CHAPTER 103: STICK FIGURES

Viktor let out another sigh. "I have to go... to my chambers." He offered her a faint smile before walking out of the music room.

Lilith stood from the couch and followed shortly after, gently closing the door behind her. Her footsteps echoed down the long hallway as she made her way toward the crypt. She half-expected to run into Lucian, but he was nowhere in sight.

She continued toward the cave. No matter how many times she visited, she noticed how the rest of the world outside was cold as ice, yet this part of the castle felt unusually warm. There was always this subtle warmth that welcomed her the moment she stepped inside.

The soft sound of the waterfall greeted her ears, a calming rhythm that never failed to soothe her.

With no one around, Lilith took the opportunity to explore. Her eyes drifted to a dimly lit corner she hadn’t ventured into before. Curiosity tugged at her as she stepped toward it.

Leaning against the wall were scattered items—old books, umbrellas, and walking sticks. She crouched down, picking up the books and flipping through them. Most were filled with messy scribbles, faded pages, and scraps that didn’t make much sense to her.

She grabbed another book and did the same, until something caught her eye.

Engraved faintly in the rough stone wall behind the books was a drawing. Two stick figures stood side by side, their hands joined together. One figure was noticeably taller than the other. Beneath it, almost invisible, the words were etched: Mother and I.

Lilith’s heart squeezed.

She gently placed the book aside and leaned closer, running her fingers over the faint engravings. A slow, tender smile spread across her lips as she imagined a young Hades carving this memory into the stone. A piece of his childhood frozen in time.

She envied the bond he must have had with his mother. The softness in his eyes whenever he spoke about her. They must have been very close. She wondered, not for the first time, how different he might have been if his mother had lived.

Her eyes stung with unshed tears. She sniffed softly, blinking them back as she placed the books back where she had found them. Rising to her feet, she took a steady breath and looked around the space once more.

That was when she noticed it.

A door—barely visible, tucked away in the far shadows. It was made of dark, heavy wood, so deeply hidden in the corner that it seemed part of the wall itself. If not for the shift in lighting, she might never have noticed it at all.

Her curiosity piqued, though something deep within her stirred with caution. A quiet voice in her mind urged her to turn back. But she pushed the unease aside.

She approached slowly, her hand reaching for the round doorknob. It was cold to the touch. With a gentle twist, she pushed it open. Despite her efforts to be quiet, the hinges groaned in protest, and the wooden edge dragged harshly against the stone floor.

Due to the noise, Lilith didn’t open the door fully. She pushed it just halfway and squeezed herself through the narrow opening.

A stone staircase lay ahead of her. Carefully, she descended one step at a time until she reached the bottom. Oddly enough, the temperature grew even warmer down here.

She took a few cautious steps forward, her eyes widening as she realized she was much closer to the waterfall. From where she stood, she could see part of the water cascading into a flowing river just a few feet away.

Suddenly, a sharp gasp escaped her lips when something brushed past her ear with startling speed. She turned sharply—and her heart dropped when she saw an arrow embedded in the wall beside her.

Her mind flashed back to the night in the bedroom, and for a moment, panic rose in her chest. She spun toward the direction the arrow had come from and was shocked to find Hades standing a few meters away, a bow in his hand.

"You could have killed me!" she shouted, her voice sharp and angry.

"No, I wouldn’t have," Hades replied calmly, his eyes slowly trailing from her face, down the length of her dress, to her toes—then back to her face.

"Mistakes happen, you know! You might not have wanted to, but it still could’ve happened—especially when you saw me approaching and shot anyway!" Lilith snapped, fists clenched at her sides.

Hades raised a brow, unbothered. "You’re assuming again, darling. I didn’t see you approaching, and you’re not supposed to be here."

Lilith swallowed, the truth sinking in. He was right—she wasn’t meant to be down here. Still, she pressed on. "That doesn’t change the fact that you could have killed me."

A smirk curled on Hades’ lips. "You always seem to forget who you’re speaking to. I kill people for raising their voice at me—and here you are, shouting at me."

There was a teasing note in his tone, but Lilith couldn’t quite tell if he was joking or not.

"You kill people for that? Don’t you think that’s a little excessive?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"If I thought so, I wouldn’t have killed them, would I?" he said dryly. "It’s quite simple, darling. I don’t like being disrespected."

Darling.

Lilith frowned. "Don’t call me that."

The prince arched a brow at her. "Call you what?"

"What you just called me a minute ago." Her frown deepened.

Hades shrugged, feigning innocence. "I have no idea what you’re talking about. Could you be more specific?"

Lilith gritted her teeth. "Do you want me to say it? You clearly know what you said."

His smirk widened. "I truly don’t, darling. Maybe you should tell me."

"You literally just said it!" she pointed out, exasperated.

Hades pretended to think for a moment, eyes lifting up. "Still not ringing a bell."

"Stop calling me darling," Lilith snapped, her fists clenched at her sides. "I have a name, and it’s Lilith."

Hades chuckled, taking a few slow steps toward her until they were only inches apart. He looked down at her, his gaze locking with hers.

"No," he said simply.

"No?" Her eyes narrowed. "Why not? I don’t like it."

"Well, I do like it," he replied, his voice dipping into a low, velvety tone. "And you are a darling. My beautiful darling."

Lilith found herself staring up at him, completely thrown off. Her face flushed, heat rushing to her cheeks as her mind struggled to find a response. She blinked a few times, then turned on her heel to leave—only for Hades to catch her arm, gently but firmly pulling her back until she was pressed against his chest.

"Not so bold anymore, hmm?" he murmured, a smirk playing at his lips.