The Crimson Prophecy: Legend Of The Half-Blood

Anne took a tentative step forward, her bare feet brushing against the cold, damp stone floor. Her breath fogged in the icy air as she kept her eyes locked on the shadowed figure in the corner. Chains rattled faintly as it moved, and an eerie silence pressed in around her.

Her hand trembled as she reached out, instinct telling her to stop, curiosity compelling her forward. What is that? she thought, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

But before she could take another step, a groggy voice shattered the stillness.

"Ugh, my head…"

Anne froze and spun around. Lucia stirred, wincing as she brought a hand to her temple. "What—where am I?" she mumbled, her voice thick with confusion.

Lucia's movements stirred the others. Grace groaned, shifting against her restraints. "What in the—why am I tied up? Did someone drop me off in a haunted house?"

Lily's voice cracked as she tried to move her stiff limbs. "I feel like I've been run over by a truck… twice. What is this?" She yanked at her chains, her face pale in the dim light.

Anne hesitated, torn between keeping her eyes on the shadow and checking on her friends. She turned back briefly, but the shadow was gone.

Gone, she thought, a chill running down her spine.

One by one, the other girls stirred awake. Amara squinted into the dim room, her voice shaky. "Where… are we?"

"I don't know," Priya said, her calm demeanor cracking as she glanced around. "But I'm pretty sure this isn't the school."

Mia, sitting closest to the wall, pulled her knees to her chest and began sobbing. "I want my mom! I want to go home!"

Charlotte shivered, her arms trembling as she tried to pull free. "I don't remember anything after that… light. You all saw it, right? The one from that stupid book the boys brought?"

"That glowing light?" Chloe whispered, her voice thick with fear. "Yeah. It looked like it was alive, like it was pulling us in."

"It did pull us in," Zara said bitterly, yanking at her chains. "And now we're here, wherever here is."

Anne stayed quiet, her mind spinning as she pieced together the fragments. The light. The book. The way the room had collapsed into nothingness. And then the fall—a gut-wrenching, endless drop into darkness. She clenched her fists. How did this happen?

"Does anyone else feel like their whole body's been crushed?" Amelia groaned, rubbing her arms.

"I feel like I aged fifty years," Hannah muttered. "And I can't stop shaking."

"Shaking? I can't even move!" Grace snapped, rattling her chains. "Whoever tied us up, I swear I'm going to—"

"Calm down!" Priya cut in, her voice sharp but unsteady. "We need to figure this out, not yell at each other."

"Figure what out?" Chloe snapped back. "We're chained up in a dungeon, Priya. What's the genius plan? Wish ourselves out?"

"Stop it!" Mia cried, her sobs growing louder. "I-I can't think! I just want to go home!"

"Welcome to my house." Lilly said trying to stir up some humor.

Suddenly Lucia froze. Her breath hitched as she realized something. "Wait." Her eyes darted around the room, counting the faces in the dim light. "The guys… where are the guys?"

Anne's heart sank, but she stayed silent.

"What?" Priya asked, her face tense. "What do you mean?"

"The guys!" Lucia said, her voice rising. "They were with us when… when the light happened!"

Lily's expression darkened. "The light from that stupid book? You're still thinking about them? They probably ditched us."

"No, they didn't," Lucia shot back. "They were right there—just as scared as we were."

"What light?" Grace asked, her voice skeptical.

"The glowing light, Charlotte mentioned," Priya said, her voice quieter now. "It came from that old book the boys were messing with. They were chanting something. And then…" She shuddered.

"Everything broke apart," Anne whispered, finally speaking. She hugged her arms to her chest. "The room started… collapsing. Like it was being sucked into nothing."

"And we fell," Amara added, her voice trembling. "Forever. I thought I was going to die."

Lucia's eyes narrowed. "And now we're here. Wherever the hell here is."

"I don't care where it is!" Mia sobbed. "I just want to leave!" Her crying grew louder, filling the room with raw anguish.

"Shut her up!" Zara snapped, yanking at her chains. "We're all scared, okay? Crying isn't going to help!"

