Chapter 14: Into the Dark
Ravenor's silhouette became clearer in the dim hallway as he took a step ahead. His eyes glowed, burning crimson in the shadows like embers barely contained.
Those eyes could send you to your knees without even trying.
He can't be a human.
With those flame like eyes, there was no way.
His presence was a suffocating weight that sent icy tendrils of fear curling around her heart.
She didn't wait.
Instinct took over before reason had a chance. She turned on her heel and ran, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor. Her pulse roared in her ears, each thudding step matching the frantic rhythm of her heart. Every ounce of her energy was focused on one thing: getting as far away from him as possible.
God knew what he could do to her.
The castle's halls twisted and turned, but she didn't care. She didn't care about the strange tapestries or the ancient armor lining the walls. Her legs burned with the effort, but the fear driving her forward was stronger than the ache in her limbs.
Behind her, there was no sound of pursuit, at first. But she knew better. Ravenor was faster than any human. More dangerous than any predator. The castle felt like it was shifting, closing in on her as she ran, and she knew it wouldn't be long before he caught her.
A flash of movement in the corner of her eye.
Then, in an instant, something cold and firm wrapped around her arm, yanking her backward with a force that nearly knocked the air out of her lungs. She let out a scream, but before the sound could escape, a hand clamped down over her mouth, silencing her.
Her back collided with the hard wall, and she looked up into Ravenor's face, his features sharp and dangerously handsome in the dim light. His hand was still pressed over her lips, his body far too close, trapping her against the unyielding stone.
"Shh," he whispered, his voice low and edged with amusement. "You'll wake up some unwanted beings."
Her wide silver eyes stared into his black ones, which shimmered faintly with that menacing red glow. He was too close. She could feel the cold of his skin through the thin fabric of her dress.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Her heart raced beneath his hand, but his eyes, now dark and unreadable stayed locked on hers. Slowly, Ravenor lowered his hand from her mouth, his fingers brushing against her lips as he did so. She gulped in air, her chest heaving.
"You think you can outrun me?" His voice was smooth, like velvet dipped in steel. "Bold. Foolish but bold."
"I wasn't…trying to." She struggled to find her voice, her pulse still hammering in her throat. "I just thought... to strech my legs a little."
What?!
Her brain certainly turned into mush when he was around.
His lips curved into a smile, dangerous, amused. "Ah, yes. And you were about to do so by stepping into the forbidden wing of the castle. Not exactly a popular tourist attraction, but I can see why it caught your attention."
She swallowed, her eyes darting past him, searching for an escape route. "How would I know that? If it's forbidden, why not put up a sign?"
His gaze flickered with amusement. "Because we never had visitors like you before."
"Seems like an oversight to me."
Ravenor arched a brow, clearly entertained by her attempt at sarcasm. "Perhaps. Or maybe it was intentional. After all, I do like to keep things… interesting."
Elara's hands were pressed against the cold stone wall, her pulse still racing, but something in his tone dark, teasing fanned a small spark of courage within her. "Well, congratulations. You certainly succeed in keeping things interesting."
His eyes gleamed with mischief, and for a fleeting moment, he looked less like the dark lord of a cursed castle and more like someone who took delight in making others squirm. "I am allowing your chamber to stay unlocked but the next time you feel the urge to explore, I'd recommend avoiding certain areas." His voice dropped, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "There are places in this castle that are far more dangerous than the dangers outside."
She tilted her head, curiosity overriding her fear for a brief second.
He leaned in closer, his breath cool against her skin. "There are things here, in the depths, that are far older and far more ruthless than I am. And they don't take kindly to visitors."
More ruthlessly than him?
He must be joking.
Elara swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry.
His gaze lingered on her a moment longer, before he stepped back, releasing her from the cornered position she had been trapped in. He turned to leave, his figure melding into the shadows.
Elara hesitated for a moment, catching her breath, but the second he was out of sight, that same surge of adrenaline pulsed through her veins.
Without thinking, she bolted once again, her legs propelling her forward down the hallway, her heart pounding louder than before. Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead, but her thoughts were scattered, her mind still reeling from the encounter. She didn't notice the uneven stone on the floor until it was too late.
Her foot caught.
With a yelp, she stumbled, arms flailing as she tried to regain her balance, but the momentum was too strong. She crashed to the ground, her knees and palms scraping against the rough stone.
A low chuckle echoed through the hall, and she froze, humiliation creeping up her spine.
Ravenor's voice came from the shadows, barely suppressing a laugh. "Pathetic."
She groaned, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, glaring into the darkness where he must have been watching. "Are you just going to follow me everywhere?"
"I simply happen to go in the same direction as you. Nothing intentional."
As she struggled to her feet, there was a distant, rumbling noise faint, but unmistakable. It came from deep within the castle, far below them.
Ravenor's amusement vanished, his face tightening as he listened. The glow in his eyes brightened for a brief moment, his entire posture suddenly alert.
"Run, little girl," he whispered, his voice deadly serious now. "And don't stop until you're back in your chamber."
Before she could ask why, the rumbling grew louder.