Harrington's Journal

Chapter 13: May 1st - A Secret and Uncertainty

Time had passed and there is nowhere else to go now. Roseangela told me to never exit the gates and must remain in the gardens or inside the castle as this was my only chance to be safe. 

When I wandered around aimlessly on the first floor due to boredom, I heard a sound that was coming from behind the double door that sat at the end of the corridor. Roseangela told me that it leads to a dungeon, but she said that place was forbidden as it is where the ghosts sleep. However, curiosity got the best of me. 

I couldn't stop my hands from reaching the door, and when my fingers had curled around the cold metal knob, I turned it. To my surprise, it opened with ease. When I pushed the door widely, I was met by darkness. 

Stairs led down into an abysmal shadow. As I walked further down, a screech pierced through the silence. Soon it died down into a quiet guttural wail. I followed the sound, anxiety and fear wept over me. I should just turn back but I cannot help it. Why was this place forbidden? It was a question that repeated throughout my head. 

A strong scent of death emerges as I had finally made my way down. I stopped, peering into the cell in which the soft wailing had ceased. I squinted my eyes, hoping to see through the darkness. I saw nothing. I turned and began making my way further up the dungeon.

The bars rattled. I whipped around, my lips breaking into a silent scream.

Large nostrils flared between the metal poles. Its eyes glowed a red, and it is made up of several ancient creatures; a head that was like a dragon's. It gave a wild shriek and I stumbled back, completely startled. I cannot take my eyes off the winged beast with skin so grey and rough that it looked like stone.

"You are not meant to be here," said a voice.

I turned and looked up, seeing Dravis standing above me.

"I grow tire of you, Harrington," he sneered and grabbed my collar, slowly lifting me up from the ground. "You cannot obey the simplest rules and resist the temptation to come down here, even though we clearly said that it was forbidden."

"I-I'm sorry Lord Dravis," I stammered. "But why were you hiding it? What are you planning?"

"Curious aren't you? You saw something, which you should never see." His fingers tightly curled around my neck.

"Stop!" called Roseangela and she snatched Dravis's hand away.

I stepped back, keeping my distance well away from Dravis.

"You are a fool Roseangela," he snapped and tugged his hand back. "Why must you defend him? He disobeyed our orders and I should punish him for it. I will drain him until there is nothing but skin and bones."

"I will not allow it," replied Rose.

"What? Don't tell me that you have fallen in love with this mortal." Dravis looked at Rose with a scowl on his face.

Roseangela stood there unwavering as he said that. She shook her head. "It was my fault for not watching him my dear." She leaned in closer to Dravis. "And you're right, he should be punished. But, instead of you punishing him, let me do it. It will make up for my faults. Anyway, I will not let his disobedience be dismissed so easily."

Dravis's expression relaxed, but then his shoulders shook as he suddenly began to burst out cackling. "Alright, have it your way. This time I will not interfere with your plans, my lady."

Rose grinned and she turned to look at me with a frown. "Go back to your room Harrington, and don't go wandering anywhere else."

I nodded and hurried up the flight of stairs, leaving the dungeon behind that held not only one creature, but dozens more like it. I do not know what they are nor why the vampires are hiding them. Something was not right. 

More importantly, I cannot leave this place. As much as I wanted to, I cannot. I'm going insane over this. Something is holding me here. Is it the demons in this place trapping me?

No, it is not the demons, nor the dreams, nor this place. It is something else. A yearning, a desire for something that wants me to grasp it but can never be reached; its passion drives me to the edge of my sanity.

A love, which I thought had died long ago grows once again.

Harrington. H