The Devil of the Underworld
682 Words
Chapter 2: The Devil of the Underworld
The growl grew louder.
Seraphina stumbled backward, her heart pounding against her ribs. The burning mansion crackled behind her as smoke filled the night sky. Through the flames, a pair of glowing crimson eyes appeared.
Then another.
And another.
Three massive wolves emerged from the fire, their black fur untouched by the flames. Their sharp fangs gleamed beneath the blood-red moon.
She turned and ran.
Branches whipped against her face as she sprinted into the forest, clutching the black ring the mysterious man had given her. Her lungs burned, but she refused to stop.
The wolves were gaining on her.
A deafening howl echoed through the trees.
One of them leaped.
Seraphina screamed and threw up her hands.
A burst of golden light exploded from her body, hurling the creature into a tree. The other wolves hesitated, growling uneasily.
"What... what is happening to me?" she whispered.
The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Before the wolves could attack again, the roar of powerful engines shattered the silence.
Six black armored SUVs burst through the forest, surrounding Seraphina. Armed men dressed in tailored black suits stepped out, each carrying silver weapons.
The wolves retreated into the darkness.
One of the men approached her and bowed slightly.
"Miss Ravenwood," he said respectfully. "Our boss has been expecting you."
"I don't know who your boss is."
"You will."
He opened the door of the last SUV.
Inside sat the man with the silver eyes.
Lucien De Luca.
His black suit looked flawless despite the rain. A silver watch rested on his wrist, and an aura of quiet authority surrounded him. He didn't speak immediately. Instead, he studied Seraphina with unreadable eyes.
"You survived," he finally said.
"You knew this would happen."
"I did."
Her anger exploded.
"You let them kill my family!"
She lunged at him, but before she could reach him, two bodyguards stepped forward.
Lucien raised one hand.
"Stand down."
The men obeyed instantly.
He looked back at Seraphina.
"If I wanted your family dead, you wouldn't be standing here."
"Then tell me who did it!"
"I will."
"When?"
"When you stop asking the wrong questions."
She clenched her fists.
"I hate riddles."
"And I hate lies."
Their eyes locked.
For a strange moment, neither looked away.
Then a sharp pain shot through Lucien's chest.
His breathing caught.
A deep voice echoed inside his mind.
Mate...
His wolf had been silent for years.
Tonight, it had awakened.
Lucien quickly hid his reaction.
Not now.
Not her.
Not the daughter of the Crimson Queen.
He looked away before Seraphina noticed the brief flash of gold in his eyes.
"Get in the car."
"No."
"It wasn't a request."
"I'm not going anywhere with a stranger."
Lucien sighed.
"Very well."
He nodded toward the forest.
Within seconds, distant howls echoed again.
"The people hunting you are less than five minutes away. Stay here, and you'll die."
Seraphina hesitated.
She hated him.
But she hated dying even more.
Slowly, she climbed into the SUV.
The convoy sped away into the night.
---
Hours later, iron gates taller than any building she had ever seen opened automatically.
Beyond them stood a palace disguised as a mansion.
Marble fountains.
Private gardens.
Helicopters.
Dozens of armed guards patrolled the grounds.
"This is your home?" she asked.
Lucien didn't answer.
As they entered, every servant bowed.
"Welcome home, Boss."
No one dared look him in the eye.
A beautiful woman in a red dress approached them.
"Lucien, the council is waiting."
Her smile disappeared the moment she saw Seraphina.
"And who is she?"
Lucien's answer stunned everyone.
"From tonight onward..."
He turned toward Seraphina.
"...she stays under my protection."
A shocked silence filled the grand hall.
The woman frowned.
"The council won't approve."
Lucien's expression turned cold.
"I wasn't asking for permission."
Far above them, hidden in the shadows of the balcony, an elderly man watched with a cruel smile.
"So..." he whispered.
"The Crimson Queen has finally returned."
He picked up his phone.
"Prepare the ritual."
"The game has begun."
- Writer
