Chapter 23 #2
More than forty feet below, a small, roughly hewn archway opens into a large domed cavern.
There aren’t any stalagmites or stalactites or anything like that in here, but it doesn’t look man-made—the walls are rough ash-colored rock and the space inside is massive, like train-station-hall large.
The stairway deposits us at the halfway point along one wall, giving us a panoramic view of the vast chamber stretching equally left and right.
Small battery-powered LED lanterns are mounted at regular intervals along the walls, each secured to simple aluminum brackets hammered into the natural crevices of the rock.
They're positioned about ten feet apart, creating what would be an evenly spaced ring of light around the chamber when illuminated. None are lit. In the center of the cavern, just a little to the right, is a carved marble pedestal with a shallow silver bowl resting on top. (It reminds me of a birdbath, but it’s probably an altar.) At the far wall opposite us, there is a raised platform, like a stage, and on it, slightly to the left, is an easel-like wooden lectern.
Underneath my feet, a cool, refreshing, mountain-air quality wafts up into my awareness.
It’s not physical, which means it’s a sign I’m near some kind of ley line, a natural wellspring of magic.
According to Ms. Stryker, those can be great places to cast big magic.
But there aren’t any people here. No druids. Certainly no vampires. And no magic of any kind on the altar, not even residue. Someone could be prepping for some kind of ritual here, but the party has yet to get started.
So where’s the power I felt coming from?
I step around Rafa, just into the cavern, and my eyes are drawn like a magnet to the stand on the platform.
It’s turned at an angle, and I can just make out a large closed book on it.
I can tell the binding is some kind of green hide—it shines dully against Rafa’s crimson flashlight.
That book is where the almond-scented, ozone-flavored magic is coming from.
I look for Collin to see how he’s reacting, and I find him behind me, literally staring down at his shoes. He appears absolutely miserable, like he wants to be anywhere but here. There are a million questions I want to ask him, but not with Rafa breathing down my neck.
Looks like I need to tempt fate a bit more.
“There’s a book over there,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “That’s where the magic is coming from. I… should check it out. Stay here.”
He takes a step forward, still sighting down the barrel of his shotgun. “It could be a trap, Alvin. Let me get it for you.”
I quickly place my hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
It’s actually quite cool that he wants to act as my human shield, and he’s not wrong to be worried about nasty surprises.
I’ve heard enough of Ms. Stryker’s stories to know that evil wizards almost always protect their gear.
As far as I know, Monster Hunters don’t have any special protections against magic—at least not human magic—but, as a paranormal, I should have some resistance.
In theory. (At least, I think Mom said that once.) Will it be enough?
I have no idea. But as much as I hate to say it, I’m the best man for the job here.
And anyway, I need to be able to talk privately to Collin.
“No, Rafa. It’s got to be me.” I give him what I hope looks like a confident smile. “This is magic stuff. Keep a lookout here at the base of the stairs and let me do my thing.”
He lets go, and nods, again deferring to my expertise. (Hah!) He lowers his weapon, shifts it to his right hand, and starts to hand over the flashlight, but I wave it away and step into the cavern.
“I’m good,” I say. I want to keep my hands clear, and now that I’m in the actual chamber, I can tell the enchantment has an edge to it. It feels downright alien. Hostile.
Rafa stays where he is and shines the beam behind me, lighting my way.
Several steps in, I realize I probably should have taken the torch—that would have been the most human thing to do, and I’ve seen that the Hunter does have his own night-vision goggles—but hopefully he’ll figure I’m able to see in this pitch-black room because he’s lighting the way. Whatever he thinks, it’s too late now.
I take a deep breath and cautiously approach the stand, half-expecting the book it cradles to leap at me with insect legs and hug my face. Collin trudges along next to me, his head still down.
“How you doing, Collin?” I murmur.
“I feel like I shouldn’t be here. This feels wrong.”
“Wrong like one of us could get hurt?”
“I don’t know.”
I pass by the altar. No runes or anything, but the bowl looks old. This wasn’t made by a machine—it was hammered by skilled hands. It shines with fresh polish.
Crossing another fifty feet or so, I cautiously step up a small staircase onto the platform.
It has a plywood top supported by 4x4 posts, all painted black.
