Chapter 71 - Music to my ear.
The carriage came to a halt with a chorus of neighs from the horses. The sudden stop stirred me from my thoughts, and I heard the familiar click and clack of the carriage door opening to my right.
An elderly man, short in stature and presumably the carriage driver, appeared at the doorway. In a hushed tone, he called out, "Master. Master. Young Master!" His voice was low, careful not to disturb the others still sleeping.
Instinctively, I turned to Cillian, raising my left hand to wake him. But before I could touch his face, his eyes snapped open. With startling speed and a hint of pain, he grabbed my outstretched hand. His eyes were wide and alert, blinking rapidly as he registered who I was.
Recognizing me, Cillian let out a low sigh and released my hand. I was taken aback by his reaction, wondering what could have prompted such a defensive response.
Seeing Cillian awake, the elderly man retreated. Cillian rose carefully, taking care not to disturb the others. As he exited the carriage, he glanced over his shoulder, silently mouthing 'Come' before walking away.
Puzzled by his behavior but unwilling to miss a chance to confront him, I gently lifted the coral-haired boy's head from my lap and placed it on the seat. I stood up slowly, my feet aching from the prolonged wear of heels.
As I stepped out of the carriage, my eyes were fixed on the ground, wary of my unsteady footing. When I finally looked up, I saw Cillian's retreating form. The gentle breeze ruffled his short hair, and his hands were tucked into his pockets. His pale ivory skin seemed to glow in the surrounding beauty of our new location.
Despite his lean frame, lacking the muscular build of an average man, Cillian's face more than made up for it. I found myself momentarily captivated by his appearance, even as questions about his strange behavior and our current situation swirled in my mind.
As I stepped out of the carriage, I was greeted by the gentle sounds of the morning. The air was crisp and clean, filled with the scent of damp earth and the distant hint of salt from the ocean.
*Snore*
*Snore*
My attention was drawn to the carriage driver's seat, where the old man was fast asleep, his snores a soothing accompaniment to the morning's tranquility.
"Guess, everyone gets tired once in awhile," I thought, smiling softly to myself. I closed the carriage door behind me and began walking towards the lush green grass that marked the end of the road. The cool blades tickled my feet as I stepped out of my heels, leaving them behind like discarded shackles. With my dress clutched in one hand, I ran into the field, my long, bright orange hair streaming behind me like a fiery banner.
The wind caught my hair, whipping it into a wild dance as I ran towards Cillian, who stood at the edge of the ocean. The sight of him against the backdrop of the sea was striking, his figure silhouetted against the rising sun.
As I reached his side, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. My heart was at ease, and my smile lingered, a reflection of the serenity that surrounded us.
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As I stood beside Cillian, the beauty of the scene before us took my breath away. The ocean stretched out, an eternal expanse of azure blue that merged with the sky on the distant horizon. The water's surface shimmered in the early morning light, like a million tiny diamonds dancing on liquid glass.
The soft song of marram grasses whispered in the breeze, a green lullaby that spoke to my soul without a single word. The sand beneath my bare feet was a gentle hue of gold, almost earthen and muted, yet it was the humble star of this breathtaking scene.
My smile lingered as I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The rhythmic sound of waves lapping at the shore created a soothing melody, perfectly complementing the visual splendor before us.
Cillian raised his right arm, drawing my attention to the black designer watch on his wrist. It was clearly a luxury timepiece, likely featuring precision engineering and unique complications that set it apart from ordinary watches.
He had a watch? Since when? I thought, my eyes widening in surprise. AND DANG MAN. BRO's rich like hell. Must've cost a lot. I thought. My gaze drifted away from the watch, the sight of such an expensive accessory made me wonder about Cillian's background.
Wait. Isn't his personality slightly similar to the "Hey. I'm the son of the rich CEO?" I pondered. Cillian's actions didn't entirely fit the profile of a spoiled rich kid, especially considering his efforts to save a village from the Tons. Yet, there was something about him that hinted at a life of luxury.
My smile faltered as these thoughts consumed me, my gaze drifting back to Cillian's profile, now intent on his watch. The time read 4:58 AM, a reminder that the day was still young, full of possibilities and uncertainties.
