“The history of horror and legends that surround this island is dark,doudou. You have to be insane to get back in there.”
“Why did Radcliff come here, then?” I screamed into the headset as the helicopter continued to shake in its dive.Why is he looking for this gate of hell?
“I told you, he’s insane.” Hugo chuckled, having fun despite the fact that my heart was leaving my chest, the fear of death lurking on the corner. “For in the den of evil, there is always a hint of light.”
And in a second, we crossed the barrier of darkness to arrive at the place we sought. The sun flared in crimson flames on an angry red sky.
It was as if the blood of the gods had been collected in a goblet to be spilled over the darkening sunset. The orange ray of lights, like hope trying to spark through this passionate sky, warmed up my face in a golden tone.
The blue of the ocean was restless and dreadful, as if its lost souls were trying to escape and take refuge on the island.
This was the unwelcoming kingdom of hell.
“This is the island,” Hugo commented with a smirk. “Welcome to Erebus.”
My hands stuck to the glass, frost forming around it. It was a warning to turn around before bad things happened. I leaned closer, my heart leaping in my throat and my breath creating a cloud of smoke on the glass.
This wasn’t an island, no. This one was wicked, the air filled with tragedy and dark magic. I could hear from afar the whispers of the ghosts and their agony. This was the Devil’s island, a red cliff standing with impenetrable walls preventing anyone from entering. The dry land of the volcano was like a well leading to hell. Its lava could erupt at any time and consume its wild forest, which seemed like the land of mythical creatures and prehistoric monsters that had vanished from the memory of Earth.
There was hardly any sand on this land—it was hidden in the hollows of the caves under the cliff—and it was crimson red, as if the land had been stained with weeping souls.
“Not what you were expecting,doudou?” Hugo turned his head over to me, giving me a grin, and my throat tightened in reply.
The helicopter circled around the island and came to a stop at the top, offering a view of a mine. My heart raced, being able to sense Radcliff’s presence. My heartbeat was calling out to his in a melody that only he could hear.
“Hugo,” I dropped in a whisper.
My gaze continued on the path, and emerging from the hostile nature of the Underworld was a small black dog, who came running up to the peak of a cliff.
Cerba.
“Hugo!” I screamed this time.
My heart did not slow down, and all of my cells came back to life, waving at his approach. A man dressed in elegance and power, wearing an inky black suit, came out of the shadows of the forest.
“We found him,” I whispered.
The king of darkness looked heavenward to me, hands in his pockets as if he knew I’d come to his kingdom.
After all, once upon a time, I had inflicted chaos.
Sweet lily had become the bringer of deaththat day.
I did it all for Radcliff, and I’d do so. Much. More.
To everyone, I was a witch.
To him, a flower goddess.
But I was, too, the queen of hell.
To be continued…
