Chapter 1963


    In the grand castle, a thirty-foot-tall Christmas tree sparkled in the center of the grand hall, its branches


    adorned with real silver and gold presents, courtesy of Raiden''s extravagant tastes. Eager hands


    wed their way to the top, eyes fixed on the ten-carat diamond that crowned the tree. Fistfights broke


    out among the climbers, and bodies tumbled down with thuds, some spitting blood upon impact. Yet no


    one seemed to care; they simply stepped over the fallen, their eyes filled with nothing but greed and


    lust.


    As Estelle and Sylvia strolled by, they witnessed this chaos with a detached curiosity. Sylvia''s lips


    curled into a wry smile. "It seems those whoe here have lost their souls," she mused.


    Estelle nodded in agreement. "Don''t you think Raiden is purposely inting their desires?"


    Sylvia raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. What exactly is he nning?"


    "I just find him very strange," Estelle said with a shake of her head.


    That evening, Raiden was hosting a dinner party which Alvis and Lambert attended. After sharing a


    quiet dinner, Estelle and Sylvia headed to the ''Party at Midnight'' event at the local bar.


    The bar was more raucous than usual; it felt less like Christmas Eve and more akin to Halloween.


    Patrons donned bizarre costumes and masks, kissing strangers without regard to gender—it was as if


    all the goblins and ghosts had decided toe out and y.


    Sylvia chose a sultry Catwoman mask, while Estelle wore the same one she hadst time. The two


    women found a quiet corner in the bar and ordered a pair of drinks.


    Shortly after, Evelyn arrived with their beverages, wearing a Santa hat, her expression a mix of dismay


    and exhaustion. "These people are insane!" she eximed.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Estelle introduced Evelyn to Sylvia.


    Evelyn''s eyes widened in admiration. "You''re stunning!" she said to Sylvia, who lifted her ss with a


    flirtatious smile and a simple "Thank you."


    Estelle inquired about Evelyn''s boyfriend. With a shake of her head, Evelyn replied, "I saw him


    yesterday. He looked awful, and he wouldn''t tell me anything, no matter what I asked."


    Estelle''s expression darkened, but she said nothing more on the matter.


    After a short chat, Estelle excused herself. "You two enjoy your talk. I have to step out for a bit."


    Sylvia eyed her with concern. "Be careful!"


    "I will," Estelle assured her with a nod before departing.


    Outside the bar, she changed into a maid outfit and, pushing a service cart, took the elevator to the fifth


    floor. She stopped at room 503 and knocked. "Room service, yourte-night snack," she called.


    It took a while for the door to open. A man stood there, looking dazed. "I didn''t order anything," he said


    in a hoarse voice.


    Estelle pulled down her mask. "It''s me, Estelle."


    Recognition dawned on the man''s face, and a bit of rity returned to his eyes.


    Sensing something was off, Estelle pushed past him into the room. She found syringes on the bed and


    turned to face Lynn, her voice heavy with realization. "Is this how Raiden controls you?"


    "So, that''s why you''ve been avoiding Evelyn. You don''t want to leave with her," Estelle concluded.


    "Can''t you quit?" Estelle asked, though she herself doubted it was possible. She knew all too well the


    addictive power of the substance.


    Lynn''s eyes were filled with despair as he shook his head. "No. It''s hard enough to kick the usual stuff,


    but Raiden''s refined version does less harm to the body while increasing its hold on the mind. Once it''s


    in your system, it''s for life. You can''t quit, you can''t leave Zion." Read at NovelDrama.Org


    Their bodies and minds were imprisoned.


    This had be their eternal refuge.


    "Are you helping Raiden refine this stuff?" Estelle asked, her voice a whisper of velvet and steel.