The Kingdom of Hades
Present Day
Pluto angrily paced around his throne room, his fury rising to another dimension as he watched the prophets stand defeated, staring at the floating Book of Prophecy. The book radiated a powerful magic that could never be diminished, the words twisting in the air, impossible to understand. He growled, smashing his fist against the nearest wall. He struck again and again, each hit leaving him breathing heavily, his fury burning hotter, causing the fire in the pits to torment the lost souls even more.
He glared at the infernal dozen, the evil prophets who were supposed to know every kind of magic. Pluto snorted loudly, frustrated at their repeated failures. Each time they demanded answers from the Book, it showed only the boy, a royal threat, nothing else. No trace of where he might be. No hint of his face. Despite countless attempts and advanced practices, none could unlock the secrets of the floating Book.
Pluto seethed. He had destroyed Malik and his family, believing everything was proceeding according to plan, yet one fateful revelation from the prophets had shaken him: a boy, prophesied to end him and the evils he ruled, had been revealed in the stolen Book. The darkness thickened in the tunnels, which pleased Pluto more than ever. Yet the thought of the savior who would bring an end to darkness terrified him.
The child of prophecy remained unseen and unknown, protected by powers greater than anything Pluto had ever faced. He had tortured Malik repeatedly to extract any clue of the boy's origin. Now he sat on his throne, legs crossed in his usual manner, consumed by a mix of disbelief and rage.
Five years ago, darkness had suddenly swallowed the skies, dimming the world. Pluto, pleased, had created beasts to roam the night, relishing the cries, deaths, and agony they caused. Now, five years later, after being tantalized by the Light's resilience, he was ready to raise the Dark Knight and destroy the threads that held the worlds together. The prophecy of a child who could undo all he had longed for made his anger boil. He looked at the prophets, cloaked in shadows, their faces hidden. Worthless. If he didn't need their help to destroy the Kingdom of Petra, he would have ripped their souls from their bodies.
After sitting in restless thought, Pluto rose again and approached his magical instruments. He inhaled deeply, envisioning a massive snake with feet, shaping it in thin air with his remaining power. The black reptile hissed, the venomous tongue flicking. Pluto curved a smile.
"Go into Petra. Find me the child I seek. The boy the prophecy reveals. Go, now!" he commanded. The vile serpent nodded before vanishing. Pluto stared at the empty air, hoping his creation would succeed. He was still in disbelief that Fiend, his loyal servant, had not returned in nearly four days. Fiend's supernatural powers were unmatched, yet he had failed to locate the boy. Pluto shook his head, the thought of Fiend being lost or captured briefly crossing his mind.
"If the serpent doesn't return with a positive sign, I'll go myself into Petra and find the boy," Pluto thundered, his hoarse voice vibrating across the throne room.
——
Morgan stared uneasily at the sack of treasures she had taken from the underground room in the palace. The journey ahead, to her parents' home, which she had not seen in years, felt perilous. She pressed a hand to her chest, imagining the dangers they might face. Memories of the palace, the man she had killed, and her flight from the beasts haunted her. She had hidden flat on the sandstones, nearly suffocating in the stench of the earth, until the monstrous creature moved away. Then she had grabbed the flames and fled toward home, where Landon waited patiently.
She quickly closed the sack, covering the treasures with her clothes to hide them from Landon. She had told him she was merely fetching food, and luckily, he had been distracted by a friend.
"Mother, I've packed my clothes for the journey," Landon said, his eyes meeting hers.
"We'll be fine, okay?" she said, trying to ease his worries. "This journey will be fruitful. We'll overcome every obstacle and reach our destination." She hugged him tightly, her heart racing, though her mind warned that the journey, especially crossing the water, would be treacherous.
Morgan drank water in long gulps, then tied a scarf over her head, glancing at the treasures she would use to bribe the man with the boat. She carefully separated some ancient relics, gold coins, rubies, and chains, into a smaller bag before hiding the main sack in the cupboard. She packed enough food for her and Landon, determined to protect him from Langford and the prophecy that marked him for death.
She picked up the ancient torch-holder to carry the flames, glancing at Landon and the toad perched on his shoulder.
Reaching the river, Morgan breathed a sigh of relief. Monsters had not followed them, and she kissed the charm around her neck for protection. At the only house near the river, she knocked thrice. A hesitant man answered.
"Go away! You can't cross the sea. Don't you see the dangers?" he barked.
Morgan's patience held. "Please help me. I have treasures, rubies, gold, anything you want. Just take us across."
The man, Thur, scrutinized the bags. When he glimpsed the treasure, he could hardly believe his eyes. Overwhelmed, he muttered, "Care for some tea before you embark?"
Morgan shook her head. "We don't have time. We must leave immediately."
Thur retrieved the keys and released the boat from its prison. Morgan noticed his change of clothing, a black jacket, a hat, and readied herself.
"Don't you have family? A wife or siblings?" she asked, trying to ease the tension. Thur's brief silence spoke volumes; loss had touched him deeply.
"My siblings… they were devoured by beasts. I cried myself to sleep that night," he whispered.
Morgan's heart ached for him. She handed him the paddles and boarded the boat with Landon. Flames lit the darkness as the boat drifted into the pitch-black sea.
Landon's laughter cut through the tension, his toad leaping playfully. But then a sudden strike rocked the boat.
"What was that?" Morgan gasped.
"We're risking ourselves in the darkness," Thur replied, steadying the boat. They rode in tense silence, water splashing on them.
Morgan spotted the shore, familiar yet distant. The water roared violently, waves striking like swords. Thur struggled to keep the boat steady.
Morgan's heart pounded as they retreated to Petra, their two-hour journey lost. She sank into the boat, tears threatening to fall. Landon wrapped his arms around her.
"One day, everything will be alright, Mother. Don't worry," he whispered, calm and confident.
Finally, they reached the shore. Thur waited until Morgan and Landon were safely on land.
"I don't know how important this journey was to you, but I'm sorry you didn't make it," he said, locking the boat.
"It isn't anyone's fault," Morgan replied weakly, flames flickering in her hands.
"Start running home. The creatures may be close," Thur warned.
"Your treasures!" Morgan called.
"They belong to those who deserve them. Go. One day, we may meet again, and I will take you to your destination," Thur replied, disappearing into the night.
Morgan glanced at Landon. Together, they raced toward their rocky home, hearts pounding, finally reaching safety. She twisted the lock open and whispered, "We're going to be alright."
But as she hesitated to close the door, a shadowy figure appeared.
"Who are you?" she asked, bracing herself.