"Don't be cruel," Priya shot back, her voice firm despite her trembling hands. "We're all barely holding it together!"

Suddenly, Anne turned back toward the corner. Her thoughts still wondering about the shadow that she came across with.

Her stomach twisted with unease. "It was… right there," she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible but heavy with dread.

Lucia caught her tone and frowned. "What was right there?" she asked, her voice low but wary.

"A shadow," Anne said, her words escaping in a shaky whisper.

"A shadow?" Mia's voice cracked as she sat upright, her face pale. "Whose shadow? What kind of shadow?" Her breath quickened as panic took hold, her words tumbling out. "Are we being haunted now? Is something watching us?"

"Mia, calm down," Grace snapped, though her own voice was tinged with unease. "No one's haunting us. And even if something's here, it's probably just the guys trying to mess with us." She gave a weak laugh. "Classic them, right? Trying to scare us for fun."

But her words landed hollow in the oppressive stillness, and no one seemed reassured.

Mia's face was pale and streaked with tears. "I-I don't care if it's a prank or not. I just want to get out of here," she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to be here anymore."

Lucia shot Grace a look, her tone biting. "Do you really think the guys would pull something like this? Look around! Does this seem like some stupid joke to you?"

Anne didn't join the argument. Her eyes stayed locked on the corner where she'd seen it—dark, flickering, unnatural. A deep, gnawing sense of wrongness settled in her gut.

Her hand brushed against the cold stone floor, grounding herself as her thoughts spiraled. What was it? Why did it feel like it was waiting?

"Asher…" she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling. "I hope you're okay… wherever you are."

The boys were stuck in a similar and horrific situation too on the other side of the dungeon,

Asher yanked at his chains again, his arms screaming in protest as the metal bit into his wrists. Sweat dripped down his face despite the icy chill in the air.

"Would you stop already?" Mateo barked, glaring at him. "You're gonna rip your arms off, and for what?"

"For getting us out of here!" Asher snapped, his voice raw with frustration.

"Yeah? And what's the next step in that genius plan?" Jaden said, rolling his eyes. "You tear the chains, then what? Fight the shadows? Find the nonexistent exit?"

Asher glared at him, breathing heavily. "I'm not waiting around to die here!"

"Who said anything about dying?" Marcus interjected, trying to keep his voice steady. "We just need to—"

"To what?" Ethan cut in. "To talk about our feelings? This isn't some campfire therapy session, Marcus!"

"Then maybe you should direct all that energy toward the real problem," Jaden said, his tone sharp as his gaze locked on Noah, James, and Liam.

"What's that supposed to mean?" James asked, his voice faltering.

Ethan's expression darkened. "Oh, you know exactly what it means. The book. The stupid glowing book you brought to school. What the hell were you doing with it?"

"It wasn't—" Liam started, but Ethan cut him off.

"Don't lie!" Ethan shouted, his chains rattling as he lunged forward. "You knew it was dangerous, didn't you? What the hell were you thinking?"

"It wasn't dangerous!" Noah yelled back, his voice cracking. "It was just… a ritual. From the book."

Mateo let out a bitter laugh. "A ritual? Are you hearing yourself?"

"It wasn't supposed to work!" James blurted, his face pale. "We didn't think—"

"No, you didn't think!" Ethan roared, trying to close the gap between them. "You got us all into this mess because you wanted to play witch doctor!"

"Enough!" Marcus stepped between them, raising his voice. "Ethan, stop! This isn't helping!"

"No, let him!" Noah snapped, his voice trembling. "We deserve it, okay? We didn't mean for this to happen, but it did!"

Asher slammed his fist against the wall, his voice booming over the chaos. "I said enough! Fighting isn't going to fix this!"

The room fell into a tense silence. Ethan glared at Noah but didn't move. Marcus stepped back, running a hand through his hair.

"What's done is done," Asher said, his voice low but firm. "We need to focus on getting out of here."

He turned away from the group, his breath shaky. As he stared into the shadows, his heart skipped a beat.

A flicker of movement. A ripple in the air that felt… wrong.

