Chapter 15: Just Within Reach

"Stop joking, Edmond." I smiled at him. He was a real flirt. I remembered how the burly guest tried to hit on me that day. He was exactly like Edmond. I didn't know if my neck was really so beautiful. Edmond put me down and pushed me until we were a meter apart. "You wanna eat out or hang out?" Edmond held my hands without making his way over. "Or both," I answered. It was either sex or quarrel with Edmond. It seemed that we had never truly hung out as a couple. Finally, we agreed on having seafood in the open air. The sunset lingered on the sky and dyed the sea golden. As the night breeze blew gently past me, I flung my hair back up and I stared at Edmond across from me. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans today as opposed to his usual garb of a shirt. He looked just like any other man on the street, except that he was unbelievably handsome. There was no fancy dinner or clothes. We hung around the beach while enjoying the breeze and sunset like any other couple. We also kissed amid the sunset. Some love-sick girls had come to talk to Edmond but Edmond turned all of them down with a cold face. As for the men who tried to hit on me, they were all put off by Edmond's tallness and handsomeness. "Well, they're weaker than I thought," I said thoughtfully as I watched them run away. "Mrs. Clayton, but I'm not weak." Edmond said indignantly as he put his arm around my shoulder. "I used to be popular." I had to make Edmond jealous. "Same," Edmond said proudly. I didn't see that coming. I was a little pissed off. I spread my arms and pounced at Edmond. He was too slow to react and we fell face first into the sand. With our faces covered in sand, we looked ridiculous. We looked at each other, laughing. The laughter transmitted through the air into the sky, and finally into the crescent moon. Edmond and I parted ways in front of the manor. I clenched my right hand on my way back to Nightsong where Edmond's body temperature still lingered. However, just as we reached the door, I saw Hank standing in the yard. "Liana, where have you been?" Hank asked with an evil smile. "My dad's house. Then I had a meal with Nico," I said, feeling my heart race as I lied.. "Oh." Hank held my hand, taking the remaining hotness of Edmond from me. Only the slimy feeling was left. "I can't find my ring. The one I often wear. I looked everywhere except for Nightsong. Can you help me look for it?" I broke away from his hand and smiled. "Sure, no problem." Then I ran into Nightsong and started looking for the ring. I wanted to find it as soon as possible so that he'd leave early. I checked the sofa, tea table, bed, and carpet... Finally, I found the silver ring. It was hidden underneath the carpet, exactly the one Hank often wore. I came out of the bedroom and decided to return the ring to Hank, only to find that Hank was already sitting up straight in the living room with a set of teaware placed in front of him, including two steaming cups "Liana, come have a cup of tea." Hank beckoned me to join him. I approached him and sat down before I pushed the ring to him on the table. "I really can't thank you enough. Come get a taste of this." Hank seemed not a bit surprised. He wore the ring and pushed the cup toward me. The tea came with a deep, lasting aroma, completely incompatible with Hank's style. But I liked it. "Take a sip," Hank said while staring fixedly at the cup in my hand. If it was a cup of spirits, I would definitely not drink it. However, such a fascinating smell was so inviting. I held the cup in my hand and took a sip. It tasted as good as I thought it would be. It first gave me a bitter taste. Then it gradually became sweet and gradually coated my tongue. "How about it?" Hank asked. I wanted to reply but my vision blurred. I sensed an aroma that didn't belong to the tea around my nose. I realized I was drugged. It was too late when I knew this. I felt I just lost all of my strength. I felt like I became a puddle of mud. Hank laughed triumphantly, extremely harsh to the ear. I tried to push my way off the floor but Hank came on top of me, looking like a pervert. "Hank, just so you know, I have a mania for neatness. We'd at least have to take a shower first." I figured I'd have the chance to use the drug Edmond gave me if I managed to send him away for a while. "Liana, quit acting, last time you didn't say anything about taking a shower. You looked like you were enjoying it underneath me," Hank said while unbuttoning my shirt. I remembered the defense spray. I looked at the drawer beside me. So long as I pulled it open, I could get to it. But the drug Hank gave me was too potent. I didn't have any strength to resist, let alone pull open the drawer. Hank was ecstatic. He rudely pulled off my shirt and tried to remove my underwear. I felt gross when he saw me naked. I wanted so much to get rid of a demon like him. "Defense spray, defense spray..." I kept pulling the drawer. I was very close to seeing the spray. Then Hank carried me in his arms and went straight to the bedroom. Then he placed me on the bed. "Liana, my beautiful Liana..." He had already unbuttoned my bra. He was now staring fixedly at my snow-white breasts. I felt extremely mortified. Then I pulled a corner of the quilt over my breasts. "Don't be shy." While saying that, he slipped his hand under my dress and pulled off my underpants. I didn't think I could take it anymore. "No! Please stop." I screamed hysterically. However, Hank simply ignored me. He started taking off his shirt. Looking at his fat body, I was surprised to find his skin was smooth like a newborn, completely different from that of an old man. Hank reached out to remove the cloth upon my breasts. He touched my boobs with his fat hands. To my disgust, he started rubbing and squeezing them. I couldn't believe I was to have sex with an ugly monster like him. I thought I couldn't take it anymore.I really wondered who could come to save me. I cried out loud. My tears fell onto the Moon Goddess Gem of my necklace. In an instant, I was bathed in a dazzling white light. I felt hot all over. Hank was ejected out onto the floor by the white light. I realized the Moon Goddess must have come for my rescue. I felt happy because I thought I was saved. However, Hank walked toward me again. His hand turned into a giant claw of a wolf as it touched the Moon Goddess Gem, which was immediately crushed by him. The white light went out instantly and the gem was crushed into particles and scattered on my body, spangled with starry light. "This was what I gave you. I won't let it get in my way," Hank said and then came on top of me again. He then touched my leg and moved up to my knee and thigh. I trembled all over because he was about to touch my private part. "No, stop!" I knew I couldn't do that with him! That was simply too revolting. He was a fiend. I shook my head in panic. I was up for anything so long as Hank could stop. The bright moonlight was reflected on the gem. As it became brighter and brighter, I found it was not moonlight but the gem's own light. I closed my eyes, feeling the existence of the shattered gem. I felt a hot stream rushing in my veins. I thought I felt power. I felt I was gradually regaining my power until I reached the peak. "Ah!" I screamed and transformed into my red wolf form. Then I rushed toward Hank.