Elena’s POVThe wooden trapdoor behind the villa stood wide open, and its heavy iron hinges were twisted and scorched as if an inner explosion had sheared through the bolts.Cold, stale air poured out of the black cavern below; air that smelled of damp earth, old iron, and a heavy, suffocating scent like burnt hair and dry rot."Julian, wait!" I called out, my voice echoing down the dark stairs as Nathan and I sprinted after him, our boots slapping hard against the wet steps. Behind us, Colin, Caleb, Cindy, and Leo kept close formation, their breath coming in heavy gasps and white plumes in the sudden, freezing temperature.At the bottom of the stairs, Julian stood in the center of a wide, vaulted chamber constructed from coarse black granite. He held a glowing torch high, his yellow-green eyes wide as he stared at an open, shattered iron cell at the far end of the hall."The vault is empty," Julian whispered, his deep voice trembling slightly.Nathan stepped up beside him, his green
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