As Cillian studied his watch, which read 4:58 AM, I found myself pondering the complexities of his character. Like the ocean before us, there seemed to be hidden depths to Cillian that I had yet to fully understand.
-5.00 AM-
The moment the clock struck 5, an imperceptible shift occurred in the atmosphere. I felt it, a subtle change that I couldn't quite define, but it was unmistakably there.
As the clock struck 5, an imperceptible yet unmistakable shift occurred in the atmosphere. The air seemed to thicken, charged with an unspoken urgency that I couldn't quite define. Cillian's head snapped towards me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that startled me, like a sudden jolt of electricity.
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"2 minutes," he said, his voice low and urgent, each word laced with desperation. "2 minutes," he repeated, his eyes wide and filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. It was as if he was fighting against something, his gaze pleading for understanding.
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"Ask me any question," he demanded, turning to face me fully. He took a deep breath, visibly trying to regain his composure before adding, "Ask me anything and I'll answer it." His words hung in the air, a promise of revelation in a moment of chaos.
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My face was a mask of shock, but I didn't wait for my emotions to catch up or my mind to question his sudden change of behavior. Instinct took over, pushing me forward.
"Hints. Give me hints on anything," I exclaimed, urgency rushing into my tone. I was unaware of what or why, but something compelled me to say that.
Cillian's response came swiftly, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I know it all, but I can't do anything. I'm tied to Minsan. I'm the 7th key and you're my lock. It's either ride or die for both of us. Roxana isn't dead, she's responsible for it. Xerxes is connected to Minsan. I can save us both. Just be patient, and don't come looking for me either," he exclaimed, urgency creeping into his voice.
As the final seconds ticked away, Cillian suddenly launched himself at me in a swift, thrusting motion. I lost my balance, my feet slipping on the grass as he wrapped both his arms tightly around my neck. His breath was warm against my ear as he whispered, slow and steadily, "I love you."
In that moment, something surreal happened. Cillian's body began to break apart into tiny crystals, shimmering in the early morning light like a thousand tiny diamonds. A bolt of lightning cracked between the sun and the ocean, its sound thundering through the air. The day instantly transformed into midnight, the sky darkening as if night had fallen in an instant.
Cillian's fragmented form sublimed into the air, leaving me alone in the sudden darkness. The world around me was silent, except for the sound of my own ragged breathing.
The sudden shift from day to night jolted the carriage driver awake. His eyes widened in confusion and fear as he took in the unexpected darkness. Turning around, he spotted Luxana in the distance, a solitary figure against the inky black sky.
Panic gripped him as he glanced back at the carriage, still where he had left it. Without hesitation, he rushed towards Luxana, who had now collapsed onto the ground.
"My lady, I'm- I'm sorry for sleeping so long. Please forgive me and get into the carriage," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of concern and embarrassment. "I will take us home faster, I promise."
The driver's eyes darted around, searching for his other passenger. "And where is the master though?" he asked, turning in circles as if Cillian might suddenly appear.
In his flustered state, the driver failed to notice Luxana's distress. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock, and her body trembled slightly. The driver's naivety prevented him from seeing the turmoil that gripped her, his focus solely on rectifying his perceived dereliction of duty and the mysterious change in time.
As Luxana stood there, her mind still reeling from the sudden disappearance of Cillian, she turned to the carriage driver. "Take the others home," she said, her voice firm despite the turmoil within her. "Get them to safety."
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The driver nodded, still confused but obedient. He rushed to help the others inside the carriage, his movements swift and efficient.
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Luxana watched them for a moment, her eyes lingering on the carriage as it began to move away from her. She took a deep breath, the cool night air filling her lungs, and turned to walk away.
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But as she did, her form began to fade, like mist evaporating in the morning sun. One moment she was there, standing alone on the grassy slope; the next, she was gone.
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The carriage driver, who had been glancing back to ensure everything was in order, spun around, his eyes scanning the darkness. But Luxana was nowhere to be seen. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of her presence.
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The driver's confusion turned to alarm as he realized what had happened. He leapt from the carriage, rushing back to where Luxana had last stood. But there was nothing. No sign of her, no hint of where she might have gone. She was simply gone.
