All Chapters of Emperor Of The Abyss: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
11 chapters
Chapter 1
The afternoon sun cast golden light across the palace gardens, warming the stone pathways that wound through beds of white roses and violet clematis. Prince Kane walked slowly along the cobbled path, his fingers interlaced with Princess Valerie's, their hands swinging gently between them like children at play. The air smelled of honeysuckle and fresh-cut grass, and somewhere in the distance, hammers rang against wood as workers constructed the dais for tomorrow's coronation.Valerie's emerald gown whispered against the stones with each step, the silk catching the light and shimmering like water. Her golden hair had been plaited with small white flowers, and when she turned to look at him, Kane felt his chest tighten with something he could only describe as contentment. She was beautiful, yes, but more than that,she was his future, his promise of normalcy in a life that had been anything but normal."Can you believe it?" Valerie said, squeezing his hand. "Tomorrow, you'll be crowne
Chapter 2
Someone shouted.Kane's body reacted on instinct. He twisted hard to the left, his boots skidding on loose gravel. The worker, startled by the commotion, jerked to the side. The ladder swayed dangerously, its top end swinging wide like the arm of a giant.For a heartbeat, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Kane's momentum carried him forward even as he tried to stop. The ladder teetered. The worker's eyes went wide with fear,not just at the near-collision, but at the realization that he'd almost struck the crown prince.Kane's hand shot out, catching the ladder's middle rung and steadying it before it could crash to the ground. His other hand gripped the worker's shoulder, keeping them both upright."I'm sorry!" They both said at the same time.The worker,a middle-aged man with calloused hands and sawdust in his graying beard,immediately dropped to one knee, his face pale. "Your Highness, I didn't see you, I swear I didn't mean to…""No, no, it's my fault entirely." Kane s
Chapter 3
Morgana continued, her voice smooth as silk. "Are you in, or are you out?"The silence that followed was excruciating. Morgana could hear the girl's rapid breathing, could almost hear the frantic racing of her thoughts. She was weighing her options, poor things. Trying to decide which fate was worse,doing what Morgana asked, or refusing and facing the consequences."My lady." Elara finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. She was shaking now, Morgana could see it in the trembling of her clasped hands. "Promise me. Promise me you won't go back on your word."Ah. There it was. The desperate hope that Morgana might actually honor their agreement.Morgana set down the letter opener and turned to face the girl fully. She arranged her features into an expression of solemn sincerity, the kind of look that had convinced countless people over the years that she was trustworthy, honorable, a woman of her word."I promise." Morgana said, meeting the maid's frightened eyes. "I won't g
Chapter 4
Kane's boots made soft sounds against the polished marble as he walked through the palace corridors. The late afternoon light streamed through the tall windows, throwing long shadows across the floor. He'd left Valerie with her ladies and now he just wanted to clean up before dinner."Your Highness!" A guard stationed near the eastern hallway straightened up and gave a crisp salute.Kane smiled and nodded. "Marcus. How's your daughter? I heard she was sick last week."The guard's weathered face broke into a surprised grin. "She's much better now, Your Highness. Thank you for asking.""Good to hear it." Kane clapped the man's shoulder as he passed.Two more guards stood at the base of the main staircase. They both bowed. "Your Highness.""Evening, gentlemen." Kane said, returning their greeting with that same easy smile.As he started up the stairs, a maid hurried past carrying fresh linens. She nearly dropped them when she saw him. "Oh! Your Highness!" She dipped into a hasty
Chapter 5
Kane traced the edge of the frame with his thumb. He'd seen this painting before, but he never stopped studying it, searching for... what? Proof that she'd been a monster? Or proof that she hadn't been?His mother wore a dress of deep crimson that seemed to glow even in the painting. Her hair was black as midnight, falling in waves past her shoulders. Her skin had a slight olive tone, darker than most Valthornians. And her eyes,amber, like firelight, like honey held up to the sun. Those were the demon eyes everyone talked about.But when Kane looked at the painting, he didn't see a monster. He saw a woman smiling up at his father with such love that it made his chest ache. His father gazed back at her the same way, like she was his entire world.They'd been happy. Whatever else was true, that was real. Kane could see it in every brushstroke."Did you really kill him?" Kane whispered to the painting. "Did you use your demon blood to murder the man you loved?"The painted face stared
