Hades sat at the edge of his bed, his shoulders hunched, fingers steepled under his chin, his mind far away. The demon inside him had been unusually quiet all day, but the silence was unsettling.
Grim entered, bowing low without wasting time on pleasantries. "Your Highness, we may have a serious problem."
Hades barely shifted his gaze. "Has he escaped?"
"Not yet, but soon. Somehow, he has grown stronger, he's still growing stronger. The whispers that were meant to torture and break him no longer affect him. It's as if he's… gained control over them."
Hades' eyes darkened. "How long do they think it will take before he finally breaks free?"
"Perhaps weeks. Maybe less." Grim's jaw tightened. "And when he does, he plans to release more demons into this realm. His goal is chaos and revenge. He's determined to find the one who betrayed him."
"Betrayed him?" Hades narrowed his eyes, his confusion evident. "Who betrayed him, and what does any of that have to do with this realm?"
