Chapter 14 Something Wicked this Way Comes

In the land of Everdark, where towering mountains pierce the heavens and an eternal night blankets the land, the mists reign supreme. Nestled within a secluded valley, a crumbling castle stands—a relic of the final battle between this world's demon lord and the heroes who sought to vanquish him. Though victorious, their triumph was fleeting.

The air hung heavy with dampness, carrying the scent of cold stone and ancient dust. Wind howled through shattered windows, whispering secrets of bloodshed and broken oaths. Shadows clung to every corner, as though the darkness itself refused to leave this place.

On this very night, within the castle’s forsaken halls, a shadowed congregation gathers. Cloaked figures, an unholy clergy, chant the forbidden rites—an ancient black prayer meant to awaken the demon lord once more.

Their voices were low at first, blending into a single pulsing rhythm, rising and falling like a tide. The candles sputtered as if recoiling from the words spoken. Sweat beaded on foreheads beneath heavy hoods. Some hands trembled, clutching sacred daggers or rusted chains. Fear lurked behind their devotion.

Upon the altar lies the body of a young demon woman, her ram-like horns curling from her head, her flawless form bare beneath the flickering candlelight. She is the chosen vessel.

The congregation’s chanting quickened, growing sharp, desperate. Power seemed to crackle in the air. The flames bent inward toward the altar as if drawn by some unseen force.

The prayer reaches its climax, the echoes of dark incantations fading into the void. The cultists step back in reverence and fear. Then—Malrissa stirs. Her body rises from the altar, hovering above the trembling clergy. Her eyes snap open, glowing with an eerie, malevolent light.

A wicked, manic laughter fills the chamber. The demon lord has returned.