Kael sat on his throne, his cheek resting on his fist. His eyes locked on the wave of shadowy do, waiting patiently, silently, for them to break free.
The shadows curled at his feet like hounds, loyal and restless. They shifted with tension, like even they were tired of waiting.
The air around him grew heavier, slowly matching the weight behind his silence. And as his patience wore thin, the Underworld seed to hold its breath with him.
Then, finally—
The second cocoon cracked.
The man stumbled forward, staring down at his feet, each step was slow and uneven like he nearly escaped. His hands shook as he forced himself upright to et his king eyes.
Kael’s eyes locked on him.
"What is it that you desire?"
The man lifted his head slowly, his voice hoarse but steady.
"I just wanted to belong."
Chains burst from the floor. They wrapped around his ankles, his wrists—slow, like the Underworld was listening.
He didn’t fight.
He just... exhaled. As if this was what he had always been waiting for.
The next one erged seconds later. She had her arms curled around herself like she was holding in sothing broken. Her eyes flickered, like she had been through hell.
Kael asked her the sa question.
"What is it that you desire?"
"To feel again... even if it hurts."
The chains found her just the sa—crawling up her back, over her shoulders. She dropped to her knees. Not out of fear.
But relief.
Another ca forward, teeth gritted. He struggled to speak, trying to find the right words to say, but nothing ca out.
So Kael asked, but his tone was soft, filled with acceptance.
"What is it that you desire?"
"To matter. To be more than just an undead soldier."
The chains slithered around him like serpents—curling up his spine, wrapping his chest. He didn’t look away. Not once. He let them bind him, eyes locked on Kael the whole ti.
Then ca a girl. Quiet. Small. Her steps soft, but steady.
She stood before him.
Kael tilted his head. He didn’t speak.
She answered anyway.
"To be seen," she whispered. "Truly."
The chains that found her were gentle—almost reverent. They coiled up her arms like silk ribbons, then tightened.
And still, she stood tall.
Then ca a boy who fell to his knees the mont he stepped free. His hands shook violently. His breathing was ragged.
Kael watched him struggle.
"What is it that you desire?"
"Freedom..." he rasped. "From them. From everything."
The shadows rushed him.
Chains wrapped his torso, dragging him upward—not violently, but without rcy. His head tilted back, and for the first ti... he smiled.
One by one, they erged.
So collapsed in tears. Others ca out screaming. So stood in silence, shoulders squared like they had nothing left to lose.
And each ti, Kael asked the sa question.
"What is it that you desire?"
"Love."
"Justice."
"To be rembered."
"To be whole."
And one by one... they were bound.
Suspended beside him, not like prisoners—but like truths. Living, breathing fragnts of desire.
Their bodies dangled in silence, a circle of chained spirits—hovering, waiting.
And Kael sat there.
His gaze sharpened, and the shadows around his eyes pulled tighter.
He looked out across the palace courtyard, at the cocoons still hanging in silence—so of them twitching, like they were holding their breath.
"You were not chosen to be my generals..."
His voice was low, quiet—but it struck like a blade drawn in a tomb.
"...but do not worry."
He sat on his throne calmly. The shadows at his feet rippled like living tentacles. Then they shot outward.
First one.
Then two.
Then four.
Each streak of darkness lashed across the field, multiplying like wildfire, until every last cocoon was connected to it like a spiderweb.
"You will be given opportunities to prove yourselves."
Without a second thought, he lifted his right hand and, in one motion, dragged the blade across his palm. He watched the skin split open.
But no pain.
He raised the hand to his face. Shadows shifted as he watched the black blood drip down his arm.
Sothing about it felt unnatural.
A quiet laugh escaped him. Dry. Bitter.
Part of him... almost wished it had turned red again. Just once, so he could feel normal again.
Just then, he felt his mother’s hand on his shoulder.
He turned. Her presence steadied him.
A faint smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
"Watch this," he said softly.
He reached forward.
Blood traced a thin line down his finger... and fell onto the ground.
