traitor chapter 14

A screech of metal, followed by a thud, announced the opening of the rusty iron door. A powerfully built man filled the doorway. The Labyrinth’s creator. Ruby started to rise, but Diana pressed down on his shoulder. “Stay calm, Ruby. I’ll handle this.” 

A ragged breath escaped him. Leaning down, she whispered in his ear, “There’s nothing you can do right now. Trust me, and wait, no matter what happens.” Ruby clenched his hand, his head bowed to the cold floor. He didn’t reply, but she trusted he would obey. Perhaps it was foolish to anticipate anyone’s actions in this situation, but Ruby hadn’t betrayed her yet. He would follow her orders. “Has your escape attempt concluded?” 

Leonhardt stepped into the chamber. Diana disliked his condescending gaze and straightened up. “Escape? I was merely going about my business. You’re the one who insists on clinging like a pest.” His gaze followed her movement, then flicked down to Ruby, lingering coldly before returning to her with a slight curl of his lip. With a resounding clang, Leonhardt closed the door behind him, a deliberate display of control, a blatant attempt at intimidation. “Your scribe is far too weak to protect Your Majesty. I suggest a replacement. Someone with more practical experience, capable of anticipating and severing escape routes…” 

“Don’t waste your breath.” Diana’s sharp interruption silenced him. His lips tightened for a moment before relaxing into a deceptively casual expression. “Would you accept me as your protector?” 

“You offer charity to trash? Perhaps a gag would suit your insolent tongue better.” “Is that so? A pity.”

With that, Leonhardt drew his enchanted sword. The silver blade gleamed menacingly in the harsh light. He lowered the tip, dragging it across the floor in a smooth, pendulum-like motion. The chilling edge left a stark line in its wake. The stone floor cracked, a long fissure appearing where the blade had passed. Sparks of electricity crackled. 

Zzzzt. Blue electricity snaked up the pillars, shaking the ceiling as if the world had inverted and an earthquake had struck. The lights, suspended by chains, began to fall, one by one, crashing onto the stone floor with shattering bursts of glass. Crash! Crash! With each falling light, darkness encroached. One by one by one… The last light illuminated Leonhardt’s amber eyes and the cruel curve of his smile before exploding into fragments. 

The torture chamber was plunged into absolute darkness. Leonhardt’s presence vanished. A suffocating silence descended, amplifying the coppery scent of Ruby’s blood. Diana took a slow, quiet breath, fighting back the fear. She lowered herself, shielding Ruby’s incapacitated form. Leonhardt would come for him, seizing the opportunity to eliminate the troublesome human who thwarted his plans. Straining her ears, she held her breath, listening for the slightest sound. “Your Majesty.” His voice sliced through the darkness, startling her despite her vigilance. To her right. Close. “Do you trust your scribe?”

No. Diana was ruthlessly pragmatic. Blind trust in her inner circle had landed her in this Labyrinth. Despite Ruby’s current loyalty, trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford. Anyone could betray her. To trust again would be foolish. That was her reality. But she wouldn’t give Leonhardt the satisfaction of knowing that. She would only offer words that twisted the knife in his betrayal-ridden gut. 

“Such a pointless question. Why wouldn’t I trust the only loyal subject remaining at my side?” She took Ruby’s hand. 

“I should show him even more favor from now on.” A sharp intake of breath echoed in the silence, a clear sign of his anger. Raw, undisguised fury in the stillness. “I will show you exactly what kind of man he is. I will peel back the facade of loyalty and reveal his true nature.” 

His words, laced with barely contained rage, were followed by a sickening lurch. Diana felt herself falling backward as the floor tilted beneath her. She reached for Ruby, but a strong arm shoved her away. Ruby struggled to rise. 

“Your Ma—!” Crack. A sickening snap echoed through the chamber, followed by a choked gasp from Ruby. Leonhardt. Diana released Ruby’s hand. Holding on would only invite more cruelty. She let herself fall back, away from Ruby, following the angle of the tilting floor. The grip on her shoulder released. 

“Prepare yourself to see that he is no different from the rest.” Leonhardt’s curse-like words followed her descent. Diana felt the suppressed rage rising in her throat, threatening to erupt in a torrent of insults. Then, a flash of light pierced the darkness, and a forgotten memory surged to the forefront of her mind.