Chapter 428: The Forgotten Past - XXII

[Music recommendation: Deep Force Cello · Ted D’souza]

Chaos erupted across Tartarus as King Raizel’s unbridled powers continued to wreak havoc, unleashing a violent tempest outside. Crimson lightning flashed relentlessly across the dark sky, and heavy rain began to downpour upon every level of the Underworld.

Alerted by the catastrophic powers emanating from Las Noches, all the remaining princes gathered at the palace to assist the Grand Oracle in breaching Raizel’s barrier.

Yet as all focus remained pinned on the King, another horrifying piece of news tore through the realm...

Prince Azrath had somehow managed to cross over into the world of the living and was unleashing devastation upon the mortal realm.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and First Prince remained missing alongside their entire elite battalion, with no one able to establish contact with them.

It was absolute chaos!

Yet... throughout it all, Hera remained trapped in an unnaturally deep slumber.

As the full moon reached its peak, its influence spread throughout the Underworld, affecting every demon in its path.

Standing outside Hera’s bedchamber, Vorra approached the guards and instructed, "Go and stand guard at the far ends of the hallway. Her Highness is currently resting, and I do not want anyone disturbing her during the full moon."

Knowing that Vorra was personally entrusted with Hera’s security, the guards did not argue. They promptly withdrew to their new posts while struggling under the intense pressure of the full moon.

Once the corridor had emptied, Vorra took out the badge that served as her special pass. She pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto it before silently chanting a spell.

Then she whispered, "Master."

A dark magic circle formed before her, and a man gradually took shape within it.

When Vorra met his crimson eyes, he smirked. "If you have summoned me, Vorra... it means she is finally alone, isn’t she?"

"Yes, she is," Vorra reported in a low voice. "Only her wolf beast remains beside her."

"Be a dear and take care of him for me, will you?"

Vorra’s eyes widened. "But, Master... fighting that beast inside the chamber would attract the attention of the other guards."

The man extended his hand, revealing a small blue vial attached to a needle resting upon his palm. "Who said it needs to be a fair fight?"

Vorra accepted it.

The venom shimmered faintly in the darkness and a slow vicious smile spread across her face as she opened the chamber door.

Inside, Hera lay motionless beneath the moonlight spilling through the tall windows. Sweat dampened her skin, and her breathing came in shallow, uneven bursts. Her brows were drawn together as though she were suffering through a nightmare from which she could not wake.

Vorra watched her for a moment before she stepped inside.

Right then, Ceri shifted into his massive beast form and lunged at her.

Vorra dodged the strike in a split second, but his razor-sharp claws slashed across her arm, spilling dark blood onto the floor.

Vorra hissed in pain while Ceri let out a menacing growl, baring his fangs at the demoness whose twisted intentions he could clearly sense.

"You filthy, brainless hound!" Vorra snarled before an eerie green glow enveloped her frame.

Her lower body transformed into terrifying, multi-jointed, spidery legs, while her eyes turned blood-red and two elongated fangs slid past her lips.

As Ceri lunged again, Vorra flicked her wrist and drove the poison dart into his neck.

The moment the liquid entered Ceri’s bloodstream, he let out a pained whimper and collapsed heavily onto the floor.

Watching him tremble violently as he fought with everything he had to stand, Vorra burst into a mocking laugh.

She stalked closer on her grotesque, spidery legs. "Aww, look at you... the crown princess’s beloved pet... now reduced to a crawling insect."

A sinister grin stretched across her face. "You see... the toxin dripping into your veins is extracted directly from the ancient guardian beast Thalzaroth. Even for a legendary nine-tailed wolf like you, it will paralyse your body before slowly melting your insides."

Despite the agony paralysing his muscles, Ceri emitted a low, vibrating growl that shook his chest.

Vorra merely tilted her head in cruel delight. "A pity you must perish... but your mistress stole what belonged to me."

She raised one of her spidery legs, and drove it through Ceri’s front paw, pinning it brutally to the floor.

Ceri let out a painful howl as he struggled to wrench himself free of the limb that had pierced his paw.

But Vorra only drove it deeper, her red eyes burning with unhinged madness.

"Your mistress took everything that was supposed to be mine," she hissed. "She took my man, my place as his queen, and now she carries his heir. So I’m going to tear away every single thing she loves, starting with you."

A heartbreaking whimper escaped Ceri. His glowing cerulean eyes turned weakly towards the bed where Hera lay unconscious. His trembling paws scraped feebly against the floor as he tried to drag his body towards her.

That unwavering loyalty only enraged Vorra further.

"Still looking at her?" she snarled. "Die already, you wretched beast!"

With a hateful screech, she brought down her razor-sharp limbs, driving them into Ceri’s throat and chest.

But she did not stop.

She wrenched her limbs free and struck him again and again, until blood splattered across her face, her dress, and the stone floor. Her wild and unrestrained laughter echoed through the chamber, as though the sight of his suffering had finally shattered what little remained of her sanity.

Hera stirred in her unconscious state.

Cold tears slipped down her cheek as something deep within her soul suddenly snapped.

Ceri let out one final, shuddering whimper. His forever-vibrant blue eyes remained fixed on Hera as their light faded, turning dull and lifeless.

That was the end of the majestic nine-tailed wolf who had been the Crown Princess’s beloved companion.

Vorra continued to laugh, savouring the silence that followed. Then, with one final act of cruelty, she severed Ceri’s head from his body and the chamber door opened.

"Enough," the man said coldly. "Get out. We don’t have much time."

Vorra grinned and bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, Master."

She glanced toward Hera’s distressed form and added, "The wretch is carrying a child. I trust you will take extra care of her."

A devious smirk appeared on the man’s face as he stepped forward. The moonlight finally fell across his features, revealing his dark purple hair and blood-red eyes.

"What delightful news. It will give me even greater pleasure to not only claim Gavriel’s woman as my mate... and his child as well."

Vorra bowed once more. "Yes... Master Malakov." With that, she turned and slipped out of the chamber.

Once they were alone, Malakov slowly approached Hera.

His gaze fell upon her hands, clenched tightly at her sides.

He climbed onto the bed and leaned over her, then gently lifted one of her hands while studying her distressed face.

"You once used this very hand to slap me," he murmured.

He brought her hand to his lips and slowly licked across her knuckles before whispering, "I’d like to see this same hand hold me tightly, as though you never wanted to let me go."