The Beast Beneath the Throne
976 Words
Chapter 7: The Beast Beneath the Throne
The underground sanctuary shook with terrifying force.
Cracks raced across the crystal floor as chunks of stone crashed from the ceiling. The golden glow that had once filled the chamber faded into a haunting crimson.
A deafening roar echoed from beneath the broken throne.
It wasn't the roar of a wolf.
It wasn't the cry of a dragon.
It was something far older.
Something that had been imprisoned for centuries.
Lucien immediately grabbed Seraphina's wrist.
"We have to leave. Now!"
She looked at the shattered throne, her heart pounding.
"What is it?"
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"I don't know its name... only the stories."
Dante limped toward them, his face pale.
"The legends call it the First Shadow."
Another violent tremor shook the sanctuary.
The crystal throne split completely in half.
A wave of black mist erupted from the c***k, swallowing the room in darkness.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Everyone could see their breath.
Scarlett slowly regained consciousness. The hatred in her eyes had disappeared, replaced by fear.
"No..." she whispered. "We awakened it."
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"You knew this would happen?"
She shook her head desperately.
"I thought the throne only contained the Queen's power."
"What did you release?"
Scarlett stared at the spreading darkness.
"Our creator."
Silence fell.
The words struck everyone like thunder.
The black mist twisted together until it formed the outline of a gigantic figure. Two crimson eyes slowly opened within the darkness.
A voice echoed throughout the sanctuary.
"So... the bloodline still lives."
The voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
Its power alone forced everyone to their knees.
Seraphina struggled to breathe.
Even Lucien, who had never bowed to another soul, found himself unable to stand.
Only the shadow remained unmoved.
It looked directly at Seraphina.
"My Queen..."
She frowned.
"I'm not your queen."
The creature laughed.
"You were born from the blood that created me."
Golden light burst from Seraphina's birthmark.
"I don't know you."
"You will."
The shadow stretched out a massive hand.
"Come to me."
Lucien forced himself to his feet despite the crushing pressure.
"You will not touch her."
The shadow turned toward him.
"The last heir of De Luca."
Its crimson eyes glowed brighter.
"Your family has guarded this prison for generations."
Lucien's expression hardened.
"And I'll guard it until my last breath."
The creature smiled.
"That can be arranged."
Without warning, dozens of black tendrils shot across the chamber.
Lucien pushed Seraphina aside just as the tendrils wrapped around him.
They lifted him into the air.
"Lucien!" Seraphina screamed.
He struggled fiercely, but the shadow tightened its grip.
"You carry the Wolf King's blood," the creature said. "Your power will strengthen me."
"No!" Seraphina shouted.
Golden energy erupted from her hands.
A brilliant beam of light struck the tendrils, forcing them to release Lucien.
He crashed onto the floor, coughing violently.
The shadow looked amused.
"Excellent."
"What do you want?" Seraphina demanded.
"I want what was promised."
"What promise?"
"The union of the Crimson Queen... and the Wolf King."
Lucien's eyes widened.
Dante's face turned white.
Scarlett gasped.
"The prophecy..."
The shadow continued.
"When your bloods unite, my prison will disappear forever."
Seraphina stepped backward.
"No."
"You cannot escape destiny."
"I'll make my own destiny."
For the first time, the shadow's smile faded.
"So stubborn."
The creature raised one hand.
Instantly, visions flooded Seraphina's mind.
She saw kingdoms burning beneath black skies.
Thousands of wolves lying dead.
Vampires kneeling before the shadow.
Cities reduced to ash.
Then...
She saw Lucien.
Standing alone.
Holding her lifeless body in his arms.
Tears streamed down his face.
The vision vanished.
Seraphina collapsed to her knees, trembling.
Lucien rushed to her side.
"What did it show you?"
She couldn't answer.
The image of her own death remained burned into her mind.
The shadow laughed again.
"Every future ends the same."
Lucien slowly stood.
"I don't believe in fate."
"You will."
"I believe in choice."
He drew the silver dagger from his belt.
"And I choose to fight."
With a furious roar, Lucien charged.
His blade sliced through the darkness, releasing flashes of silver light.
For a brief moment, the creature recoiled.
"It can be hurt!" Dante shouted.
The guards who had followed them into the sanctuary opened fire.
Silver bullets tore through the shadow.
The creature roared in anger.
Its body rippled before exploding into hundreds of smaller shadows that rushed through the chamber like a swarm.
"They're everywhere!" one guard cried.
Screams echoed as the shadows overwhelmed several men, draining the life from them in seconds.
Seraphina watched in horror.
She knew ordinary weapons wouldn't stop this enemy.
Closing her eyes, she remembered the voice that had spoken to her from the throne.
The Queen protects. She does not destroy.
She took a deep breath.
Golden light spread from beneath her feet, forming a glowing circle around everyone still alive.
The smaller shadows struck the barrier and dissolved into smoke.
Lucien looked back at her.
Their eyes met.
For the first time since they met, he smiled—not as the feared Mafia Lord, but as a man filled with hope.
"You've found your strength."
Before Seraphina could reply, the great shadow let out an earth-shaking roar.
The ceiling began to collapse.
Huge pillars crashed around them.
Dante pointed toward a narrow tunnel hidden behind the broken throne.
"There's another way out!"
Lucien grabbed Seraphina's hand.
"Run!"
As they raced toward the tunnel, the shadow's chilling voice echoed behind them.
"You may escape today..."
"...but when the Blood Moon rises again, the Queen will belong to me."
The tunnel entrance sealed behind them with a thunderous crash.
For the moment, they were safe.
But deep beneath the ruins of the sanctuary...
The First Shadow opened its crimson eyes once more.
It was no longer imprisoned.
It was hunting.
- Writer