His blood ran cold. "What the hell is this place?" he muttered under his breath, dread curling in his chest. 

Suddenly Asher felt something unnatural,

Asher froze, his breath caught in his throat. From the corner of his eye, a shadow shifted unnaturally. His heart skipped a beat as two glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, glaring at him with an intensity that made his blood run cold.

"Guys…" Asher whispered, his voice low and urgent. "You gotta take a look at this."

The others turned, their expressions morphing from confusion to terror as more eyes appeared—pairs of glowing red dots multiplying in the shadows.

"What the hell is that?" Noah hissed, his voice cracking.

"I swear I'm hallucinating," Jaden muttered, blinking furiously.

But before anyone could move, the figures stepped into the dim light—towering creatures, at least eight feet tall, with hulking frames and jagged horns curving out from their heads. Their skin gleamed like polished obsidian, and each one held a vicious-looking weapon, blades gleaming with an eerie red glow. They marched in unison, their heavy steps reverberating through the ground.

"Oh, fantastic. Demon soldiers. That's new," Mateo muttered, backing up instinctively.

"Run!" Ethan yelled, yanking at his chains in desperation.

But it was useless. The soldiers reached them in seconds, their clawed hands gripping the chains with effortless strength. The boys struggled, some kicking and pulling, others hurling curses, but the creatures were unyielding.

Jaden, his face twisted in frustration, growled, "Let me go, you horned freak!"

Mateo, on the other hand, decided humor was his weapon of choice. "Hey, big guy, love the horns. Very chic. What's your haircare routine?"

"Shut up!" Ethan snapped, narrowly avoiding one of the creature's clawed hands.

"Sorry! Just trying to lighten the mood while we're being dragged to hell," Mateo quipped, his voice strained as he struggled against the chain.

As they were pulled through the dark, twisting halls, Marcus groaned, "This is not how I pictured my day going. I was supposed to have lasagna for lunch!"

"Oh yeah?" Noah grunted. "I was supposed to not be dragged to my doom by demon warriors!"

Finally, the soldiers stopped before a massive door, which creaked open to reveal an opulent room. The walls shimmered with black and gold, and the air was thick with a strange, intoxicating scent. At the far end of the room stood a throne, massive and intricately carved with demonic symbols.

Sitting atop it was a woman unlike anything they had ever seen. She was tall, with flawless, pearl white skin that gleamed under the flickering torches. Her eyes glowed like molten lava, and her black, glossy hair cascaded over her shoulders. She exuded an aura of beauty so striking it was almost terrifying. Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she leaned forward, revealing sharp, pearly fangs.

"Welcome, little mortals," she purred, her voice silky and laced with malice. "You've wandered far from home, haven't you?"

The boys stood frozen, their breaths caught in their throats.

Asher finally managed to croak, "Oh no…"

Mateo, despite the overwhelming tension, muttered under his breath, "Okay, but is it just me, or is she, like… ridiculously hot?"

Asher shot him a glare, sighing heavily. "Really? Now's the time for that?"

" She is hot though, I can't really unsee those huge juicy melons you know. " Mateo said.

" Dude who cares if she's hot! I mean she is but who cares." Daniel says.

"Bro look at her thighs, their pretty thick." Ibrahim says with a lustful face.

" Guys we're LITRALLY in HELL! and you're thinking about her body, gross you guys! " Jack says out of pure disgust.

Asher lets out a largely disappointed sigh as he was standing in a room full of idiots. He looks stares at the demon womans evil smiles and wonders what would happen next.

 Meanwhile in the damp, dimly lit dungeon, the girls sat huddled together, their spirits sinking as the minutes dragged on. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water from the ceiling and the faint rattling of their chains.

Mia hugged her knees to her chest, her voice cracking as she whispered, "I just want to go home. I want my mom…" Her quiet sobs filled the air, and no one had the heart to comfort her.

Lucia leaned her head against the cold wall, closing her eyes. "We need a plan," she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual confidence.

