Cain applauded as he walked toward me. "Well done, Lil," he said, tapping my shoulder. "I know you can defeat it. That was a very good fight. It will even take some time for me to defeat that giant monster. You've grown a lot.""Um! Thanks for encouraging me," I replied.

Cain went to take the soul of the battered giant octopus. Everything that has life has a soul—that white smoke that Cain collects will lead to my freedom from the curse, although I feel more free and alive with this curse. I ...