Chapter 383: The Confined Woman
Lyan and Althea moved carefully down the narrow, dimly lit staircase that led to the underground prison beneath Hektor’s mansion. The air was damp, cold, and carried the sour scent of mildew. Lyan couldn’t help but wonder how many unfortunate souls had been trapped here over the years, left to rot without a second thought. He exchanged a glance with Althea, who had her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, ready for anything that might jump out of the shadows.
As they reached the bottom, Lyan heard a muffled sound from one of the cells, growing louder as they approached. A voice, distinctly female, sharp and filled with frustration, echoed through the stone corridors.
"That stupid old fart, Hektor! I swear, if I get my hands on him, I’ll wring his greasy neck! And his son, that creepy, slimy pervert—thinking he can swoon girls with those leering eyes of his. Ugh, he gives me chills just thinking about it!"
Lyan paused, exchanging a raised-eyebrow glance with Althea. There was a certain energy in the voice, despite the circumstances, that took him by surprise. It wasn’t what he expected from someone trapped in a dungeon for who knew how long.
They continued moving, and soon the source of the voice came into view. Behind the rusted bars of a cell sat a young woman with tangled hair and clothes that looked like they had once been fine, now reduced to rags. She was visibly dirty, but her spirit—that was unmistakable. She was seated on the ground, her hands clenched into fists as she continued her tirade, her eyes ablaze with anger.
Lyan let out a short chuckle, leaning against the door of her cell. "Looks like you’ve had quite a bit to say about your captors."
The woman—her face partially obscured by the shadows—looked up sharply, her gaze locking onto Lyan’s. "Who are you? Another one of Hektor’s goons? Or maybe you’re just here to enjoy the show, huh?"
Althea took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "Careful with your words. We’re not here to harm you."
The woman eyed Althea for a long moment, then snorted. "Yeah, sure. That’s what they all say. Next thing I know, I’m getting tossed back in here with even fewer scraps than before."
Lyan held up a hand, signaling Althea to stand down. He reached into the satchel slung across his shoulder and pulled out a bundle of clothes, tossing them through the bars toward the woman. "Here. You look like you could use something clean."
The woman blinked, clearly taken aback by the gesture. She stared at the bundle for a moment before reluctantly picking it up. "What’s this supposed to be?"