A Deal With The Devil

Chapter Eight: The Voice in the Dark

“Lira.”

The voice did not echo.

It did not roar like the creature before it.

It whispered.

Soft.

Ancient.

But it carried through the courtyard with terrifying clarity.

Every vampire heard it.

So did I.

And the moment the sound reached my ears, the silver energy beneath my skin flared so violently that I screamed.

The courtyard exploded into motion.

Vampires stumbled back.

Several guards drew their blades instinctively.

Adrian stepped forward with alarm in his eyes.

“What the hell was that?”

But Lucien didn’t answer.

The Hybrid King was staring at me again.

Not the calculating look he had worn before.

Not curiosity.

Something else.

Recognition.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

Another tremor rippled through the courtyard.

The massive crack in the stone floor widened slowly.

Dust spilled into the darkness below.

And from somewhere deep beneath the castle—

Something moved.

The sound was slow.

Heavy.

Like chains dragging across stone.

My breath hitched.

Because the moment that sound reached me, something inside my chest twisted painfully.

Like a memory trying to surface.

I grabbed my head.

Images flickered through my mind.

Flashes of fire.

Screaming.

Cold metal walls.

A laboratory.

Silver light.

And something enormous rising from darkness.

“No…” I whispered.

Lucien noticed immediately.

His gaze sharpened.

“You’re remembering something.”

“I’m not,” I said quickly.

But the words sounded weak even to my own ears.

Davies stepped closer.

His voice lowered.

“That voice… you recognized it, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t,” I snapped.

But another whisper echoed from beneath the castle.

“Lira.”

This time it sounded clearer.

Closer.

My knees nearly buckled again.

Lucien caught my arm before I could fall.

The moment his hand touched my skin—

The silver energy surged again.

But this time something strange happened.

Lucien froze.

His crimson eyes widened slightly.

Because the power flowing through me didn’t push him away.

It flowed into him.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

Lucien released my arm slowly.

A strange expression crossed his face.

“What was that?” Adrian demanded.

Lucien didn’t answer.

He was still staring at his hand.

Then his gaze returned to me.

Slow.

Careful.

“Fascinating.”

Davies frowned.

“What did you feel?”

Lucien ignored him.

Instead, he stepped closer to the crack splitting the courtyard floor.

The darkness beneath it seemed endless.

Ancient air drifted upward from the depths.

Cold.

Old.

And something else.

Something alive.

Lucien looked down into the fissure.

“How deep does this prison go?”

Davies answered quietly.

“No one knows.”

Lucien glanced back at him.

“You said the first hybrid sealed it.”

“Yes.”

Lucien’s gaze shifted toward me again.

“And now it’s calling her name.”

Davies nodded slowly.

“That’s what worries me.”

The ground trembled again.

This time the castle itself groaned.

Stone dust drifted from the towering walls.

Adrian looked uneasy now.

“Lucien… if that thing breaks free—”

“It won’t.”

Lucien’s voice was calm again.

Cold.

Controlled.

But his eyes remained fixed on me.

Because the silver light beneath my skin was still glowing.

Brighter now.

Stronger.

Davies noticed it too.

His expression darkened.

“It’s getting worse.”

Lucien tilted his head slightly.

“Or better.”

I glared at him.

“I’m not your experiment.”

Lucien smiled faintly.

“You’re far more valuable than an experiment.”

Another whisper rose from the depths.

“Lira…”

The sound sent a chill down my spine.

And suddenly—

A memory slammed into my mind.

A dark cavern.

Massive iron chains.

Ancient symbols carved into stone.

And something enormous trapped behind them.

Something with glowing eyes watching me through the darkness.

My breath caught.

“I’ve seen it.”

The courtyard fell silent.

Lucien’s gaze sharpened immediately.

“Seen what?”

I swallowed hard.

“The creature.”

Davies went still.

“Impossible.”

Lucien stepped closer.

“When?”

“I don’t know.”

The images flickered again.

Fire.

Blood.

The sound of something roaring beneath the earth.

“I think… I think I was there.”

Adrian frowned.

“That’s impossible. The prison was sealed centuries ago.”

Davies shook his head slowly.

“Unless…”

Lucien’s eyes darkened.

“Unless what?”

Davies hesitated.

Then he spoke quietly.

“Unless the first hybrid didn’t die.”

Silence fell across the courtyard.

Lucien’s gaze shifted toward me again.

“You’re suggesting she lived for centuries.”

Davies shrugged slightly.

“Hybrid blood might allow it.”

Lucien considered this.

Then his lips curved slowly.

“That would explain a great many things.”

I stared at him.

“You can’t actually believe that.”

But Lucien didn’t answer.

Because the ground suddenly shook harder than before.

The crack in the courtyard floor widened violently.

Stone shattered outward.

Several vampires leapt back.

A blast of ancient air erupted from the fissure.

And then—

Something else happened.

From deep beneath the castle—

Chains snapped.

The sound echoed like thunder.

Davies’ face drained of color.

“That’s not good.”

Lucien didn’t look worried.

If anything—

He looked excited.

Another chain snapped.

The roar that followed shook the entire castle.

This time there was no mistaking it.

The creature beneath the prison was awake.

Fully awake.

Adrian stepped beside Lucien.

“We need to reinforce the seal.”

Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the darkness below.

“No.”

Adrian stared at him.

“No?”

Lucien’s crimson eyes gleamed.

“If this creature truly was sealed by the first hybrid…”

His gaze slowly returned to me.

“Then I want to see what happens when the two meet again.”

My stomach dropped.

“You’re insane.”

Lucien smiled slightly.

“Perhaps.”

Another chain shattered beneath the castle.

The roar that followed shook the sky.

Vampires along the courtyard walls shifted nervously.

Even they were beginning to look afraid.

Davies turned toward Lucien sharply.

“You can’t let it out.”

Lucien raised an eyebrow.

“And why not?”

“Because if that creature escapes…”

Davies’ voice dropped.

“…this entire kingdom dies.”

Lucien didn’t look concerned.

“Then we’ll make sure it doesn’t escape.”

Another tremor rocked the courtyard.

The crack split wider.

Something moved beneath the darkness.

Something enormous.

Something climbing.

My heart pounded wildly.

Because the silver light beneath my skin was reacting stronger than ever.

Not with fear.

With recognition.

And deep in the darkness below—

Two massive glowing eyes slowly opened.

Watching me.

Waiting.

Then the creature spoke again.

This time louder.

Clearer.

And the words it said made the blood drain from my face.

“Welcome back… creator.”