Chapter 393: Shadows Beneath the City

Dawn over Plyaro brought no light, only a grayish mist that shrouded the town hall towers. The vampiric army, composed of thousands of warriors clad in dark armor, marched in silence along the mountain trails leading to the central province.

At the vanguard, Alexander flew at low altitude alongside the Vampiric Empress, while Liora rode atop the back of a summoned shadow wolf, staring at the ground, her mind submerged in doubt.

"Your suspicions regarding the serpent are logical, Alexander," remarked the Vampiric Empress in a quiet voice, beating her wings. "No sovereign with centuries of tactical experience makes a blunder as basic as marching blindly against a fortified citadel. She is either seeking a glorious death, or the scenario is a staged farce for our benefit."

"Whatever the answer, we’ll find out soon enough," replied Alexander in a cold tone. "The Serpent Queen must be slamming against the capital gates this second. That leaves the subterranean flank unguarded."

After several hours of forced marching, the elite contingent arrived at the outskirts of the capital. In the distance, the booms of magical explosions and war cries confirmed that the frontal clash between the Poisonous Shadow Clan and the Spider Queen’s forces was underway.

Liora led the group toward a ravine concealed by vegetation, where a heavy iron hatch lay half-buried under the mud.

"This is the entrance to the royal catacombs," said Liora, pushing aside the vines with trembling hands. "It connects to the lower palace dungeons. If my mother is alive, they’ll have her chained in the deepest level."

Alexander touched down and, with a single swipe of his steel claws, shattered the magical locks binding the hatch. However, feeling the rays of the morning sun filtering through the canopy, the Vampiric Empress frowned and halted her steps.

"We wait here until nightfall," ordered Alexander, looking at the sunlight with annoyance. "The sun suppresses our physical attributes and weakens our blood magic. Infiltrating now would be an unnecessary risk. Once night falls, the shadows will be on our side and we’ll be at the peak of our power."

"Furthermore, by then, the battle on the surface will have exhausted both sides," added the Vampiric Empress, settling into the shade of the ravine. "Waiting works in our favor."

Liora nodded in silence, clenching her hands as they watched the tunnel entrance, waiting for darkness to take over the sky.

When the sun set and night blanketed the capital, a cold draft surged from the subterranean passage.

"Empress, keep the main army stationed on the surface," ordered Alexander, turning to the vampiric sovereign. "If the battle above spirals out of control or if the spider tries to retreat, lock down the exits. Liora and I will go in alone with a shadow squad."

The Vampiric Empress nodded, though she shot one last glance at the fox princess.

"Don’t take too long, Alexander," said the Empress, adjusting her pauldrons. "I wouldn’t want to have to come down there and rescue you."

Alexander smirked, took Liora by the shoulder, and stepped into the gloom of the subterranean passage.

As they advanced through the damp tunnels, the faint echo of their footsteps bounced off the stone walls. Alexander broke the silence, glancing back at the young fox.

"Tell me something, brat," asked Alexander in a calm tone. "Is there a secret chamber down there? An access point that requires your blood or your mother’s to open?"

Liora stopped in her tracks, fixing her gaze on the vampire’s back. Her chest began to heave, and a sudden spark of mistrust flared in her yellow eyes. The previous conversation about her aunt and the presence of two vampiric powers had warped her judgment, leaving her paranoid.

What if Alexander only used me to get down here? What if he’s after our ancestral treasure or the royal bloodline seal to take over the kingdom? thought Liora, clenching her fists without giving an answer.

Alexander noticed Liora’s stiff posture and the suspicious look she was giving him. He let out an huff and shrugged.

"Forget it," said Alexander, moving forward again. "If you’re going to get hysterical, I’d rather we just find your mother. I don’t have time for your paranoid drama."

Liora bit her lip, embarrassed by her reaction, but chose to remain quiet as she followed behind him.

Minutes later, they descended a flight of worn stone stairs, and the air temperature dropped. Opening up before them was the deepest sector of the complex: the high-security prison, where magical wards and chains of enchanted iron marked the threshold of the royal dungeons.

Along the hallway, inside reinforced cells sealed with fading barriers, Alexander and Liora spotted more than ten people chained to the stone walls.

The prisoners were in a deplorable state: their skin clung to their bones, their hair was matted, and their hollow eyes gave them the appearance of mummies. They uttered weak moans as they felt the torchlight.

Alexander paused in front of one of the grates, examining the withered figures with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

"Quite the collection," remarked Alexander, crossing his arms and glancing at Liora. "What kind of atrocity did these guys commit to deserve a punishment like this?"

Liora looked at the shriveled faces with a pained expression, recognizing the crests and robes of the prisoners.

"Treason against the queen..." answered Liora, her voice heavy with bitterness. "They are former nobles and officers who tried to rebel against my mother’s rule or conspired against the crown. In our clan, betraying the royal bloodline is answered with eternal agony in the subterranean dungeons."

Alexander let out a short chuckle, taking another step down the hallway.

"Sounds like your mother wasn’t the merciful ruler you made her out to be, brat," said Alexander. "If this is how she treated her own people, I’m not surprised things blew up in her face."

Liora flushed deeply, unable to refute his words as the reality of her mother’s cruelty hit her face.