With a loud grating noise, the ornate panel slowly slid down. Behind it, there was a narrow flight of stone steps that disappeared down in the darkness.
The air coming out from the opening was stale and musty, with no indication of movement. Was this an escape route or another trap?
Reaching for a fresh torch, Anna lit it from the sconce to her right. As it flared into life, she lifted a spare unlit torch then started slowly down the steep steps.
The staircase was narrow and some of the steps crumbled as she put weight on them. Eventually, she reached the bottom and found herself standing on a dry dirt floor. In the flickering torchlight, she could see that the passageway was timber lined and stretched further than the light reached.
With nothing to lose, the dark angel started walking.
Dusk had just settled over the area when Jem and Trine landed lightly on the beach in front of the hut, closely followed by the four members of the Court of the Elders. Gazing round at the view, Michael was the first to speak, “I can see why you’d want to live here, Jeremiah.”
Flinching at the use of his full name, the runner just smiled and gave a small nod.
“Let’s go indoors,” suggested Trine, wondering if they would all manage to squeeze into the small beach hut’s living room.
“Later,” said Stefan. “There’s no time to waste. Jem, can you lead us to the chapel you mentioned. Let’s start there. If there’s a matching carving, then we’ll have some proof to show we’re on the right track here.”
“Of course. It’s not far from here. About a mile or so to the west,” replied Jem, drawing his wings around him to ward off the chilly night air.
“And you’re sure we’ll not be seen?” quizzed Alessandro, looking around nervously.
“As sure as I can be.”
“Lead the way, son,” prompted Meryn, as anxious as Stefan to confirm whether or not there was a matching carving among the remains of the chapel.
Within a few minutes the six vampires were standing in the ruins of the private chapel, gazing round at the crumbling walls. There was no sign of a panel to match the one Jem recalled from the dark angel’s tomb. Such was the state of decay none of the walls that were left standing were substantial enough to incorporate it.
“What if it wasn’t on the wall,” began Meryn staring down at the overgrown chapel floor. “I can sense a stone floor here, running towards where the altar would have been.”
“I’ve not heard of the matching pattern being on the floor,” said Alessandro. “But it’s possible.”
“Step to the sides,” instructed Meryn firmly. Keeping her voice low, she recited a simple clearing incantation that sent the undergrowth that had spread across the floor of the chapel scurrying back into the ground.
The spell revealed the remains of the chapel floor. In the dim light, it looked as though the centre aisle had been a chequerboard design. Half the squares were plain; half the squares were carved.
“They look like miniatures of the panel we’re looking for,” commented Jem as he bent to inspect the one closest to him.
“A promising sign,” agreed Alessandro. “But they are too small. Where’s the larger one?”
“It’s here,” said Trine calmly from near the front of the chapel.
The six vampires gathered round the large circular panel in the floor. It was sited behind what would have most likely been the altar. The panel itself looked to be undamaged but there was no obvious sign of the trigger to open it.
All of them stood staring down at it.
Suddenly, there was a low rumbling, grating noise and the panel began to sink down into the ground. It only sank down about ten feet, revealing a well like hole with a ladder secured into its stone wall.
The six vampires stood back a little and watched in silence to see who or what was about to emerge from the inky darkness.
With cobwebs tangled in her hair and wings, Anna began to climb the ladder, taking care to test each rung before putting her weight down on it. Slowly, she made her way to the surface, grateful to breathe in the fresh cold night air. As she stepped out onto solid ground, she let out a sigh.
“Good evening, Anna.”
“Stefan!”
Before she could move, Anna felt the thick chains of strong magic shackle her to someone. Turning to look into the shadows, she found herself face to face with Meryn, her runner and the ice maiden plus the three remaining court elders.
The dark angel let out a blood curdling scream.
Coral McCallum 