"Plan? What plan?" Grace snapped, her voice louder than she intended. "We're chained up in some creepy dungeon, and no one's coming for us!"

"Stop yelling," Priya said sharply, her tone strained. "It's not helping anyone."

Anne sat apart from the group, her hands clenching and unclenching as she stared at the ground. Her mind kept returning to the glowing book, the way the world had shattered around them, and the shadow she had seen earlier.

"It's my fault," Anne finally said, her voice trembling.

Lucia glanced over, frowning. "What are you talking about?"

"The shadow," Anne murmured. "I saw it. I didn't do anything. Maybe I should've said something sooner…"

"Anne, don't," Priya interrupted. "We're all in this together, and blaming yourself isn't going to get us out of here."

"But what if—" Anne's voice cracked, but she stopped herself, taking a deep breath. She couldn't let the fear consume her.

The silence stretched between them again, heavy and suffocating.

Mia's quiet sobs continued, breaking the hearts of everyone around her. "I don't want to die here," she whimpered.

Anne's jaw clenched as she finally raised her head. "We're not going to die here," she said, her voice firm despite the fear in her eyes.

The others looked at her, their expressions wavering between hope and despair.

"Then how do we get out?" Grace asked softly.

Anne glanced toward the shadows in the corner of the room, her chest tightening as unease crept over her again. "We'll figure something out," she said, though even she wasn't sure if she believed it.

The room fell silent once more, the weight of their hopelessness pressing down on them as they waited for whatever came next.

The dungeon's oppressive silence shattered when Zara gasped, her voice trembling. "W-what's that?" she whispered, pointing toward the far end of the room where the shadows seemed to ripple unnaturally.

The girls turned, their eyes widening as red eyes—bright and menacing—pierced through the darkness. Slowly, the demonic soldiers emerged, their enormous frames hulking and grotesque, with horns curling from their heads and weapons clutched in their massive hands.

"Oh my god," Lily whispered, her voice cracking. "They're coming for us!"

"Who—what—what are they?" Priya stammered, backing against the wall as far as her chains would allow.

"We're going to die," Mia whimpered, her sobs turning into panicked hyperventilation. "They're going to kill us!"

"Shut up!" Zara hissed, though her own voice shook with fear. "Panicking won't help!"

"How is this real?" Grace yelled, yanking at her chains desperately. "This isn't real, right? It can't be real!"

"It's real," Lucia muttered, her face pale. "And we're trapped."

The demons marched closer, their heavy footsteps reverberating through the room, each step making the girls' fear escalate.

Anne's heart pounded as she stared at the monstrous figures. Her body trembled, but she clenched her fists, a fire of defiance sparking within her. What are they? Why are they here? Why do they look… angry?

"Stay back!" Anne yelled as the demons reached the group, her voice steadier than she felt.

"They're not going to stay back!" Lily screamed, tears streaming down her face. "We're chained up! We can't even move!"

"Stop panicking!" Anne snapped, her tone sharp as she took a step forward, positioning herself between the demons and the girls.

Anne's sharp voice cut through the rising hysteria, but the panic among the girls was palpable. The demons loomed closer, their towering figures bathed in the faint glow of their eerie red eyes.

"Anne, don't!" Lucia pleaded, her voice trembling as she yanked fruitlessly at her chains. "You can't fight them!"

"Someone has to try!" Anne shot back, her eyes darting between the approaching demons. Her hands tightened into fists, adrenaline surging through her veins.

One of the demons stepped forward, its guttural growl echoing off the cold stone walls. Its clawed hand reached out toward Anne.

"Get back!" Anne shouted, swinging the chain still attached to her wrist. The iron links whipped through the air, catching the demon across its arm.

The creature snarled and stumbled slightly, its glowing eyes narrowing in surprise.

"Anne!" Grace screamed. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm not just sitting here waiting to die!" Anne yelled, swinging the chain again. It struck another demon in the chest, earning her a grunt of irritation.

For a moment, the demons hesitated, their movements slowing as they studied her with what almost seemed like curiosity.

"Did she just—did she just hurt them?" Zara stammered, her voice laced with disbelief.

