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My heart raced as I crossed the armory, dropping to my knees beside the grate. With trembling hands, I lifted it, the metal groaning in protest as it revealed a dark, yawning hole beneath it. The air that wafted up from the passage was cool and damp, carrying with it the earthy scent of the tunnels beneath.
I shivered with fear.
I hesitated for a moment, my mind reeling with the enormity of what I was about to do. If I went down there, if I disappeared into those tunnels, there would be no turning back. I would be leaving behind everything—my safety, the twisted sense of security I had found in Hades’ arms, even the strange, confusing feelings I had for him.
But I knew I had no choice. If I stayed, if I allowed myself to be lulled back into that false sense of comfort, the prophecy would come to pass, and I would be the one to pay the ultimate price.
Taking a deep breath, I lowered myself into the hole, my feet finding purchase on the stone rungs set into the wall. Thedarkness enveloped me, the narrow passage pressing in on all sides as I descended into the depths of the castle. My heart pounded in my ears, the sound of my own breathing loud and ragged as I forced myself to keep going.
When I finally reached the bottom, I stepped into the tunnel, the stone beneath my feet slick with moisture. The air was cool and still, the silence almost oppressive in its weight. I took a moment to steady myself and let my eyes adjust to the darkness, before I began to move forward, my hand trailing along the rough stone wall for guidance.
The tunnel wound its way beneath the castle, a labyrinth that seemed to go on forever, the passages growing narrower and steeper as I descended further into the depths of the earth. My breath came in short, sharp gasps, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and decay. I had no idea how far I had gone, how close I was to finding an exit. All I knew was that I had to keep going.
Suddenly, the tunnel widened into a larger chamber, the ceiling arching high above me. I paused, taking in the space, my heart pounding with the hope that I might be close to freedom. But as I stepped forward, something caught my eye—a faint glimmer of light filtering through a crack in the stone wall at the far end of the chamber.
I hurried toward it, my hands trembling as I pushed against the stone, searching for a way to open it. The wall groaned under my touch, the stones shifting with a low rumble. With one final push, the crack widened, revealing a narrow opening that led to the outside world.
I could see the faint glow of moonlight beyond, the cool night air seeping through the gap. Freedom was so close, so tantalizingly close.
A low, guttural growl echoed behind me, sending a chill down my spine. I froze, my hand instinctively going to the dagger at my side. My heart raced as I turned and scanned the darkness, my eyes straining to see what was lying in wait for me.
Then I saw them.
Darklings.
They slithered out of the shadows, their twisted forms barely visible in the moonlight. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent hunger, their movements unnaturally smooth and fluid, like living shadows themselves. Their bodies were a grotesque amalgamation of sharp claws, teeth, and sinew, covered in a dark, oily substance that made them seem even more monstrous.
Liora’s warning rang in my ears:They are relentless, merciless. They are the darkness given form, and they will not stop until they’ve torn you apart.
I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the dagger. There were too many of them, more than I could count, and they were closing in fast, their growls growing louder, more insistent.
I had no choice. I had to fight.
With a cry of desperation, I lunged at the nearest darkling, slashing at it with the dagger. The blade connected with a sickening squelch, slicing through the creature’s oily flesh. It let out a high-pitched screech, its body convulsing as it fell to theground, but before I could catch my breath, another one was on me, its claws raking across my arm.
I screamed in pain, stumbling back as blood dripped from the fresh wound. The darklings were relentless, swarming around me, their glowing eyes locked onto me with a terrifying intensity. I slashed at them wildly, trying to keep them at bay, but there were too many, their numbers overwhelming.
Another darkling lunged at me, its teeth snapping inches from my face. I barely managed to dodge it, the creature’s fetid breath washing over me as it only just missed its mark. I struck out with the dagger, but the blade glanced off its hide, leaving only a shallow cut that did nothing to slow it down.
My breath came in ragged gasps as I realized how hopeless this was. The darklings were too strong, too fast. I couldn’t fight them all off, no matter how hard I tried. They were closing in, their growls growing louder, their claws gleaming in the moonlight as they prepared to strike.
A darkling’s clawed hand swiped at me, catching me in the side and knocking me to the ground. I hit the rock beneath me with a thud, the wind knocked out of me. The dagger slipped from my grasp, clattering across the stones as I struggled to regain my breath.
The darklings advanced, their eyes glowing with anticipation, their snarls filling the air. I tried to crawl away, to reach for the dagger, but I knew it was too late.
I tried to call on the magic that had ended the battle against Sungard, but as I reached deep within myself, desperately searching for that familiar spark, I felt nothing. Panic gripped me as the darklings closed in, their twisted forms looming overme, their rancid breath hot on my skin. I strained, willing the magic to come, to rise up and protect me, but it never came.
I panicked.
They were going to tear me apart, drag me into the shadows and… A furious roar shattered the night, cutting through the darklings’ growls like a knife.
Hades.
“Keep your hands off my girl,” he growled.
His voice was a terrifying blend of wrath and power, shaking the very ground beneath me. I looked up just in time to see him descend upon the darklings like a force of nature, his eyes blazing with an otherworldly light. He was more terrifying than I’d ever seen him, his aura radiating a dark, palpable energy that made the creatures recoil in fear.
The first one to challenge him was obliterated in an instant, reduced to nothing more than ash as Hades unleashed his power. He moved with a speed and precision that left me breathless, cutting through the darklings with ease. His hands glowed with shadow magic, tendrils of darkness lashing out and tearing the creatures apart as he fought his way toward me.
