Luciana held out the fire torch, its flickering light pushing back the encroaching darkness. The damp, stone walls stretched ahead, disappearing into the unknown.
"A hidden passageway..." Zavaikal exhaled in astonishment. "This fortress truly is an endless maze."
Luciana swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the diary she had discreetly tucked into her dress pocket. Before she could respond, Leo lunged at Zavaikal, fangs bared and claws swiping dangerously close to his face.
"Whoa! What kind of untamed beast is this?" he cried, barely dodging the wolf's assault.
"Leo is far more disciplined than the wild beasts roaming beyond these walls," Luciana countered, running a soothing hand over the wolf's fur to calm him.
"If you say so..." Zavaikal eyed the creature warily.
Luciana turned back to Leo. "Lead the way," she instructed. The wolf obeyed, stepping forward with silent, calculated movements.
The corridor stretched before them, its walls damp and slick. The occasional skittering of mice echoed through the emptiness, accompanied by the distant trickle of water. With each passing moment, the air grew warmer, a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive corridors above.
A wave of nausea twisted Luciana's stomach, but she willed herself to remain composed. She could not afford to appear weak, especially in the presence of a stranger.
Before long, they reached a heavy iron door, its surface corroded by time. A sudden realization struck her as the familiar echoes of distant groans and curses reached her ears.
"Is this... the same place?" she murmured, her thoughts momentarily clouded by uncertainty.
Leo sat beside the door, his posture tense, ears perked forward. The air had changed; the wind was stronger here. Luciana hesitated only a moment before gripping the iron handle and pushing the door open.
A sharp, grating screech rang out as the rusted hinges resisted movement, but it was soon drowned out by the sound of bodies shifting within. The dungeon's stench was overpowering—an acrid mix of decay, filth, and suffering.
The sight before her made her stomach churn.
The cells did not just imprison men but demons as well. Some prisoners sat in eerie silence, shadows of their former selves, while others engaged in gruesome acts of violence. She watched in horror as a monstrous figure tore into a weaker inmate, devouring flesh with merciless efficiency.
The bones, blood, and rotting remains scattered across the floor told a story of ceaseless brutality.
Luciana barely had time to process the horror before the prisoners lunged toward the bars, their outstretched hands desperate to reach her. Their screams filled the space, voices raw with hunger and madness.
One particularly massive ogre extended his arm through the bars, aiming for her hair. Before he could grasp her, Zavaikal reacted, pulling her back just as Leo leaped forward, his powerful jaws clamping down on the ogre's thick wrist. With a sickening crunch, she tore through flesh and bone, sending the creature into a howling frenzy. Blood sprayed across the stone floor as the wolf feasted on the severed limb.
"We need to leave—now," Zavaikal urged, noticing how pale Luciana had become. He cursed under his breath when he saw her sway unsteadily.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, he grasped her wrist and pulled her away from the chaos. The prisoners continued to thrash against their confines as they ran, their screams and curses reverberating through the dungeon.
Left, then right—twice. Another left.
Zavaikal knew he was running blindly, navigating a labyrinth with no clear path.
His chest rose and fell in rapid succession as he finally stopped, straining his ears. The frantic footsteps behind them had grown fainter, but they were still too close for comfort.
Luciana's breathing was growing heavier.
"Don't faint on me now, woman..." he muttered under his breath.
Then, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead.
Tall, draped in black, with an axe resting in his left hand.
Zavaikal instinctively tensed. The man sheathed his weapon and stepped closer.
Luciana wavered on her feet before collapsing. The stranger moved swiftly, brushing past Zavaikal and catching her before she could hit the ground. He pulled back his hood, his sharp gaze scanning her for injuries.
"Erebus...?" Luciana's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried a weight of familiarity.
A delicate hand lifted, her fingertips grazing the scar at the corner of his mouth. The simple touch sent an odd wave of relief washing over her.
Erebus nodded, cradling her protectively before shifting his piercing gaze to Zavaikal.
"Follow me if you wish to leave this place," he commanded, his voice laced with quiet authority.
Zavaikal hesitated but ultimately obeyed, trailing after him through the narrow tunnel that led them out of the abyss.
As they emerged into the cold night air, wisps of ethereal energy circled Luciana before retreating behind Erebus, wary of Zavaikal's presence.
Without a word, Erebus removed his fur cloak and wrapped it securely around Luciana's unconscious form, shielding her from the biting cold.
Then, in a single fluid motion, he unsheathed his axe and swung it at Zavaikal.
The blade's edge kissed his skin, drawing a thin line of blood.
"No need for pretense," Erebus said coolly. "I know it's you."
Zavaikal gritted his teeth as the last remnants of his disguise began to fade, his true form reemerging. The illusion was breaking apart.
A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. "So... the hound has broken his first chain."
Erebus remained silent, but his grip on the axe tightened.
"You've even gone so far as to mate with a woman like that," Zavaikal continued, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "And to think—you've fathered an offspring."
His fingers lifted, forming a slow, deliberate gesture. The patterns on his palm ignited with a crimson glow.
Erebus' chest seized with unbearable agony.
His breath hitched as excruciating pain coiled through his body like molten fire. His knees buckled, and a ragged scream tore from his throat.
"Did you forget?" Zavaikal's voice was smooth, almost amused. "Your soul is bound to me."
The torment intensified, and Erebus' vision blurred at the edges. Every nerve in his body screamed in protest.
"Master!" Jafar's voice cut through the night as he and the soldiers arrived, sprinting toward the scene.
Zavaikal's smirk widened. "I'll leave you be this time. But remember—her life is also in my hands."
With that final whisper, darkness enveloped him, and he vanished into the thick, curling fog.
Erebus remained kneeling, his breath labored, one arm clutching Luciana protectively against his chest. His heart pounded in his ears, not from fear—but from rage.
Jafar came to a sharp halt, his eyes scanning his master's form.
Erebus rose to his feet, staggering slightly. When he finally turned, his irises burned a deep, furious red, veins bulging against his bronze skin. The sheer force of his blood coursing through his body made his muscles tremble.
Not a word left his lips.
Without a glance at Jafar, he carried Luciana away.