CHAPTER 108: ALLEYWAY

Days turned into weeks as the snow melted away, giving rise to the shine and brightness of the sun. The people of Valyron were relieved, it was no longer snowing, and they were free to enjoy as many outdoor activities as they pleased. On most days, the sun reached its peak, yet it brought no harsh heat. A subtle chill from the recent snow still lingered in the air.

Lilith had settled into a routine of spending most of her time in her chambers. She had finished reading the books she borrowed and even went back for two more. She saw less and less of the prince as the days passed—their only encounters were brief, usually during their morning sessions in the crypt where she practiced her magic on him.

The nightmare had weighed heavily on her for days, but eventually, she moved past it. It no longer haunted her sleep, though it remained a lingering thought tucked away at the back of her mind.

Today, Lilith was heading to the market with Fiona and Eldric. Madam Thalia had asked them to buy vegetables and spices for dinner. It was a few minutes to four, and they were meant to leave right at the hour.

Seated in front of her mirror, Lilith tied a patterned scarf around her hair, letting a few strands fall freely. She wore a simple blue dress, perfect for a casual outing like the market. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she left her room and made her way to the kitchen, where she waited for her friends.

She tapped her fingers against the table rhythmically when, unexpectedly, the prince walked into the kitchen. Lilith immediately rose to her feet, surprised to see him at this hour—and especially in the kitchen.

"Your Highness," she greeted with a small bow before lifting her gaze to him.

Hades glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. He picked up a cup and left the kitchen without a word, leaving Lilith to stare at his retreating figure.

She pressed her lips together in a straight line. For the past month, she had sensed that something was wrong with the prince, though she couldn’t say what. He had grown distant again—emotionless and cold, speaking only to Viktor and Lucian. Even then, the energy in his voice was gone, replaced with a dry, hollow tone.

Lilith knew she should speak to him, try to find out what was wrong, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to. It was as if her mind froze whenever he was near.

With a sigh, she sat back down on the chair. Just then, Fiona and Eldric entered the kitchen. Fiona wore a simple brown dress and a scarf over her hair, while Eldric was dressed in a black shirt and trousers. His hair had grown longer, giving him a more mature look.

"You both agreed on four, and it’s already ten minutes past," Lilith frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I couldn’t find my shirt on the chair. I swear I left it there," Eldric said, scratching the back of his head.

"And I couldn’t get this stupid scarf to sit right on my hair," Fiona groaned in frustration.

Lilith rolled her eyes at their excuses. "Let’s just go, shall we?" she said, walking out through the back door.

"Eldric, do you have the coins?"

"Yes, I do," Eldric replied, jingling the pouch and tossing it into the air before catching it again with a grin.

"Keep it safe. Madam Thalia will have our heads if we lose it," Lilith warned as they approached the carriage.

"Our heads?" Fiona raised an eyebrow. "She gave the coins to Eldric. If he loses it, he’ll face the consequences alone."

Eldric gasped and nudged Fiona lightly on the arm. "And here I thought we were best friends."

"We are—but lose the coins, and I don’t know you," Fiona shrugged, batting her lashes at him playfully as she climbed into the carriage. Lilith followed, and then Eldric.

Fiona and Lilith sat together while Eldric sat across from them. Lilith stared out the window, only half-listening to Fiona and Eldric bickering over something trivial. She chimed in occasionally with a snide comment or a laugh, but her mind remained distant.

Eventually, the carriage rolled to a stop at the market square. The trio climbed down and began their task of buying everything Madam Thalia had requested.

As Fiona and Eldric picked out vegetables, Lilith stood behind them, her gaze wandering over the crowd. Her eyes scanned the sea of people until they caught a glimpse of movement—someone cloaked, their figure partially hidden in the bustling crowd. The cloak was identical to the one worn by the man in her dreams.

