Chapter 123 The old square

Chapter 123 The old square
The banging came again, louder this time, making everyone in the room flinch. Nobody moved as they stared at the door, each of them wondering who could possibly be outside and why they were so desperate to get in. Viktor lifted a hand, his eyes fixed on the door as he spoke in a low voice. “Everyone, calm down. Stay exactly where you are.”

Another violent bang shook the door.

Viktor moved toward it quickly, his body tense and ready for anything. He curled one hand into a tight fist while reaching for the handle with the other, then slowly turned it and pulled the door open just enough to see who was outside. The moment he recognized the person standing there, the tension in his face changed.

It was one of his former guards, a man Viktor knew well and had trusted during his time in the kingdom. His clothes were stained with blood, his face was pale, and sweat covered his forehead as though he had been running for his life. The moment the door opened wider, the guard stumbled forward and nearly collapsed.

Viktor immediately caught him and crouched beside him. “What happened?” he demanded, looking him over quickly. “Who did this to you?”

The guard struggled to catch his breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out properly, and Viktor had to lean closer to hear him. “M-Maui…”

Viktor's expression changed instantly. “What about Maui?” he asked sharply. “What happened to him?”

The guard swallowed hard, his voice shaking. “Caius… Caius has him.”

Viktor's heart dropped.

“He took him to the old square,” the guard continued, struggling between breaths. “They're going to hang him. They're going to kill him.”

For a second, Viktor simply stared at him as though he had not understood what he had heard. Then he rose so quickly that everyone in the room stepped back. “No,” he said under his breath before turning toward the door.

“Viktor!” Elara called.

He was already running.

Elara immediately followed, with Joyce and Ellie close behind her. The others hurried after them, barely having time to ask questions as Viktor raced through the corridors and out into the open streets. His only thought was Maui, the man who had risked everything to get information to him and had now been caught because of it.

Viktor pushed through the crowd gathering near the old square, his breathing heavy as he forced his way forward. Then he saw the platform in the distance, and his entire body went rigid. Maui was standing with his hands restrained, a rope already positioned around him, while several guards surrounded the platform.

And sitting above them was Caius.

Caius looked completely at ease, watching the scene from his throne as though someone's life meant nothing to him. Several guards stood around the platform, while one man waited beside Maui with a barrel positioned beneath him. Viktor's eyes locked onto Maui, and anger immediately flooded through him.

“CAIUSSSSSSSSS!”

His voice thundered across the square.

Every head turned.

Caius slowly looked toward the entrance, and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Viktor standing there. Viktor pushed through the crowd, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Elara and the others followed behind him, but Viktor barely noticed them.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Viktor shouted.

Caius rose from his throne.

He descended the steps slowly, almost enjoying the anger written across Viktor's face. “So,” he said, looking toward Maui, “this is the fool who has been giving you information.”

Viktor's jaw tightened.

Caius stopped a few feet away from him and gave a small laugh. “I must admit, I'm impressed. I can't believe someone has been living in my kingdom, sneaking into the human world and feeding you information without me knowing.”

“He has nothing to do with this,” Viktor snapped.

“Oh, but he does.” Caius glanced toward Maui. “He betrayed me.”

Maui lowered his head, saying nothing.

Viktor took a step forward. “He helped me because he knew what you and Cavem were doing was wrong. He hasn't harmed anyone.”

Caius's smile disappeared. “You don't get to decide who deserves to live in my kingdom.”

“This isn't your kingdom,” Viktor said coldly. “You stole it.”

A murmur spread through the crowd.

Caius's eyes narrowed.

Viktor didn't care anymore. He had spent too long running, hiding and watching people suffer because of the men who had taken everything from him. He looked toward Maui and saw the fear in his eyes, and something inside him broke.

“Let him go,” Viktor said.

Caius laughed.

“I said let him go.”

“No.”

Viktor's eyes flashed red. “Caius, he has done nothing to you.”

“He betrayed me.”

“He helped someone you tried to destroy.”

Caius stepped closer. “And that makes him innocent?”

“It makes him brave.”

For a moment, the two men simply stared at each other.

The tension in the square grew heavier as everyone waited to see what would happen next. Elara could feel the danger coming from Viktor, and she knew from the look in his eyes that he was barely controlling himself. She moved a little closer to Joyce, silently preparing herself in case Viktor lost control.

Caius turned away from Viktor and looked toward the platform.

“Enough.”

Viktor's eyes widened.

Caius lifted his hand.

“Kill him.”

The executioner immediately reached for the barrel beneath Maui.

“No!”

Viktor lunged forward.

Maui looked up just as the executioner kicked the barrel away.

Viktor stretched out his hand, his fingers reaching desperately toward him, but he was too far away. The barrel rolled across the ground, and Maui dropped.

Everything stopped.

Viktor stood frozen, his hand still extended toward the platform.

Elara covered her mouth in shock.
Joyce stared at Maui, unable to move.
Even the crowd fell completely silent.

Viktor's eyes remained fixed on the platform as though his mind refused to accept what had just happened. His breathing became shallow, and slowly, his hand dropped to his side.

Caius watched him without saying a word.

Then Viktor's head lifted.
His eyes were no longer simply red yet they were burning with rage.

“You…” he whispered.

Caius's expression remained calm.

Viktor's voice rose as he stared directly at him. “You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”