CHAPTER 5 – THE ORDER OF THE THIRTEENTH CROWN
Elisa and Adrian followed the trail deep into the Black Forest.
The trees grew unnaturally silent.
Even birds refused to sing.
Hours later they discovered ancient ruins hidden beneath vines.
In the center stood thirteen stone thrones arranged in a perfect circle.
Twelve were empty.
One...
Was occupied.
An old man wearing every stolen royal crown smiled as though he had been expecting them.
"You finally came."
Adrian drew his sword.
"Who are you?"
The stranger laughed softly.
"I crowned your ancestors."
"I watched every king kneel."
"I wrote the bargain you believed belonged to your family."
Elisa whispered,
"The First Chancellor..."
The old man's smile widened.
"So someone still remembers."
Centuries earlier, history had blamed the first king for creating the curse.
History had lied.
The true architect had been the king's adviser.
A man obsessed with eternal order.
He believed kingdoms survived only through fear.
The demon had merely been his tool.
Every generation he manipulated another ruler.
Every generation another sacrifice was offered.
Every generation history erased his name.
Until everyone believed the kings alone were guilty.
"You destroyed one prison," the old man said calmly.
"I created twelve more."
He raised his hand.
The empty stone thrones trembled.
Dark smoke poured from each seat.
Twelve shadows slowly took human form.
Each resembled a former king.
Each opened glowing black eyes.
Adrian recognized their faces from palace portraits.
"My father..."
"My grandfather..."
"My great-grandfather..."
They weren't alive.
They weren't dead.
They had become prisoners of the curse they tried to control.
The First Chancellor smiled.
"You came here to end history."
"I'm here..."
"...to repeat it."
May you like
The ground split apart beneath their feet.
They fell into darkness.
