D I A B L O: Behind The Cursed Ruins

Chapter 2: Rain of Fears

CHAPTER T W O

AELARI'S POV

It was once a beautiful castle but now I can see vines running up the wall, so much of it that you can barely see the palace. It's beauty now just a memory because for ages it's been abandoned by its people.

Everyone fears the kingdom of Alexandrite. The place that was once said to be magical. All the magic including the enchanted glow surrounding the whole being of each citizen born in Alexandrite was gone. There is nothing left in the fallen kingdom. No one stayed... not even one loyal subject. No one wanted to face the wrath of the sinister demon behind the cursed ruins.

Some people called that demon, Diablo. The demon that the King of Larimar freed and made Princess Ilaria as its vessel. The last heir of Alexandrite that is now left at the castle for years. Her name is now like a curse whispered in the wind, a forbidden word that not many wanted to remember.

I know the story so well but I don't know what am I doing here.

I raise my hand and push the massive doors in front of me. I was expecting it to not even budge but it opened so easily. I stepped inside, my feet like having a mind of their own, continued their journey until they reach the circular stairs.

My entirety is telling me to run back and never look back at the castle but I have no control of my body. I continued ascending the stairs and when I made the top I was compelled to turn to the dark empty hallway. The end of it is a door that looks so ominous and yet familiar.

I can feel sweat started to run from the side of my face. I need to leave. I really need to get away from this place.

My whole body started to tremble when the door at the end of the hallway suddenly snap opened. Like a force that only a magnet could do, I flashed forward as if being pulled to the room.

And that's when I saw it.

They were right. She's still here trapped in this place. She was abandoned by their people and no one tried to save her. Her own family was left to rot for years with her inside this cursed place.

She has her eyes close as if she's in a deep sleep and her hands are clasped together in front of her. She's sitting on a chair with dried blood drawn in a circle around her.

"You came at last."

I looked at the princess but she's still sleeping. Her lips remained unmoving. The voice wasn't coming from her.