Chapter 5: The Black Lily Awakens

Lost in my memories, I was covered in wounds.

Derek’s voice echoed in my mind, cold as ice: “Why are you putting sugar in it?”

I steadied myself, searching desperately for any excuse, but couldn’t find a convincing one.

My hands shook, the spoon rattling against the pot. I tried to remember every little lie I’d told over the years, but nothing fit.

Derek stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the birthmark on my wrist.

“This black lily…”

I quickly pulled my sleeve over it, my whole body tense.

The mark had always been a curse and a shield, a part of me I couldn’t erase. “The sugar is Ms. Porter’s secret recipe. Is there a problem, Mr. Lawson?” I replied.

Ms. Porter suddenly appeared in front of me, shielding me from Derek’s sharp gaze.

She squared her shoulders, her presence a wall between me and my past. As soon as she spoke, the air seemed to get heavier.

I kept my eyes glued to the floor, wishing I could disappear. In the distance, the Judge came running, nervous, to calm Derek: “Mr. Lawson, please, let’s not get worked up, okay?”

The Judge’s words tumbled out, his hands fluttering as if he could wave away the tension. “I’ve checked every soul who crossed the Bridge of No Return in the past hundred years, but found no such person.”

“Mr. Lawson, Lila is waiting for you outside the underworld.”

The tension vanished instantly.

It was as if a switch had flipped—Derek’s anger evaporated, replaced by a cold indifference. “That’s enough,” Derek snapped, then hurried away.

I looked up, hatred burning in my chest as I watched Derek’s retreating figure. The loathing inside me made the black lily on my wrist burn, like something was about to break free.

The feeling was electric, dangerous—like a storm gathering under my skin. I balled my fists, willing myself to keep it together.

Suddenly, Ms. Porter coughed up blood.

The metallic tang hit the air, sharp and sudden. She stumbled, clutching her side, crimson staining her pale lips. “Damn it, that jerk’s power is off the charts. He almost made me drink my own Forget-Your-Worries Soup,” she cursed.

The Judge wiped his sweating forehead, trying to calm her: “Aunt Porter, Mr. Lawson hasn’t gone far yet…”

He looked ready to bolt, glancing nervously at the still-quivering Bridge. Ms. Porter waved him off, grumbling under her breath.

“Mr. Lawson, my foot! Back in the day, I had nothing, but I still made a name for myself, even if I had no real power.”

She shot me a quick wink. “So what if he’s from the Upper Court? Please.”

Suddenly, the Bridge of No Return shook like there was an earthquake. The black lily on my wrist traced a mark that spread across the sky.

The sky above the river split with a sound like thunder. Black petals bloomed overhead, casting strange shadows across the water. Ms. Porter was horrified. “Quinn, stop right now!”

But I couldn’t move, not with the power boiling up inside me. The black lily’s fire crawled up my arm, and the sky cracked open. Derek’s footsteps echoed closer, and I realized—this time, I might not be able to hide.