Anne didn't stop. She lunged forward, her chain catching one demon across the jaw with a loud clang. The creature roared, taking a step back as it wiped at its face.

"Anne, stop!" Mia cried, tears streaming down her face. "You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Better than letting them drag us away without a fight!" Anne shouted, turning just in time to dodge another demon's grasp. Her movements were clumsy but driven by sheer determination.

The demons exchanged glances, their snarls deepening as they closed in. One reached out, grabbing Anne's arm. She twisted and yanked herself free, swinging the chain again.

"This isn't happening. This can't be happening," Priya muttered to herself, rocking slightly as fear consumed her.

"Anne, just stop already!" Lilly screamed, her voice cracking. "You can't fight them all!"

But Anne wasn't listening. Her entire body was shaking with exertion, but she kept swinging, kept fighting. Her chain connected with another demon's weapon, sending a metallic clang echoing through the room.

The demons had had enough. One snarled something in a guttural, unearthly language, and two others advanced together.

Anne tried to swing again, but this time, one of the demons caught the chain mid-air. Its grip tightened, and with a sharp yank, it pulled her off balance.

"Anne!" Lucia screamed, watching helplessly as the demon grabbed her other arm. Another two demons joined in, each restraining one of her limbs.

"Let me go!" Anne yelled, thrashing and kicking. Her strength was formidable for a human, enough to make the demons struggle for a moment, but they quickly overpowered her.

"This one fights like no other," one demon growled, its red eyes narrowing in what might have been disdain.

"She's just a human," another sneered. "A reckless one."

As Anne continued to struggle, the other demons turned their attention to the rest of the girls.

"No! Stay away from me!" Mia screamed, trying to back further into the wall.

"Don't touch me!" Grace yelled, kicking out as one demon approached her.

"They're taking us!" Lilly shrieked, her voice filled with pure terror.

"Stop—just stop!" Zara cried, tears streaming down her face as two demons grabbed her chains and yanked her forward.

Lucia's face was pale as she tried to keep her voice steady. "Anne… Anne, don't fight them anymore. Please!"

But Anne's resistance had only seemed to encourage the demons' roughness. Three of them dragged her by her chains, her feet skidding across the stone floor as she fought against them.

"Cowards!" Anne shouted, her voice hoarse. "It takes three of you? Let me go!"

The demons didn't respond. One of them grunted and jerked her forward, causing her to stumble.

One by one, the girls were yanked from their chains and dragged toward the exit. Their cries and pleas echoed off the dungeon walls, each sound a mix of fear and despair.

Anne's mind raced as she caught glimpses of her friends being dragged away. Her heart ached, but she couldn't stop fighting, even as her body betrayed her, too exhausted to struggle anymore.

The group was finally hauled into the same massive room where the boys knelt, their faces grim and pale. The girls were shoved forward, their chains clattering against the floor.

Anne's gaze lifted to the figure seated on the throne, the demon woman's eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

"Well," the woman purred, her voice smooth and chilling, "the whole party is here."

The room seemed to hold its breath as one of the demons stepped forward, grabbing Anne roughly by the arm and yanking her to her feet. The sound of her chains scraping against the floor echoed ominously.

"Let go of me!" Anne growled, struggling against their iron grip, but the demons were unmoved. They dragged her closer to the throne, where the demon queen sat with an amused, almost predatory smile curling her lips.

"What are they doing?" Lilly whispered, clutching Grace's arm. Her voice trembled, her eyes wide with fear.

"They're taking Anne…" Grace muttered, her nails digging into Lilly's arm. "What are they going to do to her?"

"She was stupid to fight," Zara said, her voice a mixture of worry and exasperation. "But… what if they kill her?"

"They won't," Lucia said, though her voice wavered. "They're playing some kind of sick game."

"Anne doesn't back down," Priya said softly, glancing nervously toward the throne. "Even if it means…" She didn't finish her sentence when one of the demon guards suddenly spoke.

"My queen," he said, his eyes flicking to Anne, "this one—" He gestured toward Anne with a clawed hand. "—she fought back. She managed to push three of us aside before we subdued her."

