The House Of Crows And Wolves

Chapter Eighty-One: The River of Styx

Set moved silently through the corridors of the mental health hospital, his presence cloaked in shadow. He had come to retrieve Kayle, the spy who had failed to bring Kyle to him. The news of her capture and subsequent breakdown had reached him quickly, and he knew he had to act before she revealed too much.

Finding her room, Set slipped inside. Kayle was huddled in a corner, her eyes wide with terror, the memories of her friends' slaughter by Kyle still fresh in her mind. Her entire body trembled, and she didn't even register Set's presence until he was right in front of her.

"Kayle," Set's voice was smooth, almost soothing. "It's time to leave this place."

Kayle's head snapped up, and recognition flashed in her eyes. "Set," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I... I couldn't... Kyle..."

Set's patience was thin. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice cold. "Why isn't Kyle with you?"

But all Kayle could do was scream, the horror of that night replaying in her mind over and over again. Set's frustration grew. He needed information, not a broken, terrified operative. Seeing that she was beyond help, he decided on a different course of action.

With a wave of his hand, Set transported them both to the river Styx. The dark, murky waters of the underworld stretched out before them, a place of eternal damnation. Kayle's screams echoed in the eerie silence as she realized where they were.

"Please," she begged, tears streaming down her face. "Don't do this."

Set looked down at her, his expression devoid of mercy. "You failed me, Kayle. And you know too much."

Before she could respond, Set's powerful hand pushed her towards the water. Kayle's screams reached a fever pitch as she struggled, but Set's grip was unyielding. With a final shove, he sent her plunging into the river Styx. The waters swallowed her up, silencing her cries and erasing her from existence.

Set stood at the edge of the river, watching as the ripples from Kayle's descent faded away. His anger simmered beneath the surface. Losing her meant losing valuable intel, but it was a necessary sacrifice. He couldn't afford any loose ends.

Turning away from the river, Set began to formulate his next move. Kyle's strength and fury had proven formidable, and he needed a new strategy to capture the Dark Creature. He would need more allies, more power, and more cunning.

As he disappeared into the shadows, Set vowed that he would not rest until he had Kyle under his control. The battle was far from over, and he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The river Styx had claimed one victim, but many more would follow in Set's relentless quest for dominance.

As Set turned from the River Styx, the dark waters began to churn and bubble. From its depths emerged ghastly figures, spirits of the damned and forgotten. Their hollow eyes and twisted forms reflected the agony of their eternal torment. Intrigued, Set raised a hand, summoning them closer.

"I offer you a chance for redemption," Set announced, his voice echoing through the desolate landscape. "Serve me, and you shall know power beyond your wildest nightmares."

The spirits hesitated, then knelt before him, pledging their allegiance. Among them, a formidable wraith named Lethus stepped forward, his presence radiating ancient malice. Set smiled, satisfied with his new allies, ready to unleash their fury upon his enemies. The battle against Lyra Ravenshadow and her allies was about to escalate to a whole new level.