CHAPTER 10: THE UNDERGROUND KINGDOM
1369 Words
"Mom!"
Selene's desperate cry echoed through Black Hollow as she raced toward the ancient stone staircase.
"Selene, stop!" Kael shouted.
She didn't.
Every instinct told her only one thing.
Find her mother.
The glowing staircase spiraled deep beneath the earth, disappearing into the silver-lit city below.
Without hesitation, Selene descended.
The moment her foot touched the first step...
The ancient symbols carved into the stone began to glow.
One after another.
Like stars awakening.
Ronan watched from above with a satisfied smile.
"The bloodline recognizes her."
Kael's expression darkened.
"Damn it..."
He leaped after her.
---
The deeper Selene descended...
The quieter the world became.
The sounds of battle vanished.
Only the soft echo of her footsteps remained.
The underground city was unlike anything she'd imagined.
Massive silver towers stretched toward the cavern ceiling.
Crystal rivers flowed between marble streets.
Ancient statues lined the roads, each depicting kings and queens wearing crescent-shaped crowns.
Although abandoned...
The city didn't feel dead.
It felt...
As if it had been waiting.
Waiting for someone to return.
---
Selene reached the bottom of the staircase.
The moment both feet touched the ground—
A pulse of silver light spread across the city.
Every crystal lantern ignited.
Every fountain began to flow.
Ancient bells rang throughout the empty streets.
Far above, Kael landed beside her.
The instant he did...
Dozens of armored stone warriors lining the avenue slowly turned their heads.
CRACK...
Stone dust fell from their shoulders.
Selene stared in horror.
"They're moving..."
One by one...
The statues stepped down from their pedestals.
Ancient armor clanged with every movement.
Each carried a silver spear.
Their empty eye sockets suddenly glowed blue.
Captain Nadia and the guards arrived moments later.
They immediately formed a defensive line.
"What are those?" Ethan whispered.
Kael's gaze remained fixed ahead.
"The Royal Guardians."
"I thought they were legends."
"So did I."
---
One of the stone warriors stepped forward.
Its movements were slow but deliberate.
It stopped directly before Selene.
Everyone held their breath.
The guardian slowly knelt.
Then struck the butt of its spear against the ground.
BOOM!
The sound echoed through the underground kingdom.
Every other guardian followed.
One after another...
Hundreds of stone warriors knelt before Selene.
Their voices echoed together.
"Welcome home... Your Majesty."
Selene froze.
"I..."
"I don't understand."
The leader slowly raised its head.
Its voice sounded ancient, worn by centuries.
"We have awaited your return."
"For eight hundred years."
Kael frowned.
"Eight hundred?"
The guardian nodded.
"The kingdom never forgot."
---
Before anyone could speak again...
A deafening roar echoed through the cavern.
The ground shook.
Several crystal towers cracked.
From the far end of the city...
Something enormous emerged from the darkness.
At first...
Selene thought it was another statue.
Then it moved.
Its body was covered in black scales instead of fur.
Massive wings unfolded from its back.
Its glowing crimson eyes fixed on the group.
Captain Nadia's face turned white.
"...Impossible."
Ethan slowly drew his weapon.
"What is that?"
Kael stepped in front of Selene.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"A Guardian Drake."
The creature opened its mouth.
A blast of silver fire erupted into the sky.
The heat washed over the entire city.
The stone guardian lowered its head.
"The final trial has begun."
Selene looked at it in confusion.
"What trial?"
The guardian's blue eyes met hers.
"The trial..."
"...to determine whether you are worthy to reclaim the Moon Throne."
The enormous drake roared again.
This time...
It spread its wings and launched itself into the air.
Straight toward Selene.
The Guardian Drake dived from the sky.
Its enormous wings blotted out the silver light of the cavern.
A torrent of silver flames erupted from its jaws.
"Selene!" Kael roared.
He threw himself in front of her.
The fire slammed into him with tremendous force.
BOOM!
The ground exploded.
Dust and shattered stone filled the air.
Captain Nadia raised her arm to shield her face.
"My King!"
When the smoke finally cleared...
Kael was still standing.
His clothes were scorched, and the wound in his side had reopened, but he hadn't moved an inch.
