They ventured deeper into the castle, the darkness growing thicker with every step. The walls seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy, the vines creeping along the stone, moving ever so slightly as though they were alive. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the vast, empty halls, each step heavier than the last.
Faye's nerves were on edge, every sense heightened as she braced for whatever horrors the curse would throw at them. Her heart raced as they approached a grand staircase leading up to the tower, where the princess was said to be hidden away in eternal sleep.
As they ascended the stairs, the air grew colder, the shadows darker. Faye could feel the curse watching them, waiting.
And then, halfway up the stairs, she felt it—a presence, dark and suffocating, crawling along her skin. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. From the shadows, something moved.
"Do you feel that?" Faye whispered, her voice trembling.
Kieran's eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping the darkness. "Stay close."
Before Faye could react, the shadows shifted violently, and a figure stepped into the dim light—tall, gaunt, its face hidden beneath a black hood. Its body was wrapped in dark, decaying robes, its movements slow and deliberate, as though it had all the time in the world. But its eyes—glowing a sickly green—were locked onto Faye.
"The Cursekeeper," Kieran said under his breath, his voice filled with unease. "It guards the princess."
Faye's heart leaped into her throat as the Cursekeeper began to move toward them, its skeletal hand reaching out, tendrils of dark magic slithering through the air. The very sight of it sent a wave of terror crashing through her, freezing her in place.
Kieran stepped in front of her, his hand outstretched, summoning a burst of faerie magic. "Run, Faye," he hissed. "Get to the tower. I'll handle this."
Faye hesitated for only a moment, but then she nodded and bolted up the stairs, her legs burning as she pushed herself forward. The Cursekeeper's low, rasping voice echoed through the hall as it pursued her.
"The curse... is hungry... It will consume you..."
YOU ARE READING
The Story
FantasyFaye is invited to the Heartseeker Academy, for supernaturals. While being scorned, Faye thought that she was only human... Or that's what she thought.
