The Necklace

Chapter 2

As Eira's vision slowly cleared, she found herself ensconced in a warm, soft bed.

She found a worried Thorne, who stood mixing herbs in his little stone mortar. The gentle scrape of pestle against mortar filled the room with a soothing melody. His face was etched with worry yet hope, as he grinded herbs together to make something to cure her unforgiving fever. Ever since the mausoleum, her body had been consumed by an unrelenting fever, burning with an outlandish heat. Thorne hadn't seen anything like this unless they were related to the realm beyond the physical.

With a soft moan, Eira struggled to sit up, but a sudden, dashing headache forced her back onto the pillows as her eyes met the bright light streaming through the window. Thorne's attention was immediately captured, and he hastily set aside his mortar to tend to her.

Thorne's hands gently guided Eira back onto the pillows, his eyes scanning her face with concern. "Rest, child," he whispered. "Your strength is depleted."

Eira's gaze drifted to the mortar and pestle on the nearby table, the herbs and spices still mixed and ready. "What...what are you making?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thorne's expression turned hopeful. "A remedy, Eira. One that will help your body fight this...this darkness."

Eira's eyes widened, her mind racing. "You think it's connected to the mausoleum?"

Thorne nodded. "I do think the mausoleum has a part to play in this. That's why I think it's more than just a simple fever."

Eira's thoughts swirled, memories of the mausoleum flooding back. The figure, the glowing eyes, the feeling of being pulled towards something...

Suddenly, a knock at the door broke the silence. Thorne's head turned, his eyes narrowing. "Enter," he called out.

The door creaked open, and a young woman dressed in a simple tunic stepped inside. "Thorne, I brought the water you asked for," she said, her eyes flicking to Eira.

Thorne nodded, taking the jug from her. "Thank you, Elara. I'll need your help with the remedy."

As Elara approached, Eira sensed a quiet strength and determination about her. Together, Thorne and Elara worked in silence, their movements precise and practiced.

Eira's eyelids grew heavy, the room blurring around her. She felt herself being pulled towards sleep, but her mind refused to let go. What secrets lay hidden in the mausoleum? But she slowly drifted into sleep.

Deep into the night, she woke up. Her body had gained enough strength to hold her on her feet. She felt the gentle shock of the cold floor as her feet touched the hard stone floor.

With a quiet determination, Eira made her way to the door, her bare feet making barely a sound on the cold stone floor. She pushed the door open, and a sliver of moonlight illuminated her path. The hallway was dark and silent; the only sound was the soft rustling of her nightgown.

As she walked, the shadows seemed to grow longer and darker, like grasping fingers. Eira shivered, despite the warmth of the summer night. She felt an inexplicable pull, drawing her towards the mausoleum.

The air grew thick with an eerie energy, and Eira's heart pounded in her chest. She approached the entrance, the massive stone doors looming before her like sentinels.

With a deep breath, she pushed the doors open and stepped into the darkness within. The air inside was heavy with the scent of age and decay. Eira's eyes adjusted slowly, and she saw the figures of the ancient ones, their stone eyes seeming to watch her every move.

She felt a presence behind her and spun around. Thorne stood at the entrance, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Eira, what are you doing here?" he whispered.