How I Married KING Of HELL

The Abyss Beckons

Chapter 12

The sensation of falling was unlike anything Emily had ever felt before. It was as though the very fabric of reality had torn apart beneath her feet, leaving her to spiral into nothingness. She couldn't scream—her voice was trapped in her throat, swallowed by the abyss. The wind whipped around her, fierce and unrelenting, but the darkness was suffocating, pressing against her from all sides.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, the fall stopped.

Emily landed hard on a cold, slick surface, the impact sending a shock of pain through her body. She gasped for air, her chest heaving as she tried to get her bearings. Her fingers brushed the ground beneath her—smooth, like glass, but wet with something that made her skin crawl.

She forced herself to sit up, wincing as her muscles protested. The world around her was dim, illuminated by a dull, red light that seemed to seep from the ground itself. The air was thick with the smell of decay, and in the distance, strange, twisted shapes moved, half-seen through the shadows.

She wasn't alone.

"I told you this would happen," a voice echoed, soft and mocking.

Emily whipped her head around, her heart skipping a beat. It was Talia—her supposed ally, the one who had guided her through the underworld. She stood a few feet away, draped in dark, flowing robes, her golden eyes gleaming in the eerie light.

"You!" Emily gasped, her voice hoarse. "You betrayed me!"

Talia tilted her head, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Betrayed? No, Emily. I simply played my part."

Anger surged through Emily's veins, and she struggled to her feet, her body trembling with fury. "You led me here! You said this was the only way to stop Lucien!"

Talia laughed, a sound that sent chills down Emily's spine. "Oh, poor, naive Emily. Did you really think I was working for you?" She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "I've served Lucien since the beginning. Everything I've done—everything I've told you—was to bring you here, to this moment."

Emily's breath caught in her throat. "Why? Why would you do this?"

Talia's smile faded, replaced by a look of cold indifference. "Because you are the key. The key to Lucien's power. And now that you've entered the Abyss, you're exactly where he needs you to be."

Emily's mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. The Abyss... Lucien had wanted her here all along. But for what? What was he planning?

As if sensing her thoughts, Talia's smile returned, this time more sinister. "The marriage was never about love, Emily. It was about power. Lucien's power is tied to the Abyss, to the ancient forces that dwell here. And by binding himself to you, he can finally access the full extent of that power."

Emily's blood ran cold. "No..."

"Yes," Talia said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You are the vessel, Emily. The one who will unlock the darkness he has craved for centuries."

Emily staggered back, her mind reeling. She had been nothing more than a pawn in Lucien's game, a tool to help him seize ultimate control. And now, trapped in the Abyss, she had no way out.

But she couldn't let it end like this. She wouldn't.

"I won't let you use me," Emily spat, her voice trembling with rage. "I'll fight him. I'll find a way to stop this."

Talia's smile widened, her eyes flashing with amusement. "You still think you can defy him? You're already too far gone. The Abyss has claimed you, Emily. There is no escape."

But Emily wasn't listening. Her mind was racing, searching for any glimmer of hope, any chance to turn the tide. She had fought too hard, come too far, to let Lucien win now. If there was any power left within her, any strength to draw on, she would use it.

The ground beneath her feet began to tremble, a low, ominous rumble that sent ripples through the blood-red light. Talia glanced down, her expression faltering for the first time.

"What are you doing?" she hissed, her voice laced with suspicion.

Emily didn't answer. She closed her eyes, reaching deep within herself, past the fear and the pain, to the place where her power resided. The Abyss might have claimed her, but it hadn't broken her. Not yet.

With a surge of will, she pushed against the darkness that surrounded her, forcing it back. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath her shifted, as if the Abyss itself was responding to her defiance.

Talia stepped back, her eyes wide with shock. "No... that's impossible."

But Emily wasn't listening. She could feel the power building inside her, growing stronger with each passing second. The shadows recoiled from her, retreating into the corners of the vast expanse, and the air around her grew lighter, less oppressive.

"You will not control me," Emily said, her voice steady and clear. "I choose my own fate."

With a final, powerful burst, Emily unleashed her energy, sending a shockwave through the Abyss. The ground split open, and a blinding light erupted from the fissures, swallowing the darkness whole.

Talia screamed, her voice lost in the roar of the power Emily had unleashed. The red light faded, replaced by a brilliant, white glow, and for the first time since entering the Abyss, Emily felt a sense of clarity, of freedom.

She wasn't just a pawn in Lucien's game. She was something more—something stronger.

The Abyss still held its secrets, but now, Emily knew that she had the power to face whatever came next. And Lucien... he would learn soon enough that he had underestimated her.

As the last remnants of darkness faded away, Emily stood tall, her eyes blazing with determination. This wasn't over.

It was just the beginning.