The Crimson Prophecy: Legend Of The Half-Blood

The room felt alive, pulsating with an unnatural energy that made Anne and Asher's skin crawl. Heavy velvet curtains framed the towering windows, beyond which lay a void of eternal darkness. Stars shimmered faintly, like the last gasps of extinguished dreams. The crimson glow from the candelabras cast flickering shadows on the walls, where grotesque carvings of twisted creatures seemed to leer at them. The oppressive beauty of the place was suffocating, each detail designed to unsettle and intimidate.

Anne's heart thundered in her chest, her breaths shallow and quick. She glanced at Asher, who stood a few feet away, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His usually expressive face was rigid, and his dark eyes stayed fixed on the floor as if meeting her gaze would shatter the fragile silence between them. The weight of their shared fear pressed down on them, unspoken but palpable.

The temperature in the room dropped, the air suddenly heavy with a chilling presence. From the shadows, the demon queen emerged, her movements slow and deliberate. She seemed to glide rather than walk, her dark gown trailing behind her like a living thing. Her crimson eyes burned with an unholy light, and her lips curved into a faint, predatory smile.

Anne felt her stomach churn as the demon queen approached. She looked otherworldly—both beautiful and horrifying. Her pale, angular face was framed by cascading hair as dark as midnight, shimmering like liquid obsidian in the flickering light. The air around her seemed to hum with malice, each step of hers eroding the thin veneer of courage Anne and Asher tried to maintain.

"Well, well," the queen said, her voice a silken whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Two trembling little lambs caught in the lion's den. How… delightful."

Anne flinched at the sound of her voice, instinctively taking a step back. Asher, though clearly shaken, remained still, his stance defiant but tense.

The queen chuckled softly, the sound low and chilling. She moved with predatory grace, her gaze shifting between the two. Then, in a movement so swift it was almost imperceptible, she was behind Asher, her lips near his ear.

"Are you not enjoying my hospitality?" she whispered, her tone dripping with mockery.

Asher shuddered but didn't turn around. His fists tightened further, his knuckles white.

Anne watched in horror as the queen's long, clawed fingers reached out, brushing against a stray lock of her hair. She froze, her entire body stiffening as the touch sent a cold chill down her spine.

The queen smiled, stepping back to survey her prey. "Oh, forgive me," she said with exaggerated politeness, as if mocking their fear. "How rude of me not to introduce myself properly." She began to circle them, her gown sweeping the floor like the rustling of dead leaves.

"I am Lilith," she said, her voice resonating with an unnatural echo. "Queen of the Abyss. Mistress of Shadows. Keeper of Eternal Night. And now…" She paused, her gaze locking onto Asher, "your captor."

Asher's jaw clenched, his breathing audible in the silence that followed. Anne's heart hammered in her chest, her instincts screaming at her to run, though she knew there was no escape.

"Where are our friends?" Anne asked, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound strong. "What have you done to them?"

Lilith paused, tilting her head as if considering the question. "Your friends…" she said slowly, her tone laced with mockery. "Safe, for now. Though their safety, I assure you, is temporary."

Anne's fear turned to anger, her hands clenching into fists. "Let them go!" she demanded, her voice rising. "Let all of us go!"

Lilith's laughter echoed through the room, a sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Ah, little one," she said, her tone almost pitying. "You are in no position to make demands."

She stepped closer to Anne, her claws gently brushing against her cheek. Anne recoiled, her breathing quickening.

"You are here," Lilith continued, "because your foolish friends opened the door to my domain. They summoned the portal, and now… you must pay the price."

"What price?" Asher demanded, his voice low and firm despite the tremor in his tone.

Lilith's crimson eyes flicked to him, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Eager, are we?" she murmured, her amusement evident. "How refreshing."

Anne and Asher exchanged a quick glance, their fear momentarily eclipsed by confusion.

Lilith began to pace again, her steps slow and deliberate. "Freedom," she said, her tone icy and detached, "comes at a cost. And the cost I require is… unique."

Anne's stomach turned, the ominous weight of her words pressing down on her.

"What do you mean?" Anne asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lilith stopped, turning to face them fully. "Life," she said simply, her voice heavy with dark intent. "I require life to grant life. Such is the balance of the universe."

