Thank you for reading on ! We provide free access to all our stories, but maintaining this platform requires ongoing costs. To keep the site running and continue offering free content, we display advertisements. You can close the ads anytime, or upgrade to premium membership ($5/month) for an ad-free reading experience while supporting our mission. You can also earn premium for free by completing simple tasks. We truly appreciate your understanding and support!The guards closed the cell door behind them, taking with them the flickering light of the lanterns and leaving behind a suffocating darkness. Lying in the cold sweat of that hideous cell, Alessandro kissed Princess Abril, feeling a surge of hatred mixed with longing for what she had done. "Compared to Liona, she was very kind," he thought, recalling how Abril had treated him with respect. She had prepared his bath and provided him with a change of clean clothes, even bringing delicious food. Afterward, she had retired to let him rest.Abril slept for only a few hours before a servant awakened her, saying that the king required her presence. Before following the servant to the throne room, she steeled herself, knowing she would need to support her brother. Enzo was waiting for her next to a tall man with long blond hair and brown eyes, who regarded her with a respectful demeanor. He bowed slightly as she approached. "Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Hans Boroski," he introduced himself. "Is there something wrong?" Abril asked, her brow furrowing with concern."Yes, they are my right hand, so you need not worry about him," Hans assured her. "Does anyone else know my identity?" she pressed. "No, they are the only ones who know, aside from ourselves. The others are dead, with the exception of the servant locked in the dungeons. We have no time for useless questions; we must prepare our weapons and be ready to defend the kingdom tonight." Abril remained silent, noting the genuine concern etched on his face for the citizens of their realm. She used her magic to bless each weapon in the room, watching as they glowed faintly with her power."Yes, I can distribute these weapons among your soldiers," she confirmed. "That was quick. Are you sure it will work?" Hans asked, skepticism creeping into his tone. "I assure you it will work. If you don't believe me, you can put it to the test this evening," she replied confidently. Enzo had been in a desperate fight, one he could not afford to lose. He felt torn, unsure whether to trust his sister completely, but he had no choice but to believe in her. "Hans, distribute these weapons among the soldiers. Tonight, we will face the monsters," Enzo commanded. Hans bowed again."As you wish, Your Majesty. I will take care of it." Afterward, they gathered the blessed swords and daggers, securing them within their clothing. Enzo turned to Abril and asked, "When will you regain all your power?" "Why do you ask? To close the Hades Rift, I will need all my strength. The cry is not small, and I need to know when it will end," she replied, her voice steady. "The darkness and your monsters are strong. I tried to do it tomorrow, but I want to see the Rift with my own eyes," he insisted. "We can go now if you wish to visit the asylum," Abril offered."Yes, let's go," he agreed, though he warned her, "This place can double the spirit of men. If your friends accompany you, they may not return as they were." Sirius was strong, and Taren shared his confidence. "We will be fine. If you haven't been controlled by darkness, neither will we," Taren assured them. "What if your decision was made without you? After all, you don't see them," Enzo challenged. Abril felt a pang of concern. Enzo had never been corrupted by the dark, and she asked him, "Have you ever tried to control it?" "Why would I try to control you?You must have a strong spirit to deny it. The darkness will always be there, offering you what you desire most. If you're not careful, you could end up as one of its puppets," he warned. They emerged from the armory, making their way through the palace corridors until Enzo stopped before a black, locked door. "This is the entrance. I advise you to separate," he cautioned. Standing before the door, which loomed like a shadow, Abril shivered. She could feel the malevolence lurking behind it.noveldramaWhen Enzo unlocked the door, she braced herself, knowing that whatever lay beyond was unlikely to be good. As the door creaked open, a wave of dark energy hit her like a physical force. She instinctively summoned her flames, wrapping them around her brother and herself, shielding them from the encroaching darkness. "Don't worry; my flames repel the darkness. I can protect you if you wish," she offered. "I'd rather not go up in flames," he replied, a hint of humor in his voice. "You are a fire user. What do you fear?" she teased. "That you might kill me," he shot back."I remind you that I didn't kill you, just as you didn't kill me," Abril said, raising her hand to show him the red mark that bound them. Enzo looked at her, his expression softening as he accepted her offer. "This is fine. I hope you embrace your flames, but it's worth noting that you don't seem worried at all." "You were a Venobich once. Tears don't hide the darkness within you," she replied, taking his hand and wrapping it in her flames. To her surprise, they did not harm him. "You seem surprised, sister. Did you think the flames would affect me?" he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes."Not at all," she admitted. Enzo stepped through the door, leading them down a spiral staircase illuminated by silver flames. Despite the darkness surrounding them, Abril was astonished to find the atmosphere calm. "I thought this place would be full of monsters," she remarked. "There are no monsters here in physical form. Something changed a few months ago," he explained. "The first time I entered this place, I was with Cira. One of those sinless monsters took possession of her. You could feel their presence crawling in the dark, but now...it's as if they've escaped," Abril recalled, her mind racing. "Do you think Cira released them?" Enzo asked. "I don't know," she replied, anxiety creeping into her voice. "If Cira screams now, and if she leaves this place..." Her words trailed off, the weight of their situation settling heavily between them.