Chapter 432: The Forgotten Past - XXVI

They say when a great tragedy occurs, nature itself weeps over the loss. Just like that, the skies of the Underworld wept with relentless rain after losing two royal queens in a single night. Above, the blood-red moon stood as a silent witness to the solemn vow the Crown Princess had sworn before her ultimate sacrifice for the man she loved.

Only minutes earlier, before the sky bled red, Gavriel was panting heavily on the fifth level of Tartarus. His glowing crimson eyes remained fixed on Thalzaroth, who had finally halted his barrage of attacks after Gavriel succeeded in establishing communication, having severed several heads of the thousand-headed ancient guardian.

Many of their warriors were already dead, and his right-hand man, Orin, was gravely injured.

Supporting Belial’s wounded form over his shoulder beneath the pouring rain, Gavriel spoke through gritted teeth. "Now that you know the truth, that it was not we who caused the disturbance, unblock our path and let us return to Tartarus."

Thalzaroth looked down at the prince, who had proven to be formidable and bore the glowing mark of the Devil upon his exposed chest.

The guardian let out a low rumble before lowering his massive head. "Future ruler of this realm, I extend my apology for attacking you, and I will do as you ask. But before you leave... I must warn you. The beasts have spoken to me. Two princes descended into these depths, not one. While I was in deep sleep, I awoke only after one of them extracted my venom. For the sake of this realm, you must find those responsible before treachery consumes the Underworld."

Both Belial and Gavriel narrowed their eyes at the revelation of a second prince. Their thoughts immediately drifted to Azrath and Malakov. They had no difficulty believing Azrath was involved, as they had come to capture him. But Malakov... they needed concrete proof against him, or his supporters would create total chaos in the kingdom.

More than that, an oppressive anxiety gripped Gavriel’s chest.

Leaving Hera behind had filled him with an uneasy restlessness, but as the battle against Thalzaroth dragged on, that dread grew unbearable. Without Bellarios present, he could not establish a mind link with her, and the immense distance made it impossible to sense her physical condition.

The instinct clawed at him, screaming at him to return to her side at once. He needed to see her with his own eyes, if only to confirm that she was resting peacefully where he had left her.

’I’ll wait for you.’

Her soft, melodic voice echoed in his memory, beckoning him to return.

Gavriel gave the ancient guardian a sharp nod. "Anyone who seeks to destroy the Underworld will be hunted down. Now, lift the barrier blocking our exit."

As soon as he said that, a soul-crushing pain lanced through the centre of his chest, where the Devil’s mark continued to glow brightly.

Gavriel, who was supporting Belial, let out a low grunt and doubled over, clutching his chest.

At that exact moment, the storm clouds above turned a terrifying, blood-red colour, forcing everyone to look up in shock.

"Riel! What’s wrong?!" Belial cried out, dropping to his knees beside his brother, clutching his shoulder as he fought through his own wounds.

Gavriel could not form words. Turning his bloodshot eyes toward the remaining soldiers, he commanded in a rasping roar, "Open the realm portal to Rios Palace now!"

The men did not hesitate.

With Thalzaroth finally withdrawing the barrier that had blocked their escape, a massive portal opened through their combined powers. In an instant, they were swallowed whole, only to reappear in the hall of Rios Palace.

The moment they arrived, the pain in Gavriel’s chest intensified, as if someone had ripped his heart out and crushed his soul into dust.

His head bowed low, sending panic through the guards around him.

"Your Highness! Call the physician!" Orin barked immediately.

Meanwhile, Belial, still at his brother’s side, looked at Gavriel with utter worry before a loud, furious roar shook the ground beneath them.

Confused, Belial glanced between the blood-red sky and Gavriel’s unusual condition. "What’s going on here?"

Before anyone could answer, frantic footsteps echoed through the hall, stopping a few paces away. A woman’s panicked voice called out, "Your Highness! You’ve returned!"

Panting hard, Gavriel looked up through his lashes, recognizing the woman he had assigned to guard his wife. "Why are you here instead of protecting my wife?" he demanded, his voice dangerously rough.

Vorra rushed forward and threw herself onto the floor before him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Your Highness!" She pressed her forehead to the ground, sobbing, "Forgive me, Your Highness! I tried to stop the Princess! I begged her to wait for you, but she... she would not listen! Please forgive her!"

