The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 28 - The Siege

The speedboat carries the five of us into Osborne bay not far from the island's northern coast. My thoughts drift to the Neptune Empress and how vastly different our purpose here will be. Gazing at the empty seat where Vanessa should be, I am reminded of the vow that we all made at her grave. Tonight, I will see William's house burn, or I will die trying.

The boat lands at the shore, and we stealthily advance through the forest. Resistance is surprisingly lax until we cross the threshold of the mirage shield. The forest vanishes when we do, and I witness the mountain that I am about to climb.

Like the Seven Hills Manor, Chateau Elena is a devil in a red dress. It is undeniably beautiful and equally deadly. The estate is about half the size of Seven Hills, fitting neatly into the forest clearing. The house is of an old-fashioned, Victorian design, distinct from Seven Hills' more modern feel. The main entrance is a massive courtyard that is walled-in on three sides. Obviously, we are not going in that way.

Satellite recon estimated there would be around two thousand Prometheus soldiers stationed across the island. Chateau Elena has its own dedicated security force, but because of the mirage shield that protects this place, William is confident enough to spread his forces out throughout the island. I doubt there will be more than fifty men who are garrisoning the castle. As of now, we have only encountered dispersed groups of two men each, which have been rather easy to avoid or dispatch.

Amanda uses the circular saw to cup open a panel that leads to the sewer network underneath the Chateau. The stench is the only real hardship I've had to endure so far. Diana leads us toward the sewer entrance, using Anessa's recreated map of the building. When we reach the entrance, it is time to split up. "Remember, under no circumstances do you allow yourselves to be taken alive." Diana reminds us. "If you are cornered, set off the gas grenades, and kill as many of them as you can." We all check our weapons and prepare ourselves for war. "For my brothers."

"And for our fallen sister." Isabella adds.

Diana freezes the rusty lock on the sewer entrance and fires one round at it. The door opens, and our army advances. The five of us proceed in five different directions toward five different objectives. When the gas grenades go off, we need to make sure they have nowhere to run except outside. Julian Chen has ten thousand Praesidium special forces who are waiting off shore. They will take care of the rest.

Diana uses the severed eye of a guard that she killed earlier in order to unlock the double doors leading to the upper levels. The others head to the main level while I remain underground, searching for Adrian. Be strong, my love; I'm coming for you.

I expected to find a series of long, dark hallways with prison cells and torture chambers in the basement. I mentally prepared myself for the screams of men being electrocuted and having their toenails melted. But as I peek around a corner, what I see surprises me. Men and women who should be wearing Kevlar and carrying guns are instead wearing white coats and carrying clipboards. Instead of metal cages, there are examination rooms like the ones in hospitals, filled with test tubes, syringes, and centrifuges. The basement isn't just a prison; it's a research lab.

When the coast is clear, I navigate my way through an environment even more hellish than I imagined. The Ashcrofts are using their prisoners for scientific experiments! Inside one of the exam rooms, there is a man with long canine teeth who has incision scars all across his torso. It appears as if all of his internal organs have been removed! There are many different types of test subjects; spellbinders, werewolves, vampires, and something called cambions. I swear to god; if I find Adrian with less than all of his body parts intact, William Ashcroft will beg for death when I am done with him!