It looks like it was built recently—no scuffs, some sawdust around the screws, and it doesn’t make a sound as I place my weight on it.
I creep to the left side of the stage, making my way around to face the lectern.
The book appears ancient, but it’s not damaged.
It’s biggish—about sixteen inches wide and twenty inches long.
The binding gleams with a well-maintained luster similar to fine leather.
It has overlapping iridescent scales, too large for snakeskin.
As I move in front of it, I can now see there’s a design on the cover—an engraving in gold leaf of a large pair of cat eyes steepled over a complicated triangular knot thing—
Holy crap! It’s the same book that was shown on the druid’s illuminated illustration! The one that supposedly could help set Collin free.
“Collin, do you recognize this? I think it’s what Tara had on one of those parchments.”
He’s just behind me. He glances over at the tome but immediately looks away, like it’s too bright somehow. “I… think so.” He closes his eyes and furrows his brow, before forcing himself to stare at it. After a moment, he says, “Yes. They wanted me to translate it. The vampires.”
Well, that’s interesting. “So, what can you tell me about it?”
Collin just shakes his head.
“Are there any traps or anything?”
A shrug—and another miserable expression.
“I’m sorry, Alvin. I can’t help you. There’s something about its magic… We should just go.”
Boy, do I want to take that advice! The power feels low-key, but its ozone bite digs at me like an itch. It does feel dangerous. So, I just hover in front of the book, palms out, fingers flexing back and forth like a cartoon burglar over a bag of money.
“There a problem?” Rafa stage-whispers from way across the room.
He’s clearly eager to come over, and there’s only so quiet he can be with me at the opposite side of this enormous space. I’m wasting too much time.
I stage-whisper back, hoping our voices won’t carry all the way up the stairs. The chamber creates a slight echo. “I think the vampires need this book for their ritual. Hang tight. I’m just, uh, making sure I don’t set anything off when I grab it.”
Total lie. I have literally no idea how to do that. But if I do screw up, I sure don’t want to take Rafa with me. Someone’s going to need to get Emma out of here!
I glance over at my Avatar of Knowledge, who usually has all the answers.
He should know. But right now, he just looks like a carsick kid.
His face is pale, his breath quick and shallow.
Me hanging out next to the book certainly isn’t doing him any favors.
But it doesn’t take an all-knowing spirit to tell me there’s no way I should leave this thing behind for the vampires to use.
Not to mention, it might be exactly what I need to save Collin—which is probably why it’s messing him up.
Unless, of course, there really is some deadly booby trap, and that’s what’s subconsciously freaking him out.
Gah! The clock is ticking, and I’m just running in circles. The damn thing is either trapped or not! I need to either move on or I need to—
Without letting myself pinball to another thought, I thrust out and grasp the book with both hands. The second I touch it, an outline around the gold engraving flares a bright blue.
Oh, crap.
I twist my head back, wincing, prepared to be zapped with a million volts of electricity. Or set on fire. Or just flat-out exploded.
But none of that happens. Instead, Collin immediately relaxes next to me and says. “Oh. Oh. Right. I know what that is. It’s the Rúna Diamra inna nDée Sen.”
The what now?
Doesn’t matter. Focus!
“That’s nice. Should I be worried about this blue glow?” The light coming from the symbol on the cover hasn’t stopped. If anything, it’s gotten brighter. The book’s magic doesn’t feel any stronger, though.
“Alvin, you okay?” Rafa asks tightly, no longer whispering. He starts toward me.
“I believe that’s because of me,” Collin says. “Or the watch, anyway. The magic is similar in some ways. Like feeding like. It should be harmless.”
“Still think I’m good!” I stage-whisper back at Rafa, my throat tight with anxiety. “Just give me a sec. Stay where you are.”
Collin glances up and to the right. “I remember what this is now. It is ancient druidic magic. The book contains spells to contact and form pacts with the Old Gods.” His scan freezes in place, like he’s just noticed something, and his relief crumbles a bit.
“They’re mostly the ones that don’t care about humanity—the really dangerous, vengeful powers.
I don’t believe it has any specific curse laid on it, though.
The words themselves are so toxic, whatever magic you’re sensing is just there to keep it in check. ”
Well, that sounds awful and scary. But Collin does seem much improved.
