Darkest Places

Chapter 12: Loveless Heart

My eyes widened as I scanned the bedroom. There was......no blood or anything. I didn't even see Salem in here.

Throne was sitting in the middle of the room with her head between her knees. I tilted my head to try and see her face, but to no avail. 

"Hey, where's Salem?" I asked her. She didn't budge an inch. That's odd, usually she'd be up at the sound of my voice. I snapped my fingers to try and gain her attention. It still didn't work. I walked up to her and touched her shoulders.

It felt as if I had been absorbed by her somehow. I was still holding onto her shoulder, but we were somewhere else. It looked like the inside of a furnace. 

Fire was coming from below the thin bridge we were on, and sometimes it would shoot up several feet above our heads. I looked down to where Throne was, but she wasn't there anymore.

Panic and adrenaline shot through me. Where the hell am I?! I looked across the bridge I was on. There was a castle on one side and on the other was distant lands of fire and sand. 

"I'm going to take my chances with the castle." I said to myself. I made my way across the bridge until I reached the castle's entrance.

There were statues of knights at their posts. I watched in awe. They were wearing a shiny, silver armor with black feathers on their helmets. For weapons they had swords hanging by their sides.

I walked up to one of them and touched it, but pulled my hand away just as quickly. It felt smooth, but hot as fire. Now that I think about it, it's hot here. Almost as if I was in-

"Welcome to Hell, Princess." The knight I touched said. I stumbled backwards, almost tripping over the air and my feet. He's alive, but they were standing so still it looked like they weren't even breathing.

"I'm sorry to have frightened you." He said again. He voice sounded gruff, like he hasn't had water in years.

"It's okay. Um, do you stand here all day?" I asked him.

"Yes, Princess. I've been standing here for hundreds of years." He said. H-hundreds?! How old is he?!

"Do you ever get food or anything to drink?" I asked shifting my gaze to the castle.

"You need not worry Princess. I can live without food or water, this is Hell after all." He told me honestly. It was Hell, but that didn't mean he couldn't eat or drink food. Wait, when did I start caring for people?

Now that I think about it ever since I met Salem I started caring. Salem. Where the fuck is he anyways? 

"I can live without food or water, this is Hell after all." I said mimicking him, "It doesn't matter where you are you should eat something if you're hungry." Just as I said that his stomach growled. I smirked at him in satisfaction.

"A little hungry I suppose?" I asked him nonchalantly. His helmet turned to the side, and the feather moved delicately with it. "You don't need to lie to me. It's okay to be hungry." I told him.

He turned his helmet head back to me. "I'm sorry for having you witness something so embarrassing, Princess." He said, and bowed his head in shame. Is this guy serious? He thinks his growling stomach is something to be shameful of? 

Well, I suppose I can take part of the blame for mocking him about it. "About this princess business. You can call me Viper, like the venomous snake." I said. I get enough of Throne calling me Master.

"Follow me then, Viper." He said moving toward the door. I looked over at the other knight. 

"Shouldn't your partner come with us?" I asked puzzled. The Lively Knight laughed as if what I said was the funniest thing in the world. "What? It's not funny, you're partner might be starving."

"He's not alive," He said laughing even harder. My face drained of color. 

"How can you laugh?! That's a bunch of shit! You didn't bury his body!" I yelled enraged. How can he laugh at a dead person? There's nothing funny about that!

"I should have explained. That knight is there for display. No one is inside." He explained smirking. I feel bad now. I shouldn't have yelled at him. "Don't even think of apologizing. It's my fault for not explaining enough." He said continuing walking.

I followed closely behind. The last thing I need is getting lost in this place. "Hey, do you know someone named Salem?" I asked as we walked through the entrance.

The knight stopped abruptly. Well, I guess that answers my question. "I happen to know him very well," He said turning to face me, "he's my son."

I started choking. Son?! "Viper, I didn't mean to surprise you. Are you alright?" He asked me. I gave him a thumbs up, but I kept coughing. This was more shocking than Throne saying I was her master. Throne...

I wonder where she was. "Do you know where he is?" I asked after I finished coughing. 

"Yes, he's at home." The knight said.

"He has an actual home?" I asked carelessly, "Not saying you're poor or anything. It's just he didn't ever tell me he had a family. That's probably my fault though. We don't have the best relationship ever. Could you take me there please?"

I smiled sheepishly at Salem's dad. "First you must meet your father." He said heading towards the staircase.

"My father?" I asked him. I know about Death, but I always thought my parents were my actual parents. 

"Yes, the King Death. This is your home. The King should be in the throne room. He expected your arrival." Salem's dad said. 

"What's your name, I never got it." I asked him. 

"Nicholas." He said proudly.

We stopped in front of a huge door. The door handles were scythes. Inscribed in the door was a hooded figure standing over a graveyard, and in his right hand was a scythe.

"Hey, Nicholas what type of person is my dad?" I asked nervously laughing.

"Why don't you find out yourself? Are you ready?" Nicholas asked.

"To meet the king of death hell no!" I said, "But I'm ready to meet my father for the first time." 

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Sorry for the long wait. Writers block really sucks. I want to thank you guys for still reading my book.

~DeadxMelodies