THE KINGDOM THAT FORGOT DEATH

Chapter Ten: The Forgotten Child

The knocking continued.

Three slow knocks.

Then silence.

Kaelen stood frozen, staring at the portrait in his father's hands.

Elias.

The fourth child.

The brother nobody remembered.

"Where is he?" Kaelen asked.

His father carefully placed the portrait on the table.

"Below the city."

"Then why haven't we rescued him?"

His father looked away.

"Because the place where he is imprisoned is not an ordinary prison."

Seraphina stepped closer.

"What do you mean?"

"The Forgotten Chambers. They were built before the kingdom existed. Nobody who enters can leave without paying a terrible price."

Thorne folded his arms.

"Wonderful. Another cursed place. Our journey is becoming increasingly unpleasant."

Nobody responded.

Kaelen turned towards his father.

"Why was Elias forgotten?"

"Because the Emperor feared what he could become."

Lyra looked at the portrait.

"I remember him now," she whispered.

Everyone turned towards her.

"I was very young, but I remember holding his hand. He used to follow me everywhere."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"One night, the Emperor's soldiers came. They took him, and Father told us never to speak his name again."

Kaelen looked at his father.

"You knew he was alive all this time?"

His father nodded.

"I did."

Kaelen stepped away, his anger growing.

"You allowed us to believe we were alone while our brother suffered underground?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"From what? The truth?"

His father had no answer.

Elira approached Kaelen.

"We can still save him."

Kaelen looked at her.

"Then that's what we'll do."

An hour later, they gathered around an ancient staircase hidden beneath the palace.

The entrance was covered in strange symbols.

His father lit a lantern.

"Once we descend, stay close. The chambers respond to fear, and they can use your memories against you."

Thorne raised his hand.

"Can they use my good looks against me?"

Seraphina stared at him.

"I doubt they have anything powerful enough to work with."

Thorne shook his head.

"I feel attacked."

Despite everything, Kaelen almost smiled.

Then they began their descent.

The staircase seemed endless.

The deeper they travelled, the colder the air became. Strange whispers followed them, calling their names from behind the walls.

After several minutes, they reached a massive iron door.

Four symbols were engraved upon it.

One represented a crown.

Another represented a shadow.

The third resembled a broken heart.

The fourth was a child's hand.

Kaelen placed his palm against the door.

The mark on his skin began glowing.

A loud clicking sound echoed through the staircase.

Slowly, the door opened.

Beyond it stretched a long corridor filled with hundreds of empty cages.

Inside some cages were old bones.

Inside others were living people who stared silently at the travellers.

Elira covered her mouth.

"Who are these people?"

His father answered quietly.

"Those who were forgotten when death disappeared."

Kaelen approached one of the cages.

An old woman reached towards him.

"Please," she whispered. "Tell my daughter I am still here."

Before he could respond, the corridor shook.

A child's laughter echoed from somewhere ahead.

Kaelen recognised it.

"Elias?"

The laughter stopped.

Then a small voice answered.

"Kaelen?"

He began running.

"Wait!" his father shouted.

But Kaelen was already moving.

At the end of the corridor stood a small chamber.

A boy sat inside a circular cage.

He looked no older than ten.

His clothes were torn, and his dark hair covered part of his face.

When he saw Kaelen, he slowly stood.

"You're real," the boy whispered.

Kaelen approached the cage.

"Are you Elias?"

The boy nodded.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Elias pressed his hand against the bars.

"I knew you would come."

Kaelen placed his hand against the other side.

"I'm taking you home."

Elias smiled.

But his smile disappeared almost immediately.

"Don't."

Kaelen frowned.

"Why?"

The boy looked towards the darkness behind him.

"Because something followed you."

Suddenly, every candle in the chamber went out.

The iron cage began shaking.

A deep growl came from the shadows.

Seraphina drew her sword.

"Everyone, get back!"

Something enormous moved behind Elias.

Two red eyes opened in the darkness.

Kaelen raised the Mourning Blade.

"What is that?"

His father stepped forward, his face filled with horror.

"The prison guardian."

The creature slowly emerged.

Its body was covered in black armour, and enormous chains dragged behind it.

Elias began crying.

"It doesn't let anyone leave."

The creature opened its mouth.

A voice emerged.

"THE FIRST SHADOW HAS RETURNED."

It turned towards Kaelen.

"THE PRISONER MUST REMAIN."

Kaelen raised his sword.

"Then you'll have to get through me."

The creature charged.

The entire chamber shook as Kaelen swung the Mourning Blade.

Silver light collided with black darkness.

The impact sent him crashing against the wall.

"KAELEN!" Elira screamed.

Thorne and Seraphina attacked from opposite sides, but their weapons bounced harmlessly off the creature's armour.

Lyra rushed towards Elias's cage.

She placed both hands against the bars.

"Come on!"

The lock refused to move.

Elias suddenly reached through the bars and touched her hand.

The cage exploded.

A powerful wave of white light filled the chamber.

Everyone covered their eyes.

When the light disappeared, Elias stood outside the cage.

The guardian had fallen to its knees.

Its red eyes were fading.

Kaelen slowly stood.

"Elias, what did you do?"

The boy looked down at his hands.

"I don't know."

His father stared at him.

Then he whispered something that frightened Kaelen more than the creature had.

"Impossible."

"What?"

His father looked at Elias.

"He carries the power of death."

Silence filled the chamber.

Elias looked confused.

"But Father said I was dangerous."

Kaelen knelt beside him.

"You're not dangerous to us."

Elias looked into his eyes.

"Then why does everyone want me locked away?"

Kaelen had no answer.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them cracked.

A deep voice echoed through the chamber.

"YOU HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE."

The Emperor.

The walls began collapsing.

His father shouted.

"WE MUST LEAVE NOW!"

Kaelen grabbed Elias's hand.

Together, they ran towards the staircase as the Forgotten Chambers crumbled behind them.

But just before they reached the exit, Elias stopped.

Kaelen turned.

"What's wrong?"

The boy stared into the darkness.

"Someone is calling me."

A cold wind swept through the corridor.

Then another voice whispered:

"Welcome back, my son."

Elias slowly released Kaelen's hand.

His eyes turned completely black.

And somewhere beneath the kingdom, the first heartbeat of death began again.