The queen's lips curled into a dangerous smile, her interest piqued.

"Is that so?" Her voice was smooth, almost seductive, as she spoke. "I like them strong."

As Anne was hauled before the demon queen, she glared up at the towering woman, her defiance burning bright. The queen leaned forward slightly, her piercing red eyes locking onto Anne's.

"I must admit," the queen said, her voice rich and smooth, like venom wrapped in silk. "You intrigue me, human."

"Happy to entertain," Anne shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her gaze didn't waver, even as the demon queen's long fingers reached out to tilt her chin upward.

The queen's nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply. "Ah… such fire. Such rage. I can smell it on you."

Anne didn't flinch. "Guess you skipped dinner if you're sniffing people now," she said coldly.

Behind her, the kids exchanged frantic whispers.

"Why is she talking like that?" Lilly whispered, tears threatening to spill over. "Doesn't she know this is dangerous?"

"She's provoking her," Grace said, shaking her head. "That's Anne for you. But—oh god, what if this is it for her?"

"She's dead," Mateo muttered dramatically. "Totally dead. Bold move, though. Ten out of ten for effort."

"Not helping, Mateo," Priya hissed.

"Hey, I'm just saying! If I were going to go out, I'd want to be as badass as Anne is right now," Mateo replied, earning a glare from Zara.

"Can you shut up for one second?" Zara snapped. "This isn't the time for your comedy routine."

"It's always the time for comedy," Mateo quipped, though his nervous glance toward the throne betrayed his own fear.

The queen's lips curled into a sinister smile. "You think you're clever, don't you?" she purred, her fingers tightening around Anne's chin.

Anne smirked despite herself. "I think you're a little too full of yourself, sitting on your fancy throne."

The queen's eyes narrowed. Without warning, she grabbed Anne by the neck, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Anne gasped, her hands clawing at the queen's iron grip.

The room erupted in chaos.

"Anne!" Lilly shrieked, her voice breaking.

"Oh god, they're going to kill her!" Mia cried, tears streaming down her face.

"She's not… she can't…" Grace stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

"Holy crap," Mateo said, his tone a mix of fear and awe. "Okay, new plan. Nobody piss off the evil queen."

"You think?" Zara snapped, her sarcasm a shield against her own terror.

At the edge of the group, Asher stood abruptly, his fists clenched. His eyes were locked on Anne, his mask of calm cracking for just a moment.

"Asher, what are you doing?" Noah hissed, grabbing his arm.

"Sit down, man!" Jaden whispered furiously. "You'll get yourself killed!"

But Asher didn't stop. He darted forward, moving so quickly that the guards were caught off guard.

"What the hell is he doing?" Mateo whispered. "Is this a rescue mission or a suicide mission?"

Asher leapt onto the dais, his hands grabbing onto the queen's arm. Before anyone could react, he sank his teeth into her wrist.

The queen's eyes widened in shock, and she let out a sharp, inhuman hiss. Her grip on Anne loosened, and Anne dropped to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.

"Asher, are you insane?" Zara yelled, half in shock, half in disbelief.

"Apparently," Mateo muttered. "But hey, at least he's got guts. Or teeth."

The demons surged forward, grabbing Asher by the arms and pulling him away.

"Let go of me!" Asher snarled, struggling against their hold.

The queen didn't look angry. Instead, she began to laugh—a low, chilling sound that echoed through the room.

"Well, well," she said, rising to her feet. Her towering form made her even more imposing. "Such bravery. Such recklessness. It's almost endearing."

She gestured to the guards. "Take them both to my chambers."

"What?" Grace gasped, her eyes wide.

"They're… taking Anne and Asher?" Priya whispered, her voice barely audible.

"No way," Mateo said, his voice rising in mock indignation. "Those two have luck trailed behind them."

"Shut up, Mateo!" Zara hissed.

Anne was yanked to her feet, her chains clinking as the guards grabbed her roughly. She didn't fight this time, though her mind raced.

