Chapter 4:The Awakening in the Shrine of Sin
The palace guards were at the door when elder James arrived. "I want to see her," he said. "You're not allowed to see her, and if the Prince finds out, I'll lose my life. I'll be quick," he added, prompting the guards to open the door for him. "Who are you?" Victoria asked. "Why have you come to see me?" She looked disheveled; the bridal gown that once symbolized hope now served as a reminder of betrayal. Elder James explained how she could escape and where to go. Although she had lost all hope, his encouragement reignited a spark within her.
She started planning her escape. Phina came to torment her, even instructing the guards to beat her. Bruised all over, she was determined to flee. That night, she crawled through the hole in the cell that elder James had shown her. Exhausted and weak, she pressed on. When King Eric visited, he discovered she was missing. "I want her back! Search every corner of this cell and bring her to me alive, or you'll all be dead!"
The search commenced. She bumped her shoulder against a rock, and when she reached the other side, the guards were waiting. She quickly changed direction, but an arrow from the guards grazed her during her escape. Blood dripped from her shoulder onto her hand, staining her bridal gown with thick red.
As she continued, she recalled Karl's words: "Sing if you need me." Unable to sing or hum because of the guards, she followed the directions elder James had given her. Eventually, she stumbled upon an ancient chamber that resembled a shrine, older than the kingdom of Axel. This shrine was forbidden, as it held the truth of Axel; it was where the late King Author had betrayed Zancus and the demon people and buried them. It was known as the "shrine of sin."
Weak and bruised, her knees burned as she collapsed in the shrine. Just as her blood touched the temple, a carved demon hidden there stirred. It was Lucas, the son of the powerful demon leader, Zancus. He had been waiting, hanging around, hoping she'd give him a call, but it seems like destiny has other ideas.
Lucas was stirred awake by the blood, not by Victoria. She was meant to wake him up herself but fainted before she could do so. With his eyes growing hollow, he waited for Victoria to come to, listening to her heartbeat. He sat there patiently, humming a tune. Her blood was still fresh and glowing as he continued to hum. The ground beneath her started to shake, crumbling little by little as Lucas's magic filled the room with the flowing, glowing blood. The contract, written and sealed in betrayal has finally found its true heir.
Lucas remained by her side, watching with a patient, piercing intensity until she finally opened her eyes.
Victoria's vision was a hazy blur, her body heavy with the exhaustion of the hunt and the throbbing ache of her bruises. Though the stone floor beneath her was cold, the atmosphere of the shrine had shifted; the air felt unnervingly warm and vibrant. The low, melodic humming that had cracked the earth around her still resonated in her bones. Struggling against the pain, she managed to prop herself up, her eyes widening as they caught the light reflecting off her tattered dress. "My blood... it's glowing," she whispered. The crimson trail leading toward the carved demon was still fresh, shimmering with an otherworldly, liquid light.
"You took your time, heir of the Shrine of Sin," a voice rang out. Lucas watched her with a curious, steady gaze as he finally spoke. Victoria looked up to see a young man of striking beauty, with hair as dark as the shadows and eyes that sparkled like distant stars. He wasn't the aged Karl, but his voice was unmistakable—it was the same voice she had heard whispering from the darkness behind King Zack.
"I know you," Victoria stammered, her voice cracking as she stood on trembling legs. "I saw you at the feast. You were the shadow... you told me to run. Why?"
Lucas stepped out from the darkness, his movements fluid and regal as he approached. He knelt before her, his gaze locking onto hers. "I was only a shadow then," he explained. "A dormant contract waiting for a single drop of your blood to grant me life. You heard my warning, yet you chose to stay."
Victoria stared at him, struck by how much he resembled the old man, yet he radiated a terrifying, ancient power. Recalling the legends shared by Nia's father, she whispered, "Are you Lucas? The son of Zancus?"
"I am the vengeance of the demons," he declared. He stretched his hand toward her, and though he didn't make physical contact, a wave of heat surged through her, leaving her skin prickling with goosebumps. "Yes, I am his son. My father was betrayed in this very room; my people were bound to yours by a king who traded a soul for a throne. For centuries, I have been waiting for you."
"Me?" she asked, bewildered. "Why?"
"Because you are the blood that was promised," he replied.He studied her face for a moment. "You truly don't know, do you?" When she looked at him with confusion, his eyes shifted to the golden bracelet on her wrist. For a fleeting second, his expression softened into a complex mix of hope, joy, and profound sadness. He recognized the metal. "That gold was never a gift from Lina. It was a promise of love from your mother, the late Quee—"
He was cut short by the sudden, discordant shouting of guards echoing through the tunnels. Victoria peered through the cracks in the stone, seeing the flicker of torches approaching, but Lucas remained perfectly still, his eyes never leaving hers.
"They are coming for a prisoner," Lucas whispered, almost to himself, "but they are going to find a Queen." He looked at her then, a dark challenge in his eyes. "Tell me: do you want to run, or shall we let them bleed to death?"
Victoria felt overwhelmed by the raw power radiating from him. Terrified of more violence, she shook her head. "Let's run," she pleaded. "I would rather flee than shed innocent blood."