Chapter 13: The Monster Beneath the Mountain

No one spoke for several seconds.

The frozen valley stood silent beneath the moonlight.

Snow drifted through the air.

Wind howled between the mountains.

And at the center of everything stood the shattered seal.

Broken.

Empty.

Dead.

Elena stared at the ancient structure buried beneath the collapsed mountainside.

The runes carved into its surface looked identical to those beneath the Red Castle.

The same symbols.

The same chains.

The same purpose.

A prison.

Only this one had failed.

Completely.

Rowan finally broke the silence.

What was imprisoned here?

King Alaric didn't answer immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on the broken seal.

The immortal king looked older than Elena had ever seen him.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Like someone watching a nightmare return.

Eventually he spoke.

Before Kael.

Before the mist.

Before the Crimson Kingdom existed.

There was another war.

Lyra's expression darkened.

The First War.

Alaric nodded.

The oldest war.

The one history forgot.

Elena looked between them.

You're telling me there was another enemy?

Worse.

The answer came from Lyra.

Far worse.

The mage dismounted and approached the shattered seal.

Her silver staff glowed faintly.

Ancient magic flowed through the runes.

Or at least what remained of them.

Someone broke it from the inside.

The words sent a chill through everyone.

Elena stared.

That's possible?

Apparently.

Lyra looked deeply troubled.

The prison wasn't destroyed.

It was escaped.

A distant roar echoed across the mountains.

Not thunder.

Not wind.

Something alive.

Something enormous.

The sound came from Blackwood Tower.

Every horse became restless.

Several guards exchanged nervous glances.

Rowan tightened his grip on his sword.

We're wasting time.

He's right.

Alaric looked toward the fortress.

Whatever escaped this prison is already moving.

And Kael is waiting for us.

The group continued forward.

The climb toward Blackwood Tower was difficult.

Snow covered much of the ancient road.

Ice coated broken stone steps.

The higher they climbed, the colder the air became.

Eventually the fortress loomed above them.

Massive.

Ancient.

Terrifying.

Dark crimson energy pulsed from its highest tower.

Like a heartbeat.

Like a warning.

Like something alive.

The main gate stood open.

That alone felt wrong.

No guards.

No defenses.

No resistance.

As though someone wanted them to enter.

Which almost certainly meant they shouldn't.

Alaric dismounted first.

Stay alert.

The king drew his sword.

Crimson light flowed along its blade.

Rowan and the guards followed.

Lyra raised her staff.

Silver magic illuminated the darkness.

Together they crossed into Blackwood Tower.

The interior was enormous.

Ancient banners hung from stone walls.

Most had rotted centuries ago.

Dust covered everything.

Broken furniture littered the halls.

Yet despite the decay, Elena felt something strange.

The tower wasn't abandoned.

Someone had been here recently.

Footprints crossed the dust-covered floor.

Hundreds of them.

Hollow Ones.

The creatures had moved through the fortress.

Toward the upper levels.

Toward the crimson light.

The expedition followed.

The tower seemed endless.

Corridors twisted through the structure.

Staircases climbed higher and higher.

Ancient portraits watched from the walls.

Many displayed members of the Blackwood family.

Warriors.

Nobles.

Kings.

Rowan occasionally glanced toward them.

His expression difficult to read.

Eventually Elena noticed one portrait in particular.

A young man stood beside King Alaric.

The resemblance was obvious.

The same eyes.

The same features.

The same posture.

Rowan.

The warrior stopped.

That's him, isn't it?

He followed her gaze.

For a moment he said nothing.

Then he nodded.

My grandfather.

The founder of the Blackwood Guard.

Elena studied the portrait.

The man looked proud.

Confident.

Fearless.

What happened to him?

Rowan's expression darkened.

He died protecting the king.

The answer seemed simple.

Yet something about it felt incomplete.

Before Elena could ask more, a scream echoed through the tower.

Everyone froze.

The sound came from above.

Followed by another.

Then silence.

Alaric moved immediately.

Run.

The group surged upward.

They climbed several flights of stairs.

Crossed a ruined hallway.

Entered a massive circular chamber.

And stopped.

The room looked like a cathedral.

Its ceiling stretched hundreds of feet overhead.

Crimson energy flowed through ancient runes carved into the walls.

The air vibrated with power.

At the center stood a massive stone platform.

And on that platform stood Kael Vayne.

For the first time, Elena saw him clearly.

The Hollow King.

The prisoner beneath the Red Castle.

The brother of Alaric.

He looked almost identical to the immortal king.

Almost.

His skin appeared unnaturally pale.

Dark cracks spread across his face like fractured stone.

His eyes glowed crimson.

Not human eyes.

Not anymore.

Power radiated from him.

Ancient.

Corrupted.

Terrifying.

Kael smiled.

Brother.

Alaric's expression became stone.

Kael.

The Hollow King laughed softly.

Five centuries.

And somehow you still look disappointed to see me.

No one found the joke amusing.

Kael's attention shifted.

Eventually landing on Elena.

Ah.

The map-bearer.

We've been expecting each other.

Elena felt every instinct screaming at her to run.

She ignored it.

You're responsible for this?

Kael gestured around the chamber.

Partially.

The broken seal?

Not me.

The answer surprised everyone.

Even Alaric.

Kael noticed.

Oh, you didn't know?

His smile widened.

That's unfortunate.

The crimson energy throughout the chamber intensified.

The tower trembled.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Ancient stone cracked.

Something beneath the fortress moved.

Something massive.

Alaric immediately stepped forward.

What did you release?

For the first time, Kael's smile faded.

Release?

Brother, I didn't release it.

His voice lowered.

I woke it up.

The floor exploded.

Stone shattered.

A deafening roar echoed through the chamber.

Not human.

Not animal.

Something older.

Something primordial.

The platform cracked apart.

A massive claw burst through the floor.

Black.

Covered in scales.

Larger than a carriage.

Guards stumbled backward in horror.

The entire tower shook violently.

Another claw appeared.

Then another roar.

This one louder than the first.

Far louder.

The sound echoed across the mountains.

Across the kingdom.

Across the valley itself.

Kael looked genuinely pleased.

Allow me to introduce the true enemy.

The stone floor shattered completely.

And from the darkness below, something ancient began to rise.