Guardian(Part IV): Revelation

Chapter 26: Zephyr

Questioning the locals of Water Rock was easier with Eris and Haemon with me. They were more open with two warriors that weren't human instead of a single one that was human. While we were asking questions, though, we learned some disturbing information. In the night, a dozen more people had disappeared. All of them were from various races on Arcadis, and none of them had anything in common, other than the fact that they were adults by their kinds' standards. None of their friends or loved ones had any idea where they were, though. When the rest of the city turned out to be a dead-end, all we could do next was go to the Elected, Water Rock's leader chosen by the citizens of the city. I wasn't allowed into the city hall, but the guards gladly welcomed Eris and Haemon. Once they came out of the building, they had looks on their faces that brought me concern.

"What happened?" I wondered.

"The Elected gave us two possible locations we could be looking at for additional ritual sites," Eris informed. "I've already told Finn, Nato, and Daisy to go to the second one."

"Where are we going, then?" I asked.

"Some unidentified tomb," Eris answered. "Not epsilon, not duaren, not draconian."

"We have to find all of those people before it's too late," Haemon urged.

"I know," Eris agreed. "I told the Elected to pull all of his soldiers back to Water Rock, so we don't have to worry about more fuel for Shtriga's rituals."

"Then it's just us," I said. "Where's our target?"

"Follow us," Eris directed.

I followed Eris and Haemon's lead, to the northern coast of Arcadis. I could feel an aura of immense darkness just below a cliff that overlooked the water. We warped down to a black dock we saw just above the surface, and in the cliff was a giant, metal doorway that was black in color. It was the same black metal that Turned used for their blades and armor, that inflicted wounds my powers couldn't heal.

"Mom, this dwelling is..." said Haemon.

"I know," Eris interrupted. "It's Tuatha."

"Wow, I didn't know Tuatha did had ruins," I whispered.

"Well, I doubt they're ruins anymore," Eris warned, igniting her lightshield and aura blade emitter, set to a long spear. Haemon took out his staff, and I formed my aura blade, then we went through the doorway. Blood red lights were on the ceiling that illuminated the black passages with a dim light. Being in these walls gave me chills, especially knowing that they were built by demons.

"So, what kind of ruins are these?" I wondered. "What kind of place?"

"Half of the things Tuatha built were places of torture, pain, and death," Eris informed. "I'd expect nothing less from this place."

"We've seen worse, haven't we?" asked Haemon.

"Definitely," Eris answered.

"It's nothing we can't handle," Haemon assured. "What about you, Zephyr?"

"Well, I've been seeing some awful stuff while I was tracking Shtriga," I said. "But from what I've heard about both Shtriga and the House of Serpents working together, I can't imagine what I've seen is the worst. That's why I'm here."

"You are a Guardian," Eris reminded. "You have yet to see the worst."

"Well, thanks for warning me," I sighed. "I'm completely prepared, now."

"Your sarcasm has no effect on me," Haemon chuckled, playfully tapping my side with his staff.

We went further through the tunnel, and I felt the aura of darkness hanging over the place growing stronger with every step I took. Eventually, though, we came to a fork. There were three ways to go. One tunnel was at the top of a flight of black stairs, and the other two were on the ground, on either side of the stairs.