4. THE CRIMSON PROPHECY
1520 Words
The creature smiled.
And the world seemed to stop breathing.
Aiden stood frozen near the edge of the abyss, every instinct screaming at him to draw his dagger, to run, to fight—anything except remain where he was.
Yet his body refused to move.
The being standing upon the broken chains was unlike anything he had ever seen.
It appeared human.
Almost.
Tall and elegant, draped in flowing shadows, its silver-white hair moved as though underwater despite the still air. Crimson eyes glowed with unnatural brilliance.
Ancient eyes.
Eyes that had witnessed civilizations rise and fall.
Eyes that now stared directly at him.
Then shifted toward Lucien.
"My kings."
The words echoed through the cavern.
The title struck Aiden harder than any weapon.
Kings?
What nonsense was this?
Beside him, Lucien's expression had become unreadable.
The prince rarely displayed emotion.
Yet Aiden noticed the subtle tension in his shoulders.
The slight tightening of his jaw.
Lucien was disturbed.
Deeply disturbed.
That realization frightened Aiden more than the creature itself.
Because if something could unsettle Lucien Veyne...
Then it was truly dangerous.
Around them, surviving soldiers struggled to regain their footing.
Several pointed weapons toward the being.
The captain stepped forward.
"Protect the prince!"
The command echoed through the cavern.
Archers immediately raised their bows.
A dozen arrows flew.
The creature didn't move.
Didn't dodge.
Didn't react.
The arrows simply vanished.
Not shattered.
Not deflected.
Vanished.
As though reality itself swallowed them.
Silence followed.
The soldiers stared in horror.
The creature laughed softly.
"Children playing with sticks."
Another wave of crimson light swept through the cavern.
Every weapon instantly dropped from trembling hands.
Metal clattered against stone.
Several soldiers collapsed to their knees.
Not from injury.
From fear.
Pure, overwhelming fear.
The creature's gaze returned to Lucien.
"Your bloodline remembers me."
Lucien stepped forward.
His voice remained calm.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
"Tell me your name."
The creature smiled wider.
For the first time, something resembling sadness crossed its face.
"You have forgotten."
The response sent chills down Aiden's spine.
Forgotten?
What did that mean?
The creature slowly descended from the shattered chains.
Its feet never touched the ground.
It floated effortlessly toward them.
Every soldier retreated.
Every soldier except Lucien.
The prince stood his ground.
Their eyes locked.
Two predators measuring one another.
One ancient.
One mortal.
Perhaps.
"You knew this would happen," Lucien said.
The creature nodded.
"I warned your ancestors."
The cavern trembled again.
Another chain broke somewhere in the darkness.
The sound echoed like distant thunder.
"The prison weakens."
The creature's voice lowered.
"The Crimson Order accelerates the process."
Aiden immediately stepped forward.
"What are they trying to release?"
The creature turned toward him.
The moment those crimson eyes settled upon him, Aiden felt exposed.
As though every secret he'd ever possessed had become visible.
The creature studied him carefully.
Curiously.
Almost affectionately.
Then it spoke.
"You."
The answer stunned everyone.
"What?"
The creature ignored the question.
Its gaze remained fixed on Aiden.
"You carry the mark."
Aiden's pulse quickened.
"What mark?"
The creature pointed toward his chest.
Aiden frowned.
Then pain exploded through his body.
He staggered backward.
A burning sensation spread beneath his shirt.
The agony intensified rapidly.
Lucien moved immediately.
Catching him before he could fall.
Aiden barely noticed.
The pain consumed everything.
His vision blurred.
The world tilted.
Then suddenly—
A flash.
A vision.
Not a memory.
Something else.
A kingdom burning beneath a crimson sky.
Thousands screaming.
Mountains collapsing.
An army of shadows crossing a sea of fire.
And standing amidst the destruction—
A man.
A king.
Silver-haired.
Powerful.
Terrible.
Beautiful.
The king turned.
His face became visible.
Aiden's breath caught.
The man looked exactly like Lucien.
Then another figure appeared.
Standing beside the king.
Dark-haired.
Sword drawn.
The second figure looked exactly like Aiden.
The vision shattered.
Reality returned violently.
Aiden gasped.
His knees struck the stone floor.
Cold sweat covered his skin.
Lucien knelt beside him immediately.
"Aiden."
The sound of his name felt strangely intimate.
Grounding.
Real.
Aiden looked up.
For a moment, concern was visible in Lucien's silver eyes.
Genuine concern.
Not political calculation.
Not curiosity.
Concern.
Then the prince noticed him staring.
The expression vanished.
Hidden once more.
The creature watched everything.
Amused.
Interested.
"You've seen it now."
Aiden's voice trembled.
"What was that?"
"The beginning."
The answer helped absolutely nothing.
Before anyone could ask another question, a loud horn echoed throughout the fortress.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Lucien immediately stood.
The color drained from the captain's face.
"Impossible."
The prince turned sharply.
