The Life As The Devil's Son

Chapter Seventeen: The Imposter

 We materialized from the portal, gasping for the fresh, crisp air of a forest on the brink of twilight. The soothing sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds filled the atmosphere, a stark contrast to the horrors we had left behind.

Valia immediately turned her attention to me, her eyes narrowing in concern as she asked, "Are you okay, Austin?" Her voice was ragged and strained, like a rusty engine trying to find its rhythm.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I'm... I'm alright. Just a little shaken, but I'll manage."

Valia let out a relieved sigh, and a small, warm smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I'm glad you're okay."

I expressed a half-smile and whipped my head towards Michael. "We should get Valia home to Emericus."

Michael acknowledged my words with a solemn nod, and together, we embarked through the darkening forest. The forest's quiet murmurings accompanied us, and the fleeting rays of the setting sun cast a golden hue upon our surroundings. It felt like a final, fleeting embrace of warmth before the shroud of night descended.

When we arrived at Emericus's house, the fading light of the day cast a bittersweet glow over us as we slowly made our way to the doorstep.

Once we reached the doorstep, Michael's eyes met mine, and he spoke in a low voice, "We should return to the underworld."

Valia let out a soft sigh and drew me into a tight, comforting embrace. Her words were a whispered wish for our safety as she held me close. "Be careful."

She gently pulled away, her hand parting from mine. With a soft exhale, she unlocked her door using a small, well-worn key and stepped into the warmth of her home. The soft, inviting light from within spilled onto the porch, creating a stark contrast with the dark challenges that awaited us in the underworld.

The leaves crunched beneath my feet, echoing the heavy weight on my mind. Each step through the woods felt like another layer of dread, knowing that we had failed to secure the Soul Severance.

Our journey finally led us to a swirling, eerie green portal, and my eyes widened in surprise. "How many portals are there?" I asked, trying to make sense of our surroundings.

"Just one; this one is connected to the one in the underworld," Michael murmured while his eyes remained on the circular vortex.

With a heavy sigh, we entered the portal and found ourselves in the underworld once again. As we walked down a foreboding hall that led to the throne room, I felt the tingling sensation of terror wash over me. Travis's wrath was something I feared, knowing that we had failed him. The weight of our mission hung heavily over us, and I couldn't help but wonder if we were walking into our own doom. While we entered the throne room, I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, unable to bring myself to meet Travis's intense gaze.

Travis's voice boomed through the chamber as he demanded, "Where is the Soul Severance?!"

Michael played the role of Jack and spoke with a calm voice: "We were ambushed, my Lord. The artifact we sought was guarded by a formidable adversary, and in the ensuing battle, it was destroyed."

Travis roared; his voice cut through the air like a piercing blade. I couldn't help but flinch, terror surging through my veins like ice water. My heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I felt the full force of his anger and disappointment bearing down on us. It was a reckoning I had feared from the moment we'd returned without the artifact. Our mission and the fate of our souls now hung in the balance, and the consequences of our failure were a burden I wasn't sure we could bear.

Once the echoes of Travis's furious roar faded, he stepped forward, his eyes aflame with rage. His voice, cold as death, cut through the tense silence of the throne room.