Viktor's footsteps were the only sound echoing through the hallways. There was no one else in sight, it felt as though the castle had been abandoned. He understood why. Everyone had locked themselves away in their chambers, afraid of crossing paths with the demon's wrath.
He sighed, one hand resting on the hilt of his dagger as he scanned his surroundings cautiously, prepared for an ambush or worse. Viktor knew running into the demon would be catastrophic, and he silently prayed to the gods it wouldn't happen.
As he turned out of one hallway, the sound of rapid, uneven breathing caught his attention. Viktor leaned forward and spotted a man dressed in a guard's uniform slumped on the ground, blood covering his face and neck.
Viktor immediately dropped to his knees beside the man, who was pressing a shaky hand over his wound. "Where are you hurt?" he asked, eyes darting to the blood pouring between the guard's fingers.
