Chapter#19:Realization

The morning sky was grey, with heavy clouds looming over the Stygian citadel. The first snowflakes started to fall, and the rest slowly followed to cover the ground in white.

She stood clenching the cloak as she saw Jafar walk away with Nemesis despite her protest against it. She only let go of the child after reassurance of his safety. Erebus stood before her cross-armed. He was taller than Octavius and had a sturdier build than her ex-fiance. There were notable scars on his shoulders and arms that were exposed to the chilly wind.

"I don't like repeating myself."He frowned.

She had no choice but to reply.

-"What do I do? He's probably aware of my escape."

"I-I was... Going out!"She confessed.

"With a child and baggage? You look like you were about to flee. "He pointed out.

She bit her lower lip. This time she could feel a faint taste of blood in her mouth.

She couldn't make it out. She failed miserably.

"Please! I-"

"I asked you not to leave the room. Too many eyes are there to look at you and ears to listen."He snapped as he closed in with every step to her. She could only meekly take a step back simultaneously.

"-And yet..."He sighed.

"Leave."He directed.

She could not believe her ears. She stared at him wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Before I change my mind."He looked away.

"Nemesis!"She begged for the child.

"He's in safe hands," he suggested.

She turned away, vowing herself to come back and pick up the child once she went back to Amanecér.

After a few steps she took, a strong hand wrapped around her waist roughly, and the other grabbed her arms.

She gasped in despair.

"Did you think you could survive out there?"He closed into her and turned around in the direction of the entrance.

"Look up."He whispered as she cried in pain. His grip tightened around her arm. She feared it could break at any moment. She looked up as instructed by him.

Her eyes widened in despair and horror. The wetness she felt on the cloak was not snow or trickling water droplets. It was fresh blood dripping on the ground from the beheaded necks of the demons and humans alike. This was what he did every morning. To slaughter the prisoners to make room in the dungeons beneath the citadel.

Fear engulfed her mind.

"These are the weak—the rebels—the sinners in your language."He whispered.

The grip around her waist tightened. He wore the same stern mask on his face. But she could feel the pain in his voice.

-"Why?... why is he showing me all of this? Is it because I tried to flee? Or is it because I disobeyed him? But I am not obliged to do so!"She gritted her teeth.

He lifted her from her torso like a sack carried on a shoulder. She could see his wings appear—two from the left and two from the right.

She could see the citadel growing smaller the higher and further he took off. It was colder than it was on the ground. She would've frozen to death if it was not for the grey fur cloak that Mina gave her.

"Please let me go!"She begged him to try her best to free herself. She could not use her voice. She feared the consequences of falling off from such a height since she had never flown her entire life.

Tears watered her eyes. Her begging was of no use. She could only pray to God to be saved.

It wasn't long before she saw the mountains start to appear in sight. The blizzard engulfed them. She had no clue where she was being taken to.

Finally, he landed on the steep mountain and let her down.

She looked nervously around her.

"Where are we?"She looked around her. There was white everywhere. The mountain was steep. For an average human, this was no place that was fit for survival.

"This is Philien Deaths." he proclaimed.

She turned around, horrified to hear the very name of the place.

This place was the Valley of Fiends—the layer of mindless demons. She recalled the map in the book about the territory that Mina brought for her to study as the future Lady of the territory.

"You wanted to escape the terrain so badly. Let's see how you save yourself, fake princess." his voice hinted at a taunt and left her.

"Wait! Please..."She cried out when an ear-deafening screeching came from the cave, and many of the mindless demons came surging from within the dark cave.

She scurried toward the steep rock covered in snow. The blizzard slowly cleared away as she ran to find a hide. But to avail. It ended up in a deep ravine beneath the edge of the mountain. Several tiny stones rolled down to the dark hollow between two mountains that seemed neverending.

There was no way she could just dive into that place. She looked around and looked up the mountain roofed up on her. Huge icicles that looked sharper than a blade were facing down. She observed that they reached the entrance of the cave. Perhaps even inside.

She tried to warm up the place with her light enough to let one fall. The place was freezing. She trembled but did not give in to the bitter frostbite. She tried throwing small stones at the nearest one. Luckily a rather small one fell due to the intense vibration caused by the fiends.

She picked it up and pointed towards the bloodthirsty demons who approached her, ready to strike her. She stepped back a little when she realized that there was no ground to support a misstep.

-Oh no!"She looked back and gradually started the deadly fall into the ravine. The icicle in her hand and the other raised toward the sky. The golden light she emitted allowed her wing to appear. But it was a worthless attempt.

-"Please help!..." the voice inside her cried as she closed her eyes.

-This is the end. This is how I die.

She let go of all the hope. It was freezing.

A pair of big warm hands held her. She was half conscious.

-"Father?"She opened her eyes to find herself in the arms of her abductor.

"Why are you... doing this to me?" she muttered. A tear trickled down her pale cheek.

"And here you wanted to escape this nightmare." this time, the look he gave was not hatred. But the agony and concern he had never shown, even when she was nearly about to die.