Moon Of Gold

Chapter 16: The Crypt

        I watch as Mika goes through the left entryway. "Is she sure this is okay?" I ask, watching her disappear. Lyla nods and Cia enters the right path. Lyla signals me to come with them. "Silvaus and Julian can go together inside the middle one. Now let's search for this creepy thing. I want to get this over with" she whispers and signals them to the middle path. I see both men widen their eyes and sigh.
      I glance up at the words up above the entrances. Something tells me this mansion was built on top of this monster's home. With that in mind, he probably wasn't too thrilled or maybe he didn't care at all. I'm sure this helped  the wendigo lure victims in. Whether it was from this secret location or somewhere else.
   I feel an incredible urge to run. I don't know why but the atmosphere of this place is giving off bad vibes. I wonder if there are any survivors...wait...that's stupid and I should stop. There's no way on earth that a wendigo would keep anyone alive. I just hope a bunch of werewolves and a dhampir can actually kill this thing. I have no idea if something as creepy and powerful as this can top us.
    Cia scrapes a claw on the stone wall and Lyla halts her. We look up and a few puddles of something laid in our path. We were in an entirely new area. It looks like a huge open room and the walls are covered in tree roots.
    Lyla slowly walks in and scans the area. My eyes adjust to the darkness and I sniff the puddles. Blood. There are puddles of it everywhere. Did the wendigo leave this?
        "This is gross...is this old or fresh," I ask, crinkling my snout in disgust.
    "Not sure. My nose is a little confused. Maybe it's old but hasn't dried. Can't tell" Cia answers, observing and sniffing the blood. She looks up and notices Lyla panting. I swiftly turn around, searching the area. "Lyla! What's wrong? Is it using its powers?" I ask, panicking.  Whatever was going on I didn't like it.
    A blood-curdling roar echoes through the area and I flatten my ears and wince. Cia and Lyla do the same and we stand there, petrified. "You don't think that's...it sounds horrifying!" Cia whimpers, her eyes widening in fear. Lyla shivers and takes a few steps back, bumping into a wall. "I think that was it. It's terrifying alright. Not looking forward to seeing how hideous he is. Well, if we even get to see it" Lyla responds, laughing nervously.
    They both have pure fear in their eyes and it wasn't helping at all. My heart is beating out of my chest and I take a breath. I hope Julian and Silvaus are okay. Wouldn't want them to already be near it. However, you can't always be quite sure.

***

      Ah, here I was again. Standing face to face with the body. Silvaus takes a step back and stares at it. He crinkles his snout then covers his nose with his claw. "You telling me...this was the guy who died? Looks like that damn bastard had a fun time chewing on him. It's disgusting!" He sneers in disgust.
    I cover my nose and look away, "I really didn't want to come back here but here we are" I sigh.
   Another ear-piercing roar echoes through the walls and around us. I drop to the ground and cover my ears, wincing in pain. Silvaus growls then shivers. The roar fades away and I open my eyes. I felt like they are watering up. Not sure if I felt the need to pee myself or cry.
    I slowly stand up and take a deep breath. No, I'm not going to be scared anymore..not this time. We need to get rid of this monster before its too late. I have too...we have too.
    I firmly grip my arm with my other hand and move on ahead. Silvaus sniffs the air and follows behind me. We stop in the middle of a room. The same room I was in. I notice the fountain and my heartbeat quickens. Silvaus takes a few steps in front of me and sniffs the air. Then he begins to pant.
    The air around us grows cold and a few snow flurries fall. My breathing is a little difficult but my fear rises again. A lump in my throat forms and I dig a hand into my hair. My eyes widen and I feel my hands becoming clammy. I look at Silvaus who stands there, taking a few breaths. He leans down and a  howl rips though the room. I feel the ground begin to shake.
    We back into each other and a demonic voice gurgles around us. The stench of rotting bodies and blood fills my nostrils. I wince and take a step back, crinkling my nose.