“You’re looking a lot better.”
He bobs his head, noticing the same thing. “Yeah. Sorry about all that before. This is very much not something I’m supposed to have access to. But since you’re the owner of the watch…”
“…You’re allowed to help me,” I finish. Right. Huh. I’m not sure how evil Lovecraftian-type gods figure into getting Collin free, but based on his reaction, it seems those papers Tara brought out weren’t complete BS, after all.
“I’m taking this with us,” I say for both Rafa and Collin.
Rafa chucks his chin up with silent bro approval, apparently reassured by my confident tone. (And probably also by the fact that I haven’t blown myself up yet.)
Collin nods, too. “Now that I know what it is, so long as I don’t actively try to ask questions about it, it shouldn’t affect me like before. Even when you’re not touching it directly.”
Good to know. I tuck the big book under my arm. The moment my skin breaks contact, the glow vanishes. Collin immediately looks away, but he doesn’t look nauseous like before. Instead he confidently strides for the door.
“Right, so! Grand! Let’s go save that girl!” he says as he quickly passes Rafa. Even if he’s no longer actively suffering, the tome clearly makes him nervous. I cross back after him.
“All good?” Rafa asks.
“Yeah. This book was what was throwing the spirits off. But I’ve, uh, neutralized it. We shouldn’t have any more delays.” I say those things like I know what I’m talking about.
But it turns out I kinda do, because it’s smooth sailing for the rest of the way down the hallway.
Collin confirms there are no vamps or other nastiness behind any of the other doors and, in less than a minute, we have reached the room where Emma is supposedly being held, at the very end of the hall.
Rafa and I hang back about fifteen feet, while Collin presses his cheek against the corporate-gray laminate.
“So… is she in there?” I whisper.
“Yes!” he says, beaming. “Emma is here and very much alive. With my help and Rafa’s picks, you should be able to get through the lock of the cell holding her in under twenty minutes, and we’ve easily got an hour of sunlight left!”
“Any vamps?”
Another big smile. “Nope!”
Rafa can’t hear the Avatar’s responses, but he’s close enough to hear my questions, so he adds, “How about human guards? Any weapons?”
Collin’s voice sounds a lot more glib than before, and his eyes aren’t 100% focused. It’s like he’s straining a bit. The book might still be affecting him.
“Really concentrate,” I say to him under my breath.
He glances over to me with a bright expression just as he’s about to open his mouth to answer Rafa’s question. My urgent glare stops him. He nods, sobering, and after a steadying breath, he bites his lower lip with concentration and brings his ear to the door. Then his eyes snap open.
“Jaysus!”
“What?” I mutter, trying my best to subvocalize.
“She’s not alone. There are others.”
“Guards?” I ask.
Collin gives his head a shake. “I’m not sure… They’re human. No gunpowder, but they all smell tense… Multiple heartbeats, pulse rates are elevated… At least half a dozen…”
Crap. We’ve been going back and forth out here, and whoever’s on the other side could have easily heard.
I lean in quickly to Rafa and hiss out, “The book is still messing with them. They say no vamps or guns, but there are others, and the spirits can’t rule out their being human guards. Could be six or more.”
I don’t need to tell Rafa how compromised we might be and he wastes no time. He holsters his shotgun and smoothly removes his Taser from his belt. Then he flicks a gesture at me to open the door for him. As soon as my hand is on the handle, he’s crouched and ready to spring inside.
He gives me a sharp nod. I turn the handle and whip the door open as fast as I can.
He takes a step forward, then freezes in place. “Christ.”
Both the Monster Hunter and the room are blocked by the door—I just see his feet under the gap—so I quickly poke my head over the edge.
It’s more than twice as large as the break room at the top of the hall.
The floor is bare concrete, as are the walls and the ceiling slab.
Two high-backed wooden chairs are in the center.
Several cramped cells line the sides of the room, secured to all visible surfaces with heavy steel plating.
Their thick iron bars immediately make me think of a dungeon.
Emma is in the cell opposite us, her solid form curled up on a dirty cot, her back against the wall, her knees wrapped with her arms. Just as Collin said, she’s alive—and awake. Her wide eyes blink at us with fear.
But she’s not alone. There are at least a dozen other kids here, also terrified.
And all are locked in separate cages.