Unfortunate luck

She geld out the fire torch to light the passageway shrouded with darkness.

"A new passageway!" Zavaikal gasped.

"This fortress is truly an endless maze."

Luciana gulped and hid the diary she found in the pocket of her dress as Leo once again made an attempt to claw at his face.

"Woah! What an unkempt wild beast." He cried out barely dodging her claws.

"Leo is pretty much disciplined compared to the wild beasts out there." Luciana spoke defensively patting the wolf to calm her down.

"If you say so." He looked wearily at the beast.

"Leo please lead us the way." She asked the wolf and she heeded to her request.

They walked the gloomy path carefully as mice screeched and water trickled down. It suddenly grew warmer at every passing heartbeat.

She was feeling more nauseated than before. But she couldn't show her weakness Infront of a stranger. It would make her more vulnerable than she already was.

She did not want to attract unnecessary attention or trouble.

Soon they arrived at the average sized metal door.

She heard the same cries and curses that took her aback for a moment.

-"Have i returned back to where I left?"

Her thoughts were now clouding her mind.She saw Leo sitting at the door impatiently as she was before.

-"No I must stay calm. Judging by Leo's reaction she must have sensed a way out. The wind has gotten faster here." She gulped and grabbed the door handle and pushed it open.

The hinges screamed louder than the groans and curses she heard drawing the criminals attention to her. The stench in the dungeon was appalling. She could barely breathe.

The sight was horrifying to behold. The prisoners down here were not just humans but demons as well. She witnessed some killing the other in the cells they were confined. The weak were being eaten alive occasionally by the stronger ones. The bones, rotten flesh and blood scattered everywhere proved he remains of the past prisoners. And each month the cells were reoccupied by a new batch of worst criminals.

They all ran from every side to get their hands on her but only were held by red hot prison bars that kept them away. One huge ogre made an attempt to grab her from her hair when Zavaikal reacted to move her away followed by Leo who tore the arm of the ogre making it shriek in pain. The wolf hungrily tore the meat of it's arms and gulped it.

"It's for the best that we run. Stayung here will pise greater threat." He told her when he saw that she was about to faint.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and grabbed her from the wrist and hurried through the maze like dungeon. First left then right twice and left again. He knew he was aimlessly running without any knowledge for directions.

When he stopped he could hear the footsteps. They had come farther than before.

There was no place to hide. All he could do was wait and strike first. Luciana's breathing became heavier.

-"Don't faint on me woman" he could repeat the words a thousand times in his mind.

The black figure that was approximately a little taller than him appeared before them. The man in black held an axe in his left hand.

He sheathed his axe and came towards them when Luciana suddenly collapsed on the floor. He brushed Zavaikal aside and grabbed her in his arms. He took off his hood and checked her for any harm.

-"She's safe." He was relieved.

"Erebus?" He heard her mutter under her breath.

He nodded and lifted her in her arms.

He looked at Zavaikal who was still under disguise.

"Follow me if you don't want to remain down here." He instructed him and walked past him through the same tunnel he took that lead them out of the abyss.

The wisps circled Luciana and suddenly fled behind him when Zavaikal stepped out.

Erebus had wrapped his fur cloak around her to prevent her from catching a cold.

He unsheathed his axe and swung it at Zavaikal.

"No need to put up a facade. I know it's you..." He spoke sharply.

Zavaikal had begun to lose the effects of shape shifting ever since they had walked the last tunnel.

He felt his skin being scraped by the sharp steel that was cold against his cheek.

"The hound has broken the first chain." He chuckled.

"So you've even mated to a woman like that. Let alone having an offspring from her." He looked at him slowly raising his hand.

"Since when did you start disobeying me Margrave Erebus Stygian? You know that your life is in my hands." He pointed out when he slowly closed his left hand the patterns in his hand became red. Erebus felt a surge of excruciating pain engulf his chest.

"Your soul is trapped. I thought to have reminded you of it."

The pain became unbearable after a few moments he began to scream at the top of his lungs as if his body would tear apart any moment.

"It's Master's voice!" Jafar realized and hurried with the soldiers towards the mystic frost gardens.

"I shall leave you alone this time. Remember that I can get that woman's life in my hands."

He slowly vanished as the thick black fog surrrounded him.

His breath was constricted as he clutched his unconscious wife protectively kneeling on one leg, fearing to be attacked by him.

"Master! Jafar called out behind him.

He found them alone in the garden when Erebus staggered to get up.

He slowly turned around as his eyes turned red and veins bulged out due to rapid circulation of blood.

He felt that his muscles could tear down any moment. He walked past him still carrying her without another word spoken.