Chapter 122

Luna White stood before the low adobe hut, tears streaming down her face. She gripped her sister's hand so tightly her nails nearly dug into Luna's flesh. "You lived here?" Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

The shack beside the pigpen reeked of filth, its walls peeling and roof leaking. Luna's chest tightened as she recalled the monthly allowance she'd sent to their grandmother, the weight of betrayal crushing her lungs.

"Sis, it's over now," Luna murmured softly, her cold gaze flickering toward the rickety wooden door.

Wiping her tears, Luna remembered how her sister had always been working in the front yard whenever she visited. Who could have imagined Luna slept in such squalor at night?

The door creaked open with a piercing screech.

The stench of urine hit them like a wall, forcing them back half a step. Inside the dim room, Clara White lay on the kang like a desiccated corpse, only a grimy sheet covering her lower half.

"Grandma!" Luna rushed forward.

Clara hadn't eaten a proper meal in three days. Her clouded eyes rolled before suddenly flashing with manic energy, her bony fingers clamping around Luna's wrist like talons.

"Guh... guh..." The old woman's throat produced guttural noises.

Luna scrambled to fetch warm water. It took three basins before Clara looked remotely human again. Luna watched impassively, breaking off a piece of coarse cake and offering it.

Clara snatched it like a starving wolf, her nails sinking deep into Luna's hand.

"Uncle Jack is too cruel!" Luna shook with rage.

Luna's lips curled. "How could he be? Grandma always doted on him the most." She subtly channeled her supernatural ability, her fingertips brushing Clara's wrist for just an instant.

The old woman's eyes flew wide.

"Carry... me... out..." Clara's voice rasped like a rusted saw, yet every word was clear. "I need... to see the mayor..."

Luna stumbled back in shock. Before her eyes, Clara's twisted mouth straightened, her pallid complexion flushing with color.

"Grandma, you can speak?" Luna stared at Luna in disbelief.

Luna cursed inwardly. She'd overdone it—Clara could actually stand now! The old woman shakily pushed herself up, even managing to pull on her pants unaided.

"Quick... fetch the mayor..." Clara's eyes burned with terrifying intensity.

Luna turned and bolted outside. Behind her, a heavy thud echoed—Clara had jumped down from the kang by herself.

This was going to be interesting. A cold smile played on Luna's lips as she ran. Jack White, your reckoning has come.