Asher stiffened. "You want us to… sacrifice someone?" he asked, his voice hard.

Lilith's laughter was low and menacing. She moved closer to him, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, my dear boy, you misunderstand."

Anne felt a cold dread settle over her. She glanced at Asher again, and this time their eyes met. His confusion mirrored her fear. She loved Asher more than Anything "If anyone were do be sacrificed, I would willingly give up mine for his." she said to herself. She looks at Asher with pain and concern. 

Lilith smiled, the expression sending a chill through the room. "Teenagers on the brink of adulthood are… expendable," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Your lives hold no value to me. But…"

She paused, her smile widening.

"But what?" Anne asked, her voice trembling.

Lilith moved closer to Anne, her crimson eyes gleaming. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I require a life untainted by sin, a soul untouched by the corruption of this world."

Anne's heart pounded. "A… baby?" she whispered, the word barely escaping her lips.

Lilith's smile widened, her teeth gleaming like daggers.

Anne stepped back, her legs trembling. "But… where would we even—"

Lilith cut her off with a soft laugh, the sound both mocking and menacing. She moved to Asher, her gaze piercing. At that moment Anne realized what she was asking. The demand was quite inhumane and it brought chills down Annes spine, Lillith wanted a child brought to life by the union of the two young teenagers.

Asher frowned, his confusion evident. "Wait," he said, holding up a hand. "So… you want us to find a baby? Where? We're in hell!"

Anne groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh my god, Asher…"

"What?" he asked, genuinely perplexed. "Isn't that what she's saying?"

Lilith's laughter grew louder, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement.

Anne turned to him, her voice low and urgent. "She's not talking about finding a baby, Asher."

"Then what is she talking about?"

Anne hesitated, her chest tightening as the queen's words echoed in her mind.

"She's talking about… making one."

Asher blinked, his confusion deepening. "Making one? Like… building it? What, are we supposed to craft it out of demon bones or something?"

Lilith's laughter echoed through the room, louder this time.

Anne buried her face in her hands. "No, Asher," she muttered.

"What, then?"

Lilith waved a hand, signaling the guards to step forward. "Enough," she said, her tone sharp. "I've given you much to consider. Take the night to ponder my request."

Asher struggled as the guards grabbed him, his confusion turning to anger. "Think about what? Someone explain this to me!"

Anne said nothing as she was led away, her thoughts consumed by the queen's chilling demand.

The guards dragged Asher away, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "Wait! What do you mean by 'ponder'? What are we supposed to do?" His protests grew fainter with each step until the sound was swallowed by the oppressive silence of the demon queen's lair.

Anne, too, was taken away, her heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the scrape of the guard's claws against the stone floor. She didn't resist; her legs moved numbly, her mind too clouded with fear and confusion to act. Lilith's words echoed in her ears, their sinister implications spiraling into every corner of her thoughts.

The guards led Anne down a dim corridor, the flickering flames of sconces casting dancing shadows on the jagged walls. When they finally reached her cell, the heavy iron door creaked open, and she was shoved inside. She stumbled forward, catching herself against the cold stone wall. The door slammed shut behind her with a deafening clang, the sound reverberating through the dungeon like the toll of a funeral bell.

"Anne!"

The voices of her friends hit her all at once, a cacophony of relief and worry. The fourteen girls rushed toward her, their pale faces reflecting the flickering torchlight.

Lilly and Grace reached her first, pulling her into a tight hug. "Oh my god, Anne! Are you okay?" Lilly's voice trembled with emotion.

"Where did they take you?" Grace asked, her voice cracking.

Anne didn't respond. Her body felt heavy, her mind a storm of thoughts she couldn't put into words.

The others crowded around her, their voices overlapping in a chaotic chorus.

"Did they hurt you?" Priya's voice was high-pitched, panic lacing her words.

"What happened to Asher? is he okay?" Lucia asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"What do they want from us?" Chloe whispered, hugging herself as she trembled.

"Anne are we trapped here for ever is there no way out!" Zara asked.

Seeing her friend being questioned, Grace stepped in "Come on guys, you're making her feel uncomfortable!" She yelled.

