Chapter 13
654 Words
JULIAN POV
The castle had become too loud.
Not with voices.
With memories.
The creature beneath the mountain had awakened.
The Twelve Princes had gathered.
And the last Thorne had finally crossed the threshold of the only place her father had spent twenty three years trying to keep her from.
Nothing in this night was coincidence.
Nothing.
I left the throne room without another word.
No one stopped me.
Not even Lucien.
They knew where I was going.
The King’s Wing.
No one entered those halls unless summoned.
The corridors were darker than the rest of the castle, illuminated only by dying candles. Ancient knights stood like statues along the walls, their rusted armor stained with centuries of forgotten wars.
At the end of the corridor stood two enormous iron doors.
Neither guard spoke.
They simply bowed and opened them.
The smell hit me first.
Medicine.
Burnt herbs.
Rotting flowers.
Death.
The chamber was enormous, yet it felt like a prison.
Black curtains covered every window.
Dozens of physicians stood silently against the walls, too frightened to breathe.
In the center of the room…
Rested the King.
King Darius Valerius.
My father.
He looked nothing like the man who had conquered kingdoms.
The sickness had consumed him.
His once powerful body had become painfully thin beneath layers of black silk.
Silver veins crawled across his neck like cracks spreading through marble.
His breathing came in slow, painful rattles.
Yet…
His eyes remained open.
Watching.
Waiting.
“I told you,” his weak voice rasped.
His lips barely moved.
“…she came.”
I walked closer.
“Your Majesty.”
A bitter smile touched his lips.
“You only call me that when you’re angry.”
I said nothing.
He laughed.
It turned into violent coughing.
Dark blood stained the white handkerchief beside him.
The physicians lowered their heads.
No one dared move.
“The beast has awakened,” I said.
“I know.”
“The princes are here.”
“I know.”
“The Thornes…”
“I know.”
His eyes slowly shifted toward me.
“There is only one thing you still don’t know.”
Silence settled over the room.
For the first time in centuries…
I felt like a child standing before his father.
“What?”
The King’s fingers trembled as he reached beneath his blanket.
From beneath the covers…
He pulled out an ancient gold key.
Its handle was carved into the shape of a raven.
“The seal beneath this castle…”
He coughed again.
“…was never meant to keep the monster inside.”
I frowned.
“What?”
His pale eyes met mine.
“It was built…”
“…to keep your mother out.”
Every muscle in my body froze.
“My mother died four hundred years ago.”
The King slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Another cough.
More blood.
“That…”
“…is the first lie this family ever told.”
My heartbeat stopped.
Before I could ask another question…
The chamber doors burst open.
Cassian stormed inside.
For once…
His face had lost every trace of humor.
“Julian.”
His voice was strained.
“You need to come now.”
“What happened?”
Cassian looked toward the King before lowering his voice.
“Penelope is gone.”
The room became deathly still.
“I left guards with her.”
“They’re all unconscious.”
My pulse quickened.
“Who took her?”
Cassian swallowed.
“No one knows.”
He hesitated.
“But…”
One word.
Just one.
It made my blood run cold.
“…she left willingly.”
The King’s weak laughter echoed through the chamber.
“Of course she did.”
He closed his tired eyes.
“The castle has begun choosing.”
And somewhere deep beneath the foundations…
The ancient roar sounded again.
This time…
It almost sounded like someone calling Penelope’s name.
- Writer
