Chapter 243: The Hidden Intruder

Chapter 243: 243: The Hidden Intruder

Daniel immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, smothering the scream before it could echo through the chamber. Her muffled cries vibrated against his palm for several tense seconds before gradually fading into silence.

"Calm down, lady. I don’t want to get caught. Shh! Quiet," he whispered, his warm breath brushing softly against her cheek.

Floryn froze beneath his hand, heart hammering against her chest, each beat loud enough to hear in her ears. Frightened breaths came quick and shallow, but little by little, they began to slow.

Then a thought struck her.

If he really were a ghost, how could she feel his hand against her mouth?

A ghost shouldn’t be able to touch her.

Floryn’s fear eased slightly as she stared at him, confusion slowly replacing the panic in her eyes.

"Mm... hmm," she murmured, her words muffled beneath his palm.

Only after she had calmed down did Daniel slowly remove his hand from her mouth and murmur in a low voice,

"Status."

——————

Name: Floryn Hawkins

Age: 34

HP: 1598/1600

Mana: 560/560

Essence: 100%

Quality: Excellent (100%)

Description: A woman of royal blood who lives in the Upper Citadel. Wife of Alexandre — a Royal Knight, and daughter of Leonardo D. Blake.

Despite never having to worry about money, her deepest, most suppressed desires were never fulfilled. And she always dreamt that one day a prince would come and fulfill her desires, until she got married and had to suppress them till this day.

——————

Daniel swallowed hard as his eyes scanned her body. From below he could only see her from a cramped angle that hid more than it showed.

But now, standing before her was a different experience.

A floral scent rose from her skin and fought the dungeon’s damp earthy smell. Heat came off her figure in a slow wave, her curves full and close, making his cock twitch at the sight.

"I knew my husband would send someone. You’re here to save me, right?" Floryn asked, her voice carrying a genuine glimmer of hope.

Daniel lifted his eyes from her breasts and met her gaze. "I... don’t know what you’re talking about."

The moment those words reached her ears, the hopeful expression on Floryn’s face faded, replaced by disappointment.

"Oh... I thought my husb—"

But just then, dark clouds began to swirl into existence once more.

Daniel’s eyes widened.

"Shit!"

He quickly slipped beneath the bed, hiding in the darkness as the clouds gathered and stretched outward from the corner of the room. He had wanted to hide inside Floryn’s shadow, but her movements caused it to shift in another direction.

’Fuck, he returned so soon,’ Daniel muttered under his breath.

*Thud... thud... thud...*

Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber.

Each step carried a dull weight, creeping closer and closer until the sound seemed to echo beneath the bed.

"You must be hungry, my love. I brought you some fruits. Eat it." Klaus’s voice drifted through the room, gentle on the surface yet carrying an unsettling undertone. "Tonight, let’s have a wonderful dinner."

"Hehehe... hehehe..."

A low, demonic chuckle suddenly echoed from above the bed. The sound crawled through the chamber like a cold breeze.

"Where are my souls, Klaus?!"

"Do you think it’s easy to collect a hundred souls?" Klaus snapped, irritation flashing through his voice.

Beneath the bed, Daniel held his breath, keeping his entire body perfectly still.

He strained his ears, catching every word exchanged above him. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs as Klaus stood only a step away.

One careless movement, one misplaced breath, and his hiding place would be exposed.

"I sense a presence... a soul," the skull suddenly said.

Klaus answered almost immediately. "Not this one. She’s not for you, you dumb skull."

"No... not her." The skull’s voice lowered into an eerie murmur. "I sense another soul nearby. Very close..."

Floryn’s fingers suddenly tightened around the mattress, her knuckles whitened as she fought to keep herself from trembling.

Klaus noticed, his eyes narrowing as he leaned closer to Floryn’s face.

"My love..." His voice had grown colder. "Do you see anyone here. Like... anyone hiding here?"

Her gaze flickered toward the side, refusing to meet his eyes.

Klaus immediately reached out, gripping her cheek and forcing her face toward him. Their eyes locked.

"Tell me, love..."

"I-I don’t know," Floryn whispered through gritted teeth.

The words came out strained, roughened by fear. Klaus stared at her for several seconds, then he slowly released her.

His gaze swept across the chamber. Several doors lined the walls.

One led to the chamber where he kept his summons.

Another remained firmly locked — the room where he performed his rituals. The last led to the area where he kept his prisoners.

Klaus’s eyes moved from one door to another.

Then stopped.

The bed.

His expression darkened. ℴ

Floryn’s breathing caught in her throat.

Klaus leaned down beside the mattress. "Is there anyone under the bed?"

Floryn’s lips parted.

But before a single word could escape, Klaus’s eyes suddenly sharpened. A tiny movement beneath the bed had caught his attention. A finger. Just the tip of one. Barely visible beneath the hanging cloth.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

The ground beneath the bed erupted. Jagged stone spikes shot upward in an instant, tearing through the wooden frame as dust and splinters exploded into the air.

Floryn gasped at the sudden impact as a thick cloud of dust swallowed the space beneath the bed.

No scream. No blood. No body. Klaus crouched down, grabbed the edge of the hanging bedcloth, and lifted it.

"...What?!" Klaus’s eyes narrowed.

His gaze swept across the darkness beneath the bed once more. There was nowhere to hide. Yet he had clearly seen a finger. Something had been there.

"Skull, do you sense anybody now?" Klaus asked, a hint of worry creeping onto his face.

"Hehehe... yes. Yes, it’s very close to us," the skull replied with an eerie chuckle.

Klaus slowly lifted his gaze toward the ceiling, then lowered it to the floor around him.

Nothing.

Not a single movement.

Just then, the glowing blue sphere appeared behind him.

"Boss, Kalma and Raine are dead."