The Devil Bowed To Her

Chapter Four: Into the Forgotten Kingdom

"The crown."

Seraphina stared into the forest.

The words she'd heard in her head wouldn't leave her alone.

Find the crown.

Lucien stood beside her, his expression unreadable.

"You said the crown was destroyed."

"It was."

"Then someone is lying."

"Probably."

She glanced at him.

"You're surprisingly calm about that."

"I'm not calm."

"You look calm."

"I'm very good at hiding things."

She narrowed her eyes.

"That's becoming your favorite excuse."

Lucien looked at her.

"And you've become very comfortable accusing me of things."

"You've given me plenty of reasons."

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

The strange tension between them was becoming impossible to ignore.

Then something rustled inside the forest.

Lucien immediately stepped in front of her.

"Stay behind me."

Seraphina sighed.

"You really need a new line."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

She moved around him.

Lucien caught her wrist.

"Seraphina."

She looked down at his hand.

He released her immediately.

Something flickered across his face.

"Sorry."

It was the first time she'd heard him apologize.

Seraphina blinked.

"Did you just say sorry?"

"Don't make it a habit."

Despite everything happening around her, a tiny smile escaped her.

Then the forest went silent.

Not peaceful.

Dead silent.

Lucien's hand moved to the sword at his waist.

"We aren't alone."

A low growl echoed through the trees.

Then another.

Seraphina's smile disappeared.

"Please tell me those aren't more demons."

"Worse."

"What could possibly be worse?"

"Shadow wolves."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

Lucien gave her a look.

"They eat demons."

Seraphina's eyes widened.

"Oh."

Three enormous creatures emerged from the darkness.

They looked like wolves, but their bodies were covered in black scales, and smoke poured from their nostrils.

The largest one snarled.

Lucien drew his sword.

"Stay back."

The wolf lunged.

Lucien met it head-on.

Steel clashed against claws.

The impact sent sparks through the darkness.

Seraphina backed away.

Another wolf circled behind Lucien.

"Lucien!"

He turned.

Too late.

The creature slammed into him.

He crashed against a tree.

"Lucien!"

The largest wolf turned toward Seraphina.

Its red eyes locked onto hers.

She froze.

It slowly approached.

She raised the knife she'd been carrying.

The wolf didn't attack.

It stopped.

Then lowered its head.

Seraphina blinked.

"What?"

Lucien slowly stood.

"Don't move."

"I wasn't planning to."

The wolf lowered itself further.

Then the other two did the same.

Lucien stared.

"They're bowing."

Seraphina looked at him.

"Why?"

He didn't answer.

She took a cautious step forward.

The wolf didn't move.

Another step.

Still nothing.

Seraphina reached out.

Her fingers touched its head.

The moment she did, a flash of light exploded through her mind.

A woman.

A castle.

A baby.

A crown.

And fire.

Seraphina pulled her hand away.

She gasped.

The wolf immediately disappeared into smoke.

The other two followed.

Lucien rushed toward her.

"What did you see?"

"I don't know."

"Try."

She closed her eyes.

"I saw a woman."

"Your mother?"

"I think so."

"What else?"

"A castle."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"Seraphina."

She opened her eyes.

"I said I don't know!"

Lucien stepped back.

She immediately regretted shouting.

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head.

"You don't need to apologize."

She looked away.

"I just..."

Her voice cracked.

"I've spent my whole life thinking I was nobody."

Lucien said nothing.

"I never knew my mother. I never knew my father. I don't even know where I was born."

She looked at her palm.

"And now everyone keeps telling me I'm some queen."

"You are."

"How do you know?"

"Because the creatures know."

She looked at him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means your blood remembers even if you don't."

A strange silence settled between them.

Then Lucien stepped closer.

"You don't have to remember everything tonight."

Seraphina looked at him.

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"I'm not."

"You are."

"No."

"You just told me I don't have to remember everything."

"That isn't kindness."

"What is it?"

He looked into her eyes.

"Practical."

She smiled.

"You're terrible at this."

"At what?"

"Comforting people."

"I wasn't trying to comfort you."

"Exactly."

Before he could respond, the ground beneath them trembled.

A deep rumbling came from the forest.

Trees began shaking.

Then the ground split open.

Seraphina stumbled.

