The Songs Of The Flames (The Curse Of The Thirteenth Series)

Chapter 16

She waited until she could hear the soft breaths of sleeping before sneaking out. Priscilla had not revealed to her friends her plan. She knew they would try to stop her if they knew. She crept quietly out the dorm door, closing it softly with a click. Priscilla descended the silent stairs into the lounge room. The fireplace softly sang to her, and she collected a small ball of fire in case the need arose. The night was silent around her, she could hear her heart pounding in her chest. Checking to make sure no one was outside first, she slipped out the door.

The hallway echoed her footsteps, and Priscilla found a dark cove in the wall to summon her enchantment. "Shield Disguise" She whispered to herself. Priscilla crept out of the corner, and down the dimly lit hallway, hoping the enchantment had worked. She kept a strong focus on her magic, keeping a fire burning in her hands, and herself hidden. Each corner she rounded, she peeked around, making sure the coast was clear. The moonlight peaked into the windows of the hallway, maxing with the light of the lamps around her. 

Her enchantment was tested immediately as she passed Professor Sinclair in the hallway. The sound of his long stride ricocheting off the ceiling above. Priscilla pressed her back up against the side of the wall as best she could. Her chest pounded so loud she worried he might hear it. He walked past her without notice though. Her breath caught in her throat as he stopped and looked around. His eyes scanned past her, and he walked by her without notice. Her muscles were all stiff from staying perfectly frozen. Priscilla waited until he was out of sight to move. She let out her breath once he rounded the corner.

She snuck down the staircase to the underground section of the academy. Only then did she release her hold on her enchantment. She wanted the creature to see her. She knew no one would be below the castle at this time of night. She would be a sitting duck for the creature to grab. Priscilla had planned it all in her head. She would walk the halls alone, the perfect target. She wanted to get a better view of it so she could identify it better. Priscilla scanned the dark hallway for moving shadows. Her tension was high. Priscilla kept hold of her fire, ready to attack the creature at any moment. She felt afraid, but that did not stop her.

She wandered the expanse of the underground, an ache began to form between her shoulder blades from being so stiff. she began to grow tired, and her feet ached from walking. Time crept on without any sightings. Maybe the creature wasn't around. She debated on going back to bed, but she had to admit she was lost. Priscilla did not recognize the hallway she was in. She backtracked her steps, but still did not find an area she recognized. She began to worry she would never find her way back. What had she gotten herself into? She felt she was in a funhouse, unable to find the exit. 

Priscilla began lumbering slowly, her feet dragging against the stone floor. She could feel blisters forming at her heels. With a sob, Priscilla slouched to the ground. "I'm such an idiot. Now how will I get back?" She said to no one but herself. She felt a lump in her throat forming. She felt utterly stupid. 

She began hearing footsteps coming down the hall. Priscilla jumped up eagerly, hoping a professor had found her. She ran to the noise, rounding a corner. She skidded to a stop immediately. The creature stood ten feet away from her. It turned, noticing her, emitting a clicking hiss towards her. It tilted its head, studying her for a second. Before Priscilla could even realize what was happening, the creature collided with her. The air was knocked out of Priscilla's lungs. She felt herself hit the wall behind her.  A searing pain course through her ribcage. She screamed out in pain, it echoed off the stone walls. The creature crushed her against the wall to the point where she thought she would pop. She couldn't get any air into her lungs. It reeked of decay, its hot breath fanned her face.

Priscilla had lost control of her flame when she hit the wall, and her mind was foggy with the pain. She kicked, and squirmed, managing to free herself from the beast. Her body hit the ground like a bag of rocks. She inhaled oxygen into her lungs. Her breathing wheezed in her throat. It took her a couple tries to summon a flame, and by then, the creature was already upon her. The smell of rotting decay overwhelmed her. The creature's milky white eyes stared into hers as it bore down on her. Priscilla's arms shook with effort as she tried to hold back the creature from her body. She shot a flame into the creature's face, and it jumped back with an animal-like scream.