The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 34

**TITLE: One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**
**Chapter 34: Something’s Happened to Drake**

Florian and June finally exhaled, releasing the tension that had been coiling within them like a tightly wound spring. The weight of uncertainty had lifted, and they felt a tentative sense of relief wash over them.

Once they stepped into the familiar confines of their home, June darted straight into the kitchen, her mind already racing with thoughts of preparing a meal for Venus. “I’m going to whip up something special for her,” she declared with an enthusiasm that was hard to miss.

Venus chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “Chill out, June! I’m not even hungry,” she replied, her tone teasing yet sincere.

Nevertheless, June’s determination proved unyielding. She busied herself, filling the table with an array of dishes, each more elaborate than the last, as a gesture of gratitude. The kitchen soon transformed into a vibrant tapestry of colors and aromas, a feast fit for royalty.

Meanwhile, Florian, feeling the dullness of boredom creeping in, struck up a conversation with June. His spirits lifted instantly when he heard the familiar sound of her brother emerging from his room. It was clear he was itching for some juicy gossip.

But then, just like that, he vanished from their sight, disappearing into the unknown.

Hours passed, and they didn’t see him again until after dinner, when he burst back into the room, eyes wide with excitement. “Guess what I saw?” he exclaimed, barely able to contain himself.

June maintained her composure, though her curiosity was piqued. “Even if Toby came out, my parents wouldn’t be mad. He’s their golden boy, their precious baby,” she replied, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words.

Florian erupted in laughter, his amusement spilling over. “Toby almost got taken away!” he blurted out, the absurdity of it all making him giddy.

June’s expression shifted to one of disbelief. “Wait, what happened?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Florian leaned in, eager to share the unfolding drama. “When I got there, a van from the mental hospital was parked outside, ready to take him away.”

June’s eyes widened, shock washing over her. “Did Toby go crazy?” she gasped, her mind racing with the implications.

“Not exactly,” Florian clarified. “Your dad said Toby was sick and needed to go to the mental hospital to ‘fix’ being gay before he could come home.” He paused, letting the gravity of the situation settle in. “Then Toby’s boyfriend showed up. They beat up your dad, took his bank card, and ran away.”

June sat in stunned silence, processing Florian’s words. “By the time I left, the hospital van was taking your dad to get treated instead,” he finished.

After a moment, June broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “Serves him right.” She glanced down, as if the weight of her thoughts were too heavy to bear. “My parents spoiled Toby since he was little. They never let him do anything hard and gave him whatever he wanted. Now he’s run off with all their money. I wonder if they regret it now.”

Florian hesitated, not wanting to rub salt in the wound, but he felt compelled to speak the truth. “Your parents are saying Toby was tricked into being like this…”

June’s response was immediate, her face a mask of frustration. “Forget it. I don’t want to hear anything about them anymore.”

Florian leaned closer to Venus, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You’re the Oracle Supreme, right? Can you see what’s gonna happen to her family?”

Venus regarded him with calm assurance. “Toby’s going to get sick, get dumped by his boyfriend, and lose both his love and his money. As for her parents? What goes around comes around. They’ll be stuck with bad luck for the rest of their lives—every business they attempt will fail, and they’ll end up scraping by, digging through trash.”

Florian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That bad?”

He lay there, bandaged and battered, his body marred with cuts from shattered glass. The sight was jarring; some of the wounds were so deep that the glimmer of bone could be seen beneath the surface.

With a single glance, Venus pieced together the events that had unfolded. After washing off the blood ward, Drake must have become dizzy, falling backward into a glass door. That explained the gruesome state of his body.

The doctors had just finished a surgical procedure to remove the shards of glass embedded within his skin, and he was now resting, though the pain was evident in his expression.

As Venus entered the room, Drake managed to muster a smirk, attempting to joke through the agony. “Is bad luck also part of the blood omen?” he quipped, though the humor fell flat against the backdrop of his injuries.

Venus shot back, her tone a mix of exasperation and concern. “Do you even have basic common sense? Even if you don’t, ever heard of TV? You’re not supposed to shower right after eating. No wonder you blacked out and fell.”

Drake fell silent, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him. Well, excuse me for thinking my hand was disgustingly dirty, he thought bitterly. And did Saul bring her here just to annoy me? Did he think my injuries weren’t bad enough?

Venus approached him, her expression softening slightly as she slipped a folded sigil into his hand.

Drake looked down, surprised to see a neatly folded triangle sigil resting in his palm. “What’s this?” he asked, curiosity piqued.

“A protective sigil,” Venus explained, her voice steady. “Before, I was broke and couldn’t afford parchment, so I used a blood ward. Now that I’ve got parchment, just keep this one with you.”

In that moment, the weight of her words hung in the air, a promise of protection amidst the chaos.