Behind him...
Selene was completely unharmed.
The Guardian Drake tilted its massive head.
Its glowing eyes narrowed.
Then, to everyone's surprise...
It spoke.
"You protect her."
Its deep voice echoed through the cavern like rolling thunder.
Kael's golden eyes never left the beast.
"With my life."
The drake looked at Selene.
"And you..."
"...do you wish to claim the Moon Throne?"
Selene stood frozen.
"I don't even know what that means."
The beast remained silent for a long moment.
"An honest answer."
The stone guardians murmured among themselves.
"The first requirement..."
"...truth."
---
High above the city walls...
Ronan watched everything unfold.
A slow smile crossed his face.
"So the old beast still follows the ancient laws."
One of his generals stepped beside him.
"Alpha, should we attack now?"
Ronan shook his head.
"No."
"Let the trial continue."
"If she fails..."
"...the throne dies with her."
"And if she succeeds?"
Ronan's blue eyes gleamed.
"Then we'll take the throne from its rightful owner."
---
The Guardian Drake lowered itself onto the ancient plaza.
Its claws cracked the marble beneath its weight.
It studied Selene carefully.
"The blood of the Moon flows within you."
"But blood alone does not make a ruler."
The beast extended one enormous claw.
A small silver crystal floated from its palm.
"This crystal reveals the heart."
Selene hesitated.
Kael stepped closer.
"You don't have to do this."
She looked at him.
"If this helps me find my mother..."
"...I'll do it."
She reached out.
The moment her fingers touched the crystal—
A brilliant silver light swallowed the plaza.
---
Selene found herself standing in a meadow beneath a full moon.
The air was warm.
Peaceful.
A little girl sat beneath a tree, quietly crying.
She couldn't have been older than seven.
Her clothes were torn.
Her knees were scraped.
Selene slowly approached.
"Are you okay?"
The little girl looked up.
Her face...
Was Selene's.
Only younger.
"You came."
The child smiled through her tears.
"I've been waiting."
Selene knelt before her.
"Who are you?"
"I'm the part of you that remembers."
"Remembers what?"
The little girl pointed toward the moon.
"Everything."
Suddenly...
The peaceful meadow disappeared.
Darkness consumed the sky.
The child grabbed Selene's hand.
"Don't let go."
"I won't."
A woman's scream echoed through the darkness.
Then a man's voice.
"Take her!"
"Run!"
The little girl squeezed Selene's hand tighter.
"They're coming."
Shadows rushed toward them from every direction.
Figures cloaked in black.
Dozens of them.
One raised a blood-red blade.
Another unleashed black flames.
The little girl looked at Selene with frightened silver eyes.
"Promise me..."
"...don't become like them."
"I promise."
The instant the words left her lips...
The vision shattered.
---
Selene gasped as she returned to the underground city.
The crystal floated gently back into the Guardian Drake's claw.
The beast stared at her in silence.
Then...
It lowered its head.
"The first trial..."
"...is complete."
The stone guardians struck their spears against the ground.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
"The Princess has passed."
A relieved smile spread across Ethan's face.
Captain Nadia exhaled quietly.
But Kael...
Didn't smile.
His eyes were fixed on the shadows beyond the plaza.
He had sensed it.
Someone else was there.
A slow clap echoed through the ancient city.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Ronan stepped from the darkness, his silver sword resting across one shoulder.
"Beautiful."
He looked at Selene.
"You've inherited your mother's heart."
Then his smile faded.
"But let's see..."
"...whether you inherited your father's power."
He raised his hand.
The ground behind him exploded.
A gigantic iron gate, hidden beneath centuries of rubble, slowly opened.
A chilling roar echoed from the darkness beyond.
The Guardian Drake's eyes widened.
"No..."
"It cannot be."
Kael's face turned grim.
"He broke the seal."
From the gate emerged a creature wrapped in chains.
It stood over twenty feet tall.
Half wolf.
Half shadow.
Its glowing red eyes were empty of reason.
Ancient runes burned across its black fur.
The chains snapped one by one as it stepped into the moonlight.
The Guardian Drake whispered in horror,
"The Fallen King..."
"...has awakened."
- Writer
