CHAPTER 115: LURKING IN THE WOODS

The journey had gone on for about three hours when the carriage suddenly lurched to a sharp stop, jerking all three occupants awake.

Viktor rubbed his eyes and immediately pulled open the small divider separating them from the coachman. "Why are we stopping?" he asked, his voice low.

"The prince’s carriage came to a halt up ahead," the coachman explained. "His Highness has just stepped out."

Without another word, Viktor climbed out of the carriage and strode over to where Hades stood. The prince was still, his sharp eyes sweeping the dense trees on either side of the road.

"Why are we stopping? What’s going on?" Viktor asked, following the prince’s gaze, but all he saw were trees and shadows.

Hades didn’t look at him. "They’re here," he said quietly, but the edge in his voice sent a chill through Viktor. "The lowly demons. I can feel them... lurking in the woods. Watching."

The last remnants of sleep vanished from Viktor’s eyes. "Shit," he breathed. "What do we do?"

Hades finally turned to face him, "We kill them all."

Then his voice dropped lower, more calm. "Go. Tell the ladies to stay in the carriage. Lock the doors. Seal the windows. They’re not to come out, no matter what they hear."

Viktor nodded grimly and jogged back toward their carriage. He rounded the side and knocked on the window where Charlotte sat.

"Keep the doors and windows locked. Do not come out for any reason."

"What? What’s happening?" Charlotte asked, her eyes wide.

"Are we under attack?" Kathryn added, already reaching to bolt her side of the carriage.

"The prince suspects demons. Just do as I say and stay in the carriage," Viktor ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Kathryn was quick to lock both her window and door, her lips pressed in a thin line. Charlotte hesitated, her curiosity burning, but even she knew better than to ignore a direct order from the prince. With a deep breath, she sealed her side and sat back, heart pounding in the sudden silence.

In the other carriage, Lilith reached for the door just as Hades climbed in, closing it behind him. Her frown deepened.

"What’s going on?" she asked, her voice sharpe. "Are we about to be attacked by bandits?"

Hades met her eyes, his expression calm. "Much worse." he said darkly. "Demons. And they’re close."

Lilith’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in horror. "Dear gods... that’s terrible. How did they know we would be here at this exact time? Are they planning on attacking us?"

"They haven’t yet," Hades replied, "But they will. They’re waiting, likely for a command from their superior."

Lilith’s heart clenched. "You mean... their master is out there? In these woods with them?"

"No," Hades said, shaking his head. "Their master doesn’t need to be present. A master can control his slaves from the underworld The telepathic bond between a master and his demons is powerful, strong enough to reach across worlds."

A chill swept through Lilith, her palms growing clammy as a knot of dread tightened in her chest. "What do they want? Why are they here? I thought demons couldn’t enter into the world of humans."

"What they want?" Hades echoed,. "I have no idea. But someone, a high demon has torn open a rift between the underworld and this realm. That’s what’s letting the low-level demons slip through."

He paused for a beat, his gaze narrowing. "I would’ve suspected the king, but he doesn’t possess the power to summon demons."

Lilith struggled to process it all, her mind racing. The thought of swarms of demons spilling into the human world filled her with a cold, suffocating terror. "What are we going to do? We can’t let those monsters get into this world."

"And we won’t," Hades assured her, "I’ve already sent Grim to the underworld to hunt down the demon responsible for the breach. Once we find them, we’ll sever the link and collapse the rift."

Lilith opened her mouth to respond—

But a blood curdling, inhuman shriek tore through the forest, sharp enough to pierce bone and rattle the soul. Lilith instinctively clamped her hands over her ears, her breath stolen from her lungs by the sheer force of the sound.

Hades moved instantly. He pulled her into his arms, shielding her from the vibrations that made the entire carriage tremble.

"Breathe, darling," he whispered into her ear, his voice calm despite the chaos erupting around them.

Lilith gripped the front of his coat, burying her face into his chest. Outside, another scream echoed, and the carriage windows trembled in their frames.

The scream ceased as suddenly as it had begun, the eerie silence that followed making the moment even more unsettling. Hades slowly released his grip on Lilith, and she uncovered her ears, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft and laced with concern.

Lilith nodded slowly, though her hands trembled in her lap. "W-what was that?" she whispered.

"The demons," Hades answered grimly. "They’re signaling the others, calling onto them."

Her eyes widened further in horror.

"Stay inside the carriage. Lock the door and window, and don’t come out for any reason," he said, brushing a hand through her hair in a brief, calming gesture. He offered her a small, reassuring smile before turning and stepping out of the carriage.

Lilith obeyed, sealing the carriage and curling into the seat, the deafening silence broken only by the frantic beat of her heart.

Outside, tension crackled in the air.

"Fuck! Did you hear that?" Viktor hissed, running a shaky hand through his hair.

"It was very loud and quite impossible not to hear." Hades replied with a teasing smile on his lips.

Viktor shot him a look. "Are you seriously making jokes right now? We’re about to be ambushed by demons!"

"There’s never a bad time for a joke, Vik," Hades quipped, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Three grotesque figures emerged from the shadows of the forest, their glowing red eyes, filled with nothing but hatred and rage.

"Shit," Viktor breathed, instinctively stepping back.

"Still as ugly as ever," Hades muttered, wrinkling his nose in disgust. He pulled off his gloves slowly, then shrugged off his coat and handed it to Viktor.

"Hold this for me. I would rather not get demon blood on it. It’s one of my favorites."