Cyrus stood in the snow beside the woman's body, mind racing, heart thundering.
Everything in him said this wasn't natural.
This wasn't human.
He looked closer at her face.
Something… shimmered under her skin.
A faint violet glow.
Cyrus froze.
"…no. No… no no—"
He turned the woman's wrist over.
There—burned into her skin—
like a brand barely visible:
A violet spider rune.
Icca's mark.
Cyrus' breath caught in his throat.
"Icca…"
He staggered back, fury twisting his stomach.
Benjamin approached behind him.
"Did you find something?"
Cyrus clenched his fists.
"She did this."
His voice cracked between anger and disbelief.
"Icca murdered all of them. She used this woman like a puppet."
Benjamin's eyes widened in horror.
Before he could respond—
A soft, playful giggle echoed through the trees.
They froze.
The air turned cold.
A familiar scent drifted in—
lava, ash, perfume, and corruption.
Cyrus stepped forward, wings flaring.
"…Icca."
The shadows shimmered.
And she appeared.
Walking slowly… hips swaying… smile wide and wicked.
Her violet hair drifted behind her like smoke.
Her boots crunched in the snow.
Her eyes locked onto Cyrus like she wasn't even trying to hide her obsession.
"Cyyyyrus," she sang sweetly.
"I was JUST looking for you."
Everyone was tense.
Benjamin extended a hand across Cyrus's chest to stop him, but Cyrus shoved him away.
"YOU—" Cyrus snarled, stepping toward Icca.
"What did you do?"
Icca blinked innocently, placing a hand on her cheek.
"Oh? You noticed?"
She giggled.
"I thought you'd be proud… I cleaned up all those useless humans for you."
Cyrus felt the world tilt.
"You KILLED THEM!"
She shrugged lightly.
"They were taking your time.
Distracting you.
Being annoying."
She twirled a strand of her violet hair.
"I did you a FAVOR."
Benjamin lunged but Cyrus grabbed his arm.
"No," Cyrus whispered.
"This is mine."
Icca's smile stretched wider.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Cyrus stepped closer, his voice raw.
"Why? WHY would you do this?"
Icca held up the swirling white-black vial she had used earlier—
the one filled with his stolen energy.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Because I LOVE you."
Cyrus froze.
Benjamin's jaw dropped.
Even Keuirseu and Matthew in the distance stopped breathing.
Icca pressed the vial to her lips, running her tongue along the rim.
"I love you more than ANYTHING, Cyrus. And soon… you'll love me too."
She placed a hand on her stomach.
"And besides—"
Her grin spread into something horrifying.
"—I'm carrying your child."
Cyrus staggered back as if struck.
"…what?"
Icca's giggle echoed through the trees.
"Yes! Daddy is thrilled. You should've seen him—
He can FEEL the power in my womb."
She grinned like a madwoman.
"Your power."
Benjamin whispered, horrified:
"…she's delusional."
Cyrus whispered hoarsely:
"You used a spell. You hypnotized a woman.
You stole my essence.
YOU—"
His fists shook with rage.
"—ARE NOT pregnant with my child."
Icca laughed.
"Oh but I am.
You'll see."
She reached out as if to touch his face.
Cyrus recoiled.
Icca's smile cracked.
"You're… rejecting me?"
Her eyes narrowed, trembling with rage.
"For THEM?" she hissed.
"For weak little humans? Little angels? For HER?"
She meant Blood Reaper.
Cyrus raised his weapon.
"If you come near me… or any of them again… I will end you."
Icca's expression shattered into heartbreak… then fury… then something twisted and murderous.
"Fine," she hissed.
"If you won't love me—
Then I'll make you… or I'll break everything you care about."
She vanished in a blast of violet fire—
leaving Cyrus trembling in the snow.
Benjamin stood beside him silently.
"Cyrus…" he whispered, "She's not done."
Cyrus clenched his fists so hard his palms bled.
"No.
She won't be.
And neither am I."
His eyes burned with angelic fire.
"Next time I see her…
It ends."