Chapter 6
For a moment they just stayed like that, holding each other, both of them trembling and breathless.Kane kissed her temple, her cheek, her lips. "I love you." He said again, because he couldn't stop saying it."I love you too." Valerie whispered. She was smiling, her eyes half-closed and dreamy.They shifted, lying down properly on the bed. Kane pulled the covers over them, tucking Valerie against his side. She curled into him like she belonged there, her head on his chest, one leg thrown over his."Tomorrow." She murmured sleepily. "Tomorrow you'll be king.""Tomorrow." Kane agreed, pressing a kiss to her hair."And then we'll get married.""And then we'll get married.""And have two children."Kane smiled in the darkness. "We'll see about that."Valerie made a sound that might have been a laugh, but it turned into a yawn. Within minutes, her breathing had slowed and deepened. She was asleep.Kane lay there, staring up at the ceiling of his room, listening to her breathe. His
Chapter 7
"What is it?" He asked, his voice rough. His eyes were kind even in his confusion, concerned rather than angry at being woken.Elara just stood there. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She was shaking so badly now that she thought Kane must be able to see it.Kane's eyebrows pulled together. He stepped closer, out into the hallway, and before Elara could back away, he reached out and pressed his hand to her forehead.His palm was warm against her clammy skin."Oh." Kane said, his frown deepening. "Your body is so hot. Are you sick?"Elara flinched at his touch. Her whole body jerked like he'd burned her. The concern in his voice made everything worse. He was worried about ‘her’. About whether she was okay."I…I…" The words stuck in her throat. Her hand was still in her pocket, still gripping the knife. The metal was slick with her sweat now."Wait here." Kane said, already turning back toward his room. "Let me grab you some medicine. We keep willow bark tablets in the cabin
Chapter 8
Power surged through him. Raw and Terrifying.Kane didn't mean to push her. He barely moved his arm. But when he did, when he shoved Elara away from him, it was like he'd been hit by a battering ram.Elara flew backward. Her feet left the ground. She sailed through the air and slammed face-first into the corridor wall outside Kane's room with a sickening crack.The impact knocked the wind from her lungs. She felt something break,her nose, maybe her cheekbone. But worse than that, worse than the pain in her face or the stars exploding in her vision, was the pressure in her stomach.The knife.In the chaos, in the flight through the air, in the terrible force of hitting the stone wall, the knife had turned in her hand.And now it was buried in her stomach.Elara slid down the wall and crumpled to the floor. Blood was already spreading across the front of her gray dress, dark and wet. She tried to breathe but couldn't seem to get any air. Everything hurts. Kane stood in his doorway, sta
Chapter 9
"Dear gods." Morgana breathed. She raised one hand to her throat in a gesture of dismay. "What happened here?"Kane was still crouched beside Elara's body. His hands were covered in blood up to his wrists. It had started to dry, turning sticky and dark. He looked up at Morgana, and for a moment relief flooded his face."Aunt Morgana." He said, his voice shaking. "Thank gods you're here. She came to my room. She had a knife. I didn't know what she wanted but she…" He gestured helplessly at Elara's body. "She tried to stab me. I just pushed her away. I swear I only pushed her and she…"The words were tumbling out too fast. Kane knew he sounded desperate but he couldn't stop. Couldn't slow down."She fell and the knife, it must have turned in her hand because when she hit the wall the blade…" His voice cracked. "I didn't mean for this to happen. You have to believe me. I would never…"Every eye in the hallway was on him. The servants. The guards. All of them staring.Silence fell
Chapter 10
"Kane, son of Seraphine the demon, bearer of cursed blood, stained upon the royal line,I arrest you for the willful and malicious murder of Elara Whitmore, loyal servant of this house. You will be held in the dungeons until such time as a sentence can be carried out. May the gods have mercy on your blackened soul."Kane's lips curved into a smile. It felt wrong on his face,stretched and unnatural. But he couldn't help it. This had to be a joke. Some kind of sick test."You can't be serious." He said. The smile wobbled but stayed in place. "Aunt Morgana, please. You know me. You've known me my whole life. I would never…"The slap came out of nowhere.Morgana's palm connected with Kane's cheek with a crack that echoed down the hallway like a whip. His head snapped to the side. Pain exploded across his face, white-hot and blinding. Stars burst in his vision.For a moment he just stood there, stunned. His cheek was on fire. He could taste blood in his mouth,he'd bitten his tongue when h