Wicked Reincarnation

Once those words faded into nothingness, the whole room went quiet. Lia processed what she just saw and heard. Elder M's daughter, Maria, sat before Lia. She instantly recognised Lia yet it was unclear what Maria had to do with those other two.

Lia didn't know what she should feel. Anger, pain and hatred overwhelmed her. Then her casual teasing attitude from before completely disappeared, instead an aloof and cold bearing caused everyone to tense up.

"You are happy to see me?" Lia's sharp and intense gaze full of mocking tone made Maria shrink back. Even Lily and Xavi froze when her words appeared and lowered the temperature in the room. They had an unswerving drive full of rage that could bring anyone to her feet.

"You are glad to see me? If you really feel apologetic to me, then slice your stomach open right here and let me see how much your insides are wrenching in regret."

Maria gulped. The hairs on her skin stood up. Her head was lowered as she didn't dare to make eye contact with Lia, for she was afraid to be swallowed up by the monstrous poison Lia set free.

"What are you waiting for? You don't know any shame, so at least you should prove your words?" Lia could barely control her anger.

"My father-" Maria finally brought out.

"Elder M truly is a coward. He didn't help the pro faction is what you want to say, no?" Lia's fingers pulled Maria's chin up. Her piercing gaze broke Maria's scalp into millions of needles to pierce and crucify her conscience.

"I already know that. You don't need to tell me. Do you think I'll let you off if you try to justify yourself? Those who stood idle by are as guilty as the ones who committed the sins."

Maria couldn't stand the intensity, "I'm sorry," she choked out, "There's not much we could've done."

Lia removed her grip and exhaled. What Maria just said made her tremendously furious. Nothing to be done? Anything would have lessened the possibility of that night happening.

Lia stood up and then towered over Maria. Her shoulder length hair fell over Maria's frightened face, "Then die for me to feel better. That's at least something you can do, no?"

"Stop," hearing this Xavi didn't stand idle by and raised his voice, "I'm not sure what's going on but Maria isn't a bad person."

"Of course not, a bad person is a person who's done something bad, even a kid like you should understand," Lia's cold voice magnified the icy smile she held, "Then what do you call a person who did nothing to prevent something bad to happen?"

"I don't know but it's not that person's burden to carry," Xavi also rose to his feet. His chubby cheeks made his solemn face look ridiculous.

"Many will disagree with you," Lia approached him.

"Young Master!" Lily stopped Lia and protectively raised her arms to let Xavi find shelter behind her.

"Then young master, what if your beloved Lily were to just stand by watching you be killed even though she could've prevented it?"

"Never! I'd never let any harm befall the young amster!" determined Lily didn't falter under Lia's penetrating gaze.

Lia gave them a brilliant smile, "Of course, I don't blame Maria either. It's not her family's fault."

Despite Lia's clarification, everyone knew she didn't mean it. Even seeing her sunny face indicated she was lying. They could vibrantly feel the particles in the air shaking under the excessive rage that wasn't tamed.

It only grew and grew, and with nowhere to go it exploded in the room, splashing onto everyone's body.

Then it manifested itself there, clinging onto their skins until it turned this rage into fear. This person was frightening.

Just what did she go through to be capable of exuding such intense feelings to the point others could even touch it?

Who was she?

"I wasn't trying to excuse myself," Maria pulled the attention back to her, "We barely interacted in the past and you don't have to forgive me but I can help you!"

"Help me with what?" Lia's anger dissipated by a bit.

"To take down the Ghost king."

Lia froze. This was…

"Why would you do that?"

"Because it's our goal too."

"Who's our?"

"The hidden families," Xavi spoke.

Lia has heard of the term before.

"I belong to one of the hidden families. Maria on the other hand acts as a spy and informant to us."

It made sense to Lia, however, she still couldn't trust them, "And why would the hidden families want to get rid of the Ghost King?"

"Because there's no need for a Ghost King anymore," Xavi finished his lollipop and bit on the plastic.

That was also something Lia's father used to say, she never understood why.

"Also because the current Ghost King's up to no good. His plans threaten both worlds."

"Tell me more," Lia knew Min had something planned that might be dangerous. The fact he had a private army and built a facility to create ghosts was enough to prove the point.

"We told you enough! Shouldn't you reveal something?" Lily pulled Xavi into her arms.

"And you're useful because?"

"Young master!" Lily teared up again.

"Lily's right. I already gave you a lot of info without anything in return. You know of our identity which puts us in danger."

They didn't seem to be lying and they didn't seem to be enemies. They also refrained from harming Lia. Another point was that the M family was involved. Lia had no bad memories of Elder M.

Despite Elder M doing nothing to help, he also did nothing to harm her family. Lia could rule out the possibility the trio harboured evil intentions.

However, this didn't mean she could trust them. Maria knowing Lia's identity was the deal breaker. Lia wanted to obtain more information but her past experiences taught her to get rid of anyone who could be a potential threat.

In her mind, she tried to call the corpses she infused her soul with yesterday. If she managed to kill those three, then using their corpses, the other servants would be no problem.

"Do the hidden families have powers?" Lia stalled time and this was also a crucial factor.

"No," Xavi said.

"What are the hidden families?"

"You're the shameless one! So many questions yet you don't give us anything in return! Young master, don't let her have her way!"

"We can help each other," Maria tried to persuade Lia again.

"No need for her!" Lily pulled out a dagger hidden inside her robe.

"Stop Lily!" Maria quickly tried to take the knife with the green flow away from her.

"Young master, you can't, she's dangerous! We've to dispose of her!"

Lia coldly watched them with no intention to move or being scared. She wasn't fazed by the sword. Xavi was conflicted, "Maria, why do you insist on helping her?"

"Because she's-" before Maria could say her identity, Lia strode forwards to stop her but then Xavi stood in her way.

"It's only fair to know who you are."

Lia coldly glanced at him. In the end, it didn't matter if they knew because they were going to die anyway.

"Suit yourself," there was a small window at the back of the room. Lia looked out of it from the corner of her eyes. It reached to the forest and she could see faint movements.

Her lips rose. Her corpses, even though they were buried, would come to her no matter what.

"Lia," Maria softly sighed. Lia didn't pay her any attention.

"That name's familiar," Lily muttered.

"Yes, she's the only daughter of the K family and the fiancé of the Ghost King."

Lia sneered, "I would prefer it if you don't put that title ever on me again."

"Wait," Xavi's lollipop stick fell out of his mouth, "You don't mean-"

"It's not something you see every day, no? A dead person coming back to life," Lia was still smiling but her eyes were icy.

Neither Xavi nor Lily reacted. Their shocked faces conveyed their thoughts. Never would anyone ever anticipate that out of all people, Lia would be the one to come back.

They had no idea what to feel. On one hand, they understood why Lia acted this way, on the other, it was too absurd to fathom. They only had Maria's words to prove she was indeed the Lia slandered and blamed by everyone.

Dragged through the mud and hated. Everyone heard of the brutal ways the K family has been killed yet none of the hidden families believed the rumours of Lia viciously slaughtering her own family.

They knew of the pro faction and the Ghost King conspiring to take down the K family because they had power. Maria witnessed it and relayed it to all the hidden families.

Unspeakable emotions and unsaid words floated around in the air. The atmosphere was heavy and nothing could lift this boulder off their shoulders. It fell on them to roll them over and stomp them into the ground.

Lia had long gotten used to people's different reactions to her still being alive. It didn't bother her. The only thing she had in sight was her corpses coming closer.