Chapter 9-- Dangerous Curiosity

I tried to stop thinking about what happened in the room behind the iron door yesterday.

But the more I try to stop myself from thinking about it, the more my brain goes back to it.

I wish I could confront Damien about what I saw and make him explain it to, but he's not around.

As usual.

I'm beginning to wonder if he's avoiding me or if he is actually busy.

He's definitely avoiding me.

I had tried the forbidden iron door, thinking maybe I could find the answers to my questions behind it.

But it was locked. Which is no surprise.

Damien must've known I'll try to get back in there. Which I'm impressed by his quick thinking.

The one place I think holds the answers to my questions is none other than,

The library.

I head over to the library determined to find answers.

The library is quiet and empty, which gives me all the time I need to rummage through the books.

After several minutes of looking for the old books section, I search through the old books until I find an ancient book with what I've come to believe is the Ashcroft crest embossed on it's cover.

I take book with me over to the library table and sit down.

I open the first page of book and see the same symbol on the cover with the words written underneath,

Power Demands Sacrifice.

I stare at the three words feeling them etched in my skull.

‘Power Demands Sacrifice’. I say them out loud, wanting to feel the taste of words on my tongue.

I flip through the pages of the book. Inside is a map of the estate. But there's something strange about it.

The mansion is marked clearly.

The stables.

The gardens.

The servants quarters.

The surrounding forest is marked too.

But deep inside the forest is a symbol that doesn't appear anywhere else.

A black circle surrounded by three claw-like marks.

Underneath it is written in cursive,

“The hollow”

I raise a questioning brow.

Why would the Ashcrofts have a place hidden inside the forest?. I think to myself.

I continue flipping through the book but find nothing that talks about ‘the hollow’ or answers my questions.

I scan the map one last time.

Maybe this “hollow” place could have the answers to my question. I have to check it out.

I walk out of the library and head towards the forest.

The position of the sun in the sky tells me it's late afternoon. I have to be quick, I don't want to break anymore of the rules.

The forest is quiet. Too quiet for my liking. I walk deeper until I find the location from the map.

There's an old structure hidden beneath the trees. I smile to myself for finding it easily.

Before I can enter, I hear a voice behind me.

‘You shouldn't have come here’.

I turn, expecting to see Damien or a servant.

A stranger is standing between the trees.

Not Damien.

Also not a servant by the looks of his clothes.

He approachs me.

‘Who are you?’. I ask taking a step backwards, trying to run.

But he's fast. Too fast for a human.

He grabs my wrist.

Then I notice his eyes.

They're red.

Vampire. He's a vampire.

‘Do you have any idea how much you are worth?’. He asks, a sadistic smile on his lips.

That's when I realize.

He's isn't interested in killing me.

He's interested in something else.

Someone wants me to be brought to them alive.