
"Ugh!"
She immediately bent over the sink and vomited.
She wiped her mouth with trembling hands.
"What the hell was that? Who was that stupid Vivian kissing." "Is there another man I don’t know of?"
She closed her eyes trying to recall. Another image flashed. The same man. Her body pressed against his.
His lips..."No!"
Vivian stumbled backward. She stared at her reflection.
Then suddenly screamed.
"VIVIAN!"
Her voice echoed through the bathroom.
"Show yourself!"
Nothing came.
"Talk to me!"
She gripped the sink.
"Stop controlling me!"
The bathroom was dead silent.
Then...A voice whispered inside her head. I want you to pay for ruining my life.
Vivian froze. "Who are you?"
You stole everything from me.
"I don’t know you!"
You destroyed my life.
"I didn’t do anything to you!"
Her eyes filled with tears. "I had no idea, I would come into this world! I didn’t choose this!"
The voice disappeared.
Vivian’s breathing became heavier.
"Please..."
She pressed a hand against her head..
"I don’t know what happened before I came here. So stop blaming me for something I don’t remember or did. Stop trying to control me. Tell me what you want so we can discuss."
But there was no reply. Her expression slowly hardened.
She grabbed a fruit knife from the counter.
"If you come out again..."
She raised the knife toward her reflection.
"...I will destroy this pretty face you love so much."
The original Vivian had been obsessed with her beauty. Maybe that was the one thing that would scare her.
Vivian’s eyes became cold. "Don’t test me."
She dropped the knife.
Then walked out. She returned to her bedroom and stopped.
A tiny figure was sitting on her bed. Chewing on one of her expensive pearls.
Vivian’s blood ran cold.
It was the little girl from the abandoned forest.
She was eating her pearls like candy.
Vivian slowly grabbed the doorframe.
"What are you doing here?"
The little girl looked up.
Her green hair was messy, and her sea-green eyes sparkled.
"Pretty Sister!"
Vivian swallowed. "How did you get here?"
The little girl smiled. "I’ve been with you all along."
Vivian’s knees almost gave out.
"What?"
The girl tilted her head. "You said you would take care of me."
She smiled innocently. "So I followed you."
Vivian stared at her.
"How?"
The girl’s smile widened.
"First, I hid in your hair."
Vivian’s face stiffened.
"Then I entered your consciousness."
Her eyes widened. "And I lived with your Lotus."
Vivian slowly sat on the edge of the bed.
"Are you...an insect?"
The girl nodded proudly. "I’m Queen Bee."
Vivian closed her eyes.
Of course. Of course she was. She took a deep breath and entered her consciousness.
The golden Lotus floated quietly, the atmosphere in her consciousness has changed to white.
Vivian’s eyes widened. And her lotus wasn’t weak anymore. It looked healthy.
..The only petal that fell was missing.
She slowly reached toward it.
"What happened to this petal?"
The little girl appeared beside her.
"I ate it."
Vivian’s head snapped toward her.
"You WHAT?"
The girl giggled. "It tasted good."
Vivian stared at her in disbelief.
"You’re telling me you ate a piece of my Lotus?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It opened."
The little girl pointed at the Lotus.
"I ate the petal that appeared."
Vivian rubbed her forehead. "This is getting ridiculous."
She looked back at the Lotus.
"If only you could talk."
"It can."
Vivian froze.
The little girl smiled. "But you haven’t opened enough petals yet."
"How many?"
"Four more."
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. "Then it will talk?"
The girl nodded. Vivian studied the Lotus. Then she asked quietly, "You know what this is?"
The girl’s expression became serious.
"I’ve only heard about it."
"From where?"
"My old hive."
Vivian waited.
"It’s from an ancient family." The girl pointed at the golden Lotus. "Only descendants of that family can possess it."
Vivian’s heart skipped. "Then how did I get it?"
The girl shrugged. "I don’t know."
Vivian sighed. Of course she didn’t.
"But I know something else."
"What?"
"You need to feed it."
"With pearls?"
"And Spirit Stones."
Vivian remembered the mutant beasts.
"The beasts too?"
The little girl nodded. "I saw you feeding it."
She pointed at Vivian’s consciousness.
"You haven’t even unlocked two percent of its power."
Vivian’s eyes widened. "Two percent?"
"Yes."
The girl smiled. "This is a very powerful flower."
She touched one of the remaining petals. "One of its petals healed my internal injuries."
Vivian stared at her. "You were injured?"
The girl nodded. "Very badly."
"Then why did you attack those students?"
"I didn’t."
Vivian frowned. "They said you were responsible for the illusion."
"I only made them sleep."
The girl giggled. "They attacked the wrong person."
"So they’re alive?"
"Of course."
Vivian finally relaxed. Then she yawned. "I’ve had enough."
She stretched. "I haven’t slept properly in days."
She left her consciousness. Her body sank onto the bed. Within seconds, Vivian fell asleep.
The little Queen Bee (Name: Beeny) climbed onto the bed. She looked at Vivian’s sleeping face.
Her playful smile disappeared. "Poor girl..."
She pulled the blanket over Vivian. "She doesn’t even know what’s happening to her."
The little girl curled up beside her.
And whispered.."Don’t worry, Pretty Sister."
"I’ll protect you from them..Those transmigrators won’t leave you alone anytime soon."
The golden Lotus inside Vivian’s consciousness quietly shimmered.
While Vivian slept peacefully. She didn’t notice the golden Lotus tremble inside her consciousness.
One of its petals slowly opened.
And from inside the Lotus...something opened its eyes.