SHE HEARD A BELL INSIDE THE PRINCESS’S COFFIN—THEN THE KING ORDERED HER EXECUTION

The entrance to the lower catacombs was hidden behind a rusted iron grate in the lowest level of the castle cellars. Few ever ventured down here; the air was thick with the smell of damp earth, centuries of dust, and the stale scent of ancient decay.

Captain Vance led the way with a blazing torch, his sword drawn, while Aurelia and Elara followed closely behind. The ceiling bowed low, carved directly out of the dark stone bedrock, and on either side, shelves of carved stone held the ancient coffins of forgotten kings, queens, and generals.

As they walked deeper into the labyrinth, the sound of the ringing bells grew louder, creating a chilling, chaotic symphony.

"The silver wires," Elara pointed out, pointing her lantern toward the vaulted ceiling. A network of thin, tarnished silver wires stretched along the stone arches like a metallic spiderweb, all converging toward a central shaft that led straight up into the old royal chapel above. "They were designed so that if anyone woke up, a bell in the watchtower would ring. But the council disconnected the tower bells decades ago. They left the wires in place to satisfy tradition, but locked the catacombs so no one could ever hear them."

"Look," Aurelia whispered, stopping in front of a massive, gilded tomb decorated with the royal coat of arms.

The stone plaque bore the name King Henry IV, Aurelia’s grandfather, who had died forty years prior. Attached to the corner of the sarcophagus was a small silver bell mechanism. The wire leading to it was vibrating gently, humming like a plucked guitar string.

"He died four decades ago," Vance said, his voice trembling slightly. "It's impossible. No one could survive down here for that long."

"They didn't," Elara said quietly, stepping closer to the tomb. She pointed to the base of the stone. "The bells aren't being rung by living hands anymore. Look at the wires."

Vance lowered his torch. The silver wires running along the floor were covered in dark, moving masses. Thousands of subterranean mountain rats, disturbed by the disturbance and attracted to the old copper and silver cords, were running frantically through the tunnels, tripping the ancient spring-loaded mechanisms that connected the tombs to the bell wires.

"The wires were tripped when I pulled Aurelia out," Elara explained. "The tension shifted across the entire network. But look at this tomb..."

Elara placed her hands against the side of King Henry IV’s sarcophagus. Deep, jagged scratch marks were visible along the inside edges where the stone met the frame—marks made from inside, attempting to push the lid away.

"My grandfather..." Aurelia gasped, covering her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks. "They buried him alive too."

"It’s a pattern," Elara said, her eyes cold. "Whenever a ruler resisted the High Council, or whenever an heir showed too much independence, Dr. Malachi—or his predecessors—administered the poison. They staged a tragic death, held a lavish royal funeral, and placed them in a stone box to suffocate in the dark."

Suddenly, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed down the stone corridor behind them.

"In here! Search every alcove!" a harsh voice shouted. It was Dr. Malachi, accompanied by a dozen heavily armed royal guards.

"They found us," Vance growled, stepping in front of the women and drawing his broadsword. "Go! Through the passage on the left! It leads to the old wine cellars!"

"No, Vance, we stand together!" Aurelia demanded.

"Your Highness, if they kill you down here, no one will ever know the truth!" Vance urged, shoving her toward a narrow archway. "Get Elara to safety! I'll hold the tunnel!"

Before Aurelia could argue, Malachi’s guards rounded the corner, their steel armor clanking in the dim light. Vance let out a roaring battle cry and charged into the narrow passageway, his heavy blade clashing against the lead guard’s shield, blocking the narrow choke point with his body.

"Run!" Vance yelled over the sound of scraping steel.

Elara grabbed Aurelia’s hand and pulled her into the dark tunnel. They ran blindly through the pitch-black maze, the sounds of swordplay and Malachi’s frantic orders echoing behind them. The floor sloped upward, slippery with wet moss and condensation.

Elara’s lungs burned, her bleeding hands throbbing with every step, but she kept her grip tight on the princess. Up ahead, a faint sliver of moonlight cut through a high, barred window. They were directly beneath the royal gardens, near the private quarters of the High Chancellor—Lord Vane, the most powerful man in the kingdom and King Cassian’s chief advisor.