บท 113: Escape.
In the banquet hall, matters had spiraled far beyond Erebus's control. Zavaikal's smug provocations had stirred his fury, leaving Erebus with little choice but to resort to violence. Zavaikal's intimate knowledge of his weaknesses gave him a clear advantage.
"I can't believe he struck a member of the Imperial family—in front of the Tzar!" gasped the nobles. Their murmurs of outrage swelled, and some called for immediate retribution.
Trapped by Zavaikal's cunning scheme, Erebus could only hope that Luciana and Nemesis were safe.
"The wound inflicted upon the Crowned Prince," the Tzar's calm, measured voice broke through the clamor, "was it by your hand, Margrave Stygian?"
The hall fell into tense silence. Hurting a member of the Imperial family was treason, punishable by death.
"My Tzar, he must be executed!" one of the nobles demanded.
Across the hall, Zavaikal stood with a malevolent grin, relishing his triumph over Erebus.
"The shadows have likely captured the woman and her child by now," Zavaikal whispered under his breath, knowing Erebus would hear him.
Erebus's heart tightened. The realization gnawed at him—Luciana and Nemesis could be in danger. Yet, bound in enchanted chains that sapped his strength, he could do nothing.
"Guards!" The Tzar's voice, cold and unyielding, echoed through the hall. "Take the Margrave to the Abyss of Blaze."
Desperation flickered in Erebus's eyes. He turned toward the Tzar, his voice steady but defiant. "Isn't the punishment a little harsh, even for me?"
"Take him away." General Draco stepped forward, signaling the guards to move.
As they dragged him toward the exit, Zavaikal leaned in close, whispering with venomous satisfaction, "That woman is already in my hands."
Erebus's muscles tensed, rage surging within him, but the enchanted chains burned white-hot as soon as he tried to summon his power. Agonizing pain seared his skin, rendering him helpless. His magic—his void—was useless.
Cries of scorn and mockery filled the air, with many nobles reveling in his suffering.
The Abyss of Blaze—the most feared prison in all of Wahrheit—awaited him. Situated beneath an ancient volcano, it was a place where the worst criminals were tortured by molten lava. Even the dungeons of Erebus's own fortress were merciful by comparison.
As the guards dragged him out of the palace, he caught a glimpse of Luciana at the gates. Her horrified eyes locked onto his, and he struggled against the chains.
"Run, Callum," he mouthed silently, hoping she understood. His strength was sapped by the magic of the bindings, making any resistance futile. He was barely able to stand against the guards who held him.
Meanwhile, Zavaikal's gaze followed Erebus's line of sight before turning to his soldiers. "Search the palace thoroughly," he ordered. "Find the woman and child with silver hair, and bring them to me at all costs." His tone was icy, every word laced with malice.
Satisfied, Zavaikal boarded his royal carriage. "It was worth the effort," he muttered, grinning as the carriage rolled toward the Spider Lily Palace.
Inside the palace, Luciana, overwhelmed with terror, collapsed to the floor. Leila rushed to her side, helping her onto a couch. "We don't have time to waste," she urged, her voice sharp.
Luciana trembled, her thoughts swirling in panic. "What can I do?" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. The situation seemed hopeless, unlike anything she had ever faced.
"You need to escape," Leila said firmly, shaking her gently. "Take your child and run. I can help you, but we have to move now."
She gave Luciana a large shawl, enough to cover her head and disguise her features. Without waiting for more questions, she pulled Luciana to her feet. They hurried through the shadowed corridors, heading deeper into the palace.
At last, they reached what appeared to be a dead end. Luciana's heart pounded in her chest, fear rising. Was this a trap? Before she could voice her doubts, Leila pressed against the wall, and to Luciana's astonishment, a hidden door swung open.
"Quickly, go!" Leila urged. "Follow this passage. Turn left twice, then right. You'll reach the backside of the palace, where there's a small door hidden in the hedge. It'll take you outside the palace walls."
Without giving her a chance to respond, Leila gently pushed Luciana into the passage and closed the door behind her. Luciana stood alone in the dark, holding Nemesis close as she began to follow Leila's instructions. A dim, eerie green fire burned in the torches along the walls, casting long shadows across the narrow corridor.
Her breath was shallow, and the only sound she could hear was the soft padding of her footsteps. As she reached a junction with two paths, she hesitated, trying to recall the directions. She chose the left path, praying it was the right choice.
But soon, the tunnel split again, into four more passages—two to the left and two to the right. Panic gripped her. Leila didn't mention this… Sweat beaded on her forehead as her body grew heavier with exhaustion and pain from her wounds.
Taking a deep breath, she chose the leftmost tunnel, every step cautious. Her pulse quickened with each turn, her senses on high alert for any signs of danger. At the next intersection, a normal yellow-orange torchlight greeted her. She followed it, her heart lifting slightly at the sight of an iron door ahead.
Grabbing the heavy handle, she pulled it open and stepped out into the night air. Relief washed over her as she saw the night sky, but it was fleeting. The palace grounds were still patrolled by soldiers.
Pulling the shawl tighter over her head, Luciana pressed herself against the hedge, creeping along its length. She searched for the hidden door that Leila had mentioned, but the hedge stretched on endlessly, offering no clear signs.
Suddenly, something tugged at her dress. Her heart leapt, and she spun around in panic, only to find a branch from the hedge had caught on her clothing. With a sigh of relief, she carefully freed herself and continued forward, the weight of her escape pressing down on her.
A hand shot out of the darkness, one arm wrapping tightly around her waist, the other clamping over her mouth. She was yanked into the hedge, her pulse spiking as she struggled against her captor. Just as panic set in, a familiar voice whispered urgently in her ear.
"Princess, please. It's me."
Her breath hitched. "Cornelius?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
His grin, even in the shadows, was unmistakable. Relief flooded her, despite the confusion swirling in her mind.
"How—when—?"
"Later," he murmured, cutting her off. "Right now, we need to get out of here." He led her toward the hidden door Leila had once described to her in hushed tones. Luciana's thoughts raced—how did Cornelius know about this?
Once outside the palace walls, a small carriage waited in the shadows, just large enough for two. Octavius sat rigid in the driver's seat, his eyes scanning the grounds as he gripped the reins.
"Hurry!" he hissed, motioning them aboard.
Luciana climbed inside, her heart still racing, and Cornelius followed, settling beside her. Octavius flicked the reins, the carriage moving forward at a cautious but deliberate pace, careful not to draw the attention of the nearby guards.
Cornelius lit a small dragonfly lantern, its soft glow casting shadows on their faces. His gaze met hers, and he saw the tears brimming in her eyes, the fear she couldn't hide.
"Callum sent us," he said quietly, leaning closer. "He's made all the arrangements—your belongings and supplies are ready. But we need to leave now. Even the Blue Van can't help us this time. We will be disadvantaged further if we stay in the Capital any longer."
Luciana couldn't help but think about the scene where Erebus was being dragged and pushed with chains searing his flesh at the same time.
Despite the pain, his eyes remained resolute. As if he had already planned out her escape.
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