𝓟𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓽 𝓘𝓽, 𝓡𝓮𝓭 | 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 12: 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓲𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻

(Amor's song for this chapter^)

♡

The group's footsteps echoed against the graveled floor of the catacombs, accompanied by the flickering sounds of torches lining the walls.

"Is it just me, or have we passed that pillar three times already?" Uma questioned, jerking her thumb toward a carbon copy of the previous pillars they'd encountered. "Either this is another defense charm, or this place truly is the Endless Catacombs of Doom."

Ben checked the map once again before releasing a frustrated sigh. Ally paused for a moment, glancing over at Amor, whose thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.

His gaze was fixed to the right, ahead of where they stood. It appeared as though he was straining to hear something, but whatever it was, it was elusive.

"Amor, do you hear something?" Ally asked. The tunnels were mostly silent, with only echoes traveling through the rocky passageways.

Amor tilted his head and approached a torch mounted on the wall. Unlike the others, this torch emitted no crackling sound.

"The opposite, actually..." Amor's voice came out as a whisper. Ignoring the others' protests, he reached out and wrapped his hand around the base of the torch. The flame roared up but remained silent.

Ben and Ally moved to pull him away, but Uma stopped them. She shook her head, reassuringly holding their hands, for their sake as much as for her own. The sea witch could sense the magic mingling with Amor's own.

Heat stretched across his hands, slithering up his arm like serpents. It felt as if sparks were coursing through his veins, traveling to his chest and wrapping warmth around his heart.

Amor channeled his magic, fueling the torch until the flame withered into pink smoke. The cloud of magic moved with a mind of its own, seeping into the wall beside what remained of the torch. Pulling on the holder as if it were a lever, the rocks began to shift, creating a makeshift doorway.

A pink glow emerged from the shadows, casting enough light to reveal stairs descending further into the depths.

Drawing his hand back, Amor stepped back retreating to the others.

"You weren't burned, were you?" Ben asked, grasping Amor's hand and inspecting it, while Uma and Ally checked his arms.

"I'm fine, you guys. All I felt was warmth for the most part." Amor gently pulled his hand and arm away. "My mind started to feel foggier as we got closer. My talisman must be nearby."

Amor looked toward the staircase that led to an unknown destination. Uma draped her arm over Amor's shoulder, rubbing it reassuringly.

"Remember, we're in this together," Uma reminded him.

"She's right," Ben agreed from his spot beside Ally. The group moved forward, one by one descending the stairs.

Amor led the way, with Uma and Ally in the middle and Ben bringing up the rear for extra protection.

Placing his hand on the wall for balance, Amor navigated the stairs with extra caution. As they descended, he could hear a soft humming, guessing no one else heard it since no one commented on it or seemed to notice.

Vines began to appear as they reached the bottom steps, intertwining with the stone walls. The faint light from above cast long shadows, making the vines appear almost alive. At the bottom, they stood before a door a few feet away, its archway adorned with moss and creeping vines.

"What's with the symbol on the door?" Uma asked.

"It's my family's royal crest," Amor replied with a soft smile, looking at the door. The wood was intricately carved with the Wonderland Royal family crest, depicting a heart surrounded by roses and a crown.