THE THING BENEATH THE THRONE

CHAPTER 14

THE THING BENEATH THE THRONE

The hand emerged from the darkness.

Its fingers were too long, covered in black scales that shimmered like wet stones. Curved claws scraped against the edges of the broken floor as the creature pulled itself upward.

A terrible smell filled the chamber.

Rotten earth.

Burning flesh.

And something older than death.

The warriors backed away.

One of them dropped his sword.

“What is that?” Mira whispered.

Nobody answered.

Even Kael seemed unable to recognize the creature.

The ancient wolf stood before the throne, its enormous body rigid.

Do not let it touch the blood.

Lyra looked at her hands.

“What blood?”

The wolf turned its red eyes towards her.

Yours and your brother's.

Lucian was still on his knees, struggling against the silver mark burning across his neck.

Lyra rushed towards him.

Kael caught her arm.

“Wait!”

“I'm not leaving him!”

“Look at what is happening!”

The creature's second hand appeared.

Then its head.

A crown of twisted black horns rose from the darkness. Its face was almost human, but its eyes were empty, filled with a darkness that seemed to swallow the light around it.

Its mouth opened.

A voice emerged.

“Finally.”

The single word shook the chamber.

Selene lowered her head.

“My lord.”

Lyra stared at her.

“You knew about this.”

Selene slowly straightened.

“I knew it would return.”

“What is it?”

The woman looked at the creature with something resembling devotion.

“The first king.”

Ronan raised his blade.

“That's impossible. The first king died thousands of years ago.”

Selene smiled.

“History is written by those who survive, Captain. The first king did not die.”

The creature climbed onto the broken floor.

Its enormous body was covered in black scales, and a dark crown seemed fused to its skull.

“I was betrayed,” it growled. “Buried beneath the kingdom I created. Forgotten by the children who inherited my blood.”

The ancient wolf bared its teeth.

The Hollow King.

The creature turned.

Its empty eyes settled on the wolf.

“You still serve them?”

The wolf growled.

I serve the Moon.

The Hollow King laughed.

“The Moon abandoned me.”

Then its gaze shifted to Lyra.

“And there she is.”

Lyra felt the temperature drop.

“The daughter of Elara.”

The creature tilted its head.

“I have waited a very long time to see you.”

Kael stepped in front of her.

“You will not come near her.”

The Hollow King looked at him.

“Another Draven.”

Its mouth twisted.

“How predictable.”

Kael's wolf surged beneath his skin.

“Name yourself.”

The creature lifted one claw.

The silver markings on Kael's chest suddenly burned through his clothing.

He dropped to one knee.

“Kael!”

Lyra rushed towards him, but the ancient wolf blocked her path.

Do not interfere. The oath recognizes his blood.

The Hollow King smiled.

“The Draven family has always been obedient.”

Kael struggled to stand.

“What did you do to me?”

“Nothing you have not inherited.”

The creature turned towards Lucian.

“And my little key.”

Lucian raised his head.

“I'm not your servant.”

“No?”

The Hollow King extended its hand.

The mark on Lucian's neck erupted with black light.

He screamed.

Lyra felt the pain as though someone had driven a blade through her own chest.

She reached for her brother.

“Lucian!”

His body began sliding towards the creature.

The silver liquid on the floor pulled at him like chains.

Lyra's eyes flashed.

“LET HIM GO!”

A wave of silver power exploded from her body.

The chains shattered.

Lucian collapsed.

For a brief moment, the Hollow King stepped backwards.

Its expression changed.

Not fear.

Recognition.

“Elara's daughter,” it whispered.

Lyra stood between the creature and her brother.

“You will not touch him.”

The Hollow King studied her.

“You have your mother's eyes.”

“And you have no idea what I'm capable of.”

It laughed.

“Oh, child. That is precisely why I am here.”

The ancient throne began to shake.

Silver symbols appeared across its surface, one after another.

Alaric stared at them.

“No…”

Ronan turned.

“What now?”

Alaric's voice trembled.

“The throne is responding to both heirs.”

Lyra looked at Lucian.

“What does that mean?”

“The original royal throne was never designed for one ruler. It was created to recognize two bloodlines within the same family. Your mother knew that. She tried to keep the power divided.”

Selene stepped forward.

“And failed.”

Lyra turned towards her.

“You knew what would happen if Lucian returned.”

“Of course.”

“You knew he was being used.”

Selene's expression remained cold.

“He was necessary.”

Lucian struggled to his feet.

“You let them do this to me?”

Selene regarded him without emotion.

“I ensured you survived long enough to fulfil your purpose.”

Lucian stared at her.

“You knew my mother?”

“I knew her weaknesses.”

“You killed her?”

Selene said nothing.

That silence was enough.

Lucian lunged.

But before he could reach her, the black chains erupted from the floor again, wrapping around his arms and chest.