Thick. Dark. Alive.
"Drink the blood of Hades..."
The blood flowed through his shadows like it was coursing through veins. They carried it outward, threading through the darkness.
One by one, the cocoons began to pulse...
Slow.
Steady.
Like hearts starting to beat again—fed by sothing ancient.
"Drink what runs the River Styx."
He fixed his gaze on all the chained souls.
His shadow surged forward—sharp, precise—piercing straight through their chests.
From within, it dragged out their Desire, the sa way he had with the Sins.
He pulled them out. Just like before.
Nothing happened at first. Then the chains began to break—slowly, one after another—until all of them stood free.
They didn’t change. Their bodies remained human. There was no monstrous transformation, no overwhelming surge of power like the Sins. They kept their sowhat human form.
The reasoning is simple: they were born from human desire, just like the Sins—except they were not the sa. They are much weaker, not because of their lack of will, but because their nature was different. The Sins were made from the darkest forms of desire—distorted, corrupted, and stripped of all their empathy. That’s why their forms are monstrous, to the point they no longer resemble anything human.
These souls ca from simple desires—the kind that still held aning. They could be used for sothing noble or fall into corruption, depending on the choices they made.
That freedom was what kept them grounded.
That choice was what preserved their humanity.
They were not forced into ruin.
They are allowed to choose.
Revenge (Male)
He didn’t speak much. He watched instead. His gaze was sharp, cold, never blinking. He didn’t lash out. He waited. Everything about him felt like a wound held shut just long enough to strike. If he trusted you, it was because he planned to.
To Belong (Male)
He stood close to others, but not too close. He smiled when people spoke to him, but it never reached his eyes. He wants to be invited in, but will never ask. He was quiet. Careful. Like soone who was told many tis they didn’t fit.
To Feel Again (Female)
She was gentle in how she moved, as if afraid to break things—or herself. Her voice shook when she talked, but she still talked. She listened more than she spoke, and when she did speak, it ca out honest and raw. Like every word has aning.
To Matter (Male)
He talked fast, like soone afraid of being cut off. He got angry easily, but always for a reason. He was the first to jump in, to defend others, even if no one asked. He didn’t want attention. He just wanted to count for sothing.
To Be Seen (Female)
She held eye contact a little too long. She never looked down. She wanted people to notice her, but hated being looked at like a problem. She didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t need to. Her silence was loud enough.
Freedom (Male)
He didn’t like standing still. His hands twitched when there was nothing to do. He smiled like he didn’t care, but he did. He always kept his distance from everyone, even those he liked. He didn’t hate people. He just hated being told what to do.
To Love – Male Half (Male)
He spoke softly, never in a rush. When others argued, he listened. When they cried, he stayed. He didn’t need to say much. His presence was enough. He cared deeply and quietly, but it showed in everything he did.
To Love – Female Half (Female)
She was fire. Protective. Sharp. She didn’t waste ti on kindness unless it ant sothing. She looked calm when he was near, but without him, the edge returned. She wasn’t soft—but she was loyal to the core.
To Be Rembered (Female)
She noticed everything. The smallest shifts in tone, the little things people forgot. She held onto nas like they were sacred. She didn’t chase the spotlight. She just didn’t want to disappear.
To Be Whole (Two Males)
The first was quiet, heavy with silence. He took hits for others without blinking. Never asked for help. He looked like soone who expected to be left behind, but stayed anyway.
The second talked to fill the silence. He laughed super loud. He gave without thinking. Needed without asking. He looked like soone who tried to fix others so he wouldn’t have to fix himself.
Together, they didn’t balance each other perfectly. But they made each other whole.
They all knelt behind Kael, their chains resting quietly at their sides. Behind them, the Sins stood tall—watchful, silent.
Then, one by one, the rest began to stir.
The shadowy cocoons twitched. Cracks spread.
And more began to break free.
Kael watched from the throne, unmoving.
A slow grin tugged at the corner of his mouth—wide, steady.
Reviews
All reviews (0)