Secrets in the Underworld

A heavy, commanding knock echoed against Ethan's bedroom door.

"Ethan. Open the door. It's your dad."

Ethan swallowed hard, forcing his trembling legs to move. He opened the door slowly, keeping his eyes downcast. "Yes, mister?"

The tall man stepped into the room and sat down, his presence instantly dominating the space. He looked at the boy, a slight frown marring his sharp features. "Ethan, call me Dad. This 'mister' talk sounds incredibly odd coming from my own son."

Ethan looked directly into the man's piercing eyes, a spark of defiance mixing with his fear. "Mister... I am sorry. But I told you, I don't like that word. I have very bad memories attached to it."

The Grand Duke stared at him in silence. He let out a long, heavy sigh, his expression hardening.

"Then call me Father," the Duke commanded, his eyes narrowing into a dangerous, sharp glare. "Unless... you are going to tell me you cannot say that word either?"

Ethan looked down instantly, fear gripping his chest. His shoulders tensed as he stuttered out a response. "Y-yes... Father."

The dangerous aura around the Duke vanished, replaced by a cold smile. "Good boy. Now, come along. Let's eat dinner. It's time for you to meet your new mother."

Ethan shook his head quickly. "No... I am not hungry. I want to sleep, please."

The Duke stared at him for a moment before standing up to his full, imposing height. "Very well then. Goodnight, Ethan. See you tomorrow."

As the man walked out, a dark, suffocating aura seemed to leave the room with him. Ethan quickly shut the door and collapsed against it, sliding down onto the floor. He scratched his head in sheer frustration, hot tears stinging his eyes.

"Why does he look so scary...?" Ethan whispered to the empty room. "It feels like... like he is just playing a twisted game of father and son."

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At midnight, inside the quiet servant quarters, Iris peeked over at her mother. Solin was fast asleep, her breathing deep and even.

Iris let out a soft sigh of relief. Thank God, she's finally asleep.

Slipping out from under the covers in her nightsuit, Iris tiptoed out of the room. She navigated the dark, silent corridors of the mansion until she arrived outside Ethan's door. She gave a faint, rhythmic knock and whispered, "Ethan? Open up, it's me. Iris."

On the other side of the door, Ethan was startled awake. He had fallen asleep directly on the cold floor right where he had been crying earlier.

Iris knocked again, a bit more urgent this time. "Ah, Ethan! If you don't want me dead out here, open up!"

Ethan quickly unlocked the door and pulled it open. Iris slipped inside, and Ethan immediately shut it behind her.

"Are you okay?!" Ethan asked, his heart hammering.

"Yes, I'm completely fine, thankfully," Iris beamed. Then, she looked up and down at his clothes, crossing her arms. "Huh? You haven't even changed out of your day clothes yet?"

Ethan finally noticed what Iris was wearing. She was standing in his bedroom in her matching nightsuit. His face instantly flushed a bright, burning red. He quickly slapped his hands over his eyes, turning his head away.

"Ir—Iris! Why are you in your nightsuit?!" he stammered nervously.

Iris burst out laughing at his reaction. "Oh, Ethan, be serious! You are my friend now. Whether I am in my work dress or my nightsuit, it's the same to you!"

Ethan slowly lowered his hands from his face, still feeling a bit shy. "O-okay... but why did you come here so late?"

Iris smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I told you I'd come at night! I want to show you a secret place in this mansion. Come with me!"

Ethan hesitated, looking out at the pitch-black hallway. "But... won't it be dangerous?"

"Oh, it's totally fine." Iris shrugged playfully, grabbing his hand. "Playing with danger is basically our job description around here."

She pulled him toward the exit. Holding his hand tightly, she peeked her head out into the corridor and whispered, "The coast is clear. Come on!"

They slipped into the shadows, walking as softly as ghosts. Ethan's anxiety was mounting with every step. "Iris, this is bad. If anyone sees us at this hour, they will be absolutely furious."

