Once Betrayed Never Forgotten

Chapter 127: The Heart of the Maze

The castle looms before us, an ephemeral structure made of shadows and smoke, its walls and towers shitting and wavering as if they might dissolve at any moment. I can hardly believe that we’ve made it this far. The battle rages behind us, a cacophony of clashing steel and cries of the wounded. But here, in the shadow of this entie castle, there is an eerie silence, broken only by our labored breathing.

“Luka, Irod the way,” Aleksandr says, his voice steady but urgent. “We don’t have much time.”

Luke mods, his silver ayes glowing in the dim light. “Stay close. This place is like a maze. It’s es

easy to get lost.”

We follow Luka into the castle, stopping through the shadowy doorway and into the labyrinthine interior. The air inside is cold and still, a stark contrast to the chaotic battlefield outside. The walls seem to close in around us, their surfaces smooth and featureless, devoid of any distinguishing marks. It feels an if the castle itself is alive, shifting and changing to confuse and trap intruders.

I keep my hand on the hill of my sword, ready for anything. Loka mmes with confidence, his senses guiding us through the twisting corridory and namne passageways. The gryness is disorientine, making it hard to tell one direction from another. Every turn looks the same, every hallway a minor of the last,

“How do you know where to go?” I ask Laka, my voice barely above a whisper.

He glances back at me, his expression serious. “I don’t know. It’s like I can sense it, like a scent on the wind. Just trust me,”

We walk for what feels like an eternity, the oppressive silence pressing down on in. The only sounds are our footsteps echoing off the walls and the faint, almost imperceptible hum of some distant power. I can feel the tension building within me, a tight knot of anxiety and determination.

Finally, we reach a large, open chamber at the heart of the maze. In the center of the room stands a rage of shimmering, ethereal bars, just as I saw in my dream. Verder is inside her green wings tattered and tom, her eyes and mouth sewn shut. The sight of her, so helpless and vulnerable, fills me with a surge of anger and resolve.

“We’re here,” Luka says, his voice lour and reverent

I step forward, my heart pounding. “Verde,” I whisper, reaching out to t silence.

touch the bars of the cage. But before I can make contact, a familiar voice cuts through the

“Not so fast,” Tatiana’s voice echoes through the chamber, dripping with malice. She steps o from the shadows, flanked by a small army of fire realm traitors and enslaved blood wraiths and fire wraiths. Her eyes gleam with triumph as she looks at us.

“You,” I hiss, my grip tightening on my sword.

Tatiana smiles, a cruel, twisted smile. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you? Verde belongs to me now. I won’t let you take her.”

“Why are you doing this?” Aleksandr demands, his voice filled with anger. “What do you hope to gain?”

Tatiana laughs, a harsh, grating sound. “Power, of course. By weakening Verde, I can gain control over the Earth realm. With her cut of the way. I can overthrow my uncle and take my rightful place as the leader of the Fontain clan.

“You’re insane,” I say, my voice trembling with fury. “You’ll never get away with this.“

“We’ll see about that,” Tatiana sneers. “Attack!“

Herminions surge forward, and the chamber erupts into chaos. Aleksandr, Pyra, Bloodbane, and Luka each take on their opponents, the clash of steel and the roar of flames filing the air. I find myself face–to–face with Tatiana, her eyes burning with hatred.

I hope you are ready to die, Arianna,” she says, her

er voice lo

Tow

and dangerous.

“Not if I have anything to say about it, I retort, drawing my send.”

Our blades clash, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through my body. Tatiana is fast, her movements a blur of red and silver. I struggle to keep up, my heart pounding in my chest. But as the battle rages on, I feel something stin within me, a power I didn’t know I had.

A new sort of of Blood magic, deeper and older. My blood wraith power surge to the surface, and I feel a new strength coursing throuds my veins. I focus on the blood flowing within willing it to bend to my will As Tatiana strikes again, I raise my hand, and a spike of my own blood shoots out, blocking her attack.

She recoils, her yes widening in surprise.”

“Your underestimated me,‘ I say, my voice filled with newfound confidence. “And now you’ll pay for it.

I tap into my blood magic, drawing on the strength of the blood wraiths who came before me. My movements become faster, more precise, my strikes hitting with

Chapter 127 The Heart of the Maze

deadly accuracy. Tatiana fights back with all her might, but I can see the fear in her eyes.

With a final surge of power, I drive my sword through her chest, narrowly missing her heart. Tatiana gasps, her eyes wide with shock and pain. “No…”

“Yes,” I say, my voice steady. “It’s over.”

As Tatiana’s life fades, the blood wraiths and fire wraiths who were under her control are freed. They stagger back, their eyes clearing as they regain their senses. One by one, they look at me with gratitude.

“Thank you,” one of them says, his voice filled with emotion. “You’ve freed us.”

They leave the chamber, joining the battle outside. I turn back to Verde’s cage, my heart pounding with anticipation.

“It’s time,” I say, stepping forward.

I raise my sword, ready to free Verde and end this nightmare once and for all. But as I reach for the bars, a sudden burst of energy knocks me back. I hit the ground hard, my vision blurring.

“Arianna!” Aleksandr’s voice reaches me through the haze, filled with panic.

I struggle to my feet, my h

head spinning. Tatiana’s body is gone, dissolved into the shadows. And there, in the center of the chamber, a new figure emerges.

#new

u missed my heart, foolish girl. You

It’s Tatiana, reborn from the shadows, her eyes blazing with unholy fire. “You thought you could defeat me?” she sneers. “You might have momentarily weakened me, but I remain undefeated. Prepare to meet your end.”

Before I can react, she lunges at me, her blade aimed at my heart. But Aleksandr is faster. He intercepts her, his own blade clashing with hers. The force of the mpact sends them both staggering back.

You dare to hurt the woman I love, and now you will die, Aleksandr growls, his eyes filled with fury.

T

that moment, I channel my blood magic into a single arrow of pure energy- an arrow of retribution, and justice, an arrow of truth. I send it flying at her, piecing er in the heart.

The screams, a sound of pure anguish, as the energy envelops her, tearing at her very essence. Her form begins to disintegrate, the shadows that gave her strength ow consuming her. In a final act of defiance, she lunges at Aleksandr, but he stands firm, bolding her at bay.

With one last, desperate cry, Tatiana is consumed by the shadows, her form dissolving into nothingness. The air clears, the oppressive darkness lifting as she is nally defeated.

leksandr turns to me, his eyes softening as he steps forward. “It’s over,” he says, his voice filled with relief.

ush into his arms, the weight of the battle finally lifting from my shoulders. Thank you,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.

holds me close, his strength and warmth grounding me. “We did it together,” he replies, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

e turn back to the others, who have gathered around Verde’s cage. The battle outside still rages, but here, in this moment, we have won a significant victory. As 1 ep forward to finally free Verde, I feel a renewed sense of hope. The darkness has been pushed back, and together, we will restore balance to the realms.