Chapter126

Deborah's POV

Time stretched endlessly in the airless confines of the underground shelter.

The oppressive silence was punctuated by occasional murmurs, their words muted by fear. Anxiety hung in the air like a heavy mist, seeping into every corner.

It felt like we had been here forever, trapped in this suffocating space without any sense of time or direction.

Not until the butler, holding his old-fashioned pocket watch, broke the silence and announced, "It's been a day and a night," did I realize how long we had been huddled here.

I looked around at the pale, drawn faces of those sharing this claustrophobic space with me.

The flickering lights cast shadows that seemed to deepen their exhaustion.

Some sat with their heads in their hands, others whispered quietly, their voices shaky with the strain of waiting.

The once-deafening sirens had ceased, leaving behind an eerie stillness. I wasn't sure if they had truly ceased or if my ears had simply grown numb to their relentless blare.

This oppressive silence pulled me back into memories I had tried so hard to bury.

The day Hybrasil was destroyed.

There had been no alarms, no sirens. No warnings to give us time to hide or prepare. The attack had been swift, silent, and absolute.

People didn't even have the chance to flee to a place of safety. The chaos, the screams, the despair—it all unfolded in an instant, like a nightmare made real.

My stomach churned at the memory, and I shut my eyes tightly, willing the images to fade.

But just as I was starting to calm myself, a soft knock echoed against the heavy metal door of the shelter.

Everyone froze.

The knock came again, louder this time, followed by a familiar voice: "It's me, Chad Baker."

The tension in the room eased just slightly.

The butler was the first to move, hurrying to open the door. All eyes turned toward the entrance, desperate for good news.

Maybe, just maybe, Chad had come to tell us the enemy had been defeated and the danger was over.

But his first words dashed those hopes.

"Miss Edwards, Mr. Edwards requests your presence. You need to come with me immediately."

I blinked in surprise.

My father?

Why would he summon me now?

He had always been fiercely protective of me.

Surely he wouldn't call me out of the relative safety of the shelter and into the chaos above—would he?

The murmurs started again, this time more frantic. "What about us?" someone asked, their voice trembling. "What should we do?"

Chad's gaze swept over the room—calm, unyielding. "The fighting isn't over," he said firmly. "Everyone should stay here. This is the safest place for now."

His reassurances didn't fully soothe the crowd. I caught snippets of worried whispers: "If Miss Edwards is being sent out, does that mean the shelter isn't safe anymore? Are we in danger?"

Chad seemed to sense the growing panic. "Listen carefully," he said, his voice cutting through the noise. "Miss Edwards is likely being called to the front lines."

"The front lines?" The words spilled from my lips before I could stop them. My shock was mirrored in the faces around me.

Chad didn't flinch. "Yes," he said simply. Then, with a pointed glance at me, he added, "We need to move quickly. If I stay here too long, this shelter's location could be exposed. If that happens, none of you will make it out alive."

That was enough to convince me.

I nodded and stood up, feeling the weight of countless eyes on me as I followed Chad out of the shelter.

The moment we stepped through the door, it shut behind us with a resounding clang, sealing everyone else inside.

Chad's pace was brisk, his demeanor as steady as ever. But his urgency was palpable, like the air before a storm.

"You need to go to Hybrasil," he said abruptly.

I stumbled slightly at his words. "Hybrasil?"

"It's the safest place for you now," he explained. "The weapons they've uncovered there have made their forces stronger than ever. Ablach is unlikely to hold for much longer. And if the city falls, I fear the enemy—or even your own father—might use you as a bargaining chip against Matthew."

His reasoning was sound, but it didn't stop the knot of worry tightening in my chest. "Is Matthew safe? What about the others?"

"Matthew's fine," Chad assured me. A rare, faint smile touched his lips. "He's more than fine—he's thriving. He's leading the charge, and his forces are gaining ground."

"What about Ablach?" I pressed. "What's happening there?"

His smile faded. "You've seen it with your own eyes. Ablach is on the brink of collapse. But you know as well as I do—Demon families like yours aren't so easily defeated. Even if Matthew takes the city, your father could use Domination to turn the tide in an instant."

The mention of Domination sent a shiver down my spine. "Where is my father now?"

"In the command room," Chad replied without hesitation.

"The command room?" I frowned. "Where is that?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "A hidden chamber beneath his study."

Of course. That was so like Lugh—always keeping his secrets buried, both figuratively and literally.

"What about you?" I asked, stopping abruptly to face him.

"Don't worry about me." Chad's tone remained calm, even as his expression darkened slightly. "Double agents like me know how to survive. I've arranged for a flying craft to take you to Hybrasil. It's in the garden, marked with Tirfothuinn's insignia. Once you're there, you'll be safe."

He paused, searching my face. "Go, Deborah. The war isn't over yet. But don't worry—I'm not planning on dying anytime soon. I still have work to do."

Before I could say anything more, he turned and disappeared down the hall, his footsteps fading into the chaos of the night.

When I reached the garden, the flying craft was waiting, just as he had promised. As I climbed aboard, the weight of his words settled over me. He had been preparing me for this moment all along. Teaching me to pilot wasn't just a lesson—it was a lifeline.

He couldn't always protect me. So he made sure I could protect myself.

As the craft rose into the air, my mind raced. Chad's warning echoed in my ears: "Even if Matthew takes Ablach, your father could still control him with Domination."

Lugh. The root of all this chaos.

I tightened my grip on the controls, my resolve hardening. If I could seal away the wolves, could I seal away him too? Could I strip Lugh of his power and put an end to his reign of terror once and for all?

Theoretically, it was possible. But I wasn't sure I could do it. The ancient spell for sealing power was something I'd only ever heard in dreams, its words faint and fragmented.

If I succeeded, it would mean victory—not just for me, but for everyone who had suffered under Lugh's tyranny. But if I failed… there would be no second chances.

Still, what was one more life compared to the countless others already lost? I had already died once. Every moment I'd lived since then had been borrowed time, a gift I didn't deserve.

With that thought, I began silently reciting the spell, piecing together its elusive fragments as I guided the craft toward Ablach.

When I landed, I stepped out onto the cold, hard ground and turned toward Lugh's study.

This would end tonight, one way or another.