CHAPTER 100 : SCORCHED

With a smooth motion, Aiden turned to the guard who had handed him the knife earlier. 

"Here," Aiden said, extending the blade back toward the guard. 

He was done with the tool now, best return it to the owner.

The guard took the knife, giving Aiden a small, respectful nod. "Thank you. I trust it served its purpose, Alpha," the guard uttered, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction and admiration.

Aiden smiled, although his smile was thin as his eyes flickered back to Dave, who remained limp on the guard's shoulder.

The bloodied man was now just a rag doll, hardly able to register what was happening around him, let alone resist what awaited him.

Aiden was indeed pleased with the knife, but this was not over. Not yet.

Aiden turned back and faced the massive iron door right in front of him, the air around them feeling thick. He stepped forward, gesturing toward the second guard with a flick of his fingers.

The second guard immediately approached the large door, his hand settling on the cold iron handle. He gripped it tightly as he pushed against the stiff door.

Aiden watched with a casual, almost amused expression as the guard struggled for a moment, then spoke in a voice tinged with sarcasm, "It has been a while since we have used this room...no wonder it won't budge."

"I will get it to open, Alpha," the guard reassured, yanking harder on the handle.

"I'm sure you will," Aiden responded. "You would think they would oil these hinges at least once in a while." He continued, still with the same sarcasm tinged in his tone.

Finally, the guard was able to open the door, the rusty hinges emitting a loud screech as the door moved with a slow, laborious crawl. Dust, as expected, fell from the frame, the smell of aged and cold stone, thick in the air.

The guard, feeling proud of himself, took a few more steps back, awaiting Aiden's next move.

Aiden, glad that the guard did not waste any more of his time, strode into the room first, the guard with Dave on his shoulder following him, before the second guard also followed them in.

"Welcome to the Forge," Aiden said as he turned his head slightly, speaking over his shoulder to Dave. "We call this The Forge Dungeon. It might be surprising having a dungeon inside a dungeon, but do not worry, you will find it... quite accommodating."

As they walked deeper into the Forge Dungeon, Aiden took in its atmosphere, nodding with satisfaction. The forge had not been used for quite some time, and the dust and rust made it clear. The scarps of iron and burned fragments of wood also showed it. 

The floor was scattered with remnants of last use. Still, it was a fitting place for what was about to happen.

There was no need for torches in this room, as the room was built in a way that light from outside could come in. Aiden could almost hear the faint echo of the screams that once filled this room, although some of those screams never lasted long before they were silenced.

Taking in the full scope of the forge, it had a fire pit so large and centrally located. Its stone borders cracked from years of use. And above the fire pit, chains hung down from the ceiling, holding a massive iron cauldron in place.

The cauldron was dark with soot and creaked slightly as it swayed in place, just waiting to be put to use again.

Aiden, taking all this in, paused in the center of the room, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. It was one of the best buildings in the pack.

"This," he gestured grandly as he looked at the cauldron and then turned back to Dave, "is where the real fun begins."

Aiden stepped closer to the fire pit, inspecting it as he moved around the pit. Although the fire pit was cold now, it was still impressive. 

"Set him down there." Aiden looked at the guard who still had Dave on his shoulder and ordered, motioning to a spot.

The guard stepped forward and moved to place Dave down at the center of the room as Aiden had instructed, a spot that was not too close to the fire pit. 

Dave grimaced in pain and moved a little as the guard dropped him down, and the moment the guard's hands left Dave, Aiden commanded, "Prepare the fire."

The two guards nodded and began moving toward a small chamber built into the dungeon. It was a section which was clearly meant for storing supplies. 

Along one side of the chamber, they found what they were looking for—a stack of neatly arranged firewood, and a pile of dried kindling nearby. 

The stack of firewood was well-stored, and after inspecting it, the guards confirmed it was in good condition and would burn well.

Done inspecting the stack of firewood, one guard grabbed several pieces, testing their sturdiness before stacking an armful. Then the other guard grabbed several pieces of dried kindling.

"This should do," the first guard muttered, hefting the load and turning toward the exit with the other guard.

They set to work quickly, arranging the firewood beneath the cauldron suspended by iron chains. 

"I will go get a torch from the wall outside," one of the guards informed the other. "You prepare the wood."

"Sure," the other responded with a nod and did what was necessary.

Minutes later, the other guard was back with the torch. He crouched low, angling the flame toward the dried kindling until it caught.

The fire came to life slowly, crackling softly at first before roaring. Shadows danced on the dungeon walls, and before they knew it, the heat intensified, heating up the iron cauldron.

"All done, Alpha," one of the guards reported to Aiden as he and his fellow guard took a step back, wiping the sweat forming on their brows.

"Good job boys," Aiden commended them as he watched the fire grow and heat up the cauldron more.

Once satisfied with the flames and with how well the cauldron was now heated, he walked to the fire pit with the gold statue he had clutched in his hand throughout.

He stepped up to the cauldron and threw the golden statue into it, where it fell with a sharp clang.

The cauldron was very hot, but Aiden was unfazed. He went on to unhook the chain and hold the cauldron by the handle, lifting it with both hands, as he watched the hot metal sizzle and begin to melt. 

Slowly, the solid gold turned into a bubbling liquid, its surface rippling with intense heat.

Aiden carefully rotated the cauldron, his hand steady as the molten gold heated up even further. He rotated the cauldron some more, making it tilt and making the liquid gold inside swirl.

Once the gold had reached the desired temperature he wanted it to be in, he ordered his guards to get Dave on his knees.

"Get him on his knees," Aiden ordered.

The guards moved quickly to Dave, who was barely conscious from the pain he had been through. They grabbed him roughly, not caring for his well being, and forced him onto his knees, holding him in place, his body weak from all the blood loss.

"It is done, Alpha!" One of the guards informed Aiden.

On hearing that, Aiden carried the cauldron and walked slowly toward Dave. As he reached Dave, he did not waste any more time, as he already felt like he was wasting too much time. He immediately lifted the cauldron and tilted it, allowing the molten gold to pour out, sizzling as it hit the air before landing on Dave.

Dave, who had noticed that Aiden was not up to no good, could not even scream, as his eyes widened in shock before the molten gold stroked his head.

When the molten gold poured on Dave's head, it sizzled as it made contact with his flesh. His body trembled, his vision blurred as his mind could barely process the unbearable heat and pain he was feeling.

His skin started to bubble and melt, and his hair singed and scorched in an instant. His mouth opened, but no sounds came out, only the horrible crackling of his flesh as it burned and hardened. 

Aiden, who was done pouring the molten gold on Dave's head, stood there with the cauldron still in his hand, watching as the gold hardened and suffocated the life from Dave's body.

With the gold now hardened on Dave's head, Dave's body lost all tension. His limbs went limp, and the guards, who were holding him up, let him go and stepped back.

With nothing holding him up anymore, Dave's limp form fell to the cold stone floor, his head making a clink sound as it hit the floor.