Mag-log inI was having a hard time breathing. My whole body froze as I stared at the woman who had just stepped out of that black coffin. As she got closer, I could see that she was me, but she had different eyes.From her face to her hair and even the shape of her lips, she looked exactly like me. It was like I was staring at my younger self.Kaelith looked at her with a face I'd never seen before. It left me wondering.The man stood frozen a few steps in front of me, his eyes wide, his breath held, and he looked completely speechless."Rose..."The name tumbled out of Kaelith's mouth like a whisper that had been hidden for centuries. I looked quickly at Kaelith, then back at the woman. She smiled sadly, and looked at Kaelith."I thought you had forgotten me," the woman said in a soft voice.Even though her voice sounded soft and calm, I could tell she was feeling sad, lonely, and longing for something.The red symbols all over the room were still glowing brightly, and the Wraiths that had bee
Cracks started to appear in the stone floor, and red light shone through the fissures.CRAAACK!The coffin suddenly shattered after shaking, and the stones scattered everywhere. I covered my face with my hands, trying to protect myself even though Kaelith had already done so. Dust began to fill the room, making it foggy.Kaelith grabbed my arm right away and pulled me close to his body. I held my breath as cracks started to appear in the stone floor around the coffin.THUD.THUD.THUD.The heartbeat grew louder and louder, and it was really noticeable. It started echoing throughout the room. It felt like a massive creature was breathing beneath our feet."What the heck is this?" Alaric took a few steps back, holding the iron bar tightly in his hand.Simon opened his old book quickly, his hands shaking as he turned the pages."I've read about this before," he said."What?" Alaric said, "If you know something, say it now!"Simon took a deep breath. "A curse vessel."Everyone turned to h
My hair stood on end when I saw them. There was something about them that scared me, but also made me feel sad. They looked scary, but I could tell they were victims too, even though they had disfigured faces.Our family's been greedy for centuries, and the people caught in that web are suffering.They started climbing the stone stairs and chasing us nonstop. Their screams echoed in the underground chamber, ringing my ears."Run!" Simon shouted.Kaelith grabbed my hand and we ran up the altar stairs.Alaric was right behind us, swinging an iron bar every time a Wraith got close."Why do I always get the dangerous jobs?" he yelled.CRASH!One Wraith got hit and was sent flying."No one told you to be a hero!" I shot back."If I don't protect you guys, who will?"Even though the situation was scary, I could still hear Kaelith sighing gently next to me."You two really are siblings."I almost smiled. Almost, because just then something grabbed my ankle. The grip was strong and painful en
"Vaelora, that's the grave..." Simon's voice made me let go of Kaelith. I turned right away to look at what he was pointing at. At the far end of the huge underground chamber there was a giant stone altar. My heart started pounding. The altar was massive. Stone steps went up to a black coffin that was standing upright in the center of the room. Glowing red symbols went all around it, looking like living veins. There were these strange sounds echoing through the air, and at first I had no idea what they were, but as they got clearer, they sent shivers down my spine. It was the sound of a heartbeat. Thump... Thump... Thump... The sound bounced around the room, as if there was someone still alive inside the tomb. How can a heartbeat be so clear? "Do you hear it?" I said quietly. Alaric, Kaelith, and Simon nodded along. Everything we've learned today is just mind-blowing. This is proof that my father kept a lot of secrets and not just my father, but the whole Hauge
Vaelora's POVThe wind died down, but the air in the room felt heavy and hard to breathe.My head throbbed. Memories from the past came flooding back.I saw the ritual chamber, with blood covering the floor. There were screams echoing through the darkness, and that same massive creature was standing among it all.My breathing got uneven. I could feel a cold shiver run down my spine the moment I touched the creature.Kaelith immediately put her hand on my shoulder to protect me. He looked pretty worried and ready to attack the creature again at any second.I looked at the creature one more time before turning to Kaelith."It was there when all the rituals happened. It saw everything and was made into a vessel."Kaelith shook his head slowly."I don't remember it at all.""It stayed hidden while guarding the main tomb. You probably rarely saw it during the rituals."The creature's dark body was shaking, like it was trying to hold in something.Simon's eyes widened. He looked tense as he
I immediately felt something slam into my mind. Memories came flooding in all at once. It's a scream, the scent of blood and death. These were visions from the first curse.I immediately grabbed my head.Damn it.This creature was tied to the curse."Kael!" Valor grabbed my arm, and her voice was full of panic.I clenched my jaw, fighting back the wave of nausea and dizziness that was crashing over me."I'm doing well."The creature started moving toward us. The sound of its bones cracking echoed through the chamber, grotesque and unnatural. When it opened its mouth, dozens of voices spoke at once from deep within its body."Descendant... of the traitor..."My dark aura just came out on a whim.A strong gust of wind blew through the room, and all of the creature's eyes immediately locked onto me."A soul... divided..."I took a step forward, putting myself right in front of Vaelora. This was my fight. It's the creature the Haugen family guardian had warned us about."Lord Kaelith, be







