~~~Liam's P.O.V~~~

The castle was even worse up close. Adomos were everywhere. They sky was redder, the ground and all our surroundings were a deep grey.

"... What happened here...?" Charlie asked once we got to the treehouse.

"... That's an excellent question, Char.." I said resting my hand against the ladder.

"Well in any case.. What are we even supposed to do, Liam..?"

I thought about it. I reached back to those three years I spent inside that god forsaken mountain.

"Just... don't die.. I'll deal with.. him.." I mumbled before walking forward. I felt someone tightly grab my shoulder before I could move an inch forward.

"You are definitely not going without a plan. That place is crawling with Adomos, and you got the two of us here, Lee." Toni said gently shaking me.

I let out a sigh before nodding my head. "... Fine.. what's the plan..?"

Toni stared at the castle deep in thought. I stared at it as well before I realized the obvious answer.

"The Dungeon!" We both answered.

"The what?" 

"There is a entrance in the garden, under the big tree, it leads to the dungeon. There the dungeon leads to a bedroom on the third floor, through all the secret passages that were used as strongholds when mythical creatures were 'Dangerous', the royal family would hide in the strongholds until the attacks lessened.." I explained to Charlie who nodded her head.

"It's one of the castles forgotten secrets, we take it to our grave." Toni said, staring at the broken gates of the garden.

We all nodded before moving forward into the garden. We ran towards the tree. I took a deep breath before tightly grabbing a branch twisting it down, a opening a stairwell.

"You two must have had a lot of fun as children."

"You can say that." Toni replied.

We walked into the staircase the door closing behind us as we made our way through the tunnels.

Toni was right, this was the best kept secret of the palace. We continued walking through the halls until we made it to the dungeon.

I took a deep breath before leading the way. Even if I wanted to go alone there was no way Toni or even Charlie would let me..

I opened the door before I saw one. The Adomos.

I felt someone pull me back before I could even register what was happening. "Toni, Char.. Run..!" 

I quickly ran forward, shutting my eyes tightly as I ran through the walls of those pesky soul eaters. I burst into the hall breathing heavily. I saw Toni and Charlie down the hall, looking around on how they got there.

I saw them mouth something.

I nodded my head. We all turned walking in different directions. Splitting up was always an awful decision but we didn't have a choice in this case. I walked through the halls. They didn't seem like the same place that I grew up in.

The walls felt like they were closing in on me. The walls were dark with darker splotches on them. I continued walking forward before I heard voices in a nearby room. I stopped before leaning my head against the door seeing two figures arguing about something. I could barely make them out, but it didn't matter.

One of them seemed to lose their temper before teleporting away. The other.. stormed out. I quickly ran past the door hiding behind a nearby pillar looking at the figure.

A girl with dark burgundy hair with some black side bangs covering one of her eyes. 

She seemed to be walking in the opposite direction before she stopped dead in her tracks. I held my breath before I felt saw her in front of me her knife pressed against my neck.

"God to admit, you are damn persistent." She mumbled shaking her head.

I froze up a bit unable to move. Well I still couldn't because of the knife, but I didn't try anything. 

"No witty come back? You waiting for your little friends to come help you? You waiting for the serpent to come?" She asked. It almost sounded genuine.

"... I-... How do you even know about them.."

"Sweetheart, I know about ę̷̨̙͓́̅v̶̢̺̼̬̺̒̽e̶͙͔͔̊̌̇̈͠r̸̝̮̐̓̌̇͠ͅÿ̸̤̹̩́͂͝t̶͚͎̻̙̓ͅh̸̡̬͎͗͐ï̷̳̼̫̥͎̩n̶̳̦͈͈̱̂͌ģ̶̧̘̮͉͓̿͋͝ that goes on in these walls." She said pushing her knife closer against my neck.

I stayed silent.

"You're keeping me alive still, I'm beginning to doubt your commitment to wanting to hurt me.."

"I never said I wanted to hurt you."

"Then wh-"

"I never said that I would, but I can kill you.. and I will If I have to."

I finally gained my courage back glowing a soft blue making two vines pull her back. "No.."

She grinned before shaking her head. "I was trying to make a small peace, but It seems you don't even want it."

"Why should I? You took our kingdom, you're threatening to hurt me.. why should I show you peace right now?"

She shook her head with a smirk.

"Oh sweetheart, can't you see the truth right in front of you? This is his little kingdom and you aren't the prince anymore."

I tightly gripped the knife in my hand. "You don't get to tell me who I am or can be." I closed my eyes tightly throwing the knife forward.

I was even more surprised when I saw it land in my target. She stumbled back a little. We were both silent before she pulled the knife from her chest and smiled.

"Was that supposed to hurt?"

I felt her hand tightly lock around my neck as she held me against the wall. "You think you can get rid of me that easily? I still don't get why the serpent choose a naive boy like you."

I tried to claw at her. Magic was a wonderful thing. Especially when It decides when and when not to work.

"I'm still surprised you didn't bring that weapon with you." She shook her head before throwing me onto the ground. I backed up into a pillar.

"He is not a weapon." I shot out reaching for something to use as defense.

"My dear, He's a weapon.. He's a killer. Do not forget that. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change it's nature." She finished with a smirk brushing off her sword.

My eyes followed the blade as she pressed it against my neck.

"Now.. Don't. Move."

~~~

I groaned lightly. Everything hurt my entire world seemed slanted. I noticed my wrists bond up by glowing red ropes. I gently pulled against the ropes trying to see if I could loosen them up.. nothing.

"Don't bother."

I looked to the side trying to look for the voice. I saw a figure in the corner. A tall boy, his dark hair covering his eyes. I could see the bags under them though. His wrists were bloody from him probably attempting to pull away.

"I already tried."

I stayed silent as I looked at him. He kept his gaze on the ground unable to look up at me.

"Who are you..?"

He stayed silent not even moving an inch before he turned up. "Jeremy Heere... Pleasure to make your acquaintance..."

I stared at him. He didn't even try to look at me. He just kept his gaze on the ground unable to make any noises.

He stared at the ground before turning up to me, locking his eyes with mine. "... I'm sorry you got thrown down here.."

"... It was my fault to be honest.." I shook my head. "I had poorly planned this entrance."

"Seems to be a common mistake.."

I tried to pull up a smile before shaking my head. 

"I hate to interrupt your truths alike, but I can't leave you two here." My eyes had widened at his voice.

I turned seeing Ryan standing there leaning against the wall his eyes hard and cold.

"Surprised to see me..?"

I nodded my head unable to say a word to him.

"Your little spell didn't last long. No full moon no spell." He said walking up to me slicing through the ropes with his knife.

"Oh go to hell.." I mumbled rolling my eyes with a tiny smile.

"And leave you here all alone..?" He asked barely even smiling,

I shook my head. "... Thank you.." I said softly before walking over to Jeremy slicing through his ropes. He tightly rubbed his hands together wiping any extra blood on his jeans.

"Thank you, your majesty.."

"It's Liam.."

".. T-... Thank you, Liam.."

I nodded my head before turning to Ryan. ".. How did you know?"

"Do you actually take me for an idiot..?" He asked with his hands crossed. I shook my head gently hugging him tightly. 

"Though, I'm still annoyed that you tried to keep me away. So I'm not exactly opening up to trust right now." He said gently hugging me back.

"I know.. and I'm sorry.."

"You are forgiven, but I still don't trust you."

"Noted.."

".. So, what exactly is the plan..?"

🖤🖤🖤

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Chapter 25 is out mudafuqers-

I'm so tired, I'm going to sleep for so long, I hate waking up early, lmao qwq

Until next time mah peeps-