Kingdom of the Nine: The Princes (II)

Chapter 4

West Valoria

———Red———
I head west, towards the vampiric lands—a place no sane person dares to tread. Their lair lies hidden within a cavern deep in the mountains, a black mark on Valoria's map. It's a valley of death and despair, whispered about in every tavern and feared by all: travelers, couriers, even the bravest hunters avoid it at all costs.

Everyone in Valoria knows to steer clear, but I press on. A voice in the back of my mind urges me to turn back, but the thought of Alyse in Muthos' clutches is stronger than my fear. I would risk anything, even becoming one of those cursed creatures, to save her.

As I enter the cave, the air grows colder. I move carefully, descending deeper into the earth, navigating between jagged rocks. Extinguished torches litter the ground, eerie reminders of those who came before and never returned.

Soon, the tunnel opens into a vast chamber. A waterfall cascades down from a cliffside, its roaring echo filling the room. The water flows beneath my feet, dark and swift. Behind the waterfall, a strange red glow pierces the shadows, casting an ominous light across the cavern. It scatters like blood-tinged sunlight through broken glass, filling the room with an unsettling warmth.

———Domnik———
I watch as the ethereal light I've been following attaches itself to a figure in the distance, a boy. He steps into a cave marked by a dark symbol, unmistakable: the sigil of Muthos, the vampiric god, my uncle.

"Damn it, he's going to get himself killed," I mutter under my breath, quickening my pace, chasing after him into the cave.

I move as quietly as I can, every muscle tense, trying not to alert the vampires lurking within. But there's a part of me that wants to charge in recklessly, grab him, and drag him out before it's too late.

From the shadows, I watch him enter a chamber, his movements cautious, scanning the room. Behind the waterfall, I spot the faint orange glow of eyes watching, waiting.

"Move, kid. Move," I whisper, crouching behind a rock, heart racing. More eyes begin to appear, flickering in the darkness, creeping toward him like predators closing in on their prey.

———Red———
I stare into the waterfall as the lights shift from a dull orange to an eerie yellow, multiplying before my eyes, each splitting into pairs. My heart pounds as I realize their eyes, watching me. I grip my axe tighter, drawing it from my waist and stepping back, every instinct screaming danger.

"You shouldn't be here, child," a voice echoes from behind the falls, smooth and menacing. A figure emerges, pale and twisted.

"Stay back or I'll—" I begin, my voice shaking but steady.

"You'll what?" Another voice cuts me off, this one feminine, dripping with mockery. "You can't kill us. You're just a boy." Her words slither through the air as she draws closer, hand outstretched, her nails long and sharp.

"Watch me," I growl, swinging the axe with all my strength. It misses, striking the cave wall instead. Sparks erupt from the impact, scattering across the ground like dying embers, but it does nothing to stop their approach.

———Domnik———
I step out from behind the rock, my runed blade, its embers glinting in the low light as I pull it free from its sheath.

"Stay away from him!" I shout, my voice cutting through the tension.

The boy spins around, eyes wide with surprise. "Who the hell are you?!"

I see him clearly now in the darkness of the cave. He's wearing a worn leather jacket, frayed at the edges, patched in places where it's seen one too many fights. His tunic underneath is a deep, forest green, darkened by the shadows but still vibrant enough to catch in the dim light. His pants are simple, sturdy, the kind a traveler or a hunter would wear, meant for utility more than appearance. Mud and blood stain the legs from his journey, evidence of a previous fight.