Chapter 7
Thane's POV
I stood quietly to the side, the cold desert wind lashing sharply against my exposed skin. I wore nothing but my briefs, the rest of my body was bare and exposed as I stood watching under the moonlight.
My eyes remained fixed on the sky, glued to the bright full moon that hung high above and was the only source of light in this dark night.
"It's all ready, Your Highness," I heard Ravenswood call out from behind me, his voice carried on by the dry wind.
I turned to face him just as he tossed aside the shovel he had been using to dig into the desert ground. Sweat trickled down from his forehead, dripping from his chin as he tried to catch his breath, clearly worn out from the effort of digging.
"This is the portal?" I asked, raising my brows skeptically at the shallow, rectangular hole in the ground. To me, it looked far more like a grave than anything magical.
"Yes, Your Highness," Ravenswood replied with a nod. "To enter Hell, you must first die here on Earth, but not just anyone can pass through. Your soul must not be pure. If you meet all the necessary conditions… the way will open." He spoke with effort, each breath labored from exhaustion.
I gave a thoughtful hum, then stepped forward without hesitation. I approached the freshly dug hole, glancing down at it for only a second before I jumped inside.
The sand inside was cool beneath me as I laid down flat, my body fitting snugly into the grave that had been dug to my size.
"I'm going to fill it up with sand now, Your Highness," Ravenswood said softly, standing over the grave. "Remember, when you meet the devil, tell him you wish to make a deal. Be warned… you may not remember anything from your time down there once you return."
His voice was the only thing keeping me to the world above as the first shovelfuls of sand fell over my legs, then my chest.
Grain by grain, the earth covered me. Soon, the sand reached my face, spilling gently across my cheeks, into my ears, and then across my lips. My vision blurred and darkened as the last bits of moonlight were cut off.
"I wish you luck, Your Highness," came Ravenswood's fading voice, the final words I heard before everything went silent.
Breathing became harder with each passing second. The weight of the sand pressed down on my chest. My hands clenched into tight fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. I remained still, my eyes shut tightly, and I waited and held my breath all the while my mind drifted back to Ava.
Slowly, the tightness in my chest began to grow, making it harder and harder to breathe. It was as if something heavy had been placed on me, pressing down on my chest without mercy.
A burning sensation started to spread through my heart that kept growing like i was dipped in a pot of boiling water.
My hands clenched even tighter, my muscles stiffening under my control as I tried desperately to stay still and not loose conciousness.
Soon after, my head began to feel light, like it was floating far away from my body. A sudden flash of dizziness hit me turning everything blurry and distant. Then, without any warning I blacked out completely.
Ava's POV
TWO MONTHS LATER
The very moment the door to my chamber slammed shut and the last of my servants left me for the night, I sprang from my bed with urgency being careful to remain quiet.
My bare feet hit the cold marble floor as I rushed toward the hidden spot where I had stashed a bundle of black clothing I had secretly taken from the servants' quarters earlier in the day.
I had no dark clothing of my own and none of the outfits I owned were light or easy to move around in. All were too fancy and would draw attention to me which was not what i was going for at the moment.
"Time to find out what really happened. I can't stand everyone whispering behind my back and keeping me in the dark," I whispered to myself, pulling on the rough material of the stolen clothes.
When I had first woken up, my mind had been completely blank and my memories seemed to have been wiped away.
Everyone I met looked at me like I was some kind of ghost. Even the two people who introduced themselves to me as my parents had that same haunted, uncertain look in their eyes. But no one, not a single soul had been willing to tell me the truth about what had happened to me, or why I had lost my memories.
That was why I had made up my mind to sneak out tonight. I had overheard a maid a few days ago talking about the Moonlight Library.
She said it was filled with ancient records, all carved in stone, holding every detail about the royal family's history as the days rolled by. If anyone, or anything, had answers, it would be in that library.
I stood in front of my mirror and wrapped a black scarf tightly around my bright red hair. My hair was so bright and rare especially for a pure-blood Lycan that even someone miles away could recognize me instantly. I couldn't take any chances.
Once I was satisfied with how I looked, I moved silently to the door and pressed my ear against it and waited, listening carefully for any sign of footsteps or voices. There was nothing. The hall was quiet.
I slowly turned the handle, slipped out the door, and crept down the candle lit hallway. My bare feet made no sound against the cold stone floor as I moved swiftly and carefully.
In the next minute, I burst out into the royal garden.
The cold air brushed against my skin, but I didn't slow down. I broke into a sprint, running as fast as I could toward the waterfall that was said to hide the secret entrance to the Moonlight Library.
When I arrived, I skidded to a stop in front of the tall double doors, beautifully carved with drawings of Lycans in various forms. I tugged at the handles, but they wouldn't budge.
"It's locked?" I groaned in frustration, pulling again just to be sure. "Of course it is. It holds important history…" I muttered under my breath.
My hands ran across the stone doors, searching for any sign of a lock or secret latch. Suddenly "Arrrrhhhhh!" I screamed in pain as something sharp pricked the tip of my index finger.
I gasped as i immediately slammed both hands over my mouth and ducking down in fear, hoping no guards had heard my cry.
But then, my attention was drawn back to the door as it slowly creaked open.
"Wow…" I breathed, staring at the tiny drop of blood forming at the tip of my finger. "So... royal blood opens it," I chuckled quietly, even though i was both surprised and impressed.
I rose to my feet, preparing to slip inside, but the sound of footsteps made my heart skip a beat. My breath caught in my throat, and i panicked.
Without thinking, I darted into the cluster of trees beside the waterfall. I crouched behind a large wide tree, pressing my back to its rough bark. I didn't even notice the old, empty well just behind me.
"I never thought I'd see the day a princess sneaks around her own palace," came a deep, husky male voice from behind me.
His hot breath brushed against the back of my neck as he spoke. He was standing so close that his presence sent chills racing down my spine. I froze, too shocked to move as my heart began thudding in my ears.