Chereads / ECHOES OF THE PAST / Chapter 9 - THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Chapter 9 - THE SHADOW OF DEATH

As the sun reached its Zenith, casting a golden glow over the kingdom, a sense of unease settled over the crowd. The lifeless bodies, strewn about like discarded puppets, seemed to mock the warmth and light. The symbol carved into their necks appeared to writhe and twist, like a living serpent slithering across their skin.

Thorne, a grizzled palace guard with eyes that had seen too much, surveyed the scene with a mix of disgust. His comrades moved with swift efficiency, covering the bodies with white sheets that seemed to glow in the sunlight.

As they worked, the crowd grew restless, whispers of dark magic and murder spreading like wildfire. Thorne's grip on his sword tightened, his eyes scanning the sea of faces for any sign of danger. Once the bodies were removed, the guards began to disperse the crowd, their voices firm but laced with a hint of unease. 'Return to your homes, they urged. 'Let the palace handle this'.

Marie's footsteps echoed through the hallway as she approached Tristan's chambers. She had been tasked with delivering the grim news, and her heart heavy with the burden. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and found Tristan and Ariadne sitting together, their faces etched with concern.

Tristan, Ariadne...... 'Marie's voice faltered, her eyes locking onto Tristan's. I' have terrible news. There's been another murder'.

Marie hesitated, her gaze darting to Ariadne before returning to Tristan. 'The guards found a body near the city gate. The symbol…. It's the same as before.

Tristan's eyes snapped back to Marie his gaze intense. ''Was there a symbol on the body?

Marie nodded her expression grim.

Ok Marie you can leave the room.

 

As night's dark veil shrouded the city, the demon lord stepped into the night, his dark presence unfolding like a shroud over the city. Clad in black, his attires seemed to absorb the faint moonlight, rendering him all but invisible. A wide-brimmed hat cast his face in shadow, but his eyes gleamed like embers from the underworld.

His black cloak billowed behind him like a dark cloud, its edges fluttering with an otherworldly energy. The Demon lord's gaze swept across the city, his eyes burning with an insatiable hunger. He carried a black cloth, its texture like silk. The scent of sweat, fear, and desire clung to the fabric, a morbid perfume that filled his nostrils. He breathed in deeply, his chest rising beneath his cloak. The aromas of human life danced on his senses, a macabre waltz of mortality.

As he walked the shadow seemed to deepen, as if darkness itself was drawn to his presence. His footsteps echoed through the deserted streets, a steady beat that pulsed with malevolent intent.

As the demon lord turned a corner, his eyes landed on a young boy, no more than twelve winters old, walked alone on the deserted street, his small feet pattering against the cobblestones. His bright eyes, full of wonder, scanned the darkening landscape, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows. His messy brown hair framed a face smudged with dirt and curiosity. The demon lord eye was fixed on the boy with an unspeakable hunger. He stalked towards the boy his movements silent as a phantom. The boy, sensing presence, turned to face the demon lord, his eyes widening in terror.

The demon lord fangs descended, sinking deep into the boy's neck. The boy's cry was muffled by the demon lord's grasp, his small body trembling as his life force ebbed away. But instead of draining the boy's blood, the demon lord reversed the flow, transferring his own dark essence into the boy's veins.

The boy's eyes turned glassy, his body convulsing as the transformation took hold. His small frame began to contort, twisting into unnatural poses as his humanity was consumed by the demon's power.

As the transformation completed, the boy's eyes flashed open, now burning with an otherworldly energy. He rose to his feet, his movements jerky and unnatural, as if driven by a newfound hunger. The demon lord's smile spread wide his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

The young boy, now a fledgling demon, stumbled forward, his gaze scanning the streets for his first victim. His small hands flexed, revealing razor-sharp claws, as he began his eternal quest for blood and chaos.