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The night seemed to grow darker, the shadows deepening as if they too were trying to conceal the truth of Luxana's disappearance. The driver stood there, frozen in uncertainty, as the carriage continued its journey without him, leaving him alone in the darkness.
-Helia Palace; Hades's Room, the very night-
King Hades paced restlessly in his private chambers, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the opulent room.
*Knock Knock*
A sharp knock at the door interrupted his troubled thoughts.
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"Enter," he commanded, his voice hoarse with fatigue.
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Sir Eldridge stepped into the room, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, I bring an update on the investigation."
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"Speak," Hades ordered, his eyes sharp with anticipation.
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"Sire, we've made some progress, but the situation remains...perplexing," Sir Eldridge began. "The crash site has been thoroughly examined. The carriage was indeed found at the bottom of a ravine, severely damaged. However, certain aspects of the scene are troubling."
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"Go on," the King urged, his brow furrowing.
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"The horses were found dead, still harnessed to the carriage. But their injuries...they don't align with a typical accident. It appears they may have been deliberately harmed before the crash."
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Hades's face darkened. "Sabotage?"
"It's a possibility we're considering, Your Majesty. Furthermore, we found traces of a substance on the carriage's wheels. Our alchemists are analyzing it, but preliminary reports suggest it may be a type of oil, possibly used to compromise the vehicle's stability."
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"And what of Prince Rowan?" Hades demanded.
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Sir Eldridge shifted uncomfortably. "Still no sign of the young prince, Sire. We've expanded the search radius, but..." he trailed off.
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"But what, man? Speak plainly!" Hades roared.
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From the shadows behind him, a voice as cold as winter frost and as sharp as a blade sliced through the silence. "But, the thought of your impending doom is music to my ears."
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Hades whirled around, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. There, in the center of the room, stood Luxana. Her presence seemed to warp the very air around her, reality bending to accommodate her impossible arrival.
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"Lux- Luxana?" Hades stammered, his voice cracking with emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes as he beheld his beloved daughter. "Luxana!" he cried out again, his legs giving way beneath him as he collapsed to the floor.
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Sir Eldridge stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the scene unfolding before him. Luxana moved with preternatural grace, crossing the distance to her father in the blink of an eye.
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Hades gazed up at her, his face a mask of joy and confusion. He seemed unable to move, paralyzed by the torrent of emotions coursing through him.
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"But you see, Your Majesty," Luxana purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. A predatory smile curved her lips as she raised her right hand, fingers forming an elegant gun shape aimed directly at Hades' heart. Her eyes glittered dangerously, like shards of obsidian catching firelight. "Shoot," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she mimicked the recoil of a fired weapon.
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In that instant, hell itself seemed to erupt from her fingertips. A torrent of flames, a searing, unnatural orange and red, slammed into Hades' chest with the force of a battering ram. The fire didn't simply burn; it seemed alive, sentient in its hunger. It burrowed into his flesh, coiling around his ribs like living vipers made of pure agony.
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Hades' scream was inhuman, a sound of such primal anguish that it seemed to shake the very foundations of the castle. His body convulsed violently, limbs flailing as he clawed desperately at the flames consuming him from within. His once-regal robes blackened and crumbled away, revealing skin that cracked and bubbled like molten rock.
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The stench was overwhelming - burning hair, melting fat, and something deeper, more visceral - the smell of a soul being incinerated. Sir Eldridge retched, his knees buckling as he struggled to comprehend the horror before him.
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Luxana's giggle, light and girlish, was a perverse counterpoint to the screams of agony. She flicked her wrist as if shooing away an annoying insect, and the flames around her hand coalesced into a sword of pure fire. The blade solidified, its edge glowing with an otherworldly orange light that hurt to look at directly.
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With a grace that belied the brutality of her actions, Luxana raised the sword high above her head. The air itself seemed to shudder, recoiling from the unholy weapon.
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The sword came down with terrifying speed, and the sound it made as it cleaved through flesh and bone was sickeningly wet. Blood sprayed in an arc, painting Luxana's face with streaks of crimson that seemed almost black in the hellish light.
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Hades' body jerked violently, his mouth opening in a silent scream as the blade buried itself to the hilt in his chest. Luxana's eyes blazed with an infernal light as she twisted the sword, eliciting another agonized wail from her father.
To be Continued...
