•~○Cursed castle[NCT]○~•

~•●>

Chapter 8

The air was thick with sulfur and the metallic tang of burning iron. Shadows danced wildly across jagged stone walls slick with damp, the flickering flames of cursed braziers casting grotesque shapes that seemed to leer and writhe. The heavy chains rattled like tortured souls as the cage swung gently, suspended by thick iron hooks embedded in the cavern's ceiling-a cavern that felt like the lungs of hell itself, deep and endless, echoing every whisper of agony.

Ten's voice sliced through the suffocating silence, harsh and venomous.
"Can you shut the fuck up? Jeez, how do people live with you?"

Hyuck's retort was sharp, but nothing could pierce the oppressive weight of despair crushing the air around them.

Chenle's voice, though strained, was a fragile thread of hope. "You literally talked about your hatred towards angels the entire time we were in that cage. Ten minutes. Since we've been free."

Ten sneered, eyes glowing faintly red in the low firelight. "Yeah, but you're like... super annoying."

Jaemin's fists clenched the cold bars. "Why did you even capture us?"

"Oh, you'll see," Ten's smile was a slash of darkness. "The princes are coming to save you? Ha. Your wings are already fading here. By the time they arrive, you'll be nothing but puppets under my control."

Chenle spat fire in return, voice trembling but fierce: "You think you're gonna win? Good always beats bad."

Ten chuckled-a dry, cracked sound like bones scraping stone. "Oh, little boy. This isn't a fairy tale. It's three little angels against Satan and his kingdom. I took you away; I'll do the same to them."

The sound of footsteps echoed ominously as a figure approached-a tall, handsome Male carrying a glowing device, his presence a strange calm amid the chaos.

"Master. You have a call."

Ten's gaze flickered toward him. "Thank you, Hendery. Take these angels back to their cage."

Hendery bowed with cold precision and led them away, chains clinking like a death knell.

Jaemin glared at Hendery. "How can you follow his orders? Isn't he a pain in the ass?"

The Male stopped, turning slowly, eyes sharp and unwavering. "No matter how annoying he is, I am loyal to my kingdom, its ruler, and the rules they've set. I can't do anything... and neither can a couple of angels."

He opened the cage, the door groaning like a wounded beast. They stepped inside, the stifling darkness swallowing them whole.

Hyuck whispered, voice small: "He's... cute."

A sharp slap cracked across his back. "You're taken. Don't look at other people," Jaemin snapped.

Hyuck grumbled, "I just stated a fact. Can't I do that?"

Chenle's voice softened but firm: "Stop it, you two. Hell is messing with your heads. Fight it."

The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating.

Ten's smile stretched thin, teeth like shards of obsidian. "Hello, little angels. I need you to tell me something very important."

Hyuck's defiance blazed: "Why would we tell you anything?"

Ten's eyes flared scarlet, voice low and threatening: "Because if you don't, I'll hurt you."

Jaemin spat back, teeth clenched: "Try me."

Ten snapped his fingers. A low, guttural groan ripped through the air as a male figure writhed in agony nearby, clutching his burning insides.

Hyuck's eyes filled with raw pain. "Stop!!" he cried, reaching out helplessly.

Ten's smile twisted cruelly. "Tell me, little one," he hissed, locking onto the youngest. "How do you get into heaven without being an angel, without guards trying to kill you?"

Jaemin, fighting through his own pain, whispered, "C-hen-le. Don't-"

Chenle screamed, voice breaking: "Stop hurting him!!"

Suddenly, his own pain flared, but Jaemin found the strength to roar: "Stop. Hurting. Him." His voice thundered deep, shaking the stone like a storm warning.

Ten's patience shattered, eyes blazing infernos. The tortures intensified, screams filling the cavernous hellscape.

Hyuck gritted his teeth, pain making his voice raw but resolute: "We'd rather suffer than give in to you."

Ten's fury exploded like volcanic ash, his flames licking at their souls.

Jaemin spat venom, defiance pure: "They'll save us. You can't stop that. You made the worst mistake of your existence."

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Hell's breath scorched and the shadows twisted, but beneath the pain, a flicker of hope burned bright, unbreakable.