Eternal Huntress

Chapter 33

The moment we left Armand's chamber, the weight of our new task sank in like a stone tied to my chest. Alex was still weak, his steps unsteady as he leaned heavily on me. Every step we took through the narrow tunnels of the underground fortress was a reminder that we were walking straight into a death trap. Armand had given us an impossible mission—and worse, we had no choice but to accept it.

Verona led the way, her graceful movements silent as a shadow. I couldn't tell if she was truly on our side or just playing a game with us, the strings of her plan hidden behind her cryptic smile. I didn't trust her. But at this point, it wasn't about trust. It was about survival.

"The Heart of the Covenant," Alex muttered under his breath as we walked. "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know," I replied quietly, my voice taut with unease. "But whatever it is, it's something Armand and Verona want badly enough to send us after it. That can't be good."

Alex winced as we reached a set of stairs leading up to the surface, the effort of climbing taking a toll on his still-healing body. His hand tightened on my arm as we ascended, his breaths coming in shallow bursts. I could feel his pain as if it were my own, the bond between us resonating with his struggle.

"We need to get out of here and regroup," I whispered, my eyes darting around, looking for any sign of pursuit. "There has to be a way to fight back. We can't keep playing their game."

Verona turned her head slightly, her sharp gaze falling on me. "You misunderstand your position, Helena. You are not playing their game. You are surviving it." Her voice was smooth, as if she found the whole situation amusing.

I gritted my teeth. "And what's in this for you, Verona? Why are you helping us?"

She didn't answer right away, instead leading us up the final steps and into the open air. The night sky stretched above us, stars glimmering faintly through the thick clouds. The scent of fresh earth and pine replaced the oppressive stench of the underground chambers, but the sense of danger remained.

Verona finally turned to face us. "Armand is powerful, yes. But he is not infallible. He fears losing control, and the Heart of the Covenant represents a threat to that control. If you find it, you will have the leverage you need to bargain for your freedom."

"Leverage?" Alex rasped, his voice edged with skepticism. "You really expect us to believe that once we find this thing, we'll just be free to go?"

Verona's smile was faint, almost pitying. "No one is truly free, Alex. Not in our world. But with the Heart, you will have power. And in our world, power is survival."

I wanted to challenge her, to demand answers. But the exhaustion in Alex's eyes kept me from pushing further. Right now, we needed to focus on one thing—getting him somewhere safe to rest.

"We'll see about that," I muttered. "Where do we start?"

Verona's eyes gleamed as she stepped closer, her presence almost suffocating. "The Heart is no mere object. It's ancient magic, older than even Armand. It was hidden centuries ago by those who feared what it could do. But there are whispers—old texts, forgotten tombs. The first clue lies in a place called Ravenmoor."

"Ravenmoor?" Alex echoed, his brow furrowing. "That's in the northern mountains, isn't it?"

Verona nodded. "A town that vanished long ago. What remains of it is buried under snow and stone. But within those ruins lies the key to finding the Heart."

I exchanged a glance with Alex, his expression mirroring my unease. Traveling to an ancient, abandoned town in the middle of the mountains, hunting down some ancient relic of power—it felt like a death sentence. But we had no choice.