Veiled Shadows

Chapter 5 - The dark castle

They arrived at the outer walls of the dark castle whilst the sun was setting and decided to plan out once more what they were about to do. "Okay, we go through the first wall with the other pedestrians, the second wall we climb over but what do we do with the third and most protected wall?" 

Devian said on the way here that he knew how to get inside from his previous visits in the castle to fill up their proviant and other necessities, so she trusted him with that but she nevertheless wanted to ask again. 

"For the third wall you just have to trust me. I'm not allowed to tell you how to get past it or they will kill my little brother if they ever find out." Lily hesitated but nodded again. "Okay. I trust you. We go through this together." 

Devian smiled a little "We go through this together." he repeated and took her hand to pull her into a hug. She was a little shocked at first but then leaned in to the hug and realised how much she had missed physical human contact in the past few days.

Then their plan was about to start. The sun was completely gone and now began the life in the castle. People left their houses to go to work, kids went outside to play together. It almost seemed like a normal castle with it's city around. But only almost. 

Because everything was dark. Then only light was some weird blue flame on lanterns but no one left shadwos behind. The light was strange and when Lily, hand in hand with Devian, passed the first wall a shiver ran down her spine and she felt really cold. 

She grabbed harder onto Devians hand and he pulled her a little closer to her. They walked through the city and noboy seemed to notice them. Only a few people looked at them but immediately took their eyes off of them. 

Lily wondered why, but didn't dare to ask Devian, because she feared that if she spoke in this darkness she'll lose her voice. Devian pointed to the second wall that build up infront of them and pulled her to the furthest side on the left where not even the strange blue fires enlightened anything. 

It was dark, as if there were no stars. Just now Lilly realised that before they entered the city the Moon and the Stars shone bright in the sky but as soon as they went inside the light of them vanished. 

Another shiver ran down her spine but she climbed up the wall behind Devian, surprisingly easy they arrived behind the second obstacle and now the flames glowed purple. Something told Lily she should get out as soon as possible but she ignored the feeling. They had a mission and they had to fulfill it.

Lily and Devian continued their journey through the dark castle, their determination unwavering. As they approached the third and most heavily guarded wall, Lily could feel her heart pounding in her chest. The atmosphere grew even more oppressive, and a sense of foreboding hung in the air.

Devian led Lily to a hidden entrance, concealed within the shadows. It was a secret passage that only a select few knew about, and Devian's knowledge of it gave them a slim chance of infiltrating the inner sanctum unnoticed. Lily trusted him completely, knowing that the fate of Devian's little brother rested on their success.

They entered the hidden passage, their footsteps silent as they navigated the winding corridors. The air grew colder, and the walls seemed to close in on them, creating an unsettling claustrophobic sensation. Lily summoned a soft glow of light around her hand, providing a small source of illumination and comfort amidst the darkness.

As they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine passage, they could hear distant echoes of voices and the faint sounds of guards patrolling nearby. Their hearts raced, knowing that any misstep could mean their capture and the failure of their mission. Lily tightened her grip on Devian's hand, drawing strength from their connection.

Finally, they arrived at a hidden door, which led to the heart of the castle. They paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady their nerves. Lily closed her eyes briefly, focusing her thoughts and channeling her powers, ready to unleash the full force of her light.

With a determined look in their eyes, Lily and Devian pushed open the door, revealing a grand hall bathed in darkness. The sight was both awe-inspiring and chilling, for the absence of light seemed to swallow everything in its path.

They cautiously made their way through the hall, staying close to the shadows and avoiding any direct confrontation. Lily's light illuminated their path, but they moved swiftly and silently, leaving no trace of their presence.

Their objective was within reach—the chamber where the King of Darkness resided. They had to rescue Devian's little brother and put an end to the tyranny that had plagued their lives for far too long. Every step brought them closer to their goal, but the challenges ahead loomed large.

As they stood before the entrance to the king's chamber, Lily and Devian exchanged a determined glance. They knew that this would be their greatest test yet, a battle not just of physical strength but of willpower and resilience.

Taking a deep breath, they pushed against the doors to step into the heart of darkness, ready to face whatever awaited them. The fate of their loved ones, the fate of the kingdom, and the fate of their intertwined destinies hung in the balance.