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THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 85
Victor’s hand remained on the door handle as he stared at Lucian. His presence after all these centuries was too much of a coincidence. Lucian had disappeared before Caius’s rise to power—at a time when they had all been part of the same council that governed the vampire clans. He had been a brother-in-arms, a strategist who had once helped Victor control the balance of power. Now, his sudden return felt like a warning.Victor’s voice was cautious. "Lucian, where have you been? Why come back now?"Lucian’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “I’ve been watching, Victor. Waiting. Caius has grown too powerful, too reckless. He’s preparing to destroy everything we built together. You need me.”Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Do I? You vanished when the council needed you the most. We were forced to pick up the pieces after you left.”Lucian stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “I didn’t vanish. I went underground to gather information, to ensure that
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 86
As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Victor stood at the edge of the encampment, looking out at the city’s skyline. The once-majestic towers, now broken and crumbling from centuries of conflict, were a constant reminder of how much had been lost. Yet beneath the streets lay a hidden world, one that could either be their salvation or their undoing.Lucian approached from behind, his footfalls silent as he moved. “Ready?”Victor didn’t turn. “Are you sure about this? These tunnels haven’t been used in centuries. The city’s changed.”Lucian shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve kept my ear to the ground. The city might have changed, but some things stay the same. The tunnels were built to withstand far worse than what we’re facing.”Victor shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve been keeping your ear to the ground, yet no one knew where you were for centuries. What else are you hiding, Lucian?”Lucian chuckled, his dark eyes glinting with something Victor couldn’t quite place.
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 87
The narrow passage they had entered seemed to stretch endlessly, the air growing colder and more oppressive the deeper they ventured. Victor could feel the weight of the city above them, a constant reminder of how isolated they were from the world they knew. Every sound was magnified—the soft shuffle of feet, the dripping of water from cracks in the stone, the occasional scrape of weapons against armor.Victor’s thoughts raced, filled with questions about Lucian’s true intentions. The revelation that Lucian had helped design these tunnels still gnawed at him. Why hadn’t he mentioned it before? And if Caius had known about the tunnels, was it possible that Lucian had led them into a trap?Victor clenched his jaw, casting a quick glance toward Lucian, who walked a few paces ahead, his expression unreadable. Elena, beside Victor, seemed equally on edge, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword as if ready to strike at any moment."We're getting close," Lucian said quietly, his voice cu
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter88
Victor’s heart raced as Caius’s voice reverberated through the vast cathedral. The rows of silent vampires standing like statues only heightened the tension in the air. Victor stepped forward, his eyes locked on Caius, but his thoughts were swirling."You knew we were coming," Victor said coldly, gripping his sword tightly.Caius smirked, a dark glint in his eyes. "Of course. You didn’t think you could sneak through my city without me noticing, did you?" He glanced over the group, his gaze lingering on Lucian. "And with an old traitor leading the way… how poetic."Lucian’s expression didn’t change, but Victor could feel the tension radiating off him. "I never expected you to understand loyalty, Caius."Caius’s laughter echoed through the chamber. "Loyalty? Oh, Lucian, you’ve always been so deluded. You still think there’s some higher cause, don’t you? Some noble reason to fight."Elena stepped forward, her voice sharp. "You’ve manipulated this city for centuries, Caius. Your reign is
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 89
The cathedral groaned and trembled, massive stones crashing from the ceiling as Victor charged toward Caius. The cacophony of collapsing walls and dust clouded the air, but Victor’s vision was singular—he had to end this now. His sword gleamed in the flickering torchlight as he raised it high, ready to strike the final blow.Caius stood in the center of the collapsing structure, laughing through the chaos. "Come on, brother. Show me the strength you think you possess."Victor closed the distance, leaping over the debris with lightning speed. Caius flicked his wrist, summoning a wave of dark energy that exploded toward Victor. But Victor was faster now, his movements sharpened by his resolve. He dodged the attack with mere inches to spare, landing directly in front of Caius.Their swords clashed in a violent spark of steel, but this time, Victor had the upper hand. Caius was powerful, but he was also reckless—driven by a madness that had begun to unravel him. Victor pressed the advanta
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 90
The narrow staircase spiraled down into the heart of the catacombs, each step taking them deeper into the ancient underworld beneath the city. The walls, slick with moisture, seemed to close in around them, the only light coming from the faint, eerie glow of the amulet Victor clutched tightly. The air was thick with the weight of centuries, a heavy, oppressive silence that pressed down on them as they descended.Elena’s breath came in shallow gasps as she tried to push away the overwhelming sense of dread. "Victor, how much farther does this go?" Her voice echoed faintly in the dimness.Victor’s eyes stayed fixed ahead, his jaw clenched. "Not much farther," he said, though the truth was he wasn’t entirely sure. He had never ventured this deep before. These tunnels were ancient, older than the city itself, and whatever lay at the bottom had been sealed off for a reason.Lucian, ever the pragmatist, cast a wary glance over his shoulder. "The tremors are getting stronger," he muttered, h
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 91
Victor, Elena, and Lucian rushed through the collapsing tunnels, their footsteps echoing in the chaos. Dust and debris rained down as the ancient catacombs, destabilized by the dark magic, began to crumble. The ground beneath them shook violently, threatening to swallow them whole.“Elena, take the left tunnel!” Victor shouted over the roaring tremors. He stumbled, his body still weak from the exertion of reforging the amulet. Every step felt heavier, but he couldn’t stop. Not now.“What about you?” Elena called back, panic flashing across her face as she hesitated.“I’ll be right behind you! Go!” Victor urged, his voice strained with urgency. He could feel the walls closing in, the magic that had held the ancient ruins together disintegrating.Elena reluctantly nodded and darted into the tunnel, with Lucian close behind her. Victor followed, his senses alert to the ever-increasing danger. Each second counted, and the city above them was hanging in the balance.Suddenly, a sharp crack
THE HIDDEN CROWN Chapter 92
As the sun continued its slow rise, casting golden rays over the rooftops of the city, Victor felt a sense of fleeting calm. The shadows were receding, but the battle within him lingered. His eyes wandered over the waking city, taking in the skyscrapers that gleamed in the morning light. The sight of it grounded him, a reminder of the world he had sworn to protect—both from the dangers of the past and the threats of the future.Elena leaned against the railing beside him, her face serene but her mind clearly restless. “Victor, I’ve been thinking…” Her voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken thought hanging between them.“What is it?” Victor asked, turning to face her, his sharp eyes catching the glimmer of concern in hers.“This fight, this life we’ve chosen—it’s wearing on us, isn’t it? Even on you.”Victor nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. “I’ve lived through centuries of conflict, Elena. I’ve seen empires rise and fall. But this... this is different. The ancient forces