Gavriel, Belial, and Orin’s brows furrowed instantly at her words.

Having no patience left, Gavriel growled, "What are you talking about?"

"Y-Your Highness, t-the full moon is at its peak," Vorra continued, fake sobs shaking her voice. "With everything happening in Las Noches, I was speaking to the messenger who came looking for you when... when..." Vorra broke into louder sobs.

Belial, who had disliked the woman from the very beginning, grew increasingly irritated and demanded authoritatively, "Speak clearly, or I will force the truth from you!"

Vorra shuddered under Belial’s frigid glare, her voice continued to quiver. "I believe the effects of the full moon overcame the Princess. When I entered her chambers to check on her, she... there was another man-"

She never finished the sentence. Gavriel’s arm lashed out like a striking serpent, his fingers clamping around her throat in a grip so terrifyingly crushing that Vorra knew a little more force would tear her head from her shoulders.

"What. Did. You. Say." Gavriel’s voice dropped to a sinister whisper.

Wrath radiated like a living entity from his body, and his dark powers leaked outward uncontrollably, forcing everyone near him to step back.

Meanwhile, Vorra felt her skin sizzle and burn beneath his touch.

Panicking, she choked out, "I-I speak the truth, Your Highness! I would never dare lie to you! The princess was already under the effect of the full moon, and after the messenger arrived, I only stepped away for a moment. When I returned, she was already... m-marked by someone else! You must have felt it through your bond as we-"

Gavriel slammed her head onto the floor so violently that the tiles cracked beneath her.

Blood splattered from her lips as the scorched flesh of her neck smoked. She scrambled backwards on her hands and knees, coughing violently, only to raise her eyes and see Gavriel’s fingers elongating into lethal claws.

He raised his hand to strike her heart when she slammed her forehead to the floor, shrieking, "Mercy, Your Highness! I speak the truth!"

"I will tear your tongue out for speaking such vile treason against your Princess," Gavriel spat in raw fury.

Just as he was about to deliver a blow, multiple portals tore open in rapid succession. Three royal princes...Azrial, Zereph, and Sorenn stepped into the hall.

Azrial’s eyes widened upon seeing Gavriel. "Gavriel! You’re back!"

Belial looked at them, asking, "What are you three doing here?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Azrial shifted his gaze to Gavriel. "Your beast is going rampant!"

"What?" Belial gasped, his eyes widening.

Deep sorrow flickered in Zereph’s eyes as he answered, "After finding out... Mother is no more, he flew here, and after that..."

"M-mother..." Belial whispered in shock while Gavriel felt as though someone had shaken him to his core.

But then, without another word or reaction, he uttered only one name.

"Hera..."

In an instant, he used his powers to vanish from the hall.

The remaining brothers watched the empty space with a frown, and Sorenn asked, "Why did he call out for Hera?"

Belial’s expression turned grim. His hardened gaze locked onto the cowering Vorra on the floor. "Place her in custody immediately."

Without another word, Belial teleported directly to the one place he knew Gavriel had gone. Dread gripped his heart like an icy vice, warning him that catastrophe had already struck.

.....

When Gavriel teleported to his chamber door, his eyes remained shut as he told himself over and over again that she would be fine. She must be fine. When he would open them, she would still be on the bed, welcoming him with her radiant smile and open arms.

Yet a full minute passed, and he remained still with his eyes closed because it terrified him.

Terrified by the questions rising in his mind...

Why couldn’t he feel her through their bond anymore?

Why couldn’t he sense her miles away like he used to?

Why had he suffered that excruciating pain, like something was intensely corrupting his heart before something was ruthlessly torn away from him?

Above all, why did he feel Bellarios’s unhinged fury and broken agony echoing violently within his heart?

Only Gavriel knew how violently his heart pounded against his ribs, threatening to burst free from his chest. He refused to believe a single word spoken by that vile woman he had trusted with his wife’s safety.

He would always believe his beloved above all else. Every single word that passed Hera’s lips was sacred to him, etched into a heart that beat for her alone.

Yet here he stood... refusing to open his eyes... refusing to move.

’I’ll wait for you.’

Her gentle voice echoed in his memory once more.

Drawing strength from her voice, he sucked in a long, shaky breath before finally willing himself to open his eyes.

The moment he did, his blood-red eyes widened in slow, horrifying disbelief.