Otherworldly Darkness [Book 5]

Finale [Part 1]

The shifters were cautiously making their way down the hall, listening for any sign as to where we should head next. It was a long narrow hallway with no sign of life except for the flicker of two lights at the end of the hall.

'Eva, is this the way?' I questioned her.

'I don't know. I've never been in here.' Her voice was worried. I could tell that she was apprehensive about what she was going to find. I had hoped beyond all hope that her parents were down here.

'Carefully.' I stressed. 'Make your way down the stairs everyone. There is still one more guard in here that we need to be aware of.'

The scent of desperation was heavy in the air as we stood there. It was clear that these people had been hidden in here for quite some time. There were no windows and only the one door in and out of the building. These people probably haven't seen the outside in years and had probably given up on ever seeing it again. We needed to get them out of here soon.

Everyone agreed as we continued down the hall until we made it to the end where a set of stairs lied before us, descending into depths unknown. Mentally I groaned knowing that I couldn't very well send down the other shifters before I surveyed it. I instructed Owen and Eva to stay behind me and that the shifters bring up the rear. If anything was to happen I wanted them to be able to escape with my mate and Eva in tow.

I descended the stairs discreetly one step at a time before I stopped at the bottom where torches lined the wall like a medieval dungeon. There were cells lining each wall and as far as I could tell there was more to this building than I had originally expected. What unnerved me the most was the complete and eerie silence that had descended upon this horrid place. I could sense that there were people in those cells but it was as if none of them were there.

Walking past the first cell I carefully looked inside to see two bodies huddled together in the crook between two walls. The slightly larger form was wrapped around the smaller protectively as the small shook lightly. As if sensing my presence the large form looked up and I was met with dull, lifeless green eyes. There was no hope, no spark left in them and my wolf whined at the sight of such conditions.

'We have to get them out of here.' I spoke sullenly over the link.

'I can do that Declan. You go handle the last guard and find Eva's parents.' Owen offered with a soft voice. If no one else was affected by the conditions these people were living in I know it was Owen, my sensitive little mate. 

'Thanks.' I turned around and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead before turning away and walking further down the hall. Eva followed closely behind me, looking into each cell as we passed trying to see into the darkness that overshadowed it's occupants.

'Are they all witches?' I questioned.

'I can't tell. Most of them seem like they would be witches but their magic isn't strong enough to give off a reading. It might be a talisman or a sealing symbol sealing their powers so that they can't use them.' She explained.

'A talisman?' I questioned.

'That carving that was on the inside of the door was a sealing symbol, I believe to keep the witches in but there must be a dark talisman around here somewhere that's keeping them weak.' She explained.

'Would it be easier if we found and destroyed it?' I questioned.

'No. As long as the shifters can let them out their power will gradually return to them with time. Our main focus is getting everyone out. Hopefully the guard will have the master to key so that we can let them all out quicker.' She explained.