The Lost Crown.

chapter 3 - shadows in the silence.

Chapter 3: Shadows in the Silence

The night draped the palace grounds in a suffocating cloak of darkness, broken only by the faint silver of the moon peeking through heavy clouds. Ishaani's breath came in shallow gasps, her heart pounding a furious rhythm in her chest as she skulked along the deserted corridors of the palace. Shadows danced on the walls, playing tricks on her eyes, but Ishaani knew she wasn't alone. The silence was too loud, humming with a presence she couldn't see.

The ancient stone under her bare feet was cold, but she dared not stop, not now. She had found a clue earlier that evening-a letter, yellowed with age, hidden behind the loose stone in her chambers. It was addressed to her, but the script was unfamiliar. Its cryptic message spoke of secrets buried beneath the palace, and a key that would unlock more than just doors. It would unlock her past, the truth of who she really was.

"Trust no one," the letter had warned.

Ishaani tightened her grip on the small, rusted key she found hidden inside the envelope. It was heavy in her palm, almost as if it held the weight of her entire life. The hall seemed to stretch endlessly before her, each step taking her deeper into the unknown. The air grew heavier, thick with tension, and she could feel the walls closing in, suffocating her. The palace wasn't what it appeared to be-it was a labyrinth of lies.

A sharp noise broke the silence-a metallic scrape, followed by a distant whisper. Ishaani's body froze, her pulse quickening as her eyes darted towards the source of the sound. For a moment, she hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, to retreat to the false safety of her room, but she had come too far. There was no turning back.

The whispers grew louder, curling around her like smoke, impossible to trace yet ever-present. She pressed her back against the cold stone wall, peering around the corner. Ahead, the corridor split into two-one path leading to the royal gardens, and the other to the catacombs. Her heart wavered, but her mind was firm. She knew where she needed to go.

The catacombs held answers, or so the letter hinted. It also hinted at danger. She swallowed hard, summoning every ounce of strength to move forward.

As Ishaani descended the spiral staircase leading into the depths, a chill seeped into her bones. The darkness below was thicker, almost tangible, and the air reeked of damp earth and forgotten things. Her hand grazed the rough stone wall, guiding her as she stepped deeper into the abyss.

Suddenly, a soft glow appeared ahead, faint but unmistakable. Ishaani's pulse quickened. Who else knew about this place?

Her hand tightened around the key, her only defense against the unknown. The air hummed with an unnatural energy, and with each step she took toward the glow, the truth-the one she had been denied her entire life-seemed closer, but so did the danger lurking in the shadows.

Someone was waiting for her.