His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse

28. In the Crypt

ZEDKIEL.

“Maybe if I can get in and try to see if something is stuck…” Zlahra says, falling to her knees and peering into the tiny opening.

“None of us are going to fit down there.” I say, unease filling me.

“And you may be the smallest of us all, but I think you forget that your ass is far from tiny.” Kash says bending down beside her.

“Piss off.” She hisses, shoving him right where he’s injured.

He curses as he clutches his shoulder and looks forward again.

“Force won’t work. The building is in ruins.” Ziahra says, looking up.

“Let’s try to pry it open.” I suggest, letting go of Evelyn’s hand as she steps back silently.

It takes the four of us to pry the sandstone entrance open, pulling and pushing the rocks that should have repositioned themselves.

I hear something crack and break and the stones begin moving again and we all move back.

“Thank the gods,” Ziahra says.

“More like us for getting it working. You were giving up hope, remember?” Kash reminds her arrogantly.

“I doubt you did any of the hard work. You’re pretty useless with that injury.” She taunts him back as she edges forward.

That darkness I can feel, the chilling, sinister vibe of this place growing stronger.

“Should we draw straws to see who goes first?” Kash mocks and exhales done with his antics.

Can he not feel the evil? He smirks as he pushes past me.

“I’ll lead.” He offers, brushing past Ziahra who was about to take her first step. He smirks mockingly at her.

“I do hope you fall and break that face of yours.” She sneers.

“You sure you want to ruin this face?”

What the fuck is with these two?

He confidently takes the first few steps. Ziahra steps onto the first step slowly, the stone crumbling from beneath her feet.

Kash asks, looking back at

I’m perfectly fine. Don’t tell me you’re scared?” She frowns,

having to be in your presence.” Kash shoots back. “Even the dead would

you.” She snaps, giving him a light shove.

and I hear

at the entrance, the weight of the situation once

Kash down, her vampire comrade

next, and Evelyn hesitates.

going to be ok.” I tell her.

She nods.

don’t let go of Evelyn, who is right

we reach the bottom Ziahra says a single word, and torches held in sconces come

are not just in any room, but in

the twelve tombs that fill the room. Each one sits on a 1-foot pedestal, and each is fully

one is open, the lid leaning against the tomb.

asks, and for the first time, I think I see fear

as she heads to the altar that

Evelyn breathes as Ziahra began lighting some

This screams dark

the ancient arts something as cheap as magic.” Ziahra says

really stop me…” Kash

shoots back, her eyes darting to the tombs. “That one there looks cosy and it has your name

off. His gaze flickers to Evelyn and t think I see the flash of sympathy in his eyes, but it’s gone as fast as

black stone

cobwebs and critters.

ivy got on the tomb… Was there a time when this place breathed any bit

beneath the surface, the air is heavy and

there?” Ziahra remarks,

coated in sugar, aren’t you?” he says

you will be covered in spiders and who knows what else, if you don’t shut your face

you two stop fucking bickering!” I

aren’t helping with these two constantly at

sighs and turns to

“Gray…”

have a name for him.

was beginning to wonder if I’d have to give him

to acknowledge that

you to make sure to carry out everything