"What happened?"
The captain swallowed.
"That's the signal from the western gate."
Silence.
The prince's expression darkened.
"No."
The captain nodded.
"Someone breached the fortress."
The realization hit instantly.
The Crimson Order.
They were already here.
Not hiding.
Not waiting.
Attacking.
A soldier rushed into the cavern moments later.
Blood covered his armor.
His face was pale.
Terrified.
"Your Highness!"
Lucien moved toward him.
"Report."
The soldier struggled to breathe.
"They came from inside."
The statement stunned everyone.
Inside?
"Impossible," the captain snapped.
The soldier shook his head.
"We found royal guards helping them."
The cavern fell silent.
Traitors.
Inside Blackthorn Fortress.
Lucien's expression became lethal.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Aiden had never seen hatred look so controlled.
"How many?"
The soldier's answer chilled everyone.
"More than fifty."
The fortress wasn't merely under attack.
It had been infiltrated.
For a long time.
The creature laughed softly.
"The game begins."
Lucien ignored it.
His focus remained on the soldier.
"Evacuate the lower levels."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Seal every entrance to the Hollow."
"Immediately."
The soldier rushed away.
The captain followed soon after, barking orders.
Within moments, only three figures remained.
Aiden.
Lucien.
The creature.
The silence felt heavy.
Then the creature spoke again.
"You don't have much time."
Lucien folded his arms.
"Then stop speaking in riddles."
The creature smiled.
"Very well."
For the first time, its expression became serious.
The playful amusement vanished completely.
"The Crimson Order believes destiny can be controlled."
Aiden listened carefully.
"They seek the Crown of Midnight."
The name sounded familiar.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"The crown is a myth."
The creature laughed.
"No."
Its crimson gaze shifted toward the abyss.
"You are."
Neither man understood.
The creature continued.
"Two thousand years ago, a kingdom ruled the world."
Images appeared in the air.
Floating above the abyss.
Ancient magic.
Aiden watched in amazement.
A magnificent empire emerged from crimson light.
Golden cities.
Towering castles.
Endless armies.
At its center stood two rulers.
A king.
And his protector.
Silver-haired.
Dark-haired.
Just like the vision.
Just like Lucien and Aiden.
The creature's voice echoed softly.
"They loved each other."
Silence.
The statement hung heavily in the cavern.
Aiden felt his pulse quicken.
Beside him, Lucien remained perfectly still.
Yet somehow the silence between them changed.
Subtly.
The skin touching each other felt warm burning
Like magnet waiting to pullg each other
Dangerously.
The creature continued.
"Their love united kingdoms."
The image shifted.
The empire flourished.
People celebrated.
Peace endured.
Then darkness appeared.
War.
Betrayal.
Blood.
The empire burned.
"The Order betrayed them."
The images shattered.
The cavern darkened once more.
"The king died."
The creature looked toward Lucien.
"The protector died."
Its gaze shifted toward Aiden.
"And the world paid the price."
Neither man spoke.
The implications felt impossible.
Reincarnation?
Destiny?
Ancient prophecy?
It sounded absurd.
Yet after everything they had witnessed...
Nothing felt impossible anymore.
The creature stepped closer.
"The Crimson Order believes your reunion will awaken the Crown."
Lucien's voice remained steady.
"And if they're correct?"
The creature smiled sadly.
"The prison opens."
The abyss growled beneath them.
A sound like mountains grinding together.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
Hungry.
The creature's expression darkened.
"And the thing imprisoned below finally becomes free."
Aiden looked into the darkness.
Something moved.
Far below.
Something enormous.
Watching.
Waiting.
The realization sent ice through his veins.
They weren't merely fighting an organization.
They were racing against an apocalypse.
Before anyone could speak further, another explosion rocked the cavern.
This one much closer.
Stone cracked.
Dust filled the air.
Then footsteps echoed through the darkness.
Slow.
Confident.
Applauding.
Someone emerged from the shadows.
A woman.
Tall.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
Black hair flowed over crimson armor.
A silver mask concealed half her face.
The creature immediately frowned.
Lucien's expression hardened.
The woman smiled.
"Found you."
Aiden immediately recognized the symbol on her armor.
The crimson eye.
The Crimson Order.
The intruder bowed mockingly.
"Your Highness."
Her gaze shifted toward Aiden.
"And the chosen one."
The smile widened.
"I've been searching for both of you."
The creature's crimson eyes narrowed.
"Danger."
For the first time since meeting it, genuine concern appeared on its face.
The woman raised her hand.
Ancient magic erupted around her.
The cavern shook violently.
And Lucien immediately stepped in front of Aiden.
Protecting him.
The gesture lasted only a second.
Yet it changed something neither man could ignore.
Because for the first time—
It wasn't a prince protecting a prisoner.
It was one man choosing another.
And the Crimson Order had finally arrived.
To Be Continued...
Next Episode: The Woman Behind the Mask
- Writer