Lucien grabbed her around the waist.

"Careful."

"I'm fine."

"You nearly fell."

"But I didn't."

He didn't release her immediately.

For a second, they stood too close.

Seraphina could feel his heartbeat.

Slow.

Strong.

Steady.

His golden eyes dropped to her lips.

Her breath caught.

Neither moved.

Then a loud roar shattered the moment.

Lucien released her.

"Perfect timing," Seraphina muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

The crack in the ground widened.

A staircase appeared beneath the earth.

Ancient stone steps leading downward.

Seraphina stared.

"That wasn't there before."

Lucien approached the opening.

"I know."

Carved into the first step were three words.

ONLY THE HEIR.

Seraphina's heart pounded.

She stepped forward.

Lucien blocked her.

"No."

She stared at him.

"Move."

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because whatever is down there was created for your bloodline."

"Exactly."

"That doesn't mean it's safe."

"I don't care."

"You should."

She stepped closer.

"Lucien, I've spent nineteen years knowing nothing about myself."

Her voice softened.

"If the answers are down there, I'm going."

He studied her face.

Then sighed.

"Fine."

She smiled.

"But you're staying behind me."

Seraphina laughed.

"You wish."

They descended together.

The deeper they went, the colder it became.

Ancient symbols covered the walls.

Some depicted battles.

Others showed crowned figures kneeling before a woman.

Seraphina stopped.

"That's me."

Lucien looked at the wall.

A woman stood in the center of the painting.

Her hair flowed like fire.

One hand held a sword.

The other held a glowing orb.

Kings and demons knelt around her.

Above her head was the same symbol burned into Seraphina's palm.

Lucien's face darkened.

"That's not possible."

"What?"

"I've seen this."

"Where?"

"In the royal archives."

"And?"

He hesitated.

"The painting is over a thousand years old."

Seraphina stared.

"Then that's not me."

"No."

Lucien looked at her.

"That's your ancestor."

She exhaled.

"Thank God."

But Lucien didn't smile.

"Seraphina..."

"What?"

"Your ancestor wasn't human."

Her smile vanished.

"What was she?"

Lucien's gaze remained fixed on the painting.

"The first queen of Elaria."

He paused.

"The woman who created the first magical kingdom."

Seraphina swallowed.

"And what happened to her?"

Lucien pointed at the bottom of the painting.

There was a single inscription.

SHE COULD COMMAND LIGHT.

A second line appeared beneath it.

SHE COULD COMMAND DARKNESS.

And beneath both:

BUT ONLY HER BLOOD COULD COMMAND BOTH.

Seraphina stared at her palm.

The mark began glowing.

Lucien stepped closer.

"Don't touch anything."

"I'm beginning to think you say that too much."

She reached toward the wall.

"Seraphina—"

Her fingers touched the symbol.

The entire chamber exploded with light.

She screamed.

Images flooded her mind.

A woman standing beneath a red moon.

An army kneeling.

A black throne.

A white throne.

A man beside her.

His face was hidden.

Then a voice.

Deep.

Ancient.

Terrifying.

The heir will return.

Another voice answered.

And when she does, the Devil will bow.

Seraphina's eyes snapped open.

She fell forward.

Lucien caught her.

"What did you see?"

She looked at him.

"The prophecy."

"What prophecy?"

She whispered the words.

"The Devil will bow."

Lucien went completely still.

Then something behind them moved.

Slowly.

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

An old woman wearing a silver cloak.

Seraphina stared.

The woman smiled.

"I've waited nineteen years for you."

Lucien drew his sword.

"Who are you?"

The old woman looked at him.

Then at Seraphina.

"I am the last priestess of Elaria."

She lowered herself into a deep bow.

"Welcome home, my Queen."

Seraphina couldn't speak.

The priestess looked toward Lucien.

"And you..."

Her smile faded.

"You should never have brought the Devil's son here."

Lucien's grip tightened around his sword.

"Why?"

The priestess looked at Seraphina.

"Because the moment he crossed these gates..."

The ancient walls began to tremble.

"...the kingdom woke."

A heartbeat echoed beneath their feet.

Once.

Twice.

Then again.

Something enormous stirred beneath the ruins.

The priestess whispered,

"And it wants its queen back."