Moon Of Gold

Chapter 10: Into the Unknown

       I awaken in a daze. The night before was rather interesting. I and Ophira finally found Silvaus but, we were welcomed by a group of women and an elderly one. They called themselves Maidens of the Moon. I recall Mrs. Thando saying something about Ophira having strength beyond anyone else. What did that mean?
     Dragging myself out of the bedsheets, I slowly look up at the ticking clock. Three forty-five o'clock. I rub my eyes and stare at the clock again. It was that early in the morning. Why was I up? I normally sleep until seven or eight in the morning.
     I want to go back to bed but something was off. My mind was wandering and I couldn't lie back down. So I did what I usually would do. Take a stroll.

***

      Wandering the halls of this castle was the least of my worry. I didn't want anyone to wake up and possibly freak out.
    I halt and stop at the end of one of the halls. There was a gray door at the end however, that was the only door. None were on the right or the left wall. Just this door. The only door. I tiptoe towards it and examine the old door.
    Old paint was chipped off of the wood and the once shiny metal door nob was now rusted.
      I slowly place my hand on the door nob and it. It clicks and I push the door gently. It shrieks loudly and my heart almost stops. Why is this wretched thing so loud!
      There stands a room full of bookshelves galore. Bookshelves lined with books of various colors and sizes. My eyes widen and excitement fills me. I rush over and place a hand on the dusty book spines. Tracing my fingers over the hard spines, I stop at an odd-looking one.
      The book stood out more than the others. I mean literally. I couldn't push it back at all. It wouldn't budge. Then I figured I had to pull it out and of course that wasn't a good idea at all.
     A rumbling noise reaches my ears and I take a couple of steps back. The bookshelf slides to the right and leaves a cold and dark entrance in front of me. I gulp and quietly descend into the new area.
      A cold blast of air hits me and I shiver walking down the dark staircase. My body is tense and my senses heighten. Whatever and wherever I am, I feel the worse is yet to come.
      I reach the end of the staircase and stand in an entirely new area. It was much darker than outside this old mansion. I felt like I was having a cold sweat again. I wish I could of went back to sleep. Why am I doing this?!
      Glancing to the left side of me, I spot a lit lantern. Why was this here? I have no idea. I head towards it and pick it up. The light inside the old lantern flickered.
     I take a step back and lift it up in front of me. There were three entryways. I take a few steps forward and read the words carved into the stone.
      The first entryway said something of the lines of "Beware the beast". The second gave me some trouble. It read something like "He stalks in the dark" or "He stalks you within the darkness." The third read "Your fears is what he eats."
     It didn't quite make sense but I feared there was some ancient creature living within the walls of this castle. I should have left there but I didn't. My curiosity got the best of me as I went towards the middle, following the dark eerie path.
      The lantern could only do so much in the darkness. The walls have odd symbols carved into them. They aren't readable though as they look like they came from a different time entirely.
     The odor of a musky mold and filled my nostrils. I wrinkle my nose and continue on the path. I stop at an opening and put the lantern in front of me again. I look down and nearly drop it in shock.
    A blood-stained piece of paper was laid in front of a bloody skeleton. It's slouched up against a wall and a series of cracks cover the skull. A rusty dagger lays near the feet. I walk towards the note and pick it up.

     "I don't know how long I've been down here...I just want to get out of this weird mansion. Those women were right! I don't know why I didn't listen but, no one came to help me. I yelled and screamed for help. Not a word just demonic whispers tainting my ears. They wouldn't get out of my head. I fear this is the end. I saw these piercing eyes peering through the darkness...right at me."

      I stare at the note and immediately drop it. I pick it back up and fold it, quickly putting it in my pocket. It was a joke right...?  No...it can't be. Not after that. The skeleton is a prank...right? The bloody note is nearly written in a hurry and panic. What did these women do? What did they know about this place?
     My heart beats rapidly and my breath hitches. I close my eyes and venture deeper into this horrid place.
      Chills go down my spine and I feel like a pair of eyes are watching me.