Semua Bab Vermillion Haze (Red Riding Hood Series): Bab 131 - Bab 140

I rushed through the west wing with my dress still flowing behind me. The plan today was to enter the chambers and find the Princess. Once I catch a glimpse of her and confirm that she indeed, exists- I will get out of the cellars and make preparations to bail her out the next time I'll be ready.A few nobles swung past the gardens back and forth, and I pretended to speak with a guard until some of them flew past. Once the coast was clear, I knocked the poor guard and he dropped to the floor, unconscious."Sorry," I whispered while covering his body in the thickets. "For the sake of mankind, I must do this."I inspected the dirt just behind the fountain. And indeed, there it was- the portal to hell. It was disguised as a mere drainage manhole, a clever attempt to hide things through. Would Ydrian really enter a sewer in this method, though?"Sucks to be him," I smirked and pulled the lid with all of my strength. It shifts, but only barely. It was good enough to let me in, though. I qu

"Well, hello, hello, Elise."That cocky voice. I know who owned that.I peeked around the corner and watched as Ydrian stared at the chains on the ground that I had just broken into. My scent is going to be there since I touched them. If he finds me, it is game over. He tried to sniff the air and then looked over to the corner in my direction. We matched irises, but then his gaze returned to the other side."Has someone been here?" he asked the princess, who was crawling on the floor.Can't he find me? Can't he smell me?Don't tell me the stench of rotten blood was so pungent that he failed to sense my presence?"Princess." he opened the metal bar and then crouched. "You are spewing blood again. The last time I asked maids to clean their cells, they ended up being snacks to those failures."'Failures'?What the hell?"Speaking of those failures... where are they? I didn't seem to hear their grumbling in the corridors."Was he not using a torch upon reaching this corridor? Did he not s

He was such a bad liar. So bad, in fact, that I couldn’t help but laugh when I remembered how he stuttered in front of me. I manipulated him with my words just like he manipulated others with his. His robe was filthy, and I could see the tissue beneath his skin regenerating as we spoke."Your lower arm looks odd," I pointed out, and of course, he hid it behind him."Odd?""Show it to me." I was pushing him into a corner with my questions, and I wasn’t stopping any time soon. "I want to see what's wrong with it.""I slipped earlier.""And yet your robe isn’t sullied," I replied. "Just how much are you going to hide?""I’m not hiding anything. You're tired, and so am I. Let's retire for the night, shall we?""I haven’t investigated that place you went into yet," I told him. "I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s inside there.""There is nothing in there," he insisted. "Do you not believe me?"Not an ounce. "You just said you heard a noise," I said, pressing further. "Don’t go changin

Argh...My head pulses with pain as I stir. My muscles won't respond. Eyes open, but all I see is black. Where am I?Silence. Deafening silence. I can hear my heartbeat, my ragged breathing. Something pounds behind my eyes."Crap..." I muttered, helpless.Then, glowing amber eyes appear in the dark. The air turns cold."You're awake."I froze.His voice. His footsteps echo as lights suddenly flicker on.I'm in the King’s courtroom. Blood is everywhere. People lie scattered across the floor. My jaw drops."H-How long was I...""Days," Ydrian replies, stepping toward me. "How are you feeling?""WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" I jerk away from his hand. "W-Why is everyone...?""Ah... Ruby. The city's been so quiet since you were asleep." He points at me. "I even dressed you for the occasion."I glance down. My clothes have changed. He touched me."You... bastard.""Don’t worry, I warned the people not to peek into the Palace. As long as they behave, they won’t become dog food."These people

The moon was coming.I heard the howls of wolves in the distance—long, low, and guttural. My heart stilled.Even from this sky prison, I could sense the fear of Hezel’s people. The moon above us darkened, bleeding into a shade of crimson and black. The stars that once comforted me were veiled with smoke, their glow stolen. Somewhere below, doors slammed shut. Locks clicked. The once-vibrant city was now nothing but a haunted ghost town.The King’s rogues prowled the roads, painting them with blood and agony. I used to remember the streets of Hezel filled with music, the hum of voices, sizzling food stands, the jingling of a bard’s lute. Now? Only screaming. Pleading. The sound of flesh tearing apart.I flinched at the cackles of the dementors outside, their sick glee echoing through the wind. I imagined the townsfolk clinging to whatever they could—knives, vases, garden tools—knowing deep inside, none of it would save them.Above them all, Ydrian watched from his sky patio. And I—knee