The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 383

KATHERINE

Sweat poured down my body, my teeth chattering uncontrollably inside my mouth. It felt like the seconds were stretching into hours.

I could hear the rattling of the pulleys as they passed through the wheels, the screech of metal against stone, and the wood trembling.

It only lasted a moment, yet to me, it felt like an eternity.

When I finally reached the end of my descent, the dumbwaiter—or whatever this box was—came to a stop.

I stayed still, silent, listening only to my own ragged breathing and the frantic pounding of my heart against my chest. I opened my eyes slightly, feeling the dampness on my lashes. My hand reached out to pull the lever.

Beyond these metal walls, I might find my death—I didn’t know. But there was no turning back now.

With a screech, the doors began to open.

I pressed myself against the back of the compartment, fighting off my ghosts, bracing myself for a battle. But none of that was necessary.

Outside, it was dim, looking like an underground space. I wasn’t sure—there was little airflow, and the stench of dampness, rot, and decay was suffocating.

Swallowing hard, I forced my stiff muscles to move, stretching my legs to slip them over the edge and climb out clumsily, still trembling slightly.

I remained on high alert, scanning my surroundings. Dark stone walls greeted me. It was a small space, like a storage cellar.

My boots echoed in the deathly silence, broken only by the steady drip of water from some moldy corner. I covered my nose with my hand—the stench was unbearable, like a tomb.

It was obvious this place hadn’t been used often, but what caught my attention the most was the arched opening leading into a dark corridor.

I hesitated for a moment, but there weren’t many options. I jumped suddenly as I heard the metal doors slam shut behind me and the mechanism activate.

The dumbwaiter was returning to the surface, straight to the wardrobe.

Was it automatic, or was someone else coming? I had to hurry.

Clenching my fists, I decided to follow my magic’s instincts. I rushed toward the tunnel, plunging once more into the thickest darkness.

At first, I walked cautiously, afraid I might step into a hole. I could feel tiny creatures skittering along the walls, the ceiling, the floor.

Faster steps, then quicker, almost running… finally sprinting toward the exit of this claustrophobic pit.

If Lavinia had been taken through here, my poor child must have been terrified.

Panting, my clothes clinging to my sweat-drenched body, dirty and still shaken, I finally emerged into a slightly more open space.

Still small, but I couldn’t see much around me—it felt circular.

I clung to it, placed my feet on the lower rungs—they seemed sturdy—and began climbing toward what I hoped was an exit.

"You can do this. Come on, Kath, you're almost there," I encouraged myself.

I glanced down into the dark abyss below. A fall from this height would be fatal—I couldn’t imagine how they had transported Lavinia up.

I kept climbing and finally reached the top.

Something was blocking the entrance; a slight breeze filtered through the cracks—it looked like a wooden plank.

Holding onto the ladder with one hand, I stretched out the other, praying they hadn’t weighed down the exit with something too heavy.

I pushed with all my strength—it was heavy, but it moved.

Slowly, I began sliding it aside. Sweat dripped down my forehead, running to the tip of my nose. I huffed from the effort, but my perseverance paid off.

A rush of air hit my face, making me gasp for breath, reviving me. With renewed strength, I kept pushing, creating a gap big enough to squeeze through.

I pulled myself up the last few steps, gripping the thick stone edge, and managed to hoist my torso out. I realized it was a well—and there didn’t seem to be anyone waiting for me.

Letting myself drop over the edge, I tumbled onto the wild grass of the forest with a dull thud. I groaned at the impact, my senses on high alert. I couldn’t forget—the enemy was still near.