The mouth of Helmond Canyon loomed ahead… jagged cliffs that rose like the broken teeth of some ancient beast. The air felt heavy, as if the land itself were holding it's breath.
Trevor reined his horse to a stop and studied the path before them. The Canyon Walls twisted and stretched into a labyrinth of shadow, narrowing into dark passages that swallowed the morning light.
"This is it," Beatrice said quietly as she dismounted. She stared at the canyon with a look of grim determination.
Trevor didn't respond. His gaze swept over the cliffs, lingering on the deep fissures carved into the stone. He could feel the familiar energy seeping from them pulsing beneath his skin.
"This place is filled with demonic energy," he muttered.
Beatrice turned to him, her expression unflinching "Thats why we're here"
Trevor's jaw tightened. "There's no we," he gave her a deadly stare before walking past her.
The survivors they had escorted remained behind, their wagon hidden within the cover of low hills.
"Ready?" Beatrice asked, her voice firm.
Trevor scoffed lightly. "I've been ready since you dragged me into this"
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped into the canyon, the darkness swallowing him whole. Beatrice followed close behind, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.
Trevor clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face tight as the cold bit into his skin. His steps slowed, each footfall careful against the uneven ground. He flexed his fingers, trying to shake off the unsettling tingle spreading from his hands to his arms. The air felt heavier with each breath he took, and the faint shimmer of exhaled fog dissolved far too quickly.
Behind him, Beatrice's boots crunched against the gravel. Her hand hovered near the hilt of her blade, her knuckles pale where they brushed the cold metal. Her gaze darted to the shadows pressed against the cliffs, her lips slightly parted as if she were listening for something just beyond the edge of hearing.
"You feel that?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper, as though speaking louder might break the fragile tension.
He nodded. "It's stronger than I though"
"Should we go on?"
Trevor hesitated. Memories stirred at the edges of his mind. Blaming voices, blood on cave stone and the familiar coldness. He pushed them back.
"Yes," he said flatly.
Beatrice gaze lingered on him for a moment.
"Then let's start moving" she replied with the same tone.
They started moving into the canyon, the silence in the air was tense.
"Should I tell her?" Trevor thought. He looked back at Beatrice. She paused and stared back
"What?"
Trevor opened his mouth to reply when a faint scraping like claws on stone echoed.
Trevor stopped instantly, holding up a hand.
The scraping grew louder, echoing through the canyon walls. Trevor narrowed his eyes, reaching for his sword.
"Above us" he muttered.
They looked up in unison. Shadows moved along the cliffs with immense speed, skittering shapes that clung to the rocks like spider. Eyes glowed faintly in the darkness unblinking and inhumane.
"Keep moving," Trevor said quietly. "They're just watching"
"And if they decide to attack?" Beatrice asked, her tone calm but tight.
"I doubt that"
No sooner than that sentence, the first creature dropped from the cliffs, it screeched as it lunged at Beatrice, claws outstretched.
Trevor moved instantly. His sword flashed, severing the creature midair before it could land. The body hit the ground with a sickening thud, black blood hissed as it touched the dirt.
"Behind you" Beatrice shouted.
Trevor spun, slicing cleanly through another creature that leapt from the shadows.
"Is that all?" Trevor scoffed. "I thought this was one of the most challenging Canyons."
"Don't screw with our luck, traveler" Beatrice paused, realizing she didn't even know his name.
"Trevor…. That's my name." Trevor replied, swiping the blood of his blade. "Not like you need it"
"Trevor….." Beatrice stretched the name. "It's ….."
Rumbling interrupted her. The walls had suddenly began vibrating violently. Shrieks sounded through the canyon, splitting the air.
"Run!" Trevor barked.
They broke into a sprint, the creatures swarming after them like a living tide. Trevor's sword flashes again and again, cutting down anything that got too close Beatrice ran beside him, her blade glowing faintly with divine energy as she slashed through the darkness.
"This way!" she shouted, pointing at a narrow fissure in the canyon wall.
Trevor didn't hesitate. They dove through the opening, the walls scraping against their shoulders as they forced their way into a smaller, hidden passage. The creatures shrieked behind them, unable to follow through the tight space.
Finally, the noise faded. Trevor stopped, leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Beatrice did the same, her blade still glowing faintly in the gloom.
"Well.." she panted. "that could've gone better."
Trevor shot her a dark look. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"Not even a little," she replied, though her faint smirk betrayed her.
Trevor shook his head, his gaze drifting to the passage ahead. The walls here were smoother, almost polished, as if shaped by unnatural hands. Symbols had been carved into the stone… dark, twisting runes that pulsed faintly with a sickly red glow.
"What is this place?" Beatrice whispered.
Trevor didn't answer. He stepped forward, his expression hardening as he studied the runes.
"Trevor"
Beatrice's voice was quiet but something about her tone made him turn.
She was staring at the wall, her face pale. Trevor followed her gaze and he felt his stomach drop.
The rune covered wall depicted a figure, tall and imposing, with dark wings that stretched outward like shadows. It's face was obscured, but it's eyes was unmistakable, hollow voids that seemed to stare back at them.
"The sixth Demon King," Beatrice mumbled. "Beelzebub"
Trevor's blood ran cold at her words.
"It all makes sense now, the corruption that has been encroaching"
"Your father sent you here didn't he?" Trevor asked interrupting, his voice low.
Beatrice nodded. "To investigate the source of the corruption and stop it before it spreads any further."
"And you thought you could do this alone?"
She met his gaze. "I didn't think I'll be alone and besides I met you"
Trevor's eyes narrowed on her "So I'm just a tool to you then"
Beatrice hesitated "You know that's not true"
Trevor didn't reply. He look back the carving his fists clenched. The hollow eyes of the demon king seemed to burn into him like it was alive.
"It knows you" a voice whispered in the back of his mind.
Trevor closed eyes, forcing the thought away.
"We're not leaving, are we?" Beatrice asked quietly.
Trevor opened his eyes, his grip tightened around the hilt of his sword and his expression grim. "No, whatever's waiting here, we need to find it before it finds us."