Shadow Market

Chapter Ten

Dante:

I moved through the darkened streets, the map clenched in my fist. I had spent the last hour pouring over the map and researching the next location. The souls weren't just scattered randomly; each was hidden in places of significance or protection. This one was supposedly deep within an old, abandoned monastery on the outskirts of the city.

The journey to the monastery was uneventful, but as I approached the crumbling building, I felt an eerie chill in the air. The place was silent, save for the faint rustling of the wind through the broken windows and overgrown vines. I slipped inside, the darkness swallowing me whole.

The interior was just as decayed as the outside, with rotting pews and faded murals depicting long-forgotten religious scenes. I finally reached the inner sanctum, where the map indicated the soul would be. But instead of finding the soul, I found evidence that someone had been there recently. The place was disturbingly empty.

My jaw tightened. Someone had beaten me to the soul, or perhaps they were still here. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small compass. It had been reliable so far.

I watched as the needle spun before pointing toward a set of old, ornate doors at the back of the monastery. My footsteps echoed in the empty hall as I approached. Pushed the heavy doors open, revealing a small, dusty chapel beyond.

The compass needle remained steady, pointing towards the broken altar.

As I neared the altar, I noticed a hidden alcove behind a worn tapestry. Pulling it aside, I found a small recess in the wall. Expecting to find the soul, but instead found an ornate, ancient-looking dagger, its blade inscribed with unfamiliar runes. The metal glinting faintly in the dim light.

I frowned, puzzled. The compass was still pointing to this spot, but the soul was nowhere to be seen. I was too late. Whoever had been probable, Viktor had taken the soul.

I hesitantly reached out, pulled the dagger out of its hiding place, and turned it over in my hand. I noticed intricate symbols that seemed to shift and change as I looked at them.

 I suddenly realized that the markings were similar to the ones on Lene's arm. Perhaps they held clues to the curse or could be the key to breaking it. I slipped the dagger into my coat, feeling its weight and the faint hum of energy it emitted. I cast one last glance around the chapel before I exited.

As I made my way back to Lena, I reached into my coat pocket and felt the small, sealed bag containing the collected souls. I had taken them without Lena's knowledge, making a hasty decision. The plan was to use them as a bargaining chip in a desperate attempt to secure Lena's safety and remove the curse that was slowly consuming her. I knew she wouldn't agree, but the thought of losing her after finally admitting my true feelings for her was unbearable. It was a selfish move, but I was a selfish guy.