Chapter 514: Manipulation and Deceit

Julian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Erica, you say... How curious. A name you never heard before."

Kain turned back to the window. "Heard of or not... a woman is still a woman after all. And you know what you have to do."

His voice lingered in the air and he added in a quieter, almost hesitant tone, "What do you think about your mother, Annie?"

The question caught Julian off guard.

So he’s taking this route...

he thought, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

Lets begin our show.

"Mother? She’s... well, she’s my mother. She’s kind, gentle, and always worries for me. Why do you ask, Father?" he answered, his voice carrying an innocent honesty, as though the thought had never crossed his mind.

Kain smiled faintly at that, though his eyes remained sharp. He stepped closer to Julian. "Yes... she is kind. Too kind. Don’t you ever notice how much she sacrifices for you? The way she looks at you, the way she carries your burdens as if they’re her own?"

Julian tilted his head slightly, feigning confusion. "She’s always been like that. Isn’t that what mothers do?"

Kain shook his head slowly. "Not always. Annie is... different. You’ve seen it, even if you don’t realize it yet. The way her eyes soften when she speaks your name, the way her touch lingers a little longer than it should. She loves you more than anyone else ever could."

Julian shifted uneasily on the bed, looking away. "That’s just... because she’s my mother. Nothing more."

But Kain pressed on, his voice lowering, coaxing. "No, Rael. It’s more than that. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? That warmth that goes beyond duty... beyond simple care. If you think carefully, you’ll see it. Annie doesn’t just love you as a mother... she loves you as a woman."

Julian swallowed, his lips parting as if to protest, but no words came. He sat quietly, almost as though Kain’s words had planted something in him that he couldn’t quite shake.

Kain watched him carefully, a grin playing on his lips. He let the silence linger, knowing full well that silence was sometimes the loudest weapon.

Julian frowned a little. "But Father... she is my mother at the end of the day. And I am her son. That’s all there is to it."

Kain’s eyes narrowed just slightly as he studied the boy.

Is he acting? Hmm...doesn’t seem so

.

"Yes... she is your mother. But does that change the fact that she is also a woman? A woman with needs... with a body... with feelings that can’t be erased simply because she bore you."

Julian’s eyes widened, his head shaking quickly. "That’s... forbidden. Wrong. People don’t—"

Kain stepped closer, cutting him off. "People don’t? Rael, you’ve seen how twisted this world already is. Do you think the curse cares for rules? Do you think the prophecy will be fulfilled by timid hearts who cling to what is allowed?"

Julian’s mouth opened, then shut, words failing him. He looked down at his hands, unsure how to respond.

Kain leaned closer, crouching slightly so his eyes were level with Julian’s. "Listen to me, Rael. What you feel now is hesitation, but that hesitation will vanish the moment you see her not as ’mother’... but as Annie."

Julian swallowed hard, his face flushing. "Still... Father... if she’s my mother, then..." His voice trailed off, too fragile to finish.

"That is

exactly

why," Kain interrupted, his eyes gleaming now. "The bond between mother and son is deeper than any other. Stronger than any vow, any promise. That closeness is what makes her the perfect vessel. Who else could carry a child destined to break the curse but a mother who already shares blood with her son?"

The room was silent except for Julian’s quickening breaths.

Kain finally stood tall again, his tone calm but heavy with authority. "So tell me, Rael... do you want to explore the forbidden realm?"

Julian froze, his throat tightening. His eyes darted nervously around the room, as if someone might overhear.

"Um... I... I’m not sure, Father," he muttered, voice uneven. After a pause he added in a whisper, "But how? Even if... even if she does feel something, I’m sure she would never act on it. She’s my mother."

Kain laughed loud. He stepped closer, resting a hand on Julian’s shoulder. "You don’t have to worry about that, boy."

Julian tilted his head, confusion shadowing his face. "Then... what’s the plan?"

Kain’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with something dark, something cunning.

"We are going to do something... something she will never expect," he said slowly. "I will call her to the breeding hall assigned to me. She will come, as she always does—dutiful, obedient."

Julian blinked, confusion furrowing his brow. "And then?"

Kain grinned. "You, Rael... you are going to take my place."

The silence between them tightened. Julian’s lips parted, his breath shallow. "What? But... Father—"

"She will not know," Kain cut him off, his voice unwavering. His eyes bore into Julian’s, commanding his full attention.

"The hall is dark. She will be blindfolded and will not question the touch, the heat, the need. And even if she does..." A cruel smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "...by the time she realizes, it will already be too late. She will have you inside her, whether her pride admits it or not."

Julian shifted uneasily, his hands curling into fists against his thighs. "But... she’s my mother. What if she refuses? What if she pushes me away?"

Kain’s chuckle was low, almost pitying. He stepped closer, placing a hand on Julian’s shoulder. "She won’t. Not truly. A woman’s body cannot lie, Rael. It will answer you even if her lips whisper protests. And in that moment, when you give her what she secretly craves—what fate demands—there will be no turning back."

Julian lowered his eyes, his heartbeat thundering in his ears.

Kain tightened his grip on his shoulder. "This is the will of prophecy. The curse will end only if a mother takes the seed of her son. It is not a sin—it is salvation. And you..." His lips curled into a predatory smile. "...you will be the one to deliver it."