The Hollow King raised one hand.

“Not yet.”

Lucian was dragged backwards.

Lyra tried to reach him, but the throne released a blinding flash.

A vision appeared before her.

She saw Elara standing in the sanctuary, holding two children.

Alaric was beside her, bleeding from a wound across his stomach.

“Take them,” Elara whispered.

Alaric shook his head.

“I cannot leave you.”

“You must.”

“What will happen when the seal breaks?”

Elara looked towards the darkness beneath the altar.

“Then one of my children will be tempted to save the other at any cost.”

Alaric lowered his head.

“And the other?”

Elara kissed the forehead of the baby in her arms.

“The other will be tempted to rule.”

The vision shifted.

Elara placed a silver pendant around Lyra's neck.

Then she gave Lucian a golden one.

“These are not merely keepsakes,” she whispered. “They are the two halves of the original seal.”

Lyra watched in horror as her mother pressed both pendants against the altar.

A circle of light surrounded the children.

“If they are ever reunited, the seal will recognize them. But the door must remain closed.”

Elara turned towards Alaric.

“Promise me you will never let them open it.”

“I promise.”

The vision faded.

Lyra stumbled.

The two pendants.

She looked down at the one around her neck.

Then at the golden pendant Lucian had been holding.

Their mother had not given them matching jewellery.

She had given them the keys to something.

“Lucian!” Lyra shouted.

Her brother looked at her.

“Take off your pendant!”

He struggled against the chains.

“Why?”

“It's part of the seal!”

The Hollow King suddenly stopped smiling.

For the first time, it looked genuinely angry.

“Do not listen to her!”

Lyra's eyes narrowed.

“You knew.”

The creature stepped forward.

“Your mother should have destroyed those pendants.”

“But she didn't.”

“No. She made the same mistake she always made.”

The ancient wolf moved beside Lyra.

The seal can still be restored.

“How?”

The two heirs must choose together.

Lyra looked at Lucian.

“Give me the pendant.”

Lucian hesitated.

The chains tightened around his body.

“Lyra, don't!”

“Trust me!”

He pulled the golden pendant from his neck and threw it towards her.

Lyra caught it.

The moment the two pendants touched, a powerful silver light filled the chamber.

The Hollow King roared.

The floor split wider.

Kael struggled to his feet.

“Lyra! Whatever you're doing, do it now!”

Lyra held both pendants against her chest.

She could feel her mother's presence.

Not a voice.

Not a vision.

Something deeper.

A memory buried inside her blood.

She closed her eyes.

“By the blood of Elara Veyne…”

Lucian raised his head.

“By the blood of Elara Veyne,” he repeated.

The pendants began to glow.

“By the first crown…”

The ancient throne answered.

“By the first bond…”

Silver light spread across the chamber.

The Hollow King screamed.

The chains around Lucian shattered.

The creature was dragged backwards towards the opening beneath the throne.

But just as the darkness began swallowing it, one of its claws struck the floor.

A black crack raced towards Lyra.

The ancient wolf threw itself in front of her.

Its body was struck.

A terrible cry filled the chamber.

The silver flames went out.

Lyra fell to her knees.

“No!”

The wolf collapsed.

Its red eyes slowly faded.

The Hollow King disappeared beneath the throne.

The crack sealed.

For several seconds, there was complete silence.

Then Lyra crawled towards the ancient wolf.

“Please.”

She placed both hands against its enormous head.

“Don't leave me.”

The creature looked at her.

Little Luna…

Its voice was weaker than before.

The enemy you fear is not the one you must watch.

Lyra's tears fell onto its fur.

“What do you mean?”

The wolf's gaze shifted.

Towards Kael.

Then towards Lucian.

Its final words entered her mind.

One of them carries the darkness willingly.

Its eyes closed.

The ancient wolf was gone.

Lyra remained frozen beside it.

Kael approached slowly.

“Lyra…”

She did not look at him.

Lucian stood behind them, breathing heavily.

Then he spoke.

“What did it mean?”

Nobody answered.

Kael looked towards the place where the Hollow King had disappeared.

“We need to leave this chamber.”

Ronan nodded.

“The castle isn't safe anymore.”

But Lyra remained on the floor.

Her hands were still resting against the ancient wolf's head.

The creature had protected her.

It had guided her.

And now it was dead.

A sudden movement caught her attention.

The wolf's chest rose once.

Then again.

A tiny silver flame appeared beneath its fur.

Lyra leaned closer.

The ancient voice returned, barely audible.

The guardian has fallen. The true keeper remains.

Then the flame disappeared.

Behind her, Lucian quietly picked up something from the floor.

A small black shard.

The moment his fingers closed around it, the mark on his neck stopped glowing.

He looked at Lyra.

For a brief second, guilt crossed his face.

Then he slipped the shard into his pocket.

And said nothing.