"Shhh! Stop talking," Iris whispered back, pulling him through the back exit. "We've arrived."

They stood outside in a secluded, overgrown corner of the mansion's grand gardens. Right in front of them was a deep, dark hole in the ground.

Iris pointed down into the abyss. "Let's go inside!"

Ethan's expression twisted into pure confusion. He looked at the drop, then back at her. "Hey... do you want me to commit suicide?"

"Are you crazy?!" Iris laughed. "This is the spot! Look, there's a ladder right here. We use this to get down."

"But if we fall, we will literally die!" Ethan protested.

Iris puffed out her chest and proudly showed off her tiny arm muscle. "Look at this! I am strong. Nothing bad is going to happen to us. Now, come on!"

Without waiting, she began climbing down the wooden rungs into the dark. Ethan panicked, not wanting to be left behind in the dark garden. "Wait for me! I'll come too!"

Ethan scrambled onto the ladder, climbing down right after her.

When their feet finally hit the solid ground at the bottom, Ethan gasped. Spread out before them was a massive, incredibly fancy, and beautifully magical library. Floating lights illuminated thousands of ancient books.

Ethan nudged Iris sharply, his eyes wide. "What is this place, Iris?! Did we just break into the Mister's secret vault?!"

"Aaaaah, stop shaking me! You're going to make me dizzy!" Iris complained, pulling away with a giggle. "This place is mine. I built it."

Ethan blinked, completely baffled. "How?"

Iris's playful smile faded, and she looked down at her shoes. "I created it... with my magic. Whenever I get angry or sad, I come down here to escape."

Ethan stared at her in shock. "But how do you have magic? You're a maid's daughter... You aren't a noble."

Iris clutched her arm, a heavy sadness settling over her. "Yes... But I used to be. My father was actually a high noble. He married my mother, who was a commoner. But when he died, his family threw us out of the palace and forced us to leave. That's how we ended up working here. My magic has always been my deepest secret. Please keep it, Ethan."

Seeing her so vulnerable, Ethan felt a deep wave of sympathy. He stepped closer to comfort her, sharing a piece of his own darkness. "My... my mother died when I was born, too. And my father... he hated me."

Iris whipped her head up, her eyes wide. "What?"

Ethan looked away, his voice dripping with old, painful sorrow. "Mister Sam was the one who raised me. My biological father... he was just a monster." Tears began to well up in Ethan's eyes at the memory of that bloody night.

Iris noticed his trembling shoulders. "Ethan... are you crying?"

Ethan quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve, turning his face further away. "No. No, I'm fine."

Iris reached out, her heart aching for her new friend. "Ah, it's alright..."

She tried to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Ethan, reacting out of instinct to hide his tears, tried to gently push her hand away. But in the clumsy, panicked movement, Iris's finger caught sharply on a jagged edge of a nearby old bookshelf.

"Aaaaah! Ouch, it hurts!" Iris cried out, pulling her hand back in pain.

Ethan panicked instantly. "Oh! I am so sorry! It's my fault!"

Iris patted his shoulder with her uninjured hand, forcing a smile through the pain. "It's okay! There's absolutely nothing to say sorry for, Ethan. You shouldn't be scared of anything around me."

Ethan felt a wave of relief wash over him, but his eyes naturally drifted down to her injured hand.

A single, bright crimson drop of blood was welling up on the tip of Iris's finger.

The moment the scent of her blood hit Ethan's nose, his entire body froze. His mind went completely blank. He couldn't tear his eyes away from that drop of crimson.

Deep inside his jaw, his tiny, hidden fangs suddenly began to tingle and ache. A dark, terrifying voice inside his head began to scream, louder and louder: DRINK. DRINK IT. YOU WILL LOVE THE TASTE.

Iris noticed his strange, rigid posture. The air in the magical library suddenly felt cold. She took a step back, her voice trembling slightly.

"Ethan...?"

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[Chapter 3 Ended - To Be Continued]

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