Morning came. The family stirred awake, rubbing the sleep from their eyes as Kara snapped her fingers four times. The vision shimmered alive again, revealing Josephine riding upon Minotalir's back. Her yellow dress swayed lightly in the breeze.
She finished her last bits of food, leaving only a single apple.
"Oh no… I forgot to pack enough food," Ceillie muttered regretfully.
"I think we should get Josephine new clothes," Nana Tess said softly.
"Yeah," Callum agreed.
"Jojo looks tired," Therodora noted with worry.
"Yeah… looks like she's falling sick. Her eyes are red," Theron added.
"My baby…" Piere whispered, tears streaming down his face. Tess held him tightly.
"She is fine, Dada," Tess reassured.
"Jojo!" Adris called happily.
"Yeah, Jojo…" King Xavi murmured under his breath, though concern weighed heavy in his tone.
At that moment, Minotalir arrived at the mouth of a dark cave. Josephine slid off his back but stumbled to her knees, coughing violently. Blood poured from her mouth, staining her hands.
"What the hell is going on!?" Hendrick roared.
"Was Josephine ever hospitalized before?" Kara asked quickly.
"Yeah, she was," Callum admitted.
"How bad?" Kara pressed.
"Very bad," Callum said grimly.
"Her blood was all over her pillow," Sophina added, voice trembling.
Kara sank cross-legged onto the floor, closing her eyes as her spirit scanned Josephine's body. A grave look hardened her face when she reopened them.
"She has a weak heart. Her brain is causing the bleeding. It's brain damage, combined with her fragile heart. At her age… this is bad," Kara said heavily. "I think it's tied to her powers, but even her abilities alone shouldn't cause bleeding this severe. What did she take?"
"Nothing," Hendrick said firmly.
"She has been active and doing well," Sophina added.
"She has never been sick like this before," Ceillie whispered.
"Uhmm… Dad," Noah spoke, his voice cautious. "I think it's time you knew why she has this bleeding."
"Tell him, Annie," he said, glancing at his sister.
Anesthesia nodded, her hands trembling.
"What truth?" Xavi demanded.
Noah sighed deeply. "When Josephine was two years old, the castle was attacked… by Mom's sister—Auntie Bella. She wanted to steal Mom's throne as Queen of the Witches. That night, while you and Mom went to King Azul's baby shower, she struck. She made us all bleed. Therodora was knocked out cold. Bella tried to kill us."
He swallowed.
"But Josephine… she just started giggling at Bella. That laughter caused a massive earthquake. She floated in the air."
"What!?" Hendrick thundered.
"We didn't know how to tell you, Mom," Noah said quickly. "You hated Josephine. We thought you wouldn't believe us—we were just kids."
Anesthesia clutched Xoni's hand.
"Then what happened?" Xavi demanded.
"Josephine… killed all the men in the room. Just by clapping her tiny hands," Noah said softly.
"Bella…" Noah trailed.
"Bella what!?" Hendrick growled.
"She made poisonous milk—and shoved it down Jojo's throat. Before she could finish her evil work, Oliver stabbed Bella. But before she died, Bella cursed Jojo. She said that as Josephine grew older, her body would break down. The poison would destroy her slowly, age by age, until it killed her. It was brewed from poisonous flowers—Angel's Trumpet, Foxglove, and Deadly Nightshade. The damage will never stop until she finds a cure."
"You all are fucking FOOLISH!" Hendrick roared, his fury blazing. His eyes glowed a violent dark yellow. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS!? LOOK AT YOUR SISTER, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"
Anesthesia shielded Xoni, covering her ears.
"Hendrick!" Xavi barked sharply. "Calm yourself."
Before Hendrick could argue, a cold voice echoed:
"Who dares enter my cave?"
A tall figure appeared—The Queen of the Night.
Her presence dimmed the cave around her. She stepped forward and gasped when she saw Josephine bleeding.
"Oh, my gosh… child, why are you bleeding? Come here," the Queen said, her tone shifting to maternal sorrow.
Josephine stumbled closer, coughing blood again.
"Poor baby girl. Sit here."
Josephine obeyed weakly.
"You are here for the Pendant of the Moon Veil… and the Dragon, yes?" the Queen asked.
Josephine nodded faintly.
"You look like Hetragon. And you go to the Academy with your siblings," the Queen said knowingly.
"She is Hetragon reborn—half of her soul," Eryndor confirmed.
"Ohhhhh…" The Queen smiled softly. "I am Queen Nyx, Queen of the Night. If you want them, you must dance with me… but on hot coals."
Josephine nodded without hesitation.
The family exchanged worried glances.
"Really?" Oliver muttered.
"Sorry, baby," Kara whispered.
"First, here—have a bottle of milk," Nyx said.
Josephine drank it gratefully.
"How many days have you spent in the forest?" Nyx asked.
Josephine signed with her hands: Two days.
"Can't speak, child?" Nyx asked.
Josephine shook her head.
They walked deeper into the cave until Josephine saw it—the glowing Moon Veil Pendant, resting near a dragon perched on a rock. The dragon's scales shimmered silver-blue.
"Her name is Elandra. She is pretty, isn't she?" Nyx asked.
Josephine nodded, eyes wide with admiration.
Nyx's crown glittered—half black, half white—and her gown matched. Her hair, too, was divided into dark and pale strands.
Josephine signed again: Do you ever leave the forest?
"Of course," Nyx replied with a smile. "I even teach at your academy sometimes. By the way, tell Callum I love him. He is very, very cute."
"Heh!?" Callum gasped, nearly choking.
"Hmmm," Ceillie teased.
"Nana!?" Callum protested.
Nyx clapped her hands. "Begin!"
Music echoed through the cavern. Josephine's face lit up with a faint memory—her childhood dance lessons. She stepped onto the hot coals, leaping and spinning.
"Her feet are burning!" Xoni cried.
"Jojo…" Adris whimpered, reaching out for her from Xavi's arms.
Josephine smiled through tears, crying as the fire scorched her skin.
"Stop!" Nyx commanded, but Josephine couldn't.
"JOJO!" Ceillie cried.
"She can't hear you," Kara whispered.
"Ms. Josephine, STOP NOW!" Xavi roared in her mind.
Josephine collapsed to her knees, her hands also burned raw.
Elandra roared in sorrow.
"You are so heartbroken, Josephine," Nyx said, her voice low with pity.
Josephine still managed a smile through her tears.
With a snap of Nyx's fingers, the pendant appeared around Josephine's neck. Elandra lowered her head, letting Josephine climb onto her back.
"See you next session, Queen Josephine," Nyx said, bowing.
Josephine, weak but brave, waved faintly as Elandra carried her out.
Night fell. They rested under a tree. Josephine lay asleep on Elandra's back, her body exhausted and burned.
"It was supposed to take nine days," Kara murmured. "But she's moving so fast."
"She looks hungry… can I pass food to her?" Ceillie asked, tears glistening.
"I'm sorry, Nana," Kara said sadly. "I wish you could. But it's not possible. She faces the last trial soon… the most dangerous of all. The Umbral Seraph."
Ceillie sobbed, hugging Tess tightly.
"She will come out," Xavi said in his mind, his thoughts heavy.
And Josephine, fragile but determined, slept on—ready for her final test.