The swamp stank of rot and loss. Lev remained kneeling in the mud long after the Night Terror vanished into the gray sky with Lance clutched in its talons. His hands trembled, still stained with his brother's blood where the claws had raked across Lance's shoulders. "Gone," Lev whispered to himself. "Gone, and I couldn't…" "Lev!" Brosco's booming voice snapped him upright. The eldest Lycan came crashing down the path, his heavy coat slick with swamp water. His sharp eyes scanned the skies, then fixed on his brother's torn expression
"What happened?" Lev's jaw clenched, words caught between fury and despair. "The Night Terror. It took him. Lance is gone." Brosco's nostrils flared, a growl low in his chest. He slammed a fist into the nearest tree, splintering bark. "Damn it all." His voice shook with rage. "I should never have let you two go alone." Lev rose, his eyes burning like coals. "Blame me later. He's alive—I heard him screaming. That means he's being kept, not killed. And if that creature has a master, then Lance is in his hands." Brosco's gaze hardened. "Then we find the master. We tear apart every sewer, every shadow of this city until we drag Lance back." By nightfall, the brothers stood before a rusted grate at the edge of town where a reeking flow of water trickled into the open air. The entrance to the Fable sewers "Smells like home already," Lev muttered, forcing the bars open with a creak. Brasco cracked a grim smile. "At least down here, no one complains when you growl too loud." The tunnels twisted endlessly, brick walls dripping with condensation, the air thick with mold and stagnant water. Their footsteps echoed against stone. Strange graffiti glowed faintly on the walls—symbols scratched in chalk and blood, markings of creatures who claimed territory below. Hours passed. Rats skittered through cracks. Once, something larger slithered in the dark, forcing them to draw steel until it moved on. Then, faint voices carried through the tunnels. Lev raised a hand. "Hear that?" They crept closer, ducking behind a collapsed pillar. In the chamber beyond, three witches knelt before a tall figure cloaked in shadow. Their voices were hushed, but Lev caught every word. "The wolves are restless," croaked one. "They suspect," hissed another. The cloaked figure's voice was a low growl, sharp with command. "Let them suspect. Soon, suspicion will be drowned in blood. Fables will rise from their chains, no longer hiding behind potions and illusions. The age of man ends when I give the word." The witches bowed low. "Yes, Huntsman." Lev's blood ran cold. Huntsman. The figure stepped into the light, and his presence filled the chamber like a storm. He was tall, broad, his scarred face shadowed beneath a wolf-pelt hood. Across his back hung a massive battle axe—but not the weapon sung of in fairy tales, the axe that had struck down the Big Bad Wolf was destroyed long ago. His eyes burned with hatred, old and unbroken. Brasco gripped Lev's arm, whispering harshly, "We can't fight him here. Not with the night terror and the witches at his side." Lev's fangs pricked at his lip, fury threatening to consume him. But he forced himself still. The Huntsman turned, as if sensing them, and spoke to the shadows themselves. "Run back to your den, wolves. Tell your masters the hunt has begun." Far away, Lance woke in darkness. His body ached where claws had pierced him, but the pain was drowned by the stench of iron and damp stone. He was not chained against a wall, just The Night Terror crouched in the corner, eyes glowing red, watching him like a hawk watches prey. "Where—where am I?" Lance said, holding his head. "Deep beneath," came a voice, smooth and mocking. From the shadows stepped the Huntsman himself. His wolf-pelt cloak dragged across the floor as he approached. "Welcome, pup. You'll forgive the accommodations. I don't get many guests." Lance bared his teeth. "You think my brothers won't find me? Brasco will rip your head off, and Lev will…" "Lev will do nothing," the Huntsman interrupted, smiling cruelly. You're no threat to me! The Night Terror screeched, the sound rattling Lance's bones. The Huntsman patted the beast's leathery flank as one might a dog. "Don't be afraid. It won't kill you. Unless I tell it to." Back in the tunnels, Lev and brasco moved swiftly, silent as shadows. But their path was cut short when torchlight flooded the chamber ahead. A squad of armored figures marched into view. the Fable Police, clad in enchanted steel, badges glowing faintly with runes. Their captain, a stern woman with silver hair, raised her gauntleted hand. "The guardians of north fableville, the Lycan brothers," she said coldly. "Step away from these tunnels. You're interfering in Authority business." Brasco snarled, baring his teeth. "Authority business? We are the guardians of north fableville and my brother rots in the hands of that monster?" "Contain yourselves," the captain snapped. "We've been investigating the Huntsman's rebellion for weeks. Your interference jeopardizes…" "Jeopardizes what?" Lev cut in, his voice a mean growl. "Your tidy reports? Your polished boots? My brother's life is at stake, and you're down here playing patrol." The tension crackled like fire on dry wood. For a moment, it seemed claws and swords might clash.Then, from deeper in the catacombs, the Night Terror's screech split the air.The witches' laughter followed. The brothers and the Authority soldiers turned as one, weapons raised. Darkness rippled at the far end of the tunnel, and from it stepped the Huntsman. His eyes fixed on Leviticus. "Go wolf," he called, his voice echoing like thunder in the chamber. If you enter my den, you enter your grave." The Night Terror's wings unfurled behind him, blotting out the torchlight. Lev's hand tightened on his blade and his heart thundered. the Huntsman smiled. Go now while you still have a chance said the huntsman! The captain turns to brasco. Not today she says. We don't have the man power to take him on with that bat creature and whoever else he has up his sleeves. This is his home and he knows it too well to fight in here. Brasco agrees and him and lev reluctantly head back to the Lycan manor