Chapter 151 : Hestia’s Lair

*Jared*

King Xander sent me an order to gather a team and clear out the Dark Forest.

I got Archer and Brandt together, along with many of my most trusted warriors, and we headed into the forest.

It was supposedly where Hestia's lair was, but all the searching we'd done in the forest before her death led to absolutely nothing.

Xander hoped that this time, it would be different. If nothing else, we could get rid of any lingering rogues or witches that were still hanging around, hopeful for Hestia's return.

The Dark Forest was crowded with old, thick trees that groaned in the wind.

My heart raced as I stepped onto the path. The air felt so close and heavy between the trees. I felt like there was a weight crushing down on me. The canopy was so dense that hardly any light got through, making the forest dark and eerie.

I had no idea what to expect within the forest. There was dark magic there, and rumors of terrifying beasts.

I could tell that my men were tense. Whenever the wind rustled dry leaves or a gnarled, twisted tree trunk groaned, they whipped around, brandishing their weapons.

Thick vines twisted around the tree trunks, making them look deformed, and some of them even looked like hunched-over people in the distance.

The shadows started playing tricks on us within seconds.

“Jared, there's a clearing up ahead," Archer spoke.

We all froze. His voice sounded so loud and harsh in the quiet, creepy forest.

“We'll start there, even if just to get a glimpse of sunlight. It might take the edge off." I nodded and took the lead, heading down the path to the clearing.

If I thought my mind would ease from entering the clearing, I was sorely mistaken....

Rising up from the center of the clearing was a tall, dark tower that blocked out the sun. It was a single spire, rising up into the sky, made of black stone. There was one door and no windows that I could see.

I tilted my head back and could barely see the top of the tower in the glare of the sun.

“This wasn't here before," I murmured, feeling my brows furrow.

What horrors were hidden in this tower?

“This must be Hestia's lair," Archer suggested.

I nodded and walked up the steps to the door. I knocked, and a loud echo rippled through the inside of the tower.

“It's possible that Hestia cloaked it with her magic, so we couldn't see it before."

“Killing her broke the spell," Archer continued.

“Everyone, on guard. This tower could be booby-trapped. Expect anything!" I ordered.

The men quickly took up a perimeter around the tower and stood at the ready.

“If her cloaking magic is gone, any protection spells she cast might be too," Archer pointed out.

“I'm not taking any chances. It doesn't take magic to put in booby traps and protect a secret lair."

I reached for the doorknob but Archer stopped me.

“Let me."

breath, waiting for some strange trap to trigger. I was ready to pull Archer out of the way in

open, loudly, sending another echoing sound through the

step back and held

until the echoing stopped.

seems safe," Archer

I pointed to several guards. “The rest of you stay on

Brandt, and I went into the tower

quiet and keep alert. Don't touch anything. If you find something of interest, let me know and I'll

nodded and spread

to the left where the main

spiral staircase that went all the way up through the

to secure the first floor first before

here!" Brandt

to another chamber. It was lit up with luminous stones, casting

the room was a mound of moonstones. They shimmered in the dim light… so many moonstones of all

never seen so many

around the room and found an old grimoire splayed

back to

pages. Most of it was written in another language. I recognized a

book that I didn't

family tree of Hestia's bloodline, showing her long lineage

came across the latest entries

wasn't alone here

“What do you mean?"

a loud wail

the

that

a cobweb-covered tapestry on the wall.

I tore the tapestry down, revealing a hidden

a girl, no more than five

my hands. The children had wide, terrified eyes, their skin pale and sickly. They didn't

are they?" Archer

grimoire again. “They're Hestia's children.

need to get them out of here." I snapped to

up and brought

it shipped to the palace. Stay alert and let me know of anything

course. I'll meet you back

the children back to

needed to be seen by a healer and nursed back to

the children, a new sense

going to happen to

protect them and get the proper care. But was that the right thing to do? Were they dangerous? What kind of dark

had

to condemn them for what they might do?

will do the right thing,"

of who their father

the infirmary and met with

really bring Hestia's children back to my palace?" He

Well, word traveled fast.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255