Her heart dropped. She clenched the fabric of her dress, trying to swallow the sudden lump rising in her throat. Everything else seemed to blur and fade around her, leaving only that man in focus. He stood still in the middle of the crowd, his back turned toward her, dark hair exactly as she remembered.

Without thinking, Lilith began walking toward him, her steps slow and deliberate. She didn’t care that she was brushing against people or bumping shoulders. Her eyes never left the cloaked figure.

But just as she was about to reach him, the man moved—his cloak swaying behind him as he began walking away.

Lilith quickened her pace, determined not to lose sight of the man. He was walking briskly, almost as if he were being chased—yet not once did he glance over his shoulder. That alone struck her as odd. If someone knew they were being followed, wouldn’t they check?

Still, she kept trailing him, taking every turn he did, weaving through the busy streets. After about five minutes, he began to slow down, and she finally caught up to him. Lilith reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. The man turned abruptly, confusion clouding his face.

"Who are you? Why did you touch me?" he asked, looking her over from head to toe.

Lilith’s heart sank in disappointment. Up close, the man clearly wasn’t who she thought he was. He looked like a blacksmith—brown, hazel eyes, thin lips. Nothing like the haunting figure from her dreams.

"I’m... I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else," she said, offering a genuine apology.

The man gave her a bewildered look, then scoffed, muttering, "Crazy woman," before walking away.

Lilith stared after him, frowning. He’s the crazy one,

she thought. She let out a long sigh and leaned against the wall, pressing a hand to her forehead. When she dropped her hand to her waist and looked around, she realized just how far she had wandered. The market was nowhere in sight, she was deep in an unfamiliar alleyway.

She turned and began to retrace her steps, but before she could reach the exit, three young men stepped into her path. They wore mischievous grins, their eyes gleaming with ill intent.

Her heart skipped a beat. Instinct screamed that these men meant trouble, but she gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried to walk past them. One of them moved to block her. She tried again. He did it again.

"Where do you think you’re going, pretty lady?" one of them said in a mocking tone. "You’re not planning to leave us all alone, are you?"

The others chuckled as if it were the funniest thing in the world.

"Get out of the way. I need to leave," Lilith said firmly, holding the gaze of the one in front.

"Ooh, she speaks. How lovely," he taunted, then reached for her head and yanked off her scarf, letting her hair tumble down around her shoulders.

"She’s even more beautiful with her hair down," another one said with a chuckle.

Lilith gritted her teeth—these boys were beyond foolish.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and drove her knee hard into the groin of the boy who had pulled off her scarf. He dropped to his knees with a strangled scream, curling inward in pain. Lilith didn’t wait for another second. She snatched her scarf from his hand and took off running, her heart thundering in her chest.

She could hear them shouting behind her, their heavy footsteps pounding the ground as they gave chase. The alley twisted and narrowed, and just when it felt like it would never end, she spotted a lone, abandoned building. The wooden structure looked like it would collapse at any moment, part of its exterior already falling apart.

Lilith rushed up to the door, shoved it open, and slipped inside, slamming it shut behind her. She grabbed a broken wooden stick nearby and wedged it tightly under the handle. Without wasting a moment, she scanned the dusty and dim interior for a hiding place.

Her eyes landed on a small opening beneath the staircase. She dropped to her knees and crawled into the narrow space, squeezing herself in and pulling her scarf up to cover her mouth to muffle her breathing.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she fought to stay quiet. Outside, the angry shouts grew louder, then the door rattled violently. They were there.

She froze as the boys began kicking the door, taking turns, their grunts and curses echoing through the alley. The old building shook under the force of their blows.

Then, with a final, splintering crash, the door burst open. Dust and debris rained down as the boys stepped inside.

"Fuck that bitch, I can’t feel my balls," the one she’d attacked hissed through gritted teeth.

Despite the fear twisting in her gut, a flicker of pride warmed Lilith’s chest. Serves you right, she thought, keeping perfectly still, her heart pounding like a drum against her ribs.