How I Married KING Of HELL

Whispers of the Dark

Chapter 9

Emily spent the next few days watching, listening, and carefully planning her next move. Every interaction with Lucien felt like walking on the edge of a razor. His eyes lingered on her longer than before, as if he sensed her growing resolve, but he never voiced his suspicions. Still, the tension between them grew with each passing moment.

The palace itself seemed to mirror her unease. The walls seemed to shift, the shadows deeper, and whispers echoed through the corridors. Emily had grown accustomed to the strange energy of Hell, but now, it felt more oppressive than ever. The very air seemed to hum with warning.

On the third night, as she lay in her bed, the silence was broken by a soft knock on her door. Her heart leapt into her throat. She hadn't expected a visit, especially not this late. She quickly rose and opened the door to find the woman with the golden eyes standing in the doorway.

"We need to move quickly," the woman said, her voice urgent. "Lucien is planning something. He's preparing for war."

Emily's breath hitched. "War? Against who?"

The woman stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Not just one enemy. He's gathering forces to subdue the restless souls in the lower depths and preparing to extend his reach beyond Hell. He believes he can take control of the mortal world as well."

Emily's stomach twisted. The idea of Lucien gaining even more power, extending his dominion beyond Hell, was terrifying. She couldn't let that happen.

"But what about the Abyss of Shadows?" Emily asked. "You said I needed to go there."

The woman nodded. "That's why we need to act now. Lucien is distracted with his preparations, but that won't last. We need to get you out of the palace and to the Abyss before he realizes what's happening."

Emily felt a surge of fear and excitement. This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for—the chance to find allies and potentially change everything. But it also meant leaving the only protection she had, the walls of the palace, and entering the wilds of Hell, a place she barely understood.

"How do we get out without him noticing?" Emily asked, her mind racing.

The woman's lips curved into a faint smile. "Leave that to me. But you'll need to trust me completely."

Emily hesitated. Trust was something that didn't come easily in Hell, especially when everyone seemed to have their own agenda. But this woman—whoever she was—had been her guide since the beginning, offering help when no one else would. If she didn't trust her now, she would never escape Lucien's grip.

"Alright," Emily said, her voice firm. "What do we do?"

The woman motioned for her to follow. "There's a hidden passage in the lower chambers of the palace. It leads out into the wilds, far from Lucien's gaze. But we must move quickly."

Emily grabbed a cloak from her wardrobe, pulling it over her shoulders. Her heart pounded as she followed the woman down the shadowy corridors of the palace. Every creak of the floor, every flicker of a torch made her flinch, expecting Lucien to appear at any moment.

The deeper they went, the colder the air became. The flames that usually lit the halls dimmed, casting long, twisted shadows on the walls. The sense of being watched clung to Emily like a second skin, but she forced herself to stay calm, trusting the woman to guide her.

After what felt like hours, they reached a small, unassuming door at the end of a narrow hallway. The woman pushed it open, revealing a staircase leading down into the darkness.

"This is the way," she whispered. "Once we're outside, we'll head toward the Abyss of Shadows. It's a dangerous journey, but you'll have to rely on your instincts and your growing power."

Emily hesitated for a moment, staring into the pitch-black stairwell. Everything in her screamed to turn back, to stay within the relative safety of the palace. But she knew that staying meant surrendering to Lucien's control forever. She couldn't let that happen.

Taking a deep breath, Emily descended the stairs, the woman following closely behind. The air grew colder with each step, and the darkness became so thick that she could barely see her hand in front of her face. The only sound was the echo of their footsteps, a rhythmic reminder of how far they had come.

When they finally reached the bottom, Emily was met with the sight of a vast underground tunnel, its stone walls slick with moisture. The tunnel stretched out before them, seemingly endless, disappearing into the blackness ahead.

"This will take us far from the palace," the woman said, her voice low. "But it's not without danger. Creatures roam these tunnels, creatures loyal only to Lucien. You must stay close and use your power to protect yourself if necessary."

Emily nodded, her throat tight with fear. She had been learning to control her power, but the idea of facing creatures from the depths of Hell still terrified her. Yet, she had no choice. This was the only way to break free.

They began their journey through the tunnel, the air thick with tension. Emily's senses were on high alert, every shadow seeming to shift and move in the corner of her eye. She could hear faint scuttling sounds from deep within the tunnel, but she forced herself to keep walking, her hand gripping the edge of her cloak tightly.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a fork in the path. The woman paused, her eyes narrowing as she studied the two directions.

"Which way?" Emily asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached out, pressing her hand against the wall of the tunnel. For a moment, the stone beneath her hand seemed to glow with a faint, eerie light.

"We go left," the woman finally said, turning down the left path without further explanation.

Emily followed, though the sense of unease only grew. Something felt wrong, though she couldn't place it. The air had changed, becoming heavier, more oppressive. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, a sudden roar echoed through the tunnel, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.

"What was that?" Emily whispered, her heart racing.

The woman's eyes darkened. "We need to move faster."

They quickened their pace, but the sound of something large moving through the tunnel grew louder, closer. Emily's fear spiked as the walls seemed to close in around them. She could feel the dark presence behind them, the weight of it pressing against her mind.

"Run!" the woman shouted, grabbing Emily's hand and pulling her forward.

They sprinted through the tunnel, the roar growing deafening. Emily could feel the creature's hot breath on her back, its snarls vibrating through the air. Just as she thought they couldn't outrun it, the tunnel opened up into a vast cavern. The woman pulled her toward a narrow stone bridge that spanned a dark chasm.

"Hurry!" the woman urged, her voice frantic.

They dashed across the bridge, but halfway through, Emily glanced back. Emerging from the shadows of the tunnel was a massive, hulking beast, its eyes glowing red, its teeth bared in a terrifying snarl. It leapt toward them, its claws outstretched, but just as it reached the edge of the bridge, the ground gave way beneath it.

Emily gasped as the beast plummeted into the chasm, its roar echoing through the cavern. She stumbled, nearly falling herself, but the woman caught her arm, pulling her to safety on the other side.

They stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, the danger momentarily behind them. But Emily knew this was only the beginning.

"We're close now," the woman said, her voice steady once more. "The Abyss of Shadows is just beyond this cavern. Are you ready?"

Emily's heart pounded in her chest, fear and determination warring inside her. She nodded, though she wasn't sure she was ready for what awaited her in the Abyss.

But she had come this far. There was no turning back now.