"Who cares if she's uncomfortable we're doomed anyway, I'm sure the demon queen said that she's never goanna let us go!" Mia yelled, tears dripping down her eyes.

"Now now, don't be so sure Mia, I'm sure nothing like that must have happened, I mean look she brought Anne back alive." Priya said, her voice calm yet scared.

"You're just making that up to comfort yourself Priya, the truth is that we are all DOOMED and nothing can save us now!" Sofia yelled.

All the girls started arguing and fighting verbally with each other regarding this. 

"Could you guys stop, we have enough on our plate, please don't make things more difficult for us! " Lilly yelled, the room became silent as Lilly said this.

"Then tell us what happened Anne, spit it out!" Sofia yelled.

Anne stood in silence, her back against the wall. The weight of their questions pressed down on her, each one sharpening the edge of her despair. She could feel their eyes on her, their collective fear like a noose tightening around her throat.

"Anne?" Lilly's voice was soft now, her hand resting gently on Anne's shoulder.

Still, Anne didn't speak. She turned away from them and walked toward the iron bars that sealed their cell. Beyond them, the corridor stretched into darkness, an endless void that mirrored the growing emptiness inside her. She gripped the bars, the cold metal biting into her palms as she stared into the abyss.

The silence among the girls was thick and heavy. Lilly, ever perceptive, stepped closer. She wrapped her arms around Anne from behind, her embrace warm and comforting against the chill of the dungeon. "It's okay, Anne," she murmured softly, her voice a balm against Anne's frayed nerves. "You don't have to tell us what happened if you're not ready. But please… don't carry this alone."

Anne's resolve crumbled. Her shoulders shook as tears spilled down her cheeks, silent at first but quickly escalating into sobs. She turned and buried her face in Lilly's shoulder, her hands clutching at the fabric of her dress.

The other girls surrounded her, their faces etched with worry and sympathy.

"It's okay to cry," Lilly said gently, stroking Anne's hair. "You've been so strong, but you don't have to bear this weight alone. We're here for you."

Anne's sobs slowly subsided, her breathing ragged as she pulled back. Her red-rimmed eyes scanned the faces of her friends, their fear and concern a mirror of her own.

"I need to tell you," she said finally, her voice hoarse but steady.

The girls exchanged nervous glances but nodded, their attention fixed on her.

Anne hesitated, the words catching in her throat. "The demon queen," she began, her voice trembling, "she… she wants something from us. Something terrible."

"What does she want?" Lilly asked gently, her brows furrowed.

Anne took a deep breath, the weight of her confession pressing down on her. "She doesn't want one of our lives. She wants… she wants a child. A baby."

The room fell silent, the girls staring at her in stunned disbelief.

"A baby?" Emily repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Anne nodded, tears welling in her eyes again. "She wants a baby… a life untainted by sin. And she… she said…" Her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue. "She said it has to be… from me and Asher."

Gasps rippled through the group, their shock and horror evident.

"What?!" Chloe exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth.

"She's insane!" Amara said, her voice trembling. "How can she even ask for something like that?"

Anne's gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't know. But she said it's the only way she'll let us go."

The girls erupted into a flurry of whispers, their voices a mixture of anger, fear, and disbelief.

Anne continued, her voice barely audible. "Even if… even if we… I could never… I would never sacrifice a baby to her. I'd rather die than do that."

Lilly placed a hand on her shoulder, her expression firm but kind. "You're not going to face this alone, Anne. We'll find another way. We'll get out of here."

The others nodded, their resolve hardening despite their fear.

As the group huddled together, a chill settled over the dungeon, the oppressive darkness seeming to grow heavier. The flickering torches cast long, eerie shadows on the stone walls, their flames sputtering as if the air itself rejected their light.

Anne shivered, her gaze drifting to the bars once more. The demon queen's words echoed in her mind, her sinister demand a haunting refrain.

The silence stretched on, broken only by the distant sound of dripping water and the occasional shuffle of a guard's footsteps. The girls clung to each other, their collective fear a fragile shield against the encroaching darkness.

In the suffocating stillness, one thought loomed large in Anne's mind:

What choice do we have… when the devil holds the keys to our fate?