Asher, meanwhile, struggled fiercely. "Let go of me!" he barked, trying to pull free.

"Asher, stop!" Anne said sharply. Her voice cut through his rage, and he glanced at her, his jaw tightening.

As the doors to the chamber swung open, the remaining kids watched helplessly, unable to do anything but stare as the two were dragged away.

"What the hell's going on?" Mateo muttered, trying to make sense of everything. "So Asher gets a one-way ticket to the queen's bedroom for biting her? This is messed up."

"Seriously, Mateo," Zara snapped, though the fear in her voice betrayed her attempt to stay composed. "This is real. And we need a plan."

As the massive doors closed behind them, sealing Anne and Asher away, the others were left in stunned silence. Fear and uncertainty filled the air, but no one spoke. There was nothing left to say.

The two were dragged and thrown inside a room. Anne and Asher found themselves alone in a room that felt like something pulled from the pages of a dream—or a nightmare, depending on how you looked at it. The walls were draped in deep, blood-red velvet, the patterns intricate and almost hypnotic. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystals sparkling like diamonds, casting a soft glow that danced across the room. Rich, dark wood furniture stood in sharp contrast to the opulence, creating a strange yet elegant balance of warmth and darkness.

A giant four-poster bed loomed at the center, its silk sheets shimmering beneath the candlelight. Every corner of the room seemed alive, filled with the scent of incense and something foreign, something ancient. The room, despite its beauty, felt cold—eerily cold, like it was waiting for something to happen, waiting for them to break beneath the weight of its silence.

Anne stood in the middle of the room, her heart still racing from everything that had just unfolded. The adrenaline hadn't worn off yet. She could still feel the weight of the queen's grip around her neck, the suffocating pressure, but now… now the rush of having been saved was swirling through her veins. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, and when her eyes met Asher's, a mixture of relief and something else washed over her.

"Thanks," she said, her voice quieter than she intended, but still enough to fill the room. It was awkward—she knew that. But there was a warmth behind her smile, something that she hadn't allowed herself to feel for a long time.

Asher's eyes locked onto hers, cold and distant. He took a step back, as if trying to create more space between them, as if the words she spoke might pull him closer, and he couldn't allow that.

"Don't think much of it," he muttered, his voice flat, detached. "I only saved you because it wasn't right to let a classmate die." His words were sharp, almost like daggers.

Anne blinked, the warmth in her chest suddenly turning to ice. His words stung more than she expected. For a moment, it felt like all of her feelings—every bit of hope, every fleeting thought that maybe… just maybe, he still cared—crashed down around her.

But deep down, somewhere beneath the hurt, she knew. She knew why he'd saved her. He didn't have to say it aloud. She saw it in his eyes, the brief flicker of something more. His words were a defense, a wall, but it didn't fool her. He still loved her.

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, each of them too aware of the weight of the past hanging in the air.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a shadow stirred behind them.

A soft, cold laugh echoed in the stillness of the room, sending a shiver down their spines. "Well now," the voice was smooth, unsettling, dripping with dark amusement. "Who's ready for some fun?"

Anne's breath hitched, and her eyes snapped toward the sound. Standing there, her presence almost blending with the shadows, was the demon queen. Her red eyes gleamed with predatory excitement, her smile widening as she took in the sight of them—both the intruders and the ones she had claimed.

Anne felt her heart race once more, a chill creeping up her spine. The queen's words were like a promise—a dark, twisted promise—and Anne could already feel the weight of what was to come. The room felt smaller suddenly, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in.

Asher didn't flinch. His gaze was hard, unreadable, but Anne could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he subtly shifted his stance, ready for whatever came next. The air between them felt thick with something unspoken, and it wasn't just the presence of the queen. It was everything. The tension of being here. The memories of what they once had. The fear of what was coming.

And in that moment, Anne realized how dangerous it was to be in this place, alone with him and the queen. Their lives—everything they knew—was about to shatter. But she couldn't help it. Her heart pounded, and she knew, deep down, that she didn't want to face this alone.

She looked at Asher and wondered what would happen next.