All Chapters of Deep Down Your Black Heart: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Off in the distance, a plank crashed to the ground. Footsteps followed—fast, frantic, and heavy with terror.Hound’s hand slipped into his pant’s pocket, pulling out a metallic syringe. Inside, a bright purple fluid fizzled violently, light dancing through the glass. Without hesitation, he jammed the needle into his forearm. The reaction was immediate. Black veins crawled across his skin, spreading like ink in water. Every hair on his body stood on end.His pupils turned silver, glowing against the darkness. He tilted his head, staring through the shadows. The world shifted under his gaze—what others saw as blackness revealed its truth to him.There, stumbling through the mist, was a boy. Dark hair, thin frame, sweat dripping down his pale face. He looked back constantly, his wide eyes screaming fear. But Hound wasn’t fooled. The boy’s soul flickered faintly in the dark, and at its center was a brand—clear, unmistakable.A gust of wind swept through the alley, carrying the shadows wit

Hound’s eyes shot open, his body screaming in agony. He tried to move instinctively, but pain locked him in place. His shattered bones, jagged wounds, and the overwhelming loss of blood left him teetering on the brink of consciousness. His breathing came in shallow gasps, his body limp in the dark puddle that surrounded him, as if lying still could prolong his fleeting life.A door creaked open somewhere in the distance. Footsteps followed, hesitant at first, then quicker—urgent and determined.“I need your help” a voice broke through the darkness, shaky and desperate, “I’m stuck here, in the heart of Rivermirror, and I don’t have the means or connections to get home on my own. I’ll take you to a vitaecer, but in return, you don’t kill me… and you help me get back. Deal?”, Emily requested, her heart still pounding from her run.Hound blinked sluggishly, unable to process the words. His vision spun—figures blurred and swayed, the world too heavy to hold onto.“I’ll take your silence as

“Perhaps his vitality could serve better purposes here?”, She repeated, “You’ve got some nerve, old man”. She spat, her voice steady but laced with disgust. She stared at the vitaecer, the ropes creaking above him as he hung by his feet, his body swaying slightly from the motion.The vitaecer rasped, hanging from the ceiling by a rope tied to his feet.A pool of green, bubbling acid sat beneath him, threatening to disintegrate his body the moment he touched it. The heat from the acidic pool scorched the air, making the vitaecer sweat profusely as it dripped down his furrowed brow.Across the room, a woman with a blue teardrop tattoo, the ink swirling down from her eye and stopping just beneath her cheek, stood silently. Argent. She was a figure of serene danger, her silver hair braided tightly and falling all the way to her feet. She was clad in sleek, black armor, her nails like sharp claws, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with detached curiosity. Her eyes glimmered under t

With Daryl there, a businessman from River, a close friend of her House, and most importantly, a man with connections and influence in both River and Rivermirror, Emily's journey home was no longer impossible. He had gladly cut his business meeting short to escort her back.In no time, Emily was cleaned up—her hair no longer stained with blood, her clothes no longer soiled, her body no longer stinking. Yet, the bruises and cuts from her ordeal in the underdeveloped city remained as painful reminders.Outside the carriage were twenty seasoned, professionally trained guards. Inside, silence hung heavy, broken only by the occasional jolt from uneven roads. Daryl and Emily exchanged brief glances, tension simmering between them.“Rivermirror is a big city. Rumors spread…,” Daryl said, finally breaking the silence.“If you’re going to lecture me about how a proper woman should behave, save it,” Emily interrupted. “I’ve already learned my lesson.”“As I was saying, rumors spread. It won’t b

“Orders from above! I raid River’s military headquarters with a squad of my choosing. Tonight.” Argent announced, barging into Hound’s small, dimly lit room. The space, modestly given by the organization, was far from luxurious but still better than the streets.“Good for you,” Hound muttered, unmoving on the thin brown mattress, his eyes shut, voice laced with apathy.“And guess what? My squad...my squad is just me...and you!” she cheered, clapping her hands together like a child given a new toy. “Wait, does that make us a duo? Anyway, I know you’ve been moping about your precious vitaecer. You’ve had weeks for that! Time to get up, soldier—your tattoo session starts now. Isn’t this exciting?”“You want to raid the most fortified place in River with just the two of us? That’s a death wish,” Hound scoffed, keeping his eyes closed.“I wouldn’t have taken this job if I didn’t think it could benefit you,” Argent replied, her cheerful tone fading as she sat beside him, suddenly serious. “